December 2025

NENE Herald

RemembranceDay

RemembranceDayiswhenthecountryremembersthosewhogavetheirlivesinthewarsof thelastcenturyandthisone.

InRushden,aroundthreethousandpeoplecameouttowatchtheparadeandtojoininthe ServiceofRemembrance.

Whenthetwo-minutesilencewascalled,allthreethousandbecamesilent.

Dozensofwreatheswerelaid,startingwithaDeputyLordLieutenant,followedbyRushden’s TownMayor,Cllr.GillMercer,GenKitchenMP,andmanyothersrepresentinggroupsand organisationswithinthetownpayingtheirrespectstothefallen.

InWellingborough,asimilareventtookplace.WreatheswerelaidbyadifferentDeputyLord Lieutenant,andWellingborough’sTownMayor,Cllr.RajMishra,followedbyCllr.Martin Griffiths,theLeaderofNorthNorthantsCouncilandCllr.PaulBell,theLeaderoftheTown Council.Manyothersthenlaidwreathes.

Irthlingborough BusServices

Cutshavebeenmadetobusservicesfor Irthlingboroughwithoutwarningorconsultation.

Thechangeswereonlyrevealedwhennotices appearedonthewindowsofsomebuses, particularlysomefortheNo48andNo.50 routes.

Theresultwasthatsomepassengerswere caughtoutandwaitedforbusesthatwerenever goingtoarrive.

Apublicmeetingwasheldonthe17thofOctober, attheCommunityCentre,Irthlingborough.

Atthemeeting,itwasdisclosedthatthe48and 50buseswouldnolongertakepassengers directlyfromCrowHilltoRushden,Rushden LakesorHighamFerrers.

IthadanimmediateimpactonCrowHillbus travellers,assomewereunabletogettoworkor school.

MindfulYouAppLaunched

Wellingborough’sTownMayor,CllrRajMishra, haslaunchedanAppcalled'MindfulYou'.

Cllr.Mishra,aConservativecouncilloron WellingboroughTownCouncil,hopestomake ‘mentalhealthsupportaccessible’toall.Theaim istohelplocalpeoplecopewiththestressesof dailylife.TheApputilisesexercisesandsessions thatcanreducestressthroughmeditation.

TheAppcanbedownloadedfromtheAppleApp StoreandGooglePlayStore.Itisavailableona rangeofdevices,includingSmartPhones,tablets, anddesktopPCs.

NNCOpposesDigitalIDs

NorthNorthantsCouncilhaspassedamotion opposingthegovernment’splansforDigitalID cards.

“AirAda“

TheLabourgovernmenthasclaimedthatDigital IDsarean"enormousopportunity"tocurbillegal workers,butopponentsseeitasathreatto personalfreedom.

AmotionopposingDigitalIDswasproposedata meetingofNorthNorthantsCouncilbyCllr.Helen Harrison,theLeaderoftheConservativeGroup. Shesaiditwouldimpactpeople’sday-to-daylives andpotentiallytheservicesthatNNCprovided.

Cllr.ChrisMunday,aReformUKcouncillor,said: "Thegovernmentclaimsthisisaboutpreventing illegalworking.”

"AssomeonewhoworksintheHRprofession,I cantellyouplainlyitwon't.Thoseemployerswho choosetobreakthelaw,thosewhohireillegal workers,willsimplycontinuetoignoreanynew system,justastheyignorethecurrentone.”

ThemotionwasfullysupportedbyReform, ConservativeandGreencouncillorsandwas passedoverwhelmingly.

LibDemandLabourcouncillorsdidnotsupport theMotion.

TheStruggleForRushdenLakesPart12

ThisisthetwelfthinstalmentofthestoryofhowtheRushdenLakesschemecametobeapprovedand thenbuilt.

TheFutureofRushdenLakes

WhenRushdenLakesopened,around60,000carsvisiteditonthefirstday.

Sincethen,theLakeshasthrivedwitharoundsevenmillionvisitorsperyear.Foraschemethatisnot adjacenttoanymajorcity,thisisastaggeringlyhighfigure.

