Beestonian 56

The

Beestonian Lying in front of the bulldozers...

Issue no.

56

Save The

Town Hall O ur proud Town Hall is at risk: time to get rid of something else instead?

80 –odd years ago the people of Beeston decided that they needed a proper civic building, and as such called in an architect with a flair for art-deco who whipped up a fine building that Beeston could be proud of. As Beeston went through decades of changes in both character, demographic and political leadership the hall has been a constant. Thousands of town-changing decisions have been made in its debating chamber, marriages conducted, celebrations held. It’s part of our history. Heck, even Wikipedia deems it the most iconic thing in Beeston and uses it as its main image on its entry for the town.

So why is it now in danger of demolition?

As always, money. The current administration claim it simply isn’t worth keeping any more, and want to make a quick buck on a sale.

Rumours of a shonky developer waiting in the wings are rife, so a quick

sale would be a hard injection of cash. “Old buildings or services?” crows council leader, Richard Jackson “It’s that simple a choice”.

To which we at The Beestonian reply, while smacking our heads against a brick wall “No, no it’s not. Your failure to run a council well has led to a financial nightmare”. And then we will pull out details of a current scandal rocking the council, which is costing hundreds of thousands of YOUR council tax in legal fees and temporary staff, and point out it is THAT which is blowing a hole in the finances, not a piece of Beeston’s civic pride. We’d put the whole story here, but it would take the whole mag -check out our sister blog, www.beestonia. wordpress.com for the details.

We are facing the loss of the Town Hall due to an entirely avoidable, utterly self-inflicted wound. Perhaps the much fairer path would be to preserve the Town Hall, and get rid of the entirely inept Council Leadership before it’s not just the Town Hall, but every paving stone and local park they can find a buyer for. Save Beeston Town Hall!

LB

University of Beestonia Somewhere in Beestonia…

The Office for Students (OfFS); an Orwellian curiosity located within its carbon-neutral, architectural award winning, many windowed new complex down Diagon Alley. In the penthouse twelve carefully selected volunteers sit around their roundtable overseen by a mysterious and dangerous sounding overlord. Never seen, this Master of the Twelve exists behind a set of beautifully carved wooden doors which if opened eject plumes of green smoke which legend has it will melt you in seconds (the reality is a fairly normal looking fellow sat in front of a bank of spreadsheets – but perception is everything dear reader).

Out of town a renegade band of academics, feeding off scraps of research funding, shelter

in dark, cold corners whispering about how they could make themselves heard. “Where is our champion?” they shout into the wilderness, the words swallowed in the wind before anyone can hear them.

This is not a good combination; conflict is inevitable. A war fought on many fronts for the soul of what should be a ‘higher’ education. Or perhaps it’s more than that, battles for actual souls.

Questions remain on both sides however if the enemy is really the other, or if there may be some greater force, a common enemy to which their energies should really be pointed. For a grey, slightly damp, autumn is coming. Hidden behind a wall of call centres and satisfaction surveys, something is stirring; no-one knows what.

It was against this background that Ass Prof Ainsley Chewtaar peddled his way into work one fine winter’s morning. He’d had a reasonable night’s sleep after reviewing some piss poor attempt at a paper that he’d meant to get back to the journal six weeks ago. He was feeling rather smug about his cryptic ‘anonymous’ comments to the authors and slightly lighter in the shoulder area having had a good rant to the editor about how the subject never really progressed, and how these authors in particular should know better.

The story will continue (once I’ve had a bit more sleep)…

“What? Pensions you say? Sorry, no idea mate, is something going off?”…

Prof J

Charlie Foggs Shoe repairs, key cutting, engraving and trophies 0115 9224466 charliefoggs.com 135 High Road, Beeston NG9 2LL charliefoggs@btconnect.com

The Beestonian is...

Top-notch contributors this issue: Lead Writer/Founder • Lord Beestonia Matt Turpin, Jade Moore, John Cooper, Jimmy Notts, Scott Bennett, Christopher Frost, Co-Founder/Resident Don • Prof J Debra Urbacz, Colin Tucker, Isaac Seelochan, Editor • Christian Donna Bentley, Daisy Leverington, Isaac Design & The Beest • Dan Seelochan , and Deman Business Manager • Mel History Editor • Joe Earp Printed by Pixels & Graphics, Beeston

Stockists: Berliner, Milk Lounge, The Hive, Rye, The Hop Pole, The Crown, The White Lion, The Star, The Greyhound, Flying Goose, Mish Mash Gallery, The Malt Shovel, The Guitar Spot, Broadgate Laundrette, Bubba Tea, The Bean, Beeston Library, Cafe ROYA, Newsagent on Chilwell Road, Metro, Beeston Marina Bar and Cafe, Attenborough Nature Reserve, Pottle of Blues, Greenhood, Beeston Nursery, Oxfam Books, L’Oliva, Two Little Magpies, Local not Global.

Reading by the Canal I

t’s been 6 months since the Canalside Heritage Centre opened in Beeston Rylands, and it’s strange to think of the area without it. The once disused building has been given a new lease of life, and is giving back to the Rylands and Beeston community.

The centre is also home to a specially written children’s storybook, Dog and Duck’s Canal Adventure, which doubles as an artistic contribution to their wonderful upstairs display area.

The book was written by Heather Green, and illustrated by her husband, Johnny. It was originally her project as part of her MA in Museum and Heritage Studies, but her lecturer and trustee of the centre, Duncan Grewcock, saw the potential for it as a display that would appeal to children.

The book follows the two characters, Dog and Duck, as they travel down the canal towards Nottingham.

The catalyst for their journey is the construction of the heritage centre, momentarily disrupting their home.

I met up with Heather and Duncan at the Heritage Centre to find out more about the book, and why such projects are crucial to the community.

“The Heritage Centre were looking for an interpretive offer for children and young people and it made sense to do a picture book,” says Heather. “I’m doing a PhD at the moment which is looking at the use of creative writing as a tool for museums, and the idea was to explore this slightly different way of getting information and facts across about a heritage topic to an audience.”

