NENE Herald
Rushden’sPartyinthePark2025
ThisSummerhashadaseriesofheatwavesandthe3rdonecamejustas Rushdenheldits2025Party-in-the-Park.
OrganisedbyConservative-controlled RushdenTownCouncil,thePartywasa crossbetweenafun-fair,anopen-air rockconcertandafete.
Itwassuchagloriouslyhotday,thatthe plannedDogShowhadtobe abandoned,asitwastoohotforthe caninestoperform!
Manythousandscametoenjoy themselves,haveagoontherides, browsethestallsandtoseeaQueentributeband,“MagicQueen”.
Obituary
RichardWoodcock
RushdenHistoricalTransportSocietywas foundedin1976andhasbecomeapillarofthe communityinRushden.TheSocietyownsand maintainstheformerrailwaystationandthe goodsshed.
Recently,theRHTSsadlylostafounding member,RichardWoodcock.Heplacedan advertinthelocalnewspaper,theEvening Telegraph,askingifanyonehadaninterestin historicaltransport.
Richardwentontobeamajorfigureinthe Societyfromitsfoundationinthelate1970’s untilthelate1990s.
Latterly,inpartnershipwithRushdenTown Council,theSocietyhasorganisedanannual classiccareventinRushden’sHallPark.Ithas growntobeoneofthebiggestofitskindinthe country.Italsoorganisesagoodnumberof eventsusingtheconvertedGoodsShed. Hispassingmarkstheendofanera.
KwikfitOpeninRushden
KwikfithaveaddedRushdentotheirlistofsites, havingmovedontotheformerTravisPerkins site.
On24thJune,Rushden’sTownMayor,Cllr.Gill Mercer,cuttheribbonattheirnewfacilityin StationRoad,oppositethedisusedrailway station.
Kwikfitareanationwidechainandspecialisein fittingtyrestoroadvehicles.Theyalsodo brakes,exhaustsandMOTs
Rush2theDen,thelocalcharitythatwas recentlyawardedtheprestigiousKing’sAward forVoluntaryService,continuetoexpandtheir offeringsforyoungpeople.FreedomFliersis oneofthelatest.Theirwebsitestates:
“FreedomFliersisourSENyouthclubfor seniorschoolagedyoungpeoplewith additionalneedsfrom11to17years.”
Itmeetsonthe1stand3rdFridaysofeach month,from6.30pmto8.30pm.
Carers,parentsandsiblingsarealsowelcome toattend.It’s£1persession.
TheBattleforRushdenLakes-Part10
ThisisthetenthinstalmentofthestoryofhowtheRushdenLakesschemecametobeapprovedand thenbuilt.
TheImpactofRushdenLakes
AnentireblockwithintheschemewashandedovertothelocalWildlifeTrustsothattheycould supervisetheSSSI(SiteofSpecialScientificInterest)protectingrarespeciesofwildlife.Beaversare arecentadditiontothesite.
Theschemehadthepotentialtocreate2,000to3000jobsinanareathatwaslackinglocal employment.Nobodyisquitesurehowmanyjobswerecreateddirectlyandindirectly,butmost estimatesareinexcessof3,000.
Theincrediblesuccessoftheschemehasbeenbuiltonthreelegs.
·Thewildlifeattractsextrafootfall,sothattheretailandleisureoperatorsgetextratrade.(Allegedly, theyover-tradebyaround50%).
Theoperatorsvaluethewildlifebecauseitbooststheirprofits.Theythereforeworktoprotectthe wildlife.
·Theeveningeconomyofthesiteusesthesameparkingandroadsastheretailtrade,butat differenttimesoftheday.Thisdoubleuseofthesamespacesmaximisesthereturnonthe investment.
RushdenLakesbreakswiththeorthodoxyofretailschemes.Itprovesthatnatureandretailcancoexistandbothbenefit.ThemorethattheSSSIthrives,themoreprofitstheoperatorsmake.
