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www.ko-fi.com/thebeestonian
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, Illustration & The Beest: Dan Cullen
Tom Hibberd & Stephanie Muzzall, Peter Urbacz, Chris Lawrenson, Lucy Morrow, Tim Pollard, Scott Bennett, Francesca Beaumont, Anya Vausdev & Jo Norcup
Thanks to all who help us get the issue sustainable and available to all who want to read. If you’d like to help outby 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.
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,
It’s the summer season! Beeston cafes and restaurants have spruced up their outdoor seating, adjusted their menus and are ready for the longer summer days, and nights. The team were particularly excited to hear that Totally Tapped were including a sun terrace round the back of their new venue when we were planning the second leg of our Beeston Pub Survey (yes we have to do it in two sittings now we are all 10 years older) Also, the plans we have seen for the White Lion pub look to be turning some heads later on this summer. The town has established its golden mile of beer gardens and terrace tables, and at this time of year the High Road becomes a sea of smiles, coffee cups and beer glasses while the residents take advantage of good weather days
We are thrilled about our brilliant new mural and wonderful community projects like the Beeston Repair Café, the first of which took place on May 6th to huge applause and cries of “encore, encore!” Whether you attended this auspicious event, a Coronation street party or any other gathering this spring, it’s great to see people in our community getting together to celebrate life in all its facets.
In this issue, a Long Eatoner tells us why she loves getting the bus to Beeston, Iguazu celebrates 20 years of fairly trading and Matt comes back, with a bang! And whilst Lulu takes a well-earned break, Mr Urb steps in and brings us an exclusive interview with Beeston’s unsung guitar legend Little Barrie. But before I reveal what’s on every page of this bumper issue, I will buzz off, leave you to pour yourself a cold one, and enjoy a read with ice and a slice.
Cheers!
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, Greenhood, Five Leaves Bookshop (Nottingham), and events at the Bartons Garage.
It never stops in Beeston. Pop to Charlie Fogg’s to get your boots reheeled, and by the time you come back something new has opened!
Work is well underway transforming the White Lion into half a pub/half a restaurant, after being bought by Notts brewers Lincoln Green. Really nice to see more investment in the area, particularly in a long-neglected pub which has tons of potential.
Iwas born in Mapperley, but my dad came from the Punjab. He came over from India in 1958 with just £20 in his pocket. He settled in Nottingham and managed to get a job selling knitwear door to door. He then started his own company and was very successful, ending up with a warehouse in Basford”.
“In 1976 we moved to Bramcote. At the age of 9, I was sent to a boarding school at Repton in Derbyshire. But I had an awful time there with bullying and became very withdrawn. I loved the countryside and open spaces though. So, when I was 12, I came back and attended Alderman White and Bramcote Hills schools. Things were a little better, but I blossomed when I went to Broxtowe College and did a BTEC in Business. I then went to Hull University, or Hull Fe College as it was then known, and completed my HND. College life was really good for me. I am proud of my culture and my fellow students accepted me for who I was. They really helped me, become me”.
For many years Beeston has been blessed with Fresh Asia, a treasure trove of food and drink from China, Korea, Japan and other countries in east. Now we have Oriental Mart, a mini-supermarket in the former Iceland unit. Between them they should stock even the most obscure ingredient you’ve read about.
The long-awaited public toilets still appear far from opening for business, much to the consternation of crosslegged visitors to Beeston. We sincerely hope the delay is because of excessive paperwork or something rather than the builders doing a crap job.
More amazing street art has been created at the back of the Quadrant building next to the library by Anna Wheelhouse. As well as looking smart, the books also have some kind of link to Nottingham. Hats off to all involved for brightening up another plain wall.
“I worked with my father for several years until I noticed that the local clothing industry was suffering due to supermarkets and imports. A friend suggested that I become a taxi driver. But I wasn’t keen on that idea. So, whilst still working in the family business, I went to Basford Hall College and did a one year evening class to train as a plumber. That was in 2003. I then worked for around 4-5 years with Gedling Council, before deciding to work for myself. I’m always busy and I like to stay in the Beeston, Chilwell and Toton areas for work”.
“I met my first wife in 1996 and moved to Trafalgar Road in the Rylands. The marriage didn’t work out, and so I moved back to my parent’s house on Hillside Road. But I missed the area so much, that I just had to move back to another house on Trafalgar Road. My second wife is a teacher with Forest Schools, she organises lessons outside, so she shares my love of the countryside”.
