NENE Herald
RoyalVisittoWellingborough
ByWellingborough’sTownMayor-CllrRajMishra On17July2025,IhadoneoftheproudestmomentsofmytimeasMayorofWellingborough.
StandingattheSanatanHinduMandironHighfieldRoad,IwashonouredtowelcomeHRHPrincess AnnetotheWellingboroughDistrictHinduAssociation(WDHA).Itwasn’tjustaformalvisit—itwasa profoundlyemotionalandhistoricdayforourtownandmepersonally.TomeetPrincessAnne, someonesowidelyrespectedforhertirelesspublicservice,wastrulyhumbling.Herwarmth,grace, andgenuineinterestinourcommunitymadetheoccasionunforgettable.
ThehighlightofthevisitwasthepresentationoftheKing’sAwardforVoluntaryServicetoWDHA—an incrediblerecognitionofoverfiftyyearsofdedicationbyvolunteerswhohavehelpedshapetheheart ofWellingborough.Fromtheearlydaysinthe1970s,whenasmallgroupofcommittedindividuals laidthefoundationsoftheMandir,totheopeningoftheHinduCommunityCentrein1992,WDHA hasgrownintoapillarofsupport,culture,andunityforgenerations.
PrincessAnne’sengagementwithourvolunteerswasremarkable.Shelistenedwithgenuineinterest tostoriesabouttheirwork—organisingfestivals,supportingeducation,andpromotinghealthand wellbeing.AlongwiththeLord-LieutenantofNorthamptonshire,JamesSaundersWatson,hervisit wasmarkedbyatraditionalHinduwelcomeandavibrantfolk-danceperformancethatcelebratedour heritage.Herappreciationforourculturewassincereandheartening.
Assheunveiledacommemorativeplaque,Ifeltawaveofemotion.Itwasamomentthatcaptured everythingWDHAstandsfor—community,compassion,andcommitment.Seeingourvolunteers recognisedbysomeoneofPrincessAnne’sstaturewasincrediblymoving.Theirquiet,consistent serviceovertheyearshasmadealastingimpact,andthishonourwasafittingtributetotheirefforts.
Thiswasn’tjustaceremonialvisitbutacelebrationofWellingborough’sdiversityandspirit.Princess Anne’spresencebroughtnationalattentiontoourvaluesandremindedusofthepowerofservice. I’mdeeplygratefultoherandthevolunteerswhocontinuetomakeWDHAacornerstoneofourtown. Theirexample,andhers,inspiremetokeepworkingwithpurposeandprideforthepeopleof Wellingborough.
FamilyHubLaunched
InRushden
On28thJuly,NorthNorthamptonshireCouncil launchedanewfamilyhubinNewtonRoad, Rushden.
Thefamilyhubisintendedtoactasa‘one-stop shop’,offeringserviceslikeparentingadvice, childdevelopmentclinics,stay-and-play sessions,antenatalclasses,andyouthsupport. Itisaimedatgivingchildrenthebeststartinlife whilesupportingthewellbeingofparentsand carers.
AspokeswomanforNorthNorthamptonshire Councilsaid:
“We’redelightedtobeabletoextendour FamilyHubsoffertotwonewsitesinthe eastofourarea,buildingonthegoodwork thatwe’vealreadydoneandreachingout furtherintothecommunity.”
“FamilyHubsarefriendlyandsafe spacesforbabies,children,youngpeople andtheirparents/carerstogowhenthey needhelpandsupport.”
TheFamilyHubofferissupportedbythe ‘FamilyHubsDigitalFrontDoor’—aneasy-touseonlineportalthatgivesfamiliesinNorth Northamptonshirequickaccesstoservicesand information24hoursaday.
Accessibleonanydevice,itbringstogether supportlikeStartforLife,theSENDLocalOffer, eventbookings,videos,andNHSresources, helpingparentsandcarersfindthetoolsthey require.
PromsinthePark
OnSaturday6thofSeptember,thewalled gardenofRushden’sHallParkwillhostthe 17thannualPromsinthePark.
ItwillbeopenedbyRushden’sTownMayor, Cllr.GillMercer,whohadtheideaforthevery firstPromsinthePark,inSeptember2009.
