NEWS ARCHIVE 2004
The
singers who braved the elements to sing around Rushden on Tuesday 21st
December managed to raise £180 towards the Living Room Drug
Rehabilitation Centre in Stevenage. It was wonderful to see such a large
turn out of singers and your help is very much appreciated. We sing every
year for a local charity, so if anyone would like to propose one for 2005
we would love to hear from you.
Several
members of the WI met to enjoy Christmas lunch and cheer at the Rose and
Crown in Ashwell. The meal was voted delicious and Ann and Diane were
thanked for their hard work in organising it. We all decided that it
beats doing the cooking ourselves.
Trick
or treat at Southern Green. Click
here for some photos.
All
those who attended the High Days and Holidays quiz in Rushden on 24th
September 2004 will be delighted to know that £424 was raised towards
the upkeep of St Mary's. Thank you to everyone who came and supported us
and particularly to the noble washer uppers, the setter uppers, the hard
working markers, general gophers and of course our brilliant scorer
Roger. Now get your thinking caps on for next summer when we celebrate
thesixty years since VE Day with the (what else?) Sixty Year Quiz plus several other exciting events to commemorate the occasion.
For
those who remember the War. Wallington and Rushden’s WI talk by Alan
Payne on the Home Front was an evening not to be missed and for those
fortunate enough to have been born later a chance to gain knowledge of
what actually happened here in Britain. Alan brought along a wonderful
selection of artefacts he had collected over the years and a fund of
interesting stories. Did you know that Cadbury’s were the main
manufacturers of gas masks or that when a spitfire crashed, as did one
recently found at Thriplow, it buried itself twenty to thirty feet into
the ground or that the Home Guard often had to share one uniform between
twenty? Anyone wishing to know more about this period in history should
make sure that they go to a talk by Alan at least once.
The
WI distinguished itself at the latest Scrabble Day attended by Ann Warner
and Fiona Potts when Fiona took second place.
Jenny's
bring and buy and garden luncheon proved a great success with over
60 people coming and over £800 being raised. Everyone said what a
wonderful time they had had, so Jenny has decided to do it again
next year on the 14th September 2005. Tickets remain the same at £7.50.
She would like to thank all those who came, bought and particularly
those who helped man the stalls and a special thank you to Henry
(and Andy) who behaved impeccably.Just
a reminder, Jenny raised £877.22 for the dogs for the
handicapped. This will buy 2 puppies. She is still
accepting donations.
(With thanks to John Dingemans)
Click on photo for larger image
The
Orpheus Choir delighted their audience on Saturday 10th July
with a selection of summer songs and Horovitz’ Summer Sunday which
many felt was extremely thought provoking as well as being very amusing.
The rain held off for most of the evening and everyone was able to enjoy
the barbecue afterwards. £256.50 was raised for St Mary’s Church.
Thank you to all who helped, particularly Norman Keys and Robert Crump
for manning the barbecue, Betty Keys for being on the door and serving
wine, Jean Chalk and Ruth West for helping set up and also to Ruth for
her flower arrangements which were very much appreciated and to all the
washer uppers too numerous to mention.
In
spite of its being a rather chilly and slightly wet day, everyone managed
to enjoy themselves at the fete on 19 June 2004 as can be seen by the photos. The teas
seem to have been a particular hit. Roger says his hands are still
wrinkled from all the washing up because of the number of visitors!
Latest
update on how much the fete raised is in excess of £3400. well done all
those who worked so hard.
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Rushden
congratulates Tom and Geraldine Bradshaw on their marriage
on Saturday 5th June.
Wallington
fete on 12 June 2004 held a surprise in store for many
when several of its inhabitants who had never sung in a
choir entertained us as part of the Wallington Wailers.
They were so successful that encores were called for. They
were led by Charlie Thomson who hopes to organise a
capella (without accompaniment) choir from September to
perform for Christmas. If you are from the villages and
are interested in joining call him on 01462 630282.
Meanwhile to get an idea of his particular brand of
singing he holds a harmony singing workshop on the first
Saturday of each month from 10.30am to 1pm at Howgills
(the Friends' Meeting House) 42, South View Letchworth,
cost £7.50, £5.00 concessions.
