The Beestonian Issue 37 by Lord Beestonia

The

Beestonian We’re big, we’re beautiful, we’re NG9

The Chilwell

EXPLOSION

While Beeston has many claims to fame to loudly boast about, the Chilwell Explosion is one spoken of with hushed reverence. The most devastating single explosion of the First World War didn’t happen on the killing fields of Ypres or Passchendaele, but here at what was then the National Shell Filling Factory. The factory had been set up in 1915 in response to the ‘shell crisis,’ where munitions were in short supply in the increasingly entrenched war. It would go on to produce over the half of the shells used in the war, a staggering 19 million explosives. The workforce there swiftly became known as the ‘Canary Girls’ due to the jaundicing effect of the chemicals they worked with. For many women, the experience was a liberating one, as they could earn an independent income, while learning new skills, from shell polishing to crane driving. It all went terribly wrong on July 1st 1918. For reasons that still remain a mystery, a huge explosion ripped through a shed as 8 tonnes of TNT

exploded. The blast wiped out 139, injuring twice that, and was heard well over twenty miles away. Very little of the dead was found and identified. Remarkably, the factory was back in production the very next day, and back up to peak capacity within a month. The bravery of those who continued to work, knowing what tremendous danger could befall them, is worthy of that being shown over in France and Belgium. To mark the tragedy, an ambitious art project will be put on all over Beeston by art group Excavate, headed up by Andy Barrett, who has already run some jaw-dropping live events in Bramcote Woods. Andy said, “We’re doing this because we want to tell what we think is an incredible story in a range of ways to try and engage with as many people as possible.” “Our hope is that by doing this we may also be able to generate interest in creating something even more ambitious in two years time for the centenary of the event.” A final, rather excellent fact. You’d think anyone who remembers the blast would be long dead, yes? Well no. The first memory of Professor Dan Eley, whose centenary we marked here last year, was of being blown from his high chair by the blast. He would later to come up with science that would greatly improve the safety of explosives. How wonderful is that? LB

New start for Centre S

o what exactly is ‘The Middle Street Resource Centre’ all about?

Its name doesn’t grab you and the building is modest and unprepossessing but The Middle Street Resource Centre, at one time just known as ‘The Day Centre’, I think, has, for decades, served those with mental health problems in the Beeston area. I popped along on Saturday 25th April for an open morning.

input it will take a lot of money, not just to maintain the building (the Council has put in funding for that) but to pay staff to manage the building and the ‘resource’ and that’s the task that faces the new trustees and their supporters. Already Central College hires rooms for some of its courses, and one or two others do the same but the facilities are such that there ought to be considerable income available for their full use during the day - and in evenings and on weekends too.

Graham Machin, a retired solicitor, introduced There’s the main area which you enter on himself to the fifty or so people assembled, as arrival, which is currently set out as a café heading up the newly-created charity ‘Beeston with a service bar at one end, but could also Community Resource’ which from the start of be set up as a small performance space, April has been running the Resource accommodating maybe 100 people Centre; and let’s be clear straight seated. There is also a smaller away, this is a genuine charity, fortunately room nearby which would be not one of those fake ‘trusts’ ideal for yoga- or pilates-style that ‘somebody’ which is really a business, who activities or large discussion was internationallymuscle in on public services groups and meetings or smaller renowned film with a view to making a few scale performances. bob. This group consists of director, Shane entirely good-hearted local Meadows... Somebody attending the open people who have worked with morning thought it would be the County Council to come up ideal as a venue for showing films with an innovative model for running – fortunately that ‘somebody’ was this community resource. internationally-renowned film director, Shane Meadows, who publicly committed himself to None of us should be surprised that the County running a film evening at the Centre, personally Council no longer has the money to run and presenting one of his films with a ‘Q&A’. manage this sort of place any more but instead of closing it and disposing of the considerable Shane said in a subsequent email to organizer asset that is the building, to its credit, the John Chambers, “It was fantastic on Saturday. I Council is supporting the BCR and has given was both moved and inspired by the work you them a year to see if they can make a go of it. and the other trustees are doing there.” The Centre’s main aim is to provide a place where people with mental health issues can literally ‘drop in’ during the day, or take part in activities like music and craft, or just have a drink and a chat. For those people – who could be any one of us at any given time – it is vital that the service is free at the point of use (to quote a phrase!). However, the brutal truth is that without the full County Council financial

Earlier, as part of the presentation, we’d all been similarly moved by performances from two people who had benefitted from the support of the Centre: Steve Plowright, who read one of his poems, and Kate Bryan, who performed her song, ‘Oil In My Feathers’. Both brought home to us how important it is that the Centre should flourish.

