The village of Castlethorpe was in the news last week with the success of its ambulance team in winning the railway Executive L.M.R. No. 2 District Competition at Northampton. This success was noteworthy seeing that this competition had been won every year since 1926 by Wolverton. Prior to that year Castlethorpe competed in the Rugby district and were winners ten years in succession.
The history of the ambulance movement at Castlethorpe dates back seventy years, and one of its first members is still living-and at Castlethorpe.
He is 90-year-old Mr. John Olney, who resides in New Road and is cared for by his daughter. He is still well and hearty for one of such a great age.
A “Wolverton Express” reporter chatted with him last Saturday about ambulance work in the “nineties. “We practised out in the field in the summer and in the winter our chief venue was the railway station waiting-room-with a big fire. Col William Bull, of Stony Stratford (father of Dr. Douglas Bull, J.P.) took the most interest in us”, said Mr. Olney, who added this humorous story:
“I well remember him examining me once. He told me that a man had put a chisel through his hand and that blood was spurting up in the air, and instead of me tackling the job I looked up in the air to see where the blood was going.”
Mr. Olney was in the team for 20 years and competed at Bletchley and Rugby, being first on one occasion.
“Ambulance work was not treated as seriously as it is now”, he commented.

Castlethorpe can boast of an excellent record in railway ambulance competitions. For ten successive years when competing in the Rugby District the same team were winners, viz., Messrs. J. Rainbow (captain), C. Harding, W. Woodward, H. Dolling, and J. Green. Mr. C. Bywaters, a former stationmaster at Castlethorpe, was then secretary, and he is now living in retirement in the village. Another stalwart is Mr. Tom Powell, of Hanslope. Former captains of the team, were Mr. Homer now living at Wolverton, Mr. J. Lewin, Mr. H. Rainbow (now of Dunster), Mr. J. Rainbow, Mr. C. Harding. It is “third time lucky” for Mr. Len Robinson, as it was his third year in the captaincy.

Castlethorpe's "Blakesley" Cup Team Left to right: C. Bywaters, H. Dolling, J. Green, J. Rainbow (capt.), C. Harding, J. E. Green

The team (Messrs. L. Robinson, F. W. Pateman, W. G. Taylor, J. E. Green, and C. Hopkins) train twice a week, once at Castlethorpe and once at Wolverton. They attribute their success to a great extent to their expert trainers, Mr. H. Dolling (at Castlethorpe) and Mr. A. Nicholl (at Wolverton). The latter was a member of Wolverton’s successful team prior to the war. He had the distinction of being in the team when it carried all before it in ambulance work. That was in 1937, when Wolverton won seven premier competitions, the crowning success being the Empire contest against teams from South Africa, Canada, Australia, Irish Free State, and Hong Kong. Mr. Nicholls was doubly honoured by being awarded the Earl of Scarborough’s Cup for the best individual work in that competition. The town then being made each member of the team a gift of a silver watch in appreciation of their outstanding achievement.
Castlethorpe members also owe thanks to Mr. Tom Gregory, who has been their patient in practices.
The team goes to Derby in March full of confidence for further railway competitions.

The annual competition open to the London and North Western Railway teams, in what is known as the Rugby District, to decide which team should represent the District in the final for the London and North Western Railway Company’s challenge Shield, took place at the Co-operative Hall on Tuesday. Ten teams entered, and the Examiners were Captain Orton (Coventry), Chief Superintendent Gilbert, and Superintendent Hawkins (Birmingham); and the result as follows:

The prize for the best individual work went to A. Gent, of the Rugby Telegraph Department team.