Thenumberofvisitorshasbeensogreatthattheenlargedroundaboutattheentrancehasregularly beenoverloaded.Therearediscussionsaboutupgradingtheroundaboutforasecondtime,butasyet, ithasn’thappened.

Thegovernmentisdemandingthatextrahousing mustbebuilt.However,thelocalinfrastructure (especiallythisroundabout)isalreadyoverloaded. Giventheprioritythatthegovernmentisplacingon housebuilding,theroundaboutupgradeisverylikely tohappen.

AlternativemethodsofaccessingRushdenLakes arenowbeinginvestigated.

Asecondentrancetothesiteisplannedatthe Westernend.ItwilllinktoDitchfordLaneandallow visitorstravellingfromtheWesttoenterthesite directly,withouthavingtodrivepastitandthenenter attheEasternend.

FurtherdevelopmentattheWesternendalreadyhasplanningapproval.Itiscurrentlystalledby concernsabouttheimpactonwildlife.However,itisverylikelytogoaheadbeforetoolong.

Inthemeantime,CineworldareplanningafaceliftfortheiralreadyimpressiveofferingattheLakes.

Theseatingwillbereplacedbywider,recliningseats,togivea“zerogravityeffect”.

Rushden’sCancerResearchShopHasClosed

Lastmonth,NeneHeraldreportedthatCancer Research(UK)plannedtoclosetheirstorein Rushden.Thistheyhavenowdone.

They’vedecidedtocentraliseandconcentrate onlargerstores.Theystated: “…likemanyhighstreetretailers,we’refaced withrisingcosts,inflationarypressures,and changingconsumerhabits—including reducedfootfall,highernationalinsurance contributions,andgrowingcompetitionfrom onlineresaleplatforms.”

Theirneareststoresnowappeartobein KetteringandNorthampton.Localpeoplewere disappointedthatCancerResearchhavechosen tomoveoutandlosetheirlocalconnection.

BirdFlu

inWellingborough

Seasonalfluaffectingbirdshasarrivedin Wellingborough.Thelethalstraininvolvedis H1N1,commonlyknownasbirdflu.Itcanjump tohumansandpotentiallykillusaswell.

Acenturyago,aflustrainknownasSpanishFlu hittheworld.Genetically,itwasalmostidentical toH1N1.

In1918-1919,SpanishFlukilledanestimated50 millionpeople.ThereisacemeteryinHamburg inGermany,whereanentirefieldisdevotedto thegravesofthoseitkilledduringthatterrible winter.

TheEmbankmentontheRiverNeneisnormally asceneofserenecalmness,withdozensof swansdriftingoverthewater.Theyarewild,but accustomedtohumans,andregularlygetfed.

Injustafewdays,birdfluhaskilledseveralof them.Otherbirdsintheareaarealsoatrisk, andwecouldwellseeotherbirdsdying.

Birdfluiscontagiousanddangerous.

Donottouchanybirdsthatseemtobe suffering.

Ifyoufinddeadorsickbirds,reportitonthe Defrahelplineon03459335577oronlinevia theGovernmentwebsite.

Thisyear,thereisanadditionalrisk.H3N2had re-emerged.Itwasthestrainthatcausedthe HongKongFlupandemic,whichkilledaround onemillionpeoplein1968/9.H3N2brieflyreemergedin2003/4(asFujianflu).Thisyear,it hasre-appeared,morevirulentthanformany years.

ThestrongadviceofNeneHeraldistogetthis year’sfluvaccinationtoprotectyourselfandyour family.

TheFinancialTimeshasnamedacareprovider, “HomeInstead”,tobetheirDiversityLeaderfor 2026.Theyprovidealocalservicein WellingboroughandRushden.

AspokespersonforHomeInsteadnotedthat amongEuropeancompaniestheyhadjumpedto 7thintheHealthcare(Social)sector leaderboard.Byprovidingpersonalised,quality, reliablehomecarebyexperiencedCare Professionals,itallowspeopletocontinuetolive independentlyintheirownhomes.