Other facilities at ‘Middle Street’ include a craft room and a full-equipped music room, several small lounge or meeting rooms, one equipped with TV and DVD, and a fabulous garden area. Outside, there’s quite a large space with grass, raised beds and a pond. There’s also a small parking area at the front, with more parking to the side and rear. So, some terrific facilities that could suit, off the top of my head: day-time and evening art/music classes or meetings of community groups; the facilities could be used by businesses for training events, by ‘promoters’ for smallscale music/theatre performances. The film afternoons/evenings could be a regular feature if Shane Meadows is good to his pledge to obtain a video projector and screen and even some DVDs for a music library! Alongside Shane, local TV/radio presenter John Holmes was there with his wife Kate, alongside veteran sports writer and commentator Colin ‘Mr Notts County’ Slater, both of whom leant their support. Colin advised that when facing the inevitable problems that would arise they should “keep calm and carry on by maintaining a calm attitude and using some strategic thinking. I’m sure you’ll succeed.” This isn’t just about a few people with mental health issues. Fortunately, we are all a bit more enlightened nowadays and recognize that ‘mental health’ affects all of us. Keeping the Resource Centre open is therefore both altruistic and selfish, but it goes beyond that. Here is a ‘public’ resource that could be hired and used by many in our community, so that it has a secure and viable future for anyone who needs it. If you are interested in visiting and possibly hiring facilities at the Centre, contact Graham Machin either via the Centre on weekdays during the hours of 9.30 and 4.30 (telephone 0115 9252516) or at other times on 0115 9179025. He can also be contacted by email at graham.machin@ntlworld.com CT

Justine Thornton I

f there’s one thing that this magazine keeps trying to stress over and over again, it is that Beestonians aren’t just creative, pioneering and generally brilliant, but also, once you start looking, they’re everywhere!

Cast your net into any area of life – whether it’s acting, science, writers, business or music – and you’re sure to find, writhing like the juiciest of salmon, a Beestonian. It wasn’t long ago that I discovered yet another I never knew existed. It was the typical post-dinner politics debate in the Fox household, somebody mentioned Ed Miliband, and my brother turned to me and said, “You know his wife, Justine Thornton, was at my school.” Really? Well, it turned out she attended the West Bridgford School. However we can’t hold that against her because in actual fact for several years she lived right here in Beeston. I reached out to Justine to see if she’d like to talk about her time here in our wonderful little ‘burb’ and quite thrillingly she got back to me. Justine had this to say about Beeston; “I lived in Beeston between the ages of around 3 and 11 and have very fond memories of growing up there. I remember it as a quiet and friendly place and I have vivid memories of riding my bike around its streets, and playing with friends in the garden of our house there. I particularly enjoyed going to the local library to pick up books - normally something by Enid Blyton - and then sometimes stopping off at the bakery for a treat on the way home. Like most children I was also rather fond of the local sweet shop - I think it was Woolworths at the time.” Justine is a truly inspiring figure in her own right, a highly renowned environmental lawyer. But the fact that a Beestonian was very nearly one of the most powerful women in the country? That is something we can all be proud of. And Justine is amongst illustrious company, because this isn’t the first time a Beestonian has reached the high echelons of government. Did you know that Tina Stowell, or Baroness Stowell of Beeston as is her right title, is currently both Beestonian and leader of the House of Lords? I don’t know which honour is greater. A brilliant political figure, Stowell is often to have been key in passing of the 2014 Marriage Bill, which finally legalised same-sex marriages in the UK. Then of course, there is also Frederick Seymour Cocks. Born in Darlington, educated at Plymouth University, but most importantly of all in 1929 Cocks was elected as MP for Broxtowe in 1929. At the time he had foregone his first name and was known simply as Seymour Cocks. Make of that what you will. Those were more innocent times and I won’t hear a single bad word said about Cocks. The man held the Broxtowe seat for a staggering 24 years, in which time he also became a renowned author. The man may be best known nowadays for his less than ideal moniker, but as far as we’re concerned Seymour Cocks was, and continues to be, a proud Beestonian. We should all be proud of Cocks. After that, well I admit it does get a little silly. Another famous Beestonian in politics was William Wallett and he was, well… a circus clown in the 1800’s, but after he performed (just once) in front of Queen Victoria

in 1844 he decided to give himself the title of Queen’s Jester. He even called himself that in his autobiography. In it he also talked about a law he seemed to have inadvertently have created. “In Oxford I delivered a mock electioneering speech. In it I proposed to solve the vexed question of freemen’s right to vote for the county as well as for the city. I had primed myself with facts and figures, had compared the number of freemen with the number of acres of freehold land belonging to the corporation, and consequently their property, and was able to show that there was land enough, in fact more than twice enough, to constitute each freeman a forty-shilling • freeholder. This I intended for a joke, but it turned out something better—it was good law. Some ten or fifteen years afterwards, when the question came before a high tribunal, the judge came to the same decision that I had delivered in jest.” So there you have it. Without even trying William Wallett affected this country. Beeston’s emigrants and erstwhile residents have always been prominent figures in shaping this country. There wouldn’t be a Great Britain without them. CF