“For a hobby I like open water swimming down near Attenborough Nature Reserve. I also like cycling, just like I did when I was young and had a BMX bike. I am trying to learn the piano, something that I took up during Lockdown. Beeston has a lot to offer. I’m never bored. I’ve even made some friends walking the dog”.
“Living in Beeston for so long, I remember Woolworths and Dixons, which was one of my favourite shops. These days its places like Café Roya, The Malt Shovel. I miss The Greyhound, which had some great bands on. Talking of music, I really enjoy the annual Oxjam event. Beeston has a good mix of everything you’d want and so I really wouldn’t want to live anywhere else”.
Today we’re embarking on a foodie journey through some of Beeston’s best outdoor eating and drinking spots. Whilst we don’t have the boulevards of Paris and Barcelona, there are some great places where you can enjoy some outside gastronomy and watch the world go by!
Please note that our list isn’t exhaustive and we are only including businesses that we are have visited ourselves and have outside dining.
YELLOW WOOD Relatively new to Beeston opening in late 2021 Yellow Wood Café is located at 42 Chilwell Road. It features a modern contemporary interior softened by reclaimed materials and a wonderful mural on one of the walls. Open from 8.30am on weekdays it is popular with parents on the school run and people on the way to work. Yellow Wood is also a community space, hosts workshops, board games evenings and has a regular poetry night. Rooms are available to hire and there is shared workspace on offer too for the digital nomad.
The cafe has a wide range of speciality coffee, teas and hot chocolates (alternative milks are available). To go with your morning drink there are pastries and cakes. The lunch menu is ever changing and features a selection of light bites, vegan pies and sandwiches.
The delightful outside space is to the rear of the property. It has sun sails to protect from the elements whilst remaining airy. An array of plants make it feel far more removed from the hustle and bustle of Chilwell Road than it really is.
If you fancied a more substantial later breakfast then why not take a trip for American style pancakes at The Pudding Pantry (9am, 83 High Road) or for a cooked breakfast at Bistro 66 (9.30am, 66 High Road). Cafe Nero on the High Road also has a garden to the back, that seems to be pretty unknown.
CHRISTINE’S DELIGHTS For lunch we move further into the heart of Beeston and take a seat outside Christine’s Delights at 97B High Road. You’ll be assured of a very warm welcome at this popular Greek cafe open 9.30am4.30pm Tuesday to Saturday.
Alongside a range of conventional but very nice sandwiches and panini you can find a large selection of Greek dishes, soups and savoury pastries. To accompany your meal Christine’s has an extensive range of hot and cold drinks including Greek coffee, milkshakes and smoothies. Some of the more popular food options can go fast, so if you want to be sure of a wider selection it might be worth going for a late brunch or early lunch. There are gluten free and vegan options available too.
The outdoor space is at the front entrance of the cafe. It has been divided off from the road to create a more intimate dining experience and there is a sunshade if needed too.
If you are a fan of delicacies such as moussaka, baklava and spanakopita then take a trip to Christine’s Delights.
Nearby options include Essen General Store (83 High Road) for light bites or Bistro 66 (66 High Road) for pizza, pasta and burgers.
THE CROWN INN For our mid afternoon snack and a tipple in the sun we head to the well known Crown Inn (12pm, Church Street). The Crown has a large beer garden as well as it’s numerous indoor nooks and snugs. The outdoor seating is a mixture of covered benches underneath its purpose built wooden structure, and other seating if you fancied topping up your suntan. Whilst being best known for its wide range of cask and craft beer the Crown also has bar snacks. Individual pork pies sit alongside larger ones intended for sharing, filled rolls and cheese boards. Later on in the afternoon and evening especially during the summer there is often a pop up food vendor serving in the beer garden. Before making a trip it’s well worth checking their social media to see what’s on.
We’ve also enjoyed the filled filo parcels at nearby Totally Tapped (104 Chilwell High Road) and a quick bite at Sicilian restaurant Compà in the early afternoon (12-3pm, 6-9pm, 31 Wollaton Road)
CAFE ROYA To finish off our tour of Beeston we head to Cafe Roya at 130 Wollaton Road, this popular and well rated restaurant has been a success since it opened. We highly recommend that you book well in advance as Roya is normally busy, attesting to its quality.
The restaurant is modern vegetarian/vegan with a strong Persian Mediterranean theme, although dedicated meat eaters won’t find they are missing out with some incredible flavours. Outside dining is on two large benches with stunning inlaid mosaic tops.
