InandAroundtheWellingborough&RushdenArea
Rushden’sPartyinthePark
Saturday11thJulysawRushden’sannualPartyinthePark.Thiswasthe25th Anniversaryoftheevent. ItwascelebratedbytheRushdenYarmBombingteamwhocreatedsomeamazingpiecesofwork displayedaroundthepark(PhotosPage2) ItwasHallPark’sbiggesteverPartyintheParkand officiallyopenedbytheTownMayor,Cllr.JanetPinnock.
TheParkwasfilledwithdozensofcharityandtradestallsalongwithfairgroundrides.Itwashotand sunny,so,wherepossible,thestallswerepositionedtotakeadvantageoftheshadeofthetreesthat linethemainavenuethroughthePark.
Thefairgroundridesappealedtoallages.Theseincludedsome“scary”ridesforteenagers(e.g.the “CrazyFunHouse”),buttherewerealsomanyridesforyoungerchildren.Therewereconstantsqueals ofdelightfromthesmallones(andafewfromtheteenagers).
“Mr.Twister”wasonsite.Hetwistedballoonsandgave“puppies”,“lollies”,“flags”andotherweird shapestothesmallkids. Continuedonnextpage
Duringtheafternoon,ateamoftrickmotorcyclistsgaveaspectaculardisplayinthemainarena.The displayteamroareduparampandsoaredmetresintothesky,beforelandingagain.Theyflewover eachotherandeventheirownteamvan.Itwasverymuchacaseof“Don'tTryThisAtHome”.
BeatRouteRadiohadastallnexttotheTownCouncilstandandmadealiveoutsidebroadcast.A “climbingwall”waslocatedclosetotheirstand,andoneoftheBeatRouteRadiocrewbravelyclimbed itwithhisradiomike.
Throughouttheevent,thethousandsofrevellerswereabletoenjoyices,drinks,burgers,Mexican streetfood,chips,andamassofothersnacks.
WhilstalltheactivitiesweretakingplaceinthemainPark,thestageintheWalledGardenhada successionoflocalgroupsdancingandsingingtoentertainthevisitors.Thiswasfollowedbyarock concertintheWalledGardenintheearlyevening.
Throughouttheday,teamsofcouncillorsandothervolunteerspatrolled,marshalledandlitter-picked. Thanksgotoallthosewhohelpedorganisethisamazingevent.Especiallytothosewhotookpartand totheRushdenYarnBombingteamfortheirfantasticpiecesofworktomarkthe25thanniversaryof PartyinthePark.
ArmedForcesDaytookplaceonSaturday27th June.Itwashotandsunny.
Infact,itwastoohotandsunny.DuetotheMet Officeweatherwarningsforextremeheat,the Rushden&DistrictVeterans'Groupdecidedto modifythetown'scelebrationsofArmedForces Day.
ThesignificanteventsofthedayaretheParade, (aspectacular1.2milesmarchalongtheHigh Streetwithmusicians,Sea,Army&AirCadets, aswellasveterans),andtheDrumheadService, whichwouldbeheldoutsidetheRailwayGoods Shedinfulldirectsunlight.
Inviewoftheextremeweather,itwasdecidedto canceltheParadeandDrumheadService elementsasadutyofcaretoallparticipants, roadmarshals,etc.Instead,severalindoor eventswereorganisedwithdisplaysandstallsat theRushdenHistoricalTransportSociety's GoodsShedonJohnClarkWay.
Theattachedphotosshowtheindoormini-fetein Rushden’sconvertedRailwayGoodsShed.
GrensonsBought
Rushdengrewfromjustover800residentsto around35,000inthelasttwohundredyears. Mostofthatphenomenalgrowthwaspowered bytheBootandShoeIndustry.
Atonetime,Rushdenanditsneighbours allegedlyhadover120companiesmaking shoesorsupportingtheirmanufacture.Afigure of200hasevenbeensuggested.