The

Sunken Church in Bramcote

any visitors and no evidence of subsidence to the The even residents church structure. No one really Domesday Book of Bramcote knows how the church came to (1086) records are curious to have the name of the Sunken a settlement in know the history of the old Church. Perhaps the reason why ‘Bruncote’... sunken church standing in is because when approaching a dominating position at the the church from a great distance it top of Town Street in a crowded really does appear to be sinking into churchyard. All that remains of this the ground. The reason why only the ancient relic is the small tower. tower survives was because of general decay of the church. The main reason for the church’s The Domesday Book (1086) records a demolition was because a larger church was settlement in ‘Bruncote’. A simple wooden built in the 1860s. St Michael & All Angels was structure is likely to have served as a place of built to cater for the growing population of the worship before a stone church was built. The village. The early photograph below shows body of the church which consisted the nave, what it was like before the nave and chancel north aisle and the tower date to the 12th or were demolished in 1862. 13th century. The chancel to the church was a later edition. The arch above the east doorway The building was described in a Bishops Terrier suggests the same early English period as the of 1777 as “in tolerable condition, having three font. The church was much altered over the new bells and an elegant singing gallery”. It is years and only guess work can be made of the believed to have held around 30 people, far too original church’s appearance. small for the influx of framework knitters, coal miners and domestic servants to the gentry in Most people when first seeing the church often the mid-19th century. The village population wonder and ask the question “has the church was 700 in 1850 and the burial ground was full sunken into the ground?” The answer is no but by the end of that decade. the appearance makes it look like that. There is When the new church of St Michael & All Angels was built the local squire, John Sherwin Gregory, gave the land for the church. Stone from the old church was used in construction of the boundary wall. The Tower was preserved to house some memorials, and although the bells were transferred to the new church along with the font, the timber bell frame of 1586 is still in situ. In more modern times the grounds fell into neglect and the tower was deemed unsafe. In recent years however both the tower and the grounds have undergone renovation and restoration by the Bramcote Old Tower Trust, supported by the Friends of the Old Church Tower, for the community and visitors to enjoy. Please visit: nottinghamhiddenhistoryteam.wordpress.com JE

! ! ! h g g g r r

Another tasty morsel of Wildlife wonder...

f you go down to the reeds today, you’re sure of a big surprise....dee...dah...dee....dah...etc.

You all know the song about the bears and what they get up to in the woods. Well, now it’s what a pair of Butterbumps are getting up to in the reeds at the Attenborough Nature Reserve that’s got all the birders a twitching – that’s almost a tautology. Perhaps the more academic among my readership would care to comment. Answers on a postcard via the editor please. But don’t get carried away with the topic as there are no points to be earned, no prizes to be won. Anyway, back to the Butterbumps and their goings-on in amongst the phragmites at Attenborough. Way back in the Year 2000 a bunch of volunteers with a bit of (some would say too much!) time on their hands set to with their best Woolworths “plaggy” washing up basins and planted a whole new reed bed (for the uninitiated phragmites is the Latin for reed; why didn’t old Linnaeus just call it reed? So much easier for all concerned, then again he was Dutch or something else foreign, so not too likely he spoke much English). Note to self, must learn to stick to the subject and not drift off into irrelevant drivel – then again you never

know when the question might come up, say at the Crown’s Quiz Night – “and your tie-breaker question tonight Ladies and Gentleman is, what is or are FRAG....MITES? A) a blood-sucking insect, B) an itching disease of the nether regions or C)a reed.” Bingo, as it were, points and prizes! Back to Butterbumps. Fifteen years on the reed bed is big enough to accommodate two of these very rare creatures. Looking a bit like a chicken on weed, this amazingly cool critter was virtually wiped out in medieval England, ‘cos as its name implies, our ancestors found it a tasty addition to the manorial food-fest. Alongside other delicacies like Stuffed Swan, Wild Boar Head and the odd peasant if he was unlucky enough to get too close to the fire! If you haven’t guessed it already Butterbump was one of the many old English names for the Bittern and there are two of them in the reed bed in front of the Tower Hide. Unfortunately, as we discovered on Saturday, they’re both fellas, or Boomers as we birders like to call them. So it’s very unlikely we’re going to be seeing any Bouncy Baby Butterbumps any time soon. But we live in hope, there must be a Ms Butterbumps out there somewhere! Mike Spencer, Beeston Wildlife Group. www.facebook.com/beestonwildlife

We Dig NG9

he Beestonian wants your tin can plant pots.

