The Beestonian 85: Spring 2023

Where to Get a Copy

Hallams, Out Of This World, Broadgate Post Office, Gill's Fish & Chips, The Cycle Inn, Bistro 66, John Flynn Opticians, The Doughmother, J&B Autos, The Commercial, The Victoria, Attenborough Nature Reserve, Canalside Heritage Centre, The Berliner, The Hop Pole, Totally Tapped, The Pottle, The Crown, The Star, The Malt Shovel, Metro, Charlie Foggs, The Little Plant Guys, Boathouse Cafe, Essen, Yellow Wood Cafe, Happy Daze, Global Village Cafe, Boat & Horses, Broadgate Barbers, The Bird Hide, Dog & Bean Cafe, The Beeston Social, JG Barbers, Plane Tree, Global Village Cafe, Nottingham Casuals RFC, Applebee's, Premier News and Essentials and events at the Bartons Garage.

The Beestonian

New year, new issue, new Editor – me! (cue excited squeal)

Regular readers will know me via the Creative Beeston column, which covers events like the excellent ABC Art Trail as well as seeks to uncover all the local creative talent in our town. My recent involvement with the superb Arts Council Funded project Thortify, led to the introduction of a self care section in the mag, this will now be headed up by our ‘Wellbeing Warrior’ Amy Gill – because mental health matters.

Like Beeston, the magazine is constantly evolving and founder Matt Turpin has pulled together a marvellous bunch of writers and a brilliant designer to collaborate with, so I am thrilled to be stepping into his shoes. Having written for the mag since 2018 (when it was still in black and white) championing creativity and getting involved in my community always reminds me how lucky I am to live in Beeston. Incidentally, I am one of those students who moved into the area to study over twenty years ago and never left!

The Beestonian is a FREE magazine which is put together by volunteers, but we are in danger of having to call it a day because of rising print costs.

Up to now, adverts from local businesses has covered the costs of producing the magazine. However, the price of printing has rocketed over the last few months, local businesses are cutting back on their advertising spend, and we don't want to produce a magazine which is all ads and no articles.

If you are a reader of The Beestonian, and you'd like to see it continue to grow, please think about making a small regular donation to help us cover the printing costs. If enough readers donate just £3 per month, this will guarantee that the magazine can continue to be produced regularly.

If you can spare £3 per month (or more), please visit our Ko-fi account page and set up the payment: www.ko-fi.com/thebeestonian and keep our lovely community magazine alive!

This Issue Brought to You by...

The Beestonian is...

Lord Beestonian: Matt Turpin

Co-founder /Resident Don: Matt Jones

Editor in Chief: Debra Urbacz

Business stuff: John Cooper

Deputy Editor /Community Editor: Christopher Frost

Communications Editor: Amy Victoria Gathercole

Rylands Community Activist: Janet Shipton

Wellbeing Warrior: Amy Gill

Music and Booze Editor: Lulu Davenport

Design & The Beest: Dan Cullen

contributors

this issue:

Tom Hibberd & Stephanie Muzzall, Jade Moore, Jess Machin, Joanna Hoyes, Danny Riley, Lucy Morrow, Tim Pollard, Scott Bennett, Amy Victoria Gathercole

Thanks to all who help us get the issue sustainable and available to all who want to read. If you’d like to help out - by advertising, promoting or writing with us, then drop us a line at thebeestonian@gmail.com. We are an absolutely independent, grassroots non-profit community magazine with the sole intention of making Beeston a wonderful place to live, work and visit.

In this issue we are proclaiming some of the wonderful things we are fortunate to celebrate as Beestonians. The Beeston Civic Society celebrates its half-century this year! That’s fifty years that our town has had the benefit of a group of willing volunteers ‘dedicated to protecting and enhancing our district.’ There are new independent businesses opening up between each issue and plenty to write about in appreciation for our more established ones. In recognition of our wide range of excellent eateries, we welcome food bloggers Tom Hibberd and Stephanie Muzzall of ‘Food Glue’ to the 2023 team.

So as spring re-energises us and brings us back outside into our green spaces, we acknowledge the disruption, unrest and protest in our wake and remain committed to our cause – to stay connected, be a pillar for our community and spotlight all that is good.

As always, we are grateful for your support. Whether you seek us out in print, follow us online, advertise with us or subscribe via Ko-Fi on our website, we appreciate it all. Look out for more social media presence this year and get in touch with us if you have something to shout about!

beeston beeston

Upclose+personal

There's always something changing in Beeston - go away for a romantic weekend in Skeggy, and by the time you've come back all sorts will have happened. Here's the latest update.

We all scream for ice cream

Beeston is the first place outside Yorkshire to have a Rassam's Creamery, bringing plenty more colour to one of the units under the cinema. Has been very popular since it opened, even during chilly weather.

Food Glue

Tom Hibberd & Stephanie Muzzall

This issue: Essen

Time for a brows(e)

There's been brilliant street art everywhere in Beeston for some time now, and now there is a gallery! One for eyebrows though. In what used to be Barnsdale's/Dawson's butchers, next door to another confusingly named shop.

You can't bank on it

Nat West bank closed their doors at the end of January, and all manner of interesting stuff has been removed from it, particularly the safes. One thing is for certain - you won't be able to get any cash out of this hole in the wall.

Slow movement

The highly anticipated public conveniences are slowly taking shape, but still not open for 'business' yet. There has been much talk about the length of time the job has taken, the excuse being that the building materials used are bog standard.

Take a stroll from the centre of Beeston towards the University, and you’ll find a place that transports me back to my childhood memories of holidays in Europe. Open the door, walk in and you are lovingly enveloped by the soft smells of cheese and cured meat. My mind wanders back to the small village Charcuteries and Fromageries that dotted the French landscape in the 1980s and 1990s and all the wonderful memories that those bring. I’m sure many of you feel the same.

The place in question is Essen General Store located at 103A High Road. Run by co-proprietors and suitably effervescent personalities Sam and Ed. Many of you will be asking ‘what is a general store?’ Checking out their website they say… ‘We specialise in cheese, charcuterie, natural wine & a wide array of artisan food. Our aim is to share our love of food & drink with you’. To you and me it’s a large Deli with seating and an extensive range of natural wines and craft beer to drink in and take away. To go with their cheese and charcuterie counters there are beautiful products for foodies that are also ideal for gifts.

The cheese fridge is the highlight of the store and is positively cosmopolitan featuring a wide range of styles from all over Europe and many from the British Isles. It’s well worth coming in and talking about what you like with Sam and Ed as they’ll able to guide you through their extensive selection. I do remember many conversations had on local social media suggesting that Beeston needed a good cheesemonger, well at long last we have one! No cheap supermarket cheddar or plastic cheese here. Sam and Ed have curated a selection of small batch cheeses, lovingly made by small producers and the prices and flavours reflect that. A little goes a long way

Children and well behaved dogs are very welcome to come in and sit with you, from experience, you may want to bring something soft for your dog (or child for that matter) to lounge on while you enjoy yourself as the floors are quite hard.

Interior

Essen is decorated in a modern industrial or Scandinavian style with exposed wood, metal and concrete. Unlike some shops which can be left somewhat stark with this treatment Essen has been softened with warm lighting, plants from another local Little Plant Guys and a cheery yellow floor. It looks very inviting on a cold winter evening, as does the outside seating on a balmy summers day. There are a few separate tables and stools at the bar however the highlight is the central long galley style table that can accommodate large groups. It’s also ideal for sharing notes about your meal with other cheese lovers that you may encounter when you sit down.

Menu

The menu consists of small plates and sharing platters with a separate sandwich board. Vegans and vegetarians will find options to suit though of course cheese features heavily! The current menu is available to view on their website and changes with the seasons/availability.

I choose the three cheese kimchi toastie from the sandwich selection served with house pickles and a jalapeño jam. The sharp pickles and jam contrasted wonderfully with the rich warming cheese interior. The bread was sourdough with an incredible crust and open texture that allows the cheese to ooze through and infuse into the surrounding bread.

To accompany my toastie I choose a pint of Cheese Riot, a 3% pale table beer in a Belgian style from local Nottingham Brewery Black Iris. Brewed in collaboration with Essen to accompany a lot of cheese! Despite featuring a low alcohol content it remains very tasty, tangy and refreshing (and not cheesy). Essen generally have four craft keg beers on tap although the range will change depending on what’s available and what they fancy.

I’m always impressed by the eclectic selection of top quality alcohol free beers and soft drinks available including Kombuchas, flavoured soda and fruit juices. There’s also filter coffee and a tea selection if you feel like something warmer.

If you want a little slice of continental life in a relaxing and welcoming environment then take the short trip to Essen and indulge yourself.

Interview

Tom and Stephanie are co-hosts of the Food Glue Podcast. Our focus is on businesses that bring people and places together. Hear the full interview on Episode Three of the Food Glue Podcast available on all podcast players.

Why did you pick Beeston for Essen?

Sam - I grew up in Beeston and my parents still live in Beeston. [the community] just fit in with what we were trying to do. Until we were here, Beeston didn’t have a cheese shop or a delicatessen, there was no independent alcohol shop. We looked at many other areas in Nottingham, but Beeston just fit really nicely with what we wanted to do.

Sam and Ed, how did you meet?

