NENE Herald
HindHotelinWellingboroughCloses
Wehaveasadstorytoreport.AdirectorofthecompanyoperatingtheHindHotelinWellingborough issuedthefollowingstatementon10thJanuary2026:
“ItiswithgreatsadnessthatwehavehadtoclosetheHindHotelyesterday.After8½years ofownership,andwith£1.3mspentonamassiveexternalrefurbishment(inpartnershipwith WellingboroughBoroughCouncilandtheHeritageLotteryFund-ourcompanyfunding £350k),a£600krefurbishmentofbedroomsandcirculationspace,andover£300kspenton modernisingthegroundfloorpublicareasandreplacingoldequipmentthroughoutthehotel. Wetookonadilapidatedbuilding,withbedroomsstuckina1990stimewarpandequipment throughoutthehotelonthebrinkofcollapse.
“Thedirectorwouldliketothanktheteam fortheirdedicationwhenfacedwith adversitysuchasthemainrefurbishment contractorgoingbust3monthsintothe24 monthrefurbishment,andtheirresiliencein thewaveofshockssuchascovidandthe currenteconomicdownturn.”
“Thecompanyhasfacedserioushardship withrespecttorisingcosts,reducedtown centrefootfallandgovernmentpolicyoften seeminglytargetingthehospitalityindustry. Throwinincreasedregulation,rising nationalinsuranceanddecreasingflexibility inthelabourmarketandacurrentlystressed economicenvironment,andthedirectorhas beenforcedtoconcedethathecanno longercontinuefinanciallysupportingthe business.Hehasnevermadeonepennyfromthebusinessandhasdedicatedthousandsof hoursunpaidtomanagingthecompanyandtherefurbishments.Hefeelsprivilegedtohave ownedsuchabeautifulbuildingforwhathasbeentooshortaperiodoftime.”
“Withallthatsaid,thehotelisphysicallyinbettershapethanfor30yearsormaybelonger.A newownerwillbefoundwhocanreapthebenefitsofthehardworkthathasbeenputinandwhowillnodoubtputtheirownflourishandfinishingtouchestoa90%complete project.Wehavenodoubtthehotelwillre-openinthenottoodistantfutureandwillonce againbethecentrepieceofthetown.”
“Allthatremainsisforustothankthetownforthepatronageovertheyears,andtohope thatwhenanewownertakesoveryoushowthemthelovethatwehavefeltoverthelast8½ years.”
WhiteMillsBridgeClosure
WhiteMillsBridgeinEarlsBartonhasbeenclosedtotrafficandpedestrians.
NorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC)anditspartner,Kier,haveclosedthebridgeuntilthesummer,while upgradeworktakesplace.
Theupgradesincludeareplacementofthefoundationsandtheentirebridgedeck,
CllrChrisMcGiffen,NNC’sExecutiveMemberforHighwaysandTravel,said:
“Thisisaprimeexampleofinvestinginourhighwaysnetwork-usingfundsreceivedfrom centralgovernmentforprojectsthatmakearealdifferencetoresidentsandcommunities acrossthearea.
“Wewouldliketotakethisopportunitytothankresidents,businessesandmotoristsfor theirunderstandingwhilstworkiscarriedouttodeliverthisessentialupgradeandhope theycanseethelong-termbenefits.
“Schemeslikethisareaboutlookingtothefuture-ensuringwehaveahighways infrastructurethatissuitablefordecadestocome.”
AllanRigby,GeneralManager,Kier,added:
“ReplacingtheWhiteMillsBridgedeckisacomplexengineeringprojectwithlimited workingspacethatwilldeliverasafer,moreresilientstructureforthelocalcommunity.Our teamiscommittedtocarryingouttheseworkstothehigheststandards,whileworking closelywithNorthNorthamptonshireCounciltominimisedisruptionwhereverpossible.We appreciateresidents’patienceaswecompletethisessentialupgrade.”
Higham’sSERVENeeds Volunteers
Serveareanactiveandgrowinglocalcharity. TheystartedoutinRushden,butare supportingpeopleacrossEast Northamptonshire.