Before opening, the Heritage Centre compiled some interpretive goals which Heather used to devise the narrative of the book: making a home, making a visit, and making a living based around the canal.

“My husband and I walked up and down [the canal] to try and get an idea of the route,” says Heather. “It was a good way of incorporating familiar scenes for people when they come to look and see the book, but also this idea of who might pass you by as you’re going along the canal.”

In the book, while Dog and Duck are on their journey, they find an egg and take it with them. The story is about wondering what kind of creature might be inside the egg, taking inspiration from the things they see around them.

Heather adds: “One of the things we wanted to explore was what makes a home, particularly from a child’s perspective. Whether or not it’s the things you have or the place where you live. What is it that makes a home?”

As someone who has lived in the Rylands all my life, and paid frequent visits to the canal year on year, I couldn’t help but think about how the area has shaped my perspective of home, and how lucky I feel to live less than 10 minutes away from the canal. Duncan, however, moved here 3 years ago from London.

“One of the things I found out quite quickly was that there isn’t, in this area, a lot of heritage facilities,” he says. “The canal was so much loved and used for walking, cycling, running…but this place had become a bit of an eye-sore because it had been left derelict for 20 years. And one of the things that you got a picture of quite quickly was that how much genuine support there was to just do something with this building.”

This support and determination was entirely community-focused.

“In another world, somebody might have turned it into a pub or something but I think turning it into a community facility, where there aren’t many, certainly not based on heritage, is important for everyone to have access to.”

Heather adds: “It’s really important to make the most of the green spaces that you have. And it’s a peaceful location here.” At this point, we fall silent and let ourselves take a moment of appreciation for our surroundings by glancing out of the window at nature. It’s a moment of quiet pride.

One of the great things about Dog and Duck’s Canal Adventure is that it’s unique to the centre. It features in the book through illustration and photographs, even with small touches such as the centre’s wallpaper design, making it truly personal. The book was also a contribution to UNESCO Nottingham City of Literature, something Duncan and Heather are very proud of. “We’re keen to see what more we can do in that context to spread the benefits of the City of Literature as an idea,” says Duncan. “It’s been popular in the shop, and it’s a fantastic addition to the displays as well.”

Manager of the Heritage Centre, Jenny, reveals that they did quite a large print run of the book, but that they’d be happy to print more if they all sold out. She says: “It’s a good seller for us; our bestsellers in the shop are the things that are specific to here.”

Heather adds: “That’s really what the City of Literature is about, inspiring new fiction, and new writing, using heritage and culture.”

Make sure you visit the Heritage Centre, peruse the local-inspired gifts, have a cuppa with a friend, and keep an eye out for fellow Beestonians, Dog and Duck.

JM

The Yorkshireman Speaks This month our Yorkshireman tells us about being the only daddy at playgroup...

The only daddy in day care Recently I gave up my day job to follow my dream to be a stand-up comedian. Part of the deal of my wife going back to work was that we would share the childcare. This meant that I was launched into this new world of the playgroup.

I’ve realised that kid’s clubs and playgroups are a lifeline for modern parents. Like the soup kitchens for the homeless or Ikea for couples who like to argue, it’s an essential part of your life.

This is why there are so many kids clubs available, covering all sorts of weird and wonderful activities. You can take your baby for a massage, presumably this is because babies are highly stressed individuals. They probably are experiencing stress levels akin to those of a doctor in the NHS. Just look at their days, they only get 14 hours sleep, someone to dress and bath them, even dinner time is a high-pressure decision, will it be the right breast or the left one? No wonder their Chakra’s are all out of whack. To be clear I am talking about babies here, not doctors.

For the toddlers there is pottery class, painting, and even cake making. Although frankly if you are willing to eat a cake made by a toddler you’re braver than I am. Personal hygiene is never top of their priorities list, I’d rather play Russian roulette with a cat litter tray and a packet of chocolate raisins than tuck into Poppy’s Bakewell tart.

I’ve spoken to so many parents, with their children it’s all about killing time, an hour here, forty-five minutes there, anything to fill the days. This isn’t parenting, it’s the mindset of a prisoner on death row?

At the local playgroup I am the only dad there. My wife said to me before, now don’t you go flirting with all those mummies. Flirting? I’m in a church hall at midday with a hand full of wet wipes and poo under my fingernails, I’m hardly on my A game love.

I found it hard initially. Kids would come up to me, “are you my daddy?” one of them just came and sat on my knee during the biscuit break, which incidentally is one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever witnessed.

Children swarming around a plate of chocolate digestives like a pack of lions circling a wounded Zebra. Wet fingers claw at the chocolate, children put back

half-finished attempts, with the coating licked off. Other children pick these up like biscuit batons and carry on munching. Within five minutes there is more DNA swapped than a corrupt copper at a crime scene.

What do you do when a random kid sits on your knee? I’m the only dad there and at the time I’d been there only two weeks. It’s a tricky decision, throw them off and look like a bully, allow them to perch there and look like something way worse.

I have realised that I have quite simply used up all my empathy on my own two children, so I find myself scraping the reserves for other people’s kids. I stand there just mentally judging other people’s children and brutally predicting their futures, it’s a game I call Pregnant or Prison.

There are some horrible kids. There’s this one, he’s got a furrowed brow, wears a neckerchief that catches his saliva, which I think is the bile and hate leaving his body.

What is it with toddlers? These kids leak, they are like cullenders in dungarees. Some parents don’t attend to the nose, they just leave the kid as it runs into their mouths, recycling this ectoplasm fountain. They run

at you and you panic, they may as well be holding a handful of anthrax.

They all fight over this one car. One day my daughter was in it, and this kid came over, the neckerchief down over his mouth, he looked like an outlaw in the wild west and he opened the door and shoved her out.

I was about to go over to this little carjacker, I was ready to bundle him through the window, like an American cop, but just then his mum arrived and gave him a pushchair with a baby in, it’s almost as if she was saying, there you go, you have responsibilities now, sort your life out.

Being at playgroup makes you realise just what a visceral and raw experience parenting actually is.