The menu is as local as possible and also changes on a monthly basis depending on what ingredients are seasonal, available and tasty. All of the drinks are organic, vegan friendly and the coffee is roasted by local suppliers. There are normally a number of specials on to try as well.
The Star Inn serves outside food (22 Middle St) and we have enjoyed food at the Beeston Social (2 Station Road) though both can get busy in the evening at popular times.
Tom and Stephanie are co-hosts of the Food Glue Podcast. Our focus is on independent local businesses that bring people and places together. Food Glue is available on all podcast players.
Brian Duncan Shaw was a Beestonian who lived an amazing life that involved the trenches of the Somme, a German Prisoner of War camp, exploding pianos and wrangling pistols and rifles on stage. We meet his biographer, Claire Wilkes.
Abiographer has an immensely difficult task: how do you define a life within the covers of a book? When your subject lives past 100, living in all but the final days of the 20th century, that’s an even more staggering task
“It took me about 18 years” Claire Wilkes, a former Beestonian, scientist and writer explains “I didn’t really expect it to be quite so long.” We’re discussing her book Framed By A Smoking Gun, a brilliantly written look at the life of Brian Duncan (BD) Shaw, the Ilkeston born, Beeston residing Professor whose famous ‘Explosives Lecture’ left its inspiring mark on countless audiences over the years around the world (and on the telly) as indelibly as the scorch marks on his workbench.
Born in Ilkeston, Shaw’s life was eventful. “Even considering he lived as long as he did, it’s hard to imagine how he did so much” Claire explains. A born experimenter, tinkering with chemicals from an early age, Shaw didn’t chart the usual path to a professorship, with the First World War crashing in shortly before an apprenticeship with Boots. His war was a lively one, serving at Passchendaele, the Somme and Cambrai: his bravery saw him awarded the Military Medal in the latter, and his keen eye and steady hand saw him become a celebrated sniper.
His academic career took off in the inter-war period, and he moved to Queens Road in Beeston, where he would live for the rest of his long life. But on Hitler’s invasion of Poland he found himself once again in France, this time with the Sherwood Foresters as part of the British Expeditionary Force, where on being left behind after the Dunkirk retreat, was eventually captured and served out the war as a POW.
Returning home, his fondness for explosives saw him continue to develop the presentation for which he would become famous: the ‘Explosives Lecture’, where, in front of an audience ‘the first arrivals would take the back seats'. Chemistry was brought to life with a literal bang, the long tradition of public scientific demonstration finding its way onto TV - a huge hit on the BBC’s Horizon - and while he would retire from lecturing his public demonstrations would tour the country, and further afield.
In late 1999, aged 101, Professor BD Shaw died, narrowly missing his target to live in three centuries. A chance conversation shortly after his passing between our local YouTube hero Professor Martin Poliakoff and Wilkes set her off to chart a life. It could have been easy: a close friend and colleague had already made a decent attempt to document Shaw’s life, with lots of primary source material to draw from. Yet here was a subject that defied easy interpretation: a soldier in the trenches of the First World War, a POW in the Second. A married man who nevertheless lived apart from his wife, and had to conduct a long term relationship with his true love away from any public glare. A man who revelled in spectacle, but with a deep seam of modesty about him.
Wilkes places his life in context of the 20th Century, while avoiding clichè and embracing the sometimes paradoxical nuance: “What surprised me” Wilkes explained “Is his continued enthusiasm for soldiering, after he had lost so much and been through so much in the First World War. His comment that ‘There is romance in war as well as horror and degradation' doesn’t sit so well with us today, but…he was a man of the twentieth century, as well as having a thirst for adventure.”
There are fascinating chapters on successful defence of the anarchistic terrorist group The Angry Brigade in the 70’s, and the subsequent petty vindictiveness of the state to close him down. Wilkes charts his progress to be one of the UK’s best marksmen…and his championing of women to be involved in what was a very male-dominated sport, and the post-retirement decades, where he took his lecture around the UK and beyond are bought to vivid life the banal minutiae of the practical: how he would ask for a hot water bottle to be filled at the end of a lecture so he could drive home in his unheated car with some degree of comfort.