Sam - we met at Delilah, in the city centre, which I used to run and Ed was the assistant manager.

Ed - Approximately 5 years ago

Sam - through mutual friends as well, friends who have gone on to do incredible things in other places around Nottingham (editors note: more on some of these friends in the next issue) and London. We met over a love of food really, and sitting at a bar somewhere having a couple of beers, our friendship came from there.

Tell us a little bit about the range in store?

Sam - So we’ve gone a little bit mad. We are using two very well trusted cheesemongers, The Fine Cheese Company and Mons down in Borough Market, London. The cheese comes over from France each week and they mature their own cheeses. Our focus is unpasteurised (raw milk) cheese from Britain and France, because that’s what we love, the nice thing is we’ve filled a shop with things we love eating and drinking!

Ed - If we don’t like it, it doesn’t come to the shop

How do you engage with the community?

Beeston

NG9 2LH

Opening Hours: Monday 11 am–7 pm

Tuesday 11 am–7 pm

Wednesday 11 am–7 pm

Thursday 11 am–7 pm

Friday 11 am–9 pm

Saturday 10 am–9 pm Sunday 11 am–4 pm www.essen-generalstore.co.uk

Sam - the thing we really wanted to do, was communal eating. So if you come into the shop, there is one big table down the centre where we encourage people to sit together, chat together. We’ve just taken on a book group, we have a few knitting groups, the solicitors upstairs come to unwind after work. There’s enough dogs and kids in our families and friends that we want them to come in, we want them to enjoy the space. Because it’s inclusive and people can bring their dog, people can just come in and get one thing whilst out on a dog walk or the school run.

believe it or not! King-sized

Beeston is full of fascinating history. We are all aware that there used to be a private zoo in the beer garden of The Victoria, and that the town was served by an MP called Seymour Cocks for over 20 years, but did you know any of these other amazing facts about the area?

A(rea) 52?

You may have heard of Area 51 in the USA, the topsecret military base in Nevada. This is rumoured to store UFOs and the preserved remains of aliens that visited earth during the 1950s. However, not many people know that Chetwynd Barracks in Chilwell was designated as the UK's emergency equivalent back in the summer of 1998. This was in response to the early morning discovery of an extraterrestrial near the Stone Bridge over the canal by a dog walker in the Rylands.

Hasty Henry

Beeston's mysterious MP Darren Henry is on track to break the record for the least time spent in a constituency during a parliamentary term.

The Member of Parliament for Broxtowe has only spent a total of 2 hours and 37 minutes in his patch since being elected in 2019, in order to take advantage of photo opportunities. His speedy entry and exit from the area has apparently been assisted by the driving skills of his wife Caroline, the current Police and Crime Commissioner for Notts.

The existing record is held by Sir Humphrey FrenulumFiske. He spent a total of 4 hours in his Surrey constituency of Lower Furtling from 1878-82, due to being trapped in a brothel for 3 hours one January evening during a particularly heavy snowstorm.

Beeston Or Bust!

Several years ago the world was astonished when the remains of former King Richard the Third were unearthed in a Leicester car park.

But did you know that a discovery just as exciting was made at the same time, right here in Beeston?

During the tram construction, workers were digging up the car park where Bargain Booze once stood, when they discovered a large solid cylindrical object. Fearing it was an unexploded bomb, disposal experts were called in to defuse it. However, it wasn't a bomb, but something else that had 'gone off' - several thousand years ago!

It turned out to be a coprolite, which is the academic term for fossilised excrement. So the army were sent packing, and a team from Nottingham University led by Professor Angela Todd were called in to investigate. After careful excavation, they set to work restoring it to its former glory at their lab in the Highfields campus.

Hurts on Chilwell Road is famous the world over for supplying luxury blankets to newborn babies in the British Royal family. But did you know that another local lace factory, the long gone D. D. Mellens once produced a world record breaking bra for Beeston woman Norma Spelk?

Norma was originally born in Lenton, but lived on Wollaton Road from 1921 to 1947, and was well known in the area for having extraordinarily large breasts.

She was a celebrated performer, who had a song and dance routine that involved hauling numerous items out of her cleavage in time to the music. This included a rugby ball, a rolling pin, a string of sausages, finishing with a bottle of whisky which she would proceed to down in one.

Was it this... or this?

The space traveller was described as resembling a human, but was quite grotesque, bright red and wizened, appeared to be close to death, and only communicated in a series of groans.

He was taken to a secret location within the barracks under armed guard, where he was observed for several hours. After rehydrating, it turned out not to be an alien at all, but a badly sunburned and severely hung over man from Mansf ield, who had somehow ended up naked along the canal after a stag do in Nottingham city centre.

It turned out to be the largest single human stool ever recorded in the UK, measuring a whopping 26 inches long by 4 and a half inches wide. Professor Todd and her team concluded that the motion was passed at some time during the stone age, by someone who enjoyed a meatrich diet and must have been very tall.

The fossil is now on display at The British Museum, where it is categorised as exhibit 283719549. However, in a nod to the monarch discovered at the same time, it is affectionately known by museum staff as 'Richard The Turd'.

Norma continually had to repair her undergarments due to wear and tear caused by her act, and eventually commissioned Mellens to manufacture her a purpose-built brassiere in 1937. It was confirmed by Guinness World Records to have been the largest one ever measured, and was used in publicity by local brewer Shipstones. The bra featured in an advert for their Milk Stout, each cup holding a barrel of the beer, suspended by a delivery dray crane outside The Malt Shovel on Union Street.

Norma left Beeston not long after the second world war, to pursue a career in showbiz across the pond in America, under the stage name Norma Snockers. Sadly she didn't make it - she missed the ship she was due to catch from Liverpool after heavy storms had delayed her train, and ended up becoming a nun.

An artists impression of our MP

The garment under construction at D.D. Mellens

John Cooper

*Please note: this statement is not true

This issue: Talk Talk

SelecBowta

You know how I seem to take a perverse pride in being constantly late with submitting my articles for THE BEESTONIAN ? Well I took it a bit far last issue and didn’t get anything in on time at all, to my sincere regret.

I won’t go into details but one day a man I’d known and loved for over forty years just wasn’t there any more, and it was like being hit by a steam train. We were like brothers (brothers who actually liked each other too) and all I could do was try to offer any support I could to his wonderful and utterly inconsolable wife Angela.

These days sadly I know several people who’ve lost life-partners and it’s a hard club to be in; the price of joining is losing both your present and your shared future and even now, over five years after losing my beloved Sally sometimes it’s still too much. To see it happen to someone else you really care about is more than heartbreaking.

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I’d even been to one of the regular editorial meetings (I say regular, the meetings themselves are regular but I think it was the first one I’ve attended myself due to timings, circumstances, flat tyres, friends coming in from out of town, tidal waves etc. - you know, the usual stuff). But at this meeting I’d suggested doing something a little different with my article - as to be frank there’s precious little going on in the world of Robin Hood (unless you count the astounding debacle over the future of Nottingham Castle which isn’t overly connected to Beeston).

So we talked about me doing a piece on mental health, looking to see what provision there was in Beeston for people struggling post-Covid, post-bereavement, post-being young and not knowing where to look for help - or indeed simply having the time or opportunity to go out, make new friends and find a place to feel comfortable amongst others who may also be in need of help. And not just people like me either, our esteemed editor (as was, we have a new esteemed editor now but they’re both magnificent, honestly) suggested I work with another, younger person to cover all the aspects of support and mental health provision in Beeston. There’s a group, I was told, that meets at the Pearson Centre that is doing some great work. Would I be interested in visiting and covering that? Absolutely, I said. And meant it.

And then, entirely unexpectedly, my best friend died.

But us talking about it frankly, from a perspective of someone who knows how it feels has, she says, helped her. To know she’s not going mad, that someone else felt - and still feels - the same way and although we both wish fervently we didn’t have such dreadful loss in common there’s an empathy that binds everyone who has shared it.

And that makes me realise even more how valuable it is to have groups in our town that provide a place to support and help anyone who needs to talk about their feelings, how overwhelmed they are. How sometimes even just getting out of bed is a victory. That people in need don’t have to deal with loss of friends, partners, children or other family, nor suffer grief, stress, pain or other issues alone. That other people around us care, understand and are willing to share their own experiences to help others, both to heal - and to be healed themselves in small groups and our wider community, something that at some point we may all truly benefit from and perhaps desperately need.

So hopefully by next issue I’ll be able to tell you more about it, that for once I haven’t missed the deadline – and just possibly that the Castle has reopened.

Or two out of three, at least.

Dedicated to my much-missed and wonderful friend, Andrew ‘Pank’ Szczepankiewicz. TP

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“...other people around us care, understand and are willing to share their own experiences to help others”

This issue: Shane Meadows Film Director

beeston

speaks

Featured Artist: Alan Birchall

One of the veterans of the ABC Art Trail, Alan of Red Lion Pottery is well known for his wood ash glazed stoneware pottery. He creates both decorative and functional pieces, which are individually thrown and fired in his hand built wood-fired kiln at his home studio in the heart of Beeston. You can find out more about where his influences originate and how those distinctive glaze effects are produced via the QR link.