TheconcertwillfeaturetheRushdenTown Bandandwillstartat7pm.
Thegateswillopenat6pm,andticketswillbe £5,includingasmallUnionJackflagtowave andasongsheet.Proceedswillgotothe Mayor’schosencharities,Rushden2theDen andRushdenandDistrictCommunityCharity.
Rushden’s GatewaySite
OppositethecongestedentrancetoRushden Lakes,thereisanopenspace,sometimes calledthe“GatewaySite”.ItfacestheNeedle& Awl.
Therehavebeenanumberofproposalsto developthesite.Oneofthemreachedan advancedstage,beforeCllr.AndyMercer pointedoutapotentialdeathtrapforvulnerable people.
Theoriginalschemeinvolvedheavylorries reversingoverazebracrossingthatwould havebeenusedbydisabledpeople.With limitedvisibilityfortheHGVdrivers,itwasa dangertoanyoneusingthecrossing.
Thatschemewasshotdownandabandoned. Plansforarevisedschemehavenowbeen producedthatovercomethecrossingdeath trap.ItwouldinvolveAldimovingontothesite. Recently,LidlhavewrittentoNNCobjectingto thenewdevelopment.
TheGatewaysite
RushdenCommemoratesVJDay
Thursday15August2025wasthe80thanniversaryoftheformalendofWorldWarII.Itendedwhen Japan,recognisingthatvictorywasimpossible,finallysurrenderedonthetermsoftheAlliedForces, anextraordinaryarmyconsistingoftroopsfromSouthAsia,Britain,Africa,BurmaandGurkhaunits and85%volunteersfrompre-partitionIndia,makingitthelargestvolunteerforceinhistoryof2.5million menandwomen.87,000volunteerslosttheirlives.
Over90,000BritishtroopswerecasualtiesinthewaragainstJapan-30,000diedand37,500were heldasprisoners.Onemustnotforgettheimagesseenoftheemaciatedprisoners,starved,held underappallingconditions,somebeingsettoworkasforcedlabour.
Paradesandstreetpartieswereenjoyedbymillions,buttherewasstillmuchsadness-thehumancost hadbeenenormousasmanywaitedfortheirlovedonestoreturnhomesafely.
Rushdenalongwithmanyothertownsandvillageswithinthecountrycommemoratedtheday.
TheDeputyMayorofRushdenCllrJanetPinnockledthetributeat11amatthetown’sWarMemorial alongwithfellowcouncillors,membersoftheRoyalBritishLegionandresidentsofthetownbyfirstly raisingtheofficialflagandthencontinuingtorecognisethosewhohadbeenlost,thosewoundedor scarred,thosewhoseliveswereforeverchangedbywar,pausingforamomenttoremembertheir sacrifice.ShealsoquotedthewordsofthelateQueenElizabethII-“NeverGiveUp,NeverDespair.”
TherecognitionofthedaycontinuedintheeveningwherealargeaudiencegatheredinRushdenHall Parktojoininthecommemorationagain.
TheDeputyMayorwasjoinedbytheDeputyLordLieutenantofNorthamptonshireMrGarryLiburd, whoraisedtheflagtostarttheproceedings,MrDavidHawkergaveanhistoricalpresentation,andthe RevGlynAckerleysaidprayers.ThefinaldutyofthedaywasthelightingofaBeacon.
The80yearssince1945,havenotbeenpeacefulones.Instead,therehavebeenconstantwars,but limitedones.Letushopethatmaneventuallylearns,warisnotatrophytobewon-itdoesalotof harmtosomany.
20th AnniversaryofHallParkStage
2025seesthe20thAnniversaryoftheopeningofRushden’sHallParkStage.ItwasbuiltbyRushden TownCouncil,inconjunctionwiththeRotaryclubsofRushdenandRushdenChichele.
Later,ahigh-qualitysoundsystemwasadded,tosupportconcertsandshows.
