NENE Herald
Rushden’sFoxes
England’sfoxeshavemovedintothecities.Inurbanareas,theirpopulationdensityis oftententimesthatinruralareas.
Andit’snotjustthecities.Rushdenhasitsownpopulationoffoxes.Theymostly scavengeduringthenight,justafterdark.Ifyoursecuritylightscomeonaround8pmor 9pm,thenit’sagoodchancethatit’safox.
Theyshouldnotbe approached,buttheyare funtowatch.
Recently,theyhavebecome morebraveandtheyare comingoutindaylight.
Theattachedphotosshow Rushdenfoxesforagingina backgardeninthemiddleof theday,inthemiddleofthe Town.
SupportNeededforMultipleSclerosisSufferers
MultipleSclerosisisaveryunpleasantcondition.Itisanauto-immunediseasewheretheimmune systemattacksnervecells,causingdamagetothecentralnervoussystem.
Thesymptomsarevaried:doublevision,visionloss,eyepain,muscleweakness,lossofsensation andco-ordination.Inmostcases,itseemstobeassociatedwithEpstein-BarrVirus,apathogenthat alsocausesglandularfever,ChronicFatigueSyndrome,andavarietyofcancers.
Therearecurrentlyaround1,500peopleinNorthantswhohaveMultipleSclerosis.
Alocalcharity,TheMSSociety,existstohelpsufferersofMScopewiththeircondition,butthereare currentlyonlyfivenurses,supportedbyfivevolunteers.
Thecharityhaveappealedformorevolunteerstohelpwiththeirwork.StellaCleary,whosetupthe supportgroupinRushden15yearsago,said: "Wejustwanttoreachouttoasmanypeopleas possible".
Thecharityreliesuponvolunteersandtheyarecurrentlyseekingnewones.Further,theyneedto runmoreeventstoraisefundstokeepdoingtheirvaluablework."We'dliketoputonmore,but therejustaren'tenoughofustodoit."
TheymeetasaSocialGroup,holdingacoffeemorning,fortnightly,onThursdaysinRushden’s Waitrosecafé.
TheMSSocietyisbasedat80UpperKingsAvenue,Rushden,orbyphoneon07305800987.
SwanspoolPavilion
Wellingborough’sSwanspoolPavilionand Gardensaretoberefurbished!
WellingboroughTownCouncilhasreceived agrantfromTheCommunityOwnership Fundtogiveacompletefacelifttothe historicbuildingandgardens.
ThePavilionwillbemadeoverinanArt Decostyle.Itwillincludealterationsfora newcafeseatingarea,anewkitchenand newtoilets.
Aneventsroomwillbecreatedbymergingthemainhallandthetrophyroom.(Theywillstillbe usableseparately.)
Therenovatedbuildingwillsupportweddings,parties,meetingsandcommunityactivities.
TheworkswillstartinMayandbecompletedinAugustthisyear.
AspokesmanforWellingboroughTownCouncil,said: ˜Iwouldliketothankallthosethathave helpedtoobtainthisgrant.Itisourintentiontoprovideabeautifulpavilionandgardensfor allthecitizensofWellingboroughtoenjoy.”
Rushden’s SoapboxDerby
OnSunday7thJune,Rushden’sannualSoapboxDerbywillonceagaintakeplaceinHallPark. Itisfreetoenter,andfreetowatch.
Theracecourse,runningdownthedrivefromthe maingatetowardstheHall,ismarkedoutwith balesofhay,whichprovidesacushiononboth sidesofthetracktopreventinjuries.
Thecompetitorswillbedividedintothreeclasses, accordingtotheageofthedriver.
ClassA–6-11Years
ClassB–12-16Years
ClassC–17&Over
ItisafantasticfamilyeventintheTown’scalendar,andwellworthcomingtosee.
TheeventissponsoredbyKingToolsandSantaPod.
Formoreinformation,contactRushdenTownCouncilon01933-316216.