Beeston has been graced by many great scientists: we’ve written here before about another explosives expert, Professor Dan Eley, who was the last remaining witness to the Chilwell Explosion (the blast threw him out of his high chair -he was just four at the time, and before his death 97 years later would go onto pioneer explosives research that saved countless lives from the fate suffered by so many that day in 1918), and, of course, Sir Professor Martin Poliakoff, (who writes a heartfelt and humorous prologue to his late friend and colleague in the book). They all did ‘do their thing’ in bringing science to the public with excellent innovation and an evangelism towards their subject that is contagious in its zest. That excellence soaks through this book, in its subject and from its author. Give it a read.
Framed by a Smoking Gun: Clare E. Wilkes, Blackwell's (blackwells.co.uk)
Will Wilkes devote another 18 years to a single subject? ‘Well, I’m not sure anyone really has had a life like his, so it’s probably not likely!”.
“Chemistry was brought to life with a literal bang, the long tradition of public scientific demonstration finding its way onto TV”
Whenever I talk to people for articles, I try to meet them in Beeston, to keep things local and authentic. But with work commitments and availability, I spoke to Stuart Baird at a café near Nottingham Railway Station. He had cycled in from his home in Beeston specially to meet me, even though the weather wasn’t at its best.
I had interviewed Stuart a few years ago for the ‘I Am Beeston’ project, and we follow each other on social media. It’s how I got to know of the work he’s done in promoting Beeston and the wider NG9 area. So, I first started with getting a brief history of the company he jointly runs with Richard Baker; BakerBaird Communications.
“I first met Richard when he was the editor of the Mansfield Observer. That was back in 1993 when I was a journalist. But journalism was a stepping stone where I learned lots of valuable stuff, but quickly moved into government communications, including the merger of the Inland Revenue with Customs and Excise in 1997”.
“I later became a director of government communications in the East and West Midlands and worked on some amazing campaigns like ‘Change4Life’ and ‘Kill Your Speed’ as well as working in No10 Downing Street. Meanwhile Richard became the Business Editor for the Nottingham Evening Post”.
“After working as a freelance communications consultant for a while, Richard and myself, got together again in 2015 and formed the PR company, with the emphasis on promoting the East Midlands. The region is a poor relation for government funding, so we like to work on projects that aim to make a difference for people in this area”.
One of the big projects that Stuart worked on was the Arc Cinema development and the promotion of Beeston itself as a destination for shopping and entertainment through Broxtowe Borough Council. The area now includes The Beeston Social, Rassams Creamery and the former restaurant Ottimo.
“DoughNotts also wanted to more here, but they found the former Thornton’s shop on the High Road instead” added Stuart. There was also the ‘Lockdown Heroes’, the silver plaque art trail, which depicts local people who kept working through the pandemic. “One thing that I’d like to see happen is a study to see if footfall has improved in the area and if the tram connection has had an impact”.
Another part of Broxtowe that has been helped by Stuart is Stapleford, as the town has received £12m at part of the Government’s £3.6b Town’s Fund to improve things for the local community. Part of the money will be going towards the construction of a new leisure centre.
The company has an office in the Lace Market and employs three full time staff and nine on a regular freelance basis. They have been very successful too with 9 awards from the CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) since they started eight years ago.
Besides working with Broxtowe Borough Council, the company work with Nottingham Technology Ventures, a spin off company that’s owned by the University of Nottingham. Its aim is to support inventions that post graduate students have produced, creating media coverage, and attracting
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further investment into the university, city and Beeston.
Last summer the company made a short video for new university students to introduce them to Beeston and what the town has to offer. Made in conjunction with Broxtowe Borough Council and the University of Nottingham, the three minute film shows a student walking from the university along Broadgate to the Square, who highlights some of the many delights that Beeston has.
In addition to communicating with the public, BakerBaird also offer media training and have taught many British diplomats across 13 countries on how to deal with press and television interviews and public presentations.
One ongoing nationwide project that the company is involved in is the ‘Our Future Health’, in association with multiple health charities and the national pharmacy partner, Boots. It’s a long term research programme to study the nation’s health with the aim of recruiting 5 million people. Registration can be done on line and medical tests are done through Boots.
Finally, Stuart mentioned that his company is hoping to offer apprenticeships in the near future. “It’s a great industry and young people should reach out to do what they want to do. When I was at school, I never in a million years thought I’d be working for the King, with Tony Blair and Alistair Campbell at No 10 and working across the world.”
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“It’s a great industry and young people should reach out to do what they want to do..”
In conversation with Stuart Baird
At time of writing, the nerves from being filmed for a very exciting project for Broxtowe had just about settled enough for me to process what a wonderful opportunity it was. It was a privilege for the Bee Creative Community craft group that I lead to be asked to share their ethos and inspirations. The project itself is huge, but I feel our small contribution is an important testament to the wealth of creativity in our borough, and beyond!