The place always smells of poo, it always does, I’ve been on nicer smelling farms. I’ve noticed that as a parent you can’t just go up and discreetly look in their nappy, this isn’t the way at playgroup. The correct method is what’s known as the lift and sniff!

I’ve learnt that the main thing to remember with this technique is to be careful not to do this in any doorways where you can bump their heads and secondly, make sure you are always picking up your kid.

You see parents everywhere holding their children aloft like Simba in the Lion King, taking deep breaths, then they put them back down “It’s not mine this time.” But parents develop those skills, they know when it’s the family brand, it’s like a fine wine, “Ahh, this is a 9.35am Farley’s rusk, full bodied, plenty of nose, baked for three hours under corduroy trousers in little tykes’ car.

Forget sniffer dogs to detect drugs at customs, you just need to bring Janice a mother of four from Ilkeston, she’d nail it in a second, she’d just lift up the accused, “The drugs are up his bum, next!”

One week I went, the smell wasn’t coming from the kid, it was traced to one of the Grandma’s, she’d just broken wind and they were just leaking out of her as he walked around the room, but no one had the guts to say anything.

Find The Scott Bennett Podcast on SoundCloud and iTunes SB

CREATIVE BEESTON

On the Right Path

H

ere at Creative Beeston we are passionate about the endorsement of craft therapy.

The merits of art and crafts on mental well-being have been carefully studied, and the work of the Mental Health Foundation found substantial evidence that patients, who are suffering with depression or anxiety, found creative pursuits more successful in helping their symptoms than medical alternatives.

We are so lucky to have numerous creative opportunities in Beeston and beyond, and most of them do not appear to have any age restrictions. Nevertheless, this did lead me to wonder what specifically we are doing to engage the elderly people in our community? I gave my memory a prod, then I remembered a lady I had been introduced to a while back in relation to community workshops she had been running in local care homes.

Promptly I contacted her via her facebook page and despite a busy schedule, she was more than happy to meet up with me. Taking the tram out of Beeston towards the city then back out again in a less familiar direction, I eventually found her in her bright new office in Clifton.

Karyn started Creative Paths a Community Interest Company (CIC), working from a tiny attic office at the Voluntary Action Bureau in Beeston, fired by her desire to recreate the benefit of her very first job as a Community Artist, working with mainly elderly and terminally ill patients at Manor Hospital in Derby in the 1980's. Prior to the Community Care Act of 1990 support for the more vulnerable in our society was inadequate.

Community Care ensures that people in need of long-term care are now able to live either in their own home, with adequate support, or in a residential home setting.

One of Creative Paths activities is to engage

residents in workshops, such as craft, reminiscence and art. Much of Creative Path’s work is centred around the elderly in care homes and in particular patients who have dementia. As well as the creative outcomes, people benefit from the participation and process of making and creating together.

All Creative Paths workshops are designed to be accessible and have elements of sensory work, reminiscence and creativity so that there is something for everyone.

Other services Creative Paths offer, with the help of community education funding via Inspire, is a range of specialist community learning. Such as the Creative Reminiscence course which runs for five weeks. Residents use photos, objects and memorabilia to stimulate their learning. In the group they share their thoughts on a topic such as childhood and this promotes their social interaction. This can counteract the isolation that many people with dementia can experience due to communication difficulties.

Often, as people tend to be from the same area, some common memories spring up and spark natural conversations, which is wonderful to witness as well as being brilliant for the brain.

One of the techniques which is employed is known as Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, which can help the memory and thinking skills of people with mild to moderate dementia and can improve the quality of their life quite dramatically. Often songs are used as a form of stimulus and to promote a theme which can then be built upon. Karyn believes that these sessions are effective in producing positive results. She tells me that a lack of interaction can exacerbate confusion and if people are engaged they tend to be much happier in their surroundings. Evidence suggests there can be less accidents or falls due to their calmer mental state and even the need for medication has been reduced in some cases, all amazing outcomes.

Although Creative Paths are currently delivering learning and workshops in some of Beeston’s residential care homes, their

One of the Creative Paths team supporting a learner on a 'Creative Reminiscence' course delivered in care homes.

All photos supplied by Karyn of Creative Paths. offices recently moved to Clifton. Creative Paths is now piloting a project in Clifton called Activity Match, where residents are supported with an activity that meets their specific interests. Participant's unique pastimes are identified and then they are carefully matched with a volunteer who shares similar interests - volunteers are often unemployed or retired and needing a purpose themselves.

The benefits of this service, unlike some of the group projects, is that it addresses individuals’ needs on a one-on-one basis.

Karyn also mentions they are providing some family learning opportunities in the Clifton community starting in February. It is clear she still has a lot of ideas, the energy to realise them and a committed team to deliver this valuable support, that adds significant value to the daily lives of some of our older residents.

Despite humble beginnings, Karyn has persisted with her ambitions to empower the elderly in our community. I can feel warmth emanating from her as we chat over the set of tables she has acquired for her new space. The room we are in is spacious with big light filled windows and I think of my own community projects. Karyn tells me that the room is for hire and can be adapted to suit a range of functions, I make a note of this.

Room bookings can be made via the website www.creativepaths.org.uk but you can also find them on Facebook. And if you want any proof of the wonderful work they are doing I suggest a scroll through the photographs on either page, they are absolutely brimming with positive creativity that is a pure joy to see.

DU

Beeston FC Is At The Heart Of The Local Community

M

eeting the Beeston FC’s Under 10’s Sunday team reminds you of why Beeston has such a good local feel about it.The team is largely made up of players who are from or live in Beeston and it’s clear that this has an impact on the positive atmosphere at the club.

“I enjoy playing for Beeston because there's a good team with good chemistry. If you’re feeling down they never say you didn’t do that well, they will cheer you up, try to make you laugh, or just say no you didn’t do that wrong you did everything right,” said Kyle, aged 9.

William, aged 10 agrees saying, “I would describe Beeston FC as talented, amazing, good chemistry and just the best team in the world really.”

So why is there such a positive atmosphere around Beeston FC and what is it that makes them so popular?

