Ilkeston Life February 2016 Newspaper

SAD DEMISE OF GRANBY MOTORS Ilkeston motorbike business forced to close

A friend through your letterbox

20p where sold

FEBRUARY 2016

A community publication for Ilkeston and the surrounding districts including Kirk Hallam, Cotmanhay, Shipley View and West Hallam Visit our website: ilkestonlife.com

As 2015 ended, so did Granby Motors.

At 1pm on the 31st December the doors were closed for the final time bringing to an end a long-standing Ilkeston business.

In 1968 Granby Motors Ltd was formed when Jack Glover took a brave step and began to import Japanese motorbikes, which he saw as superior to British ones.

The British bike industry had a loyal following at the time but it had not mastered a real problem – how to easily start on a cold, damp morning.

Although unkindly nicknamed ‘Jap crap’, Japanese bikes had apparently overcome the headache – their ability to start and run in all weathers meant they were winning over even the most loyal British motorcyclists.

Jack Glover saw an opportunity and took a leap of faith.

Instead of working with the likes of Yamaha, Honda and the rest, who were looking for dealers to import and retail their machines, he along with a few other entrepreneurs, worked out how to purchase these new machines abroad, privately import them, before selling them direct to British customers.

Seriously undercutting the main dealers, Jack was able to sell a great many bikes and cause great upset to the manufacturers, who naturally cooled their relationship with Granby.

Jack cleverly understood that new bikes could be bought and taken apart. The sum of

the parts was greater than the whole machine and, if you had the right parts from the right machines, healthy profits could be made.

Working on narrow margins on new sales, and having a good volume of spares for repairs, business was good. But it could not last forever.

The rest of the world caught on to grey imports. The internet brought a rush of cheaper and cheaper parts from those trading with lower overheads and Granby found it harder and harder to make money.

Then Chinese bikes began to appear on the scene, at a huge discount to established brands but customers did not prove to be keen to try them. Questions arose over reliability. Parts were difficult to find and profits got smaller and smaller.

The previous good times helped to keep the wheels turning but the inevitable demise could only be delayed.

With the closure of Granby Motors Limited, based on Belfield Street, another little independent business is gone. The parts staff had a huge volume of knowledge at their fingertips which they would happily use to help customers, but this, along with their jobs, is also lost.

Motorbike enthusiast Gavin Darby, who knew Jack Glover well, said: “It is another sad example of a local business going down, and the message is clear – shop local for convenience and to support our local economy and workforce.”

Kieran appointed to spearhead Bennerley Viaduct project Hopes of restoring local landmark Bennerley Viaduct and bringing it back to life as a walking and cycling route have been given a boost with the appointment of Kieran Lee as Community and Engagement Officer for the project.

He hopes to enthuse groups and individuals to take a new interest in the structure which has been described as a ‘national treasure’ but is in need of a lot of TLC following years of neglect.

More on page 14.

L

adywood Road before cars The Way We Were turns the spotlight on Kirk Hallam, page 13

Print run of 10,000 copies distributed locally—outstanding coverage for advertisers

My school years in Ilkeston Reflecting community life in and around Ilkeston

Local

Independent Fresh Entertaining If you don’t get a copy through your letterbox, Ilkeston Life is available online and from various places including: U Choose Smoothie Bar, 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston; John’s News, 17 Bath Street, Ilkeston; Ilkeston Coffee Bean, 156 Bath Street, Ilkeston; Blinkinks, 48 South Street, Ilkeston; Patti House, The Old Chapel, South Street, Ilkeston Wayfarer, 307 Nottm Road, Ilkeston; Lobina’s, 338 Nottm Road, Ilkeston; Manna House Café, Queen Elizabeth Way, Kirk Hallam; Post Office, Ash Street, Cotmanhay; Linda’s Mini-Market, Cotmanhay Rd. New stockists welcome.

Editorial office: 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston Tel: 07539 808390 Editor: Robert Attewell ilkestonlife@gmail.com or robert@ilkestonlife.com Advertising Manager: Paul Opiah paul@ilkestonlife.com Distribution Manager and Webmaster: Adam Newton adam@ilkestonlife.com

© Copyright 2016 The material in Ilkeston Life is protected by copyright. If you wish to reproduce anything, please contact the editor.

While every care is taken to be accurate, we are only human and mistakes do occur occasionally. If you are unhappy with any of the content in the paper, please contact the editor in the first place. We accept news and information from correspondents in good faith and cannot be held responsible for inaccuracies. We try not to include stories which may cause distress to anyone.

If you have a view on any of the articles, please write and let us know. Your letters are always welcome, but we reserve the right to withhold or edit. Anonymous letters will only be printed in exceptional circumstances.

Deadline for adverts and editorial contributions: 15th of preceding month.

2 Ilkeston Life, February 2016

By Patricia Spencer I started school in 1953 at Field House Infants on Lower Whitworth Road. I was five years old. I believe at that time it had only been open for one year.

I still remember mum leaving me standing alone in the playground. The giant poplars that still border the school were only tiny saplings then. No locked gates or high fencing. As I looked round I saw another girl, also standing alone, her face I suppose mirrored mine with fear and apprehension uppermost.

I approached the girl – we talked, she was slightly deaf so she must have been more nervous than me. We became firm friends and we remained close all our school lives.

We are still friends today and only live ten minutes walk away from one another.

There were two other girls standing together I remember, twins Margaret and Anne. I had never seen twins before. They both had black curly hair topped with bows to match their pretty gingham dresses if my memory serves me right.

I am afraid I cannot remember any of the schoolteachers’ names or picture their faces.

I am sure some of you out there will remember some of them.

I do remember one of them caused a problem for me in one class early on. I put my hand up to ask to go to the toilet and she refused to let me go. So I must have been desperate and I ended up wetting myself and making a mess on the floor. One of the boys told the teacher and I was devastated when she scolded me and showed me up, in front of the class. This made me very nervous around teachers for the rest of my school life and I never spoke to one unless I had to.

I remember hating P.E. Having to run around in vest and knickers was never my idea of having fun.

On the other hand, I loved the school band and was desperate to learn to play and instrument. But all I ever got to play was the castanets. It was better than nothing, I suppose.

But I really fancied banging the drum.

I loved music lessons especially when we could sing. Assembly was my most favourite time of day. They should still have assemblies to get the children singing to wake them up in a morning. I know now there could be problems with the different religions, but they could still start the day with a good old sing song to rouse the children from their tiredness.

I could already read quite well when I started school. Mum had started me reading when I was two. She sat with me every day and we

D

o you enjoy writing or listening to poetry?

Why not come along to the U Choose Smoothie Bar, 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston on the last Thursday of the month between 7 and 9pm.

U CHOOSE POETRY GROUP

fetched four books from the library every week. She would sit with me on her knee and I would follow her fingers as she traced the letters and it was just a natural thing for me to do.

I also bought comics from the market stall.

Changing them every week. Superman and Batman all the American superheroes I devoured. I The freezing cold weather forced the tops off bottles of milk was never a child who played out a lot.

I mostly spent my time in Dad’s chair when I enjoyed it at Hallam Fields. I had plenty of he was at work or if he was on nights, in bed, friends there. Mostly boys in my cousin’s reading my books and comics. class a year ahead of me. But, then there was I was never allowed to have a bike or roller a big upheaval when, at nine years old, they skates. But I remember playing snobs in the built the new Hallam Fields school on Longstreet, whip and top was also popular in the field Lane, and for some reason I was moved summer months. When I was a bit older I to Kensington School but none of my friends had stilts that were all the rage for a few went with me. years, from Jimmy Walters on Nottingham They either went to the newly built school or Road. He had a yard opposite the Needleas I have found out only recently some of makers Pub. Also Hula Hoops were popular them stayed where they were. for a while.

How or why they made their decisions I will I always went home for dinner every day never know, unless someone out there has because mum was not working and we only the answer. lived across the road from the school. One day in my last year there, I went outside after As you can imagine as a very quiet, shy girl I I had had my dinner and decided to go across found this a terrifying prospect and I found it very difficult to make new friends. I was to the park and play on the swings. I must very unhappy there. Everyone else in 3A have been in a world of my own swinging seemed to know one another as they had away and when I went back in mum asked probably gone through school together. Kenme what I was doing there as I had lost account of time and I should have been back in sington School is obviously a Victorian building but my classrooms were in the newschool. She scolded me and sent me to school. I was very embarrassed about being er block across the road. The only time I went into the main building was for assemlate. I was never, ever late again. bly and probably P.E. But I do not rememI was always very quiet in class. I dare not ber anything about that. answer questions in case I got them wrong.

At home it was very different. I was always Mr Mosely was my teacher and he was a lovely man, very kind and caring. He was the being told to please shut up! nicest teacher I ever had. I did make friends In the winter it was always very cold in with one boy in my class. His name was Patschool. I remember the little bottles of milk rick and he lived in Kirk Hallam. I went into being frozen and their tops standing proud of school one morning to be told in assembly the bottle because of the ice. that he had died. I was totally devastated and One term I remember for some reason there have never forgotten the shock. was no milk available and we had to have In the second year I went down to a B class tubes of milky sweets in different flavours, for the first time, I think it was because I was banana being one of them. so unhappy. Our teacher was Mr Straw, I Does anyone remember this and the reason think. I never did get on with him. I used to for it? daydream a lot and was always looking out the window rather than listening to him. He When I was seven I moved on to Hallam Fields School. This was then sited in the top shouted at me and I never forgave him. half of The Cavendish Girls School. So again More to come, including pictures of Cavendish I was only across the road from home. teachers and pupils.

CLEANING, PERSONAL CARE AND SHOPPING 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Phone 07585 656923

90-year-old Ernest presented with French Legion of Honour medal

Photo Ernest Turner

Ilkeston born soldier Ernest Turner, 90, was presented with the French Legion d’Honneur medal in a ceremony at the Town Hall on 14th January.

Ilkeston war veteran Ernest Turner receives his medal from Jean-Claude Lafontaine of the French Embassy Photo: Garth Newton there to be so much interest but lots of students were very keen.

“While we are out there we will be doing a trek and then a community project; the students will be responsible for coming up with the itinerary and booking accommodation.

“Although it seems like a long time until we Students at Saint John Houghton Catholic go, they’ve got a lot of money to raise so Voluntary Academy have launched a fundwe’re getting started now.” raising drive after signing up for a once-in-aStudents Regan Till, George Sensecall and lifetime World Challenge trip to Nepal.

Joe Roberts, all 14, said they were excited Thirty Year 9 and 10 students will fly out to about the trip and determined to raise the Nepal for two weeks in July 2017 but before money. then they each need to raise £2,690.

Regan said: “I think it will be a fantastic exStudents have sold Christmas decorations perience and it’s something that I will probathey made in school and managed to raise bly only do once. more than £300 and they are also planning “It will be a real challenge but I’m looking two events as well as doing their own indiforward to that. I’ve signed up for the Derby vidual fund-raising.

10k and will be looking for sponsorship and Three members of staff will accompany them I’ve got a Saturday job to help raise the monto Nepal, including James Wheldon, teacher ey needed to pay for the trip.” of Product Design and Engineering, who is George said: “It is a great opportunity and leading the trip. something I wanted to do as soon as I heard He said: “I’ve led World Challenge trips be- about it. I’m looking forward to the trek.” fore but this is the first one for Saint John Mr Wheldon said he was thrilled that the Houghton students. students would be taking part in such a mem“We held an information evening for parents orable trip. and about 80 came along. I wasn’t expecting

“Reporting it may have meant my mother receiving notification that I was ‘wounded in action’ and I didn’t want to worry her,” he said.