Localpeoplenotonlyhaveadditionalemploymentopportunitiesclosetohomereducingtheneedto traveltootherareas,theycanalsokeepmoreeconomicgrowthlocal.Theuniquefacilitythathas beencreatedallowslocalsandvisitorstoenjoythewildlifealongwithcombiningleisureandretail activities.
It’sagenuineWin-Win-Win,fortheoperators,thelocalcommunityandthewildlife.
RushdenWindrushEvent
OnSunday21stJune,Rushdencelebrated Windrush.Rushden’sTownMayorsaid:
“IwanttotalkaboutachapterofBritishhistory thatshapedthemodernUKinmanyways— thestoryoftheWindrushGeneration.It’sa storyofmigration,hope,hardship,and contribution.Itisastorythatbeginsinthe Caribbean,sailsacrosstheAtlantic,and unfoldsincitiesandtownsacrosstheUnited Kingdom.
AfterWorldWarII,Britainwasinneedof rebuilding.Thecountrywasseverelydamaged, andtherewereshortagesofworkersinkey industriesliketransport,theNHS,construction, andmanufacturing.
Tosolvethislabourshortage,theBritish governmentinvitedcitizensfrom Commonwealthcountries—especiallythe Caribbean—tocomeandhelprebuildthe country.Thesewerepeoplefromcountriesthat hadlongbeenunderBritishcolonialrule.They hadbeentaughtBritishvalues,Britishhistory, andmanyhadfoughtforBritaininthewar.They believedtheywerecomingtothe“Mother Country.”
Themigrantscameinsearchofbetter opportunities,higherwages,andanewlife— andtheybroughtwiththemculture,strength, andresilience.TheMovementstartedwiththe arrivalofashipthatgavethisgenerationits name.
OnJune22.1948,theHMTEmpireWindrush arrivedatTilburyDocksinEssex. IthadsailedfromKingston,Jamaica,stopping atTrinidadandBermudabeforecrossingthe Atlantic.
Onboardwere492passengers,mostlyfrom Jamaica,butalsofromotherCaribbeanislands likeTrinidad,Barbados,andBermuda.
Thisvoyagesymbolisesthebeginningofa muchlargermigrationmovement.Overthe followingtwodecades,thousandsmore followed,comingbothontheWindrushandon othershipsandlaterbyair.
Bythe1960’s,planesbegantoreplaceshipsas themainformoftransport.Mostoftheearly WindrushgenerationcamefromtheBritish coloniesandwereBritishcitizensbylaw.
AlthoughinvitedtohelprebuildBritain,many membersoftheWindrushgenerationfaced racism,discrimination,andpoverty.
Theywereoftendeniedjobsdespitetheir qualifications.Manywereturnedawayfrom housingwithsignsthatsaidthingslike“No Blacks,NoIrish,NoDogs.”Yet,theypersevered —workinginbuses,trains,hospitals,factories, andcontributingimmenselytoBritishlife.
Theybuiltcommunities,startedchurches, openedbusinesses,andraisedgenerationsof childrenwhowouldgrowupBritish.
Unfortunately,inrecentyears,thisgeneration wasatthecentreoftheWindrushScandal.
In2018,itcametolightthatmanypeoplefrom theWindrushgeneration—whohadlivedinthe UKlegallyfordecades—werewrongly detained,deniedhealthcare,orevendeported becausetheycouldn’tprovetheirrighttostay.
Thishappenedduetohostileimmigration policiesandpoorrecord-keepingbythe government.Itcausedimmensepaintopeople whohadgiventheirlivestoBritain.
Apublicoutcryfollowed,andthegovernment wasforcedtoapologiseandsetupa compensationscheme.
Theirlegacylivesonintheculture,food,music, politics,andlanguageofmodernBritain.From NottingHillCarnivaltothecountlessdoctors, nurses,teachers,andartistsofCaribbean descent—theircontributioniswovenintothe fabricofBritishlife.