During National Gardening Week (13-19 April) this year I decided that it might be nice to spread a little cheer with the help of you lot: the green-fingered folk of Beeston. I started an appeal on the We Dig NG9 Facebook page asking you to rifle through your recycling and convert empty tin cans into little potted plants of joy, and hang them along the fencing on Wilmot Lane* where there’s a dusty, rather messylooking site park. Though the works there are winding down a bit with the tram works coming to completion, the site itself is still largely derelict, meaning the view thereabouts is pretty dire. Already, loads of you have pledged to have a go, and – at the time of writing – I have counted nineteen hanging pots filled with herbs, plants and seeds; their tins all glinting in the sunshine. This is a brilliant response. Thank you to those of you who swiftly jumped into action. BUT WE NEED MORE! If you bulk-buy beans or mainline minestrone, please keep your cans – either to pot up yourself, or donate for someone else to have a go. There’ll be pots filled by The Beestonian team up there too, so if you fancy getting involved with your own creation, here’s all you need to do… • •

Keep your tin cans. Take the label off (the ones that are white inside are even better for some reason) and wash the can, so it’s clean, plain metal;

• • • • • •

Make three holes in the bottom (for drainage), and two at the top beneath the rim (to hang the tin from) – [Health & Safety bore: “be careful not to cut yourself on sharp blah blah blah…”]; Half fill with soil or compost; Plant-up with your chosen herb, plant or seeds, then top up with compost ( you can add a bit of grit if you have it, to help retain moisture); Water it generously; Tie a bit of knotted string through one of the holes you made at the top; and Go along to Wilmot Lane and tie it to the fence and back through the other hole and tie a knot.

Please take a photo and load it up to the We Dig NG9 Facebook page using #WilmotPlotPot, so we can all share in its glory. If you don’t fancy doing the planting, but have tin cans to donate, you can loosely tie them to the fence instead and the plant fairy will fill them for you... Your plants will be watered by me, and appreciated by passers-by throughout the summer, and the cans recycled in winter. Come on, how EAAAASY is that? TF *feel free to hang them anywhere around Beeston, of course – but don’t forget you’ll need to water them.

Pride Of Beeston Awards 2015 The Beestonian was proud to be part of the judging team of the first ever I love Beeston Awards last month. At a big party up at the posher-than posh Beeston Fields Walled Garden, champagne was swigged and speeches slurred as Beestonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best were recognised for their excellence. First of many? We could have new winners every month and never run out

Local Hero Award

Family Business Of The Year

Nigel Pepper Toni Fox Lynda Lally

Bubble IT Hicklings DIY TEK Kickboxing Academy

Young Achiever Award

New Business Of The Year

Dylan Wilson Jolene Knox Florence Clifford- Albrighton

The Candela Shop The Food Bar Created By Hand

Retailer Of The Year Food & Drink Award CafĂŠ Roya Relish Local Not Global Deli

Fred Hallam Ltd Chimera Cycle Inn Small Business Of The Year

Sports Personality Of The Year

James Wells Karin Williams Richard Ward

Community Award Oxjam White Lion Bar & Kitchen Lynda Lally

Woodside Management Services Out Of This World Effortless Beauty

Many familiar scenes, but lost buildings, ancient fashions and empty streets greeted me as I strolled with my eyes from Chilwell to Broadgate and then down Station Road to the weir, with children paddling in the dangerous water, at a time when health and safety were just words in a dictionary. Did Graham have a favourite card? Yup. It’s one of the High Road looking towards Broadgate, from the original Appleby’s shop. And the reason? Well, because it features his great aunt and uncle, Amy and Harry Price. Harry owned a local stationers, and also produced postcards of the town. A unique family connection. I wondered if Graham thought about any cards that he’d like to have in his collection. One would of course be of Harry’s shop. Another would be of Morley’s grocers on the corner of Clinton Street, and one of Park Street, where he currently lives.

he Victorians came up with many important inventions, but I think their best was the postcard. That 6” x 4” piece of plain white card was like their version of Twitter, but you know, paper. Message one side; address the other. Posted to your door the next day. It wasn’t until 1894 that the picture postcard was introduced, but the photograph or drawing had to share the message side. The real breakthrough came in 1902 when the Post Office allowed the message and address to share the same side, and the postcard that we know so well today was born. One of Beeston’s best known deltiologists, or postcard collectors is Graham Hopcroft. He has over 250 postcards of Beestonia in his collection, ranging from diverse views of the High Road to boats on the canal. And lots in between. A rather dull photo of Marlborough Road anyone? A number of these were turned into one of the ‘Yesterday’s Nottinghamshire’ books some years ago, which was published by Reflections of a Bygone Age of Keyworth. Graham started collecting postcards in 1981, after he was given some by a relative that dated from World War One. Not of our glorious town, but comic ones, a la Donald McGill. This triggered something inside him and he started to look for Beeston themed cards and quickly joined the Nottingham Postcard Club. He has an amazing collection, and through the old, faded photographs, he took me on an illustrated journey of how Beeston looked a century ago.