TheHighambranchofServeislookingfor enthusiasticvolunteerstojointheirteam:
·VolunteerMinibusDrivers,ideallywitha currentMIDAScertificate
·MealsonWheelsDrivers,whocandeliver smilesandcompanionship,aswellasmeals.
·DayCentreVolunteers.
Theycanbecontactedon01933315555.
RaundsCCTVNetwork
On9thDecember2025,RaundsTownCouncil votedtoupgradetheirtown’sCCTVnetwork.
Thetownsthatwerepreviouslywithinthe formerEastNorthamptonshireCouncilarea runtheirownCCTVnetworks.Thisincludes Raunds,Rushden,HighamFerrersand Irthlingborough,whereasothertownsinthe areahavetheCCTVnetworkoperatedand paidforbyNorthNorthamptonshireCouncil.
Thisisaclearanomalyandwillhavetobe addressedatsomepoint.Itisnotrealisticto haveresidentsoftheEastNorthantstowns payingforthelocalCCTVnetworkthroughthe TownCouncilprecept,whileresidentsofthe otherNorthNorthantstownsdonot.
UniversalStudiosThemePark-Part1
Itisamazinghowproblemareascanbeopportunitiesthatjusthaven’tbeennoticed.
OnesuchinstanceoccurredwiththeswampthatsatbetweentheA45andIrthlingborough.Itwasa stinkingcesspitthathadbeenunusedformanyyearsandattractedconstantfly-tippingandfirebugs.Thensomeonehadthevisiontoseehowitcouldbecomeanasset.
Ittookyearsofhardworkbythedevelopersandlocalcouncillors,buteventuallythesiteturned intotheamazingretail/leisureareathatisRushdenLakes.
Today,RushdenLakesisrecognisedasprobablythefinestretailcentreinEurope.Italso pioneeredtheintegrationofwildlife,leisureandretail,somethingthatpreviouslywasconsidered almostimpossible.
NowsomeonehasmadeasimilarleapofimaginationfortheformerquarriessouthofBedford.
UniversalStudiosplanstoconvertthosequarriesintoagiantthemepark–thefirstofitskindtobe builtintheUK.TheplanistomakeitbiggerandbetterthanDisneylandPariswithapotentialeight millionvisitorsperyear.
WhilstRushdenLakesgainedplanningconsentfortheirmajorschemefromEastNorthants Council,itwasthenappealedallthewayuptotheSecretaryofState.Thedelaysheldupthe schemeforoverayearandinvolvedagreatdealofcampaigning.
Giventhesizeofthescheme,Universaldecidedtogorighttothetopfromthebeginning–andit paidoff.
InDecember2025,theschemetookabigleapforward,whentheSecretaryofStateforHousing, Communities&LocalGovernmentissuedaSpecialDevelopmentOrder(SDO)authorisingthe schemetogoforward.
ThecomplexwillbebuiltinKempstonHardwick,closetoBedfordandisscheduledtoopenin 2031.
Overthenextfewmonths,NeneHeraldwilldiscusstheUniversalthemepark,anditslikelyimpact onthearea.
NNC’SYouthCouncil
NorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC)hassetupaYouthCouncil.Itsrolewillbetogiveavoicetoyoung peopleandtoraisetheissuesthatmattertothem.
CllrElizabethWright,ExecutiveMemberforChildren,Families,andEducation,atNorth NorthamptonshireCouncil,said:
“HavingaYouthAdvisoryCouncilmeansyoungpeople’svoicescanbeheard,sotheycan leadthedebate,andbefrontandcentrewhenitmatters.Thestandardofsubmissionswas veryhigh;theenergyandenthusiasmofthecandidateswasinspiring,anditisexcitingthat wehavesomeamazingyoungpeoplewhocanbringdifferentlifeexperiencestotherole.I hopetheythriveandenjoyplayingsuchanexcitingpartinmattersacrossNorth Northamptonshire.”
NewyouthcouncillorAlishbaElahisaid:
“I'mexcitedtobepartoftheYACtohelpensurethateveryyoungpersoninNorth Northamptonshireseesthemselvesrepresentedasvaluedvoicesinoursociety.My ambitionistoactivelyinteractwithcouncillorstoadvisewithdecisionsthatimpactour diverseyouthcommunitiesandworkcollaborativelywithmypeerstodoso.”