SowhenwetalkabouttheWindrush Generation,wearenotjusttalkingaboutone shiporonejourney.Wearetalkingabouta movementofpeoplewhocametoBritainwith hope,helpedrebuilditwiththeirhands,and changeditwiththeirpresence.
Weowethemrespect.Weowethem recognition.Andweowethemjustice.”
LocalVictimsof AirIndiaCrash
On12thJune2025,anAirIndiaBoeing787-8 crashedshortlyaftertake-off.Itwasaflightfrom AhmedabadinIndiatoGatwick.
NeneHeraldwouldnotnormallyreportsuch events,butthiscrashhasaffectedsomelocal people.
Cllr.RajMishra,theWellingboroughTownMayor wrote:
InthequiettownofWellingborough, Northamptonshire,theairfeelsheaviertoday. Thecommunityisreelingfromtheheartbreaking lossofRaxaModha,hertoddlergrandsonRudra Modha,anddaughter-in-lawYashaKamdar,who wereamongthe242livestragicallytakeninthe AirIndiaFlightAI1717crashinAhmedabadon June13,2025.Thedisasterclaimed53British nationals,leavingfamiliesandcommunities acrosstheUKandbeyondinmourning.For Wellingborough,thelossofRaxa,Rudra,and Yashaisdeeplypersonal,awoundthatwilltake timetoheal.
RaxaModhawasmorethanaresidentof Wellingborough—shewasitsheart.Knownfor herboundlesscompassionandquiet selflessness,Raxadedicatedherlifetouplifting thosearoundher.Shewasaguidinghandfor familiesnewtothetown,helpingthemsettleinto unfamiliarsurroundingswithwarmthand practicalkindness.FromdecoratingtheHindu CommunityCentre(HCC)forcelebrationsto providingmealsforthoseinneed,her contributionswerewovenintothefabricofdaily life,oftenunnoticedbytheverypeopleshe helped.Hergenerosityknewnolimits,extending beyondWellingboroughtosupportcharitiesboth locallyandabroad,drivenbyherdeepfaithasa devotedfollowerofSaiBaba.
Raxawasabeaconwhoshoweduswhatit meanstoserveothers,”aneighbourshared, voicebreaking.“Sheneversoughtrecognition, butheractionsspokevolumes.Shemadethis townfeellikehomeforsomany.”
Thetragedyhasleftanunfillablevoid.OnJune 14,2025,theWellingboroughcommunity gatheredatthelocalHinduTemple,where MayorCllrRajMishraledprayersforRaxa, Rudra,Yasha,andallthoselost.Thetemple,a placewhereRaxa’spresencewasoftenfelt, becameaspaceforcollectivegriefand remembrance.It’shardtoimagineour
communitywithouther,”saidatemplemember. “Shewasalwaysthere,quietlyhelping,always giving.”
Aswereflectonthisdevastatingloss,wehold Raxa’sfamilyinourhearts.Rudra,ajoyful toddler,andYasha,adevotedmother,werealso cherishedmembersofthecommunity,theirlives cutshortinatragedythatdefiescomprehension. Thefamilyhasaskedforprivacyduringthistime ofunimaginablesorrow,arequestwehonour andaskthemediatorespect.
Raxa’slegacy,however,endures.Herlifewasa testamenttothepowerofkindness,areminder thateveninthefaceofloss,thegoodwedocan rippleoutward,touchinglivesfarbeyondour own.InWellingborough,hermemorywillbea blessing,inspiringustocometogether,to supportoneanother,andtomakeour communityabetterplaceforall—justasshedid.
MaythememoriesofRaxaModha,Rudra Modha,andYashaKamdarbeasourceof comfortandlightinthesedarkdays.
RushdenAcademy’s ClassroomsClosed
RushdenAcademyisthesolesecondaryschool inRushden.TheAcademyiscurrentlyincrisis becauseofdangerouscladding.Thishadledto thefollowingbeingclosed:
•22classrooms
•thetoiletblock
•thecanteenfacilities
360pupilshavebeenforcedtostudyremotely. GiventheexperienceoftheCOVIDLockdown, thisisnowknowntobedetrimental.
