The next chairman is a conjuror
Mrs. Alice Muxlow, who, as chairman of Rushden Urban Council, entertained her colleagues to dinner on Friday, saw the chairman-to-be Mr. Ernest Newell, baffling her guests with conjuring tricks.

As she stepped forward to thank him, recent civic affairs were on her mind. There was a note of pathos in her voice as she exclaimed: “If he could do these things with our rates he would be chairman for ever.”

The guests included Urban Council officials, County Council members, British Legion women’s section and Infant Welfare Centre representatives, the Mayor and Mayoress of Higham Ferrers (Mr. and Mrs. Don Walker) and officers from Chelveston Air Base.

The visiting mayor proposed “The Urban District Council of Rushden” and Mr. E. A. Sugars, senior member of the council, replied.

When Mr. Newell had proposed “The visitors,” Col. M. E. White, Commander of the 3914th Air Base Squadron, replied with expressions of goodwill, outlined the part to be played by Chelveston, and hinted that local people would be invited to visit the base in the near future.

Ald. H. R. Patenall also replied, paying tribute to Mrs. Muxlow’s “magnificent” work for Rushden and the county and speaking of Rushden Operatic society as an institution of which the town should be proud.

Mr. A. G. Crowdy, Clerk to Rushden U.D.C., was toastmaster.

Rushden elects new woman chairman

Mrs Perkins

Mrs. Perkins was proposed by Mr. R. R. Griffiths, who said her work had been that of helping others. She had been a member of the council for 11 years and had been chairman of the public health housing and library committees.

She had many activities outside the council and Mr. Griffiths made special mention of her work with Rushden WVS.

Mr. R. D. Gilhooley seconded Mrs. Perkin’s nomination.

Mrs. Perkins said she appreciated the honour and the responsibilities of being chairman and representing the council and the town.

She said she would always try to do what was best for the town.

Mr. E. E. Newell proposed and Mr. C. G. Faulkner seconded, that Mr. R. H. S. Greenwood should be vice chairman.

A tribute to the past chairman was paid by Mr. F. E. Brown.

On behalf of her husband and herself, Mrs. Shrive thanked everybody who had helped to make her year an enjoyable one.

Mrs Maye Dicks is the new and last chairman of the urban council. Here she is seen receiving the chain of office from retiring chairman, Mr. A. Goulsbra

Last Links in the council chain

THE HEYDAY of small local councils Is over. The colourful regalia may remain after next April but the power they have for so long held will be drastically reduced.

Progress has at last overtaken the smaller councils and their death knell is sounded this week as chairmen and mayors hand over their chains of office for the last time.

On April 1 next year, local government leaps into the jet age and the county's smaller towns are swallowed up into the new district councils.

The changeover ceremonies which have been taking place up and down Northamptonshire will go down in the his­tory books as the end of an era in local government.

For the last mayors and council chairmen, it is a week tinged with sadness at the passing of a system that has remained almost unaltered for nearly a century.

But for the new district councils which take over next April the future offers new challenges.