Collecting old postcards can be a cheap or an expensive hobby. Some had only cost Graham a couple of quid, while others were considerably more. It’s all down to the subject matter. A card of an empty Beeston Station wouldn’t cost much, but add a steam train, and the price goes up. If you fancy looking for some vintage postcards of Beestonia yourself, then check the bookshop shelves later this year, as Graham has a further volume of Beeston postcards coming out. CDF

regular column, highlighting views from people who have lived in Beeston for years longer than most of us. To my mind, these are the most important people around. Take heed! Marion Wallwork’s dining table has hosted countless local Committee meetings over the years and this renowned piece of furniture was the location for a chat with the Beestonian. As a founder member of the Beeston & District Civic Society, Marion has had a huge influence over the way Beeston looks today. Last time you went out in Beeston you probably passed a building she helped to protect or a tree she helped to preserve. How long have you lived in or been associated with Beeston?

view

What’s your earliest memory of Beeston? Marion: I moved here from Bradford and I remember the startling change to a clean, tree lined environment in Nottingham. I hosted a visit by Arthur Percival from the Civic Trust in London when he came to inaugurate the Beeston Civic Society, who said that he wished the Society had started 10 years earlier because some beautiful buildings had already been lost by ‘modernisation’, and been replaced by awful new ones. What’s the best thing about Beeston right now? Marion: You can still get most things here. It’s great to be close to doctor, dentist, churches, parks, shops, post office and public transport. I like the way there is always something going on!

Marion: I arrived aged 17 as one of the first student residents of Nightingale Hall at the University of Nottingham where I studied Politics, with Law, and Economic and Social History. I came back in 1954 when I married Stephen, who worked at the University.

And the worst?

Can you tell us a bit about your background?

What are your hopes for the future of Beeston?

Marion: I have done some teaching; started the first playgroup in the county and then became County Organiser; was on the bench for 29 years; established and nurtured the Civic Society (from an idea that grew out of a WEA course); liaised with the Civic Trust over the pedestrianisation of Beeston town centre; was one of the first elected parent governors at Bramcote Hills Grammar School; and served on the Regional Committee, the national Council, and the local Centre of the National Trust.

Marion: We need to remain an independent borough council and not be absorbed by Nottingham. We need to retain that ‘Beeston’ feeling. There should be stricter regulations on paved front gardens and lots more trees should be planted. We should continue to be more assertive to preserve and improve our surroundings. Karen Attwood

Marion: The huge amount of traffic driving north-south along Wollaton Road and Station Road with no alternative route. Also, the county council is mutilating trees by pollarding them.

Playing it right I chatted with Liz Turner in the breathtaking violin room in Turner Violins in Lily Grove, one of the largest violin shops in the UK. All the walls are lined with beautiful stringed instruments, ready to start a meaningful relationship with a fine musician. Liz and her husband Steve and their team are experts in renovation and valuation of musical instruments. Before they got married, Liz lived in Germany for a while and Steve worked as a professional folk singer while learning about violins. Their business was established in Preston in 1988 before being moved to Beeston in 1994. The current shop is housed in a building which was previously an open plan Co-op supermarket and had been closed for some time. Liz and Steve saw the potential of the space and considered Beeston to be a perfect base for an international business, being at the centre of the country and close to the railway and airport.

They remember that when they were first visiting Beeston it seemed every taxi was playing classical music, which was encouraging for them. It seemed to be a very civilized place. They now spend their spare time enjoying taking part in local drama and cricket and think that the sense of regeneration in Beeston is great. Like many of us, they like the different ethnic restaurants, the improvement in the Square and consider the very best local place to be Attenborough Nature Reserve. “One thing that would improve life”, said Liz “would be later trains coming back from Nottingham to Beeston in the evening. They finish too early for a good night out!” Liz thinks the talk of a Cultural Centre in Beeston is fantastic. “There is a huge market for classical music in Beeston” she enthused. Karen Attwood

A CREATIVE BEESTON

CASTING CALL (SORT OF)

ood friends of the paper, the Turrell Brothers – those highly talented filmmakers you may remember from such films as Tummy Bug and their music video for The Madeline Rust – are up to their old tricks again. They got in contact recently to let us know that they’re making a new film, titled Poison Tree. The project has been funded on the iShorts scheme by Creative England, but they’re also crowdfunding as well as looking for places to shoot around Beeston. Tom Turrell had this to say. “We’re hoping to reach our £10,000 aim, and with this money would come a budget for the kind people who would let us use their homes as locations in Beeston.” Why Beeston? I mean, apart from the fact that it’s a brilliant place? “We’re passionate about using Beeston, our hometown, as the location star in the film. For so long now we’ve been in love with the idea of shooting in the magnificent Victorian/Edwardian suburbs which locals call the ‘golden triangle’. We’re looking for TWO houses that basically make up the bulk of locations in the entire film. Do you know what I mean when I say the ‘golden triangle’?” Actually… No. That one must have passed me by. “It’s Devonshire, Elm, Imperial, Ireton, Glebe, Cromwell, Enfield, Park Road etc etc... I’m sure locals and estate agents use this term. We’ll also be filming exteriors in some of the long quiet streets of this suburb, hence why we’re keen to try and source houses to film in within the same area.” And the types of locations you need?