II was born in Uttoxeter in the West Midlands. It was a home birth on a Boxing Day. It must have been a difficult birth, as my mum broke two of the legs of the bed she was on, so my dad had to go and find a couple of house bricks to prop the bed up.”

“I wasn’t that good at school. I wanted to study photography at college, but didn’t have any qualifications, So I got into Intermedia in Nottingham, where I studied film making. I travelled there from my home in Burton on Trent. That was in 1992. One of the best pieces of advice I got was to make a short film every month. Could be about anything.

It was an exercise about how to make a film. Then I had to choose the best of the twelve to show people. It’s how I started in the business.”

“I moved to Beeston in 2007. My wife Jo is from the area. I met her in 1996, when I was living in Staffordshire. We’ve been together now for 15 years.”

“Beeston has a nice sense of community. It reminds me of my hometown, but still has its own identity. It’s definitely a place that’s on the up. There’s a good mix of people.

I enjoy running and biking, around the streets or at Attenborough Nature Reserve. I like going to the Hop Pole. It’s a

proper pub and Karen is a great landlady. I also like going to Totally Tapped. Not forgetting some of Beeston’s great cafes, like Greenhood and Cartwheel. During the pandemic, I felt relieved that I could go to Beeston’s library, to do some writing, rather being at home.”

“I’ve tried to move the sound mixing of my films from London. So now I can take the tram into the city centre, instead of a train to London. It was a privilege to open the Arc Cinema. It’s a real asset for Beeston. I would have loved to have worked with Richard Beckinsale. He was an honest and open actor.”

The Drawers of Delights

Christopher Frost

Wh at can one say about Applebee’s, other than it is one of the oldest shops in Beeston and has been part of the town’s fabric for just over 100 years now

You want a toy car? Go to Applebee’s. A 25mm washer? Try Applebee’s. A fuse for your clock radio? Applebee’s are bound to have one. In fact, no matter how strange the request Applebee’s are bound to have it somewhere in their Aladdin’s cave of stock.

Started in 1920 by Reginald Applebee, on the High Road at number 64, they moved across the road into number 63, a former Hemmings the Chemists in October 1933, it became an institution for Beestonians in search of an item to help mend, entertain or clean something in their life.

The shop was happily ticking along until 2003, when the owner of the building decided to convert it and number 65, an estate agency, into one shop. Applebee’s had to find a new home. It did at the bottom of Wollaton Road, where it remains, much to the joy of us locals.

Applebee’s has always been a family run business. The latest is Stacey Graham, the great granddaughter of Reginald. Saturday morning might not be the best time to conduct an interview in a busy shop, but between customers, Stacey and I had a good chat about the business.

Firstly, I asked Stacey when she took over the running of the shop. “I took over last November. I used to help in the shop when I was younger, so I was destined to take over one day. Now my children help me out on Saturday, so hopefully they will run it when they are older.”

Have you made many changes since you took over? “I’ve reintroduced Airfix kits, and they are very popular. People buy them, make them, and then bring them into the shop for me to display.” I notice about a dozen on the counter, ranging from a couple of Spitfires to some American jet fighters. There’s also a couple in the window, together with a model railway. “There used to be a model railway at the old shop, so I thought I’d bring that back too. And the old-fashioned practical jokes, that children buy to play on their parents, like they did on theirs.”

When I was a youngster in the 70s, I always had to pop into Applebee’s on a Saturday morning to buy one or two Matchbox models that I didn’t have, from the 75 that they made at any one time. There was always a stepped display of them in the window so people could see what they wanted. “It was my and my sister’s job to move them around on the display. Put the most popular one in the number one spot.”

Besides Saturday, what are the other busiest times of the week?

“Generally, it’s Mondays and Fridays.” And what happens if you can’t help a customer? “I’ll send them up to Hickling’s, and if they can’t help with something, then they’ll send that customer to me”. It’s that 1-2-1 service and advice that independents excel with.

Of course no visit to Applebee’s isn’t complete until you’ve seen those rows of drawers behind the counter. “All the fittings came from the old shop. We were lucky that those tall cupboards fitted, as the ceiling in this shop is a lot lower. The drawers originated from the former chemists Hemmings. You can still smell the chemicals in a few of them.”

Two guys come into the shop looking for a nut that would fit an item that they had bought in. Stacey then pulls one of the drawers out and starts hunting for a suitable one. I say “goodbye”, as she finds one that looks like it is the right size.

H

Barton's

a history of the bus in 71/2 paragraphs

STREET SMOKEFOOD UP

the garage market The Bartonian Edition 1 Matt Turpin

istory is the story of Mavericks, and few places do better at creating them than Nottsand by extension, BeestonDH Lawrence, Lord Byron, Paul Smith, Sleaford Mods, Susanna Clarke….all have cut their own unique swathe, but no list would be complete without Thomas Humber Barton, who filled a bus with passengers and took them around Mablethorpe, perhaps the first motor bus service in Britain.

The Barton family had long been known for quarrying and stone masonry, but from an early age Thomas had shown a fascination with making things move, handily at a time when the first motorised vehicles were appearing. Thomas was a born tinkerer, and would play around with engines to constantly improve. By 1908 he was confident enough to make this official, and set up Bartons, whisking a bus full with 28 avid passengers from Long Eaton, Chilwell and Beeston to Goose Fair. Barton's Buses was now up and running, and would change the way we see public transport.

Expansion was rapid, and regular buses were chugging up and down the local roads. The outbreak of war in 1914 could have cut short the dream, but Barton simply repurposed for the war effort, running workers to and from the Chilwell Shell Filling factory. With fuel rationed, Barton hit on the idea of sticking a big bag of gas on the roof of the bus, which would slowly deflate as the fuel was used up. There were many who assumed that this would simply be too dangerous. but

Barton was wise to the physics. If it was to leak or ignite, it would do so upwards, out of harms way. Doubts were quelled, and soon the company were making the bags for other companies. In 2023, as public transport increasingly moves towarss using natural gas to cleanly power fleets, remember Beeston was a century ahead.

Bartons grew into a huge company, and their distinctive coaches with the Robin Hood logo and evocative maroon, cream and red livery (not to mention the mildly trippy upholstery) were a fine sight to see, and a finer sight to ride on: anyone over 40 who grew up round here will wistfully tell you tales of travels to Bramcote Baths in a luxury not usually enjoyed in anything with the prefix ‘public-’ in it.

In 1989, they were merged into Trent Barton Buses still very much running. Yet Barton’s spirit didn’t see itsself snuffed out into history. Scion of the clan, Simon Barton, had plans, and in 2011, during the first Beeston Oxjam, I recall us both rather tipsily

deciding that this would do for Beeston what the Hacienda did for Manchester. It didn’t happen that way: the Hacienda itself blew out after a few years, while Barton’s just got better, re-branding itself as The Garage . From live music, stand-up comedy and street food festivals to club nights and weekly markets, The Garage is perhaps one of the most versatile spaces in the UK, and it is going from strength to strength. Simon and his offspring have taken that inherited habit of tinkering and that unquenchable need to be a Maverick and turned it into a something remarkable.

Thomas Humber - the Guv’nor - would be proud of his ongoing legacy. MT

sports + clubsocial

comedy club

the ruin bar

regularevents2023

regular events list the garage 2023

Our massive, monthly festival of international food, live music, craft beers and cocktails. Tantalising, award- winning street food from up to 6 kitchens, fantastic live music with everything from Latin-infused trios to 21-piece big bands, all alongside local beers and an amazing atmosphere.

A sprawling urban market hall full of passionate independents. With a popup café and beer garden, visiting book and plant shops, patisserie, artisan coffee, award-winning meats plus local ales and craft beers, our bohemian market is rapidly becoming a must visit destination for the East Midlands.

the garage market

1st, 3rd & 4th Sundays each month 10am - 2pm

the farmers market

+sports social club

Last Weekend of the month Friday 5pm - 10pm Saturday 1pm - 10pm

Working with the area’s best food and drink producers, The Farmers Market hosts up to 25 small independent businesses. With a range of artisan breads, cheeses, patisseries, pies, eggs, fresh vegetables, dairy and meats as well as locally made beers, ciders, wines, gins, rums and whiskeys.

2nd Sunday of the month Sunday 10am - 2pm

Enjoy live sports during the biggest fixtures of the year at the Sports & Social Club, a huge fanzone complete with the largest indoor sports screen in the Midlands and a thumping sound system. The perfect place to experience live sports in an exhilarating atmosphere. Please check our website for updates

Our Comedy Club brings the UK’s top comedians to one of Nottingham’s most unique venues. With acts from Mock the Week, Have I Got News For You, Live at The Apollo and Britain’s Got Talent, this is the sell-out show you need to see.

Penultimate Friday of the month

Friday 7pm - 10:30pm

STREET SMOKEFOODUP the ruin bar

Beeston takes on Budapest as The Garage transforms into one of Hungary’s best known nightlife attractions: The Ruin Bar. Expect to find old buses, bikes, historic Nottingham relics and nature taking over in our themed abandoned bar. Voted one of Nottingham’s coolest bars in 2021. Please check our website for updates

comedy club

Survive & thrive

Purpose built and first used as the home of Barton Transport Limited (Bartons) from 1913, The Garage was the official base of a family firm that went on to become, for a time, the largest independent bus operator in Western Europe.

