The Rushden Echo and Argus, 15th October 1954, transcribed by Jim Hollis
The Oakley Arms is such a friendly place
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Their darts successes are the boast of the Oakley Arms, and here members of the team, with a league match to play during the evening, warm up in the public bar.
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“It’s a nice place, and they are all good people,” said Mr. Alf Young, licensee of the Oakley Arms, Rushden. In these words he summed up the life and spirit of the house, which thrives largely on regular customers.
Mr. Young, formerly a steward at the Kettering Windmill Club, has been at the Oakley more than ten years and is as popular with his patrons as they are with him.
The atmosphere in the bar and smoke room of the Oakley is friendly, and it is probably this warmth that attracted the Rushden Query Motor Cycle Club and Rushden Angling Club to make the house their headquarters. In addition, a room at the back is the meeting place for Rushden Toc H.
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Outside the Oakley Arms, Rushden, they wait for buses or post letters. Inside they find a cheery welcome and a friendly atmosphere and can have a game of darts, cards or dominoes while enjoying a quite drink.
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The angling club is always well represented among the clients and a customer told me: “If you want fishermen, there are plenty of them this place sometimes ought to be called the Fisherman’s Arms.”
But fishing and motor cycling are not the only sports popular at the Oakley. Darts plays a big part and the Oakley customers pride themselves on their skill, boasting that only four times since its inception has the Rushden Darts Cup been out of the house.
Unfortunately last season was one of those four times, but this has provided added incentive to the darts team to do better this year and win it back.
Best Season
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Mr Alf Young, the landlord, explains the Oakley Arms, from which his house takes its name, here displayed on a brandy cask.
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If you pursue the subject of darts it will not be long before you are told about the best-ever season, three or four years ago, when two teams were entered in the Rushden and District League. The “A” team won the league and the cup, the “B” team were runners-up and a member of the team won the league individual championship.
Older patrons, however, will remind you that a game of crib is always available, but more interesting is “Matador,” which is played with dominoes. “Matador” is a very old game which, unfortunately, is dying out, though it is still played regularly at the Oakley, particularly by older customers.
The age of the Oakley is uncertain, but it is known that originally it was in an isolated spot, and the houses which now surround it have all been built since it was erected. Over the door is the date 1896 but that only marks the year of some alterations. [built in 1881 see above]
The “O” in the arms is the “Oakley Button,” symbol of the Oakley Hunt, and the crown which surmounts it represents the Duke of Bedford, one time Master of the Hunt.
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