Thestagehasbeenastunningsuccess,andprovedavaluableassetforeventsinthetown.Ina typicalyear,thestagehosts:
·TheeveningconcertatParty-in-the-Park
·PromsinthePark
·Variousshows(e.g.“TheWindintheWillows”)
·MusicinthePark
·Variouschildren’sevents(e.g.“African Drumming”)
·Adhocmusicalevents(e.g.VJDay)
RotaryClubofRushdenhaveuseditthemselves fortheirYouthConcertsgivingchildreninschoolchoirsanopportunitytoperformonabigstagein frontofanaudience.
Bandswho’veappearedontheStagehavespokenabouthowimpressiveitis.
ThephotosshowsometypicaleventsontheStage.
Anappearanceby‘Dukes’
WasteComesIn-House
NorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC)iscontinuingits policyofmergingservicesand,wherepossible, bringingthemin-house.
Withregardtothewastecollectionservicein EastNorthamptonshire,uptoAugust,thiswas contractedouttoFCC.However,witheffect fromMonday4thAugust,changesweremade toadministertheservicein-house.
Therevisedservicesapplyonlytoareaswithin EastNorthants.Thosewithintheareacovered byNeneHeraldinclude:
·Denford
·HighamFerrers
·Irthlingborough
·LittleandGreatAddington
·NewtonBromswold
·Ringstead
·Raunds
·Rushden
·Stanwick
TownsandparishesintheformerBoroughsof WellingboroughandKetteringareunaffected.
Wymingtonandothertownsandvillageswithin BedfordBorougharealsounaffected.
Thechangesareadministrativeonlyand residents’actualwastebincollectionsshould notbeaffected.
TheWindinthe Willows
Rushden’sownlocalamateurtheatrecompany, “StandingInTheWings”,arespreadingtheir wings.
Onthe19thand20thofJuly,theystaged“The WindintheWillows”intheWalledGardenin Rushden’sHallPark.
TheEnglishweatherdeliveredasteadydrizzle duringthefirstperformance,butitdidn’tdouse theenthusiasmofthecastortheaudience.
Itprovedthatyoudon’thavetobeabigWest Endtheatrecompanytoputonstunning performances.
“AirAda“
‘’Wha’supwiyoogal?Yoovego’afairce likeawetweeak!‘’
‘’It’s‘imgal!Sitsin‘ischairgivin’out‘is orders-Omcumoutth’waytagitaway frum‘im.‘’
CemeteryRules Consultation
TherearecemeteriesacrossNorth Northamptonshire.Thirteenofthemarerunby NorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC)withvarying rulesforgravesandgravestones.NNCnow wantsto“harmonise”theserules.
Aconsultationhasbeenopenedaboutthe proposals.AnNNCspokesmansaid:
“Theproposedregulationsareintendedto provideclearandconsistentguidanceon themanagementandmaintenanceof cemeteriesacrossthelocalarea.
“Butweknowthisisasensitivetopicand wouldwelcometheviewsoflocalresidents toensurethenew,harmonisedregulations aresuitablefortheneedsofNorth Northamptonshire.”
ThecemeteriesinHighamFerrersand Rushdenareunaffected,astheyareowned andmanagedbythetwoTownCouncils.
RushdenLibraryisseekinganexperienced DungeonMaster.
TheLibraryissettingupaDungeonsand DragonsGroupandlookingforaMastertolead it.
ItisourunderstandingthattheLibraryis planningtolaunchDungeons-and-Dragons sessionsafterthesummer.
Ifyouareinterested,contacttheLibraryon 01933-312754.
Wellingboroughcemetery
Rushden’sClassicCarShow
ThousandsofpeoplecametoenjoythespectacleofRushden’sAnnualClassicCarShowheldinHall ParkonSunday3rdofAugust.
Around400carsandover40vintagemotorcycleswereondisplay.TheentriesintheShowwere judgedin7categories,andthewinnerswere:-
·Pre1945-Austin7-SteveShipley
·1945-69-AustinHealey-StephenHill
·1969+-Triumph6-JakeBarnes
·Caroftheshow-MorrisMinor-RobertCottee
·Mayor'sAward-Austin20Ascot1926-GeorgeBaker
·Motorbike-BSA250cc-SimonFrankish
Musicalentertainmenton-stageintheWalledGardenfeaturedRock-OlaRocketswhogaveabrilliant performance,withrock-and-rollhitsfromacrossthedecades.