TGIFridays
TheTGIFridayschainofdinersisclosing16ofitsUKrestaurants,putting456employeesoutof work.
OnTuesday13thJanuary,an‘administrator’,InterpathwasappointedtotheLibertyBarand Restaurantgroup,whichmanagestheoperationsofTGIFridays'UKrestaurants.
RyanGrant,managingdirectoratInterpathandjointadministrator,said:
"Wearepleasedtohavebeenabletosecurethistransactionwhichwillseethiswell-known brandcontinuetotradeacrosstheUK.
“Whilethesehavebeendifficulttimesforhospitalityoperatorsgenerally,thismarksa pivotalstepinTGIFridays'widerturnaround plan,puttinginplacestablefoundationsupon whichitcanbegintomoveforward."
PhilBroad,TGIFridays'GlobalPresident,said:
"Wehavebeenworkingcloselytoexploreall availableoptionsforsecuringthelong-term futureofTGIFridaysintheUK,andbelievethat thisisthebestoutcomeforthebusiness, preservesjobs,andoffersastrongplatformfor successandgrowth."
InDecember,thehospitalitysector’stradebody, UKHospitality,warnedthattheAutumnBudget riskedcausingthesectortoshed100,000workers.
Inresponse,thegovernmentsaiditis"protecting pubs,restaurantsandcaféswiththeBudget's £4.3bnsupportpackage".
Fornow,theTGIFridayatRushdenLakesseems safe,butitwasonlyre-openedlessthanayear ago,inJuly2025,bytheMayorofRushden,Cllr. GillMercer.
Wellingborough YouthClub
Wellingborough’sSwanspoolPavilionhostsayouthclubeveryThursdayfrom4pmto8pm.
TheEatsandBeatsYouthClubisopentokidsagedfrom10yrsto18yrs(25yrs,ifyouare SEND).
CYPN(ClubsforYoungPeopleNorthamptonshire)invitekidsto“tobake,crochet,craft,cookand getcreative,cometoplaygames,makemusicandplaysports,it'sallfree!”
Theycanbecontactedvia:https://www.cypn.org/contact-us/
ANewChildren’sBookcomesfrom Northamptonshire
Thebook‘FlossyandtheTiger’hasnowmadeitsdebutinNorthampton.Thebook,writtenby Northampton-basedprofessionalphotographerandauthor,PeterDietrich,isastoryofayoung girlwhobefriendsatiger.
Willtheworldofadultsencroachontheirattemptstolearnmoreabouteachother?Andhowwill theotherswhoalsoliveintheparkreact?
ThestorystemsfromwhenPeterencounteredalosttigertoywhileonawalkinhislocalparkand featuresrealpeoplethatPeterencounteredontheway.Thetigertoygavehimtheideatocreate aphotobookofthetiger’sadventuresduringtheCovidlockdown.Itthendevelopedintoafullblownmusical,butunfortunatelyforavarietyofreasonsthatprojecthadtobeshelvedforawhile.
ThestorybeganitscurrentiterationwhenPeterrealisedthathisfriend’sgranddaughter,9-yearoldFlorenceandultimateownerofthetoytiger,wouldmakeaperfectfriendfortheTigerandso theadventurebegan.
ItwasduringthistimethatPeter begansearchingforanartisttobring hiscolourfulcasttolifevisually.Atthe NorthantsTownandCountyart exhibition,hemetFionaJenney,an amateurartistfromRushdenwhohad recentlybegunexhibitingandselling herwork.
Despitehavingneverillustrated before,Fionatookonthechallenge andbegandesigningeveryone featuredinthebookfromagangof wildchildrentoawoodspritewho livesinthepark.
FionaJenneyisalongtimeresident ofRushdenand,afteryearsofmental healthissues,foundartagainafter joiningScribbleStudioinRushden. Thesupportandtutelageshe receivedtherehasenabledherto developherpassion.Sheisvery excitedtohaveillustratedherfirst bookalongwithacompanion colouringbookforanybuddingartists outtheretohavetheirownideas abouthowthecharactersshould look.Sheisnowlookingforwardto developingherskillsfurtherand meetingwhateverchallengesmay comeherwaynext.