ABBADayParty
OnSaturday13thofJune2026,Daytime DiscoarehostinganABBADayPartyatPlay atThePalaceinWellingborough.
Theeventrunsfrom3pmto8pm.Age restriction18+.
DaytimeDiscoare: “CallingallDancing QueensandSuperTroupers!Getready foraglitter-filledafternoonofpurepop perfectionaswecelebratetheiconic musicofABBA!Whetheryou'realifelong fanorjustloveabitoffeel-gooddisco, thisisyourchancetosing,dance,and partylikeit'sEurovision'74!”
Theypromisethatthere’llbe: “Wall-to-WallABBAAnthems.From“DancingQueen”to“Gimme! Gimme!Gimme!”,enjoyallthegreatesthitsandhiddengemsthatmadeABBAaglobal sensation.”
Thevenueis:PlayatThePalace,7ParkRoad,Wellingborough,NN84PG,contacts01933272862 andinfo@playwellingborough.com
Wellingborough Masterplan
A“Masterplan”isaframeworkwithinwhicha locationisencouragedtodeveloporchange.
Ineffect,itisawish-list.Itiscertainlynotalegal document.
NorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC)isproducinga MasterplanforWellingboroughtowncentre. Residentsarebeingaskedtogetinvolvedand commentontheplan.
CllrMartinGriffiths,LeaderofNNC,said: “The developmentofthisisnewvisionfor Wellingboroughtowncentreisveryexciting, especiallyasthisconsultationispartofa widerphasedplanthatlooksatregeneration forallourtowncentres,aswellasour BIG50vision.
“Aswellaslookingtothefuture,weare lookingathowwecanbestharnessthe heritageofWellingboroughanddeliverthe civicprideofthisveryspecialplace.Ireally hopethatresidentstaketheopportunityto sharetheirviewsinapositiveway.”
Residentscanseetheproposalsat: WellingboroughTownCentreMasterplanPublicConsultation|NorthNorthamptonshire Council
Theycancommentonthembyemailto town.centre.masterplan@northnorthants. gov.uk orbypostto: WellingboroughMasterplan Consultations, NorthNorthamptonshireCouncil, SwanspoolHouse, DoddingtonRoad, Wellingborough, NorthantsNN81BP
OnThursday7thMay2026,anewrectorwas inductedatSt.PetersChurchinMidlandRoad, Rushden.
TheVenerableSimonHeathfieldwasinstituted bytheBishopofPeterborough,theRight ReverendDebbieSellin,andinductedbythe ArchdeaconofNorthampton,theVenerable RichardOrmston.
StPetershadbeenwithoutarectorformore thanayear,andtherewasgreatpleasurethat therolehadnowbeenfilled.NeneHerald welcomesTheVenerableSimonHeathfieldto hisnewpostwishinghimalongandhappy associationwiththechurchandthecommunity.
“AirAda‘’
‘’Awgal!Ennit‘ot!.Centstan’ thisereweatha.IstriporfwhenI githum,ansittherainme underweeamostufthatime.Ane says“putyaclawesonincarese sumbuddycums.Misrabaldevil!”
Wellingborough’sWaendelWalk
Theweekendof8thto10thMay2026,sawthe45thInternationalWaendelWalk.
Forwalkers,thetrailbeganandendedattheCastleTheatreinWellingborough’sTownCentre. Multiplerouteswerearranged,ofdifferinglengths,tocomplywiththeinternationalstandards. ItwasthethirdtimethattheWalkhadbeenorganisedbyWellingboroughTownCouncil(WTC).It wentverysmoothly,andWTCareclearlyverycompetentatrunningthiscelebratedinternational event.TheWaendelWalkisinverysafehands!
TheWalkisaccreditedtotheInternationalMarchingLeague,theonlyWalkinEnglandthatis accredited.
Therewerewalkersfromarangeofcountries:Germany,Italy,France,Japan,Spainandothers. Itwasfascinatingtowatchwalkerssettingoffwiththeirnationalflagsattachedtotheirbackpacksand wavingabovethem.