The award, for his part in liberating France, Founded in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the is the highest decoration that France can be- order of merit is awarded for outstanding civil or military service. stow.

On behalf of France, M Lafonteine expressed Jean-Claude Lafontaine, a representative of the French Embassy, said “I want to say what his gratitude to Ernest and his fellow British a great example you are for me and my gen- solders: “You are a leading witness to our eration, for British people, for French people history. You wrote on our soil a history which shaped the identity of Britain and and for Europe.“ France.”

“France must never forget those, like you, Following his military service, Ernest bewho came from Britain and the Commoncame a painter and decorator, but he always wealth to begin the liberation of Europe by liberating France. We owe our freedom and remembered his fallen comrades and he has often visited the war cemeteries in France security to your dedication.” and Belgium.

Ernest, who now lives in nearby Awsworth, says he was honoured to receive the award so “I never thought about getting wounded, long after his Army service. He took part in captured or killed,” he says. “I don’t see myself as a hero, far from it, I just did my duty. the Normandy Landings and ran up Juno Beach where 2,000 men had lost their lives “When I visit the graves of those who lost to German guns 24 hours earlier. their lives, I think how unlucky they were He recalls as an 18-year-old having an early and how lucky I was. That is all you can say." brush with death when, venturing from a trench, he heard a shell coming and instincCouncillor Val Custance, the Mayor of Eretively fell to the ground. A piece of metal hit wash, who attended the ceremony said: “It him in the leg, but he just pulled it out and was with great pride and admiration that we did not report it. Without mentioning it to witnessed Mr Turner receive the honour for his comrades, he just sent home for a tin of his bravery.” plasters.

St John Houghton students plan visit to Nepal

He said: “From my experience of leading expeditions and knowing what happens I think this trip will be fantastic for the students. They will get to experience different cultures and religions and in the past I’ve known students come back as completely different people. They will all have roles and

back to life after the bleakness of the winter, as if it were waking up, with the trees stretching out their branches and new leaves and buds popping out all over everything.

I do wish my brother Matt would share my interests, he’s not a church mouse, he’s a house mouse. He lives with a family in their warm home where there is I adore Spring time, looking a constant supply of tasty food. around the church yard I can see No searching under the pews for the snow- drops starting to peep crumbs for Matt. When he’s not out of hiding, braving the wind, sleeping off his meals, he spends rain and frost. Soon to follow is his time watching TV and then the promise of the stunningly complaining there is nothing simple beauty of the daffodils worth watching. and then of course, too, the “Switch the TV off,” I tell him, primroses. “and come and join me from a I love it when the earth comes scamper around the hedges,”

Diary of a Church Mouse

Dear Diary,

The first snow of winter arrived in Ilkeston on Saturday night, 16th January. Thomas Leleux captured this scene at Straw’s Bridge the morning after. There is a quarterly meeting of the Friends of Straw’s Bridge on Thursday 18th February, 7.30pm, at Ilkeston Fire Station Community Room. Potential new members are always welcome to come along.

responsibilities from arranging travel to budgeting for their food.”

Students will be taking part in the Peak District Pathfinder and the Challenge Colour Dash in Harrogate, both in April, to raise money.

but he’s always got an excuse.

“It’s too cold.” “it’s too windy.”

“I can see that cat Florence out playing!” Or the most common one over winter: “It’s raining!” – honestly we won’t dissolve, we are not made out of sugar!

But yesterday he did give into my nagging and joined me in the fresh air for a run around the trees and he had to admit the snow drops were stunning and how beautiful the scenery on our door step really is. So perhaps in future, he might switch off his TV set and go and do something less boring instead!

Bye for now –

Martha Mouse

Ilkeston Life, February 2016

3

Have your say Get in touch with your views— Email: ilkestonlife@gmail.com Post: The Editor, Ilkeston Life, 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 8AH

Care home visit was a pleasure On the 18th of December I had the pleasure of visiting the Larches and Cedars Nursing Home on Queen Street. I had been invited along to go and read some of my poetry to the residents there. I only hope they got as much out of it as I did.

Everyone should pop in and visit the residents now and then. I am sure they would be glad they did.

I visited the Cedars first. It was all trimmed up for Christmas and was warm and cosy with a lovely atmosphere. You should always be aware if you entertain in a nursing home that you will be heckled, but in a good way by the residents.

They will come in with stories of their own, which they probably haven’t thought about for years and are always interesting to listen to.

One of the ladies in their care, Violet, wanted me to recite something to do with Christmas. Quite right too, So as she was a well known Soprano in Ilkeston in her younger days she started a resounding chorus of I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas to which we all joined in and I enjoyed immensely.

Apparently Violet sang in many venues in Ilkeston and possibly further afield and she still has a wonderful voice.

I had a second meeting with Olive who I had met in the U Choose a few weeks earlier when she recited Wordsworth’s Daffodils faultlessly. I have never heard it read better.

She had learned it off by heart from her teacher, Miss Escot, at Bennerly School.

Violet was born in 1923 and was apparently the daughter of a local councillor.

I also found a face I new from my past. Eva. I remember going on a school trip to Dudley zoo in 1957 or 58 when I was about ten. My mum could not go as she was working so they asked Eva if she would take me along with her own daughter Jenny. We had a lovely day and I remember a very scary ride on the chairlift there.

I also remember how smart Eva looked that day. I have never forgotten it. So I had a nice chat with her about this trip.

Lindsey then took me across to the Larches where there were fewer residents and a quieter atmosphere, but after reading some of my poetry to them we got chatting and found we had friends in common. We also had a very interesting conversation about ghosts and spiritual happenings. I do hope they enjoyed my visit as much as I enjoyed their company.

*****

Patrica, centre, with Olive, left, and Violet, seated

Johnny Victory with Alison and Lindsey, entertainment ladies of the home

Erewash Museum at the War time events.

He has everyone singing along to the songs of the 40s 50s and 60s.

Johnny has been performing professionally for about 15 years. However, he as always loved to sing, dance and entertain people for as long as he can remember.

I spoke to Johnny before he left. He loves singing for the residents and shook many of their hands before leaving. He told me that if he can help them go back in time to their own era they can remember the music and songs they used to sing in their day and fleetingly they are back to being the youngsters they once were. The second photo is of Johnny and Alison and Lindsay, the entertainment staff for the nursing home.

Then on the 2nd of January I went along to the Cedars Nursing home to watch Johnny Patricia Spencer, Ilkeston Victory entertain the residents. He brought the new year in with the residents and staff DROP IN FOOT CLINIC and had them dancing and singing along.

On second Tuesday of the month They absolutely loved him.

9th February, 10am till 2.30pm Johnny Victory is based in Derby. He works At U Choose café, 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston across the county singing at private parties Treatments from £15 and nursing homes, etc., but he is probably best known in Ilkeston from singing at the JULIE HARVEY, SRN, CFHP.

4 Ilkeston Life, February 2016

07977 516086 www.heavenly-feet.co.uk

As previously stated, through many different money raising events, between exchanges, every effort is made to give as large a August 15th 1992 was a special day for Ilgrant as possible towards travelling expenskeston football. It was the date when our es. This gives as many people as possible own home of football was opened to the pub- the chance to take part and enjoy the Exlic. Since then, the New Manor Ground has change. staged almost 600 first team fixtures, close to Why not come and join us, we are sure that 2,000 goals have been scored and more than you will love it . Your only question will be 500 players have worn a Robins shirt. to ask yourself why you didn’t join soonThe summer of 2017 will mark the ground’s er. You do not have to be able to speak French!

25th anniversary and the supporters group will be pulling out all the stops to make it a My email address if you have any queries is special occasion. We have begun a lengthy dereklittle2010@outlook.com process in producing a special souvenir bro- I look forward to hearing from you soon. chure which we anticipate will be published in 18 months time. It will be fully illustrated Derek Little, Ilkeston Twin Towns and it will chronicle the development of the Committee New Manor Ground, with details of all the big games and the best players.

NO NEED FOR GIRLS TO BE The ground has witnessed many highs and EMBARRASSED lows, not least the demise of one club and Dear Sir, the birth of another, as well as six promoAs a nurse, I strongly disagree with the lettions and FA Cup glory. All of this will be ters objecting to employers insisting on medcovered in the souvenir and it is hoped that ical examinations for teenage girl employees. fans’ favourites from over the years will share their memories. In addition, to coincide I believe not only should some firms have with the launch of the brochure, we hope to their girls medically examined but it should be made compulsory. have a number of very special guests on hand to meet the supporters.

Employers have a duty to care about the All of this may seem a long way off yet but a health and welfare of their staff and no girl should feel ashamed or embarrassed about lot of work needs to be done in order to make the 25th anniversary a success. We will her body enough to resent having to strip down to her bra and pants for a doctor’s exkeep you posted as and when more inforamination. mation becomes available. If you feel you can assist in any way – or know someone Doctors look at undressed girls and examine who you think can help – please don’t hesi- them daily so any girls feelings of embartate to contact any IFCSG committee mem- rassment or self-consciousness are totally out ber at the ground on a match day, or post a of order. message on the IFCSG Facebook page. AlMrs F B Patel, Ilkeston ternatively you can Tweet to @ifcsg.

Further details can be found on the IFCSG TREES MARKED QUEEN’S message board – please visit http:// CORONATION s10.zetaboards.com/IFC/topic/7554362/1/ Thank you for printing my letter “Enjoyed Duncan Payne, Chairman, IFCSG cinema article” in the January issue. Another memory of mine which may be of interest to WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT readers is as follows: FRANCE NEXT YEAR, THEN On Coronation day in 1953, two pupils from HOST A FRENCH VISITOR IN every school in Ilkeston were chosen for a 2019? special ceremony. This was a tree planting which took place at the rec. (Rutland RecreaAre you in a group that would like to take tion Ground). Each of the two pupils plantpart in an exchange?

We liaise with any local organisations who ed a tree starting from the entrance on Oakwell Drive and so forming the Queen show interest in Twinning with similar setups in Chalons en Champagne and district in Elizabeth Avenue.

At the start of the avenue there was a large France. sign indicating this and a small plaque For example, if a Painting Group wish to was placed at the base of each tree stating join us we then get in touch with Chalons which school had planted it. Sadly the sign and find corresponding people. If this is has now gone and so have many of the trees successful, they are put in touch with them, in order to sort out details of how many peo- to make way for the car park and play ground. The plaques have also disappeared ple can be catered for at the next exchange. but for the children who did the planting I’m Next year, 2017, Ilkeston is due to go to sure the memory lives on.

Chalons. Then in 2019 the groups from Joy Marshall, West Hallam Chalons come to Ilkeston.

As would be appreciated, the intervening period of time are largely used up in arranging which groups will be involved and how big they will be. Normally, everyone concerned stays with their opposite number in their house or flat. i.e. English with French families and on the return the French with English families.

During the visits specific trips are organised to suit the various interests. e.g., for the various sports and other interests complete facilities are provided.

25 YEARS OF FOOTBALL AT NMG TO BE CELEBRATED

VOLUNTEER REQUIRED TO DELIVER ILKESTON LIFE IN THE SPINNEY ROAD AREA OF ILKESTON. Please enquire at U Choose cafe, 1 Bath Street if interested.

Bin men can’t get up our street, so the rubbish piles up

Fascinating and tragic entries in the school journal

MEMORIES OF COSSALL …. David Potter

Dear Sir, I wonder if you could highlight a problem we have had for some time on Byron Street.

It has been an ongoing problem for a few years but it seems to be getting worse.

As I write this (mid January) we have had no rubbish or recycling collected from Byron Street since before Christmas. December 23rd was the last collection, so there’s three weeks rubbish standing on the street.