TheCEOofHomeInstead,MartinJones,said, "Inclusivityisattheheartofeverythingwedo, andit’srewardingtoknowouremployeesvalue andexperiencethisintheirday-to-daywork.”

Hepointedoutthatthiswasfurtherrecognition ofthecompany,aftertheFinancialTimesrated them3rdoutofover500UKcompanies,ina surveyofBestEmployers.

“TheEntertainer”News

Lastmonth,NeneHeraldreportedthegood newsthatanewtoystorehadopenedat RushdenLakes.

PartoftheUK’slargesttoyshopchain,its launchimmediatelyattractedmanypuntersand excellentsales.However,elsewhereintheUK, “TheEntertainer”chainfacesfinancialproblems.

Overall,theylostaround£10millionsofarin 2025,andhadtomake41staffredundant.The companyblamedan“unheraldedincreasein employmentcosts.”

InNovember2024,thecompanywarnedthat thismighthappen.Atthetime,theysaidthat theyhadbeenforcedtodropplanstoopentwo newstoresaftertheLabourGovernmentsaid thatitwouldraiseNationalInsurance(NI) contributionsforemployers.

ThestoreatRushdenLakesshouldbesafe, becauseitisoneoftheirbiggestandbestpositionedstores.

GreenwayRampOpens

Rushden’snewGreenwayramp,locatedbythe tunnelthatrunsunderWashbrookRoad,has beenofficiallyopened.

TheGreenwayitselforiginallyopenedin2011 andlargelyrunsalongtherouteofthedisused Rushden-to-Wellingboroughrailwayline.This newrampgiveswalkers,cyclistsanddisabled folkaneasieraccessonandofftheGreenway fromMidlandRoad.

ItalsoallowsGreenwayuserstousetheroute, withoutthefearofbeing“closedin”bythehigh banksoneachsideoftheculvert.

CouncillorsinRushden,initiallyledbythelate SarahPeacock,hadbeencampaigningforthe rampformanyyears.

Theofficialopeningwasattendedbycouncillors fromNorthNorthantsCouncilandRushdenTown Council.Amemorialsign,showingaflamboyant peacock,wasalsounveiledinmemoryofSarah Peacock.

Cllr.MartinGriffiths,LeaderofNNC,paidtribute tothetirelesseffortsofSarahPeacock,whileCllr. GillMercerofRTC,saidthatitwasafittingtribute toSarah.

AlanandSimonPeacock,husbandandsonof Sarah,cuttheceremonialcake,whileCllr. Mercer,MayorofRushden,cuttheribbonto signifythattherampwasofficiallyopen.

Itwassymbolicthataredkite,thegreat biodiversitysuccessstoryofNorthNorthants, chosetocirclethecrowd,justastheGreenway wasdeclaredopen.

LegoChurch

ChristmasCarols

TheRushdenandHighamFerrersBranchof “SavetheChildren”arehopingtoraisefunds overtheChristmasperiodbyinvitingpeopleto jointhemfortheir“CarolsbyCandlelight” evenings.

Carolsingerscanenjoymincepiesanddrinks, whilejoininginwiththeRushdenTownBandat Higham’sBedeHouse.

Therewillbealogfireandraffle,for“Carolsby Candlelight”.

ThefunwillbeonTuesday9thofDecemberand Thursday11thofDecember.

Ticketsare£12.50,andtheycanbebookedby phoning07946-871452orbyemailing rushdenhighamferrersscf@gmail.com

RushdenFireworkDisplay

Rushden’sannualfireworkdisplaytookplaceon8th NovemberinHallPark.

Over8,000peopleattendedandsawastunningdisplayof theart.

ItwasopenedbyCllr.GillMercer,Rushden’sTownMayor.

Theflashesandbangswereaccompaniedbymusicfrom theshows.

Itkickedoffwith“WhiteLightning”fromGrease,and continuedwithsongsfromWicked,ThePhantomofthe Operaandothers.