AspokemanforWellingboroughTownCouncilsaid,“Whatafantasticwalk!Itshowedoff Wellingboroughandthesurroundingareas.”
“Wehadroutesofvariouslengthssuitableforeverybody,includingdisabledpeople.” “Itwasenjoyedbythousands.”
Aladdin’sCaveinRushden
AnewstorehasopenedinRushden,ina buildingthat’scelebratingitscentenary,having beenbuiltin1926.
Caroline’sTreasureTrovehasjewellery,books, boots,shoes,promdresses,partydresses, weddingdresses,toys,bags,andmore.
It’saveritableAladdin’sCave.It’slikeoneof thegiantWestEnddepartmentstores,butall
ononefloorinasingle,longbuilding.
NeneHeraldstronglyrecommendsavisit,if onlytoadmirethewonderswithinthe‘cave’.
Caroline’sTreasureTroveislocatedinRectory Road,onthesiteoftheoldBrianWattscarpet warehouse,justafewyardsfromtheNewton Roadtrafficlights.
E-ScooterExperimentExtended
E-scootersarrivedinthecountyinSeptember 2020,attheheightoftheCovidPandemic.Not surprisingly,theirarrivalwasovershadowedby therisingdeathtollfromSARS-Cov-2.
Theywerepartofagovernmentinitiativeto “fast-tracke-scootertrialsacrosstheUK.”The aimwastoprovideresidentswithasafermeans oftravelaswellasreduceemissions.
Atthetime,itwaslaudedasassisting“withthe sustainablereopeningoftheeconomyand transportsystemsasthecountryemerges fromtheCovid-19lockdown.”
Withthebenefitofhindsight,thatseemstohave beenslightlyoptimistic.
Infact,therewerefurtherlockdownsandCovid wentthroughmanyfurtherwaves,killingtensof millionsaroundtheworld.
However,unlikeCovid,theVoiexperimenthas notfadedaway.Instead,ithasbeenextended untilMay2028.
Voiscootersarenowacommonsightin HighamFerrers,Rushden,andWellingborough.
AspokespersonforNorthNorthamptonshire Council(NNC)saidthetrial'sextensionmeant furtherinvestmentintheservice."Currently about40%ofjourneysarework-relatedand wehopetoseethisfigureincreaseasmore residentsswitchtothismethodoftravel."
TheyfurthersaidthatNNCremained "committedtoworkingwithVoiandthe policetoensuretheschemeissafeforall roadusers".
Meanwhile,insurancecompanyQBEusedthe Freedom-of-InformationActtoinvestigatefires causedbyE-bikesandE-scooters.They discoveredthatnationallyE-bikesand E-scooterswerethecauseof520lithium-ion batteryfiresin2025,threetimesthenumberin 2022.
LondonFireBrigade'sDeputyCommissionerfor Prevention,ProtectionandOperationalpolicy, SpencerSutcliff,said:“Weareextremely concernedaroundtheissueofe-bikeand e-scooterfiresandthedevastatingimpact thesefirescanhaveonlivesand livelihoods.”
Wellingborough’sNewTownMayor
WellingboroughTownCouncil(WTC)has electedCllr.SylviaErskinetobeitsTownMayor forthecivicyear2026-2027.
Cllr.ErskinewasfirstelectedtotheCouncilin May2025.
Cllr.VinnieWhitrowwaselectedasDeputy Mayor.
TheoutgoingMayor,Cllr.RajMishra,hada verysuccessfulyearandraisedover£6,000for hischosencharities.
PhoenixCentreRevamp
Phoenixisanorganisationthatutilisesspareorunwantedconsumergoodsandpassesthemonto wheretheyareneededinordertopreventlandfill.
Itisrunbyvolunteersonanot-forprofitbasis.TheResourceCentreinRushdenisbasedinPortland Road.Itoffersresourcestomembersfora£15fee.
Itsupportslocalschools,playgroups,communityanddisadvantagedgroups.