“House 1 would be a semi-detached, preferably Victorian/Edwardian, not necessarily recently refurbished or spic-span, any original features would be a plus (i.e. sash windows). A dream requirement would be a hallway leading from the front door to the stairs (though this isn’t absolutely necessary). We’d also need a modest sized garden. Filming would take place in the living room, back room, kitchen, an upstairs bedroom and garden. Importantly, we’d like to find a house that has an atmosphere all of its own... We’re probably looking at half a day to a day’s filming in this house.” “And house 2: This would be an impressive and handsome house, detached, Georgian/Victorian/Edwardian, with original features and real atmosphere, ideally a spacious hallway/corridor leading from the front door, high ceilinged (if possible), a living room or back room with a grand piano (the piano is important to the script -- it is an absolute DREAM requirement, but we understand chances are slim, still it’s quite necessary), a large spacious back garden, and a conservatory (again, this is a dream requirement and very much needed in terms of the script). In addition to this we’d be filming in the kitchen, an upstairs bedroom, and an upstairs bathroom. All in all an atmospheric and impressive house that would do justice to the cinematic tone of the project... We’d be looking to film for 2-3 days in this house.” Shooting will likely begin in August and the brothers willsoon be flyering asking for locations, so keep a look out and get in touch with them if you think your home might fit the description they’re looking for. Also, donate if you can! www.crowdfunder.co.uk/poisontree www.turrellbrothers.co.uk

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Foxy Fruit T

o many people, Antoinette (Tonie) ‘Foxie’ Fox is children, I can also testify as to the transformative powers of a ‘magic the first person they think of when asked to name a grape’ which Foxie regularly dispenses along with high-fives to small grumpy Beestonians. memorable Beestonian. The very audible presence in the middle of Beeston is a hugely popular character, running In addition to her cheerful presence on the high street, Foxie is also away with the ‘Local Hero’ title at the recent inaugural known in smaller circles for her part in helping run a playgroup in Pride of Beeston awards. Famed for passionate hollering Beeston Rylands many years ago, which involved an appearance on about the provenance of various soft fruits - ‘They’re not the local news when trying to save it from closure. Since winning the local hero award, she feels the needs to live up to it more, and is keen Spanish, they’re not Dutch, they’re English!’ - Foxie has a to keep the momentum going with some positive activities. One large army of fans of all ages, many of whom know idea that she mooted is some kind of fun run along part of the tram tracks in Beeston before it actually opens to the public. her only as the ‘strawberry lady’. Foxie She would like to see all the money raised going to help loves working for local kids in some way - youth clubs, toddler groups, The oldest of a brood of six, Foxie hails from a village nurseries, schools - anything which will benefit future called Gartcosh, which is at the foot of the Campsie Hallams, seeing it generations. Hills between Glasgow and Stirling. No stranger to as the real focal point winning awards, she picked up the ‘rep of the year’ of the community Clearly settled and at home in Beeston, Foxie says the award whilst working as a children’s holiday rep for with very loyal town has something of the community spirit of her home Intasun in the late 1980s. From here she moved into village, but obviously on a much bigger scale with a customers. various sales jobs, the most memorable of which was for Flexi Drape equipment, which apparently was great for ‘pulling, looping, fluffing and tucking’ curtains. Next time you see her, ask her to say it really quickly to see if she can do it without swearing. The gift of the gab is something that obviously comes naturally to her. At the age of 12 she wanted to deliver papers, but the local newsagent required a minimum of 13 homes in order to secure a round. She actually persuaded 15 households initially, and the round grew so much that she had to enlist the help of her younger siblings. Moving to Beeston Rylands just over 20 years ago, she is a proud mother of two daughters, Ashlae and Chloe, and describes the three of them together as being like ‘bitching sisters’ who are nonetheless very close and really proud of each other. She is also a grandmother to two grandsons, Leo and Ralphie. Despite being best known for being the face of Pride of Beeston ‘Retailer of the Year’ Hallams, Foxie has worked in several other shops in and around Beeston, and also in the Commercial and the Jolly Anglers. She’s no stranger to working 3 jobs at a time for long periods, including 20 years as a beauty therapist. With plenty of ‘O’ and ‘A’ Levels plus a string of other qualifications to her name, it’s not surprising that she’s never struggled for employment. She started working at Hallams in 2008 (their centenary year), initially for 6 weeks to help out over the busy Christmas period. Over 6 years later and she’s still out there in all weather, shifting everything from apples to aubergines, and bananas to broccoli. Foxie loves working for Hallams, seeing it as the real focal point of the community with very loyal customers. Whilst many people feared for the future of the shop when Tesco opened, their trade wasn’t affected at all. Like pretty much every retailer in Beeston (other than fodder-for-workies purveyor Greggs), Hallams hasn’t exactly thrived during the tramworks, but it the customers who have battled determinedly through the barriers, cones and diversions that have kept the tills ringing. Foxie describes her employers as very fair, very considerate and family orientated, and have built up a great team. Being located in such a central spot means that Foxie is usually the first to see and hear anything of note, and as such is viewed as an ‘eyes and ears’ by the local Police. A qualified first aider, she is usually first on the scene whenever someone needs medical attention, and gets general feedback from everyone about everything. As a parent of young