Over the last 15 years The Garage has undergone quite a surprising transformation, and now it’s the atmosphere often compared to the best parts of bohemian London or something from your favourite European city people know it for. It's gaining a reputation as an amazing cultural venue for, well, just about anything you can think of.

Over the last decade, The Garage has hosted anything from Warehouse Parties, Beer Festivals, Indoor and Drive in Cinemas, Modern Art Exhibitions and Food Festivals to Stand-Up Comedy, Silent Discos, Music Festivals, and artisan Markets.

Keep up to date with everything happening at The Garage this year

Janet

Rylands residents have a wealth of outdoor space including water ways, big skies and green spaces to enjoy, and from Spring 2023 onwards we will also benefit from an increase in indoor space with the long-awaited opening of the New Plessey Club.

The new building at the end of Victory Road on the north west side of the Rylands has been provided as part of the requirements placed on the builders of the new housing development that it forms part of.

Beeston Rylands Community Association (BRCA) is a Rylands based charity whose sole aim is to work to improve and enhance the lives of residents living in the Rylands and the surrounding areas. They currently run the Leyton Crescent Community Centre and are delighted to have been given the opportunity to expand their work by taking on the running of this new building.

In late December I was fortunate to have the opportunity to have a sneak preview of the new building, and although there was still plenty of work to do before completion, I was able to see enough to recognise the potential and vast possibilities of the building. What struck me was the expansive nature of the function room, along with lovely modern kitchen and bathroom facilities, and obviously all is wheelchair and pushchair friendly.

The new building has a function room big enough for the largest of social event hire, and perfect for ambitious community activities. There is also a comfortable sized meeting room. BRCA intend to ensure it compliments rather than competes with the publicly and privately owned community spaces already available within the Rylands.

Amanda Claire Millington Development Officer for BRCA explained that Leyton

Crescent centre will remain the perfect space for community groups like The Friday Club, Support Through Sport, Kung Fu, Fitter Sitters, Kids Parties and the like, and the Plessey Club will offer something more for adults in the community.

The space will be available to private and group hire, and whilst it’s unlikely to host sequined ballroom dancing, or the crowning of Miss Plessey like its predecessor, it will host a variety of events scheduled by BRCA to offer something for everyone, including games nights, live comedy, musical acts etc.

For further updates, keep an eye on social media posts by BRCA.

To have your say on what you’d like to New Plessey Club to offer, you can contribute to their online survey at: forms.gle/t8sqqsxV5EC415Fd8 JS

Shipton BARTON BARTON

This month: New Plessey Club

Beeston Debra Urbacz

This month: Embracing the New Road

You would be forgiven for believing that receiving a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease is something more likely to be associated with the elderly, but as I have recently discovered this is often not the case. Janet was forty-seven when she was diagnosed with PD and once she was through the initial stages of rage and denial, she drew on her astounding inner reserves and began to challenge herself in a way that many people with an incurable illness probably wouldn’t even consider.

But no cure didn’t mean no hope to Janet, and once treatment to help manage the symptoms began, she was intent on maintaining her fulfilling lifestyle and encouraging others to do the same. On top of all the community work she already did, she threw herself into arranging fundraising and awareness raising events and more recently forming a theatre group, with her friend Shelia North, who is also has Parkinson’s. Pretty soon they rallied a team together and could begin working towards their first performance.

Parky Players are a group of individuals, some of whom have Parkinson’s and some who don’t. The concept was arrived at during a Zoom meeting at the start of the first lockdown, when Janet suggested to the others in the Parkinson’s support group, that they needed a project to work on to help keep them occupied and focused on moving forward, at a time when they perhaps needed to experience this the most.

does include a delightful version of Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off! Not sorry for the earworm.

Janet explains to me that the cast are either PWPs or PUPs, ‘People with Parkinson’s’ and ‘People who Understand Parkinson’s’, and her character introduces them this way as the performance begins. It’s a humorous pastiche of the Grimm’s Fairy Tale classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and it’s a riot! The narrative begins with a community group turning up for their weekly meeting, they are somewhat surprised then to find themselves thrust into the fantasy world of ‘Snow White and the Seven Symptoms’. Each character represents one of the common symptoms of Parkinson’s. It’s a story of self development, the underlying mantra ‘Acceptance, Adaptation, Ambition.’

With tenacity and shovels full of determination, ‘hi ,ho, hi, ho, it’s off to work we go,’ the team pulled together to get the original script Seven go Fracking to performance standard, putting in their practice at Beeston Rylands Community Centre, where the pantomime inspired play had its first performance. Encouraged by the response, the ‘Players’ sought advice regarding Arts Council Funding and enlisted the support of local Director Rachel Green (Drama Queen) and Producer Dan Webber. With an expanding team and a professional rewrite under their belts, they continued to improve on their performance, ambitious about widening their audience and spreading their message.

Shake it Up is the result of many months of writing, rewriting and performing to produce a feel good comedy drama that highlights the struggles and dispels the myths surrounding Parkinson’s disease. Named after one of the most common symptoms (tremors) the title also suggests that some of the misconceptions may well be turned on their head – and yes it

Janet explains, "being given the opportunity by Arts Council England to form Parky Players and create Shake It Up has developed opportunities well beyond those envisaged at the beginning of this project. As a group of complete novice actors, we have gained new skills, self-esteem, and pride in ourselves and our outcomes.” The journey hasn’t always been easy, lockdowns, health issues, financial pressures and discord were all obstacles they had to overcome. But they did! Following hugely successful performances at the Museum of Making, Derby and the Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham in July 2022 The Parky Players were gearing up for their esteemed slot at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, just a short month away at The Space UK. Go, Parky Players!

‘The Road’, an original song written by members of the cast and composer Charlotte Daniel, is the closing song in the play. It’s an honest and emotive response to a diagnosis that changes your whole perspective on life. But far from being a lament, this song is uplifting and courageous, and it rounds the performance off perfectly for me, with a conclusion that being diagnosed with Parkinson’s is not the end of the road but the start of a different journey - albeit at a slower pace. It’s about having courage to build a ‘new’ road, ‘accepting, adapting’ and keeping dreams alive.

The song delivers a powerful message. If you listen closely you can detect the swell of pride in the words, in each sentence shared by the cast members, the point of which could resonate with anyone who is feeling overwhelmed by the heady pace of modern life. You can indeed "brave to step out of the race."

To add to all the previous success, Parky Players won The World Parkinson’s Coalition Song Contest in 2022 for ‘The Road’. Their song was up against 47 others, from 37 artists from 19 countries at the World Parkinson’s Song Competition in December and will now be performed by the World Parkinson’s Congress Choir at the opening ceremonies of the World Parkinson’s Congress in Barcelona in July 2023.

The World Parkinson’s Choir is a united voice ensemble, coming together as one global Parkinson’s community connecting through song! Voices will join collectively from all over the world, each person bringing unique qualities to the group dynamic, and to the musical output of the chorus.

Not content to just have achieved all of this, which in itself is amazing, the Parky Players are now looking for support to get ‘The Road’ in the charts and are continually fundraising to extend their reach with both Shake it Up and perhaps a follow up.

A trailer for the show can be seen here: www. youtube.com/watch?v=gYmKXMTPBdA

Here’s a link to the recording of the song, and the video featuring the Parky Players:youtu.be/ OcoYz0wq3H4

Just giving page: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ sevengofracking?utm_term=MmpxBk36K.

“It’s a humorous pastiche of the classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and it’s a riot!”

This issue: Under the weather

Last week I was ill. I had the flu, not a sympathy sniffle, a proper, full fat flu. It was the first time in ages. I spent three days rolled up in a duvet, hot water bottle on my butt cheeks and a flannel draped across my forehead.

Occasionally the children would come and visit me, like I was the Pope lying in state. Tiptoeing into the darkened bedroom, stooping down to look in horror at my sweaty face before retreating back to their devices.

The sweat was unlike anything I’d encountered before. You could have wrung me out. I was like a human wash leather. I was hot, then I was cold, the hot again, ricocheting back and forth like I was playing thermostat tennis with my eldest daughter. I didn’t know whether to put on a scarf or some flip flops.

I’d inherited this batch of illness from my wonderful children. These guys are the perfect vessels for transmitting coughs and colds. Small, portable and endlessly sociable. These creatures spend school playtimes just licking each other’s faces and then bringing it into the family home. Once it’s in, it ain’t ever coming out, it’s like Wotsit dust on a car upholstery.

I am a terrible patient. I hate being ill. At least with a hangover there is there a reason for your inactivity. When you’re ill you are essentially just waiting. I tend to cope by firing relentless questions at my wife Jemma:

“Will I ever be well again?”

“What is happening to me?”

“Is it kidney failure? Is it my heart? Should I write a will?”

I thought about ringing the doctors, but they haven’t seen patients since the late nineties, so that’s not an option. The NHS 111 service was considered but quickly discounted. It’s just a cold and I don’t think my situation would be improved by spending an hour waiting to have a chat with a Grandma who has access to Google.

I do perversely enjoy the initial moment of coming down with a cold. Sure you feel terrible but it’s the perfect alibi for pausing life. As an adult with two children, those moments don’t come around too often. All those social engagements can wait. You’re looking at a day in your pants watching box sets and letting someone bring you soup and Lucozade. You’d really enjoy it if you didn’t feel like you’d spent the morning in a washing machine.