Today,thelocalBootandShoeIndustryis almostgone.Mostofthefactorieshavebeen demolishedorconvertedforotheruses.Driving roundRushden,youcanseeanumberof formershoefactoriesthatarenowblocksof flatsorretailstores.
Andnow,thereisanothernailinthecoffinof whatwasoncetheWorld’spremiershoe industry.
GrensonshavebeenmakingshoesinRushden since1866,butnowtheyare75%ownedby sportswearcompanyCastore.
Grensonshand-madeshoeshavebeenwornby therichandfamousforoveracentury.Just recently,thelatestDoctorWhoworetheminthe Tardis.
Weareperhapsapproachingtheendofanera.
StantonCross
StantonCrossistogetalocalcentre,a“hub”.
ItisplannedtohaveasmallCo-op(presumably liketheoneintheGrangeway,Rushden).
Theplansalsoincludefourotherretailunits,a nursery,37flatsandasharedcarpark.
WellingboroughPartyinthePark
Wellingborough’sParty-in-the-ParkwasheldinCroylandParkonSunday6th July.Theeeatherwashot, butthesunwasn’tscorching.
Therewerestallsandridesandsongsandshowsonthestage.
Highlightsincluded :
•AVikingBoat
*Somereallyscaryrides
•The“Wipeout”
Entrywasfreeandtherewasampleparking.
ElectricBusesinNorthNorthamptonshire
NorthNorthamptonshireCouncil(NNC)hasreceivedfundingfromtheDepartmentforTransportfor electricbuses.
NNChasdecidedtointroducetennewelectricbusesonroutesacrosstheDistrict.Theroutesthatwill receivethenewbusesaretheX46andX47.Thenewbuseswillarrivearoundthemiddleof2027.
Itbringsabouta“fullcircle”.Intheearly1900s,electricbuseswererunninginpartsofthecountry. However,theywereunpopularandwerereplacedbydieselbuses(whicharehighlypolluting).
Ithastakenalongtimetocorrectthatmistake,butbetterlatethannever.
CllrChrisMcGiffen,thecouncil’sExecutiveMemberforHighwaysandTravel,said: “Thenew proposalsplanwouldseeelectricbusesusedonroutesthatmakeup20%ofbusjourneysin NorthNorthamptonshire.“
MarkWhitelocks,ManagingDirectorforStagecoachMidlandssaid: "Workinginpartnershipwith NorthNorthamptonshiretoaccelerateourdeliveryofelectricbusestothenetworkisnotonly exciting,itwillalsohelpustodeliverimprovementtoourservicesforourcustomerssooner. Customerswillbenefitfromsmoother,quieter,cleanerandmoremodernjourneysasaresult. Notonlywillthissupportandfleetinvestmentmakebusabetterchoiceforourcommunities acrossNorthNorthamptonshire,butthiswillalsohelpuscontributetoreducingcarbon emissionsandimprovingairqualityforourcommunities."
MoreTreesHitbyDisease
First,itwasDutchElmDisease,thenourbeloved beechtreeinHallParkrotted,andnowwesee treesaffectedby“SootyBarkDisease”. Inthevernacular,wecan’tcatchabreak!
SootyBarkDiseasekillssycamoresandrelated trees.Thebarkpeelsaway,leavingadirty,black residue,likealayerofburntwood.(Seethe photoofastumpcoveredwith‘soot’.)
Rushden’sJubileeParkhasbeenhithardwith thelossoftreesinthesummerofitsjubilee.
Onehundredyearsago,theParkwasdonatedto theTown,andyoungsycamoretreeswere plantedarounditsboundary.Anumberofthose treeshavenowdiedfromthenewdisease.They hadtobecutdownandremoved.
Deadtreesareasafetyhazard.Theriskwiththe beechtreewasthatoneofthebranches(trunks) couldfallandkillsomeone.Withthenew disease,theriskisdifferent.Thesporesofthe SootyBarkfungusaredangerousifbreathedin.
DutchElmDiseasekilledmostofEngland’selm trees,leavinggapsinthewoodlandacrossthe Nation.WecannottellhowfarSootyBark Diseasewillspread,butitdoesn’tlookgood.