“Beeston Football Club is very community-based,” said the under 16’s sunday coach and club treasurer Leroy Payne. “We use the C word a lot as it’s a big tagline for the club due to the amazing community we have here in Beeston. We’ve got a lot of volunteers and we’ve got some really strong teams built from the people in the local area.”

“The club was founded by a group of local football volunteers out of Round Hill Primary School in 1988 as Beeston Centurions, but we changed the name to Beeston Football Club in 2015 and it’s just progressed and gone on to become one of the biggest clubs in the area.”

The club recently acquired a 99-year old lease for a plot of land on Trent Vale road, formerly the works ground for Plessey and Ericsson, which is well known amongst thousands of people in Nottinghamshire, who played football, hockey, cricket, tennis and squash there over decades.

“The local community especially around the Rylands have all really warmed to us and we feel as though we’re well respected. We’ve also got some good coaches and volunteers who are always willing to help.”

Charles Walker, one of the under 10’s coaches has played a key role in the development of the club over the past few years and is hoping to develop a girl’s football team at the club. “We’ve currently got an under 13’s girls team who aren’t playing matches yet, but we train nine of them.”

“We’re trying to get the number of girls in our team up to twelve and then we can apply for the Wild Cats scheme through the FA. [It’s] A girl’s national football scheme aimed at those under 11, where a club is chosen in each area to try to get thirty girls playing football within three months.”

“We also want to use it as a way of getting other people involved in the club, particularly women, as we’re looking to get some older girls in to do some volunteering for us, because I think they can be good role models for the girls.”

There is no doubt that Beeston FC has become more than just a football club, but also a way of getting together with friends and having fun.

Beeston FC is a fantastic representation of the community spirit that Beeston has.

IS

Back in November, the club were hoping to win £10,000 from the Aviva Community Fund to improve the facilities at the Trent Vale site and although they were unsuccessful, they still received over 5000 votes, one of the highest numbers in the competition.

“Beeston FC has had a great impact on the community,” said Leroy.

“We invited loads of people to vote for our Aviva community fund through social media and we received an incredible number of votes. It was greeted very positively on Beeston Updated as well.”

e car y a ded ll d Fu d fun for an sions ged a ses dren rs l a chi -5 ye 0

Nur chil turing d the care in hea Bee r t of ston

Call us now on

0115 7750185 The Beeston FC Under 10’s Sunday Team (Orange)

to book a visit and find out why our families love us! www.beestonnursery.co.uk

Beeston Pubs of Today & Yesteryear R

enowned the world over, the great British pub is not just a place to drink beer, wine, cider or even something a little bit stronger, it is a unique social centre, very often the focus of community life in villages, towns and cities throughout the length and breadth of the country.

Pubs can be traced back to Roman taverns, through the Anglo-Saxon alehouse to the development of the tied house system in the 19th century. In 1393, King Richard II of England introduced legislation that pubs had to display a sign outdoors to make them easily visible for passing ale tasters who would assess the quality of ale sold.

Most pubs focus on offering beers, ales and similar drinks. As well, pubs often sell wines, spirits, and soft drinks, meals and snacks.

The owner, tenant or manager (licensee) is known as the pub landlord or publican. Referred to as their "local" by regulars, pubs are typically chosen for their proximity to home or work.

Beeston is and has for a long time been known for its great many public houses. It has been suggested that Beeston has one of the highest concentrations of pubs-per-person in the United Kingdom. The town has clearly a lot of public houses for locals to call at least one of them their “local”.

Pubs of Today We will now turn to look at just some of Beeston’s existing pubs and have a look at a brief history of each establishment starting with The Jesse Boot. Known until very recently as The Greyhound, The Jesse Boot was built in 1741, one of the earliest owners were the Stone family who actually brewed on the premises. The present building was modernised in 1984. In the early 19th century

in the days of the Industrial Revolution, it is said that Luddites called here and after raising the landlord from his bed to serve them refreshments, marched onto Nottingham to wreak their havoc.

This Inn and the Durham Ox (now a Polish Restaurant), were visited

by Reform Act rioters in 1831.

beams and 2 fireplaces, this gives the pub a very warm, homely feel.

The building, on Church Street in Beeston, we now know of as The Crown probably became associated with beer sometime between about 1835 and 1841, although the building itself probably dates from about 1800. The Crown Inn traces

Beech Tree Pub (became 'The Cow', since demolished, Middle Street, Beeston, Photograph Credit: Reg Baker.

Train station and like so many Victorian establishments was built to serve the passengers who used the station. In 1971 an eccentric landlord used to keep a small zoo at the rear end of the pub, as well as a python inside!! The collection included a puma, a lion, a leopard and a baboon.

The Star Inn located on Middle Street is an old Shipstones Pub. Not many people know that it has a connection with the television show Auf Wiedersehen Pet. Unlike many other pubs or bars used in Auf Wiedersehen Pet, The Star Inn is an actual pub used in the show, which fans can visit and have a drink. The pub featured in ‘The Return of the Seven - Part One’ episode, when Barry and Wayne take Pippa and Linda for a quick drink. Barry forgets the time, and ends up leaving his Fiancé Hazel and ‘The Wey Ling’.

Dennis and Neville turn up in the Jag, and then Bomber, in a pink Ford Cortina.

Pubs of Yesteryear Quite a few of Beeston’s pubs have disappeared over time with a great majority closing in recent years. We will now look at some of these closed pubs.

The Three Horseshoes, Middle Street, Beeston, May 1986.

Photograph Credit: Reg Baker.

Having burnt down Nottingham Castle they marched to Beeston and caused the Silk Mill at Beeston the same fate.

The Last Post is a Wetherspoon's chain pub which opened in 2000.

It is situated in the building of the old Royal Mail sorting office and was adjacent to the town's former post office. The Hop Pole is a local traditional community pub situated in Beeston. It is a very old, unspoilt pub dating back to 1870. With its lovely original

its history back to a Mr Samuel Starr who can be recognised as the man who established the pub. He had been brewing beer on the premises since at least 1841. As a ‘common brewer’ he would have sold his beer to anyone wishing to purchase it for consumption at home.