I can even cope with a runny bottom for a few days. I find that there is a strange sense of euphoria to that. Be honest, who doesn’t like that porcelain throne caressing your southernmost cheeks, it’s a sensation that is never unpleasant. Also, three days on the toilet, feels like a purging of your system. People pay hundreds of pounds to have treatments like this, in health clinics and spa weekends, and yet you’re getting it for free and you haven’t had to travel anywhere.

Last year I had a bout of gastric flu. It was so violent, I thought I was going leave my lungs in the bog. After being ill for a fortnight, living on a diet of Dioralyte and dry bread, I emerged back into civilisation. I saw someone in town, and the first thing they said to me?

“You’ve lost weight mate, you look amazing!”

I would have had the same results if I’d spent six weeks in solitary confinement.

When you’re ill and you have kids it’s tough. It’s basically just normal parenting, but with a massive headache. You might be grey, have a stomach as sensitive as Twitter and feel so dizzy it’s like you’ve had seven Jager bombs, but your children don’t care. They want you to make them that cheese toastie, even if doing so pushes you close to death.

It could’ve been much worse of course, my wife Jemma could be the one ill in bed. As long as the router was still working those kids wouldn’t know I was out of the game.

Last year Jemma was ill and the kids were lost. I still remember how desperate they were:

“Mummy is in bed she’s poorly”

“Ok Daddy, so when will she be well then?”

The equilibrium was wrong, when the general is down, the troops need guidance and I clearly wasn’t isn’t the one to give it. It wasn’t long before morale hit rock bottom and they were planning to overthrow me. I had about as much authority as a supply teacher faced with covering double maths on the last day of term.

Before I was ill, I’d heard the week before, that “there’s a lot of it going round” which is the standard British response when you hear that someone is ill. None of us are medically trained, we are about as much of a Doctor as Dr Pepper was, but we still feel able to offer our expert medical opinion. We then add to this razor sharp assessment by saying things like, “it just seems to hang around” “I’m still not right” and other such useless nonsense.

Being laid up with the flu is great for British people, it gives us something to talk about. It gives us an extra personality. I think the fact that we know we’re going to be able to tell people about how ill we have been, aids in speeding up our recovery. We can slam away as many paracetamol as possible, but nothing cures us quicker than the prospect of going into work and telling everyone just how close to death we were, like a soldier returning from the frontline. We don’t have Purple Hearts but we do have Honey and Lemon Lockets.

The other joy of having a cold and working for a company is being able to go in and be seen to be battling through it. Telling everyone how rubbish you feel, without actually going home. Just sharing the germs with all your colleagues, offering to make tea, sniffing through meetings, sneezing over the printer and working like an assassin, gradually taking out more staff than Alan Sugar.

But there is no fun being ill when you’re selfemployed let me tell you. You can’t call in sick to yourself can you? Even if you could, you wouldn’t, you’re just admitting defeat. When you work for a company you can embrace the loving glow of their sick pay policy. Just succumbing to it, laying on the sofa watching Loose Women, knowing that the money is still pouring in, just like the snot from your nasal cavities.

Self-employed people are famous the world over, for dragging themselves out of their sick beds, sniffing a Berocca and ploughing on like Olympic athletes. Have you ever heard of a tradesmen turning down work because they aren’t feeling one hundred percent? Of course you haven’t, they don’t do it. We had builders in the house last year none of them had a single day off. Every morning I could hear them through the floorboards, relentlessly coughing along to Smooth Country. It sounded like our extension was being built by a clone army of Tom Jones’s.

My Dad was a painter and decorator and my mother a hairdresser. I can’t recall them ever taking a day off. Which was a nightmare for me when I wasn’t well. They had zero sympathy, Darth Vader showed more humility

than those two. I’d done my best acting too. It was up there with Macbeth. Stomach cramps, a temperature, when walking to the toilet I made sure to make use of each step, stumbling along in a dressing gown, looking like a new born chick walking for the first time. It didn’t matter, they’d have taken me into school on a stretcher and tipped me into assembly rather than let me rest at home.

Actually, this isn’t true, they would have made me walk in myself.

Everyone has got their own remedies for getting over the flu. These cover the full spectrum from pharmacy to actual witchcraft.

Most people put their faith in paracetamol and a hot water bottle. The classic combination, a double act of disease if you will. I’m a big fan of the head over a bowl of Vicks Vaporub. Visually its quite dramatic isn’t it? I still remember coming in from school to see my Dad hunched over the table, a tea towel draped over his head. It looked like I’d wandered into some sort of ritualistic sacrifice. It can be quite painful though can’t it? Sure, you can breathe easily afterwards but that eucalyptus makes your eyes look like you’ve just been tear gassed.

Vicks can be quite dangerous, especially when your brain is addled with flu. Many men have experienced that moment where you’ve forgotten you have this stuff on your hands and have casually given your undercarriage a bit of a tickle. The pain is something else. I once used a shampoo with tea tree in it, when that stuff gets on the crown jewels its almost pleasurable, but get Vicks anywhere near your privates and you’ll be doubled up in agony and asking for your Mummy.

The hot toddy, a strong whisky with lemon and herbs is a favourite with Irish folk. They swear by it, literally. Six of those and you forget you’ve even got a cold, mainly because you’re now stood in a dressing gown, shouting at traffic. It’s not a massive stretch in the imagination to think that anything with alcohol in makes you feel better is it? There is one key ingredient involved isn’t there? Alcohol. Rum, whiskey, brandy, basically anything that gets you drunk and makes you forget that you feel like a re-animated corpse and we will all down it in the name of our health!

Occasionally though someone will wade in with something so wild it catches you off guard.

“Chopped up eggs in a cup, that’s what you need”

“Yes, I do, if I was living in the middle ages! How about trying some leeches under the tongue after that? Or gargling the blood of a pheasant whilst hanging upside down?”

Is this advice or a punishment?

Perhaps I could swap my bed for a torture rack and send my children down the workhouse for the week.

Chopped up eggs, really? Brilliant idea that mate, where did you get your medical degree? A truckers café? How about a couple of sausages for toothache, a rasher of bacon for my bad back or some black pudding for my sciatica?

I think I’m going to start my own remedy. Just see if I can get it to catch on. You feeling ill? What you need is to get some herbs, stem ginger and fifteen litres of used engine oil. Rub it all on your chest and then do laps of the bathroom whilst holding a live chicken and reciting passages from the Bible. Do that three times a day between meals and you’ll be back to work before the weekend.

Most of these remedies don’t work. They are like family heirlooms, passed down throughout the generations. None have been tested, none of them scrutinised, it’s all guess work. However I think we can all agree, it’s still probably more effective than Homeopathy.

Sleep, that’s the answer. Everything is solved by a good night’s sleep isn’t it? It’s hard when you’ve got a raging temperature though. Those fever dreams are scarier than Hellraiser. In one night I had to arm wrestle my accountant, build a dry stone wall with Rylan and learn to walk with six legs. I was knackered when I woke up, I’d been on more trips than Michael Palin.

So get well soon folks, rest up and relax. But do go steady with the Vicks and for God’s sake, if you’re a man, do please remember to wash your hands.

Scott Bennett Comedian www. scottbennettcomedy.co.uk Twitter - @scottbcomedyuk Instagram - @ scottbcomedyuk The Brand New Podcast “Brew With the Bennett’s” on Apple Music, Acast and Spotify Now!

Scott’s greatest hits tour “Great Scott!” is on sale now, for tickets go to:

www.scottbennettcomedy.co.uk/live

I don't feel at all well...

This month:

Nutritional Therapy

Sweet potato and coconut soup from The Plant Programme by Jane Plant

this is a brilliant book and the recipes are based around balancing hormones so is great for peri/ menopausal women!

You are What you Eat!

Iam sure many of us have heard this being said many times to us but where does the phrase come from?

It is said that it originally appeared in 1862 when Jean Anthelme BrillatSavarin, a French lawyer, politician and famous gastronome wrote “Dis -moi ce que tu manges, je te dirai ce que tu es,” which translates to ‘Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are’.

INGREDIENTS

As for me personally, this is literally true as the nutrients from the food we eat provides the foundation of the structure, function and integrity of every little cell of our body, from the skin to hair, muscles, bones and our digestive systems and immune systems. Our body is constantly repairing, healing and rebuilding. Believe it or not, every cell in our body has a ‘shelf life’, for example the cell life of our stomach is a day or two, the skin cell lives for about a month and a red blood cell lives for about four months. Thus everyday our body is making new cells replacing those that have ‘expired’, therefore good nutrition determines how healthy those new cells will be.

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into bitesize chunks

1 small onion chopped

3-4 cloves of garlic

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp lime or lemon juice

1 tbsp ginger, peeled and chopped 1 red chilli, chopped

2 tbsp coriander, chopped 400ml coconut milk

1 litre vegetable or chicken stock Optional - 4 lime leaves, 1 stalk lemongrass, cut into 2cm pieces

METHOD

Heat the oil in a pan, stir fry the onion for 2-3 mins

Add the garlic, ginger, chilli, lemongrass and lime leaves (if using). Stir fry for 1-2 mins

Pour in the coconut milk, stir and bring to a simmer

Add the sweet potato, simmer for 7-8 minutes, then add stock and bring back to a simmer

When the sweet potato is tender (check after 10 minutes) remove lime leaves and lemongrass (if using) and blend the soup. Stir in the lemon / lime juice and serve with coriander leaves on top.