TheChickenFarmHasNotGoneAway
TheproposedchickenbroilerfarminSouthRushden,tobelocatedattheBiogenfoodrecyclingunit closetotheBedfordshireborder,isnowcomingbackwitharevisedplanningapplication.Theoriginal applicationsubmittedin2018.
ThisplanisaBIGone:
·sixpoultryunits
·fifteengrainsilos
·threecrumbfeedsilos
·threefoodblendinghouses
·twowatertanks
·apumpinghouse
·twogasstoragetanks
·anelectricitysubstation
·switchroom
·standbygeneratorwithfueltank
·weighroom
·welfareblock
·floodattenuationworks
·coldstore
·incinerator
·boilerhouse
·storagebuilding
·securitygatehouse
Thisisacontroversialschemeinopencountryside.
Previousapplicationsforachickenfarmatthislocationhavehadalotofopposition.Agroupcalling themselvesCluckOffwereespeciallyvocal.
CommentssupportingoropposingtheschemecanbemadeontheNorthNorthantsCouncilwebsitebut mustbesubmittedby6AUGUST2026. Goto:https://publicaccess.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/ online-applications/
Thenenter18/01284/FULinthesearch.
Rushden’sFlySeason
Innorth-westRushden,it’stheSeasonofFlies!
Foranumberofyears,JulyandAugusthave seenvastnumbersoffliesinvadinghomes, officesandfactories,intheareatothenorthof IrchesterRoadandWashbrookRoad.The affectsrarelyspreadfurthersouth,oreastofthe Greenway.
Thefliesarrivewhenit’stoohottokeep windowsclosedandtheycancausemisery.
Kitchensareespeciallyaffected,becausethe heatforcescookstokeepthewindowsopen. Thefliesthenlandonanyexposedfood,ruining it.
Inoffices,theylandoncomputerscreensand workers,ticklinganddistractingthem.Attimes,it becomesalmostimpossibletoconcentrateand work.
Duringthenight,thetinyattackerslandon,and crawlover,sleepers.Sleepisinterruptedand,by morning,peoplearegrumpyandtired.They spendthedayfightingtheurgetogobackto bed.
Fly-zapperstakeascytheoftheflyinginvaders, butit’sneverenough,becausetherearealways reinforcementswaitingjustoutsidethewindows.
Fly-papersareacheaperdefence,buttheysoon fillup,andagain,theyonlytakeasmallnumber oftheenemy.(Seephotograph.)
Theonlyguaranteedwaytogetagoodnight’s sleep,istoorganiseacounter-attackwithflyswattersjustbeforebedtime.(Thisassumesthat you’veclosedthewindowstokeepout reinforcements!)
Onhotnights,duringheatwaves,thatmaynotbe possible,andanyway,spending30-40minutes patrollingandswatting,whenyou’rehotand tired,isn’tgreatfun.
Curiously,lastyear,(theyearoftheGreatFire), theflyseasonbarelyhappened.
Whatanoddcoincidence!
WellingboroughPublicSpaceProtectionOrder
NorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC)hasopenedapublicconsultationonaPublicSpaceProtectionOrder (PSPO)forthecentreofWellingborough.
ThePSPOforWellingborough’stowncentreisare-introductionofonethatwasoriginallyintroducedin November2020,andthenrenewedinNovember2023.
Acouncilspokesmansaid:
“PublicSpaceProtectionOrdersprovidecouncilswithtoolstohelpusmanageanti-social behaviour,ensuringthattowncentresaresafeforeveryone.ItisimportantthatanyOrderis suitableforeachtown.
“Thisconsultationisavitalpartofthisprocess,andIwouldencourageeveryonetogetinvolved andhavetheirsay.”
TheconsultationcanbeaccessedviaNNC’sconsultationhubandisopenuntilthe10thofAugust2026. Youcanfinditatthisaddress: https://northnorthants.citizenspace.com/pspo/wellingborough-tc-pspo
NewtonBromswoldFete
TheannualNewtonBromswoldfetewasonSaturday4thJuly.Thesettingwasabeautifulglade,with dappledsunshine.(Seephotograph.)