The
Grand Village Clean-Up saw ten brave people ready to face whatever
Rushden's streets could throw at them. In the event, most of the village
was very clean thanks to the inhabitants, many of whom have a regular
clean-up outside their houses. The stream and the stretch to Cumberlow
Green were another matter as this is where cars tend to throw rubbish
out of their windows. Nick Launder would like to organise another
clean-up in October/ November and then in March/April. Thanks to all who
attended this one.
Into
Black Rubber?
The black rubber cookware party on Friday May 21st was a great success with a full hall of villagers and friends helping prepare Chantal's nibbles and swapping their own recipes. We have raised at least £175 for the Friends of St Mary's so it was very much worth while. Thank you to everyone who came and supported us.
Rushden
is delighted to welcome (at last!) its newest inhabitant, James
Launder, born on Friday 30th April at 2.21 am and weighing in at
7lbs 5oz. Jane and Nick are pleased the waiting is over and ready to
show him off! Jane hopes to be home
in a few days. In the meantime, we wish her and her new baby all the
very best.
Di
and Ray's leaving service proved a moving tribute to their time in the
parishes. Bishop Robin gave the sermon and the Jubilee Singers,
conducted by Sally Moss, sang two anthems. their friend Simeon Wood
provided flute music and Noah accompanied the organ for the final hymn.
Afterwards everyone had a chance to chat in the Village Hall where Di
and Ray were presented with several presents including a beautiful
hibiscus.
Gil Gilson thought people might like to see the inside of the church after its renovation. Thanks Gil for the photo.
Not only is the
church newly decorated, but Dulcie Laidlaw and her team of willing
helpers have thoroughly cleaned it as well. May we say a special thank
you to all who worked so hard to make it ready for Easter.
London
Marathon
Villagers will be happy to know that Mark, the Postman, completed the London Marathon in just over 4 hours. He says he's going to join the front guys next year!
Eileen
Rose's post Marathon message.
Eileen says "I just about made it in
5hrs 15mins but I can no longer put on my own socks. Photos to follow
next day or two. Didn't see the postman but I was over taken by half a
dozen Rhinos and a caterpillar. However, I did beat Jeffrey Archer,
Major "Crook" forgotten his name, Lorraine Kelly and Janine
from Eastenders. Apart from the pain it was a terrific experience though
I will never forgive Dexy's Midnight Runners for that song.
Jean
Chalk was presented with a Crystal Vase and White Port on her retirement
from the Rushden & Wallington Parish Council.
She has served on the Parish Council for longer than anyone can
remember and she will continue to serve all of us on the PCC (Church
Council).
We all owe Jean our gratitude because she, more than anyone, has helped to keep our villages such a pleasant place to live. Click here for some photos.
The
wind brought down this tree overnight and left just enough room
underneath for low cars, if they were brave enough to go under!
Thanks to Charles Gutteridge, Martin Croker and Martin Dingemans for clearing the road on Sunday and preventing damage to our telephone wires.
The school bus will now be able to get through and our bins will be emptied.
(click for larger photo)
The
Sandon Growers' Market seems to be going from strength to strength. December
saw more stalls than ever and a mouthwatering selection of foods,
including Filippo Volpe's home made pizza and calzone and meat and
cheeses from his home country of Italy. We were also pleased to see
Wobbly Bottom goats' cheese available again.It is definitely an event
not to be missed, so when January sees us all with jaded palates
remember the next date is Saturday 17th January 2004 from 9.30am to 12
noon.
Anyone
who went to the Slow Food evening on 3rd January will be regretting
eating over Christmas as the post Christmas diet is definitely a non
event. Never mind. There's always next week. The selection of food, from
the bresaola, violin of goat and buckwheat pasta to the delectable
walnut cake (Filippo says he'll take orders) was truly the nectar of the
gods. The ever flowing wine was an added bonus. Everyone is looking
forward to the next event. Meanwhile, don't forget to visit him at the
next Growers' Market on 17th January.
The
carol singing in Rushden on Tuesday 16th December proved a bracing
occasion for those taking part. People were very generous with donations
though some did try and escape before we'd finished singing! We would
like to thank Chris, Eva and Jean for their generosity and warm welcome.
Thank you also to those who braved the cold to sing with us and to
Oliver for all his hard work collecting. The singing raised £144.50.