Deborah now sees a range of clients via Taylored Nutrition and she offers 3 packages to help people struggling with health issues. Each plan or package provides the time to thoroughly explore each individual's underlying imbalances, make timed gradual changes and focus on unique nutritional and lifestyle needs in addition to helping people stay motivated to achieve their aim. Each package includes an initial consultation of 60 minutes, the follow up sessions depends on the package an individual signs up for, e mail support tailored nutrition and lifestyle recommendations. Should you require more detailed information about the package, kindly visit her website; www.taylorednutrition.org

Taylored Nutrition specialises in gut health issues including bloating, abdominal pain, gas, diarrhoea, constipation and IBS type symptoms and her main area of interest is to support women with Perimenopause and Menopause symptoms such as poor sleep, mood swings,bloating, cognitive and memory problems, low libido, painful sex, stress, anxiety, irregular periods , bladder function problems, weight gain, fatigue and hot flushes

Now that we are aware that good nutrition is very crucial, how do we even start? Recently I was in conversation with a Nutritional Therapist that gave me an insight of the importance of good nutrition to support our health and wellbeing.

Deborah Taylor of Taylored Nutrition

A period of illness in 2013 prompted Deborah to make some changes to her diet and lifestyle, she even swapped her beauty products for more natural alternatives. It was during the months of treatment following her illness that she started to read more about dietary and lifestyle interventions that helped her support her recovery. Incorporating these changes into her everyday life gave her a sense of control over her diagnosis and treatment, these changes helped her both physically and mentally and gave her renewed vitality, energy and a massive improvement in her health. Deborah wanted to learn more about the power of good food, so she completed a 3 year diploma at the College of Naturopathic Medicine and is also a member of BANT -British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine. She is a registered Nutritional Therapist and she is passionate about helping her clients transform their health with nutrition and lifestyle changes .

Deborah also mentioned during our meeting that she has special interest in helping women who are unable to or don’t wish to address these symptoms with Hormone Replacement Therapy.

The power of good food

Whilst speaking to her I asked her about the power of good food, to which Deborah replied, "Food is so powerful and people don't know that enough, I thought I was eating healthily until I studied nutrition then I realised there was lots more to learn. ”She also said “Making small, simple changes to our food choices can lead to better health, wellbeing and increased vitality.”

When asked “ How soon can someone see changes after eating healthily ?” She said “If someone follows the plan diligently, changes can be seen within a week or two.”

Besides running her private clinic, Deborah also conducts talks and workshops and has recently joined up with a local yoga teacher for a Beeston based workshop. She is passionate about sharing recipes and tips. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram as Taylored Nutrition to enjoy her recipes and articles to support your health and wellbeing. Her next workshop, Nutrition and Yoga for the Menopause will take place on Saturday 4th March.

£65 for a limited edition A3 print

giclee Prints are now available

What's On?

Joanna

Rendered in pen and watercolour, our expanding collection of Beeston's spectacular pubs and restaurants are now available as limited edition, signed Giclee prints*

• High quality Giclee* prints, on thick A3, textured paper.

• Each print is individually signed and numbered by the artist

• £65 for A3 (plus £5 postage if outside Beeston)

• More prints coming soon - let us know what YOU would like to see!

Visit ko-fi.com/thebeestonian

Coming soon to a screen near you!

Without Sin is one of the tantalising new dramas helping launch the newly styled ITV X. Just when we thought we’d seen every gritty domestic story there is to tell, we’re treated to a gripping four parter starring Nottingham-girl-done-verygood, Vicky McClure, and her previous This is England collaborator, Johnny Harris. Written by Frances Poletti (astonishingly, her television debut), the story follows Stella, a mother whose daughter, Maisie, was brutally murdered by a local wrong’un. Trying to come to terms with her daughter’s death, Stella visits Maisie’s murderer, Charles, in prison and a startling revelation sends Stella’s world into a spin. The series was shot in Nottingham with fantastic aerial footage of the Old Market Square and a wonderfully cheeky scene shot by the famous left lion outside the Council House. As a Nottingham resident, it was hard to concentrate on the plot at times whilst beadily trying to recognise where the cast were filming. It is so refreshing to watch an excellent drama such as this with a well known cast being recorded outside of London or Manchester. The narrative didn’t necessarily have any connection to the area; it could have been shot anywhere in the country. Usually when

shooting in regional parts of the UK it’s due to the location being an integral part of the story but Nottingham is proved to simply be a great city to film a great series. Hopefully this will put our town on the map in terms of future mainstream projects for the big channels.

McClure is, as ever, excellent as the lead. She’s no stranger to playing complex characters thrown into dramatic situations. She has the ability to convey a woman in deep emotional crisis without over doing it; her performance is subtle, nuanced and real. Harris is brilliantly deceptive in this role; we’re left wondering until the end which side he’s on whilst we watch him desperately confront his demons both physically and mentally. A great many characters in the series are played by members of The Television Workshop, the Nottingham acting group McClure attended during her teens and the platform which helped launch her career.

Without Sin is a twisty, layered tale which explores the grief of a parent losing a child, the breaking down of relationships following extreme trauma and the desperate actions of those seeking truth, justice and forgiveness. A must watch whether you recognise the Cornerhouse in the background or not.

Hoyes TAXI!

This month: Without Sin, with Vickie McClure

Beeston's independent spirit!

Beeston's independent spirit shone through again recently, with the setting up of Beeston Cars taxi service.

NG9 Line taxis were taken over at the end of last year by Nottingham behemoth D&G. This worried a lot of NG9 Line customers, who were concerned that they would lose their familiar drivers amongst those from all the other areas of the city.

Many of the those using NG9 Line have mobility problems, and had grown to trust their drivers, who had a good reputation for being reliable, courteous and polite. NG9 Line drivers were also worried about how their regular passengers would fare after the takeover.

Hence the setting up of Beeston Cars, which effectively has replaced NG9 Line with the same drivers. Any new drivers recruited by Beeston Cars must be willing to help and serve customers at all times, not just simply be a driver.

You can book a taxi or minibus from Beeston Cars by calling 0115 929 9757 or 07923 516 374.

John Cooper

Amy Victoria Gathercole

Volunteering

In case you didn't know everyone who writes for, produces, edits and designs this wonderful magazine is volunteering their time and skills to get it put together for our community. We love spending time digging out stories and interesting happenings in our wonderful Beeston.

Want to change your life?

The start of a new year is often a time when people have some thoughts about setting goals and making plans for their year ahead. You hear a lot of phrases like 'New Year, New You' flying around and these often are associated with mental and physical health. So with that in mind, have you ever thought that spending some of your time helping others, a cause you believe in or just something you're passionate about, can be very rewarding and help you achieve those ambitions and intentions?

Top reasons to volunteer:

Making a difference: Volunteering allows you to make a difference in your community and in other people’s lives. Whether you’re helping out at a local food bank, reading to students, or working with a charity, your efforts will have an important and lasting impact.

Personal enrichment: Volunteering can be a great way to learn something new, build skills, and gain valuable experience. You’ll be able to meet new people, explore different career paths, and explore new hobbies. It’s rare you leave a volunteering stint without a smile on your face, knowing that you’ve made a difference.

Networking: Getting involved with a volunteer organisation provides you with the opportunity to meet like-minded people who share your values and interests. Networking can help you find new contacts, open doors to career opportunities, and build relationships.

Self-fulfillment: Volunteering can be a great way to achive a sense of purpose and gain a sense of personal satisfaction. Doing good for others can give you a sense of pride and joy that can last long after the volunteer work is completed.

Having Fun: Volunteering is fun! You get to have the opportunity to explore new activities and make new friends. Volunteering with a group of people can also add a social aspect to the work, making it a fun and rewarding experience.

Boosting your CV: Adding volunteer experience looks great on your CV, as it shows your character and interests. It also allows you to show off some skills that you may not utilise in your actual job(s) and it gives you a chance to test out new and different responsibilities too.

Why make a difference?

We did a lil' call out on Beeston Updated's Facebook page and thank you for the huge amount of replies and volunteering examples we received. There were so many wonderful volunteering examples and we’ve spoken to a few local people below.

We sadly couldn’t include them all, but we did learn that there are some great opportunities in and around Beeston to offer your time and skills too. Check out some that were mentioned in the replies below:

Middle Street Centre

Canalside & Heritage Centre

Hope House

Hope Food Bank

Beeston Parkrun

Beeston Library

Beeston Ladies Circle

2nd Beeston Sea Scouts

Beeston & District Roundtable

Leyton Crescent Community Centre

Gill Elvidge Coker - Canalside Heritage Centre / Beeston Library (www.canalsideheritagecentre.org.uk )

"I volunteer at Canalside Heritage Centre in retail and run the Natter and Knit group.”

“Volunteering has always been really important to me, both as a way to put something back into my community and also to develop my skills. As a past career as a coach/adviser, I always encouraged young people to get involved as a way to develop skills and confidence.”