Itwasthe57thannualdisplayorganisedbythevolunteers fromNeneValleyScouts.Thecompere,NathanGodby, askedforotherstocomeforwardandhelpwithfuture displaysandwithscoutingingeneral.Morehelpisalways needed.

StreetPastors

CometoRushden

OnThursday13thNovember,theStreetPastors officiallylaunchedtheirRushdenserviceina ceremonyheldatParkRoadBaptistChurch.

TheDeputyTownMayorofRushden,Cllr.Janet Pinnock,readoutaspeechandtherewasan endorsementfromSgt.LeighGoodwinof NorthantsPolice.

TheStreetPastors’objectiveistocontribute positivelytosocietyandtoimprovethequalityof lifeofthedisadvantagedandvulnerable.Their websitestates:

“StreetPastorsareVolunteersfromdifferent churcheswhocareaboutthesafetyand wellbeingoftheircommunity.Wecomeinall shapesandsizesandareknownforbeinga peacefulandpracticalhelponthenighttime streetsandacaring,listeningandhelpful presenceinourcommunities.Wearean approachableandnon-judgementalteam lookingafteranyonewhoisinneedofsupport, uniquelyidentifiablebyouruniforms,ourcaps andourbags.”

Theyaimtobuilduptheirserviceandare lookingfornewvolunteerstotrainandbecome partoftheirteam.

Higham“Sparkles”

OnSaturday22ndNovember,severalstreetsin thecentreofHighamFerrerswereclosedoff. Carsandlorrieswerereplacedbyfun-fairrides andstalls.

TheeventspannedtheMethodistChurch,St Mary’sChurch,theBedeHouseandtheWorking Men’sClubwithSanta’sGrottoandthereindeer alsoatChicheleCollege.

Thereweremanystallsofferingfoodandcrafts topurchase.Charitiesandcommunitygroups alsohadstalls.Localschoolsalsoperformedas wellasBedfordMorrisMen.

OrganisedbyHighamTownCouncil,the ”HighamSparkle”washeldtocelebratethe switchingonoftheTown’sChristmasLights.

NewClothesStore OpensinRushden

AnewnicheshopopenedinRushdenon Saturday14thNovember.Inanopening ceremony,Rushden’sTownMayor,CllrGill Mercer,madeashortspeechandcutthe ribbon.

UVRCollectionsisauniquefamily-run businessthatoffersfashion,accessoriesand more.Itisnotpartofany“chain”andcanoffer lowpricesbecauseitimportsitsgoodsdirectly fromIndiaand,therefore,cutsoutthe“middleman”.NeitheristhereanyremoteHQthat needstobesupported.

Theowner,AnkitPatel,hasavisiontoprovide highqualityfashionatfairandreasonable prices,makingstyleaccessibletoeveryone.

AlthoughRushdenhaslostHighStreetshops recently(e.g.CancerResearch),theopening ofanothercompletelynewretailer(Latte openedon7November)showsthattheHigh Streetisnotdeadandcanattractbusinesses tothetown.

AnewtoyshopopenedinWellingboroughon Saturday8thNovember.

ViralVaultislocatedat48a-48bOxfordStreet,in thecentreoftheTown.

Theyareopensevendaysperweek: ·1pmto6pmweekdays 10amto6pmSaturdays ·10amto4pmonSundays

Theyinviteyouto“come,haveaplay,buildyour ownslimesundae,ortestoutsomeofourviral fidgettoys–they’rejustasaddictiveastheylookon TikTok”.

OUTANDABOUT

Inandaroundwellingborough&Rushden

WildandWoody

NorthNorthantsCouncilarerunninga“Forest School”forkidsaged2to4years.

Theideabehinditistohelpkidsdevelopselfconfidencethroughplayinanaturalenvironment.

ThefunwilltakeplaceatFermynWoodsCountry ParkonMondays,andatIrchesterCountryPark onWednesdaysfrom10amto12pm.