ItwasafriendlyandlocaleventwiththeRushdenMissionBandperformingaseriesofpopulartunes.
Localauthor,PhilipWright,wasgivingoutfreedrinksonthehotday,whileshowcasinghiswork.(Nene Heraldwillincludeareviewofhisbook“ValleyofNene”inourSeptemberissue.)
Localartist,DavidHawker,wassketchingportraits,attheamazinglylowpriceof£5.
AChildren’sFancyDresscompetitionwasheld,andthewinnerwaspickedbyRushden’sMayor,Cllr. JanetPinnock.
WellingboughCouncil Offices
NorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC)planstorefurbish severalofitsofficesinWellingborough:
·SwanspoolHouse
·CroylandHall
·CroylandAbbey
Thedecisiontodotheupgradeswastakenata meetingofNNC’sExecutiveCommitteeon Tuesday14thJulyintheCouncilChamberin Corby.
Itisreportedthattheupgradeswillcost£3.8 million.
KeepingCoolinSummer
Thissummerseemslikelytobecomethehottestonrecord.Keepingcoolwillbeoneverybody’swish list.
SplashParkonWellingborough’sEmbankmentprovidestheperfectwaytoenjoythesunwhilekeeping cool.Asusual,theParkisopenweekendsandbankholidaysfrom12noonuntil6.30pm(untilSunday 27thofSeptember).Additionally,theParkwillbeopendailyuntilMonday31stofAugustfrom12noon until6.30pm.
WellingboroughCarnival
Forgetaboutthatlittle4thofJulythingoverin Washington.TheBigShowwasherein Wellingborough.
The2026WellingboroughCarnivallastedan houranditwasavisualtreat:
·“RustBucket”cars
·CarnivalQueens
·Bands
·Gymnastsperformingmid-airsummersaults
·Acuddly“bear”
·Apantomimedinosaaur
Manyperformersthrewpacketsofsweetstothe crowds,whileothersfiredwaterpistolsatthe revellers.
Ourphotographsgiveaglimpeofthecolourand excitementoftheevent,butjustaglimpse.To really getthevibes, youhadtobethere.
FluttersBackonthe Market
TheformerRitzcinemainCollegeStreet, Rushden,whichlaterbecameFluttersBingo, wassoldtonewownersinlate2024.
Atthispoint,ithasstillnotre-openedorhadany conversionworkdoneonit.
Infact,itappearstobebackonthemarket,with asignonthefront,offeringit“ToLet”.
Infacttheownerhasmadeavideoshowingthe inside,whichstillhasthetheatreseats,the projectionroometc.Heisaskingbusinessesto comeforwardwithideastoworkwithhimtobring itbacktolife.
SalvationArmyShop Celebrates30Years
On3rdJuly2026,theSalvationArmycelebrated the30thanniversaryofopeningitscharityshop inChurchStreet,Rushden.Thecharityshop helpsfundtheirworktosupportthemost vulnerableandmarginalisedpeople.
MayorofRushden,Cllr.JanetPinnock,attended thecelebrationandthankedthemfortheir unfailingwork.
TheSalvationArmyconceptbeganonthestreets ofEastLondonin1865.
TwoMethodists,WilliamandCatherineBooth, optedtotakeGod’sworddirectlytothepeople. ThemovementspreadrapidlyacrosstheBritish Islesandbecameestablishedacrosstheglobein countriessuchasAmerica,Canada,Australia, France,Switzerland,India,SouthAfrica,Iceland, andGermany.
AlldonationsfortheRushdenSalvationArmy shoparewelcome.Theyacceptclothing,books, furnitureandanymiscellaneousitems
IrthlingboroughBridgeto CloseAgain
TheA6bridgebetweenHighamFerrersand Irthlingboroughwasaveryearly“bypass”.