“I also volunteer with Inspire Beeston Library, running the Places of Welcome sessions with a co-volunteer. This group is for anybody who is lonely, socially isolated or new to the area.”

Dave Bagshaw - New Art Beginnings Group

(www.newbeginningsart.co.uk)

"For about five years now I have been volunteering with the New Beginnings Art Group here in Beeston. The group is solely for folks, who because of illness or incapacity have had to stop working. Its purpose is to offer art experiences for those interested in the various methods of application from watercolour to Chinese Ink drawing.”

“Initially, the fact that I could make a decent cup of tea and take the tops off tubes of paint for those that couldn’t, was my primary function.”

“However, over the years I have been increasingly won over by the sheer determination of those who attend; one member, for instance, only has the use of one hand and produces some lovely work! The spirit of the group is tremendous and inspiring. My role within the group these days is as Secretary, administration, and communications. Volunteers are always in demand and would be welcomed by the group."

“I had some difficult mental health issues and volunteering helped me regain my confidence and reduce my sense of isolation. Volunteering also led me to my current job at Nottingham Women's Centre which I love!”

“It’s also amazing to feel like you are doing something worthwhile that helps others. I am currently on the board of The Spencer Trust, (which is a charity that supports the needs of the LGBTQ community) and we need passionate and driven people who love planning and helping at events.”

Chris Coates - 2nd Beeston Sea Scouts (www.2ndbeeston.org.uk)

"I've been volunteering with Scouts in Beeston for about 35 years”

“I came to work at Boots Head Office in 1987 and looked around for a Scout Group to help. By chance 2nd Beeston Sea Scouts HQ is just next to Boots on Lilac Grove in the Rylands. I wanted to give something back for the good times I experienced in my youth.”

“ It's great to be able to develop and use my water skills to pass on to the Scouts. What keeps me going is seeing young people's achievements through the years. I'm now seeing grandchildren of some of the Scouts, joining as Beavers, Cubs and Scouts which is amazing. I have made lots of friends in Beeston and further afield including some trips abroad.”

Julia

Carter - The Spencer Trust(www.thespencertrust.co.uk)

"I have volunteered in numerous areas over the last 25 years. It has helped me ‘try out’ a career interest, identify my strengths and is invaluable for gaining experience.”

“I feel very lucky to be part of a wonderful Scout Group and hope to be able to continue volunteering for a few more years, maybe even including their centenary, in 5 years time!" AVG

Gill Elvidge Coker

Julia Carter

Chris Coates

Dave Bagshaw

Trashdoodling, by Jade Moore. Insta: @trashdoodling

Young Poets

The Noise

Zoom, whizz, pap Knock, snap, clap Fizz, crunch, pop Slam, gurgle, drop Twang, drum, ping Bong, dong, ding Twitter, hoot, squeak These words are all onomatopoeia and sound like what we speak

By Ross Cooper (no copyright)

Introducing Nottingham Casuals

Nottingham Casuals, based on the Rylands in Beeston, are having a great season on and off the pitch. A record number of boys and girls have signed up for the minis and juniors rugby. We now have both boys and girls teams at every age group from under 5s upwards. The teams are run by both current and formers players, along with more volunteers than you can imagine!

The junior set up has developed consistently over the past few years, going from a relatively unknown club in the county, to competing with established clubs all over the midlands. We are incredibly proud that 4 of boys in the u16/u18 have been accepted into the Leicester Tigers development programme, along with one girl from our u18s representing Loughborough College.

Danny Riley

This month: Beeston’s Local rugby club

The senior men's 1XV are currently on an 8 game win streak with eyes on first place in the league, and promotion into the Counties 1 division. The team play an expansive attack focussed game, aimed to entertain our supporters and keep players scoring points and enjoying themselves. Captain Daniel O’Connor has put the success down to a number of things, most notably some brilliant recruitment from the local community, along with the support of many local businesses, including; Fred Hallam’s, Webs Training and CP Walker Estate Agents.

Nottingham Causals run three senior mens teams and welcome any new or experienced players to get involved. The senior team trains twice a week, on Tuesday & Thursday from 7.15pm

Introducing the Women’s Team:

We are also very excited to have introduced a brand new Women’s Team, open to women 17+ no experience required! The Women’s team will start from the ground up with a number of the u18 girls stepping up into the adults game to bolster the squad. It will be a fun, fitness and skills focussed start, aiming to create an enjoyable welcoming atmosphere for women who want to give rugby a go.

Training takes place on Thursday nights 7-8pm

Photo credit - Vin Scothern from Beeston Camera Club

Breakthrough treatment for DRY AMD eye problems now available locally

As we age, our sight tends to become less clear, and some of us will develop what is known as “Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration”. When this happens, the central area of our vision darkens and becomes blurred, making it difficult to see detail, and preventing activities such as driving, reading, watching TV, using computers, tablets, and so on. Even recognising faces can prove difficult.

Until recently, there were no effective treatments for Dry AMD, the only suggestions being lifestyle changes or dietary supplements. Now, sufferers will be delighted to learn that there is a newly developed treatment available locally. It is a safe, non-invasive, painless therapy which is fully approved under European and UK directives.

This breakthrough treatment is known as photobiomodulation (PBT or PBM) and uses a cold laser system to produce low levels of red, yellow and infra-red light to stimulate the centre of vision by energising and providing oxygen for cell repair.

Results from extensive monitored trials of the therapy show that for many Dry AMD sufferers, there can

Dry AMD treatment session

be an improvement in sharpness of vision corresponding to some 5 or 8 extra letters on the testing chart.

This therapy has also been shown to help diabetics who have certain eye problems related to their diabetes.

Dr Sheeraz Janjua carries out advanced eye examinations which includes OCT scans of the retina and is now providing PBM treatment at his special clinics held regularly at Flynn’s Opticians in Beeston.

Please call 0115 925 5051 or 0115 939 2421 to arrange an appointment.

JUSTDON’TTAKE OUR WORD FOR IT... READ WHAT CUSTOMERSOUR TOHAVESAY...

“Would recommend Flynn’s wholeheartedly, very professional and knowledgeable and excellent service from all staff.”

Mrs E Hartley

“The treatment was very quick, painless and easy. Improvement of vision it was clearer, new spectacle lenses were needed to allow for improved vision. Very friendly staff and we are very fortunate to have this treatment locally.”

S.Clarke

“I’d had no sight loss as yet with my AMD but I did notice an improvement on my Amsler test – less wavy lines and greyness after treatment.

THANKYOU!! Dr Janjua is so thorough and took time to explain my sight and AMD. Wendy and Sonia were so warm and friendly plus professional when giving the treatment.”

Mrs Trueman

Be More CIVIC

50 years of the Beeston Civic

Hear ye! Hear ye! Good citizens of Beeston! In this the year of 2023, we invite you to join with us in celebrating 50 years of Beeston (and District) Civic Society!

So, what is the Beeston Civic Society (BCS)? What do they do? Why do we need them? Well, not unlike previously stereotyped WI groups, civic societies are often pigeonholed as stuffy and archaic, when in fact they are anything but. Actually, when you look at their track record for affecting change in the community, you are more likely to say they are quite a radical bunch. What’s more, in the absence of a town council, Beeston really does need the society to challenge developments, preserve its civic treasures and work towards making improvements for all.

Formed on April 9th 1973, to ‘protect and enhance our district’, the society was instrumental in helping to drive forward the ‘Beeston Town Centre Plan’ of 1975 to pedestrianise the original High Road, its aim to improve road safety and access to amenities. The controversial transformation was completed almost a decade later and we can well imagine the response at the time was similar that of the tram which came around 20 years later. Nevertheless, both of these developments have shaped the Beeston we know and love today, and provided opportunities for markets and public events on the paved areas, providing a focal point in the main square, and have brought more people into our ever evolving and busy suburban town.

When the 1970s skateboard boom hit the UK, the first purpose-built skatepark in Nottingham was constructed in the remains of a old cinema in Lenton in 1978, despite initial opposition from Broxtowe District Council’s Development Services Committee. BCS was in full support of the application, as they felt it would provide proper skateboarding facilities for young people in the area. More recently they have collaborated with Skate Nottingham, local councillors and schools in developing Beeston Skate Park and outreach activities to engage the youth in our community, providing funding and consultation services.

Conservation and the preservation of our heritage is large part of what the society campaigns for. According to the archives, two working parties were set up in 1977 to address both these matters. Historically, preserving our well established tree-lined streets has been of public concern and a protest article in the Nottingham Post back in 1975 concerning the ‘over-pruning’ of the row of splendid lime trees outside the equally prestigious Oban House might well have been a catalyst for one, or both, of the working parties. The committee secretary at the time Marion Wallwork, who was up in arms about the lack of respect shown for the trees as a ‘thing of beauty’ described the remaining stumps as ‘grotesque and ugly.’ Oban House is an attractive Victorian property situated within St John’s Grove Conservation Area facing St. John the Baptist Church which is a Grade II listed building. As for the house itself, the subject of a eight month fight to save it from demolition, the weight of the society’s campaign drew huge public support and their well researched counter argument to restore and extend the building, rather than replacing it with a modern development, saved the day – and Oban House.

