Rushden Schoomaster Enlists
Councillor L. Perkins Joins The Colours
And Hopes to get into Germany

Yet another of Rushden’s headmasters is giving his services to his King and Country in the person of Councillor L. Perkins, B.Sc., who for eleven years has been headmaster of Newton-road Council Schools. Immediately prior to coming to Rushden Mr. Perkins was for seven years at Leeds Higher Grade School.

During his preceptorship at Rushden, the Evening Continuation Schools have developed enormously and he has attained a large measure of popularity amongst the students. Mr. Perkins commenced these classes in 1904 with about 100 students, until in 1913-14 he had about 600 on the registers. Since the formation of the Rushden Branch of the Workers’ Education Association he has been treasurer of that body and has otherwise taken an active interest in the work of that association. He was elected to the Rushden Urban District Council, as a nominee of the Rushden Liberal Association, in 1913, in which connection he has put in some useful work on the following committees:- Sanitary, Cemetery, Recreation, and Library.

In 1910 he was elected president of the local association of the National Union of Teachers and in 1912 he was appointed president of the County Association. For the past four or five years he has been president of the Rushden Central Social Club and for many years past has taken considerable interest in the Rushden Troop of Boy Scouts, having been recently appointed treasurer of that organisation. He has been in much demand locally as a lecturer on educational and scientific subjects.

Before leaving Yorkshire, Mr. Perkins was an enthusiastic footballer playing for Headingley Rugby Football Club. As a young man he served for five years in the Leeds Artillery, and has now joined the Artists’ Rifles, having enlisted for foreign service. He graduated in London University as B.Sc. in 1903. Mr. Perkins left Rushden on Wednesday morning for London to commence his training.

The Artists’ Rifles is the corps which, according to one of Sir John French’s dispatches, finish their training in France. It is this corps that the Commander-in-Chief is using as a recruiting ground for his officers. During his scholastic career Mr. Perkins has travelled extensively and just prior to the outbreak of war he had proceeded on an educational tour to Canada, being in that country when war was declared. He has also visited Holland, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, and the United States. He has never yet been to Germany – but hopes to get there shortly!

Royal Flying Corps — Rushden Gentleman Accepted — For Difficult Work
Mr Eric A Cave, son of Mr Arthur Cave, of Rushden, has been successful in passing for the Royal Flying Corps. Mr Cave is a journalist by profession, and at present holds a responsible position, at Bradford on the editorial staff of the “Yorkshire Observer.” Prior to leaving the county he was on the staff of the “Northampton Echo” and subsequently on that of the “Northampton Independent.” He went to Whitehall last Thursday week, and was subjected to his tests on the following day.

Candidates for the Royal Flying Corps have to be very expert in blending colours at a distance. There are at the present moment, we understand, 650 applicants, and of these, we are informed, more than half can be of no service to the corps, not coming up to the required standard. Candidates are divided into six classes as follows:- Improbably, Probable, fair, very fair, good, and very good. Mr Cave has, we understand, passed as “Good.” He made his first application for admission four or five months ago, and received his papers since. He received two years education in Germany, and for a further two years resided in Naples. In consequence he is an expert German and Italian linguist and has also a good mastery of the French language, so he should prove of immense service to his country. We wish him success in his military career.

Rushden Teachers Join the Colours
Two more Rushden day school teachers, making seven in all, have joined the Forces, namely, Mr E T Huke, of the Alfred-street school, and Mr J Allen, of the North-end school. They have joined the 8th Northamptonshires. Both passed the doctor on Tuesday last, and leave shortly, probably for the South West of England, for training with Kitchener’s Army. The other teachers with the Colours are Messrs. L Perkins, S T Fox, Smythem, Dodge, and Perkins, junior.

Rushden Recruit for the Royal Army Medical Corps
Mr Arthur Stanley Knight (son of Mr J F Knight, of the White House, Rushden) has joined the R.A.M.C. as a private. Having gone through a course of ambulance training, Mr Knight is proceeding to a hospital in Birmingham for further training and will then be at the disposal of the Army authorities.