Ilkeston Life Newspaper July 2017

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A friend through your letterbox July 2017 www.ilkestonlife.com A community publication for Ilkeston and surrounding area.

Great Get Together Victoria Park

T

he event was blessed with a wonderful sunny afternoon in Victoria Park.

Lots of happy faces as children had fun in the Play Bus and laughed with Mr. Jingles.

As always Ilkeston Brass did a fabulous job providing music in the newly refurbished bandstand and the classic cars on display were much admired.

When the Ilkeston Churches set out to arrange this, the idea was to bring the community together to celebrate that “we have more in common than that which divides us� It was these words and the life of the late Jo Cox that inspired her family to encourage communities all over the country to have a Great Get Together. The or-

ganizers,which was led by Ann Richards, wanted Ilkeston to be part of this.

"We hope we achieved our objective and everyone had a good time in our lovely park.

Thank you to everyone who helped and to everyone who came to share the afternoon with us," she added.

From Ilkeston churches.

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Local Independent Fresh Entertaining Ilkeston Life is available online and from various outlets including newsagents, shops, cafes, Post Offices and supermarkets in our growing circulation area. Besides Ilkeston, we are currently supplying: Awsworth Cotmanhay Cossall Dale Abbey Giltbrook Kirk Hallam Long Eaton Larklands Shipley View Stapleford Stanley Common Stanley Stanton-by-Dale Sandiacre Trowell West Hallam We also give free copies to Ilkeston Community Hospital, nursing and care homes, doctors waiting rooms, schools, etc Editorial office: 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston, Tel: 07539 808390 Editor: Paul Opiah news@ilkestonlife.com Staff feature writer: Patricia Spencer patricia@ilkestonlife.com Staff photographer: John Shelton john@ilkestonlife.com Advertising manager: Paul Opiah sales @ilkestonlife.com or paul@ilkestonlife.com Webmaster: Adam Newton adam@ilkestonlife.com

The Puffins at Flamborough

By Patricia

Spencer

My husband has been promising to take me to see the Puffins on the coast at Flamborough for about three years. He has been a couple of times to the cliffs with his friends when they were on golfing holidays up there.

So, when the good weather was announced for last week, we felt Thursday, May 25th was the perfect time to go.

The sun was shining when we left and the roads weren’t too busy at 8.30am and we had a good journey up.

We arrived at Bempton Cliffs seabird centre and had a coffee before setting off on the trail of the Puffins. A cheeky, sleekbacked Jackdaw joined us at the outdoor table to pick up any crumbs we left behind.

There was a little sadness to the day, as we held a Minute’s silence for the loss of the adults and children who died on the Monday in the Manchester bombing. It is hard to believe the hatred there is in the world when you are surrounded by such beauty.

We set off on the trail of the Puffins, stopping at the first of six viewing points on the cliff edge. My little camera was totally inadequate for taking long distance photographs but we had binoculars and scanned the cliffs for a glimpse of the colourful little birds we had come to see.

My husband found the first two.

They were fast asleep on the cliff edge amongst the thousands of other birds, who were

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wife would find a blade of grass acceptable, insert here a box of chocolates.

Sorry! I digress.

At the Grandstand we found one Puffin standing in the opening to its nest. He was looking right at us. It is a wonderful sight. There were a lot of people there and they all seemed to be searching for the little Puffins.

We saw lots of them flying backward and forwards to the cliffs. They are so small at the side of all the other birds. You can easily pick them out. Their little wings have to beat so fast to keep their sturdy little bodies in flight.

Puffins only have one chick and both birds take turns to incubate and tend to the chick for about 40 days. Although they are small they can cram an awful lot of fish in their beaks. The Puffling is then deserted and it stays in the nest for another 7 to 10 ten days before it flutters down to the sea. This must be very scary. I wonder how many are lost on the cliff face?

We walked on and checked out all the other viewing sites.

There were a few Puffins at each one. Most of them though were in holes in the cliff faces we could not see from the path, But we saw lots of them flying in and out.

If you could bear to turn your back on the thousands of birds, perched, hovering or flying around the cliffs for a moment, the grasslands running down to the cliff edge was awash with Red Campion, White Clover and golden, glossy Buttercups.

It was a glorious sight.

We made out way back to the car and drove to the White

Horse Pub in Bempton, which is just up the road from the reserve. There were a lot of people eating in the restaurant so decided to have our lunch as well as a drink in there.

The Chef happened to be in the bar at the time, so I was able to order a Gluten Free meal. We can recommend it the meals were excellent.

After our meal, we drove to Flamborough Head to see if there were any more Puffins on the cliffs there.

We then drove into Bridlington to spend the rest of the afternoon. I have not been there since I was thirteen.

I went on holiday with a friend from school, Elaine and her family. I have fond memories of my time spent with them all.

It was a really good holiday. I remember very clearly that we went to see Jimmy Clithero at the theatre. I still have the programme from 1961. This was a real treat, possibly my first time to see a show.

My husband and I finished the day sitting on the harbour with a drink watching the world go by for an hour before walking back to the front and driving home.

It had been a perfect day!

boxes. Good forward thinking!

The room looked great, set out with Cabaret style seating with lemon and white floral arrangements on each one. These were provided and arranged by Jean Bristow. The refreshments, tea,

it, by the Imari ladies themselves.

We were treated to another fantastic performance from Rachel Page on Violin. She really makes it sing. Robin Padgham introduced Rachel and her

coffee and cake were served at the tables. Yes, you’ve guessed

music and accompanied her on the piano.

My favourite piece was the music she played from Les Miserable.

I had a wonderful afternoon, as, I am sure from the applause, did everyone else in the audience.

If you would like to go and listen to Imari for yourself, I have included two or their next venues.

Imari and the Settlement Singers will be performing at Ockbrook Moravian Church on Saturday 1st July at 7pm.

Tickets £5.00. This includes tea or coffee and cake.

If you wish to buy tickets call 07861 776540 or pay on the door.

Imari Chorus will be at West Hallam Well Dressings in St Wilfrid’s Church on Saturday 15th July. 2pm and 3pm. This is a free event.

all much larger than they were.

Their colours were hidden, however, as they had their heads tucked under their wings and their feet were only partially visible. So we walked on to the next viewing area.

This was the Grandstand. Both

this viewpoint and the next Mosey Downgate have wheelchair access, which I think is great.

No one should have to miss out on the wonderful spectacle of the various species of birds wheeling around the cliffs.

One gentleman had set up a telescope trained on a particular Puffin sitting on the edge of the cliff so that others could see it.

There were various areas on the cliff edge where the Gannets, the biggest of our seabirds were settled in quite large groups. I have not seen these birds before either and they are magnificent. Their wingspan is a massive two metres or 6ft for any other dinosaurs like me.

These birds show impressive devotion to each other, pairing for life and returning each year to the same nest site to breed.

It has been known for the male to offer his mate gifts such as feathers, a blade of grass or, a garland of flowers. Husbands reading this, take note!

Please do not take me too literally on this. I do not think any

Imari Concert 21st May at Sawley Community Hall © Copyright 2017 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 any one. 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.

The deadline for adverts and editorial contributions for next month’s paper is 15th June (unless by arrangement). Send to us by email if possible: ilkestonlife@gmail.com Ilkeston Life. No. 23.

We are an independent community paper seeking the best for our readers and our region. First published in newspaper format in September 2015.

By Patricia

Spencer

On Sunday 21st of May at 2pm, Imari, one of our favourite local Choirs gave an outstanding performance at Sawley Community Hall.

Linda Gourlay, their Musical Director, led the Choir. Linda always leads with great humour.

All the money collected from the event, £800, is to go to the Air Ambulance Service.

Any expenses on the day were met from the Imari funds.

Not only did the girls give their time freely on the day, but had made all the cakes and pastries for the event, and very nice they were too, showing just how multi-talented they all are.

Any cakes left after the event were snapped up to take home, after a donation of course. They had even thought to provide

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Fine and Country Ascot is being relaunched!

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erbyshire based Manor House Property has completed their first acquisition of many branches over the next 12 months.

The two Derbyshire based businessmen plan to take the newly launched Ascot branch in a new direction.

The Company Directors issued the following statement “The Fine and Country brand offers the highest standards of customer service and quality properties throughout the country and indeed internationally.

We believe the Ascot branch is currently perceived to be about the price tag, only offering services for clients with properties over the 1 million price tag. This isn’t the case, the quality of the properties the branch advertises is paramount not the price

tag, whether it be £199,000 or a £10,000.000!

In addition to our new strate-

gy, Kevin, who is currently the Sales manager for the branch will take the lead and become our branch manager, bringing with him over 3 decades worth of experience in Sales & Lettings within Berkshire.

Along with the relaunch comes brand new packages, we will be offering four bespoke sales packages to make picking the services you want easy and simple, all packages can be customised to suit individual clients.

In addition to the brand new sales packages, we are keen to offer Fine and Country lettings which isn’t currently available at this branch.

Again, we will be offering many packages from a tenant finder service to fully managed, all packages are bespoke and tailored to our clients needs.

It’s an exciting time for Manor House Property, the company has only been trading for just over 1 year and we’ve currently got 4 more buyouts within our pipeline over the next 12 months.

The rapid expansion is all down to our local clients in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, supporting us over the past 12 months.

We cannot thank them enough.”

Share your stories of your UNSUNG HEROES Do you have an interesting photo or story about your unsong heroes, past or present?

Send it to stories@ilkestonlife.com or send it to our office at 1 Bath street, Ilkeston

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Six Staff Join Rapidly Expanding Digital Agency

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rapidly expanding digital agency has taken on six new staff in six weeks and has promoted two senior managers.

Award winning digital agency Fifteen, based in Ilkeston, now has 31 members of staff. The latest recruits to join the team are Jacqueline Smith, senior digital marketing executive from West Bridgford, Alice Hooper, an account manager from West Bridgford, Holly Law, a producer from West Bridgford, Andrew Whitehead, a senior creative from Mansfield Woodhouse,

Jake Rabjohns, a web developer from Stapleford and Martyn Locker, a web developer from Derby.

The team changes have also seen Matt Davies promoted to creative director. Matt joined the company from Nottingham based Attitude design which was acquired by Fifteen last year.

Julie Cannon, from Ilkeston, joined the company in November as finance manager and has now been promoted to finance director. She said: “I

was really overwhelmed with the promotion. I didn’t expect it so soon. I really like working for Fifteen and Ollie’s take on staff well-being. I look forward to growing with the business and taking on roles for the company in my position.”

Prior to working for Fifteen Julie worked for a catering disposable company for 15 years where she rose through the ranks from accounts to a management role. During her time there the company grew from eight to 42 staff and a turnover of less than a million to £6 million by the time she left.

She said: “I’m looking forward to achieving that growth again and being successful.”

The latest addition to the team is web developer Jake Robjohns, 26, from Stapleford, who joined Fifteen at the start of June. He said: “I have only been here a week but everyone seems very friendly and it is clearly a great company to work for.”

Letters To The

Your Voice

Hello readers With great sadness, we’ve witnessed yet more tragedies this week. Barely anyone can have escaped the news from Manchester and the dreadful pain and sadness it has brought. The agonising heartbreak of losing a loved one, especially a child, is the same whoever you are, and wherever you are in the world.

Singling out a country, a race, a religion is simply making the divide bigger and more difficult to cross. Violence doesn’t appear to have given anyone an answer so far. When something isn’t working, why keep on doing it? Let’s see how far kindness can get us all instead.

Be safe everyone, and look after each other.

Sending you much love and kindness.

Ilkeston Life Community Newspaper

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Get in touch with your viewsEmail:letters@ilkestonlife.com Post: The Editor, Ilkeston Lif 1 Bath Steet, Ilkeston Derbyshire, DE7 8AH

EDITOR

In and Around Ilkeston There are some lovely and quite unique features in & around Ilkeston Victoria park is lovely and the museum too, it’s good to see its regular upkeep, the flowers around town look a treat and it’s great to see litter pickets around too. There has been over the years an increase of pigeons due to people eating alfresco and dumping their unwanted food items wherever they can aim for and some even providing food for the pigeons (not a good thing) food waste left all around the town centre also makes it attractive to rats too!

The council have gone to great expense to provide litter bins and cigarette disposal units which again is a good useful feature when used, a unique ever increasing presence is cigarette ends decorating the pavements wherever one looks (not a good thing) it gets worse I get the impression that some people like leaving regular displays of dog feces on pavements in and around town (not a good thing) People of Ilkeston pick up your litter dispose of your waste whatever it’s origins there are bins everywhere; little poop bags are so very cheap and if you say u can’t afford them then can u afford the dog; can you look around the cupboards to see if you have an old newspaper an old carrier bag or even

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train the dog to do its doings in the garden at home if you have one, if you haven’t the means to clear up your doggy doings maybe ask a neighbor or a fellow dog walker for a bag.

We pay our council tax and the council do their best to keep Ilkeston tidy and well presented so come on citizens of our quaint old market town do your bit too.

Thanks for reading this D Devine

To avoid confusion, (J. Carr, Letters June issue” Life)

The jitty runs between Triangle and Queens Avenue, not Queens Drive which connects South Street and Oakwell Drive.

Respectfully, Michael Draper.

Cancelled Carnival For the second time in three years, Ilkeston Carnival has had to be cancelled due to bad weather. I can understand the desire to protect the cricket grounds, I used to play there myself but there is an alternative. Ilkeston Fair and the vintage vehicle day takes place in the town centre so why not the carnival. I can also understand that traditionally the carnival has nearly always taken place at the ‘Rec’ as us older ones call it, but what if it rained for the next 5 years, no Carnival.

People spend many months preparing their floats and I for

Annual Bed-Push

Once again it is my great pleasure on behalf of the League to write to your readers to convey our most grateful thanks for your support on Saturday 29th April 2017. Unfortunately the Fire Service were obliged to withdraw on the day but the result overall was exceptional and our special thanks go to: Ilkeston Community Co-op Group.