The Victoria Hotel was built around 1839, named after Queen Victoria (1819-1901) - a popular monarch who is often featured on pub signboards. The pub is situated next door to Beeston

The Royal Oak was situated on Villa Street, Beeston. This was a smallish Shipstones tied house in the centre of Beeston. The Cow was situated on Middle Street, Beeston.

This pub used to be called the Beech Tree Lodge and was one of the oldest pubs in Beeston. Tesco bought the pub and demolished it c. 2005 - the store was finally built 2010 and there is now a Tesco petrol station on what was the pub. The Three Horseshoes was situated on Middle Street. This was a Shipstones tied house. The pub was demolished to make way for a tram line.

Other pubs to have closed in recent years include the Prince of Wales which was located on High Road. Although the Durham Ox has not closed its doors it is no longer ran primarily as a ‘traditional pub’ and is now ran as Polish Restaurant.

JN

Beeston Heroes Last year, we decided to cast our gaze onto the unsung heroes of Beeston...

T

he word ‘hero’ was everywhere last year, following the tragic death of Owen Jenkins at Beeston Weir.

It got us thinking how heroism stretches wide, from those who immediately sacrificed their lives to rescue others (as Owen did) to those who understand we are all part of a community, and that community works best when we all put a little bit in.

We asked online for your nominations, and wow. They flowed in, all telling stories of people who make this great town better. From people who give a few hours a week behind a charity shop till, to

those who run major campaigns in the face of vast opposition, these are the people who never ask for thanks, never seek out the limelight, but just get on with doing what they do because they think it's right.

We were so overwhelmed with the response we have decided to run it as a regular feature rather than a one-off. If you made a nomination and they don’t feature here, then fret not, we most likely will get them on here soon.

If you have a hero you would like to nominate, send us their name, what they do or have done, and a few words on what makes them special. Here’s our first selection.

STEWART CRAVEN; CANALSIDE HERITAGE When we requested nominations for community heroes, we got so many emails putting Stewart forward we can’t fit all the comments on here.

But here are a select few:

“Even after all his work, he continues to give many hours to the project, from chairing the Trustees, to being the big man in red for our Breakfast with Santa events (shush!).”

“He’s ignored those who said it could never happen, and believed in his vision creating a fantastic community facility for Beeston Rylands and beyond.”

“Been tenac ious and committed, and battled hard whilst also battling some seriou s health issues.”

“Stewart has created a legacy for our community and should be recognised for this.”

“Without his unfailing commitment to this project which opened in June this year, it would never have got off the ground and I think you’ll agree the Centre is a very welcome addition to Beeston & The Rylands.”

d past the dilapidate “He kept walking if g yin sa s cottage and decaying lock d do something… ul wo ne eo m only so d that he would se and then he reali en meone. It has tak have to be that so e ag rit He de lsi years but the Cana s other of Beeston' an t ye w no is re Cent wn do d it is all key attractions, an is a star…and a an m e th rt, to Stewa .” hero

“He’s worked tirele ssly over at least the last ten years to create the Canalsi de Heritage Centre.”

GRAHAM MACHIN, MIDDLE STREET RESOURCE CENTRE ble is a Charita last R, which C e B th f t o n e ir a he has sp “As the ch County anisation, s. tt rg o O N d h te wit Incorpora egotiating dle Street tirelessly n ce of Mid n a u n ti n o few years c socially ensure the that offers e c la p Council to a s brings his Centre a ddition he a Resource In s. ie olunteers, it activ alues to v v d n inclusive a s e liti he can." pport qua tever way personal su ors and staff in wha visit members,

"I estim t would b a he h te the t e hard to i a m s e p whi ch b ut into and eff t e his w ort still gan w the orking when h ork, ki e fu fore ndness, ll time was , sigh w an i brin t he co sdom a d nd g to ntin u the Cen es to tre.”

TAMAR FEAST, WE DIG NG9 a When nd off la f o a are look a small a g n to to take e b t e ed stre a side a local decid s. Tamar d , n y a ff h u r from own bit scr to her ay remembe , was in s n actio ars ago ome m who s ine a few ye others saw Feast, z a ere ry mag ildlife o. Wh this ve munity her aw a tiny w ng, s m illi that co y verge, she of some w work ff lp u e r set to eh a sc With th lunteers, she ked-tyre . e g fu re d vo e stac ade fingere ttractiv of work, m d green- g, adding a it b ant Go an plantin d, in a brilli ed pallets. r, k stac Adviso rs an plante otel’ out of ts had Trip . c h a ‘bug look. If inse ould be rave have a e reviews w th

Despite the seeming best intention of the council, companies utility and other le ss corporate vandals, this li has been tran ttle corner of Beeston sformed into bio-diverse a beautiful, paradise. Yo u’ll find it o corner of W n the ilmot Lane and B Avenue. As one nominat arrydale or told us: “Every street needs a Tam ar”.

Miss Madeline Redhead, of Redhead-Scott School of Dance a dance “She has been running There are rs. yea school for over 40 re are the t bu s dio stu other dance rounding sur and on est Be in people children, areas who went there as and then nt we en ldr then their chi moved It’s nt. we en ldr their chi been has l around but the schoo tural cul and ess sin a little sung bu of ns tio era gen 3 for n institutio rs." yea pupils and over 40 "Many of h have go er pupils n professio e on to be nal dan cers and to p erf in profe orm s produc sional tions. H dance s er c is a form hool partner er pupil .S brough t pleasu he’s re to thousan ds of and pare children nts, and contrib uted to th econom e local y.” www.re dheads cott. co.uk

I Am Beeston E

***Nicola Jenkins – A Hero’s Mum***

veryone likes to be near or in water.

Most of the time, it’s harmless fun, but sometimes tragedy can occur.

Like last summer, when twelve-yearold Owen Jenkins drowned in Beeston Weir. He tried to save the lives of two girls who had fallen in. He managed to save one, but lost his life whilst trying to save the other. Through this act of selflessness, a hero was born. And as a community, Beeston cried. It felt the pain, the agony, and the loss. Just like his parents. Beeston found its way of supporting the family. It painted the town purple, through bows of ribbon, which appeared everywhere.