Many readers may already be aware that Broxtowe has been twinned with Gütersloh in Germany since 1978. We may not be part of the EU anymore, but the links we have built with other European cities remain strong. The C-City initiative, a proposal that sharing culture is key to European connections, was developed in Gütersloh and was presented to Broxtowe, Falun (Sweden), Chateauroux (France) and Grudziadz (Poland) late in 2019 – they were all keen to participate.
complete without a feature on Beeston Street Art driven enthusiastically by Jeanie Barton – a project that has expanded greatly since it was launched with a two-day festival back in June 2018. There are a number opportunities to join an inclusive art group in Broxtowe, and as well as highlighting our community art sessions, Spotted Dog Art Group, the Canalside Heritage Centre Life Drawing Classes and Janet’s Monday Afternoon Art Club will all be appearing in the short film that celebrates the borough’s cultural treasures.
The Friday before filming, I had popped along to enjoy another event as part of the twinning project, an evening with the Paper Crane Poets at Beeston Library. The event was being live streamed to Gütersloh. A German flag hung high as a backdrop, a fully engaged audience and a glass of wine provided the perfect atmosphere for a cultural evening.
Sue tells me she can’t remember a time when she didn’t write. “I started out writing little ditties as a child, but it wasn’t until much later that I wrote more seriously.” In 2002 she started attending a poetry class in her hometown of Sutton in Ashfield. One of the members told her that she should consider performance poetry. Sue felt she had missed that opportunity, after all it was a while since the influential Liverpool Poets, but discovered it was ‘still a thing’ and that live performance hadn’t died out in the 70s –in fact the movement was still going strong.
It was the poem What Every Beestonian should Carry that caught my attention on the night, but having read more of Sue’s poems I am struck by how much her words echo my own experiences as a woman. I am reassured that with the acquisition of years, comes a keen wisdom that outshines some of the less appealing parts of ageing.
opinions and be happy with who we are – a great message for anyone of any age I believe. Sue’s favourite poem from the same anthology Upsetting the Applecart reinforces this message, with added indignance.
This inspiring project is centred on the visual arts, theatre and literature, music, sport, history, customs, food and lifestyle. This article only scratches the surface of what’s happening. The inclusion of the Bee Creatives was facilitated by Janet Shipton, our ambassador for visual arts in Broxtowe.
Sharing the ethos that underpins the empowering and healing nature of art and creative practices with a wider community was an uplifting experience. It also served to remind us how lucky we are to have had the support of Middle Street Resource Centre in providing us with the space to meet and create together. Like many community groups, the pandemic disrupted our weekly meeting schedule, but we managed to stay connected online and are now meeting monthly for a craft therapy session on Thursday afternoons.
We enjoyed welcoming local filmmaker Doddsy who has also filmed Helen Bulmer, Zoë Zegzula and Janet Shipton speaking about the cultural asset that is the annual ABC Art Trail, which we are delighted to is happening again this September. Of course, no piece of film about Beeston’s visual arts would be
The Paper Crane Poets Collective are expertly led by poet, performer and workshop leader Leanne Moden. They meet at Beeston Library every first and third Tuesday of the month at 5:30pm – 7:30pm to write together, and if my memory serves me well the group have been getting together since 2019. Following a fabulous line-up of female poets and spoken word artists, Leanne read out the brilliantly engaging poem she was commissioned to write to celebrate the day and night of libraries and the twinning of Broxtowe and Gütersloh.
I had a brief conversation with Leanne and one of the other poets Sue Allen at the ‘merch table’ and snapped up a copy of their anthologies, both a recommended read. Sue’s poems have been put together in a collection entitled the Crone Chronicles with two other self-confessed ‘crones’ Laura Grevel and Clare Stewart. Sue she was chuffed to hear how much we enjoyed her poetry. As well as meeting to write with the Paper Crane Poets, Sue also runs a poetry workshop at The Women’s Centre in Nottingham with Clare. Sue was a participant to begin with, but Clare was looking for a ‘partner in crime’ and Sue was well up for a new challenge.
I caught up with Sue on Zoom, a few weeks after the poetry event. We were meant to meet up in person, but Covid struck and denied us that pleasure. Nevertheless, we still got chance to share our views on the importance of artistic expression on our wellbeing, and the highs and lows of creating through the pandemic. Like me, she felt one of the benefits was the gift of ‘reflection time - time to stop and think’ and that in some ways creative folk were most likely to adapt and show resilience in adverse situations.