The Rotary Club of Ilkeston – Hopewell & Heanor Wards Ilkeston Community Hospital.

East Midlands Ambulance Service In addition, the raffle, cake stall and charity stall made over £150.00. The event made over £1,300.00. We are particularly grateful to you, the members of the public once again for your support to YOUR hospital.

one always look forward to our carnival. Since I remember the carnival of the 1940’s and even remember the “Good Quads” float. Of course in those days most local firms provided a float and most young teenage lads looked forward, to seeing the new Carnival Queen, I’m sure the older generation will remember the event being opened by a very famous celebrity such as Randolph Turpin - Boxing, Al Martino - American singer and the first person to top the hip parade and Chick-Zamick ice hockey international.

Ilkeston has one of the finest and largest marketplaces in the country for a town of its size.

I believe all big events should take place there. I also know many older people who can’t attend the carnival because is out of their reach as it’s not on a bus route.

Next year I hope to see the carnival take place on a Sunday in June in the town centre. The weather shouldn’t be a problem and it will also be good for local trade.

Danny Corns New martial art class I’m starting a new Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class at Ilkeston Gym on Wood Street, starting Monday the 3rd of July, every Monday and Thursdays, 7 pm. £5 per session, no politics, no contracts, wear your own gi and just train.

In due course awards will be made to the winners this year, the East Midlands Ambulance Service based at Ilkeston and runners-up were the Wards’ Team. If anyone wishes to add to the sponsorship raised by the teams, please contact the League at Ilkeston Hospital on 0115 9305522..

Our next event is the SUMMER FAYRE on Saturday 15th July 2017, details of which will soon appear. Watch out for advertising posters.

Once again, on behalf of the Chairman and members of the League, we offer our sincere thanks to all of you. We are working hard to help to ensure you have the best community hospital in the UK. Michael J Perry President

The owner has converted the basement into a martial art facility and I will be teaching BJJ which is a ground fighting and grappling martial art focusing on precision and technique to submit an opponent, rather than just brute strength.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is therefore useful for all sizes and genders, and we welcome all skill levels.

Carnival disappointment What a shame the Ilkeston Carnival was cancelled again after all the hard work that had gone into organising it.

It’s a pity it couldn’t be put back to a date later in the month.

The weather is much better then.

Look at Long Eaton’s Carnival for instance. It’s always after Ilkeston’s event and they always seem to get a better day. It has rained twice in the last three years for Ilkeston’s.

Surely changing the date is the answer.

Bill Smith Participants must be 16 and over.

I’m also a black belt in Judo.

Kane Corvus.

Lovely Surprise It was a lovely surprise when I opened my Ilkeston Life June issue to see a photo of my brother Brian.

I remembered it from way back, it was the Christmas Pantomime 1955.This was the year our Mam died Dec 2nd, hence Brian’s sad face.

I always remember Brian for his cheeky smile and I’ m sure it would have been there if he had seen the photo.

Sadly he passed away last year, so many thanks to Joyce Straw for the photo.

Christine Grace

Do you play Bridge?

We are a small, friendly Bridge club and we need new members!

We meet in the schoolroom at Mansfield Road Methodist Church, Heanor on Tuesdays at 7pm and everyone is most welcome.

For further details call Adrian on 0115 932 8412 or Carmel on 01773 718929.

The club was set up in the 1980’s and has moved base several times but has met in Heanor for the past decade.

We play social duplicate Bridge and just aim to cover the cost of room hire. Please get in touch if you would like to join us.

Carmel Hill

Community Service at Arena Church

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ast Sunday was the Community Service at Arena Church where children from schools from the local area attended. There were 280 people in attendance and it was a great

morning where we celebrate the work of our schools. Performances were from children from Cotmanhay School and Chaucer School.

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Free ‘Tea and Tips ‘Event Will Help Businesses to Be More Savvy Online A Derbyshire based digital agency, which is fast becoming one of the most successful in the country, is to offer its expertise to businesses for free at a special tea-and-tips event.

Fifteen, which is based in Ilkeston, will hold ‘Ask Digital’ - a drop-in event - at the Book Café in Derby on Monday July 3, between 10am and 12pm. Staff with different areas of digital expertise will give advice to small businesses on web presence and how their business can grow online.

Ollie Piddubriwnyj, managing director of the award-winning agency who this month took all of his staff to Ibiza as a thank you for their hard work, said: “As a leading digital agency our expertise comes at a price but we are offering our advice for free.

“We are looking to help new and small businesses that have an idea of what they are looking for but need help getting started. We realise that there are some businesses that may be afraid to approach an agency so we will be on hand to offer a free bit of advice. They can come and ask us anything.

“We are one of the top ten digital agencies in the UK and have lots of knowledge and want to

share it. It can be anything from web user experience, pay-perclick, social media, Google rankings and general online presence. We will also have cheat-sheets to hand out with a collaboration of stuff that we think is important.”

There’s no need to book – business owners are simply welcome to turn up at the Bookcafé, on the cornmarket in Derby city centre, and meet the team. If the event is a success, Fifteen may start holding ‘Ask Digital’ events every month.

Fifteen is currently looking for new premises as it has outgrown its offices in Middleton Street in Ilkeston, and continues to grow in size.

Ollie said: “We will be taking on graduates when we move.

We are looking for fresh, young energetic people.”

More information about ‘Ask Digital’ can be found at fifteen. co.uk/ask-digital

New contract continues recycling drive

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rewash Borough Council has awarded the contract for processing the recyclable waste collected from households to waste management company Casepak.

The Leicester-based company has dealt with the borough’s recyclables since 2012 as part of a deal between the council and waste company FCC Environmental, under which Casepak was FCC’s chosen recycling re-processor.

The new contract, which started on 1 April this year, is a direct agreement between the council and Casepak that will run until 2022, with the option to extend for a further two years.

Casepak will process around 9,000 tonnes of recyclable waste per year collected from 54,000 homes across Erewash.

The waste will be sorted, graded and processed using the latest technology at Casepak’s

Material Recycling Facility (MRF) in Braunstone Frith, Leicester.

Councillor Garry Hickton, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Environment, says: “Our recycling rate currently stands at 42% and we are hoping that, with Casepak’s help, we can further improve our recycling performance. It is thanks to Casepak’s cutting edge technology that Erewash residents can recycle a wide range of items and that recyclables can be collected all together – without the need for residents having to separate certain items.”

The council hopes that during the contract term, additional items will be added to the list of waste that can be recycled to make the service even better for residents in the borough.

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Charity Walk Charity walk to Skegness on Friday, 7th July, Simon Ward will be walking, with others, 82.1miles to Skegness in aid of "Ben's Den, a charity which provides holiday for children with cancer.

You may donate via 'uk.virginmoneygiving,com/team/ skegness'.

www.ilkestonlife.com

Anniversaries in Ilkeston 1940s 50s Anniversary days were one of the big occasions of the year right across the country, and Ilkeston was no exception.

Hundreds of people would turn out to watch anniversary parades which were called Whit Walks across the country, but we just knew as Anniversary Sunday.

Our chapel was opposite the Ilford Social Club, on the corner of Rupert St, attended by many children from the Station Road and the Junction area We would all gather there on a Sunday morning for the big anniversary parade.

It was one of the few occasions parents could show of their children, and they all tried their best.

We would all be in our Sunday best for the parade, many of the girls would have new

dresses, many made at home, those would be only worn in the evening.

We were Methodists and the sun was always shining for our parade, I think we must have had friends in high places.

We went three times that day, the big parade in the morning, which was a procession around all the local streets, and chapel after dinner and in the evening.

The band would lead, rousing music playing, the big drum thumping its rhythm. The chapel’s banners held up proudly by some of the bigger children, would be behind the band, followed by the older children then graduating down to the smallest ones with the helpers, bringing up the rear.

Hundreds of people lined the streets, people would be hanging out of bedroom windows to

The Diary of a Vicarage Cat Dear Diary, As you know one of my favourite past times is ‘people watching’ and they never disappoint me with their strange ways. For instance take last Furrs-day evening. Now I know it was Furrs-day a I’m quite good at understand human days of the week, they have seven, and are as follows; ‘Moan-day’ - they start the week moaning about having to go to school or work; ‘Choose-day’ – they choose to do the same all over again

on the next day, ‘Wet-kneesday’ – I’m not exactly sure why it’s called wet knees day but she does seem to spent a long time having a soak in the bath; ‘Furrs-day’ – a day when we all get lots of fuss and brushing; Fry-day – I love ‘Fry-day’ because he has fried battered fish with chips for his tea, and us cats all help him to remember the importance of sharing it – yummy; then there is ‘Sat-onit-day’ when they sometimes spends a couple of hours in

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some pushing prams and pushchairs would follow the parade all the way around proudly watching their offspring.

Then it was the chapel in the afternoon and evening.

We all sat in tiers (and sometimes tears) and the selected ones would stand up in front of the congregation and recite their poem, sing or give their quote from the bible.

It was pretty terrifying. We would have been practicing for weeks, and on the day, watch-

ing the congregation file in, your mind would go completely blank, and sometimes you badly needed the toilet.

Some parents were there for all three sessions, our dad used to sit on the fence by the Ilford Social Club, opposite the chapel in the afternoon to give us moral support, we could see him if it was hot and the chapel doors were left open, our dog Dinky sitting patiently at his feet.

Mam and Dad would then go in the evening.

They were very happy times, all the teachers and helpers were kind and gentle, they told us stories we sang, did drawings and were taught good values, and sometimes we were taken on outings. What not to like?

We were I suppose looking back, pretty tough kids, living in a tough area, always out playing, getting into scrapes, usually with gangs of children,

in the streets or fields all day long when not at school, you were never short of friends.

Although most of our parents were kind and loving, it was not a touchy feely society we were brought up in, there were boundaries at home and at school, and if you crossed them it was not counseling you could expect in those days.

To go to Sunday school was to go to a different world, gentle and calm, I loved it The one thing I can’t remember is any kind of religion or dogma being pushed at you, just a warm gentle friendly gathering every Sunday morning.

I think the widespread practice of Anniversaries and Parades began to die out across the country in the late fifties or early sixties.

A shame, but times change.

by Betty O'Neill

the evening sat on my sofa watching TV, I love the nature channels; and finally the best day ‘Fun-day’ when she goes to church to meet lots of lovely people who give me fuss.

So back to the other Furrsday evening, it wasn’t a Fun-day but people were going into the church for a special service. On the notice board was a poster saying, ‘Ascension Service – all welcome’ – so I knew I was welcome too. Pips, the tabby cat also came along prancing into church, swishing her tail and she got lots of

attention from everyone – she’s so predictable. Anyhow the service was coming to the bit when my Guardian goes and stands behind the big table and waves her arms about while there is wafers and wine on it, and then she shares it with everyone. So, I got myself into a good viewing position on a little table next to the rail where they kneel or stand to receive it. Gosh it was rather moving to observe them all coming forward, with such emotions on their face, they didn’t notice me as they were thinking, I guess

they were thinking about what it meant to share the bread and wine with each other. It looked like it was very symbolic for them as there were so many emotions expressed in their faces. Then shortly after that the service ended with everyone raising a glass of wine or juice together – toasting something but I’m not exactly sure what. And then I got lots of fuss again, as did Pips too. The more I observe my humans, the less I understand and the more there is to keep observing.

Bye for now – Florence

get a better view.

Excited kids, and Mothers,

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Local Woman Takes ‘Next Steps’ to Defy Doctors’ Prognosis

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local businesswoman who was told she would not live to see her 50th birthday has dramatically transformed how she lives and works in an attempt to defy the doctors’ prognosis.

Neena Sharma enjoyed a successful career as a Human Resources Director, having worked with leading businesses including PKF Cooper Parry, Siemens and Marks & Spencer, but after being diagnosed with a chronic and debilitating condition, the prognosis painted a very different picture for her future.

Neena decided to take a significant step in making some changes and radically reviewed her lifestyle, work outlook and environment; she now hopes to help others make the changes they want in their professional and personal lives by supporting them with sound HR advice and individual coaching.

She says, “The corporate environment is where I’ve thrived.

I’ve always worked at a fast pace and I’m proud of my career success. I’ve worked with successful companies who’ve had a handful of staff to others with over 3000 worldwide and I’ve been responsible for devising and implementing the people strategy in all of them.”

She started experiencing symptoms such as tinnitus, sudden hair loss and problems with her short-term memory and speech. She says: “I was working so hard and such long hours, frequently away from home, I didn’t make time to see the doctor. I just chose to ignore everything and carry on for a long period pretending nothing was wrong but it was terrifying.”

“Like many people, I had so many priorities but my health and well-being were low down on the list. After eventually being forced to see two different doctors, I was told independent

ly by both at the age of 41 that I wouldn’t make my 50th birthday unless I made some serious changes to how I lived and worked. I couldn’t imagine living and working any other way but it turns out this proved to be the catalyst for joining Next Steps HR.” The firm has just opened new offices in the stunning Strelley Hall and offers HR, Recruitment, Training and Mediation support predominantly in the SME sector, with personal and business coaching for individuals from all walks of life. For more information on the services offered by Next Steps HR, visit: www.nextstepshr.co.uk “The move to new premises adds another dimension to what we can offer our clients. Many of them use our offices for confidential employment matters and staff training. Our coaching clients say they benefit from being coached outside in the beautiful grounds of Strelley Hall as they

are really able to open up in less formal surroundings.”

Neena is enjoying being with a team of fellow professionals she’s worked with throughout her career, “It’s great to be working with colleagues who have also been friends for many years as we share each other’s

values and have a passion for what we do; we are 7 strong now and growing rapidly because of the unique proposition for smaller businesses. One satisfied client describes us as

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the ‘one stop shop for all your employment needs’.”

