August 26

August 2026

NENE Herald

In and Around the Wellingborough & Rushden Area

Rushden’s Party in the Park

Saturday 11th July saw Rushden’s annual Party in the Park. This was the 25th Anniversary of the event.

It was celebrated by the Rushden Yarm Bombing team who created some amazing pieces of work displayed around the park (Photos Page 2) It was Hall Park’s biggest ever Party in the Park and officially opened by the Town Mayor, Cllr. Janet Pinnock.

The Park was filled with dozens of charity and trade stalls along with fairground rides. It was hot and sunny, so, where possible, the stalls were positioned to take advantage of the shade of the trees that line the main avenue through the Park.

The fairground rides appealed to all ages. These included some “scary” rides for teenagers (e.g. the “Crazy Fun House”), but there were also many rides for younger children. There were constant squeals of delight from the small ones (and a few from the teenagers).

“Mr. Twister” was onsite. He twisted balloons and gave “puppies”, “lollies”, “flags” and other weird shapes to the small kids.

Continued on next page

During the afternoon, a team of trick motorcyclists gave a spectacular display in the main arena. The display team roared up a ramp and soared metres into the sky, before landing again. They flew over each other and even their own team van. It was very much a case of “Don't Try This At Home”.

Beat Route Radio had a stall next to the Town Council stand and made a live outside broadcast. A “climbing wall” was located close to their stand, and one of the Beat Route Radio crew bravely climbed it with his radio mike.

Throughout the event, the thousands of revellers were able to enjoy ices, drinks, burgers, Mexican street food, chips, and a mass of other snacks.

Whilst all the activities were taking place in the main Park, the stage in the Walled Garden had a succession of local groups dancing and singing to entertain the visitors. This was followed by a rock concert in the Walled Garden in the early evening.

Throughout the day, teams of councillors and other volunteers patrolled, marshalled and litter-picked.

Thanks go to all those who helped organise this amazing event. Especially to those who took part and to the Rushden Yarn Bombing team for their fantastic pieces of work to mark the 25th anniversary of Party in the Park.

PAGE 2

Armed Forces Day

Grensons Bought Rushden grew from just over 800 residents to around 35,000 in the last two hundred years.

Most of that phenomenal growth was powered by the Boot and Shoe Industry.

At one time, Rushden and its neighbours allegedly had over 120 companies making shoes or supporting their manufacture. A figure of 200 has even been suggested.

Today, the local Boot and Shoe Industry is almost gone. Most of the factories have been demolished or converted for other uses. Driving round Rushden, you can see a number of former shoe factories that are now blocks of flats or retail stores.

Armed Forces Day took place on Saturday 27th June. It was hot and sunny.

And now, there is another nail in the coffin of what was once the World’s premier shoe industry.

In fact, it was too hot and sunny. Due to the Met Office weather warnings for extreme heat, the Rushden & District Veterans' Group decided to modify the town's celebrations of Armed Forces Day.

Grensons have been making shoes in Rushden since 1866, but now they are 75% owned by sportswear company Castore.

The significant events of the day are the Parade, (a spectacular 1.2 miles march along the High Street with musicians, Sea, Army & Air Cadets, as well as veterans), and the Drumhead Service, which would be held outside the Railway Goods Shed in full direct sunlight.

Grensons hand-made shoes have been worn by the rich and famous for over a century. Just recently, the latest Doctor Who wore them in the Tardis.

We are perhaps approaching the end of an era.

In view of the extreme weather, it was decided to cancel the Parade and Drumhead Service elements as a duty of care to all participants, road marshals, etc. Instead, several indoor events were organised with displays and stalls at the Rushden Historical Transport Society's Goods Shed on John Clark Way. The attached photos show the indoor mini-fete in Rushden’s converted Railway Goods Shed.

Stanton Cross Stanton Cross is to get a local centre, a “hub”.

It is planned to have a small Co-op (presumably like the one in the Grangeway, Rushden).

The plans also include four other retail units, a nursery, 37 flats and a shared car park.