Fulldetailscanbefoundathttps:// www.northnorthants.gov.uk/country-parks/eventscountry-parks

Or,ifyouwantmoredata,youcanemail: EducationRangers@NorthNorthants.gov.uk

Spinneyfields ChristmasFayre

SpinneyfieldsisanNHSrehabilitationbasedunit inRushden,whichopenedinJunethisyear.Itis justoffHighfieldRoad,nextdoortothe PembertonCentre.

Theyaresettinguparesolvingdeliriumwardand aretryingtoraisefundsforartsandcraftsand accessibilityaids.

TheywillbeholdingaChristmasFayreon Saturday13thofDecemberfrom12pmto4pm. Rushden’sTownMayorwillbeattending.

WinterWonderland

Everyweekendfrom15thNovember,aWinter WonderlandMazewillchallengevisitorsto“The Workshop”at44ParkRoad,Rushden.From 10amto4pm,therewillbestalls,craftandfamily fun.Santawillbetherefrom12noonto3:50. (£3.50toseeSanta).

TeenBookClub

Despitethecomputergamesboomtherearestill someteenagerswhoreadbooks.Manyfeel isolated,butitdoesn’thavetobeso.

Rushden’slibraryisofferingachanceforthose wholovereadingtomeetotherswithsimilar interests.

EveryFriday,afterschool,teenagereaderscan meetandexchangetipsaboutwhichbooksarethe best(atleastforthenextyearortwo!).

Computerscreensmaybeeverywhere,butprintis notdead–atleastnotyet!

ChristmasWreath Workshop

MichellefromEdenFlowerswillbeholdinga “wreaths”workshopattheBedeHouseinHigham FerrersonSaturday6thofDecember.

Allthematerialsneededtocreateawreathwillbe provided.

Refreshmentswillbeavailable.

Thefeeforthedemonstrationandyourown wreathwillbe£30.

Youcanbookaseatbyemailing nickyway7@yahoo.co.ukorbytextingNickyon 07875908830.

WellingboroughLibrary ChristmasFair

WellingboroughLibraryarestagingaChristmas FaironSaturday6thDecember,from10amto 2pm.Allarewelcome.

ItwillfeatureFatherChristmas,withgames,stalls, araffleandmore.

Thereisstillroomformoregroupstotakepartand setupstalls(£15set-upchargeperstall).

TheLibraryislookingfordonationsforthe tombola.Teddies,jigsawsandothertoyswouldbe verywelcome!

Christmasatthe Queen’sHead

TheQueensHeadinHighamFerrershasafull programmeofentertainmentforDecemberinthe run-uptoChristmasandtheNewYear:

·Saturday13th–livemusicbyConundrumfrom 9pm

·Tuesday16th–Christmasquizfrom8:30pm

·Thursday18th-KidsDisco4pm-6pm

·Saturday20th–LivemusicfromTheRetrofrom 9pm

·Wednesday31st–NewYearsEvePartyfrom 9pm.

By-Election InWellingborough

OnThursday20thNovember,aby-electiontook placeforaseatonWellingboroughTownCouncil. Theresultwas:

·FarisAyoub-Green172votes15.9%

·GavinBeales-Reform403votes37.2%Elected ·WilliamInskip-Labour186votes17.2%

·VinodVaghela-Conservative322votes29.7%

GavinBealeswasthereforeelectedtoWTCfor thewardofBrickhillandQueensway, Theturnoutwasjust9.5%!

TheNeneHeraldisacommunity-basednewspaperforWellingborough,Rushden,HighamFerrers,Irthlingboroughandthe surroundingvillages.

TheHeraldisfreeandcanbefoundontheInternetat:https://issuu.com/nene_herald Alternatively,youcanhaveitemailedtoyou.IfyouwishtoreceivefreecopiesofthelatestissueofNeneHerald,sendanemail requestingafreecopyto:Nene_Herald@yahoo.com Ifyounolongerwishtoreceivefreecopiesofthenewspaper,simplyemailusandaskto‘unsubscribe’.

Ifyouwishtocommentonanyofthesubjectswithinthispublicationorwouldliketocontributeto thecontent,pleasegetintouchviaemailto:nene_herald@yahoo.com