Rushden at War (and Peace)

This evening I will bring to you

And hope that it will please

A chance to share some moments full

Of Rushden memories.

In ’39, Neville forewarns

Of War on BBC.

The lights of London all go down

As kettles boil for tea.

But what of Rushden, you all ask?

And so I start to tell

Of village folk who spent their days

By silenced Mary’s bell.

Our Julian’s Park is now a camp

For soldiers off to War

And where our phone box stands you hear

A sentry’s “Who goes there?”

The Home Guard practise on the Green

And down the hill they run

Throwing stones at an old tin tray.

Well, that should stop the Hun!

And Reverend Rossborough, the priest

Exhorts his flock to do no wrong

And warns our lads they must beware

Of seeking women, wine and song!

And Bessy Wilmott at the Swan

Welcomes the NCO’s arms wide

“You’re not an officer, young man,

Then kindly drink the other side!”

In Church on Sunday, hear the Priest

Speak to his flock of Christ’s good news.

The congregation listens to

The doodlebugs from ‘neath the pews.

And up in Cumberlow Green is found

A parachute hid out of doors.

The owner of its disappeared

But Rushden girls wear silken drawers!

And Joyce is working hard to grow

Root vegetables and fruit and grain,

But pulls a face as lunch is served.

“Not beetroot sandwiches again!”

But John remembers most of all

This was a time when people cared

And from the little each one had

A time when far more of us shared.

At last the War is over

And there’s fireworks in Julian’s Park.

At Hodge’s farm a haystack’s lit

That makes a daytime of the dark.

And Mary’s bells ring out again

For peace has come at last.

So let’s all share these memories,

A tribute to our past.