Neena continued, “I wanted to be part of a business which enabled me to use the knowledge and skills I’ve gained in my career, to benefit a more diverse range of people. Now I’m able to advise and support a range of companies, especially local SMEs who may not have or want their own in- house HR function but can utilise the skills and expertise that the team and I can provide. In addition, I have personal experience of how the power of coaching can open up new possibilities, stimulate positive change and improve wellbeing. In so many aspects of my life, the only thing holding me back was me!”

“I’m so lucky to be working with a great team and great clients at Next Steps HR. I’m working in a way which enables me to have a better balance in my life whilst continuing to work in a profession I love, advising, encouraging and supporting others. I’m so glad I took my next step and I feel stronger and happier than ever!”

Schools

www.ilkestonlife.com

July 2017

Game, set and match for Erewash pupils at tennis tournament

Ashbrook Junior

It was game, set and match for primary school pupils who enjoyed a tennis tournament organised by Erewash School Sport Partnership.

Youngsters from Hallam Fields, Chaucer Junior, Sawley Junior and Ashbrook Junior School made it to the final of the event which was held at Kirk Hallam Community Academy.

The winners were Sawley Junior School and they will go on to compete at the Derbyshire Summer Games event on July 11th.

Jack Steggles, competition organiser from Erewash School Sport Partnership, said the

tennis competition had been a great success.

He said: “We held competitions across the north and south of Erewash and the top two at each made it to the final. It has been indoors and the children use very soft sponge balls and the court width is smaller.

They’ve really enjoyed taking part and hopefully have been inspired to play more tennis.”

Pupil Lucas Redfern, nine, from Chaucer Junior School, said he felt proud to make the final.

Sawley Junior

He said: “In the last competition I won two games and lost one. I do love playing tennis and I play it at school. I like it because it’s

Chaucer Junior Junior

just one on one and if you lose you’ve got no-one else to blame but yourself. I’m really pleased to make the final and feel quite proud.”

Gary Smith, class teacher and PE co-ordinator at Chaucer Junior School, said taking part in the tennis competition had improved his pupils’ confidence.

He said: “We have a professional tennis coach who comes into school and works with our Year 4 children and that’s been great; the children have got a lot out of it. Taking part in this tennis competition has been a great opportunity for our pupils and it really helps with their confidence.”

Winning Menu Turned into Delicious Meal at Scargill School

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hildren at West Hallam’s Scargill Primary School saw their ideas turned into reality after winning a competition to design a three-course meal.

Pupils in Years 5 & 6 took part in the contest to come up with their most creative ideas for a tasty themed menu.

The winning menu – designed

by Alyssa, Imogen and Mary – had a jungle theme and included delicious delights such as forest of cauliflower and broccoli, egg puddle, tiger claw wedges and monkey face chocolate dessert.

The competition was run in conjunction Phil and Leeann Thompson who run the Rose and Crown pub in Morley.

They chose the winning menu and then invited the top three teams, along with headteacher Mr Poole and class teacher Mr Clark, to enjoy the extra special meal at the pub.

The children loved seeing their design turned into reality and agreed the meal was delicious.

Alyssa said: “My favourite bit was seeing the food in real life instead of on paper” while Mary said: “I loved how much the egg oozed in the main course”.

Imogen added: “My favourite part was seeing the food on a plate. The food was the best!”

Phil Thompson said: “It was great to see how much effort the children had made with their menu design. It was also lovely to see the winners’ faces when they saw their food presented to them to eat. It was a pleasure to do this competition with the school.”

Rhian Lilley, Erewash School Sport Partnership development manager, said she hoped the tennis competition had inspired more children to give the sport a go.

She said: “We’ve had some great feedback from this competition and I know the children who took part have really enjoyed it. We hope that they have more confidence now and might look to play more tennis, perhaps at school or a local club. Hopefully they are feeling inspired and maybe we might even see one of them playing at Wimbledon in the future.”

Hallam Fields

Lessons in university life on timetable for OIEA students

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essons in university life were on the timetable for students at Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy as part of a series of visits organised in a bid to raise their aspirations.

Twelve Year 8 students visited the University of Nottingham to take part in a Science workshop which resulted in them earning a Bronze CREST award.

The CREST awards scheme is the British Science Association’s flagship programme for young people which gives them the

Brightening up the town centre

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haucer Junior School children helped council gardeners to spruce up the cenotaph surround and the flower boxes in the Market Place last month.

It has become a regular project for the Chaucer pupils who enjoy having a day out in the sun and learning about plants and keeping the town centre looking good.

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Schools

chance to participate in handson science through investigations and enquiry-based learning.

Students were asked to design a water pump that could move one litre of water one metre off the ground.

Nick Jardine, Science teacher at OIEA, accompanied the students on the trip.

He said: “They had to research their own design and look at different types of pumps. They were split into three teams of four and there was another school there too.

“They all designed a pump and two groups were successful and moved the water and one group missed out by about an inch from moving the water the full metre high.

“It was a fantastic opportunity for them and they really enjoyed it. It was about building up their resilience, trial and error and effort. They were perfectly behaved and I was extremely proud of them. I think there were two students whose family members had been to university but no-one else. It’s all about raising their aspirations and making them realise that university is a possibility for them.”

Students in Year 9 also visited the University of Sheffield as part of a three-year programme called Discover Us which sees them take part in a series of visits.

Earlier in the year, Year 10 students also visited Nottingham Trent University where they built a robot as part of an NAO robotics day, which was sponsored by construction industry solution company Caterpillar.

Nina McNelis, an academy teacher who co-ordinated the university visits, said students thoroughly enjoyed the sessions, run as part of the academy’s outreach programme.

She said: “The aim of our outreach programme is to give students in every year group a university experience. We want them to be fully aware of all the different choices they have and it’s important they are aware of the possibilities from a young age.”

BUDDING ARCHITECTS SHORTLISTED IN CHATSWORTH COMPETITION THE YEAR four class of Chaucer Junior School, based in Ilkeston, has reached the final stage of the Royal Horticultural Society Chatsworth Flower Show 2017 competition to discover the most architecturally impressive bug hotel after receiving help from Leonard Design Architects.

Chaucer Junior School teamed up with Leonard Design to get its advice on standing out from the crowd at the inaugural RHS Chatsworth Flower Show which this year celebrates ‘design revolutionaries’, as well as meeting the brief of designing a bug hotel to fit the theme of ‘inspiring architecture: past, present and future’.

Jane Oldnall, year four teacher at Chaucer Junior School, said: “We are thrilled to have made it through to the final stages of the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show competition. We have one entry in the finals but the entire class has been working really hard to bring the ‘Chaucer Bug and Breakfast’ design to life.”

In addition to giving professional advice and whittling the entries down to one for submission to the competition, the team at Leonard Design also hosted the class for a talk about a career in architecture. John Morgan, director at Leonard Design, said: “I was really impressed with the variety of ideas from the pupils – each design was really well thought out, demonstrating that they had completely understood quite a difficult brief from RHS Chatsworth.

“The next generation is incredibly important to the continued success of architecture as an industry, especially in the East Midlands. With that in mind, having the children in to meet the team and show them what we do was really valuable and will hopefully give them the extra passion to take home the prize at the Flower Show.”

Jane added: “John very kindly gave some excellent feedback on the top seven designs and the children left feeling very inspired and enthusiastic about

www.ilkestonlife.com

July 2017

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OIEA students given taste of world of work Students from Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy have been given a taste of the world of work.

One hundred Year 10 students secured work placements across Erewash and spent a week learning about all aspects of jobs that they are interested in.

Vivia Barker - Chaucer Infants School

Nat Lane, 15, was given the opportunity to broadcast live on the radio during his work experience at Erewash Sound.

He said: “I have always wanted to be a presenter on a radio station so I emailed Erewash Sound to ask about work experience and they offered me a place.

“I did some audio editing and I also broadcast live on the radio.

They just said if I wanted to I could and I felt confident so I did. I did a few different reports about Ed Sheeran, fishing, anime and being good friends.

The presenter asked me who my good friends were. I was a bit nervous but it was fine. their projects which was fantastic to see. We are currently in the building stage of the project ready to submit the bug hotel before the show which runs 7-11 June.

“I must also give a huge thanks to Kerry Wheatley, founder of Chaucer Junior School’s gardening club, for entering the class into the competition and supporting with the project.”

The winners of the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show Schools’ Bug Hotel Competition will receive garden centre vouchers and a certificate with £200 for first place, £125 for second place and £50 for third place.

For further information about Chaucer Junior School visit www.chaucerjunior.org.uk or to find out more about Leonard Design visit www.leonard. design or on Twitter.

“The whole experience was brilliant and really interesting. I would like to do the training so that I can learn how to use all of the radio equipment.”

Ksenia Kudron, 15, secured a placement at Earls Hair and Beauty in Ilkeston.

She said: “I’ve always wanted to be a hairdresser; when I was little I was always doing hair. When I was at Earls I was shampooing, doing plaits and helping to tidy up. I really enjoyed it and there’s now the possibility of me getting a Saturday job there which is great.

It’s definitely something I would look into as a career.”

Luca Selwood, 14, spent a week at Deda dance centre in Derby.

Ksenia Kudron - Earls Hair

She said: “I did all sorts when I was there. I worked in the box office and I saw a show technical rehearsal so I learnt all about how they set up for a show. I also helped out at a dance show called Interface so I was helping the performers to

get onto the stage, it was really good. I also auditioned for a circus skills class which I will be going to every Saturday which will involve dance and aerial work. Overall, it was a great experience.”

Dylan Kocher - TIM Garage

Dave Jenkins, teacher at OIEA who oversaw the work experience initiative, said: “Work experience week provides our students with an invaluable opportunity to connect with local employers and find out about what they do and how they operate. It is a chance for students to discover more about themselves and may even open a few doors for them.

“So many of the students have positive experiences that change their perceptions about the world of work. We are always grateful for the fantastic opportunities provided by the many local businesses that support us.”

Juniors enjoy outdoor lessons

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hildren at Dallimore Primary School in Kirk Hallam enjoyed an Outdoor Week recently, followed by a Bike Week and a Clean Air Day. The whole school was involved in the Outdoor Week which began with a representative from The Wildlife Trust taking an assembly. The trust promotes nature in all its forms and encourages interest among all ages.

Helen Mitcham who is the community ranger of Victoria Park in Ilkeston also came and showed the reception children how to make mini beasts, while some junior school children had a go at Nordic walking with Rachel Davis, a local INWA qualified instructor.

Pupils had fun painting pebbles and scaled a climbing

wall in what was an interesting and very successful week, said school staff member Lucy Haywood.

The Bike Week was hampered by the fact that due to major changes at the school, pupils were not able to come on bikes, but some staff did and the children were able to learn skills and safety tips which would be of benefit to them.

On the Clean Air Day (15th June) children were told about the benefits of clean air and how they could help with this.

Year 2 children were encouraged to illustrate what they had learned by producing a poster which would be entered in a competition to find the best picture and message to promote clean, healthier air for everyone.

www.ilkestonlife.com

More than 600 students vote in mock election at OIEA

More than 600 students voted in a mock election held at Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy.

Students across the academy learnt about British values and democracy during Personal, Social, Health and Education lessons.

They also looked in detail at the manifestos of each of the parties represented in the General Election in Erewash before voting.

Labour came out on top, followed by the Conservative Party, UKIP and the Lib Dems.

Louise Carroll, Head of PSHE at the academy, said she was pleased with the interest that the students took in the election.

She said: “They looked at the different proposals in the manifestos and were particular-

Brian Clough Way road sign up for grabs at charity auction to be held by Saint John Houghton CVA

A

Brian Clough Way road sign was among the items up for grabs in a silent charity auction to be held by Saint John Houghton Catholic

Voluntary Academy.

The sign was donated by Ashley Carter, director of the ‘Shaun Barker: One More Time‘

OIEA students take up Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme challenge

documentary.

It was just one of the lots in a silent auction being held Saint John Houghton CVA to raise

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tudents are learning real life skills after the Duke of Edinburgh scheme was launched for the first time at Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy.

Nine students are working towards their Bronze award and attending weekly after school sessions.

The group is preparing for a practice expedition which will take place later this month in Derbyshire.

During the DofE sessions students are learning about nutrition, cooking outdoors, meal and route planning.

Simon Dell, Head of Computing and DofE leader at OIEA, said he was pleased to see how enthusiastic the students were

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ly interested in what will affect them such as tuition fees, the NHS and Brexit.

“Every year group apart from Year 11 took part as they are sitting exams. It was great to see them so engaged with the election and they certainly know their own minds and were very well informed.”

Year 8 students Lucy Smith, Nicole Hartwright, Cassie-Jo Whiston and Caitlin Dunmore acted as polling clerks and vote counters.

Student Kai Compton, 13, said he thought that learning about the election had been extremely valuable.

He said: “I think it’s good to know what’s going in the world and it was interesting to look at each party’s manifesto.”

Student Chad Fowkes, 12, said he was interested in learning

more about the issues that will affect young people.

He said: “I’ve always taken an interest in politics and I became really interested after the EU referendum. I’ve tried to stay updated on politics since then.

I would like to see free tuition fees because that could affect me when I’m older and that’s why I’m interested in Brexit too.”

Nia Salt, Principal at OIEA, said she hoped the mock election had inspired the students.

She said: “We recognise the value of informing our students about what is going on in the world around them and I was pleased to hear about how well informed our young people were about the General Election. I hope that they will be proud to use their vote when they are older.”

money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, alongside a fun run which was to take place at the academy on Sunday, June 25th.

This is the second year that the school has held the fun run and this year’s event was in memory of long-serving staff member Mick Hackett, who died last year.

Entrants were asked to raise sponsorship for MNDA after paying an entry fee to help cover the costs of organising the fun run.