We have written to the council on many occasions, also our local MP with out any success, also visited Citizen’s Advice Bureau. The problem is parked cars so the lorry cannot get access.

The council posted all houses a letter asking us to keep the street clear on collection day but as we have pointed out most of the parked cars do not belong to residents but people who are shopping or working in the town. Before long we won’t be able to get out of our door!

As well as the health risk, another concern is parents walking down the middle of the road with young children in pushchairs to avoid the blocked pavements. The street is well used by people making their way to and from Chaucer School.

and father have been sent to prison for neglect. Inspector Allen looking into several more cases.  April 14 1910. Visit of Lord George Sangster’s Circus to Ilkeston. 16 children absent.  March 13 1912. Attendance low as permission given for coal picking on Cossall Bank owing to the strike. Many homes without fires.  March 22 1912. “Bat picking” again. 12 away. Most of the children in poor condition owing to the strike. 100 children were fed. The soup was given by Mrs. Wheatley.  March 26 1912. Fed 95 children today. Mrs. Burrows kindly gave the soup.  June 5 1912. Rose Ward, aged 10, was killed on the railway last night.  June 23 1914. Closed tonight, Tuesday, for  June 28 1897. Resumed duties after 1 the rest of the week. The King passes week’s holiday in commemoration of Diathrough Cossall on Thursday. mond Jubilee.  June 29 1914. County Scholarships out to May 25 1900. Gave half day holiday on day. Three pupils were successful. Frank account of the relief of Mafeking.

Cook to Nottingham High School, Winnie  June 2 1902. Closed one week for CoronaRandall to Balmoral School, Annie Robintion holiday. son to Ilkeston Secondary School.  September 1 1902. John Moss returned to  December 1 1915. John Marsden, one of school. Has been in hospital three weeks our former pupils, died of wounds received after falling from the railway bridge at Ilin France. keston Junction.  February 1 1916. There was a Zeppelin raid  August 25 1904. Ilkeston Free Library last night. Bombs were dropped at Stanton, opened. School attendance suffered.

Hallam Fields and Bennerley. Many chil September 25 1905. Prosecution of W. Bos- dren absent. tock, L. Riley and U. Scattergood for poor Editor’s note: If you recognise any of the attendance. Fined one shilling. names or events in David’s article we’d love to hear from you.  May 7 1909. Three Dawson children have been sent to the Workhouse as both mother

Born and bred in the village of “Cossa Blob” (as it was referred to by residents of Awsworth at the time) I eventually crossed over the border to live in Ilson but I’ve kept an eye on news and developments in the old place, especially concerning my old junior school which underwent a transformation to emerge as The Chatterley House Hotel.

One of a long and distinguished line of headmasters, Mr. J.A. Randall was, I think, the very first to hold that office (way before my time I might add) and I hope you’ll share my fascination at the portrait and flavour of the times evoked by these extracts from his personal “Cossall Church of England School Journal” which I came across recently in a booklet by Harry Grayson, a stalwart of Cossall village life, now sadly passed away.

Sean Trusswell, Ilkeston.

Overflowing bins on Byron Street. pop over for a quick one whilst the film was running and then rush back to change the reels. It was also said that occasionally the chosen few at The Vaults would be invited Early one December morning a copy of over to the The Scala after closing time, and Ilkeston Life dropped through my letterbox they would take with them crates of beer and rather than immediately condemn it to and then he would run the film again and the re-cycling bin with the rest of the junk they would stay there drinking until the mail for some unknown reason I decided to small hours. read it, and what a delight it was.

Although I and many of my counterparts Being a local lad it brought back so many view the changing town with sadness I am memories as we “old uns” remember Ilson sure that in fifty years time our grandchilin its hay-day. It was known at one time as dren will also have the same view when Queen of the Midlands and its residents they will be writing about changes which were supposed to enjoy one of the highest will take place after my generation are long average wages in the county. There was full forgotten. employment the majority of being emAnd finally a request. Can you please make ployed in fairly well paid jobs at Stanton, in all of your past publications available on the coal mines, hosiery; or for the folks who your website because I am sure that I am ventured further afield there was the Railnot the only one who would enjoy having way, Celanese and Rolls-Royce. Charity the opportunity to read them? shops at that time had not been invented and all the shops were taken and busy. The town David Frost, West Hallam boasted some 56 pubs and countless fish Editor’s reply: The latest issue is always and chip shops and both day and night the ready to read on the Home page of our webtown buzzed. site, ilkestonlife.com. (Scroll down till you In particular, the article by Barry Everley see it, then click on it.) brought back so many memories as it must To access previous issues, bring up the latbe the same chap who was one of the reguest issue and in the search box type for exlars in the back room at the Wine Vaults, or ample: Ilkeston Life Newspaper September the little room in the Spring Cottage 2015 or whatever month, press the return where “The Lads” enjoyed many a pint whilst putting the world to rights. (However button on your keyboard and it should appear. sadly we appear not to have made a very good job of doing it.)

Click on ‘click to read’ and turn over pages Another lad who joined us at the Vaults and as required. You can enlarge using the +/sliding bar at the bottom. whose name I will not mention worked as the projectionist at The Scala and he would

PAPER WAS NOT CONDEMNED TO THE RECYCLING BIN

John Moss returned to school. Has been in hospital for three weeks after falling from the railway bridge at Ilkeston Junction.

NEW PATH TO NOWHERE Recently for several days we were delayed by the installation of temporary traffic lights on Cat and Fiddle Lane although the delay did give us time to watch the operation of the excavators’ a road roller and other groundwork machinery.

Then magically they all disappeared and we were left with a short length of pavement, a retaining revetment which would not look out of place on a motorway, and a steeply sloping path going up to the adjacent field.

These changes aroused my curiosity hence a couple of days ago I took my life in my hands and walked from West Hallam along the busy Cat and Fiddle Lane to take a closer look. Climbing the new steeply sloping path gains you entry to a field and crossing the field puts you on to the footpath which starts on Cat and Fiddle Lane some three hundred yards from the new entrance, and this path then proceeds to Kirk Hallam.

On the opposite side of the road and in close proximity to both entrances are two footpaths and a bridleway hence the new entrance will probably save a walker at most four hundred yards if they wish to walk to Stanley or Dale.

That is they are brave enough to cross the road in this location as it virtually impossible to see oncoming traffic.

Currently our local government are busy closing care homes, and cutting back on subsidies on public transport and many other things were there is a genuine need; meanwhile money has been spent on a new footpath and its associated earthworks which are virtually

impossible to approach and were there has never been a public footpath during the fifty odd years I have walked in the locality. Meanwhile the workers at the Storage Depot risk life and limb every day whilst walking to and from the bus stops on Ladywood Road along the Cat and Fiddle Lane were the verges are overgrown in places or sometime non-existent in order to get to work.

I would be grateful therefore if anyone could answer me the following questions.

Who asked for the steps and why?

Why did the relevant authorities agree to them?

And last but not least. How much did they cost?

David Frost, West Hallam

Ilkeston Life, February 2016

5

called her Bluebell, she hopped about everywhere.

When she grew into adulthood she was still Ilkeston very small, very sweet and innocent – she It was around 1965. I’m never sure of the man Geoff was lovely. Just imagine a wild rabbit in year; however, the M1 motorway was being your home, hopping around and free!

Hayes has constructed in Trowell.

In the meantime she had her own hutch. been My brother-in-law Roy Brailsford was emOne night at 10 o’clock I went to lock everywriting ployed as a labourer there. One Saturday where up and found her missing. By this some afternoon, into our house he walks. I knew time she was two years old. I found my something was going on, he was grinning stories of torch and searched everywhere, then down like a Cheshire cat. his life. the lane I passed an old man and his dog and “You reckon you can rear this?” he said, and Here is one he said his dog had dived into a hedge bottom further down. He took me to the spot, he reached into a plastic bag and produced about a where I found her. I was worried about her the tiniest rabbit you could ever see. “It rabbit, being out. was picked up on the side of the motorway, which he its mother was killed by an excavator,” he Two weeks later she broke out again. I once penned in said. again found her and at home we discussed March the fact that she might want her freedom.

Roy, always the mickey taker, handed it 2012. over to me, roaring with some insane kind of A decision was made. I know it was the laughter. He turned to go; he’d passed the wrong one. I took her to a wood some miles buck. away from roads and people, especially dog people. I set her down in the woodland and I held the animal in the palm of my hand and just watched her nibbling away at the grassthought oh dear, oh dear, it was so small, so es. helpless, what am I to do with it? I took it guess what? We started bringing her into into the house to show June and to discuss the house, at first just now and then, but I was there half an hour still debating about what might be done. when winter came she was in every single her and eventually I turned to go back across We already possessed a greyhound so I had day. She – it was a she – came in for hours some fields to my van. I wanted her to have and would lay on the back of the settee, then the freedom but at the same time I knew it to be careful. I went to clear out my small gradually slide down over June’s shoulder was wrong to leave her. I knew she wouldshed and laid a bale of straw. We laid it in n’t survive and from that day to this I have there and I had to get advice on how to feed into her lap and lay there whist being stroked. had a conscience about it. She trusted me it. Wow, it was so small. and I let her down.

The little rabbit showed no fear at all.

We However, I can tell you it survived and

A wild rabbit

Beavers make poppies Beavers of the 16th Ilkeston colony (St John’s) earned British Legion badges after making poppies, researching war graves and attending a ceremony at Park Cemetery.

The first picture shows Gregory Beeson with a poppy he has attached to one of the war graves.

The second one shows the fourteen Beavers who attended at Park Cemetery. Lisa Barker, the leader of the group, said she was proud of the Beavers and the interest they had shown in Remembrance Day and what it was all about.

Ilkeston Lions Club 6 Ilkeston Life, February 2016

Museum marks Chinese Year of the Monkey Music, lanterns and a colourful procession will all be part of the celebrations when Erewash welcomes the Chinese New Year with family fun activities on Saturday 13th February.

Organised by Erewash Borough Council, free events will be held in Ilkeston and Long Eaton to celebrate the Year of the Fire Monkey.

Ilkeston’s celebrations will begin with a free family lantern making workshop at Erewash Museum on High Street between 11am and 3pm. The lanterns will then be used in a traditional early evening procession in the town.

Starting at 5.30pm outside the Museum, it will make its way into the nearby Market Place for finale celebrations.

Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says: ”These celebrations will once again be colourful, lively and great entertainment for all the family.

Whether you watch or take part, it will be memorable and fun.”

One Minute Message

He never sleeps One of the most interesting mammals you could ever see is the giraffe. It is the tallest of all land-living animal species because of its long neck, which enables it to feed from high trees.

Another fascinating characteristic of the giraffe is this: it has the lowest sleep requirement of any mammal. It can get by with just ten minutes sleep a day. The average sleep time is 1.9 hours.

Seemingly always awake, the giraffe has nothing much in common with humans in that regard. If we had so little sleep it

would almost certainly mean we had something wrong with us – but not so with giraffes. It’s just the way God made them.

If you think under two hours a day is not much sleep, consider this fact about the creator of all our animal friends: our heavenly Father never sleeps. The writer of Psalm 121 says: “He who keeps you will not slumber.”

It’s a comforting thought that in our hour of need, whatever time of day or night that may be, God will hear us when we call upon him.

Are you in difficulties? Turn to the one who never sleeps.

Let him watch out for you each second of the day.

He will ‘preserve your going out and your coming in’ (v8).

ILKESTON LIFE FUND-RAISER:

Collectable Model of a Modern Ilkeston Life Delivery Vehicle This souvenir 1/87th scale model lorry is available exclusively from us. It comes in white only with Ilkeston Life promotional message on the sides. Supplied in a clear plastic box.