NeneHeraldwillwatchthissituationasit develops.
JustinTime
Afewweeksago,inSouthend-on-Sea,in Essex,atragedyoccurredwhenatree collapsed,killinga7-year-oldgirlandcritically injuringanother.EssexPoliceareinvestigating theincident.
InJune,asimilarincidentoccurredwhena largetreecollapsedinRushden’sHallPark. UnlikeSouthend-on-Sea,however,Rushden
waslucky.RushdenTownCouncilhadacted swiftly,andwasabletoavoidadisaster.
ShortlybeforetheHallParkbeechtree collapsed,RTCrecognisedthedangerandtook action.
Anexclusionzonewaserectedroundthetree, tokeepeveryoneawayfromthedangerarea.
Despitethis,RTCwascriticisedonsocial mediafor notprotectingthetree.
Perhapsitistimeforthecriticstoapologiseand tothankRTCfor protectingthepublic.
NewtonBromswold Fete
ThevillageofNewtonBromswoldistiny,with just24houses.Despitethis,itputsonalovely feteeveryyear.
Thisyear,theRushdenMissionBand entertainedthecrowdthroughoutasultry,sunny afternoon.
Rushden’sTownMayor,Cllr.GillMercer,was invitedtojudgetheChildren’sFancyDress contest.Everyentrygotaprize.
SomelightreliefwasprovidedbyAmazon Prime.ASatNavdirectedoneoftheirvansinto themiddleofthefete.Theyweretryingtomake adeliverytooneofthehousesinthecentreof thevillage.
Thevanthengotstuck,whenitsaerialtangled withtheoverheadbunting!
NNCCabinetMemberResigns
Eightweeksintothenewadministration,theNorthNorthamptonshireCouncilexecutivehashadits firstresignation.CllrBarryO’Brien,ExecutiveMemberforHealthandLeisure,hassteppedbackto “focusonpersonalcommitments”.
ItisunusualtoloseaCabinetmembersosoonaftertheirappointment.
UnderthepreviousConservativeAdministration,“Health”wascombinedwith“Adults”,sothatallthe healthissuesoftheelderlycameunderthesameCabinetmember.
Combining“Health”with“Leisure”onlycameaboutwiththenewReformAdministration.
ThereplacementforCllr.O’BrienisCllrBrianBenneyworth.
CllrMartinGriffiths,LeaderoftheCouncil,thankedCllr.O’BrienforhisworkontheExecutiveand welcomedhisreplacement.CllrO’BrienwillremainontheCouncil.
ArmedForcesDay2025
InWellingboroughandRushden,ArmedForcesDay2025wascelebratedonSaturday28thJune.
ForRushden,theeventstarted12noon,andranuntil18:00hrs.
At13:00,aparadesetofffromschoolplaygroundinJohnStreetandmarchedthroughthetown centretravellingnorthwardsalongtheHighStreet.
AstheparadepassedtheWesleyanChapel,thesalutewastakenbytheDeputyLordLieutenant,Air ViceMarshalChrisLuck.Hewasaccompaniedbycivicdignitaries,includingRushden’sTownMayor, Cllr.GillMercerandtheViceChairmanofNorthNorthantsCouncil,CllrMauriceElgin.
TheParadeincludedMilitaryBands,Veterans,CadetForces,UniformedOrganisationsandMilitary Vehicles.
TheParadeterminatedatRushdenStationwhere therewasthenaDrumheadService.
Afterwards,atRushdenStation,therewere
·Historicaldisplaysandcharitystalls
·VintageTrainRides
·StationBar&BuffetCarriage
·FoodVendorsandRefreshments
Severalthousandpeopleturnedoutfortheevent (theRedArrowsalmostperformedafly-past. Maybethesunwasshiningintheireyesastheymissedflyingoverthetown)
Warwick’sMenswearClosed
Saturday28thJune2025wasamemorableday,butforthewrongreasons.