There were goody bags, medals and trophies for age category winners on the day.

A children’s entertainer was booked to perform circus tricks and make balloon animals for the children and the run was due to be opened by Derby County Ambassador Michael Johnson along with Mr Hackett’s widow Julie.

Other lots in the silent auction included signed Derby County and Nottingham Forest shirts, signed footballs from Derby County and West Bromwich Albion, Derbyshire Cricket tickets and Morley Hayes vouchers.

Joan McCarthy, head teacher at Saint John Houghton CVA, said the fun run would be a great community event.

She said: “Following on from the success of last year’s fun run we decided to repeat the event this year and we are hoping that as many people as possible will either take part or come along on the day. Mick Hackett was an extremely popular member of staff and he is sorely missed and I’m sure this will be a fantastic tribute to him.”

about the scheme.

He said: “It’s been going really well and the students are enjoying it so far.

“They have to decide the route they will go and make sure they have enough food to give them the right amount of calories.

They also need to make sure they have the right equipment.

“It’s a great scheme because they learn so much. We work on teamwork and it’s great for their confidence and when we go on the walk they are completely independent.

“They are in control; they need to know what they have to take and where they have to be.”

Student Wyman Hy, 15, said he was extremely keen to take part

in the DofE Awards scheme.

He said: “I like the way it allows you to progress so once we’ve completed our Bronze award we can move on to Silver. Ultimately I would like to go for the Gold award. So far we’ve been learning how to read maps, how to put up a tent and how to cook outdoors. I’m really enjoying it.”

As well as the expedition, which runs for two days and one night, students also have to complete physical, skills and volunteering elements over three months.

They then need to complete three more months in one of those areas in order to gain their Bronze award.

www.ilkestonlife.com

July 2017

11

750th Anniversary of Royal Charter Celebrations for Mapperley Village

by Ashley Carter

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Ilkeston Morrisons Colleagues raise £300 for charity with Wacky Wig Week

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tore colleagues at Morrisons on Nottingham Road, Ilkeston have raised £300 for the children and young people’s cancer support charity CLIC Sargent For one week, from the 29th May to 04th June, the store team donned wacky wigs and headwear and appealed to the kind-hearted customers to donate their spare change to a good cause.

The supermarkets employees across the UK chose CLIC Sargent as their new charity partner in February, and aim to raise £8 Million over the next

three years to help stop cancer destroying young lives.

CLIC Sargent will use some of the money raised by the partnership to expand its financial grants programme for families and young people in need. The charity’s research has found that on average parents face an additional cost of £600 per month when their child is on active cancer treatment at specialist hospitals The charity will also expand its specialist nursing programme, which maximises the amount of time that young people can spend safely at home, and

ed, white and blue bunting adorned the streets of Mapperley as what felt like the whole village came out to celebrate the 750th Anniversary of the signing of the Royal Charter. Originally known as Maperlie, and first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, the small Derbyshire village – which is located just to the North-West of Ilkeston - was granted the charter in 1267 by King Henry III. In it, then Lord of the Manor Simon of Ardene, was permitted to hold an annual fair on the festival of the Holy Trinity, making the event even older than Ilkeston Fair. Embracing the Medieval origins of the occasion, as events included a jester, market stalls, Maypole dancing, Robin Hood themed play, traditional stocks and medieval fancy dress.

The event was co-ordinated between Mapperley History Project, Mapperley Church of England Primary School and Holy Trinity Church, with

support from the local parish council. Elaine Sarson, who runs the Mapperley Village History Project said she was hopeful that the event would help expose the village to those who may not have previously heard of it. “It’s often called Derbyshire’s best-kept secret,” said Elaine, “it’s a really thriving community.”

The village previously held an event for the 700th anniversary celebrations in 1967, where a local newspaper article reported that the foul weather could not dampen the spirits of those in attendance, as the villagers flocked to watch a day of events, which included a piano pushing race, a tug-o’-war and a fancy dress competition.

Mapperley resident Bill Skinner was quoted as saying, “We were quite satisfied with things as they tuned out despite the poor weather.”

And it was Bill Skinner, 50 years later, who opened the 750th anniversary celebrations with a

invest in other essential projects that will reduce the devastating impact of cancer on young lives.

Tracy Davidson and Fay Stainsby, the Community Champion Team at Morrisons Ilkeston, said ‘We had lots of fun dressing up with our colleagues while raising money for a good cause and our customers, as always, were incredibly generous. We are proud that our fundraising will make a positive difference to the lives of children and young people facing cancer” Fern West, the Fundraising Manager at CLIC Sargent said “A huge thank you to our brilliant Morrisons hair-o’s!!.

Thanks to their amazing support, CLIC Sargent is able to stop cancer destroying more young lives than ever.”

For more information on events happening in store or to organise an event for a local community charity please email the Community Champion Team at Ilkeston at champion.ilkeston@ morrisonsplc.co.uk

short speech. Whilst there was no piano race this time around, the celebration was packed full of a variety of different events, including live music, pony rides and food stalls. Like its preceding event 50 years earlier, the day was cursed by adverse weather, but, just as half a century previous, neither the turnout or the spirit of those in attendance was affected.

The occasion even drew a royal seal of approval, as Elaine Sarson received a special note from Her Majesty the Queen to wish her well for the event.

“2017 should be a very exciting time,” said Elaine, “not just for Mapperley Village, but for anyone who is interested in England’s rich history and in community life.”

www.ilkestonlife.com

Nestled on the banks of the Erewash Canal in Cotmanhay, The Bridge Inn offers a good variety of Keg and Cask Ales and a good selection of wines.

The pub has recently changed hands and undergone a mini

refurbishment and now includes the Bridge 23 Restaurant, an ideal venue for a family outing, an evening meal or a special occasion, event or wedding.

Please visit our website www. thebridgeinncotmanhay.co.uk

EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO 2017 I am running a trip to Scotland on Friday, August the 25th 2017 leaving Ilkeston at 0800hrs. There are places left. 2 double, it will be first come first served.

The cost of the trip for 4 days is £60 deposit paid on booking and the rest by this June.

The total is £295pp The cost covers coach-hotel-tattoo-meal on the homeward journey.

All Cheques made out to me B Brown.

For more information ring

0115 930 7050

for more info, menus and opening times.

They offer a varied menu of home cooked food, including Vegetarian and Vegan and an extensive menu of Gluten Free and Dairy Free Foods.

The Bridge is wheelchair accessible with accessible toilets and baby changing facilities.

On Friday 11th August at 2 pm till Sunday 13th at 11 pm, they’ll hold their first Music and Beer Festival with over 20 Cask Ales

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and Ciders. For more info on this and other events please visit facebook@Erewashbridge23.

www.ilkestonlife.com

Local stories told by local people

The book launch of “Glimpsing the Past with an Eye to the Future” took place at St Luke’s Church, Moorbridge Lane, Stapleford on Saturday 17th June. There were many people present as Rev Joan Whysall welcomed everyone and explained that the book records the childhood memories of people attending St Luke’s church on Moorbridge Lane – many are in their nineties and their early life reflects a completely different life style to that which we experience now. Several of the contributors read their item from the book to give people a taste of the contents.

Joan talked about their Survey of Childhood which had some

interesting results. She involved all the people by asking such questions as: Did you have an outside toilet? How many had a bath in a tin bath?

Did you have gas lighting? And ladies did you wear a liberty bodice? Finally how many people had the cane? This caused a great deal of amusement and a large percentage of hands raised for each question.

We were also serenaded with some very old songs on a large windup gramophone. The book is a good read: documenting how we used to live, wartime experiences, leisure activities, and the results of our survey.

The photograph chosen for the cover is of VE celebrations at St Luke’s 1945. Coincidentally, some people on the photo

Pinot Gris grapes, to great advantage, this extremely popular white production has a good bouquet and mouthfeel, which follows through to a most acceptable palate sensation and finish. This wine pairs well with salmon, tuna and seafood, plus pasta and cheeses. From Denbies Premium Sparkling range, also only produced in the best of seasons. I found Greenfields Brut really good to add that extra ‘something’ to an occasion. Great on mouthfeel and palate this production is always popular for events and for entertaining.

Tel: 01306 876616 www.denbies.co.uk Welland Valley Vineyard was established in 1991 and produces interesting, much appreciated wines. Located at Marston Trussell, Leicestershire, Welland Valley wines have gained in popularity since their launch.

Farndon Dale I found to be a

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Re-opening of Big Kirk Hallam Community Centre still live on Moorbridge Lane – including the baby in the pram – David Dickman on the front cover. Joan had secretly arranged for David to attend and it was a great surprise to every one as he was welcomed to the front for photographs. You too may well recognise yourself or members of your family on the photos.

Afterwards everyone had the opportunity to look round the display of photographs and memorabilia and enjoy refreshments.

Copies are on sale now, only £5 from: St Luke’s Church, Moorbridge Lane; St Helen’s Church and Office; Tea for Two, 92 Derby Road, Stapleford; U ChooseSmoothie Bar, 1 Bath Street Ilkeston. Proceeds are in aid of St Helen’s Church Stapleford Community Annexe.

The book was compiled and edited by Rev Canon Joan Whysall, Tel 07802 415036 or email joan.whysall@btinternet. com.

WINE MATTERS: ENGLAND

English wine has a long history. Having some centuries of knowledge and expertise in the making of wines the productions increased greatly during the mid 20th century. For decades English wine was met with scepticism, as England was thought of as a country unable to produce quality wines. Today, English wines are recognised and appreciated globally. Respect for England’s vineyards continues to increase and more and more the excellent wines produced, of which a good number are award-winning, are being discovered by wine lovers near and far.

Denbies Wine Estate produces splendid wines. Situated in Dorking, Surrey, Denbies Vineyard was established during 1986. I found their Pinot Gris – part of Denbies Vineyard Select range – excellent.

Produced only in the best of seasons, utilising hand-picked

July 2017

pleasant, dry white. Using the French grape variety, Madeleine Angevine, this production is popular, being very good on nose and palate. For a red choice I selected Naseby. This fruity wine is only produced in very good summers. Blending 3 grape varieties, Naseby is a further, often-chosen wine, with many devotees. The mouthfeel and palate appreciates the berry follow-on from the bouquet. Steeplechase is a superb white, sparkling brut. Wonderful for all occasions, parties, plus events-and the back label can be personalised, if required.

Tel: 01858 434591 www.welland-valley-vineyard.com These are just a small selection of the wines produced by England’s vineyards. Take pleasure in locating your favourites. www.englishwineproducers. co.uk

By Trevor Langley

The release of a hundred balloons launched the opening of the new Big Kirk Hallam Community Centre.

Rev Christine French told us: “It was with sadness that in January 2017 the Sure Start Family Centre on Kenilworth Drive in Kirk Hallam closed and the services were moved to a centralised resource iin ilkeston.

“Discussions and conversations were had between Derbyshire County Council, the Diocese of Derby and the Community Hall Management Committee about the transfer of the building to the management of the Hall Committee.

“Sensing the enormous opportunity and the local need for more resources for Kirk Hallam community, the Hall Committee realised that they would need help and support and linked up with the Big Kirk Hallam local lottery fund.

“Together this little partnership hopes to have a huge range of different things happening at the combined centre. Already there is a Parent and Toddler Group started and a Knit and Natter Group too.”

In the autumn the new Community Café is to open and it will be run in partnership with U Choose Smoothie bar.

www.ilkestonlife.com

FRED TAYLOR FLETCHER – ILKESTON’S CYCLING CHAMPION

by Jeff Wynch Part One –“The Safety Demon” Other Ilkeston athletes may have won national honours in their chosen sports but surely only one has held two championships in two separate events in the same year. (Local historians, tell me if I’m wrong). So why has hardly anyone heard of Fred Taylor Fletcher?

Fred (the name appearing on his birth certificate) was born on 8th February 1869 to William and Emma Jane Fletcher of Bath Street. Fletcher senior had set up his business as a retail chemist the previous year. As a member of the Local Board and then the council, a churchwarden, Trustee of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association, JP and prominent Freemason, William Fletcher appeared in both editions (1887 and 1911) of Edwin Trueman’s Portrait Gallery of Ilkeston’s Fifty Principal Inhabitants.

Fred was typical of the young men from relatively well-off families who took up the new sport of cycling in the 1880’s.

He joined the Ilkeston Bicycle Club, and at the age of eighteen entered its first official race, a 4.5-mile handicap from Trowell Station to the Broad Oak in Strelley, via the Hemlock Stone, on Wednesday, held on the 29th June 1887. According to the Ilkeston Pioneer, the club had been talking about staging a race for some time and now “the executive… very wisely decided upon offering prizes to be competed for… by the associates of the club, and also as a means of testing their stamina”.

The club must have already recognised Fred’s talent as he was on the “scratch mark”, his competitors having a start of up to 3 minutes. H. Sudbury and W. Brasfield (3 minutes), Percy Carrier (2.5 minutes) and W. Fletcher, Fred’s older brother (half a minute), made up the rest of the field. The Pioneer reporter was there and gave his readers a detailed account of the race:

“All got off to a good start, Carrier making the pace a cracker in his eagerness to catch the limit men whom he managed to overhaul close to Trowell Colliery, Brasfield then taking the second position, with Sudbury third. In this order they went for some considerable distance until Fred Fletcher in hot pursuit hove in sight at top speed, with his brother just in front, and, riding strongly and with rare judgment, he came up with Carrier in Strelley Lane…The scratch man now began quickly to draw away, until reaching the bend for home, when his front wheel skidded, and he nearly came down a cropper and lost at least fifty yards.”

This spill, according to the Ilkeston Advertiser, the other local paper of the time, damaged one of his cranks.