Only

£7.50

News from local churches

Prayer Day

Story Café West Hallam Methodist Church (next to Bottle Kiln on High Lane West DE7 6HP) will be staging its Fifth Story Café on Friday 26th February at 7.30pm.

Story Café showcases guest artists who entertain the audience and share their life story. The guest artists this time will be Sally Watson and the “Torkard Ensembe”.

‘Torkard Ensemble’ is a communityfocused, inclusive group who perform a variety of music, so they will share songs from lots of different genres. The Ensemble, a group of about 50 musicians and singers, mainly from the Nottingham area, formed in 2010 with the intention of making music for personal enjoyment, and to benefit others by their public performances.

About eight of the group will entertain us and some will share the story of their faith journey. Their Musical Director Sally Watson qualified as a Music Therapist in 1996, and has worked in that field along with music teaching since.

There is no charge for admission but donations are invited to cover the cost of the event. Drinks and cakes are on sale during the evening. John Moorley

from our office (U Choose café) 1 Bath Street Ilkeston

A Women’s World Day of Prayer 2016 service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, 4th March, at West Hallam Methodist Church.

This year’s service is entitled “Receive Children, Receive Me” and has been prepared by Christian women of Cuba.

The Church on High Lane West near the Bottle Kiln (DE7 6HP) and is conveniently situated for buses running between Ilkeston and Derby. There is a large car park and the building is suitable for those with walking disabilities as there are no steps, and toilet facilities for the disabled.

A warm welcome to all, including men.

Jean Moorley

41st Anniversary St Andrew’s church in Ilkeston celebrates it 41st anniversary on the weekend of March 5th and 6th.

On the Saturday there will be a tea at 5pm followed by an ‘Old Time Music Hall’ with songs and sketches. Leading the musical entertainment will be Kevin and Brian. People are invited to wear retro clothing if they wish.

On the Sunday, services with be led by Martin Sykes (10.30am) and Rev Paul Dunstan (6pm). Dorothy Haywood

We have been given a quite a large quantity of SCRIPTURE CARDS to give away.

If you can make use of some of them, please email ilkestonlife@gmail.com The cards are full colour, postcard size and contain inspirational quotes from the Bible. There are about 20 different designs.

Story Café— entertainment with a message.

LIMITED EDITION Maximum 60 available The models are made in Germany, the cab is metal and the rest plastic. The lorry is 115mm (4.5 inches) long and 45mm (1.8 inches) high Makes a great gift and brightens up a home or office.

Conversation starter. Not intended as a toy for young children.

Church but not as you know it Activities, music and a simple meal for you and your children

Get messy at United Reformed Church: Sat. 13th Feb., 4 - 5.30pm; St Wilfrid's, West Hallam: Tues. 16th Feb., 10 - 11.30am (in the church) If you like Messy Church, how about trying the Toddlers’ Service at the Green Spire church (URC). It's 'upstairs' (entry from Wharncliffe Road) and the next is on Friday 5th February at 10 am. It’s like Messy Church but much shorter (½ hour) and it’s specially for families with very young children. Drinks, biscuits and toys to follow.

The Faith Journey page is brought to you by members of the local Christian community and with occasional inspiration from

Ilkeston Life, February 2016

7

From Ilkeston to Adelaide and back—our Australian adventure I met my husband Brian at the Premier dance hall in December 1965. Jim Holt was manager, Brian's brother Alan was the DJ, Trev was on the door, Gladys was cashier and Vanda looked after the cloakroom.

We were both born in Ilkeston, me on Alvenor Street and Brian in Chapel Row. He went to Chaucer school and onto Gladstone Boys school. I went to Holy Trinity Infants, Granby Junior and then Ilkeston Grammar school.

My claim to fame was being the first girl to deliver newspapers in Ilkeston. I went into Reynolds paper shop at the very bottom of Bath Street and asked for a paper round. I was told you had to be 14 and they only employed boys! I went in every week asking the same question and one Saturday teatime Howard, who worked in the shop with Bill Reynolds (he was married to Bill’s sister) came round to my house on Lower Granby Street and said: "Does your Ann still want a paper round?"

"Yes please," I said, "although I'm not 14 yet." That didn't seem to matter. I took morning and evening papers until I left school at 16 and then weekend papers until I was 18. I must have done a good job because Howard Cooper’s newsagent shop near Pelham Street at the bottom of Bath Street then started to employ girls.

My claim to fame: I was the first paper girl in Ilkeston Brian was also a worker from a young age, at 12 working for Boddy & Ellis greengrocers on South Street and Market Street after school and at weekends, helping to stock the shops and delivering orders on an old butcher’s bike. He also did potato and vegetable picking on local farms.

When we first met in 1965, I was working as a wages clerk at Stanton & Staveley and Brian worked for Roberts Reliable Removals on Awsworth Road. In 1967 we worked at the Premier Dance Hall and by this time Brian’s brother Alan was the manager, Brian the DJ and I was cashier and served behind the snack bar (soft drinks only). If you wanted a stronger drink from the pubs on White Lion Square (White Lion and Travellers Rest ) you got a pass out so you could get back in to the dance hall. A time of great music and great people. Mods and Rockers were the regulars and never any trouble between them.

When Premier closed in 1968 we worked, from the opening night, at the Ritz Bingo hall on South St. Brian was the bingo caller and I sold the books and did the office work.

We made many friends and worked six nights a week plus Saturday afternoon. Bri-

an had his 21st birthday party in the upstairs foyer. Mr. Dresser who was the manager when it was a cinema had a flat up there.

We were married at Holy Trinity church in January 1970 and we decided to emigrate to Australia on the £10 assisted passage afforded by the Australian government. The application forms were duly completed and we attended an interview in Birmingham in September.

A couple of months later we received notification that we had been accepted but it had been put on hold due to the economic climate and job situation. This came as a shock but we were prepared to wait.

It wasn't until the Summer of 1972 that we received a letter advising us to ring Australia house in London. This we did from a public phone box (no-one we knew had a home telephone then) and we were told to be ready to go on the 11th of July which gave us just six weeks to prepare! Imagine the panic and excitement we felt.

Luckily we had rented a council flat so gave in our jobs and notice of 1 month and lived at my sister's house for the final week. We were to fly to Adelaide, capital of South Australia, by jumbo jet from Heathrow airport. This was our chosen city as my cousin and some friends lived there and because of its temperate climate.

We sold all our furniture to friends and Brian packed all our belongings into one large packing case. We arranged transport by sea with Lloyds of London and they sent one man to collect this large container and as Brian was at work they had to come back the next day as it was a 2-man job. We lived in a first floor flat with a set of concrete stairs leading up to it and I watched with baited breath as they slid it down to the bottom and perched it on end at the back of the van with only a short tailgate to prevent it from toppling out. I wondered if I would ever see it again.

On the 11th of July we took two big suitcases, which we had weighed on Taylors corn shop scales and had to remove a few heavy woollens to bring the weight down, to Nottingham railway station to board the train to London. The flight was late afternoon and as we flew over Buckingham Palace we had a great view of the Royal Garden Party.

Little did I know we would attend one of them 36 years later.

The plane was a Quantas 747 jumbo jet and was huge, which was a great adventure for us as we had never flown before so didn't know what to expect. Our first stop was Rome but we were not allowed to get off the plane due to a bomb scare, which I must say unnerved us a little. Cleaners came onto the

By Ann Shelton

Stanton offices—Ann worked in the Wages department. plane to tidy up and we were given warm towels to freshen up and to hold over our faces whilst the cabin was sprayed with disinfectant.

The next stop was Bahrain and we will never forget stepping out of the plane at 5am, it was just like opening the door of a very hot oven in your face. I was wearing a very short mini dress and got a lot of stares from the guards in the terminal as I waited to buy postcards and stamps to send home details of our journey.

The food on the plane was a bit too fancy for us but I attempted duck a l'orange. Brian slept a lot due to the time changes and I woke him for evening dinner but before I could stop him he put what he thought was a grape in his mouth only to spit it out as it was a black olive! He went straight back to sleep.

The third stop was Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and as I was writing my postcard home in the airport terminal Brian saw Rolf Harris and took my postcard for him to autograph.

It came back with a drawing of him and a signature. My family were surprised to receive that. It turned out that he was on our plane but upstairs in first class via a spiral staircase and some people had gone up to get his autograph. We hardly dare move out of our seats except to go to the loo.

It was a very long flight about 27 hours by the time we reached Sydney. I remember it being a very nice airport with purple decor everywhere. We then had to board a small 40 seater plane to Adelaide. This was very scary having just got off a 400 seater jumbo.

The air hostesses were trying to serve tea and coffee but the turbulence meant they had to

Photo: M Joseph

keep running to their seats to fasten seatbelts.

Drinks were spilling everywhere. It was only a 2 hour flight but nerve wracking as we could only see the sea out of the windows. However we landed safely at Adelaide airport where my cousin and her family plus our friends were waiting to greet us.

We landed in Adelaide, South Australia on Thursday 13th of July 1972 having left England on Tuesday the 11th. We did not have jobs to go to and nowhere to live but were taken by government limousine to Pennington hostel. This looked like an army camp with long rows of huts having corrugated roofs , 2 rooms deep by 6 rooms long. There was a veranda along the front with the toilet and shower block at the end of the row. It covered a lot of ground and was for migrants only, of mixed nationalities.

We were allocated one room which contained a bed settee, a table, an easy chair and a combination wardrobe. It also had a stainless steel sink and hot and cold water. In the corner of the room were two locked doors adjacent to each other which we found out later were extra rooms for families.

Meals were served in a large communal canteen and our first meal there was evening dinner and on the menu was Hungarian goulash which was very strange to us. The noise in there was deafening as it was very busy and I went outside thinking "what have we done". Maybe we were just tired from the long flight. I hoped it would be better in the morning.

Next day my cousin and her family came to collect us and took us into the city for a look around. She had some errands to do as they lived in the Adelaide hills and didn't get down into the city very often. Her two young children were very excited with it all.

The city seemed huge with very wide roads and very big buildings. It is built in blocks like America which made it easier to find your way around, about the size of Nottingham in the centre of the city.

When we woke up on the Saturday we went for breakfast in the canteen only to find it was evening meal! We had slept the clock round due to the jet lag! The good news was they served liver and onions which was delicious. Our friends came to see us on the Sunday and took us for a drive saying we would soon adjust to life down under.

More next month Premier nameplate

8 Ilkeston Life, February 2016

The Premier Ballroom was above Apollo on Market Street

Bomb-damaged Ilkeston Reading Barry Everley’s fascinating account of his wartime memories prompted me to dig out an article I put together around 40 years ago for the Ilkeston Local History Society’s newsletter. My information is extracted from the official ARP records which exist in the Reference section of Ilkeston Library.

ARP Records of Bomb Damage in Ilkeston 1939-45 The first air raid on Ilkeston took place on 31st August 1940 at about 7.40am. Slight damage was done to houses on The Triangle, Corporation Road, Hallam Fields Road, Hadley Street, Devon Street, Cromwell Street, Trowell Avenue, Little Hallam Lane and Larklands Avenue.

The fish and chip shop and greengrocers on The Triangle lost their windows. The pumping station at Gallows Inn was badly damaged and the Wesleyan Church and Hallam Fields Co-op had window damage.