Therewerearound60stallsforcompaniesandcharitiesaswellasavarietyoffoodstalls.
TheShowwasorganisedbyRushdenHistoricalTransportSocietywiththesupportofConservativecontrolledRushdenTownCouncil.
ThemainsponsorsfortheshowwereKingtools,SnowdonHomes,WilcoCarSparesandSteve HorsleyMotors.
HighamJazzBook
Intheearly1970s,aformerMayorofHighamFerrers,EricBarratt,puttogetheraloose-leaf collectionofdocumentsaboutJazz.ItdescribedthehistoryofJazzintheCounty.Unfortunately,until recently,thedocumentsweremislaid.
RichardLewis,aformerRushdenTownMayor,ledasmallteamwhosuccessfullylocatedthe documentsandconvertedthemintoa90-pagebook,“Spires,SquiresandAllThatJazz”.Copiesof thebookweresoldat£5,withtheintentionthat fundsraisedbedestinedforcharity.
AHighamresident,RichardGell,helpedlocate Eric’sdaughter.(RichardservedonHighamTown CouncilandEastNorthamptonshireCouncilfor manyyears).Erichaddiedofamassiveheart attackandhisdaughter,Victoria,suggested supportingtheBHFinEric’smemory.
Profitsfromthesaleofbookstodateenabledthe teamtodonate£450totheBritishHeart Foundation.
Achequefor£450waspresentedtotheBHFArea ManagerinKettering.Eric’sdaughter,Victoria,was theretoseethepresentation.
RichardLewis(centre)presenting cheque
ExpandedSENDProvisionAtWrennSchool
WrennSchoolinWellingboroughwillexpandtoprovideextraSENDplaces.
AplanningdocumentrelatingtotheLondonRoadsitestatesthat"theschoolhasanincreasing SENDcohort".
TheLondonRoadsitewillgetsixnewclassrooms,whileanewtwo-storeyteachingblockbuiltonan existingstaffcarparkattheDoddingtonRoadsitewillprovidefourextraclassrooms.
Theplanningdocumentsaidthatthenewclassroomsweredesigned "toenablethespaceneeded for"multi-agencyworkingandcounsellingsupportforstudentswithadditionalneeds".
Itadded: "Theseroomswillbemulti-useensuringbothstudentsandstaffhavespacestomeet thespecificneedsofstudentstoencouragethemtomeettheirfullpotential."
OUTANDABOUT
INWELLINGBOROUGH&RUSHDEN
Antiques&Jewellery Show
TheRoadshowRollsintoRushden!
OnTuesday2ndSeptember,expertswillbein RushdenHallfrom10amto3pm,togivefree valuationsofantiquesandjewellery.
TroubridgeAntiquesandCotswoldGold Exchangewillprovideexpertstoexamineand valueyourvaluables.
Thereismoredataat cotswoldgoldexchange.co.uk.
BarkinthePark
OnSunday7thofSeptember,ConservativecontrolledRushdenTownCouncilwillbe hostingRushden’sannualdogshow,the“Bark inthePark”.
ThedogshowwillbeheldintheWalledGarden atHallParkandwillfeatureanexcitingrangeof classesforalldogsincludingclassesfor puppies,goldenoldies,waggiesttail,rescue dogsandevenafancydressclass.Entryfeeis £2perclass.
Thefamilyfriendlydaywillrunfrom10amto 4pmandwillalsoincludecharityandtrade stalls,refreshmentsanddogrelatedstalls.
TheShowwillbesponsoredbyGladwellsPet andCountryStores.
CelebrateWellingborough
WellingboroughTownCouncil(WTC)areorganisingthisyear’sannualCelebrateWellingborough festival.ItwillbeontheweekendofSaturday13thandSunday14thSeptember.
WTCareinvitinglocalsportsclubs,communitycentres,faithgroups,businesses,andorganisations toopentheirdoorsandshowwhatmakesWellingboroughsuchavibrantplacetolive,work,and visit.