great deal of cultural diversity thrown in for good measure. Here’s hoping she remains at the heart of the community for many years to come - especially if she continues to dispense gems such as the following response to hearing she’d been nominated for the local hero award - “Hero? Does that mean I’ll have to wear my knickers over the top of my leggings if I win it?” JC

CREATIVE I

BEESTON

n our regular feature exploring the wealth of creative talents in this town, John Currie returns to tell us about how he got into film, the amazing success of the Beeston Film Festival, and when the next one is happening. You once told me you got into film because ‘You Only Live Once’. But what was the spur that made you think ‘I want to do that?’ “My mid-life crisis centred on film because for me film is the greatest story telling medium, but it took me reaching the grand age of 49 to have the courage, stupidity and stubbornness to attempt to shepherd a team of talented artists into producing a film. To produce a film of the quality of Go With God is a real honour because you receive so much input and creativity from others, and such generosity it leaves you feeling humbled.” “The Go with God (www.gowithgodfilm.com) journey took Frank and I to the Dublin International Short film which was a fabulous experience. A whole weekend of watching short films from around the world in a pub. It took about 2 weeks for the penny to drop that Beeston would revel in having its own film festival.” The Beeston Cinema and The Beeston Film Festival have been great for the town, with the Festival a sell-out and a strong success: is it returning? “Of course it will be returning. The 2015 festival was a wonderful success. Not only did we have fantastic films from over 20 countries, Sergio and all the staff at The White Lion Bar & Kitchen made the festival into an amazingly hospitable event. For 2016 we intend to make 2016 even better, more films, more nights, more awards and more filmmakers. The Festival 2016 launch event takes place the 11th July 2015 at The White Lion Bar & Kitchen.” “The launch event celebrates the 2016 Festival competition opening for filmmakers, which means once again across the globe, from Beeston to Brazil, Toton to Taiwan and Chilwell to China, filmmakers will put their

films into competition to secure firstly a festival screening and for the lucky few, winning a glorious B’oscar.” “The festival rewarded artists with a piece of art designed by Nottingham’s cherished Anna Colette Hunt. The B’oscar (short for Beeston Oscar) has delighted award winners. For 2016 Anna will create a unique “Best in Festival” award. More B’oscars will be awarded too, with new awards for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Script. Will extend the festival into a Friday – Sunday weekend, more networking opportunities made available and on and on.” “I recently canvassed filmmakers asking what did they most enjoy from festivals and they responded with they have asked more popcorn, red carpets, parties, networking opportunities and we will factor all of these into our planning.” How has Beeston influenced your work? “Beeston has been my home for the past 15 years. It has been great place to live because of the great facilities and wonderful people who live here.” Future plans? “As well as the festival launch, 23rd May we are holding a Best of Festival night reprising all the award winners and a hand-picked selection to create an awesome night of short films. So if you missed the festival here is a chance to sample some of what you missed.” “Finally in the autumn there will be Pre-festival autumn programme called Global Beeston. The Beeston Film Festival has already made many friends across the world and some them will be selecting a range of short films covering a specific area to demonstrate to Beeston what they have to offer. There will be programmes covering films from Taiwan, Tasmania, Africa and Germany. All of which makes for an exciting future for the Beeston Film Festival.” CF

The

GREY MATTER 1. American psychologist Arthur Janov’s 1970 book on curing neurosis inspired the names of which two bands? 2. JM Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, worked at the Nottingham Journal in the late 1800’s. True or false? 3. What connects authors Robert Harris to Nick Hornby? 4. In whose parody of the legend of Robin Hood was Little John also known as Big Dick?