Onthisday,Wellingborough’slocalmen’sclothingstore,Warwicks,closeditsdoorsforthelasttime.
WarwickshadbeenaniconofWellingboroughfor157yearsbutNeilWarwick,thefinalowner, decidedtoretireandnobodyinthefamilywanted totakeoverthebusiness.Theclosureofthisfamily businessisasadlossforWellingborough.
Itispartofapatternthatcomparisonstores,like Warwicks,havebeensufferingeconomicallyfora numberofyears.
Theonlinestores,tradingovertheInternet,have creamedoffmuchoftheprofitabletrade,while payingverylittlebusinessrates.ThishasputHigh Streetstoresatahugedisadvantagefinancially forcingsometoclosetheirdoors.
Sadly,withoutlocalsupport,theremaybemoreHighStreetclosurestocome.
Wellingborough’sSplashyPool
SplashParkisafreetouseoutdoorwaterparkontheEmbankmentoftheRiverNenein Wellingborough.
Thewaterparkhas:
·Apaddlingpool
·Picnictables
·Ashelter
·Freecarparking
·Toilets
ThelocalpopulationofswansandtheRiveritselfprovideabeautifulbackdrop.
Itisopentothepubliconweekends,BankHolidaysandschoolholidaysfromnoonuntil6:30pm, particularlythroughthesummerwhenitisopendailyfrom23rdJulyuntil31stofAugust.
Duringtermtime,itisreservedforschooluse.
CarnivalTime
The2025WellingboroughCarnivalwasheldon 5July.StartingatBroadGreen,theCarnival processiontravelledthroughthetowncentre andendedinCroylandPark.
NeneHeraldwasthereandrecordedthe spectacle.Withintheparadeweremanygreat performers.
OnethatstoodoutwasaconvoyofRust Bucketcars,freshfromtheircrossEuropean rallyinJune.Theywerepartofafundraising effortforCynthiaSpencerHospicebytravelling 2500milesthroughthewindyAlpineroadsof Switzerlandintheircars,whichmustnotbe worthmorethan£500!
AtthecarnivalthedriversoftheRustBucket carsentertainedbysprayingthecrowdswith waterfromrifle-sizedwaterpistols.
ThefestivitiescontinuedonSunday6July,with Wellingborough’sPartyinthePark.
NFRSChallenge
NorthamptonshireFireandRescueService (NFRS)stageda“Challenge”atRushden LakesonSaturday5thJuly.
Variouscontestswerearrangedforfire-fighters. Theyrepresentedthetasksthatfire-fighters mightfacewhencarryingouttheirduties.
AsectionoftheRushdenLakescarparkwas fencedoff,andcrowdsgatheredtowatchand cheer.
OUTANDABOUT
INWELLINGBOROUGH&RUSHDEN
TGIFridays
InSeptemberlastyear,theUKoperatorofTGI Fridayswentintoadministration.Itledtoa numberofrestaurantsclosing,includingthe oneinRushdenLakes.
TheRushdenLakesrestauranthasnowbeen relaunched.OnFriday4thJuly,America’s IndependenceDay,Rushden’sTownMayor, Cllr.GillMercer,cuttheribbontosymbolisea newleaseoflifefortherestaurant.
Thebarandrestaurantisjustalongfrom Cineworld,withits14screens,andTGIFridays canhandleup190customersatanytime.
Italsodoestakeaways,forthosewhowantto sampleAmericanfoodwhileathome.
ChicheleCollege HighamFerrers
Thisplaquemarksakey pointinthehistoryofHigham Ferrers.Itisthelocationof thelostChicheleCollege.
Thecollegewasfoundedby HenryChichele,the ArchbishopofCanterburyin the15thCentury.Itdidn’tlast long.Henry8thseizedanddemolishedmostof itin1542.
