Mr C W Horrell Honoured
A Rushden Manufacturer’s War-time Work
Presentation by Members of the Association

After the loyal toast, the Chairman proposed “The Navy, Army, Air and Reserve Forces,” to which Ald. A E Marlow and Sergt. William M Horrell responded.

The toast of the evening, “The President of the Association, C W Horrell, Esq.,” was proposed in felicitous terms by Mr A H Bryan, who eulogised the numerous services which Mr Horrell had rendered to the trade fdrom a national point of view, concluding with a personal testimony to the effect that in 1914 the name of Mr Horrell was hardly known other than as a manufacturer, but to-day it was one of the most highly esteemed names, and whenever Mr Horrell spoke, either on Government Committee work, or on county work, his remarks were always listened to with interest and profit.

C W Horrell Esq., J.P., C.A., F.B.S.I. Chairman of County Sub-committee Boot & Shoe Instruction 1939-48 Rushden School Governors 1936-1948 Boot & Shoe Student Association 1938-1948 Chief Examiner N.C.C. 1939-47

“Presented to Chas. William Horrell, Esq., by the members of the Rushden and district Boot and Shoe and Upper Manufacturers’ Association, in appreciation of the valuable services rendered as their president for the five years 1913-18. December 18th 1918.”

The gifts also included a heavy gold cigarette case, with Mr Horrell’s initials on the outside. Mr Sharwood spoke in the highest terms of Mr Horrell’s assistance to the local association. The best testimony which could be borne to Mr Horrell’s worth, he said, was the fact that 96 per cent. Of the manufacturers in the district were now members of the association. This testimony was all the more remarkable because in the early days of the war there were very few who were members of the association, and it was with considerable misgivings and doubts that their business problems in the old days were discussed one amongst the other, but no one had been more willing and more desirous than Mr Horrell to lay the whole of his cards on the board relative to his own factory. They were all cognisant of the numbers of schedules and certificates that they had to fill up during the war, and it was with much diffidence that they embarked on the various methods of control instituted by the Government, but at their meetings, under the chairmanship of Mr Horrell, the difficulties which seemed insurmountable had slowly passed away, and things had worked much more smoothly than anyone could have anticipated.

The toast was received with musical honours.

On accepting the presentation and rising to responmd tio the toast, Mr Horrell had a remarkable ovation, the whole company rising and cheering loudly. Mr Horrell spoke of the inception of the war-time boot scheme and the effect it had had on prices generally. He said he felt that as an association they had moved forweard, inasmuch as the problems had been faced in conference one with another, and as a result all the points of difficulty had been discussed together. He thought they were at one in unity and in endeavouring to assist all, not only at the present time but also in the future. The standardisation of samples and also the component parts of a boot need not necessarily drop with the cessation of the war-time boot scheme: he would very much like to see it carried on afterwards. In conclusion he expressed pleasure at having been able to serve the industry. He greatly appreciated all that had been said, and he wished to thank them for their tangible expression of appreciation which, he need hardy say, would be highly prized by Mrs Horrell and himself.

Other toast were: “The Association” proposed by Mr E Barker and responded to by Mr John Clark and Mr John Shortland; “The Boot and Shoe Trade” proposed by Mr J C Wilson and responded to by Mr Owen Parker and Mr F J Marquis; “The Visitors” by Mr J Turner, of Irthlingborough, and responded to by Mr John Adams and Mr F T Riley; and “The Chairman” given by Mr Charles Claridge.

Songs were given by Mr Archibald Henderson (Morton and Sons, Leicester) and Mr L C Dimery (Kettering), and Mr C Olive (Geo. Angus and Co., Liverpool and Newcastle) gave several musical monologues. Mr W P Jolley was the accompanist.