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Wellingborough Party in the Park Wellingborough’s Party-in-the-Park was held in Croyland Park on Sunday 6th July. The eeather was hot, but the sun wasn’t scorching.

There were stalls and rides and songs and shows on the stage.

Highlights included : • A Viking Boat * Some really scary rides •

The “Wipeout”

Entry was free and there was ample parking.

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Electric Buses in North Northamptonshire North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) has received funding from the Department for Transport for electric buses.

NNC has decided to introduce ten new electric buses on routes across the District. The routes that will receive the new buses are the X46 and X47. The new buses will arrive around the middle of 2027.

It brings about a “full circle”. In the early 1900s, electric buses were running in parts of the country.

However, they were unpopular and were replaced by diesel buses (which are highly polluting).

It has taken a long time to correct that mistake, but better late than never.

Cllr Chris McGiffen, the council’s Executive Member for Highways and Travel, said: “The new proposals plan would see electric buses used on routes that make up 20% of bus journeys in North Northamptonshire.“ Mark Whitelocks, Managing Director for Stagecoach Midlands said: "Working in partnership with North Northamptonshire to accelerate our delivery of electric buses to the network is not only exciting, it will also help us to deliver improvement to our services for our customers sooner.

Customers will benefit from smoother, quieter, cleaner and more modern journeys as a result.

Not only will this support and fleet investment make bus a better choice for our communities across North Northamptonshire, but this will also help us contribute to reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality for our communities."

More Trees Hit by Disease First, it was Dutch Elm Disease, then our beloved beech tree in Hall Park rotted, and now we see trees affected by “Sooty Bark Disease”.

In the vernacular, we can’t catch a break!

Sooty Bark Disease kills sycamores and related trees. The bark peels away, leaving a dirty, black residue, like a layer of burnt wood. (See the photo of a stump covered with ‘soot’.)

Rushden’s Jubilee Park has been hit hard with the loss of trees in the summer of its jubilee.

One hundred years ago, the Park was donated to the Town, and young sycamore trees were planted around its boundary. A number of those trees have now died from the new disease. They had to be cut down and removed.

Dead trees are a safety hazard. The risk with the beech tree was that one of the branches (trunks) could fall and kill someone. With the new disease, the risk is different. The spores of the Sooty Bark fungus are dangerous if breathed in.

Dutch Elm Disease killed most of England’s elm trees, leaving gaps in the woodland across the Nation. We cannot tell how far Sooty Bark Disease will spread, but it doesn’t look good.

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The Chicken Farm Has Not Gone Away The proposed chicken broiler farm in South Rushden, to be located at the Biogen food recycling unit close to the Bedfordshire border, is now coming back with a revised planning application. The original application submitted in 2018.

This plan is a BIG one: · six poultry units · fifteen grain silos · three crumb feed silos · three food blending houses · two water tanks · a pumping house · two gas storage tanks · an electricity substation · switch room · standby generator with fuel tank · weigh room · welfare block · flood attenuation works · cold store · incinerator · boiler house · storage building · security gatehouse This is a controversial scheme in open countryside.

Previous applications for a chicken farm at this location have had a lot of opposition. A group calling themselves Cluck Off were especially vocal.

Comments supporting or opposing the scheme can be made on the North Northants Council website but must be submitted by 6 AUGUST 2026. Go to: https://publicaccess.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/ online-applications/ Then enter 18/01284/FUL in the search.

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Rushden’s Fly Season In north-west Rushden, it’s the Season of Flies!

For a number of years, July and August have seen vast numbers of flies invading homes, offices and factories, in the area to the north of Irchester Road and Washbrook Road. The affects rarely spread further south, or east of the Greenway.

The flies arrive when it’s too hot to keep windows closed and they can cause misery.

Kitchens are especially affected, because the heat forces cooks to keep the windows open.

The flies then land on any exposed food, ruining it.

The only guaranteed way to get a good night’s sleep, is to organise a counter-attack with flyswatters just before bedtime. (This assumes that you’ve closed the windows to keep out reinforcements!)