Remember satellite dishes? The elliptical eyesores of 1980s Britain? The first dishes were huge and obtrusive, described as ‘ugliness on a plate’ and ‘hideous white saucers’, by society members concerned with

Society

preserving Beeston’s heritage, in a Nottingham Recorder article dated June 1990. Their influence led to discussions around being considerate to neighbours when installing the monstrous erections and making an effort to disguise them in conservation areas. And do you recall the large bottle banks installed in the old bus station? Well did you know that the forward thinking civic society put a call out for glass collection sites as far back as 1980? It’s no surprise then to learn then, that BCS are supporters of local environmental group Greening Beeston. A more recent community project which you will all be familiar with ‘Beeston Street Art’, driven forward enthusiastically by society trustee Jeanie O’Shea, was platformed by BCS, who also developed the detailed map which is downloadable from their website. It was launched in 2018 as a two day festival and put Beeston on the map as one of the top UK destinations for Street Art in the UK. Its success led to Jeanie co-ordinating a further large scale project, Beeston’s very own light night – ‘#alight in Beeston’, which provided a warm welcome to the end of January 2021. Both of these community events resulted in highlighting the creativity and strong sense of community in our town, as well as pinpointing key people and events in the town’s history, one of whom is spotlighted later in this issue.

Oh, and did I mention the Blue Plaques?! Of course, you may already have worked out that Beeston Civic Society collaborated on that project, and there is a comprehensive guide on their website. But did you know that this year sees the launch of the Red Plaque…? You didn’t? Well give them a follow on Facebook or Instagram to find out more. We are sworn to secrecy on that one.

This is the first in a series of articles featuring BCS in their 50th year. A huge thanks to Tamar for providing access to archival information, and for the whole team for their commitment to making Beeston such an inclusive and pleasant place to live!

Beeston Civic Society are always happy to welcome new members, and as a charity are grateful for sponsorship and donations. If you care about where you live and would like to be able to influence changemakers in a positive way, then go ahead and join!

Be more civic.

beestoncivicsociety.org.uk/join DU

This issue: A Mowtown Legend in Beeston

Welcome me ode fruit gums to the first edition of this fine publication this year, released for your reading pleasure sealed with love, kisses and a pinch of craziness (that's just Beeston Beats!!!)

By the time the ink has set on this shiny magazine of awesomeness, the dreary clutches of winter are disappearing with each passing day, I write this article on the midpoint between winter and spring solstices, the Imbolc, each day is a little more lighter than the last, leaving a clear path for the New Year’s adventures.

My rite of passage between the seasons involves purchasing a diary for the year and marvelling at what possible adventures lie before me. It is my beacon of excitement and a glimmer of hope in the ridiculously long cold winter months. I always excitedly scan the entertainment pages and social media for events that will soon be added in delicious blue ink, on fresh new diary pages, there is so much that is yet to be added from gigs that have yet to be announced. The random days which rapidly turn into adventures that will not even have the time to grace its pages which show up unannounced and can rapidly snowball from a text, or the random chance encounters which start off as one event then another presents itself! Its all very exciting!!

This year’s diary already has in it, scrawled on the page of Friday 31st March an entry that reads Edwin Starr Remembrance Event, the info is as follows. It is due to take place at the Beeston Youth and Community Centre or as it is also known, ‘The Shed’ from 7pm, door tax is £8 before 8pm and £10 after. Four DJs pay homage to the late Starr, Sam Moore, Nev Shooter, John Poole and Glyn Sisson.

For those unaware, Charles Edwin Hatcher, better known as Edwin Starr, is an American Singer songwriter. Although he started life over in Nashville Tennessee U.S. he ended up settling locally in our neck of the woods in Bramcote, after coming to the U.K. in 1983. His biggest chart topping hit was the number one smash ‘War’, (come on sing with me, What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, sing it again!!) written as an anti Vietnam war protest song.

PUTTING THE BAR INTO BARBER

The catchy number sold three million copies with covers over the years by artists such as Frankie goes to Hollywood, Black Stone Cherry, Bone Thugs and Harmony and Bruce Springsteen, yea it also graced the film Rush Hour way back in 98, was admired by John Lennon, earned a Grammy and was admitted to the Official Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame. The Man did exceptionally good!

It still amazes me this living Motown legend traded being part of doo-wop groups nestled in Detroit to the humble streets of Nottingham. The Northern Soul star must have had a culture shock with our accents and greeting of ‘Ayup me duck’ while chugging (consuming) pots of mint mushy peas and hearing tales of the ultimate outlaw Robin Hood. Back to the job at hand before I head off rambling about just how good Nottnum’ is!

The E.S event marks the anniversary of twenty years since the great man's passing and for those still unsure who he is there Is a small painting of him by French street artist Zabou alongside fellow Beeston icons Richard Beckinsale and fashion designer Paul Smith, if you take a seat on a bench outside Tesco Beeston you might just make it out. The last Northern Soul event I attended was the Daft Lads Sunday Soul Spin at the Greyhound which hosted the DJs set to perform on the tribute gig, John Poole, and Glyn Sisson.

Back in 2015 the Greyhound was taken over with fabulous dancers and was packed solid, being my first ever Northern Soul event I did wonder why there seemed to be a talc spillage on the dance floor. I bumped into a lady I knew there that said Northern Soul was a movement that broke down social barriers and became events were everyone was included, you just had to love the music. The Greyhound has long since left our music scene in Beeston however the event at The Shed looks to bring something a bit different to the place loved by a late Motown legend, on the last note and for those in attendance, ‘No Talc Allowed’ see ya on the dance floor!

This column is dedicated to John Cross.

Jess Machin Matt Turpin

Four years since they rode into central Beeston atop a growling Hog, JG has forged a fiercely individual path, while snipping split ends and cutting in Euclidean fades. We talk to Elliot, the scissor-supremo who puts the bar into barbers.

It’s always heartening to see something different in town. For far too long, urban life has been dominated with a growing hegenomy of the High Street, as individualism gave way to national and multinational brands. You could be dropped into many high streets, and have no idea where you were, due to the sameness of place, where the chain stores of Penrith would be the same as the ones in Penzance. This cloying dullness seemed inevitable, unstoppable. Yet tides wash out as surely as they wash in, and when a motorbike and posters of hardcore US punk acts appeared in the glass frontage of a new barbers shop in Beeston, you got the feeling that something good was happening. This would be JG Barbers, and that would have been January 2019. Since then, JG has continued this fierce individualism here in Beeston, challenging perceptions of what a barbershop can be. “I bought out a barbershop in Ashby called Just Gentlemen, and renamed it JG," Eliot explains. “But I wanted to expand out of there. I was sitting in Rye (now Bistro 66) and saw the building opposite was up for lease. I arranged a viewing, and knew I’d found my place."

But why Beeston? “It’s a diverse, creative place. People here are from all walks of life. When we were looking for a town to open a new branch we made a list of potential towns. Beeston ticked all the boxes.”

But was Beeston ready for high-concept barbers? “For a while when we first opened Danny (Elliot’s business partner) and I were just standing around not doing a great deal, five or six clients over ten hour days” The games consoles they’d installed remained resolutely unplayed, the leather sofas rarely sat upon. “But then people got an idea of what we were about, and business grew fast."

One idea that took a little while to bend one’s head around was the reinvention of the barber’s waiting room: usually an uncomfortable place where men desperately try and avoid eye contact with each other while fingering a four year old copy of GQ, here was more like a pub, a place where you could actually relax a little before going under the snipping blades. It felt weirdly, almost guiltily, indulgent to get to feel like you’re round a mate’s house and listen to some Dead Kennedys for a bit. Better still, they sold beer.

“We did a bit of coffee in Ashby.” Eliot explains. “But in Beeston we saw some cross-over with what craft beer does, and thought ‘why the hell not?’. We began with 330ml cans, you could drink while waiting, during your appointment or when you got home. It proved popular, so after Covid we thought we’d expand it out and put a keg system in and began searching out good local independent beers”. The bar grew from a complementary extra to something with its own identity: before long you could drop in long after the last clump of cut hair has been swept up, and spend an evening trying out their range. It’s a strange feeling, as we discovered on our pub survey (see elsewhere in mag) to be supping somewhere so familiar, but why not? Within a few minutes, you forget the roped off barber chairs and enjoy

the nocturnal side of the building. It’s great. Yet is this a place exclusively for males: some sort of adolescent wish-fulfilment with a big sign over the door saying NO GIRLS ALLOWED? Elliot is hugely against this. “There should be no stigma or intimidation about going to the barbers” he states with passion “Non-binary, trans, whatever, you’re welcome. Everyone is welcome” He’s keen to break from that tired blokeish stereotype, and embrace the more gender-fluid aspects of modern life “We above all want people to feel welcome. At our last two events we’ve had more women than men attend. We’ve been made welcome in Beeston, so it makes sense. Come in, relax, enjoy the space. Have a beer. Have your hair done”. We’ve been asking since our first issue back in 2011: “What is a town for?”. Since then, physical retail has been hollowed-out as we increasingly shop where our trolleys are icons, not pushed around. Service businesses fill the gap, and could make the same mistake as the shops they replaced through uniformity and ubiquity. Or they could rethink what they do, think about the customer experience and create something truly different and welcoming. Now into their fifth year here, we’re lucky to have them.

JM + MT