Owen’s mum Nicola shares her thoughts on how Beeston supported her and her family through those dark days of July and beyond in this I Am Beeston special. “I had that feeling that parents get when they know something has happened to their children.” Nicola related on how the events unfolded until Owen’s body was found. “Around four hundred people from the Rylands came out to help, and two hundred from the Clifton side. There had been a similar incident at Attenborough earlier, and the police frogmen ran to the weir, as it was quicker than driving. When I did the identification, I was expecting him to be all battered and bruised. But he had been cleaned up and looked like he was asleep.”

I wanted to know what Owen was like as a person. He looked a lot older than his tender years, and could easily pass for say sixteen.

Especially as he was already six foot one.

“He was into sport. Especially rugby. He was a member of the Nottingham Casuals. Due to his size and talent, he played in the Under 14s, rather than the Under 12s But he liked hockey and had just got into free running. He also played football, but wasn’t very good at it, due to his big feet. His friends called him the BFG (Big Friendly Giant) or ‘Giraffe’. He might have got his height from his granddad, or from his healthy lifestyle. He was never in.

He just liked to be outside. He was also a bit of a joker. Even in death. As he was twelve, staff at the QMC bought out a child sized trolley. They had to raise his knees up, so they could fit him on it!

Turning back to the community response, Nicola told me that she hadn’t touched her mobile phone for three days after the event, so had no idea of the comments that had

appeared on social media. “When I switched my phone on, I had over three hundred Facebook messages. We then started getting visitors. We only live in a small house, so it was getting a bit difficult with so many people turning up. So we met up at Owen’s Place by the weir instead, where we had picnics and played music. People brought flowers and food round, as you don’t really feel like cooking in that situation.”

“We’ve had overwhelming support from everyone. We got a donation of a hamper at Christmas. Christmas was difficult. Owen wasn’t one for asking for presents. He was happy with anything he got. He did like an extra Crunchie with his selection box though.”

Owen’s name will certainly live on through the creation of the OWEN (Open Water Education Network) charity, which is being set up by Nicola, in conjunction with the Royal Life Saving Society. Its aim is to educate children on the dangers of playing near water. Broxtowe Council has already started, through the installation of throwline stations and better signage at the weir. “The plan is make twelve, Year 8 students at Chilwell School water safety ambassadors, so they can teach younger pupils. This will be done through Liberty Leisure and the Fire and Rescue Service. We also aim to get leaflets printed that explain the dangers of playing near water. It might look calm on the surface, but the danger is underneath.”

“Owen’s Place is now on Google Maps,” said Nicola proudly. “Why did Own like purple so much?” “He used to like pink, but then one day it changed to purple. Maybe because it’s the colour of a Cadbury’s wrapper. He loved chocolate. Rainbows always appear when our charity events take place. Owen must send them. The next one is a ‘cake off’ at the Boat & Horses on March 10th. Vicky McClure and TV Bake Off contestant Jordan Cox are judging. Charlie Fogg has created the trophies. Local businesses have been very supportive. Hallam’s of course, and Hairven, through their events.”

Nicola then mentioned the memorial statue that will hopefully be installed on the anniversary of Owen’s passing. “I write to Owen every day. Just a few lines, to tell him what’s been happening. Maybe one day I’ll get them published.“ I thank Nicola for her time and give her a hug. “I’m off to watch the rugby now,” she says, getting in her car.

CDF

#5

2

Motherhood: life and death

016 and 2017 took some of our best loved celebrities, David Bowie, Charles Manson, Tinky Winky, Glenn and Abraham from The Walking Dead. The list is long.

The nation has collectively exhaled and wrung their hands at the losses which seemed to dominate the news.

It’s a strange sadness to mourn the loss of someone you didn’t know personally, a grief which must feel something like a child feels when an adult dies who they didn’t know particularly well. Over the last year 3 of my good friends have died, and my daughter has observed my grief from the sidelines, a news report featuring familiar faces but ultimately unconnected to the emotion which I was trying not to display overtly.

are allowed pudding. Time is elastic and mouldable, an element they can control with enough pleading and wishing. Forever is laughable. Mummy getting upset because she misses a friend is such a remote and strange thing to our daughter.

We’ve always been very honest with our child, she’s very intelligent and knows when we aren’t telling her the whole story. She knows our friends died through illnesses which the doctors couldn’t give them medicine for. She has realised all of us can get these illnesses

Death is such a huge and unknown quantity, forever is a ridiculous idea linked to thoughts of summer while they wait inside on rainy days or how long it will take until they

WE DON'T

and that people don’t always die when they are old. We don’t have a faith, so we can’t tell her we believe that they are in any kind of ‘better place’ or that they are happier now that they aren’t suffering. We don’t lie to her about ‘heaven’ or ask her to blindly believe what we do, she knows she’s free to believe in which ever God she chooses. (She’s currently leaning towards Hinduism because the Monkey King is ‘awesome’). She’s seen the reality of death this year and knows it’s ugly and sad and has given her bad dreams about losing her dad and I. We’ve tried to reassure her that we are healthy and unlikely to be going anywhere soon, but I feel like something has been taken from her with the deaths of my friends.

Not ‘innocence’ or anything that profound, but maybe the idea that ‘forever’ is a Thing.

Parents can leave one day and not come back, and doctors can’t cure everything. People are fallible and temporary, and time is permanent and can’t be reasoned with. It’s a sad but important lesson, and hopefully she will learn to see that the good parts outweigh the horrid parts and that there’s really no point in being mean when we can choose to be kind. Maybe she’ll grow up with a little more tolerance as a result. Or maybe she’ll just ask for more pudding, because, in the end, why not?

DL

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Can you behave properly on the Tram? Here's your chance to f ind out!

The tram has been running through Beeston for well over 2 years now, and whilst there are still a small number of boycotters, a lot of people use the tram regularly for work, pleasure, or to get to QMC to have an item surgically removed from their person.