On hot nights, during heatwaves, that may not be possible, and anyway, spending 30-40 minutes patrolling and swatting, when you’re hot and tired, isn’t great fun.

Curiously, last year, (the year of the Great Fire), the fly season barely happened.

What an odd coincidence!

In offices, they land on computer screens and workers, tickling and distracting them. At times, it becomes almost impossible to concentrate and work.

During the night, the tiny attackers land on, and crawl over, sleepers. Sleep is interrupted and, by morning, people are grumpy and tired. They spend the day fighting the urge to go back to bed.

Fly-zappers take a scythe of the flying invaders, but it’s never enough, because there are always reinforcements waiting just outside the windows.

Fly-papers are a cheaper defence, but they soon fill up, and again, they only take a small number of the enemy. (See photograph.)

Wellingborough Public Space Protection Order North Northants Council (NNC) has opened a public consultation on a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for the centre of Wellingborough.

The PSPO for Wellingborough’s town centre is a re-introduction of one that was originally introduced in November 2020, and then renewed in November 2023.

A council spokesman said: “Public Space Protection Orders provide councils with tools to help us manage anti-social behaviour, ensuring that town centres are safe for everyone. It is important that any Order is suitable for each town.

“This consultation is a vital part of this process, and I would encourage everyone to get involved and have their say.”

The consultation can be accessed via NNC’s consultation hub and is open until the 10th of August 2026.

You can find it at this address: https://northnorthants.citizenspace.com/pspo/wellingborough-tc-pspo PAGE 7

Newton Bromswold Fete

The annual Newton Bromswold fete was on Saturday 4th July. The setting was a beautiful glade, with dappled sunshine. (See photograph.)

It was a friendly and local event with the Rushden Mission Band performing a series of popular tunes.

Local author, Philip Wright, was giving out free drinks on the hot day, while showcasing his work. (Nene Herald will include a review of his book “Valley of Nene” in our September issue.)

Local artist, David Hawker, was sketching portraits, at the amazingly low price of £5.

A Children’s Fancy Dress competition was held, and the winner was picked by Rushden’s Mayor, Cllr.

Janet Pinnock.

Wellingbough Council Offices North Northants Council (NNC) plans to refurbish several of its offices in Wellingborough: · Swanspool House · Croyland Hall · Croyland Abbey The decision to do the upgrades was taken at a meeting of NNC’s Executive Committee on Tuesday 14th July in the Council Chamber in Corby.

It is reported that the upgrades will cost £3.8 million.

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Keeping Cool in Summer

This summer seems likely to become the hottest on record. Keeping cool will be on everybody’s wish list.

Splash Park on Wellingborough’s Embankment provides the perfect way to enjoy the sun while keeping cool.As usual, the Park is open weekends and bank holidays from 12noon until 6.30pm (until Sunday 27th of September). Additionally, the Park will be open daily until Monday 31st of August from 12noon until 6.30pm.

Wellingborough Carnival Forget about that little 4th of July thing over in Washington. The Big Show was here in Wellingborough.

The 2026 Wellingborough Carnival lasted an hour and it was a visual treat: · “Rust Bucket” cars · Carnival Queens · Bands · Gymnasts performing mid-air summersaults · A cuddly “bear” · A pantomime dinosaaur Many performers threw packets of sweets to the crowds, while others fired water pistols at the revellers.

Our photographs give a glimpe of the colour and excitement of the event, but just a glimpse. To really get the vibes, you had to be there.

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Flutters Back on the Market

Irthlingborough Bridge to Close Again The A6 bridge between Higham Ferrers and Irthlingborough was a very early “bypass”.

It took north-south traffic over the Nene (and the railway that used to run alongside the river.)

Sadly, the railway is long gone, but the river and floodplains are still with us.

The bridge was designed and built before the modern era of HGVs and 40-ton lorries. It needs regular maintenance to keep it safe.

The former Ritz cinema in College Street, Rushden, which later became Flutters Bingo, was sold to new owners in late 2024.

At this point, it has still not re-opened or had any conversion work done on it.