Slight damage was done to houses on Greenwood Avenue and Wade Avenue and a bomb went through the roof and floor of a

Story in Ilson

dialect

By Jim Sumner

BE SURE THAR SINS’LL FIND THEE ERT At the’beginnin’ a th’War years ar gorra scholarship to ’Eanor Grammar Scowl so mi mam an’ mi dad reckoned ar must a ’ad a few brains someweer. So besides dowin’ a lotta ’omwok neally ev’ry nayt, thi arranged for me ta ay short’and an’ typin’ lessons ev’ry Monday nayt at Mr Pool’s erse at Loscoe: a shillin’ for short’and an’ a shillin’ for typin’. A saymed ta tay ta these subjects, an’ it worner long before I passed mi fost exam – wi distinction. Mi mam an’ dad were quite prerd on me.

I allis ’ad ta walk theer an’ back whether it wa chuckin’ it dern wi rain or thi wa snow on th’grernd – that never worried me much.

On th’same nate ar went, thi wa another pupil who was aying lessons anall an’ ’er name wa Doreen Daykin. Ow lived near may at Marlpowl so ar’d sayn ’er

dwelling on Larklands Avenue but did not explode. Further extensive damage was expected in this area owing to this unexploded bomb but apparently it was made safe.

Damage also occurred to houses on Blackhills Drive, Little Hallam Land and Northgate Street. Repair work was carried out by Corporation workmen, Alan Wheatley Esq., J Cooper and J N Beardsley & Sons.

The second raid took place five days later on September 5th at about 4.15am. Dwellings were damaged on Inglefield Road, Manners Street, Broomhill Avenue, Little Hallam Lane, Stanhope Street, The Triangle, Corporation Road, Kingsway, Cavendish Road, Trowell Avenue, Cromwell Avenue, Devon Street, Hadley Street, Queens Avenue and Nottingham Road.

On Nottingham Road, shops and industry were badly damaged, a church and chapel slightly damaged. Numbers 363, 365, 367, 369, 371, 373 and 412 Nottingham Road were totally destroyed as was the old stable near the canal bridge. Number 3 Inglefield Road was also totally destroyed.

Materials purchased from house numbers 363, 365, 371 and 373 Nottingham Road realised £15 each. That from numbers 367 and 369 realised £10 each and the material from number 412 realised £13. Local builders used for the repair of the properties were W N Henshaw, J W Stapleton & Sons, J Loseby, A Sheldon & Sons and H Sewell.

On October 10th 1940, an unexploded bomb was found at the rear of Mace’s premises, Nottingham Road.

Further air raids on Ilkeston occurred on November 26th 1940 at about 2.20pm when property around the Lord Haddon Road area was damaged, on December 15th 1940 between the hours of 6.45 and 11.30pm which resulted in damage to Hewitt’s Bakery and Norman Street area, on December 22nd and

knockin’ abert burra didner know ’er very well. Well, to cut a long story short, I wokked ever sa ’ard an’ I passed abert five more exams ‘wi dinstinction’.

Mr Pool wa really prerd on me an’ mi mam an’ dad felt th’same. Then one nayt it ’appened.

It wara Monday nayt an’ ar set off for mi lesson as usual. It worra a terrible nayt – rain wa commin’ dern like stair rods, burra carried on as usual. Bi th’time ard got to ’Eanor, ar wa soaked through burra kept gooin’. As I got to ’Eanor Empire, ar ’ad a lowk what films were on that nayt. One on ’em wa ‘Thray Stooges’ and th’other warra cerboy film wi Buck Rogers in it – tow a mi favourite films.

Suddenly, a voice in mi ’ead said “Why dussner thar goo in to watch th’films instead gooin’ ta yer short’and and typin’ lessons? Nubdy’ll know.”

I said to this ’ere voice: “I dossner dow that, mi mam an’ dad’ll kill me if thi find ert.”

This voice said: “Thi wunner find ert, it’s dark in theer, an’ after yo’ll ay a bit a money left for a bag a chips at Elliott’s chip shop.”

Afore a knew worra wa dowin, a went in the pictures an’ paid mi money – it wa tow late then ta ton back. A kept erter th’road a th’usherette’s an’ a fernd a seat near th’ front. I crerched dern low an’ started ta watch th’ film, burra couldner enjoy it, a kept thinkin’ thid be somebody ood say me. Suddenly the lights comm on cos it wa th’end of one of

By Danny Corns 23rd between 6.25pm and 6.25pm with slight damage to property on Longfield Crescent, Quarry Hill Road and The Triangle. A smaller raid had preceded this one the previous night and this caused slight damage to houses in Ladywood Road and Wharncliffe Road.

The last air raid seems to have taken place in the early morning of August 17th 1942. And this caused slight damage to properties on Kingsway.

Incendiary bombs were dropped during the early morning of September 5th 1940. These landed on the Stanton New Works and caused a number of fires. Some landed in mine-holes near the bunkers opposite Cope’s Field and one went through the Power House roof.

The pattern that emerges seems to confirm the fact that the raiders thought they were over Derby and bombing Rolls Royce due to the intersection on their radio beams. It had since been disclosed that these guiding radio beams were deliberately deflected from their true positions by our scientists. It appears that the German airmen had the luck to miss one important site, Rolls Royce, and bomb another, Stanton, purely through chance.

Even though I was only a 5-year-old at the time, I still remember much of the bomb damage that occurred as the houses involved became something of a visitor attraction to local people. I remember my mam taking me to Hallam Fields School on Cavendish Road, passing that very badly damaged house on Inglefield Road. A photo of this can be seen on the cover of the History Society’s ‘Ilkeston At War’ publication.

Another distinct memory is of the six houses destroyed at the bottom of Nottingham Road.

My grandparents lived on The Triangle and I remember climbing in through the blown in bay windows. My most vivid memory is of the Heinkell I.II approaching Stanton at about 5.15pm on Sunday 29th September. A

Nubdy’ll know. th’films, so a crerched dern even lower till th’ new film started.

Ar watched it but summair ar couldner enjoy it like I ought ta dow. Ar comm ert before the end an’ didner bother abert any chips. I went straight ’om. When a walked in mi mam said: “Ey ya ’ad a good lesson tonayt?”

I said “Ar, I ay, mam” burra felt rotten inside cos ard tewd a lie.

Ow said “Ar’ll get you some supper then.”

At that exact moment thi worra knock at th’door. Ow oppened it an’ theer stood Doreen Daykin. Ow said, “Bein’ as Jim didner goo for ’is lesson tonayt, Mr Pool asked me to call ’ere wi this certificate…Jim’s passed wi dinstinction.”

Ar felt summat inside me goo all cowd an’ trembly. Then mi mam tonned rernd on may an’ ow let rip! All a could dow wa stand theer, an mi mam gen may a rayt roastin’. A few minutes later mi dad comm back from Winfayld’s pub an’ ay gen me a good gooin’ o’er anall.

It wa one a th’wost nayts ard ever experienced an’ ard nobody to blame but misen.

Remember, be sure thar sins’ll find thee ert.

Even though I was only a 5-year-old at the time, I remember the bomb damage . . . the houses involved became something of a visitor attraction pal and I were playing on the ‘backs’ of the houses on Frog Row off Crompton Street when this plane approached from the direction of Ilkeston. We could actually see the pilot as it flew in the direction of the New Works furnaces when this dustbin like object fell out of the Heinkell. We heard the explosion which turned out to be a 2.000 klg bomb that fell next to the junction of the Erewash and Nutbrook canals, making a large crater and killing many fish.

The Heinkell was later shot down near Ingoldmells after being chased by Pilot Officer I S Smith, a New Zealand Hurricane pilot.

The German pilot, Ober Leutenant Zinner and his three man crew survived, beings taken as Prisoners Of War. I believe that it is very important that Barry and other contributors to Ilkeston Life continue to send in their memoirs of the past. It is 50 years in 2016 since the Ilkeston Local History Society was started. We are putting together a series of events to cover the year and we hope to speak to people who have memories of working in textiles, lace, collieries, the Council, shops, schools, etc. in our area.

Please write your memories down. We can be contacted as a group on the last Saturday of any month at the U Choose Smoothie Bar, 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston.

PS That was a terrific picture of the bombed houses on Nottingham Road sent in by Sarah Munro last issue. Nobody was killed, I understand, and a family friend’s cat that that lived there had a remarkable escape. It was feared lost, only to re-appear three weeks later!

Maggie’s new Ilkeston office Erewash MP Maggie Throup has taken one of the new units in the former Co-op building. She is one of the first tenants in the iconic building being redeveloped

by ALB Investments. She says: “I am delighted to be moving into a fantastic location, right in the heart of town.” Lets have been agreed for most of the commercial units. Above them there will be 60 apartments.

Smoothie Art Gallery Ron Brooks will be showing and demonstrating the art of Chinese Brush painting to celebrate the Chinese New Year in the upstairs gallery for the whole of the month of February. From 1st to 13th February Jackie Tilly will be displaying her work, mainly in acrylic on canvas. Her subjects include landscapes and, more recently, steam engines.

Carey Whitehead, another local artist, will be showing a selection of paintings in different media, gouache, pastel, oil and acrylics covering a wide range of subject matter.

The majority of his work is the product of his imagination.

Jackie and Carey’s work will be featured in the Smoothie Bar window.

Ilkeston Life, February 2016

9

After nearly 10 years, Registrar Andrea Garlick is saying goodbye to Ilkeston Register Office.

With a background in office work and teaching at secondary level and as an adult education tutor, Andrea joined the Derbyshire Registration Service based in the Ilkeston office in April 2006. During that time she has registered many births and deaths as well as conducting marriage ceremonies, renewal of vows ceremonies and baby naming ceremonies.

Andrea leaves Register Office after ten years

having to register deaths, but she explained that helping bereaved families through a hard time, and making things as easy and straightforward as possible for them is very rewarding indeed.

Although she is no longer working as a regisAlthough working mainly out of Ilkeston, she trar she is still working with local people, but also covered the Long Eaton District, where as a civil celebrant now. What is a celebrant? a registrar attends at the Town Hall on a A celebrant is someone who prepares and Wednesday. She has really enjoyed working conducts ceremonies, which are a way of with the Erewash community and has regis- publicly marking our major life events: the tered the births of thousands of babies and birth and naming of a child; a commitment married hundreds of couples over this period. ceremony for a couple to mark their relationPeople would say to her that it must be awful ship without marriage; a marriage ceremony;

Story competition for young readers Could you write an interesting story beginning with these words:

I couldn’t wait to get up because today was going to be a special day . . .

What you’re looking forward to is up to you…. a holiday? .... a big match? ....an appearance on Britain’s Got Talent? It could be anything! You don’t even have to be yourself! Use your imagination!

You can provide your own title for your story which should be between 200—500 words long. Quality is more important than length.

You can enter on your own or through your school. Age will be taken into account when deciding the best story.

Entries should reach us by Monday 29th February 2016.

The winner will receive an appropriate first prize and there will be lots of smaller runner-up prizes. A selection of stories will be printed in the paper.

Entries should be sent to Ilkeston Life, 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston DE7 8AH. If you wish to email your story, send to ilkestonlife@gmail.com. Entries can also be handed in over the counter.

Don’t forget to include your name, age, address or school and a contact number.

Bye-bye Bennerley Do you have fond memories of this school (later to become an Ormiston academy)? We’d love to hear from you.

More demolition pictures on our Facebook page.

10

Ilkeston Life, February 2016

a renewal of vows ceremony for a couple or a funeral service to celebrate a life. The ceremonies which enable us to share our joy or grief with family and friends.

As a celebrant, Andrea (pictured right) will work closely with those involved to make sure the ceremony is tailored to reflect their personal wishes. Celebrant-led ceremonies can include both religious and non-religious aspects and are completely flexible as to what can be included with regard to readings and music – and as to where they take place: You could have your wedding at home or outdoors. The legal part must still be done at the register office, but the ceremony can be wherever you would like.  If you would like further information regarding arranging ceremonies, Andrea has a website: www.andreagarlickcelebrant.co.uk or you can contact her by email at info@andreagarlickcelebrant.co.uk

Your Space Poems plus Share your creative writing with other Ilkeston Life readers.