The L.& N.W.R. Ambulance team attached to Castlethorpe gave a very interesting and instructive display on Monday evening, Feb 27th, in the Council School, under the captaincy of Mr. John Rainbow. Amongst those who accepted invitations to be present, were the Vicar (Revd. W. J. Harkness), Sir Arthur Holland, Colonel Seaton, Major Anderson, Mr. T. Osborne, J.P., Mr. J. E. Whiting, and Mr. Ed. Richardson. The Captain and the Hon. Sec., Mr Bywater, had prepares a list of cases to be dealt with, including compound and simple fractures, scalp wounds, haemorrhage, unconsciousness, caused through inhaling fumes from a burning building, &c. The care and attention given to each case was very commendable. The bandaging of the patients was carried out with intelligence and despatch, and the preparing of the improvised stretchers to be used in cases of emergency was dexterously performed. Dr. Hinde, who kindly consented to examine the work as it proceeded. Expressed his pleasure and entire satisfaction with the progress and work of the team. Sir Arthur Holland complimented the captain of the teams for the efficient display, and said how fortunate it was their activities were not confined to the railway. It was a great asset to have such a first aid team in the village. It may be of interest to note a little of the team’s record. They won the Bucks Cup in 1910, 1914 and the Nuneaton Cup in 1910-1911, and in five tests at Northampton against eight teams competing, they won on each occasion. The team also completed for the “Haywood Shield” open t all England, 20 teams competing; they came out No. 9 on the list. Many other contests have taken place in recent years with good results.

Ambulance Success. For several successive years a Castlethorpe team has won the right to enter the preliminary round of the competition for the Railway Shield. Competing in the Rugby district of the L.M. & S.R. at the ambulance headquarters Northampton, they defeated five other teams. The results were: Castlethorpe 286points, Northampton Castle 259½. Rugby 251½, Nuneaton 245½, Weedon 244½, and Northampton Bridge-street 240½. The Castlethorpe team is a hardy set of ambulance veterans and their smartness and efficiency made them fully deserving of their points. The members of the team were Messrs. J. Rainbow, W. Woolard, J. Green, H. Dolling, and J. Stimpson, and they were trained by Mr. H. Rainbow of Wolverton. Prizes were presented to the Castlethorpe team by Mrs. H. F. Percival the wife of Dr. Percival, who was a judge. Mr. J. Stimpson also gained an individual prize.

The annual competition for the “Bartholomew” challenge cup presented by the late C. W. Bartholomew, of Blakesley Hall, Northants, was held at Bletchley on Saturday last, when Castlethorpe Ambulance team scored the most points and secured the trophy by a margin of 16 points, competing against some of the most prominent teams of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway Company.
Dr. Bradbrook, sen. (Bletchley), Dr. Bradbrook, jun., and Mr. Hill superintendent of St. John Ambulance Brigade, Watford, were the judges.
Since 1911 the Castlethorpe team have made strenuous efforts to win this valuable trophy and they won on their merits on Saturday, their work throughout being highly praiseworthy.
Eight teams competed for the cup – Broad-street “B” team (London), Euston (London), Commercial-road (London), Dalston (London), Rugby, Wolverton and Castlethorpe.
In 1911 Castlethorpe failed to win the cup by only 2½ points, and since 1913 on three occasions they have got into third position.
For many years the District Competition at Northampton has been won by Castlethorpe, the Bucks Challenge Cup on two occasions, also the Nuneaton Challenge Cup two years running, in 1911 and 1912. It was mentioned in the local papers, 1912, that Castlethorpe L. & N.W.Ry team was one of the finest railway ambulance teams in the country. Of late years they have carried all before them in competition with the pick of the railway teams in the Midlands. The team comprises: Messrs. J. Rainbow (captain), C. Harding, J. H. Green, sen., E. Green, jun., H. Dolling, W. Woodward (reserve) and Harry Rainbow (honorary serving brother) coach to the team. This latest success clearly shows that the Castlethorpe men have spent considerable time and trouble in making themselves efficient in a work which has done so much good for the country. We congratulate them on a most praiseworthy achievement and hope they may go on to win further honours.

AMBULANCE CHAMPIONS. The annual Rugby District L. and N.W. Railway Ambulance Competitions were held at Northampton last week, when Castlethorpe again won easily, defeating Northampton Castle Station team, their nearest rivals, by the big margin of 62 points 272, 212. The winning team was composed of C. W. Harding, W.H. Woodward, J. Green, J. Rainbow, H. Dolling and W. Stimpson (reserve). Mr. W. Stimpson also won a special prize.