The tram is certainly a democratic means of transport, with doctors, dentists and architects rubbing shoulders and sharing seats with tax inspectors, students, pensioners, and schoolkids.

This heady social mix can lead to some polite and not-so-polite behaviour, so where do you fit on the tram etiquette scale?

Tram ETIQUETTE On the platform 1) Prior to your journey, you make your way along the platform after having purchased a ticket or scanned your card. What do you do next?

a) Take a seat in the shelter, or wait patiently on the platform out of everyone’s way.

b) Loiter in front of the ticket machine, but move out of the way when you realise you are blocking it for others.

c) Lean on the card reader and get absorbed in your smartphone, preventing people from scanning their card.

2) The tram arrives, pulls up, and the doors open. Do you:

a) Hang back and wait until everyone has got off before entering.

b) Try to get on quickly to bag a seat, but stop and retreat when you realise it is clearly futile until a bloke on a shopmobility

scooter has exited first.

c) Barge straight on, elbowing a gang of grannies, a bloke on crutches and a heavily pregnant woman out of the way in the process.

On the tram 3) You have recently downloaded a few new tracks by your favourite artist which you locate on your phone. How do you listen to them?

a) Discreetly, with the headphone volume quite low so as not to disturb the toddler sleeping in her pushchair next to you.

b) Fairly loud, but are happy to turn it down if anyone complains.

c) Full whack, throwing in plenty of foot-taps and the occasional stamp for good measure.

4) Your musical pleasure is interrupted with a call to your mobile. How do you respond?

a) Your ringer volume is turned down, so you just let it discreetly go to voicemail so you can call back later.

b) Answer it after a couple of rings, telling the caller that you’re on a tram and you will call them back when you get off.

c) Stare at your phone (the deafening ringtone of which is the guitar riff from ‘Man I Feel Like a Woman’ by Shania Twain)

for about 20 seconds deciding whether to answer or not. Take the call, and spend 15 minutes loudly chatting shit about

the weather, celebrity gossip, and which is the best fast food restaurant on Parliament Street.

5)

The tram is very busy, and you are forced to stand right up flat against the doors. When it halts at the next stop, do you: a) Step out onto the platform to let other travellers off before getting back on. b) Turn sideways to give people a bit of room to enter and exit. c) Stand rooted to the spot like a statue of a moron, as folk try to squeeze past.

6) After a bit of movement of people at a busy stop, you find yourself standing near the aisle bit between the rows of seats.

Do you:

a) Move right down into the seat area to create space for others to move into.

b) Shuffle towards the seats a bit as a token gesture.

c) Stay right where you are as you’ve got a good pole to lean against whilst you play Farmville on your phone.

7)

You have a bit of a cold which is causing a runny nose. How do you deal with it? a) Blow your nose nice and quietly. b) Do one great big sniff and hope that clears it. c) Continually sniff and snotgobble every few seconds for the entire journey.

8)

You are feeling peckish, having just picked up a bag of groceries, what do you do about it? a) Wait until you get off as you aren’t meant to eat on a tram anyway and your stop is only 10 minutes away. b) Stave off hunger with chewing gum, which you can’t seem to masticate with your mouth closed. c) Chomp your way slowly through two bags of scampi fries, followed by a Granny Smith and crunchy carrot sticks.

9) You are sitting on one of those flip-down priority seats for the elderly and disabled as the tram pulls into the Interchange stop. You notice an older chap with a walking stick get on board. What do you do next?

a) Stand up and offer the seat to him, holding it in the down position to make it easy for him to sit on it.

b) See if he chooses to find a seat elsewhere before you reluctantly give up your space.

c) Go back to staring at your smartphone and pretend he doesn’t exist.

10) You board a tram which is fairly quiet, and settle down on a double seat all to yourself, placing your bag on the seat next to you. At the next stop a large number of people get on. Do you:

a) Move the bag off the seat so someone else can sit down.

b) Hope there are enough alternative seats for others to sit on.

c) Keep staring at your smartphone and pretend the other passengers don’t exist.

On the road 11) You are driving your car along an unfamiliar and busy stretch of road which is for both cars and trams. Approaching a junction with two exits, one of them clearly marked ‘Tram Only’, what do you do?

a) Take the junction which isn’t marked ‘Tram Only’.

b) Choose the ‘Tram Only’ junction to see if it is a handy shortcut.

c) What ‘Tram Only’ signs?

12) You unintentionally find yourself on a section of the track which is for trams only. Do you:

a) Stop immediately, turn around when it is safe to do so and rejoin the main road.

b) Carry on going to see if it is a handy shortcut.

c) Keep on driving oblivious to your surroundings, past more ‘Tram Only’ signs, rumble strips, and the lack of road

markings, not even stopping when you see that the tarmac runs out into just track and sleepers. Eventually you ground

your car so that it gets stuck for half an hour until a rescue vehicle can tow it out.

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appy New Year Beestonians!

Let us hope you have all recovered from the toils of the festive season and the super dry period of abstinence that is now upon us.

I may be a little late to the party with this one so to speak. January is always quiet, and we are all recovering from the shear indulgence and hedonism of the month prior to that really, aren’t we? I decided to take this one a little more low-key and finally check out the (relatively) new lounger’s venue that has opened in Beeston. The Bendigo Lounge, named after Beeston born, bare knuckle fighter ‘William Abendigo Thompson’ AKA ‘Bendigo’. Bendigo moved to Beeston a little later in his life and lived in a house on Wollaton road until his passing in 1880, where to this day a blue plaque is left in commemoration.

Proudly occupying a prime spot on the High Road, the former McDonald’s site has been re-claimed and put to use. The re-fit has been quoted as costing £580,000. The Bendigo lounge opened its doors to the general public on the 15th November 2017 and I must say, I feel quite proud to live in a town where “trading patterns” were not sufficient to allow the fast food giant to take hold.