Email ilkestonlife@gmail.com or drop in/post to The Editor, Ilkeston Life, 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 8AH.

Both saving time and ancient rights of way, These alleys are such fine capillaries, Now dubbed unsafe, and often overgrown, Yet working as byways for memories.

A very English gentleman I'm sure we're all agreed You will not see many like him Such a rare and dying breed.

Robert Jackson, 30/31 December 2015

© Steven Michael Pape 2016

For Marcello Joseph Gabrielli….

A Very English Gentleman

He's a very English gentleman smart suit and bowler hat an umbrella perched on his arm Tim tramped through twitchels near his Shera Financial Times in his lap. wood home; While baines larked down the tenfoot, up in Pocket chain and waistcoat Hull; trousers immaculately pressed In Leeds, the ginnels served folks’ ambling a tie pin with pinstripes needs; helps to heighten his finesse.

For Halifax, Brandt’s cobbled snicket shone.

Urban Alleyways

The gulleys traced deep frowns on Stafford’s towns; While sauntering Scots might roam through vennels there, Or Scousers choose ennogs as their shortcuts…

I’ll speak of one more of these channels here.

In Ilkeston, near Derby’s county line, We jogged down tarmac jitties or ‘the jit’, Whose bold displays of copious dog shit Formed nature’s solitary works of art.

Dressed up in his flair he's walking through the streets tipping his bowler hat to everyone he meets.

In quaint country pubs you will find him in the corner musing over the crossword making sure it's all in order.

His car bequeaths the age when things seemed so alive Straight after church and Sinners’ youth club an Anglia that hasn't changed since its birth in '65. fun, Dark jitties were the spots for passioned Some may say he's eccentric snog, and perhaps I would agree Then strolling hand-in-hand to Birdcroft but he's reliving the better days Lane, with his skill in repartee.

And wending my way home in blissful fog.

Chaucer children help with big butterfly project Lorraine Brandrick (teaching assistant) and Kerry Louise Wheatley (gardening club leader) took six children from Chaucer Junior School to Trowell Garden Centre, where local sculptor Rachel Carter is working on her latest creation—a Butterfly. It will take several weeks to complete.

The sculpture is being created for the Derby Sands Charity (stillbirth & neonatal death charity).

On completion it will be taken to the Memorial Garden at Markeaton Crematorium, where people who have lost babies either before, during or after birth can hang name petals from it.

This is the second sculpture that Rachel has designed for the charity. Her first being a beautiful cocoon shaped sculpture which was placed in the garden when it opened on 29th June 2014.

It is now full of names, so hence the second sculpture.

The new Butterfly sculpture has a 4-metre wide steel wing span, which was made by Ilkeston firm HTF Stainless Ltd. It will be covered with woven, synthetic cane using a crochet finger stitching. This was what the children from Chaucer helped with on their visit, and a wonderful job they did too, according to onlookers.

Kerry said: “We would like to thank Rachel for letting us help her with such a beautiful and meaningful project. It will look truly amazing when completed and it has been an absorbing and worthwhile experience for the children.”

Group picture: left to right: Kerry Louise Wheatley, Rosie Grey, Ellie Parry, Sophie Moore, Rachel Carter, Shaun Fountain, Alfie Straw, Joshua Blood and Lorraine Brandrick.

Circular pics (l to r): Ellie Parry, Rosie Grey, Joshua Blood, with Rachel Carter.

The Winter of 1990

’Twas a year I will always remember, Around the last week in November.

The snow fell down both thick and fast, It looked as though the weather would last.

Soon it brought all the wires down, Electric and telephone in and out of town.

People without heating or a phone, Some poor folk living all alone.

Emergency services were soon out in force, Isolated places would suffer, of course.

As a telephone maintenance man, I knew I would do the best that I can.

Working all through the Christmas break, The heavy work its toll would take.

B.T. recruited some outside workers, From London and Ireland, certainly not shirkers.

But they knew very little about ‘overhead’, And it had knock-on effects, it has to be said.

It took a lot longer to put things right, But, we did it, although it was quite a fight.

I am who I am

Looking for something to brighten up your home or office?

I am who I am Good and bad Help and hindrance Happy and sad I am who I am Kind and cruel Friend and foe Model and fool I am who I am True and a liar A cooling stream A ball of fire

This model lorry delivers! £7.50 from U Choose Café

I am who I am A mix of emotions My feelings are deep Like the mighty oceans I am who I am Trying to aim higher But often a failure A defeated trier I am who I am Secretive and shy Hiding my shame From another’s eye

2016

I am who I am Not who you want me to be Not even who I want to be Not always who you can see

2 fast go the years….they fly by like a rocket!

O that I was still a kid with sixpence in my pocket 1 with health and strength and intelligence 6 pence (6d) would buy me a slab of Radiance.

Yes, this is me Unique – the one and only There’s much more to me Than you can see.

Norman Oldknow

WFF

John Wright

Cotmanhay school gets good rating Cotmanhay Junior School has achieved its best ever grade in an Ofsted inspection.

It was rated ‘Good’ by inspectors—much to the delight of headmaster Simon Robinson and his staff.

Ofsted found that the school had a strong leadership team, creating the capacity for continuous improvements. Good progress was noted in reading, writing and mathematics.

The school had previously been close to special measures.

Mr Robinson described the rating as a wonderful achievement and praised his staff for their dedication and hard work.

Attendance at the school has risen, taking it above the national average.

Ilkeston Life, February 2016

11

January 31st 1916:

THE NIGHT THE ZEPPELINS CAME

by Stephen Flinders Part 2 Ilkeston was the next target of the L20.

Believing he was in the vicinity of Sheffield and its iron and steel works, Kapitan Stabbert steered his ship towards the glow emitting from what he thought were the city’s furnaces and foundries. But he was nowhere near Sheffield. The fires the crew observed from the two gondolas slung beneath the belly of their airship was coming from our local ironworks at Bennerley, Gallows Inn and Stanton.

As the L20 approached the Bennerley area the crew would have spotted the ironworks, viaduct and railway, though whether they knew exactly where they were is anyone’s guess. They released several bombs, one demolished the signal box, and another brought down telephone cables while another tore up some railway sleepers. Turning towards Stanton, another bomb fell near Trowell, destroying a cow shed while another left a crater which apparently was traceable for years after.

Meanwhile an audience at Vint’s cinema cum variety theatre on Lord Haddon Road were enjoying a performance of an exciting new drama written and presented by Mr Carlton Wallace’s London based theatre company entitled ‘The Enemy in our Midst’, a play which featured tales of German spies and espionage, part of which featured realistic sound effects of a supposed Zeppelin attack.

Once the alarm had been raised people flocked out of the theatre to see the Zeppelin

L20 crashed in May 1916 for themselves or stood watching in amazement from the surrounding streets and the Market Place as it moved steadily towards the Stanton Iron Works.

It was now around 8.30pm and Walter Wilson, a furnace loader at the New Works furnaces which once stood alongside the Erewash Canal had finished his shift and was making his way along Hallam Fields Road to the tram stop. Meanwhile James Hall of Stapleford was halfway through his shift at the Old Works, while earlier, the wife of Reverend Machell Cox, the Vicar of St.Bartholomews had invited some 30 girls to a supper in the parish room at the rear of the church.

The L20 began its attack dropping 15 bombs as it flew over the works. Both the Old Works truck and blacksmiths workshops were struck. The windows at the front of the main offices on Lows Lane were blown in and a railway bridge over the Nutbrook Canal received a near miss.

James Hall was struck in the head by a fragment of pig iron, thrown up by the explosion of a bomb. His death it seems was instantaneous, the Ilkeston Advertiser later stating the top of the man’s head had been cut off.

At almost the same time Walter Wilson, hearing the bombs exploding, sought shelter against the church wall. A bomb struck the parish room, demolishing it but at the same time a fragment of shrapnel struck Walter in the back. He was taken to Ilkeston Hospital but died the following day on February 1st leaving a widow and two children.

Shobnall Street, the Grammar School on the High Street, the Midland Railway premises and a number of local breweries. Burton’s death toll numbered fifteen with a further seventy left injured.

Derby having received warning earlier in the evening but having not been attacked was in a less state of alert when at around midnight the L14 approached from the north. The first bombs fell near the railway station, then on the Rolls Royce works off Gresham Street.

A number of incendiaries fell behind Fletcher’s lace factory on Osmaston Road, bombs fell on the Midland Railway and Carriage Works (the present Bombardier works) and finally on Bateman and Horton Streets. Five were killed plus one lady who apparently died from shock.

Between 11pm and midnight when the L14 was attacking Derby, most of the Zeppelin fleet was already making its way home. The first to depart for home were the L11, passing between Mablethorpe and Skegness followed soon after by the L21 which passed over near Lowestoft. At almost exactly the same time at around 11.50pm two more airships crossed the coast, the L13 south of Grimsby, the L20 near Cromer. The L15 passed over Lowestoft soon after midnight.

In the early hours of February 1st the L19, now running dangerously low on fuel, crossed the Norfolk coast just north of Caister on Sea, made its way out into the English Channel and began heading for home. Within the hour she had come down in the sea. Her crew with no means of escape, hailed the King Stephen, a passing Grimsby trawler skippered by William Martin and a crew of just six trawler men. Outnumbered three to one by the crew of the L19 Skipper Martin had to make a difficult decision. Should he rescue the Germans and risk being overwhelmed or sail away leaving them to their fate?

After consulting with his shipmates he took the decision to pull away despite Kapitan Otto Lowe’s word as an officer and gentleman not to overpower the King Stephen’s crew. After writing farewell letters to their wives, sweethearts and families, the crew of

Hallam Fields Church being repaired after the raid

the L19 stuffed them into bottles and hurled them into the sea. Over the next few weeks several of the bottles washed up on shore but not a trace of the L19 or its crew, save for one almost empty fuel tank, was ever found.

William Martin was seen as a hero by many but a war criminal by others. His almost impossible choice and final decision was to haunt him for the rest of his life.

Franz Stabbert, who had attacked Ilkeston in January was captured a few months later when the L20 came down off Stavanger in Norway. He was captured along with the crew but he soon escaped and made his way back to Germany only to die a year later when as commander of the L44 he was brought down over France by anti-aircraft fire.

During the Great War various Zeppelin raids accounted for 557 dead and 1,358 injured though many more were killed by German aircraft after Zeppelin raids were abandoned after 1917.

Below: Furnace loaders, 1914. Walter Wilson is far left.

ESCAPE

Vint’s cinema poster

By some miracle Mrs. Cox, feeling unwell changed her plan to host a supper party for her girls in the parish room instead invited them back to the parsonage. Whether pure coincidence or through divine intervention one may wonder how many of the girls lives were saved or averted serious injury because of her last minute decision.

Burton upon Trent was the next target.

Stabbert and the L20 had met up with the L19 and another Zeppelin said to be the L14, though the exact identity of the third raider has never been fully established. They believed they were now over Liverpool, mistaking the Trent for the Mersey. The Zeppelins circled the town for about an hour dropping dozens of high explosive and incendiary bombs causing damage to houses on Coming soon—A FREE SESSION OF BINGO for readers of this newspaper at the Beacon Ritz Bingo Club on South Street, Ilkeston. Look out for the voucher. (Over 18s only.)