The Pioneer report continues: W. Fletcher and Percy quickly came up, and from the winning post it looked anybody’s race. Each of the competitors now strove their utmost to win, though it could plainly be seen that the trio were nearly played out, whilst the spectators were worked up to a fever pitch of excitement. Fred Fletcher, however, stuck gamely to his work, and although he was able to use only one pedal, he rode in grand form and gained the first prize amid loud applause in 19 minutes, 45 seconds.

A good many spectators seem to have turned out for this event, many watching the start and getting to Strelley by the shorter route in time to see the finish. Afterwards a parade of competitors, officials and spectators on bicycles and in “various types of vehicles” made their way back to the Sir John Warren, the headquarters of the Ilkeston Bicycle Club in its early years. “Nearing home the order was given for the bicyclists to fall in line, and, headed by the officers of the club, the procession passed up South Street, to the headquarters of the club, which was reached just as the night shadows began to creep O’er the sun’s setting rays.”

(Ilkeston Pioneer). There was no mention of the prizes for this race.

There was a lot of public opposition to road racing. Cyclists were already seen as a danger to themselves and to pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles, the other main road users of the time. Individual cyclists and club outings were bad enough,

but mass start cycle races were even worse. The National Cyclists’ Union encouraged track racing instead and in 1890 banned road races entirely.

Fletcher and George William Howard, the other star rider of the IBC, soon began to make a name for themselves on the flourishing track racing scene.

Many races were still held on grass but cinder tracks, like the one at Long Eaton, were becoming more common, and it was there in his first season that he carried off an afternoon tea service with tray, worth £7.00 for winning the one-mile safety. He also picked up two first prizes at Cossall Colliery Sports in the one and two-mile bicycle races, and two-thirds at Coventry and Leicester in onemile events.

Fred rode an “ordinary” bicycle in the road race, although there was at least one “safety” bicycle, made by Walter Cordon and ridden by Percy Carrier, both IBC members. The ordinary was never called the “danger” bicycle, but it would have been a good name for it.

A large wheel at the front and a small one at the back made mounting, dismounting, steering and staying on board difficult even under normal riding conditions, let alone in a race.

This was part of its attraction for Victorian sportsmen, many of whom regarded the safety as a soft option. Fletcher’s colleague Billy Howard tried the safety only to revert to the high wheeler, but Fred took up the “dwarf machine” with enthusiasm and, on his Beeston Humber, was soon known in the press as the “Safety Demon”. The ordinary’s days were numbered - Humber reduced production and stopped making them in 1892, the same year the NCU held its last ordinary bicycle championship. As more people were attracted to cycling by the safety the ordinary began to look ridiculous as well as dangerous, and the term “penny farthing” was born. Like the

ordinary, the safety bike used on the track had a fixed wheel and no brakes, but the chain drive, two equal size wheels, the lower centre of gravity and, eventually, the pneumatic tyre made it not only safer but more manoeuvrable and ultimately quicker.

In 1888 Fred won prizes at Bridlington, Long Eaton, Leicester, Crewe, Stoke, Birmingham, Grimsby, Burslem and at the Ilkeston Bicycle Club’s own inaugural annual sports on the Recreation Ground. This was the season when he was recognised as a major force in cycle racing, a fact reflected in the heavy handicap he usually received. Nevertheless, his haul comprised eight first, five second and two third places, mainly in one and two-mile safety races. The Pioneer reported that at Bridlington in the two miles he “was placed on the scratch mark and before many laps had traversed he had got the whole of his opponents well in hand and he ultimately won the race with the greatest of ease.” At Crewe “the boy Fred was of course placed at the scratch mark in the onemile safety. Still, he managed to win, and cleverly too, beating a host of good men with a little bit in hand”. Further recognition of his prowess came on 8th September when he was chosen as one of the pacemakers for the American professional S.G.Whitaker’s attempt to break the one-hour safety record at Leicester.

Fletcher and Howard were now travelling the country to compete in bicycle sports events, almost certainly by train, and paying to transport their racing machines. The railway companies’ practice of charging extra for bicycles was much resented by the cycling fraternity and prompted another Ilkeston man, Joseph Hollis, to invent a folding bike which could be carried as hand luggage! In 1889 Fred raced at Nottingham, Beeston, Grimsby, Halifax (first in both the one and two mile races from scratch in front of 5000

July 2017

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First prize at Long Eaton 1887

spectators), Long Eaton, Birmingham, Bury St. Edmunds, Port Vale, Burslem and Torquay winning 8 races, (including one for tricycles) and gaining two second and four third places.

The handicapping in the onemile safety race at Grimsby showed how good he really was: he was unplaced but set the track record!

Fred Fletcher was a gift to the local papers: an Ilkeston athlete supplying them with stories of almost continuous success on the track. This gushing endorsement, appearing in the Advertiser in June 1889, is typical: “Really, congratulations are superfluous. We are not surprised at these successes by our local crack, we expect them: consequently, effusive bursts of praise are unnecessary to demonstrate the deepest admiration and pride we feel in him”. But woe betides a local hero who seems to desert his local fans or gives the impression that his hometown is no longer good enough for him.

This briefly appeared to be the case when the Pioneer revealed that Fred had entered some races as a member of Nottingham’s Boulevard Cycling Club and that the newspapers of that town were, therefore, claiming him as their own. Press rivalry (how dare they pinch our story?) and local pride (he’s an Il’son lad!) were at stake as well as Fred’s reputation. Happily, the Pioneer was able to reassure its readers that although he had indeed ridden four races as a BCC member (also, in his defence, mentioning IBC on the entry form), he would in future only enter as a member of the Ilkeston club. Pride and reputation were restored just in time for Fred’s appearance at the National Cyclists’ Union’s first safety championships on Paddington’s newly built cinder track in July 1889.

Part two next month.

My thanks to Helen Jones and John Hall for additional research and to Giles Fletcher for the portrait of his grandfather and the photograph of the tea service.

A Beeston Humber Safety 1890

www.ilkestonlife.com

New leadership at EBC

Skegness 1956

OFF ON US ‘OLS

By Grant Shaw

Ilkeston & District Local History Society are asking local people to let them have copies of any interesting holiday snaps from the past up to the 1970’s for use in a new project which will end in a display in the Smoothie Bar Gallery on Bath Street in October and hopefully an article in Ilkeston Life later in the year examining how people’ experiences on holiday changed up to and including the coming of the cheap package holiday.

They are also asking for any holiday stories – particularly but not exclusively trips by train from Ilkeston to ‘Skeggy’, Blackpool or even further afield. What about the first time your family

went abroad on holiday? Your first time flying to your holiday?

Do you have any of those pictures taken by photographers on the seafront?

The Society are asking that people send copies of any interesting photos and their holiday stories by email to ilkestontales@gmail.com or post to IDLHS c/o 320 Heanor Road Ilkeston DE7 8TH or leave with the Smoothie Bar at 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston.

The photo shows Cecil and Grace Shaw from Cavendish Road, Ilkeston (back row) with their extended family on holiday in Skegness in 1956. Photo courtesy of Mrs Sandra Smith.

Cllr Carol Hart

Erewash Borough Council has its first female Leader following the appointment of Councillor Carol Hart to the position, a move which was approved at the Annual Meeting of the council last night. (Thursday 18 May).

Councillor Hart takes over the reins after the previous Leader, Councillor Chris Corbett, stepped down after 10 years and has now been appointed Deputy Mayor of Erewash.

The new Deputy Leader is Councillor Wayne Major, who is also Lead Member for Resources. Both appointments take effect for the civic terms 2017/18 and 2018/19.

Councillor Hart, who represents the West Hallam and Dale Abbey ward, was previously

Granby Collieries

T

his photograph indicates I believe is what was once an air shaft connected to the first Granby Colliery. There are two of these indication posts and are situated on a footpath running off Charlotte St. There were two Granby Pits producing coal simultaneously. The first began production in January 1861 with the new Granby pit situated about a quarter of a mile away starting to produce coal around 1868. The collieries were fairly short lived and both had ceased production by 1891.

The first colliery shaft was sunk

by James Haywood owner of Stanton ironworks at the time under a lease from the landowner. The Duke of Rutland, with the intention of supplying of supplying Stanton with coal.

This land was known as Ilkeston common at the time and lay at the corner of Charlotte St, and Cotmanhay Rd, now known as Granby Park. James Haywood soon became bankrupt and the lease was taken up by the Butterley company of Ripley, who already leased the nearby ironstone quarries on Ilkeston common.

The New Granby Colliery was situated just off just off Cotman-

By Danny Corns hay Rd, opposite Ash Street.

Linking both collieries was a tramway which crossed Cotmanhay Rd, near to the top of Duke st, and eventually arriving at Stenson’s lock over the Erewash Canal to reach a range of exchange sidings alongside the Erewash valley line of the Midland Railway Company. This tramway enabled both collieries to supply barges on the canal and the nearby railway. This photograph is just about the only indication that pits ever existed in the area known as Ilkeston common. I suspect though that a careful look around the Stenson’s Lock area may spring a surprise or two.

Photograph by Pit Staff covered in concrete.

Some information on Granby Collieries was supplied to the Ilkeston Local History by Peter Stevenon.

Plate 98. Above and opposite (left side) is a reduced (by 65) section of the first edition 25-inch Ordnance Survey plans (Derbyshire Sheet Nos.xLVL9 and 10), surveyed in 1878-80 and published 1881, showing the two Granby Collieries on lIkes ton Common, with their tramway down to the Ercwash Canal at Stenson’s Lock and to the Midland Railway Company’s Ercwash Valley line south of Bcnncrlcy Junction.

Cllr Wayne Major

Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Community Engagement. A resident of West Hallam for over 40 years, Councillor Hart has been a borough councillor for West Hallam and Dale Abbey since 2001 and a Derbyshire county councillor for Breadsall and West Hallam since 2005. She is also the cabinet member for Health and Communities at Derbyshire County Council.

Councillor Hart is the first female leader of Erewash Borough Council since it was founded in 1974 following Local Government Reorganisation with the merger of the Borough of Ilkeston, Long Eaton Urban District and part of South East Derbyshire.

July 2017

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Residents Meeting – Anti Social Behaviour The residents of the local Cotmanhay area have serious concerns with anti social behaviour that appears to be on the increase.

Sarah Nixon and Danny Page decided enough was enough and arranged for a residents meeting held at the Dukeries on Monday evening 22nd May 2017 at 18.00. They both wanted the Council and the Police to send representatives to hear the residents’ grievances and have a lively discussion to try and find a satisfactory solution to the increase of anti social behaviour.

Unfortunately the Council and Police when contacted were unable to attend.

This did not deter the organisers who decided to go ahead and collate the information the residents wanted addressing and hopefully in the near future a further meeting can be arranged with a more convenient date and time for the Council and Police to send representatives.

www.ilkestonlife.com

Life in the Garden

By Steve

Hello, fellow gardeners…

Welcome to July‘s ‘Life in the Garden’ in this months issue I have your usual monthly jobs to keep you busy, a star plant of the month and Rosa Deep Secret is one of the best!. I am also running a day trip to Barnsdale Gardens home of Geoff Hamilton and made famous by BBC Gardeners World, See main article for details. My contact details are below too so please keep getting in touch with your questions, events, and any gardening news in general, its great to hear from you. Happy reading and happy gardening!!

Clear weeds regularly around your vegetable plots, as they compete with your crops for nutrients and water Cut back hardy Geraniums after the first flush of flowers to en courage new growth and further

flowers Dead-head and pick sweet peas regularly this will encourage more blooms Water daily in dry weather Pinch out tomato side shoots each week. Cut off any leaves growing below the lowest ripening fruit trusses to improve air circulation and prevent diseases Dead-head bedding plants and perennial plants to stop them self-seeding and to encourage further flowering Gardener Steves plant of the month ROSA ‘DEEP SECRET’ (rose ‘Deep Secret’) Rosa can be deciduous or semi-evergreen shrubs or scrambling climbers, with usually thorny stems bearing pinnate leaves and solitary or clustered, 5-petalled flowers followed by showy red fruits (hips) Deep Secret is a stunning rose and probably one of the darkest of the Hybrid Tea, or Large-flowered bush roses which are upright, thorny shrubs with large, usually glossy leaves and large, double often fragrant and rounded double deep crimson flowers are 10cm across, in

Still time to bloom!

Green-fingered Erewash resbest allotments and a fun tallest idents still have time to enter this year’s Erewash in Bloom gardening competition ahead of the deadline, Friday 7 July.

Organised by Erewash Borough Council’s Pride in Erewash campaign, the annual competition features a range of categories to suit gardeners of all ages – including best front and rear gardens, best wildlife garden, top hanging baskets,

sunflower award for youngsters.

There are also awards on offer for schools and businesses.

It is quick and easy to enter online at www.erewash.gov.uk/ erewashinbloom or entry forms are available from Ilkeston and Long Eaton town halls.

Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:

Walton

summer and autumn as with a number of the dark red roses, it is richly scented. they can be grown in many different situations such as flower borders and beds, courtyard and cottage gardens.

Flowering period: Summer & Autumn Height and Spread: 1m x 75cm (3ft x 1.5ft) Position: Full sun Soil: Any soil but well drained Hardiness: Hardy Propagation: Hardwood cuttings in autumn or by budding in summer

“This remains a very popular competition with all our gardening gurus out there and they make it a very difficult task for the Bloom judges who are always bowled over by the quality of all entries – hats off to all the residents, businesses and schoolchildren who put the flower power into our borough.

So if you haven’t entered yet, let’s hear from you!”

Need a grant for your community work?

Community and voluntary groups across Erewash have another chance to apply for grants of up to £2,000 to help them with their work in the borough.

Erewash Borough Council has opened a further round of funding through its Community Grants scheme and wants local groups to get in touch and apply for support ahead of the closing deadline of 12.30pm on Monday 24 July.

Countless groups have been helped over the last few years through the grants scheme, ranging from Scout groups to

charities like Sight Support Derbyshire.