11. Cheap literature of the 16-18th centuries was known as ‘what’ books, based on the old word for the travelling traders who sold them? 12. What word, which in Greek means ‘with’ or ‘after’, prefixes many literary and language terms to denote something in a different position? 13. Exactly how old was Adrian Mole in Sue Townsend’s original book?

5. Who directed the film version of DH Lawrence’s book “The Rainbow” 6. Which band’s first abum title was taken from a line in Alan Silitoe’s Saturday Night, Sunday Morning? 7. The book The Unfortunates by BS Johnson was unusual for what reason? 8. Which publishing company, named after a flightless bird, is 80 years old in 2015? 9. Which Irish playwright drove professional wrestler Andre The Giant to school as a child? 10. What term and type of comedy is derived from the French word for stuffing? TRAVELLING SALESMAN, FROM THE EARLIER TERM CHEAPMAN)/META/13 AND 3/4 FRIVOLOUS MATERIAL INTO MEDIEVAL PLAYS.)/ CHAPBOOKS (A CHAPMAN WAS A BASED ON ANALOGY BETWEEN STUFFING IN COOKERY AND THE INSERTION OF SAMUEL BECKETT/FARCE OR FARCICAL(FROM THE FRENCH FARCIR, TO STUFF, ORDER, PARALLELING THE RANDOM NATURE OF HUMAN THOUGHT/PENGUIN/ FORMAT SO THAT THE SEPARATELY BOUND CHAPTERS CAN BE READ IN ANY MILLIGAN/KEN RUSSELL/ARTIC MONKEYS/ IT WAS PUBLISHED IN LOOSE-LEAF TEARS FOR FEARS & PRIMAL SCREAM/TRUE/THEY’RE BROTHERS-IN-LAW/SPIKE

CODEWORD

NEWS FROM THE TRAM

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ou know what makes Beeston great? Its people. The people of Beeston are its powerhouse, lifeblood and energy and sometimes they do some pretty amazing things.

Everyone left having very enjoyably discovered much more about medieval literature than they would have expected

One person who’s definitely done something astounding recently is Beeston resident Dr Christina Lee, an expert in Anglo-Saxon literature who describes herself online as ‘Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham with a liking for Vikings. Travelling grump. Single malt lover and Neighbour of Robin Hood’, all of which is true (aside from the ‘grump’ bit, as she’s always incredibly affable, vivacious and enthusiastic). But if Chris’ name rings a bell it’s because she recently made global headlines in both the scientific and general press when her research into 10th century medicine led her to translate a recipe for an ‘eye salve’ that, when followed to the letter with ingredients, method of preparation and vessels used turned out to be such an extremely effective anti-bacterial that it works at least as effectively – if not more so – than the current main drug used to combat the scourge of modern hospitals, MRSA. I was lucky enough to hear about this before it made the news and Chris was thrilled, not just because the salve worked so well, but because each separate ingredient didn’t really work at all. It was the combination and – just as importantly – the preparation method that someone more than eleven hundred years ago had discovered that astoundingly could also be the key to solving one of our most worrying modern medical problems. And this is where Chris excels, believing and teaching that ‘the humanities’ and ‘the sciences’ aren’t separate, disparate things, resigned to gaze at each other futilely, suspiciously or even dismissively over never-to-be-crossed lines of demarcation, but that they could and should be brought together so each can draw on the strengths of the other so

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new and great discoveries and advances can be made – or rediscovered. The desire to convey the huge excitement and enthusiasm she has for her own areas of study and interest are obvious elsewhere too; the other day I had the pleasure of attending a public lecture that Chris and her colleague Nathan Waddell gave at the University entitled ‘I Am Your Forefather: Star Wars and/as Medieval Dystopia’. It was a part of the university’s ‘Popular Culture’ lecture series and compared and contrasted the underlying themes of the Star Wars films with similar stories in Anglo-Saxon literature and other sciencefiction movies. It was riveting, not only for me but for the hundred-plus other people there, ranging from students to sci-fi geeks, excited children to movie buffs. Everyone left having very enjoyably discovered much more about medieval literature than they would have expected, but also realising the legacy such writings have on modern culture too. Chris’ talent and passion is to take something that may to some people seem old, dry, dusty and uninteresting and allow them to realise for themselves that history isn’t a dead thing - it’s the story of people, and those people were just like us. They loved their families and children, they wanted to ensure their safety and security and wanted to pass their stories and wisdom down to their descendants. And they did. In the case of the 10th century eye-salve it was carefully written down to do just that – and if it wasn’t for people like Chris, lovingly studying millennia-old manuscripts, deciphering and translating them and realising that there was something that warranted further investigation by an entirely different branch of academia that recipe may have been lost forever. And that would be an enormous loss not only academically and historically, but more importantly to those people whose present-day families and children may benefit from it too. How astounding is that? Tim Pollard Nottingham’s Official Robin Hood