Theyhaverecentlyhadarevampandarereadyfornewchallenges.
NewRushdenMayor
RushdenhasanewMayor!
AtRushdenTownCouncil’sAnnualMeetingheld on13thMay2026,Cllr.JanetPinnockwas electedMayorfortheCivicYear2026-2027.
ThisisthesecondtimethatCllr.Pinnockhas beenelectedtothiscivicrole.Inheraddressto theCouncil,shesaid:
“Myfirsttaskistothankmyfellow councillorsforvotingmeintothepositionas MayorandhavingthebeliefinmethatIcan fulfilthedutiesthatlayaheadofme.”
‘’Wehaveaverystrongcommunityspiritin thistownandwonderfulorganisationsrunby dedicatedpeoplewhichIhopetowork alongsideeachandeveryone.”
Cllr.PinnockannouncedthatCllr.Barbara JenneywouldbeherConsort.
Cllr.CarolChildswaselectedDeputyMayor.
Cllr.MelanieColemanwaselectedasLeader.
TheoutgoingMayor,Cllr.GillMercer,thanked thosewhohadhelpedherduringheryear, especiallyherConsort,Cllr.AndyMercer,and MaureenHorsley,whohelpedwithher fundraising.
Gillraisedover£5000forhertwolocalcharities, Rush2theDenandtheRushdenandDistrict CommunityCharity.
Higham’sNewMayor
OnMonday,11thMay2026,HighamTown CouncillorsmettoelectanewTownMayorfor theCivicYear2026-2027.
Cllr.ChrisO'RourkewaselectedMayor,with supportfromallParties.
Cllr.GeraldKellywaselectedDeputyMayor.
TheoutgoingMayor,Cllr.GarySalmon,thanked allthosewhohadhelpedhimduringhisyearof office.
Cllr.AnthonyReadingwaselectedtobethe Leaderofthecouncil.
Therewereanumberofotherappointments,but oneofthemostinterestingwasRichardGell (himselfaformerHighamTownMayor)as ParishTreeWarden.Itwillbehisjobtomonitor thetreesintheCouncil’sownership.
SantaPodRaceway
Northamptonshireisrenownedasthehomeof Britishmotorracing,withSilverstoneworldfamous.However,itisn’ttheonlysite.
Forseveralyears,CorbyhostedanIndyCar circuit,butthereisanothertrackclosertothe NeneHerald’shomeland.
SantaPodRacewayisjustoverthecounty borderatPodington,asuburbofRushden.The Racewayisfamousfordragsterracing,andthis yearseesits50thanniversary,butithasspread itswings.Thissummer,SantaPodhasput togetherabusyprogramme,includingthe followingevents:
•“StreetWeekend”4th to7th June2026
•“TruckTakeover”6th to7thJune2026
•“Podstock”12thto14thJune2026
•“SportsmanNationals”13thto14thJune 2026
•“BMWShow”21stJune2026
•“Dragstalgia”26thto28thJune2026
•”PULLUP”4thto5thJuly2026
•”SummerNationals”10thto12thJuly2026
•”MustangNationals”18thJuly2026
•“FordShow”19thJuly2026
•“BugJamFestival39”24thto26thJuly 2026
•“USC-UltimateStreetCar”31stJulyto2nd August2026
•“GreenlightNationals”22ndto23rdAugust 2026
(Therearemoreeventslaterintheyear.)
Youcanbuytickets@SantaPodTickets.comor via01234782828
OnWednesday,20thMay2026,RobinUnderwoodsadlypassedaway.
Robinhadalongandillustriouscareerasahardworkinglocalcouncillor.HewaselectedtoEast NorthamptonshireCouncil(ENC)inaby-electionin1996and,atthetime,wastheonlyRushden-based ConservativecouncilloronENC.
RobinwaselectedasChairmanoftheCouncilforthecivicyear1999-2001.