12 Ilkeston Life, February 2016

THE WAY WE WERE

Ladywood Road, Kirk Hallam

Thanks to Esther Collington for photographs

Old Kirk Hallam photos, top four: pre-traffic Ladywood Road days; above: the old Kirk Hallam Vicarage; left: the ‘Beauty Spot’; below: Poplar Farm c 1950 with Vine Farm and Hall Cottages in the background.

Left: Another page from the Trade Section of the Ilkeston & District Directory of 1965-66.

Ilkeston Life, February 2016

13

KERRY LEDGER SCHOOL OF DANCE

Music Scene HELLO FOLKS !

The musings of Ilson muso David Potter.

It’s often said that us lot in Derbyshire sometimes don’t fully appreciate how near we are to some of the best scenery in the country and I sometimes feel the same is true about the musical and artistic talent that this neck of the woods has nurtured and given out to wider audiences.

One such was born in 1949 just a few miles up the road in Holbrook.

JOHN TAMS left school at 15 to work in the fairgrounds (this experience must surely have been the inspiration for one of his early songs “Pull down lads”) later becoming a journalist for the Ripley and Heanor News and editor on The Belper News and Alfreton Observer.

John’s family had a strong musical background so it was no surprise when he eventually made his way into that scene (via The Riddings Brass Band) performing with such leading lights as Muckram Wakes, The Albion Band and eventually forming his own outfit..Home Service which was voted the best live act in The BBC Folk Awards 2012.

His musical activities continue to flourish and prosper but, alongside this, John has also developed a parallel theatrical and acting career including many acclaimed projects such as the ITV adaptation of Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe novels where he was involved in creating the musical score and playing the part (alongside Sean Bean) of Rifleman Daniel Hagman in the series.

Other prestigious involvements include

John Tams working as musical director and actor at the National Theatre on The Mysteries, Lark Rise to Candleford and War Horse and as a musical consultant at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre.

Truly one of “Derbyshire’s Finest” you can check out his work and get information on John at www.johntams.co.uk Next month we’ll have a look at a major rock star who was born and raised in Trowell, attended Bramcote School and, after playing in and around Ilson with such as yours truly, went on to form a band that performed at the legendary Woodstock Festival and took America and the rest of the world by storm.

If you think you know who it is..give me a shout on davidilkeston@gmail.com or 07929 100974.

West Hallam Amateur Gardening Society

The Friends of Bennerley Viaduct

At December's meeting we had 34 members had a most enjoyable evening with our traditional Christmas Fuddle and Quiz.

The evening started with our annual gardening quiz it kept our brains busy guessing the names of plants from pictures pinned round the hall followed by a few garden related questions. We now know that we don't suffer from Anthophobia (the fear of flowers) and Father Christmas's favourite garden tool is a Ho (Ho, Ho) ! The highest score was a magnificent 33 out of 40.

Thanks once again to Jenny for her entertaining quiz. This was followed by members tucking into a delicious assortment of food which had been provided by members, while they pulled their crackers, and washed it down with soft drinks.

We then had an unexpected visit from Santa who, helped by his Elf, presented each member with a lovely present. Our seasonal raffle was drawn, thanks to Margaret for her hard work finding all those unusual gifts. We rounded off the evening with a lucky member, one from each table, winning the lovely table decoration provided by members of the committee.

At our next meeting on the 15th February we have a short AGM followed by Trevor Wragg talking about 'There's More to Walls' and will cover geology, history, wildlife and flora of stonewalls. Meeting 7.30pm at West Hallam Methodist Church, High Lane, non members always welcome.

Margaret Hewitt

The good news this month is the appointment of Kieran Lee as the Community Engagement Development Officer for the Bennerley Viaduct Project (see separate article on this page).

One of Kieran’s many tasks will be to support the Friends in the work they are doing on and around the historic structure.

The next two workdays will be held on Friday, 12th February and Saturday, 12th March. If you’d like to take part it is important to contact Kieran in advance to find out what is involved and to confirm the date which can be subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Generally the working party meets at 10am in the car park of the Bridge Inn, Cotmanhay. If you’d like to support the project in other ways Kieran will be glad to talk to you.

The next meeting of the Friends group will be at 7pm on Wednesday, 17 February at the Gate Inn, Awsworth, NG16 2RN. New members will be made very welcome.

Contact Kieran on 07823 536941 or via email kieran.lee@sustrans.org.uk Details about meetings, workdays, events and much more can be found on the Friends’ Facebook page https://.facebook.com/bennerleyviaduct and the website bennerley viaduct.org.uk Jeff Wynch

14 Ilkeston Life, February 2016

Kerry Ledger School of Dance presents its dance show, Jet Set on the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th March 2016. The show takes us on a journey of dance showcasing themes such as Disney through to Broadway. We will also be featuring our Blackpool A.A.D. awards day entries including award winning senior troupe, Circus. Jet Set, to be performed at St.John Houghton school, includes all of the Kerry Ledger School of Dance pupils from ages 3 to adult, varying ages and abilities, beginners to pros. Jet Set, showcases a mix of dance genres from Ballet, Tap and Pointe work all the way across to Contemporary and Hip-hop.

There's something for the whole family to enjoy! Tickets are priced at £8.50 for Concessions and £10.00 for Adults and are available to purchase now from the dance school. Proceeds go to NSPCC. Contact 0115 930 8564 for more details and for ticket enquiries.

————

21st Ilkeston Cubs The 21st Ilkeston (Kirk Hallam) Cub Pack held a special Open Night and Awards Evening. enabling parents/grand parents to see what the Cubs do on a Monday night.

Three older cubs were running the evening in order to complete their Silver Chief Scout Awards. They did mapping and knots as well as looking at how the Erewash Coat of Arms is made up.

At the end of the evening Akela, Diane Harris, started off by awarding sixer and seconder stripes, to Lucy Allcock, Joshua Hall and Izzy Trueman. Many badges were then awarded, including one for Liam Cresswell on completion of his second year in scouting. After that came the activity badges –Road Safety, Local Knowledge and Disability Awareness.

Next was the presentation of Cub of the Month to Abby Jameson and Cub of the year to Izzy Trueman. Next were the challenge badges which have many elements to them:- Global, Outdoor and Promise.

The icing on the cake were the three Silver Chief Scout Awards, which went Lucy Allcock, Sylvie Humphries and Flo Wakefield.

These awards are the highest the children can achieve in the cub section. They are well deserved awards and we are thrilled to be able to award them.

A huge well done to all the cubs who gained a badge. Thanks must also go to the Leader Team without their dedication and hard work these events would not happen.

Pictured left to right: Diane Harris (Akela), Flo Wakefield, Lucy Allcock and Sylvie Humphries.

Community Officer for Bennerley Viaduct is appointed The recent award of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards Bennerley Viaduct has enabled Eastwood resident Kieran Lee (pictured above) to be appointed as Community Engagement and Development Officer for the project.

Over the next few months Kieran will help more people learn about Bennerley Viaduct and get involved in the project. He will be making contact with groups and individuals who share an interest in this local and national treasure and help coordinate the growing public desire to restore, reconnect and reopen it.

Kieran says “We are so fortunate to have this iconic structure and feat of Victorian engineering on our doorstep. I am really looking forward to working with all sectors of the community to both discover and share the many fascinating stories of the viaduct’s 138 year history. I would be keen to hear from anyone who has any personal story about the viaduct and with any group who share the passion to restore, reconnect and re-open the viaduct as a walking and cycling trail.”

Kieran can be contacted by telephone on 07823 536941 or via email at kieran.lee@sustrans.org.uk As well as Kieran’s appointment, the £40,000 Heritage Lottery funding will enable a range of activities to take place on the project over the forthcoming months including:  Providing education materials for local schools so young people can learn about the rich industrial heritage of Bennerley Viaduct.  Showcasing the viaduct through an exhibition at Erewash Museum  Developing a heritage trail on the existing footpath network to enable the growing numbers of people who are using the Erewash Valley Trail to learn about and appreciate the iconic structure.  Holding regular workdays whereby people can volunteer to help with practical maintenance tasks on the site. ***** Kieran retired from teaching in the summer of 2015 and came back out of retirement in January 2016 to become the Community Engagement and Development Officer for the Bennerley Viaduct Project. He says: “In many ways this is a dream role for me. I live locally (Eastwood) and I have been previously involved in community campaigning work protecting the Erewash Valley from opencast mining (Shilo North) and I chaired the Shilo North Forum which made a bid to purchase 300 acres of the Erewash valley when British Coal was privatised in 1996. The Bennerley Viaduct Preservation Trust were involved with this Forum.

“My teaching career was spent initially teaching Outdoor Education and this took me on a route to working in Special Education mainly with pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties and more recently with children on the autistic spectrum. I have worked in a wide range of schools and educational establishments and I have also worked within Nottinghamshire’s Youth Offending Service.

“I am married and have two sons who are both at university.”

Family Announcements You can share your family announcements here in this paper. Births, engagements, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays wishes, deaths and acknowledgements, etc., are welcome.

DEATH

Eileen Spencer Died peacefully at the Hazelwood Nursing Home on Christmas Day 2015 at the age of 91 years.

You leave behind a sadness, a space no one else could fill.

You leave behind an emptiness in our hearts that are beating still.

Until we meet once more in God's garden.

A place where we all will abide.

Goodbye till that day, dear Mother.

When once more we will stand by your side.

From all her family: Christine and Alan, Adrian and Tricia, Barbara and Jim, Stephanie, Andrew, Luke and Alex; Helen, Paul and Devon; James, Samantha and Lilian.

BIRTHDAY MEMORY

Sian Brittain Remembering you Sian on your 30th birthday, 8th February, and wishing you were here. Love always, Grandma, Mum, Sarah and family. Xxx

BIRTHDAYS 1st February: Fiona Wright. Happy birthday Fiona. Enjoy your day. Love Anne and Mary.

4th February: Paul Parkin. Best wishes for a great birthday from friends at Nottingham Road.

5th February: Sally Anderson. Have a super creative birthday, Sally. From your writer friends.

26th February: Kerryann Dobbs. Happy birthday Kerryann. Have a lovely day. Love from Anne and Mary.

Alfie chooses Forest An Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy student has been selected for Nottingham Forest’s Academy squad.

Alfie Slater, of Ilkeston, had successful trials at Derby County, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest after being spotted while playing for Ilkeston Town’s Junior Robins.

The 11-year-old then had to decide which club he wanted to sign for and he chose Forest’s Academy.

He said: “I went to all of the local clubs but I just felt that Forest had more to offer and I train once a week there now.

“There are about 20 of us in the squad and I love it. I’ve met the Forest players and they are all great and one day I’d love to play for the first team.”

Alfie, a central midfielder, has been playing football since the age of five and is also captain of OIEA’s Year 7 team.

Before joining Ilkeston Town, he played for a series of clubs including LE Galaxy in Long Eaton.

As a Manchester City supporter, Alfie said he’s not affected by any local rivalry between Derby County and Nottingham Forest.

Dave Smith, Principal at OIEA, congratulated Alfie on his achievement.

He said: “Alfie is a talented footballer who leads our Year 7 team as well as playing for Ilkeston and Forest’s Academy.

“He obviously puts a lot of time and effort into training and it’s paying off for him. He is definitely a star of the future and we hope to see him grace the pitch at the City Ground one day.”

Robins’ Roundup Frustrating

Sat 19th December ’15 - Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

ILKESTON 0, MARINE 0 This was a truly frustrating game for Ilkeston as they dominated the match but were unable to score the vital goal that they deserved. It took Marine 35 minutes to record their first effort on goal whereas Ilkeston made and missed several chances but the teams went in level. Ten minutes into the second half Marine’s task got even more difficult when their player manager Sean Hessey received a straight red for a two footed challenge on Dan Udoh. This forced Marine to abandon any thoughts of attack and they dropped everyone back to try and hold on for a draw. Unfortunately for Ilkeston and despite the home side’s frantic efforts, Marine achieved their objective and gratefully left with a point.

too high. The second half saw Mickleover push for a win but they were unable to breach Ilkeston’s defence. Both sides had chances but a point each was a fair reflection.