Today,itishardtobelievethatitwasoncea college,withonlyafewtracesofitleft.The plaquemarksthespot,butit’snotvery prominent.
Thecollegeinteriorisopenduringthesummer foreventsandartexhibitions.
26th/27thJuly-ArchaeologyAllsorts-10amto 4pm 30th/31stAugust-SharePhotography exhibition-10amto4pm 13thSept-HorticulturalShow-11amto4pm 20-28thSept-NorthantsandRutlandOpen Studios-timestbc
18th Oct-NorthamptonshireHeritageForum HistoryDay-partoftown-widedayoftalksand tours-10amto4pm
22Nov-Santa’sGrottoaspartofthetown-wide ChristmasSparkleevent-10amto4pm
WellingboroughTown CouncilGrants
WellingboroughTownCouncilarelookingfor projectsoreventsthatdeserveCommunity Grants.
Theyaimtosupportnon-profitorganisations makingadifferenceinWellingborough.
Thegrantsmaybeupto£1,000andtheyare opentoallnon-profitorganisationswithinthe WellingboroughTownCouncilarea.
Youcanapplyviathewebsite:
https://www.wellingboroughtowncouncil.gov.uk/ your-council/grants/
RaundsLibrary
NorthNorthamptonshireCouncil(NNC)hasaskedfor expressionsofinterestforsomegroupwillingtorunRaunds Library.
ThePublicLibrariesandMuseumsAct(1964)requiresNNCto provideacomprehensiveandefficientlibraryserviceforall thosewholive,workorstudyinthearea.
TheActdoesnotprescribehowtheservicewillbedelivered.
InNorthNorthamptonshire,thelibraryservicehasbeen progressively“outsourced”.Finedonlibraryisagoodexample.
Now,NNCwantstotakelibraryoutsourcingtoafurtherstage.
GroupswhowishtotakeontheoperationofRaundsLibrary mustsatisfyNNCthattheycan:
·Coverallbuildingandassociatedcostsincludingleasingor purchaseofthelibrarypremisesorprovidesuitablealternative premises
·Providesufficientstaffingandorvolunteerstoprovideat least12openinghoursaweekforthepubliclibrary
AnyoneinterestedinexploringtheofferfurtherisaskedtosubmitanExpressionofInterestbyemail to:Feedback.LibraryPlus@Westnorthants.gov.uk
BeechwoodMovesfromWellingboroughtoRushden
TheSpinneyfieldsSpecialistCareUnitin Rushdenwasclosedforseveralyears.Last year,itre-openedwiththegroundfloorbeing usedbyKetteringGeneralHospitalfor recuperation,likeitusedtobewithCottage Hospitals.
Thishasnowbeentakenonestepfurtherasthe BeechwoodWardfromIsebrookHospitalin Wellingboroughhasbeenmovedto SpinneyfieldsinRushden.
Thisprovidesanimprovedcommunitycare servicetoRushden,with15additionalbeds availableatSpinneyfields.
AnneRackham,NHFT’sChiefOperatingOfficer,praisedtheteamsinvolvedinthemove:
“BybringingourcommunityrehabilitationbedstoanewlocationinRushdenandgrowingthe numberofplaceswecanoffertopatients,weareensuringthatmorepeoplecanbenefitfrom ourhigh-qualitycommunitycare,closertowheretheylive.”
ClassicCarShow
OnSunday3rdAugust,Rushden’sannualClassicCarShowwillbeheldinHallPark.Itwillrunfrom 11amto4pm.
Therewillbestallsandmany,manyclassiccars.
Entryisfree,buttheorganisersaskforadonationtowardstherunningcosts.
ItisorganisedbyRushdenHistoricalTransportSocietyandsupportedbyRushdenTownCouncil.
TheNeneHeraldisacommunity-basednewspaperforWellingborough,Rushden,HighamFerrers,Irthlingboroughandthe surroundingvillages.
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