Councillor Gerri Hickton, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Community Engagement, says: “We want to get the message out to groups in all corners of our borough that these grants are on offer to help them. We have helped so many since we launched this scheme but we still want to hear from the many more groups we know are out there working to help people living in Erewash. It doesn’t matter how small the group is, we want to hear. Will a grant of

up to £2,000 help you? Then get in touch now!”

The deadline for community grant applications is 12.30pm on Monday 24 July.

Full details of the scheme and how to apply for a community grant are available at www.erewash.gov.uk - via the ‘Community and Living’ tab and the link to ‘Grants’.

Anyone needing help or advice regarding completing the application form can contact the council’s Community Engagement Officer Colin Handley via email colin.handley@erewash. gov.uk or on 0115 907 2244.

Pruning: Deadhead faded flowers to encourage flowering, follow RHS pruning guide for Hybrid teas.

Pest and Diseases: Aphids, leafhoppers, caterpillars and rose leaf rolling sawfly, black spot, rose rust, powdery mildew and downy mildews may be a problem.

Visit Barnsdale Gardens and Gates Nursery Join me Gardener Steve on Saturday 15th of July for a day trip to Barnsdale Gardens, made famous by Geoff Hamilton and BBC Gardeners World.

After spending time taking in all Barnsdale has to offer with its 38 inspiring gardens, nursery and tea rooms, it is then on to Gates Nursery and garden centre for the last hour of the trip both set in the beautiful Rutland countryside. As your guide, I will be happy to help with ensuring that you have a great day out and giving gardening tips and advise along our way to Barnsdale. With a full day ahead of you, your day starts off with a Breakfast Butty and a hot drink from the Seven Oaks Inn, Stanton By Dale which is where the coach will depart from at 9.30am and hopefully return at around 6.30pm.

Places are limited and very pop ular so early booking is advised.

July 2017

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WWFor more information or to book your place, you can message us on Facebook, either through the Seven Oaks Inn Facebook page or Blue Skies The Limit events. You can call the booking line on 07413 408751 or email infoblueskiesthelimit@gmail.com. Please leave your contact details and in return, we will forward you an itinerary of the day and a booking form. Once this has been received and your payment made then your place is secure.

Maybe you’d like to book a place as a gift? If so please let us know and we will sort this out for you. Me and the Blue Skies The Limit Crew look forward to hearing from you soon.

Gardener Steve would love you to get in touch to share your gardening stories, news and photos from around Ilkeston or to ask a garden question. I look forward to hearing from you.

Email me at gardenersteve24@ live.co.uk.

Warning over council tax scam Erewash Borough Council has issued another warning to residents to be on their guard against fake phone calls which are trying to get money out of homeowners as part of a Council Tax scam.

The council has issued an immediate alert after a resident in the borough got in touch to say she had taken a call from a company telling her she was in the wrong banding for her property and they could get it lowered and win her thousands of pounds in cash if she paid them £120 over the telephone.

The resident initially paid the money but became worried and

cancelled the payment with her bank after she couldn’t get back in touch with the company on the telephone number she was given.

The council has previously issued alerts of nationwide scams about council tax refunds which ask for personal information sent via fake emails or text messages.

Any residents with concerns over any phone call they receive about council tax or any document sent by email or through the post can contact the council’s revenues team on 0115 907 1000.

How Erewash voted in the General Election Maggie Throup (Conservative) 25,939 votes Catherine Atkinson (Labour) 21,405 Martin Garnett (Liberal Democrat) 1,243 Ralph Hierons (Green Party) 675 Roy Dunn (Independent) 519 Turnout: 63.8 percent.

Joke of the Month I went in the library last week and asked the assistant: “Have you got Great Expectations?”

She said: “Yes, I’d like to be head librarian before long.”

www.ilkestonlife.com

Cossall Open Gardens 2017

By Patricia

When I had a request from Chris Gilbert, one of the organisers of the Open Gardens at Cossall for someone to go from The Ilkeston Life to do an article on the day, I was really pleased and accepted the invitation immediately.

I have to admit to never going before although I have always thought it would be a good day out. I wasn’t disappointed.

My husband and I arrived a little early and parked the car in one of the allocated Car Parks. The lady at the gate gave us a free pass for the day once she knew we were from the Ilkeston Life, which was very good of her.

Everyone who works for the newspaper does it as a volunteer. Any monies we collect goes straight back into the newspaper funds.

The weather didn’t seem to be able to make up its mind on what it was going to do. But though the sky was dark and overcast, the sun came out a few times and it was quite warm for most of the afternoon.

We walked to the church and sat in the Churchyard for half an hour whilst the stallholders put the finishing touches to their stalls. It was very peaceful and quiet and we enjoyed the beautiful birdsong. We noticed that someone had been hard at work mowing the grass and

Spencer

trimming the edges, it all looked perfect.

The first person we spoke to, was Lesley from, “Our Back Yard Hedgehog Rescue.” It turned out She actually lives in Ilkeston just round the corner from us.

When she asked, “Would you like to see a Hedgehog? I said yes immediately. She brought out the biggest hedgehog I have ever seen, saying he was now up to weight and ready for putting back into the wild. At first he curled into a ball but only for a few seconds before uncurling and letting us have a good look at his handsome face.

She also had a blind hedge-

hog with her, which was much smaller and this one, she said, would have to stay with her, because it would never be able to cope in the wild.

If you should find a hedgehog, which seems to be in trouble, such as being out during the day- they should only be out at night, or showing any signs of distress such as wobbling around, lying on there sides, having a funny smell or flies hanging aroundIf you are in the Ilkeston area please contact Lesley or Dave on 0115 305587 or 07773 680 264 for their help and advice.

They run their animal rescue centre on a voluntary basis and

do not receive any funding for their work. So any donations are very much appreciated.

At 1.30 we went to church to listen to the speaker Stuart Dixon who is a presenter on BBC Radio Nottingham. He came straight from his morning on the radio to do the talk.

We have never seen or heard him before but he was amazingly knowledgeable about garden plants and their history and also historical houses. He had a host of slides to show us. He has visited gardens all around the world including New Zealand.

He reminded us that we have the Victorian Plant hunters in 1800 to thank for bringing back plants from all around the world, and making our English gardens, some of the best in the world.

He also put a lot of humour into his talk, which lasted about an hour and was very easy listening. But we were left in no doubt that he could talk for a lot longer about what is obviously something he is very passionate about.

We came out of church ready to start our tour of the gardens.

We started off with No 9. Here we found an immaculately manicured garden including a fountain and also another Ilkeston resident, Fred Alsbury, with his Wood carvings which included, well, practically everything you could want in wood including

“magic” toys! You can find him

CANTELUPE CENTRE COMPANION CLUB

A

fter spending a sun-soaked day (31 May) in the Yorkshire resort of Bridlington, taking in the flavour and fun of the seaside with the waffles and ice cream, some of the more adventurous amongst our group ventured onto the funfair and even a few seafarers took in a leisurely cruise around the bay on the Flamborian, finishing off the day with fish and chips on the harbour side.

Members, Family, and Volunteers of Cantelupe Companion Club celebrate on their return, sending their thanks to the Rotary Club of Ilkeston for their generous donation in support of the trip.

It was also very pleasing to have the support of Alan Chambers and Joseph Gabrielli, two members of the Rotary Club accompany us on this occasion.

We as a voluntary self help

group offer a few hours on a Wednesday between 10.00am and 2.00pm to those less fortunate members of our society, where one can socialise and meet with people who share a common bond of friendship, a meal is provided (at a small cost) and we have a range of activities to improve health and well-being.

on, Facebook, Fred’s got wood.

At No 8 or what should have been eight, we bought raffle tickets and my husband found an old friend from work so we were able to catch up with him.

At No 12, I found a Rose that smelled divine. Today, I actually have time to smell the Roses!

We took the long walk to No 14, which was well worth it. Very friendly owners who we spent some time chatting to. We found a plant that we would like to put in our own garden. They said it was Cistus, so we will be looking out for that one at the garden centres. This was one of the smaller gardens but it was one of the ones we enjoyed the most. We must admit to coveting their little tinkling stream, it adds so much atmosphere.

At No 4, we found another talent, she is also from Ilkeston, and her name is Rachel Carter.

I must say I was very proud of our town and the talented people we have as I went round the village.

Rachel Carter makes woven brass sculptures. She told me she had an article in the May issue of the Ilkeston Life.

Rachel and Kerry Wheatley are looking for sponsors to help fulfil their dream of a creating a show garden at RHS Chatsworth in 2018.

Come on Ilkeston help to sponsor them it would be wonderful to see a show garden for Ilkeston at Chatsworth.

July 2017

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My husband and I were now in need of a little refreshment and some friends we met earlier had recommended No 7 for their cream tea.

All the tables in the garden were taken, but two ladies had finished and kindly gave up their table for us. The cream tea was very good and we enjoyed a little rest before continuing our tour.

At The Old School House, No 6 we loved the Arum Lilies one of my favourite flowers. I used to do a little flower arranging and was always pleased when a client asked for Arum Lilies.

My favourite garden overall, however, was the Calculated Chaos of No ll. It was perfect.

There were paths leading to little nooks and crannies and lots of places to sit in or out of the sun. I loved it. I could see the children running around loved it too. “Plenty of places for the fairies to hide.”

We do tend to take the English Climate for granted. We are always moaning about the rainfall. We moan if it gets too hot. But, actually, we have the perfect climate to have the wonderful aromatic, colourful, cottage gardens that we have seen today.

We should appreciate it much more than we do.

Well done to you all. We had a lovely day in Cossall Village and look forward to joining you again next year.

www.ilkestonlife.com

Have a cup of tea for Treetops ‘

T

ime for Tea 1940s Vintage Tearoom’ in Beeston has helped launch this year’s Tea for Treetops fundraising appeal, encouraging others to sign up too.

Tea for Treetops takes place from 3 to 9 July with the general public, schools and businesses being encouraged to host their own tea parties at which friends, neighbours and family can donate money towards the charity.

Treetops Hospice Care, based in Risley, Derbyshire provides nursing care and emotional support for adults and their families in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

Time for Tea owner, Emma Smith, from Attenborough, explained that they have been supporters of the local hospice for several years: “Treetops is a wonderful charity and we’re happy to help however we can to support their work.

You never know when you or a loved one is going to need help.”

Amongst those who have

already registered to host a tea party is Sally-Ann Watson, whose late father, Tony Blood, received care from the Treetops Hospice at Home nurses: “My dad was a retired RollsRoyce Engineer who also served in the RAF. He had a huge passion for golf and previously held the title of Derbyshire Senior Champion, of which we are all very proud.

“He was a devoted husband and the best father. He was also a very proud grandad too.

“Dad passed away in April 2012 and without a doubt mum and I couldn’t have coped during my dad’s last week without the help of Treetops and in particular a wonderful Treetops nurse called Corrine.

“Corrine was the most gentle,

caring and professional person we could have hoped for. She would arrive a little before 10pm and stay until 7am. We cared for my Dad at home as he wanted but it became so difficult and we had to ask for help.

“Corrine was wonderful, making sure Dad was comfortable, checking his medication, taking notes throughout the night. She would make sure everything was done before she left. The most important thing she did was maintain his dignity the whole time.

“Corrine knew exactly when Dad was leaving us. She had just arrived. She went to wash her hands and when she got back in the bedroom, she knew his breathing had changed. She told us to get everyone here.

My husband was the last to arrive and as soon as he walked into the room and said “I’m here Tony”, Dad slipped away.

“Corrine then gave us some time alone with Dad while she made the necessary phone calls. Dad was taken to the chapel of rest and Corrine then sat with us as we all cried.

We talked about Dad and she listened. What an amazing woman Corrine is.

“For anyone who is caring for someone with a terminal illness and is finding it difficult, I would say get in touch with Treetops, without a doubt. They are a wonderful organisation and are there to help. They are not intrusive and are totally respectful of the patient, their family and their home. A Treetops nurse will definitely make things a little easier.

Sally-Ann is hosting a Tea for Treetops tea party in her garden as her way to “give something back” to the charity: “I am hosting a traditional tea party with bunting, china tea cups and saucers, cakes, biscuits, macrons, sandwiches, etc. Lots of lovely ladies are invited to join us for an afternoon tea with a raffle, a quiz

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and maybe a few little gift stalls.

We have even arranged for a very talented young man to play the violin for us. A truly British garden par-tea!

“As Treetops helped our family at a time when we most needed them, it’s my turn to give it back. I have just taken part in the Starlight Strut and raised just over £700 and with the tea party, I am hoping to get that figure up to £1000.”

Mary Rose, community fundraiser added: “Tea for Treetops is a wonderful social, summer event - a chance to treat your friends, family, pupils, visitors and customers to a piece of cake, a cup of tea and raise money at the same time.

“We’re hoping to raise £10,000 towards the hospice and its services so that we can continue to support local people like Sally-Ann and her family in the future.”

To host a Tea for Treetops event, please register online at www.treetopshospice.org.uk/tea or contact the fundraising team on 0115 949 1264.

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Every second Saturday of the month at Our Lady and Saint Thomas Catholic Parish Church Hall Ilkeston Regent Street from 8.00pm Everyone, not just parishioners, is welcome to join in.

www.ilkestonlife.com

July 2017

MEMORIAM

IN MEMORIAM

Parkes Alan 19.07.2011 6 years gone by and I still cry for the brother I love and miss so much.

Thinking of you always. your loving sister, Lorraine.

Alan, Simon, Amy, Danny and baby Kara Louise xxxx

Violet Meakin June 21st 1990

19

A special smile A special face A wonderful Mam We can never replace.

From Loving Daughters, Pat, Marguerite, Anne, Jennie.

XXXX

Private Landlord

Looking for 1 - 2 bedroom house/ flat to rent £400 - £450 per month.