RobincontinuedtoserveonENCuntilitsabolitionin2021.Duringthattime,hewastheChairmanofthe ResourcesCommitteeandsubsequently,thePolicy andResourcesCommittee.
WhenRushdenTownCouncilwasformedin2000, RobinwasaFounderMemberandhecontinuedto serveontheCounciluntil2021.
Robinsetaveryhighstandardforotherstoaspireto. Hewasaperfectexampleofselflesspublicservice. Hewashonourable,honestandhardworking.
Hewasoneofthecouncillorswhofoughtfor RushdenLakesandthethousandsofjobsitwould bringtotheareatofillthevoidleftbythedepartureof theBootandShoeIndustry,Robinwasagentleman ineverysense.Hispartinghasleftaholeinthecommunity.
TheflagatRushden’sWarMemorialwasloweredtohalf-mast,asamarkofrespectforRobin.Hewillbe rememberedandmissedbyallwhoknewhim.
Deepestcondolencestohiswifeandfamily.
SpecialSchoolinRushden
Planshavebeensubmittedforapost-16schoolfor youngpeoplewithcomplexspecialeducationalneedsin thecentreofRushden.
TheproposalisforittoberunbyWiEducate,whorun specialistpost-16provisionforyoungpeoplewithan EducationHealthandCarePlan.Theirplanistoprovide tailoredlearningforupto50learners.
ThenewbuildingwillbeintheConservationAreainHigh StreetSouth,directlyoppositetheentrancetoHallPark. Itisonthesiteofaformerhistoricfarmhouse.Ithad beenderelictforanumberofyearsandthemainbuilding hasnowbeendemolished.
Theoutbuildingadjacenttothefootpathhasrecentlybeenaproblemfortravellers.Therewasariskof tilesslidingofftheroofontopedestrians.
Emergencytrafficrestrictionshadbeeninplaceandcausedsignificantdelays,untiltheroofwasmade safe.
EmpoweringFundsAbolished
IntheMayissueofNeneHerald,wereportedthatReform-ledNorthNorthantsCouncil (NNC)wasproposingtohalvetheCouncillorsEmpowermentFund.
Itturnsoutthatwewerewrong.
NNChaveabolisheditcompletely,sayingitwas“under-utilised”.
AttheNNCExecutiveCommitteeMeetingon19thMay2026,16speakersacrossall Partiesandareasexpressedstrongfeelingsagainstanyattempttoscrapthefunding,but tonoavail.
Cllr.HelenHowellwrotetosummarisetheobjectionstotheabolition.
“Thetrouble…startedwhenthe…administrationdecidedtointroducenewrules whereallwardmembershadtoagreetoanapplicationandanyonemembercould refuse,therebystoppingtheothersfromsupporting.”
“Ifitwasleftasitalwayswas,eachindividualcouncillorcouldchoosewhatlocal organisationorprojecttheywantedtosupport(subjecttomeetingthecouncil fundingcriteria).Thiswouldundoubtedlyhavehadaneffectonwhatwasspent,so {just}saying{that}itwasunder-utilisedwasnotatruedescriptionofthereasons why.”
HalfoftheEmpowermentFundmoneyhasbeentransferredto“thegeneralrevenuefund asanin-yearsaving”,withtheresttootherprojects.
Cllr.BarbaraJenneyoftheRushdenSouthWardcommentedtoNeneHeraldthatshe fullysupportedthestrengthoffeelingtoretaintheMemberEmpowermentFunding.
“IdonotbelievethenewReformCouncillorsfullyunderstandthevitalsupportthat thisfundingcanprovide.AsWardCouncillorsworkinginourwards,weknowhow criticalitistolocalcharities,groupsandorganisationsthatcannotaccess essentialfundingelsewhere.”
“ThiscostcuttingexercisewillhaveminimaleffectontheCouncil’sfinances,buta significantimpactforlocalgroupsandcharitiesofferingvitalsupporttothe community.”