Missed chances costly

Mon 28th December ’15 - Evo-Stik Nothern

Premier League ILKESTON 0, MATLOCK 1 Ilkeston ended 2015 with a disappointing home defeat at the hands of local rivals, Matlock Town. The Robins were looking to avenge a 1-0 loss at Matlock back in August but it was not to be. In an even first half both sides went close but it was Matlock who scored the only goal through Charlie Dawes. The Matlock forward hit a powerful low shot which went in off the upright. The second half saw further scoring opportunities but the nearest Ilkeston came to an equaliser was late on when Dexter Atkinson forced an excellent save from Matlock keeper Willis who tipped his shot over the bar.

Ilkeston’s inability to convert chances into goals allowed Matlock to complete a 1-0 double and left Ilkeston without a win and having scored only one goal in their last three league games.

coln deservedly got a goal back before half time when Jake Gibson got on the end of a corner. Three minutes into the second half Ilkeston re-established their two goal lead when Blake curled in his second and that was quickly followed by his third from another Ilkeston penalty award to make it 4-1.

Jordan Wheatley added a further goal for Ilkeston in stoppage time when he surged forward and unleashed a spectacular shot which found the top corner the net.

Crushed

Sat 9th January ’16 - Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

BARWELL 4, ILKESTON 0 Ilkeston were given a lesson in finishing by a physical Barwell side on a difficult rain soaked pitch. The hosts gave Ilkeston no time on the ball and went ahead as early as the 9th minute through Anthony Carney who cut in from the left wing and fired past Rachoni. Ilkeston fought back and came close to equalising just before half time but Barwell immediately broke away and scored Draw was fair a second through Alex Tomkinson. This Sat 26th December ’15 - Evo-Stik Northern goal was a real body blow and one from Premier League which the visitors did not recover. Ilkeston MICKLEOVER SPORTS 1, ILKEStried hard to come back after the break but it TON 1 was to be Barwell who scored again when Ilkeston’s Boxing Day derby with Mickleo- Robins ease through Richard Lavery headed in at the back post Mon 4th January ’16 Integro Doodson League ver in heavy conditions ended with a point on 69 minutes. It was proving to be a day for both sides. The fixture attracted a gate of Cup 2nd Round when Barwell couldn’t stop scoring and ILKESTON 5, LINCOLN UNITED 1 almost double Mickleover’s average with Jamie Towers added a fourth on 76 minutes well over a hundred Ilkeston fans making A hat-trick by JJ Blake saw Ilkeston comto complete the rout. Ilkeston almost got a the short journey. Ilkeston took the initiative fortably through to the 3rd round of the In- late consolation goal but Liam Marshall’s and scored an early goal through Matt Baker tegro Doodson League Cup. The scoreline precise free kick brought an excellent save who prodded the ball home from close was a little harsh on Lincoln who gave a from the Barwell keeper. This was a below range following a corner. Mickleover then good account of themselves. They nearly par performance when nothing went right equalised rather against the run of play took the lead when Nathan Whitehead fired and Ilkeston’s promotion prospects were left through Green but the goal lifted the hosts inches wide but Ilkeston were to go ahead hanging by a thread after four winless who then had their best spell. Dan Udoh on 18 minutes through Lewis Walker. Two games. nearly put Ilkeston ahead just before half minutes later Blake was brought down in time when he raced clear but his shot was the area and he converted the penalty. Lin- MATCHMAN

Live updates of Ilkeston’s matches appear on our Facebook page

Part-time Driver Cleaning Operative

THE FRIDAY ART

An experienced driver is sought as part of our team, to be trained to professionally clean to a very high standard, including oven, carpet and upholstery cleaning, at homes and businesses around the area.

Must be willing to work into the evening and weekends at times.

Potential to become full time with further responsibilities later.

Call David on 07944 065706

A small, friendly amateur group,

GROUP who are looking to welcome new members, meets Monday and Friday, 9.30am to 11.30am at the Elim Christian Centre, Charlotte Street in Ilkeston Beginners welcome For details ring Les on 0115 932 4195

DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS SURGERY ILKESTON EAST, ILKESTON SOUTH AND ILKESTON WEST WARDS

COUNCILLORS MICHELLE BOOTH, GLENNICE BIRKIN AND JOHN FRUDD

Saturday 13th February 2016 10am to 12 noon Ilkeston Town Hall

This month’s Rambles Erewash Ramblers Monday 1st February, 10.30am. 7½ miles.

Shining Cliff Woods & Crich Stand. Meet at layby on Holy Lane, Ambergate (SK346514,DE56 2 GX). Leader: Barrie Revill.

Sunday 7th February, 10.00am. 7 miles. Blackbrook & Farnah Green. Meet at Belper River Gardens (SK345483), P & D. Leader: Marilyn Brown (07865 346467).

Wednesday 10th February, 10.30am. 4 miles.

Trent Meadows. Meet at CP (SK503327). Leader: Clive Davis (07808 238704).

Thursday 11th February, 10.30am. 6 miles.

Newthorpe & Kimberley. Meet at Greasley Church layby (SK490472, NG16 2AB). Leader: Alan Brown.

Monday 15th February, 10.30am. 7 miles. Morley & Stanley Common. Meet at Stanley Village Hall. (SK420408). Leader: Tony Beardsley (07989 314242).

Wednesday 17th February, 7.30pm. Social: “Stanton Gone but not Forgotten” by Steve Flinders. West Hallam Village Hall.

Sunday 21st February, 10am. 7½ miles.

Lumsdale & Cuckoostone. Meet at Eddlestow Lot (SK324632). Leaders: Leo & Jenny Cortes.

Wednesday 24th February, 10.30am. Short walk. Dale Abbey. Meet at Layby on Potato Pit Lane (SK444384). Leader: Joyce Mold.

Thursday 25th February, 10.30am. 6 miles.

Hardwick Hall walk. Meet at roadside at Hardwick Inn (SK458633, S44 5QJ). Leader: Alan Brown.

Monday 29th February, 10.30am. 7 miles. Lathkill Dale. Meet at Moor Lane CP, Youlgreave (SK194645, DE45 1LW). Leader: Trevor Bamford.

Check Erewash Ramblers web page or contact Tony Beardsley, 0115 917 0082 for more information.

Ilkeston Rambling Club Thursday 4th February: Social get-together at The Burnt Pig, 7.45pm, including a quiz compiled by Sue. Sunday 7th February: A nine-mile walk led by Mike Henshaw starting from Rowsley Park and heading for Stanton in the Peak.

Sunday 21st February: A mystery walk led by Mick and Bill.

Thursday 3rd March: Chat evening.

Ilkeston Life, February 2016

15

Sport

JUST A THOUGHT An ounce of education is worth a ton of prevention - Paddy Ashdown.

Who’s your NMG favourite?

Robins’ greatest games and players.

And if you're an Ilkeston supporter, we’d like to hear from you who you think are the top players to have worn a Robins shirt at the NMG. There is plenty of choice because, according to DunNext year Ilkeston FC (and can Payne, chairman of its forerunner Ilkeston Town IFCSG, over 500 players FC) will have been at the have already turned out for New Manor Ground, Awsthe club in the past 24 years. worth Road, for 25 years.

Some have achieved star The club moved from the (old) Manor Ground, Manor status by their goal scoring ability while others have Road, where the Dunelm earned their popularity Mill store is now, to their through individual skill, current home on August leadership, great goalkeep15th 1992, and to celebrate the milestone the Supporters ing, long service, dependability, etc. Others have gone Group is planning to produce a special commemora- on to play for bigger clubs while many have stayed with tive book featuring the

the Robins. The list of players who have made their mark on the NMG turf is a long one—every supporter will have a different opinion.

We’d like you to name your top three players and we’ll compile a list of the nominees here in the paper. Your no.1 will receive three points, no.2 two points and no.3 one point. We’d also like to hear your memories of the highs and lows of supporting Ilkeston, also amusing and unforgettable moments. You can contact us via email— ilkestonlife@gmail.com—or post/drop in to our office, 1 Bath Street (the U Choose café), Ilkeston DE7 8AH.

Share your sporting achievements in Ilkeston’s community paper—email ilkestonlife@gmail.com

Robins hot-shots make it an exciting finish on a freezing night Tues 19th January’16 - Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

RUSHALL OLYMPIC 2, ILKESTON 2.

After falling two behind, Ilkeston roared back to take a point and came very close to taking all three. It was Rushall who were hanging on for a draw once Ilkeston had levelled the scores in the 80th minute.

Jamie Hannis, who was making his debut in goal for Ilkeston was kept busy and made some outstanding saves. Luke Shaw did well to make a goal line clearance on 55 minutes but then Michael Williams had an effort cleared off the line at the other end.

This was a much better performance from Rushall went two up with a Jake Heath penIlkeston on a bitterly cold night and a fast alty after 72 minutes but Ilkeston responded freezing pitch. immediately with a goal from Williams.

In an even first half both sides went close Lee Ndlovu who had replaced Coulson was but it was Rushall who scored the only goal making an impact and he slammed in an through Josh McKenzie two minutes before equaliser after being put through by the hard half time. The home side were fast out of the working Dan Udoh on 80 minutes. This set blocks in the second half and Ilkeston had to up an exciting final ten minutes of Ilkeston defend to stay in the game. pressure but Rushall managed to hold out.

TRINITY SQUAD LOOK TO NEXT FESTIVAL PROMOTION Trinity boxers are already in preparation for the club’s next promotion on Friday 18th March at the Festival Inn. Several of them will be in action before the big night and will be well prepared to treat the Ilkeston fans to an entertaining programme. Tickets for what is again expected to be a complete sell out can be obtained from Scott Rafferty, 07956 565582.

STOP PRESS Robert Mee has given a reply to David Frost’s letter ‘New path to nowhere’ on page 5. A member of the Ramblers Association, a body which is trying to reinstate lost footpaths and make repairs to bridges, gates. stiles, etc, across the country, he says: “This is an old footpath, which has been put back where it should have always been. If you walk along the path from Haggs Farm, you will now be able to cross the road and continue along the path to Kirk Hallam. Previously, you had no choice but to walk down Cat & Fiddle Lane, with no pavement, and with heavy lorries passing by every other minute, till you got to the next path. Having done this on several occasions, it was a potential death-trap.

“The fact is that the path is on the definitive map of footpaths, and is shown on every Ordnance Survey map. I know that in the past I have spent a good amount of time looking for it. It should never have been blocked off, though it may well have been decades ago that this happened.

“Nationally, the Ramblers Association is campaigning to ensure that public rights of way are not lost for ever, which is what will happen if they do not complain. I personally raised this missing path under the Ramblers' Big Pathwatch campaign, and I know that it has been raised by others too. The path is not a "footpath to nowhere" - it is a path to Kirk Hallam, and I suspect it will be well used by walkers.”

16 Ilkeston Life, February 2016

If we have served you well and you like our paper, please do something for us: it really helps if you can recommend us to your friends. We are always on the look out for people to help us as contributors, door to door deliverers or advertisers. This a community venture and we need your support to continue. If we could do better, please let us have your ideas. Email us at ilkestonlife@gmail.com or write to Ilkeston Life, 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston DE7 8AH.

Great songs just for Erewash Listen now on 96.8fm or online at www.erewashsound.com