Long stay with off road parking Please call

07591127574

Your Space Why me?

It had to happen, I know not why With me I should know better Too carry really heavy things I thought that I was clever!

Did I regret what i did?

Alas and just alack Now I’me suffering for this deed C’os now I’ve got a bad back!

No gardening or household chores Just stay indoors, relax and watch the telly One thing I won’t be able too do Is lie down on me belly.

Here endeth this little poem Of this you must agree When you’re lying on your back Think of these words: WHY ME!!!

Bill Smith The trees of the night The trees of the night, Each branch making noise, a vast echo, Framed by the blood red sky, Awaiting the inevitable storm.

The flowers are thirsty vultures, Staring vacantly into nothing, Patiently anticipating, Ready to feast on nature’s wine.

The grass now patched in places, Is as still as a calm lake, Awaiting the coming ripples, Like the first stone skimmed.

And as the pressure now builds, The trees sing in unison, As virgin water drenches the roots, Giving them life from above.

The trees of the night, Branches grazing the red sky, Each creating a subtle ambience,

Each one swaying and singing.

Steven Michael Pape 2017 DERBYSHIRE A feeling of contentment descended over me Seeing the dry stone walls of Derbyshire Fresh air and feeling free Fiery colours of litchens, green mosses rye grass too Display their colours, like a splash of paint Along the walls in the morning dew Sheep grazing on the hilltops, as far as the eye can see These dales and peaks of Derbyshire Are where I long to be Far off in the distance Crich Stand I can espy Looking down across the countryside Like a needle in the sky Passing Arkwrights Mill, tells me Matlock Bath is near Where motorbike riders congregate at weekends throughout the year Traditional fish and chips is the meal of the day As they chat and smile about their bikes, along the roadside on display Black leathers are the fashion, for both young and old But when this gathering first began, I have yet to be told Onwards to Bakewell a picture postcard market town Where narrow streets, old bookshops, and a pudding shop is found The gentle flow of the Wye, meanders through the trees Gathering speed as it falls were Brown Trout begin to feed

www.ilkestonlife.com

These few memories of Derbyshire I have written for you today Has given me much pleasure has I read it every day THOMAS HOSKER The Journey of Faith With the ticket of Salvation surely purchased.

Our journey into faith can now begin.

For Jesus paid the price in death, That we might be forgiven from our sin.

Just like a mystery tour, that’s faith.

With only the driver certain of the road.

All He asks is for our trust, and as He promised.

He will lighten our load.

The way before He knows for sure, Each bump in the road ahead.

That circumstance, that trial, that test.

Just trust Him, for His way is best.

Sometimes our journey takes us through, Valleys dark with pain.

But all the way He gently whispers, peace.

We will not pass this way again.

Over mountain slopes of worry, Through lanes of despair and doubt.

This driver, Navigator, Lord, Will bring us safely through, and out.

Out of the mire of self-pity, Down by the side of pride shore.

Over the bridge of obedience, All the time longing for more.

More of His gentle guidance,

More of His peace untold.

More of His patient encouragement, Just more of Jesus love to behold.

And so as you travel this journey of faith.

When obstacles and trials come your way, Just hand over all control to Jesus.

For in His love all care and fear is swept away.

Then at the end of our journey, As Heaven’s shore is clearly in view.

We will be so glad, we trusted in our Jesus.

And hope to find that you had trusted too.

You have reached your destination.

Anne Brown London’s night of tragedy London’s burning Heads are turning A dreadful night Flats alight.

Grenfell Tower Has no sprinkler shower Goes up in smoke And people choke.

Flames leap high Lighting up the sky Onlookers gape As some escape.

Firemen tried To rescue those inside It’s hopeless though The building’s aglow.

So many perished Loved and cherished Misery and fears Broken hearts and tears.

TV crews Filmed the news, Sharing the horror

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There’ll be more on our screens tomorro’.

Onlooker Trust The pitprop snapped with a lightning clap And the roof began to fall And each man prayed that very day For God to save us all And each man there fled for his life But crushed I couldn’t run So soon the adit was quickly blocked But I knew that help would come I had to make myself comfortable preserve the precious air Twas of no use shouting I knew no one would hear The lads by now would be up atop With the news out far and wide And solemn faces gathered there Hands restless at their side The lasses will bring their men some snap Sally Army will make a brew And with a call for a rescue team Every man will join the crew The Davey’s growing dimmer now The light a little flicker Just stay calm and relax They cannot come much quicker My water bottle’s by my side A drop to rinse my eyes A quaff to slake my dying thirst Shush, I think I hear their cries.

Sandy

www.ilkestonlife.com

Saturday 1st July: 1940s

THEMED STANLEY VILLAGE GALA. Parade starts from Bridge Inn at 12.30pm, arriving at the Recreation Ground at 1pm where there will be stalls, games, competitions, etc.

Organised by Stanley Village Community Association.

Sunday 2nd July: LAKESIDE FESTIVAL at Kirk Hallam Lake, Godfrey Drive, 12 till 4pm. Attractions include: disco dome, bouncy castle, inflatable slide, face painting, Caribbean food, climbing wall, henna, plants, pony rides, magician, fire engine, refreshments, charity stalls. Organised by The Friends of Kirk Hallam Lake and Meadows.

Friday 7th July: SUMMER FAIR at Dovedale Primary School, Long Eaton, from 3.15pm.

Saturday 8th July: SUMMER FETE at Kirk Hallam Community Hall, Kenilworth Drive, 11am to 3pm .

Attractions include plant stall, cake stall, games, tombola, bric-a-brac and auction. In aid of All Saints Church, Kirk Hallam.

Tuesday 11th July: TUNES ON THE HILL, Victoria Park, Ilkeston, 4 till 8pm. Live music and a DJ in the restored bandstand.

Sunday 16th July: MATLOCK BAND CONCERT, Village Hall Gardens, West Hallam, 2pm.

Sunday 16th July: DERWENT VALLEY WIND BAND CONCERT, Victoria Park, Ilkeston,

6pm.

Saturday 22nd July: VICTORIAN SEASIDE at Erewash Museum, 11am till 3pm. Donkeys, entertainers and a beach!

The beach play area continues throughout the school holidays.

Saturday 22nd July:

PARTY IN THE PARK. Note the new venue – it’s on Bennerley school fields, bottom of Vernon Street, Cotmanhay, 11am till 4pm. Live music, inflatables, face painting, food, health, kids disco, etc.

Sunday 23rd July: SUMMER SOUNDS in Victoria Park, Ilkeston, 3 till 7pm. Johnny Victory, bands, circus skills workshop, stilt walkers, stalls, ice cream, food.

Sunday 6th August: BAKEWELL SILVER BAND CONCERT at West Park Bandstand, Long Eaton, 2pm.

Tuesday 8th August: TUNES ON THE HILL, Victoria Park, Ilkeston 4 till 8pm. Live music and a DJ.

Sunday 13th August:

ILKESTON HERITAGE AND CLASSIC VEHICLE SHOW 2017 on Ilkeston Market Place and surrounding streets, 10am till 4pm. Hundreds of interesting exhibits make this Ilkeston’s biggest one day family attraction - and it’s free.

Band, hog roast, barbecue, souvenir stalls, craft displays, etc. Organised by Erewash Partnership.

Sunday 20th August: VICTORIA PARK: A CELEBRATION, 12 noon 7pm. Free family fun

day to celebrate the completion of the restoration work in the Park. Bands, singers, stalls, historical parade and children’s entertainment.

Saturday 26th to Monday 28th August: FESTIVAL OF WATER at Gallows Inn, Ilkeston, 10am to 6pm. Decorated boats on the canal and onshore entertainment.

WEST HALLAM VILLAGE SHOW at the Village Hall.

Fruit, vegetables, flowers, floral art, bakery preserves, crafts, photography, largest sunflower, art and children’s classes. Full details on website: www.westhallamvillageshow.com

Friends of Bennerley Viaduct Events Saturday 1st July.

Workday at the viaduct. Details from Kieran Lee on 07823 536 941.

Monday 17th July, 7pm Saturday 29th July.

Stall on Ilkeston Market.

Throughout July.

The “Iron Giant” Exhibition.

Tesco, Ilkeston.

Saturday 5th August.

Workday at the Viaduct. Details from Kieran

Monday 21st August, 7pm.

Meeting at the Dewdrop Inn, Ilkeston.

Sunday 30th July at 2pm.

Butterfly and Dragonfly Walk at Straw’s Bridge Local Nature Reserve. Led by Jim Steele. No need to book.

Jeff Wynch

By Naomi Grant (LAMBB) being made.

Small talk, office talk, dinner table talk- whatever you want to call it, I am terrible at it. I don’t know what else to say about the weather other than ‘it’s a nice day’ or ‘it’s so cold!’

I find it difficult to engage with people when they are telling me stories about their cat, yet people do this because it’s easier. It’s easier to talk about conventional things such as politics and the weather, whilst emotions are a much weightier topic that may be reserved for the bedroom rather than the dinner table. Nonetheless, have this overwhelming belief that at the end of time we would be

21

Volunteers needed at Erewash Museum

Saturday 2nd September:

Cut the small talk, have Real Conversations We overestimate ourselves as human beings. We believe that we have evolved so far away from our fathering species when actually there is still a lot that we aren’t able to do. Many people struggle with making real connections to others because they fail to have meaningful conversations. They resort instead, to conversations about trivial matters that barely scrape the surface of who you are and what you believe. (I once got stuck in a conversation in a ten-minute conversation about watches!) People often prefer to stay above sea level, and not dive into their real lives, but this blocks any real connection from

July 2017

judged on the connections we made, and not necessarily the money we made. It’s important to reveal a layer of yourself in conversations. During conversations people want to know your version of life- life as you see it - and they cannot get a glimpse of it from vacant, traditional responses. Conversations therefore become a shared commentary of each other’s lives, which also means that you must develop a knowledge of self. This can arise from being reflective of one’s life and not merely sleepwalking through it.

Calling all cake lovers! Are you passionate about all things scones, tea and cake? Then the Erewash Museum Tearooms want to hear from you!

This summer, Erewash Borough Council is looking for volunteers to lend a hand at the award winning Museum’s tearooms.

You will be joining a team of dedicated and friendly volunteers helping to raise money for the museum, and in return will receive invitations to social events as well as an honorary membership to the friends of Erewash museum.

No minimum commitment is required, and full food hygiene training will be provided.

There are a number of events coming up at the Museum, including Swing Back to the Forties day, the return of the Victorian Beach, and much more to keep you busy!

Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure says: “The tearooms at the Museum are a lovely asset to the great events and exhibitions held there. The team are extremely hardworking and friendly, and volunteers that give their time would only strengthen this.”

For more information, please contact Helen Martinez at the Erewash Museum on 0115 907 1141.

Erewash Museum is in Ilkeston town centre, a short walk from the Market Place. Opening hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am-4pm, and Monday to Saturday during school holidays. Admission is free. Email museum@erewash.gov.uk or visit the Facebook page /erewashmuseum.

Entertainment

www.ilkestonlife.com

Looking at the local and national performing arts scene, past and present.

by David Potter

Hello Folks, Now I know that there was a good time to be had in Ilkeston of a weekend but venture a bit further afield in the 1960’s and how’s this for a change of scenery ?

A few looseners in the News House on St. James Street in Nottingham listening to the Saturday morning singers session, on to the City Ground for a 3.00 p.m. kick off followed by a wind down in The Trent Bridge Inn before ambling on to the Britannia Boat Club on the Embankment which served to

kill a bit of time before heading up to Stamford Street for the all nighter at the Dungeon until dawn broke which signalled the time to get on the road to Skeggy for a day on the beach prior to heading home via Mansfield Folk Club to take in a local band and still getting back home in time for Sunday Dinner which had been incinerating in the oven for the past 12 hours. (“where the hell have you been.

I thought you’d run away from home”) It sometimes makes me break out in a cold sweat to think

about it now when I settle down for my 9.00p.m. bedtime cocoa.

Back then you had a wide choice of music clubs but, for me, the pick of them was always the Dungeon which, at that time, opened every day of the week with a mixture of live acts and dance disco nights.

Its heydays were the years between 1964 and 1968 when an incredible amount of musical talent graced that tiny stage both British and American. I could literally fill a whole page of this paper with names and stories but space doesn’t permit. Perhaps you could get in touch and fill in some of the gaps on this roster from your own memories?

Here are some of those names and bands that those who were “in with the in crowd” were lucky to see: Ronnie Wood, Van Morrison, Small Faces, Spencer Davis Band with Steve Winwood, Lulu, The Move, John Mayall, Eric Clapton, Graham Bond, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, John McVie and Peter Green later of Fleetwood Mack, Georgie Fame with Noel Redding and Mitch

Mitchell later of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band. There was Long John Baldry, Rod Stewart and Julie “Wheels on fire” Driscoll all in the Steam Packet road show with The Brian Auger Trinity, Jeff Beck with the Yardbirds.

The Moody Blues, The Who, Andy Somers later of Police, Bluesology with Elton John, Gary Brooker and Robin Trower later of Procol Harem, Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake and Palmer and Deep Purple fame, Mike D’Abo later with Manfred Mann…..not finished yet….

American tastes were catered for by the likes of B.B. King, Little Stevie Wonder, Lee Dorsey, The Drifters(original), The Temptations, Wilson Pickett, Jimmy Cliff and James Brown.

Oh and I nearly forgot…Ike and Tina Turner with a young guitarist who looked incredibly like Jimi Hendrix.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again..I may be old but I got to see all the best bands.

Back to earth now and Alan Morley, who together with David Bromyard, make up “Sixties Beat” has asked if anyone can

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help get in touch with a former fellow member of local 1960’s outfit “The Intrepids”. They’re looking to re-unite with Graham Sisson the original lead guitarist last believed to live around the Stanley Common or West Hallam area. If you can help please give me a shout and I’ll pass the message on.