In fact, it appears to be back on the market, with a sign on the front, offering it “To Let”.

The A6 runs over the bridge and will be closed for maintenance from 8pm on Friday 31st of July to 6am on Monday 10th of August. This is the latest of a series of closures to fix the problems.

North Northants Council hopes that this work will finally fix the epidemic of potholes on the bridge, plus some structural issues.

In fact the owner has made a video showing the inside, which still has the theatre seats, the projection room etc. He is asking businesses to come forward with ideas to work with him to bring it back to life.

Salvation Army Shop Celebrates 30 Years On 3rd July 2026, the Salvation Army celebrated the 30th anniversary of opening its charity shop in Church Street, Rushden. The charity shop helps fund their work to support the most vulnerable and marginalised people.

Countryside Walks

Mayor of Rushden, Cllr. Janet Pinnock, attended the celebration and thanked them for their unfailing work.

Michael Gordon, Sarah Hughes, Andrew Presland and Nicky Stagg are members of the Whitefriars Church Countryside Walks Team.

The Salvation Army concept began on the streets of East London in 1865.

Once a month, they organise countryside walks for hikers. Their upcoming events are:

Two Methodists, William and Catherine Booth, opted to take God’s word directly to the people.

The movement spread rapidly across the British Isles and became established across the globe in countries such as America, Canada, Australia, France, Switzerland, India, South Africa, Iceland, and Germany.

· Sunday morning 2nd August,– meeting at Whitefriars Church, walking through Hall Park, Rushden, to Wymington, followed by a picnic in Hall Park. · Sunday 13th September, 2.30pm - Newton Bromswold/Newton Spinney

All donations for the Rushden Salvation Army shop are welcome. They accept clothing, books, furniture and any miscellaneous items

The Team can be contacted on 01933-316927 or 07943-307873.

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Higham Twinning This year is the 36th year anniversary of the Twinning Agreement between Higham Ferrers and Hachenburg in Germany.

In the evening, they met up at Higham’s SAS Club for a fish-and-chip supper. The portions of fish provided by Georgia’s Fish Bar were huge.

Each year, a delegation from Higham or Hachenburg visits the other Town.

On Tuesday, the German tour-bus left for Oxford. The Germans were scheduled to have a tour of the City at 10am. However, there were so many goodbyes, handshakes, hugs and kisses that the tour-bus left Higham half-an-hour late at 8:30am.

This year, it was the turn of the Hachenburgers to visit Higham Ferrers. They arrived in the early evening on Saturday 11th of July.

On Sunday 12th, there was a reception at Higham’s Town Hall, with the Town Mayor, Cllr.

Chris O'Rourke.

Later, there was a barbecue in the grounds of the former Chichele College, that lasted until evening. It was so hot and sunny, that the tables were moved around to find shade. Entertainment by band Fynnius Fogg was much appreciated by everyone.

After the Germans had left, Gill Mercer, the Secretary of the Higham Ferrers Twinning Association said.

“We have a visit every other year from our twin town. Over the years many friendships have built up and we make them very welcome. They get to learn something about our culture and they always have a great time. Next year we will visit them at the beginning of August”.

Ang’s Ices attended at very short notice to help cool everyone down.

On Monday, the German tour-bus ferried the Twinners to Althorp Hall. They spent the day looking round the house and gardens, where the memorial is to the late Lady Diana Spencer.

Hosepipe Ban in Nene Herald Area 2026 is more-and-more turning out to be a repeat of 1976.

The two summers are separated by half-a-century, but they’re looking more and more like siblings.

On 10th July, Anglian Water announced a so-called “Temporary Use Ban” – more commonly known as a “Hosepipe Ban”. They said that the East of England had only received 39% of the rainfall that had been expected.

The ban covers the whole of the East of England region, but what matters to our readers, is that it covers the whole of our area.

From now, until the Ban is reversed, it will be illegal to water your garden with a hose, wash your car or wash your patio.

Looking back to 1976, lawns turned brown, cricket pitches became dust bowls, and many trees died.

It looks like we’re in for a repeat.

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News in Brief

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