Ittooknorth-southtrafficovertheNene(andthe railwaythatusedtorunalongsidetheriver.) Sadly,therailwayislonggone,buttheriverand floodplainsarestillwithus.
Thebridgewasdesignedandbuiltbeforethe moderneraofHGVsand40-tonlorries.Itneeds regularmaintenancetokeepitsafe.
TheA6runsoverthebridgeandwillbeclosed formaintenancefrom8pmonFriday31stofJuly to6amonMonday10thofAugust.Thisisthe latestofaseriesofclosurestofixtheproblems.
NorthNorthantsCouncilhopesthatthisworkwill finallyfixtheepidemicofpotholesonthebridge, plussomestructuralissues.
CountrysideWalks
MichaelGordon,SarahHughes,Andrew PreslandandNickyStaggaremembersofthe WhitefriarsChurchCountrysideWalksTeam.
Onceamonth,theyorganisecountrysidewalks forhikers.Theirupcomingeventsare:
·Sundaymorning2ndAugust,–meetingat WhitefriarsChurch,walkingthroughHallPark, Rushden,toWymington,followedbyapicnicin HallPark.
·Sunday13thSeptember,2.30pm-Newton Bromswold/NewtonSpinney
TheTeamcanbecontactedon01933-316927or 07943-307873.
HighamTwinning
Thisyearisthe36thyearanniversaryofthe TwinningAgreementbetweenHighamFerrers andHachenburginGermany.
Eachyear,adelegationfromHighamor HachenburgvisitstheotherTown.
Thisyear,itwastheturnoftheHachenburgers tovisitHighamFerrers.Theyarrivedintheearly eveningonSaturday11thofJuly.
OnSunday12th,therewasareceptionat Higham’sTownHall,withtheTownMayor,Cllr. ChrisO'Rourke.
Later,therewasabarbecueinthegroundsofthe formerChicheleCollege,thatlasteduntil evening.Itwassohotandsunny,thatthetables weremovedaroundtofindshade.Entertainment bybandFynniusFoggwasmuchappreciatedby everyone.
Ang’sIcesattendedatveryshortnoticetohelp cooleveryonedown.
OnMonday,theGermantour-busferriedthe TwinnerstoAlthorpHall.Theyspenttheday lookingroundthehouseandgardens,wherethe memorialistothelateLadyDianaSpencer.
Intheevening,theymetupatHigham’sSAS Clubforafish-and-chipsupper.Theportionsof fishprovidedbyGeorgia’sFishBarwerehuge.
OnTuesday,theGermantour-busleftfor Oxford.TheGermanswerescheduledtohavea touroftheCityat10am.However,therewereso manygoodbyes,handshakes,hugsandkisses thatthetour-busleftHighamhalf-an-hourlateat 8:30am.
AftertheGermanshadleft,GillMercer,the SecretaryoftheHighamFerrersTwinning Associationsaid.
“Wehaveavisiteveryotheryearfromour twintown.Overtheyearsmanyfriendships havebuiltupandwemakethemvery welcome.Theygettolearnsomethingabout ourcultureandtheyalwayshaveagreat time.Nextyearwewillvisitthematthe beginningofAugust”.
HosepipeBaninNeneHeraldArea
2026ismore-and-moreturningouttobearepeatof1976.
Thetwosummersareseparatedbyhalf-a-century,butthey’relookingmoreandmorelikesiblings.
On10thJuly,AnglianWaterannouncedaso-called“TemporaryUseBan”–morecommonlyknownas a“HosepipeBan”.TheysaidthattheEastofEnglandhadonlyreceived39%oftherainfallthathad beenexpected.
ThebancoversthewholeoftheEastofEnglandregion,butwhatmatterstoourreaders,isthatit coversthewholeofourarea.
Fromnow,untiltheBanisreversed,itwillbeillegaltowateryourgardenwithahose,washyourcaror washyourpatio.
Lookingbackto1976,lawnsturnedbrown,cricketpitchesbecamedustbowls,andmanytreesdied. Itlookslikewe’reinforarepeat.
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