Typical fayre on offer comprises of typical British favourites such as; sandwiches, panni, salads, burgers, tapas, curry and steak. Breakfast options (for both veggies and carnivores) and a variety of coffees are also on offer. A trip to the Bendigo lounge won’t

be too damaging to the pocket either. Most menu items for mains are priced at around about £10. Brunch options are served all day and are a little less expensive at around the £6-£8 mark.

The arrival of the Bendigo lounge has filled a much needed gap in the high street and also within the town’s night-time economy. The venue serves food from the morning right through until the evening and has a menu to cater for all needs and/or preferences, including a separate vegan menu and a comprehensive list of gluten free options.

Not forgetting drinks, again we have the typical selection of teas soft drinks, wines, cocktails and draft beers. In addition there is also a variety of smoothies, milkshakes, juices and home-made favourites.

Décor is eclectically quirky. An array of lampshades litter the ceiling, whilst the walls are decorated in colourful wallpapers, set

behind a showcase of artworks, mirrors and portraits. There is even a wall decorated in stylised images of Bendigo adopting a fighting stance. The furniture has an upcycled feel and the table tops are brightly painted in an array of designs. The space is an intermediate between coffee shops and pubs and has a welcoming feel. At the front of the venue there is outdoor seating. I noticed the presence of bi fold doors. Obviously due to the weather these haven’t been opened yet, but I can imagine this would add a nice airy feel to the place come summer time.

Current offers include the “Cheeky Mondays” Where you can get a free drink or dessert with any special, burger or main, and “Tapas Tuesdays” (which is when I went) offering 3 tapas and a glass of wine for £9.95.

This offer is particularly good when shared. My companion for the evening and I both got this. We made sure to order a different trio of tapas each and found between us we had a lovely mix and match of dishes to enjoy. Service was polite and reasonably quick. The staff were all very friendly and seemingly on point despite the venue not having been open for long. For me this place gets a definitive thumbs up, and I shall most certainly be visiting again.

The Bendigo Lounge is typically open from 9am until 11pm, On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays the hours are extended until midnight. For more information please see the website on http://thelounges.co.uk/bendigo/ DB

OXJAM 2018 Aiming for £100K!

T

his year, if we have another successful Oxjam Music Festival, we have every chance of reaching the magic £100,000 in total for the eight years that Oxjam Beeston has been running - that’s our target anyway!

Last year’s Team has already had their first informal get-together and we can announce that this year’s Takeover event will be on Saturday 13th October. Apart from the main Takeover event, there is likely to be a Pub Quiz, an Unplugged/Acoustic night (possiblySeptember), a Classical concert (17th Novelber confirmed) and a Ceilidh, probably also in November.

Now is not too early to be starting the process of planning such a large and complex set

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of events - and it’s not too early for you to volunteer to get involved. Firstly, if you want to perform, look out for ‘Registration’ round about June time; during August we’ll be calling for volunteers to help on Takeover day.

If, however, you think you have a bit more time and would like to make a bigger commitment, we are looking for people to join our Team to help plan and organise the Festival. Here’s what we are looking for: • • • • •

people with project management skills people with good local knowledge of bands, artists, Beeston venues people with knowledge of sound production, PAs and so forth people with IT and/or design skills anyone who is just willing and enthusiastic

Apart from any ‘specialism’ you might be able to offer, you need to be flexible and adaptable and prepared to help out in ways you hadn’t thought of! In terms of your time commitment, it is less important how much time you have available, than that you deliver what you promise!

Finally, I’m sure you know this anyway, but all members of the team are voluntary and unpaid.

If you think you have something to offer, please email me - colintucker18@gmail.com.

I’ll arrange for you to meet with me or another member of the Team. £100K! Big ask! But we can do it, Beeston!

CT

Gossip from the

HIVEMIND

Oh 2018, how bountiful you have been for this column, how full of oddity and absurdity in the NG9 area. Yet all our lols this issue can be traced back to one place: that place up Foster Avenue ++++++++ Yes, Broxtowe Borough Council, where the lions really do seem led by the donkeys (apologise to any Equus africanus asinus readers out there). Staff are trying to do a good job under increasingly difficult circumstances, notably the scandal we mention on the front page, while the clueless councillors who set budgets and policy flap around like startled hens +++++++ That’s the last farmyard reference, we promise +++++++ Top of the list of absurdities we find the defence given to knock down our Town Hall. As transparency, accountability and democracy are ground down among our elected members, the symbol of these values, the 80-year old Town Hall, looks like it too will be beneath the bulldozers soon. It’s almost too clunky a bit of symbolism: any novelist worth her salt would baulk from such hamfisted metaphor. Is Beeston beyond satire? ++++++++ “People in Eastwood don’t know where the Town Hall is” says a Councillor at a meeting, to justify getting rid of the very building they’re debating in. As an opposition councillor is quick to point out, being unacknowledged by someone in the far north of our borough is not grounds to get rid of stuff. “That’s it lads” says the

Chinese Government “We better tear down the Forbidden City.

Reduce the Terracotta Army to dust. It seems that Mrs Scroggins of Plumptre Way, NG16, seems to have overlooked our existence!” **** Our MP weighs in “There are no plans to demolish the Town Hall!” she thunders in her newsletter, written hastily in the back of the Uber whizzing her between London TV studios. “FAKE NEWS”.

Now, we know Anna doesn’t really get involved in stuff in Broxtowe due to the demands of life in the Leicestershire countryside, but, as each one of the thousand plus respondents to the public consultation would have seen, demolition was, errr, the third option.

Fake Soubz? +++++++

“I got married there” a sprightly elderly lady tells me while I’m manning a Save The Town Hall stall. “A long time ago” she adds.

“That must have been lovely, to marry in your home town” I reply “Well, it were convenient” she replies, wistfully “He had to get his suit back by 4, and it were near the pub”. Ahhh, Beestonians, how I adore you. +++++++ So don’t let the councillors sell what is ours, don’t let them ruin a bit of Beeston’s heritage. We need to take the bull by the horns, refuse to chicken out, don’t duck responsibility’, not look gift horses in the mouth and resist until the cows come home. ++++ No, I’m not sorry. ++++ (With thanks to Stan Lee and Marie Thorpe)

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