Aroundadecadeago,theEmpoweringFundwasusedbyCllr.AndyMercertorestorethe lostTVsignalfordozensofhomesintheareaofTheHedgesinRushden.Thiswasafter anewly-builtsteel-sidedwarehousehadblockedtheTVsignal.
DozensofsatellitedisheswereprovidedbytheFund.Thosesatellitedishesarestillin placetoday.
TheabolitionoftheFundwillsavearound£68,000outofabudgetofapproximately £405.5m,i.e.roughly0.00017%.
A6BridgeClosuresExtended
Reform-controlledNorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC)areplanningtoextendtheprogrammeofclosuresof theA6bridgeovertheRiverNeneatIrthlingborough.
NNCstatedthattheworkwasaphasedre-waterproofingandexpansionjointreplacementofthe reinforcedconcreteviaduct.
IthadbeenhopedthattherepairworkwouldbecompletedduringMay2026.However,thework requiredwasgreaterthananticipated.TherewillthereforebeanadditionalclosureonMonday1stJune from8pm,untilTuesday2ndJune,6am.
CllrChrisMcGiffen,thecouncil’sExecutiveMemberforHighwaysandTravel,said:
“Weappreciatedrivers’patiencewhilstwe addresstheseissuesandremaincommittedto deliveringasafeanddurablesolutionthatensure thisstretchisfit-for-purposeformanyyearsto come.”
CllrMartinGriffiths,LeaderofNorth NorthamptonshireCouncil,said:
“Iappreciatethisadditionalclosureisfrustrating fordriversandIwouldaskthateveryoneremainspatientwithuswhilstweresolvethisongoing problem.”
Overthelastyear,theviaducthadbecomenotoriousforpotholesthatburstthetyresofroadusers.
RSPCAinRushden
TheNorthamptonshirebranchoftheRoyalSocietyforthePreventionofCrueltytoAnimals(RSPCA) hasahubinRushden’sNewtonCentre.ItisoppositeRushdenLibrary.
TheirNewtonCentrehubisasiteforfurryfriendstomeetupandrelax.Theycancomewiththeir ownerswhocansitandhaveacupofcoffee.
TraceySmithistheCommunityWelfareCo-ordinatorforRSPCANorthamptonshireandsheisbasedat thehub.
Theyalsohaveavisitingdogandcat(thoughondifferentdays),sopeoplecancomeinandexperience thecompanionshipofananimaleventhoughtheyhavenotgotoneoftheirown.
Workingwithateamofvolunteers,TraceyrunsaPetFoodBankandCommunitySpace.
Theyarealsoofferingtheirhubasaplaceformeetings.Tohirearoomcontact:Welfare-hub@rspcanorthamptonshire.org.uk01604881317
SwanspoolSuitcases
TheoldWilkostoreinSwanspoolhasbeen overrunbysuitcases.
House-to-Homehavebeenholdingahalf-price saleofhouseholdgoods.
Whatmadeitamazingwasthemarchinglinesof suitcases–over600ofthem!
CharityMoneyStolen
Rush2theDenisaRushdensuccessstory.ThiswasrecognisedwhenRush2theDenwasawardedThe King’sAwardforVoluntaryService(theequivalentofanMBEforvoluntarygroups).
VolunteersatRush2theDengivevitalsupportto familiesandyoungpeopleandfundraisingisan essentialpartoftheworkfortheteam.
RushdenisveryproudoftheDen,butnoteveryone feelsthatway.Recently,acollectionboxattheDen wasstolen.Theboxcontainedbetween£400and £600,moneythatwasdonatedtohelpfundthe excellentworkdonebytheDen.
FounderofRush2theDen,NinaRobinsonsaid:
“I’mreally,reallydisappointedinthefactthat somebodyfelttheneedandtheopportunityto stealbasicallythecoinsandcoinboxfromthe littleones.Someofthemputtheirpocketmoney inforinstance,andwe’vegottonowworkharder againtoregain.”
CCTVcaughtimagesoftheburglarandacarthattheywereusing.Hopefullythiswillleadtothemoney beingrecovered.
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