Thebook‘FlossyandtheTiger’by PeterDietrich,shouldsoonbe availableinindependentbookshops, andfansofFlossywillonedaybe abletosingalongtoheradventures whenthemusicalisstaged.
TheMallardsRe-Stocked
TheMallardsisaparkthatisownedandmaintainedby Conservative-controlledRushdenTownCouncil.Itisfreeto enterandenjoy.
TheMallardsisaveryspecialpark,asitincludesaseriesof lakeswherethepubliccanfishwithnofees(providedtheyhave arodlicenceandreturntheircatchtolakeswhentheyleave).
WithintheEastMidlands,NeneHeraldisunawareofanyother freefishinglakesprovidedbyaTownCouncil.
Recently,RushdenTownCouncilupgradedtheMallards,with improvedplatformsforanglerstouse.
On2ndDecember,theMallardswasfurtherupgradedwitharound2000extrafishprovided fromthestocksoftheEnvironmentAgency.Theyincludedroach,tenchandcruciancarp.
Rushden’sTownMayor,Cllr.GillMercerwaspresentandhadthechancetohelpreleasethe fishintotheirnewhome.
CountryWalks
WhitefriarsChurchinRushdenare organisingaseriesofCountrysideWalks.All arewelcometojoinin.
· ABletsoeBoogie(Sunday8thFebruary)
AfourmilewalkonpathwaysintheBletsoe andThurleigharea,eastoftheA6near Sharnbrook.MeetoutsideStMary’sChurch, BletsoeinBletsoevillageTheAvenue,MK44 1QD),intimetostartat10.30am.The AvenueleavestheA6alittlewaytothenorth oftheFalconpub.
·FullwellDell(Sunday8thMarch) Afourmilewalkincountrysidebetween BozeatandWollaston.MeetinWollaston Road,Bozeat,NN297LX,whereitjoins FullwellRoadnearAllen’sHill,offtheA509 roundabout,intimetostartat10.30am.
Detailsareavailablefrom MichelGordon-07764412564 AndrewPresland-07943307873 NickyStagg-01933358526 emai:iandrew.presland.harborough58@gmail .com
RickAbbs&The LazyDogs
“OnSaturday28thofFebruary,RickAbbs& theLazyDogswillbewelcomedbackto RushdenConservativeClub.Thebanddeliver “raucoushighenergy.”
Entranceisfreetomembersandthebandare onstageat9pm.
OUTANDABOUT
NewBookClub
InRushden
AnewbookclubisbeingsetupinRushden, attheCarnegieLibrary.Itwillbeopentoall bibliophiles(“booklovers”),pluseveryonewho enjoysagoodbook.
Itwillmeetfrom4pmto5pmonthefirst Thursdayofeverymonth(startingon February5th).
Eachmeetingwillhaveatheme,witha choiceofrecommendedbooks.
RushdenLibraryarerepeatingthestunning successoftheirfirstRushdenComicCom.
Thefirstonewasafantasticeventand featuredafull-sizeTardis,workingK9,three versionsofDoctorWhoandseveralStorm Troopers.
The2026RushComwillbeheldatRushden LibraryonSaturday7thMarch2026.
Maybethisyear,therewillbeaDalek!
BluesBrothersandTitan
TheTitanFitnessBoxingAcademyisbased atAlexandraRoad,Rushden,N100HY.
Theysupportaspiringyoungboxersandoffer fitnesssessionsforallagegroups.
TitanFitnessownerandlocalstar,Todd Tompkins,turnedprofessionalandhashada numberoffights.OnJune14thlastyear,he beathighlyexperiencedJordanGrannumon pointsoverfourrounds.
Toddhasanumberofpassionatesupporters, headlinedbyJakeandElwoodBluesand “TheKing”.
PadelCourtstoOpen
Padelisasportthatmixestennisandsquash. Itisusuallyplayedindoublesonasmall enclosedcourtwithglassandmeshwallsthat arepartofthegame.
