Rushden, The Memorial Hospital c.1955

Photo ref: R223007

I started at Kettering Tyres, Wellingborough, in 1979 after leaving school. I loved that job, worked with Peter. They had an old petrol pump outside where the bosses used to fill their Jags, as head office was over the road was taken over by tsGB not the same.

I joined Kettering Tyres in Newton Road in the late sixties, as assistant to the late Cedric "Tiny" Guilford - "Tiny" was a larger than life character in every way - twenty-odd stone and with a personality to match. The Socialist Minister for Transport , Barbara Castle, had just introduced a new law requiring tyres to have a minimum depth of tread - our problem then was not selling tyres but being able to get ...see more

I've put 1980s down, but my memories of Rushden go back to the 1970s, my grandad ran the Works Dept in Newton Road for years and lived in the tied house attached to the Fire Station. I spent the whole of my summer holidays there in the 1980s, visiting the Feathers, King Eddy and various other pubs with them, and I learned to swim in the outdoor pool (we don't have them in Scotland for obvious reasons!). I also had ...see more

I was stationed at Melchbourne 1948/49 and used to visit the Temperance Cafe in the High Street. I would like to know more about Melchbourne House after it was handed back. When I was there it was in a dreadful state of repair. I would think it must now be a grand house again. During the war I think the Americans were there as they were also at Chelvestone and Yelden. Any information I would appreciate. Ken Horton