Finally this month: The popular Charity Open mic session at West Hallam Village Hall will be restarting on Sunday 1.00 to 4.00 p.m.in aid of the mental health charity M.I.N.D. Please support a very worthy cause and have a good time too. It’s only a pound to get in and kids are free. Home cooking is also on offer.

See you later Alligator.

Email: davidilkeston@gmail. com Tel: 0797 1899 704

www.ilkestonlife.com

The Friends of Bennerley Viaduct The Chief Executive Officer of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Ros Kerslake, paid a visit to the Bennerley Viaduct on Wednesday, June 14th. She was treated to a tour of the area around the historic structure but sadly her tight schedule did not allow time for a walk along the deck where it is hoped a cycle and pedestrian track will eventually be installed. The CEO was the guest of Sustrans, the owners of the viaduct and the organisation preparing a bid to restore it.

As Ilkeston Life readers know there is no shortage of local support for the project, and Ms. Kerslake was able to get some idea of its extent as she chatted to Friends and other volunteers working on site as well representatives of local community groups who have rallied behind the scheme. Historic and recent photographs of the viaduct and information about its history were displayed in a new gazebo erected on site. The gazebo

and photographic collection were purchased with the help of a grant from Erewash Borough Council.

Three new interpretation boards installed by Sustrans and paid for with Heritage Lottery funding were on Ros Kerslake’s itinerary. They can be seen at Newton’s Lane car park, the Nottingham Canal towpath between Newton’s Lane and Naphtha Kennels and at the Bridge Inn, Cotmanhay.

The “Iron Giant” exhibition is only halfway through its stay

LifeScope at Tesco’s Ilkeston store but already it has been seen by thousands of shoppers and is generating a great deal of interest and discussion. The exhibition, created with the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund, is on show near the check-outs until the end of the month – you can’t miss it!

The Friends will be at the Kirk Hallam Lakeside Festival on Sunday, July 2nd and on Ilkeston Market Place on the 29th of the month. Workdays will be held on July 1st and August 5th. The next meeting of the group is at the Gate Inn, Awsworth, at 7 pm on Monday, July 17th – newcomers welcome.

As usual, everything you need to know about workdays, meetings, membership and events can be found on Facebook, by visiting bennerleyviaduct.org.uk or by contacting Kieran Lee on 07823 535 941 or kieranlee@ sustrans.org.uk

Launch Service for New Debt Centre Erewash MP Maggie Throup attended a Launch Service at Elim Christian Centre, Charlotte Street, Ilkeston on 25th June to mark the opening of a new Debt Centre by the award winning national debt charity Chris-tians Against Poverty.

Invited were members of both the Elim Church and West Hallam Methodist Church together with the new Centre Manager Ian Robertson and his support team. They have partnered

with CAP to run their debt counselling service across the Ilkeston and Heanor areas.

A CAP Debt Centre is not a place but a process. People telephone CAP on a free phone number 0800 3280006 requesting help. The local debt Centre manager with a support worker visits the enquirer in the privacy of their own home and collects all the financial information.

On receipt of all the details CAP ana-lyse the problems,

recommend a way forward and seek the client’s agreement. A support worker will offer support to the client until they become debt free.

In CAP’s 20th year, 2016, it helped over 21,000 people around the UK and Ian Robertson Centre Manager says: “We look forward to helping many local people regardless of their age, gender, or background with this free service.”

The Probus Club of Ilkeston Meeting - June 2017 The meeting of our Club this month was a well attended, with three new members joining and the potential for two mores.

On this occasion our presenter was Patrick Ashcroft. Patrick has lived in the Ilkeston area for some years both as owner of a Recruitment Company and also owner of “ Acting Out “ a company specialising in providing qualified actors in role playing assignments. Before Patrick’s presentation all our members enjoyed yet another freshly prepared excellent lunch provided by the staff of the Arena Church.

Patrick arrived at the meeting dressed as a nineteenth century gamekeeper. As he explained the last gamekeeper at Shipley Hall was a large character who

originated from Norfolk, and Patrick himself comes from this area.

Patrick spoke about the origins of Shipley dating back to Roman times and the succession of events and families that resided in the Shipley Park area, up until the Miller-Mundy family took possession. The most interesting part of the story was the Miller Mundy scandal which I’m sure would make a good film or TV historical drama equalling the “ Georgina “ scandal of Chatsworth. Patrick has researched his subject well with a number of first hand anecodotes passed onto him by people, sadly no longer with us, who remember the final days of Shipley Hall and the Miller-Mundys.

In addition to his talk on Shipley Hall, Patrick provides a talk on Calke Abbey and various talks and walks on ghosts and ;legends in this area.

The Probus Club of Ilkeston is open to all retired / partly retired men who have a professional background and business men who would like to meet once a month and for other organised events during the year. Our aim is to provide a convivial atmosphere, in pleasant surroundings, to meet for conversation and the development of friendships. We also provide an excellent lunch and a diverse range of presenters. If you wish to learn more, please contact Michael Slater, our Secretary, on 0115 932 6185 or email slater.kg8@btinternet.com.

By David Jones

ARIES ~ 21 MARCH - 20 APRIL July is a time of clear insight, as to what is truly worthwhile, especially in business. It’s a time for new achievements, especially at work. One thing to watch ~ Think that idea through, before you act!

TAURUS ~ 21 APRIL - 21 MAY The Moon in your sign for the 17th & 18th ~ could be the emotional high spot this month, making you feel more appreciative of the beauty in your life and to increase your sense of appreciation for those around you. Enjoy!

GEMINI ~ 22 MAY - 21 JUNE Work-wise, you could find yourself in the limelight, this month, Gemini. Your clear headed approach to solving a problem could gain you valuable recognition from superiors.

CANCER ~ 22 JUNE - 23 JULY With action planet Mars in your sign, it could be just the right time to start putting flesh on the bones of that special project you’ve had in mind. Group efforts with like minded souls could get off to a flying start.

LEO ~ 24 JULY - 23 AUG Your leadership qualities could be truly tested this month. It’s great, of course, when your unstinting efforts get rewarded, but be sure of your ground before you dig for that ‘Interesting’ bit of information.

VIRGO ~ 24 AUG - 23 SEPT You’re a naturally caring person, so a friend or other special person could well be asking for your excellent analytical ability to help them sort out a worrying problem. You can do it, Virgo, in the full knowledge that a big ‘Thank you’ will be your well earned reward!

LIBRA ~ 24 SEPT - 23 OCT Jupiter, planet of growth and

July 2017

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by Richard Servante expansion, is in your sign this month, so a bit of good fortune could well come your way and that special opportunity could actually knock on your door.

SCORPIO ~ 24 OCT 22 NOV It looks like your image - both public and private, that is the focus of attention this month.

Keeping your personal plans & strategy to yourself may be very sensible, but don’t be surprised if it makes you the target of some very jealous comments!

SAGITTARIUS ~ 23 NOV - 21 DEC Your natural diligence could find the answer to a previously unforeseen problem regarding a long term ambition. A new chance that gives you more independence - and responsibility could be the rewarding result.

CAPRICORN ~ 22 DEC - 20 JAN Transformation is the name of the game for you this month, and for the rest of the year. Your tremendous practical sense and drive exposes the right decisions every time. There could well be a ‘New, more positive you’ by Christmas!

AQUARIUS ~ 21 JAN - 19 FEB Going ‘Back to basics’ in your mind, looks to be the best way to get that special, personal project off the ground. Computers could play a crucial part in this.

PISCES ~ 20 FEB - 20 MARCH One of your special dreams or important spiritual values are the focal point of your sign this month.

The well known balancing act between dreams and reality could really test you.

Good luck, Pisces!

UPDATE ON LOUISE FREEMAN On our way to Norfolk we decided to call in to see Louise, who many of you will remember. She was a member of the Smoothie Art Group, until she married and moved to Sleaford last year.

Louise married a young man who lost his first wife in a tragic car accident leaving him with two very young children.

After Louise and lan had been married for four months Louise fell and broke her neck which meant she spent one month in Q.M.C. and then a further 3/4 months in the spinal unit in Northern General Hospital in Sheffield.

Customers at the Smoothie Bar generously donated almost £300 to help the couple through this very difficult, costly time, for which the couple are extremely grateful. Their church family and local people gave their time and skills to make the alterations to the family home, the council also installed a lift, which was extremely essential.

In spite of all their set backs, we witnessed a house of overwhelming love and it was a privelege for us to observe.

By Ann Sutcliffe

Sports

www.ilkestonlife.com

A NEW COMMUNITY FOOTBALL CLUB FOR ILKESTON? Duncan Payne (Ilkeston FC Supporters Group Chairman)

T

he chaotic situation surrounding Ilkeston Football Club this summer has produced a wide range of emotions for fans. Despair, hopelessness and helplessness, sadness and downright anger are just some experienced by the majority, and while there are a good many who would hate to see the club disappear there are just as many who wish that the club would fold and let a new club rise from the ashes.

At the time of writing Ilkeston FC’s existence hangs by a thread. A winding up petition served by an IT company known as Hire Intelligence over a debt of £14,438 led to a court hearing on June 5th. An hour before the hearing, club owner Nigel Harrop announced that he had reached a deal with a company known as All Eight who were prepared to take over his troubled business. Nevertheless, the hearing went ahead and Ilkeston FC was wound up.

Harrop reacted by saying that he was appealing against the decision given that a takeover had been agreed in principle.

Since then it has all gone remarkably quiet with no parties willing to discuss the situation.

Fans are in a state of limbo and if a takeover did go through, All Eight will be up against it from

Local football round-up

A

re you a member of a local football team? Would you like to have a match report in Ilkeston Life?

A new football season is on the way and we are planning a feature called ‘Around the Local

the word go. The club has been expelled from the league, it has no players or manager and no secretary either. The debts the club face are 25 times the amount owed to Hire Intelligence so it would test the new

be in a state of almost perpetual crisis? Of course it doesn’t on both counts. There is a better way. Imagine a not-for-profit club owned and run by Ilkeston people for Ilkeston people.

An all-inclusive club that fully

owners’ negotiating skills to the full if they were to appease other creditors to such an extent that they could move the club forward. To put it bluntly, it does beg the question why are they interested and what possible motives could they have when they sign the deal. Supporters have been badly let down not once but four times by different owners over the course of the past ten years and it is no great surprise that most have no trust in any ‘knight in shining armour’ who claims they are riding to the rescue.

Does it have to be this way?

Does Ilkeston football seem to

integrates local junior clubs into its set up to offer a clear pathway to youngsters so that they can aspire to play for their home town club. A club that promotes girls football and works alongside local ladies teams to promote football as a sport with no gender barrier. A club that actively works in partnership with local businesses for the benefit of the community at large. A club that understands the importance of the education and social well-being of young people, and which will pursue the active development of their education via projects in conjunction with local schools.

Grounds’ in which we would like to include reports of amateur and junior games in our area.

As the paper comes out monthly, we can probably only include one match report per team, so choose your most interesting match and send us the details by the 15th of the month at the latest.

When submitting your report,

please be sure to include the following information: What competition was it?

(League? Cup? Other?); The final score; Goalscorers and approximate times; Any background information or points of interest from the game; Sender’s name and email address or phone number in case of query.

We suggest a length of 150-200

A club that will target supporters of visiting clubs in advance of their visit by offering them free guides detailing what our great town has to offer so that their day is not just about the football, which will give our local economy a boost.

Is this just a fanciful, romantic notion? Other clubs, in towns much larger and smaller than ours have done similar things with great success, but the real reason why I know it would work is the sheer number of approaches the IFCSG has already received – even though our club is no more than a concept at the moment - from people offering advice, practical support and skills in their respective jobs which are easily transposed into a football club environment. In addition, ownership of the community club would not be an exclusive right of the 300 die-hard fans of Ilkeston FC but available to all who wish to see a new community club prosper. With ownership comes pride, belonging, and the desire to help the club maximise its potential. One community club in the South of England has crowds similar to Ilkeston but has double the number of owners compared to its attendances. With no salaried staff the club would be run on a voluntary basis but with a huge pool of potential volunteers to call upon, particu-

July 2017

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larly on match days. With such a pool, only minor sacrifices would need to be made by anyone wishing to offer their help.

After all, we all have lives away from football whether it be work, family or other social interests.

A community club would look to grow steadily and live within its means. It would also find the natural level in football which an Ilkeston club should reach based upon the size of the town and its supporter base. I am no different from any other fan who wants to see their team win and play at as high a level as possible. A community club may find at some stage that it can’t compete with a big spending smaller club with a rich man at the helm and we’d briefly look on enviously. But, a few years down the line, that club’s money may dry up and the whole thing collapses. Meanwhile, the community club would continue to grow and prosper rather than face the fear of extinction.

By the time you read this Ilkeston FC’s fate may well be known. If the club does meet its demise it will be a sad day but it should not be viewed as the end. Indeed it could mark a very special and exciting beginning.

The birth of Ilkeston United Community Football Club could well be more than just a dream an if it happens please come along and enjoy the ride.

words. Obviously a 4-4 draw merits more words than a 1-0 scoreline!

You can post or drop in your report to us at Ilkeston Life, 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston DE7 8AH or better still email it to us at ilkestonlife@gmail.com We’re looking forward to hearing from your club.

Ilkeston supporters at Wembley

It may be the end of the football season but Ilkeston football supporters are still out and about. Last month saw a full coach load enjoy a day out to the Non League Cup Finals day at Wembley Stadium while Supporters Group member Jon

Shapland is continuing his Eastern European recruiting mission with his latest trip to Bratislava in Slovakia. If you’d like any information on local football in Ilkeston then get in touch on 0797 1899 704 or visit www. ifcsg.co.uk