PlayPadelisanewthree-courtfacilityat GrendonHall,Itopenedonthe26thof December2025.
PlayPadel’sShamVaidsaid:
“Weloveit,butwe’renotexpectingto retireoffit.We’rehappyifitdoeswelland peopleareenjoyingthemselves,that’s whatit’sallabout.
“Mybrothertookmeonholidaylastyear andtherewasnothingtodosowefounda padelplaceandIfellinlovewiththesport.
Pleasenotethephotographthataccompanies thisstoryisofatypicalpadelcourt,rather thanthecourtsatGrendon.
AdultCraftWorkshops
“Rush2theDen”iswellknownforitsworkwith childrenandyoungpeople,butitalsoruns sessionsforadultswhowishtoexpandtheir skillset.
Theirprogrammeofworkshopsfor2026is:
·Patchwork–4thFebruary
·Decoupage–4thMarch
·PaintedEgg–1stApril
·Mosaics–6thMay
·Pyrography–3rdJune
·CrossStitch–1stJuly
·SandPainting–5thAugust
·MacraméKeyrings–2ndSeptember
·TieDye–7thOctober
·DiamondArt–4thNovember
Theyhavealsoalreadyarrangedascheduleof eventsfortherun-uptoChristmas2026:
·ChristmasTableDecorations–2ndDecember
·ChristmasWreathMakingWorkshops
-Afternoonsession:12thDecember, 1.30pm–4pm(£15)
-Eveningsession:12thDecember, 6pm–8.30pm(£15)
N.B.Childrenunder16mustbeaccompanied byaparentorlegalguardian
Reform-UK’sCllr.Beales’Problems
AlocalReform-UKcouncillorwasthesubjectofarecentexposébytheObservernewspaper.
Cllr.GavinBeales’snamewasonaleakedlistofusersofawhitesupremacistdatingwebsite, called“WhiteDate”.
Cllr.BealeswaselectedtoNorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC)inMay2025,andthenelectedto WellingboroughTownCouncil(WTC)inaby-electioninNovember2025.
Referringtotheexposé,Cllr.Bealessaid:
“Giventhetimethathaspassed,Icannotclearlyrecallthedetails.However,inlightofwhat isnowknownaboutthenatureofthesite,Iwouldneverhaveknowinglychosentobea memberortoassociatemyselfwithitinanyway.”
Reform-UKarethemajorityPartyonNNCandtheirLeader,Cllr.MartinGriffithsissuedthe followingstatement:
“ReformUKhasreviewedthematterfullyandissatisfiedthatthereisnocasetoanswer. CouncillorBealeshasprovidedaclearandconsistentexplanationandhasbeen unequivocalinhisoppositiontoracisminallforms.Hecontinuestoserveresidentsfairly, respectfullyandwithoutprejudice.
“ThePartynowconsidersthismatterclosedandwillnotbetakinganyfurtheraction. CouncillorBealeswillcontinuehisworkonbehalforlocalfamiliesandcommunitiesand deliveringthecouncil’scorporateplanforthefuture.”
Lioness’sAcademy
Anacademyteachingfootballingskillsforyounggirlsiscomingtoourarea.
“MiniLionessesAcademy”isseekinggirlsagedbetween7yrsand16yrs.Theyoffer:
·highqualitytraining
·Asafe,supportiveenvironment
·FA-qualifiedcoaches
·Skillandteamworktraining
TheAcademywelcomesbothbeginnersandexperiencedfootballplayinggirls.Theywillbe operatinginRaundsandWellingborough.
Ifyouoryourdaughterareinterested,contact:Minilionessesacademy@gmail.com
TheNeneHeraldisacommunity-basednewspaperforWellingborough,Rushden,HighamFerrers,Irthlingboroughandthe surroundingvillages.TheHeraldisfreeandcanbefoundontheInternetat:https://issuu.com/nene_herald Alternatively,youcanhaveitemailedtoyou.IfyouwishtoreceivefreecopiesofthelatestissueofNeneHerald,sendanemail requestingafreecopyto:Nene_Herald@yahoo.com Ifyounolongerwishtoreceivefreecopiesofthenewspaper,simplyemailusandaskto‘unsubscribe’.
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