Thereareseveralwaystogetinvolved:
·Youcanhostanopendayortastersession
·Youcanorganiseademonstration, performance,oractivity
·Youcanwelcomevisitorsinandtellthemmore aboutwhatyoudo
It’sanopportunitytopromoteanyeventsalready plannedforthatweekend.
Aspecialeventmapwillguideresidentsandvisitorstoexplorealltheactivities,opendays,and showcaseshappeningacrossWellingboroughonbothdays.
ModelWeekend
Onthe13thand14thofSeptember,Rushden HistoricalTransportSociety(RHTS)ishostinga “ModelWeekend”.ItwillbeattheHQofRHTS, theformerRushdenStationandGoodsYard.
Theeventwillfeature:
·Modelrailways
·Cars
·Boats
·Dieseltrainrides
·Refreshments
Ticketswillbe£4forchildrenover4and£5for adults.
Forthosenewtothearea,theRHTSHQisinthe centreoftheTownoffJohnClarkWay.Thereis amplefreeparkingwithinashortwalkingdistance.
NorthNorthantsCouncil Overspend
NNCisforecastingthatitwilloverspendits Budgetthisyearbyaround£9.4m.
Roughlytwo-thirdsofthatoverspendis accountedforbydemandsbythe NorthamptonshireChildren'sTrust(NCT).The Trusthasahistoryofoverspendingdueto increasesindemand,whichthehostCouncils (WestandNorthNorthamptonshire)needto cover.
NNC’sotherservices,primarilyAdultsServices, areresponsiblefortheremainingoverspendof nearly£2.9m.
Acontingencyfundofjustunder£3mwasset uptohelpcombat"exceptionalexpenditure". Thishasnotyetbeenusedandcouldbe employedlaterintheyeartohelpbalancethe books.
St.George’sCrossroads
Inanumberofplacesacrossthecountry,Union flagsandSt.George’sflagshaveappearedin publicplaces.Rushdencannowbeaddedto thelist.Thephotographbelowwastakennear thecentreofRushden.Someonehasuseda mini-roundaboutasthebasisforadepictionof England’snationalflag.
ActivePlayDays
OnWednesday13thAugust,North NorthamptonshireCouncil(NNC),organiseda summerplayeventforkids.Itwasheldon Wellingborough’sCastlefield'sPark.
OnWednesday20thAugust,NNCmoved everythingtoRushdenTownCouncil’sSpencer Park.
Kidscouldclimbupawall,playminicrazygolf, driveminidodgems,andwatcha7-foottall fluffymockelephantstomparound.
AnextraattractioninSpencerPark,wasa demonstrationofjudobyHigham&Rushden JudoClub.
TheActivePlayDayshavebecomeanannual event.Theyarefreetoenterandforeveryone toenjoy.
TheLawmanShow
Ourlocalradiostation,BeatRouteRadio,has launchedanewshow,‘CommunityMatters’.It airseveryMondayfrom11amto2pm.The programme’shostsareGrahamandLora Lawman.Theyarebothformermembersof NorthNorthamptonshireCouncil,withdecades ofexperienceinlocalgovernment.
Grahamisaservingcouncilloron WellingboroughTownCouncil,whileLoraison LoddingtonParishCouncil.
Theyjoinanotherformercouncillor,Adrian Winkle,whohasashoweverySundaymorning onBeatRouteRadio.
TheNeneHeraldisacommunity-basednewspaperforWellingborough,Rushden,HighamFerrers,Irthlingboroughandthe surroundingvillages.
TheHeraldisfreeandcanbefoundontheInternetat:https://issuu.com/nene_herald Alternatively,youcanhaveitemailedtoyou.IfyouwishtoreceivefreecopiesofthelatestissueofNeneHerald,sendanemail requestingafreecopyto:Nene_Herald@yahoo.com Ifyounolongerwishtoreceivefreecopiesofthenewspaper,simplyemailusandaskto‘unsubscribe’.
Ifyouwishtocommentonanyofthesubjectsinthispublicationorwouldliketo contributetothecontent,pleasegetintouchviaemailto:nene_herald@yahoo.com,