Five Leaves Bookshop owner and publisher Ross Bradshaw organised a poetry competition at Mansfield Library around the same time, Sue recalls. When the poetry group leader Louise told Sue about it, she thought she would enter for a laugh – not expecting for one minute to win. Sue walked triumphantly away with first place. “I was ecstatic! My head was so big it wouldn’t fit through the door!” This was all the encouragement she needed to continue to write and perform poetry, and we are very glad she did!
Sue’s poetry is female focused. To quote Leanne, it celebrates ‘the beauty of womanhood in the third age’ and the joy exppeienced at being so comfortable in your own skin that you don’t care who knows it.
On Being Told I Was Showing a Lot of Leg for a Woman my Age…
‘You’re showing a lot of leg.’ I hike it up another inch I bite my lip and shake my head, I feel myself trying not to wince.
I roll my eyes up to the sky I hike it up another inch and tell myself to walk on by. My inner voice is in a clinch.
I swear to God I did not flinch. Just looked him straight in the face I hike it up another inch And say. ‘You’re such an old disgrace! Wake up old man! Get with the times what the flying feck makes you think that age is set by a hemline?
I hike it up another inch.
Sue AllenWhen writing with other women, Sue describes how they ‘bounce ideas off each other’ and find energy in their collaborations – they become ‘a force to be reckoned with'. Workshops are essential for ‘keeping things fresh’ and the Paper Crane sessions have a firm footing in this.
“Leanne is an ideas person, who allows you to put your own twist on things – it’s magical, like alchemy.”
Another poem that Sue performed on the night On Being Told I was Showing a lot of Leg for a Woman of my Age… gives credence to the belief that we shouldn’t be swayed by other people’s judgments and
And in the same way that a piece of art can be an expression of our deepest emotions, poetry has a way of harnessing the power of words for healing and revealing our inner strength. Arts an culture can play an important part in our daily lives. Find out more about the C-Cities project here www.c-city.eu/en and the Paper Crane Poets here: www.leannemoden.com
Link to a poem by Leanne Moden: soundcloud.com/leanne-moden-poet/ wenn-sich-zwei-bibliotheken-verlieben
Singing can be a powerful tool for expression, communication, and emotional release. For me personally, singing has provided an outlet for emotional expression over the years. Singing is my way to express emotions that I find it difficult to put it in words, sadness, joy or even anger for that matter. By singing about my feelings, I have been able to release pent-up emotions and feel more grounded. I am not a professional singer, rather a bathroom singer, but I have realised that singing can be a joyful and uplifting experience and it brings me happiness and positivity. Singing is said to be a creative activity that allows individuals to explore their own unique voice and style, and it is also said to be an empowering activity giving individuals a sense of confidence and control
In this issue I had the privilege to be connected with Helen Tooth and thus explored the benefits of singing in a group and how you can join in her group which is in our local community .
Karen Carpenter an American singer and drummer said,
“Whenever I’d feel happy or sad, I’d find myself singing and suddenly I wasn’t mad anymore, I was joyful. Singing in a choir is an incredibly bonding, spiritual experience. You are all breathing together, you are all phrasing together, you are all feeling the same thing at the same moment in time.”
I absolutely love this quote, as it highlights and emphasises how singing in a group can create a sense of unity and shared experience which can be a powerful way to enhance well being and connect with others. Singing in a group definitely requires teamwork and cooperation as everyone must work together to create a harmonious sound, which promotes a sense of collaboration and encourages you to work together towards a common goal.
Having explored all the benefits of singing in a group, it’s important to be aware that there are various types of groups that you can possibly be a part of, including choirs, acapella groups, vocal ensembles and many more. Singing groups can be found in schools, churches, community centres and online too. Joining a singing group can be a great way to meet new people, gives you a chance to explore different genres of music and develop a new hobby. Overall I would say singing in a group can be a wonderful and enriching experience for individuals of all ages and backgrounds .
Having explored all the benefits of singing in a group and if you are now convinced of joining one, my suggestion would be to pop in at Middle St Resource Centre Beeston, every Tuesday morning from 10.30 am to 12.30am. Each week they sing a different selection of wellknown songs, the popular choices being Amarillo, Edelweiss, No Matter What and Yellow Submarine. Helen tells me people can also request their favourites, sing solo or in small groups if they wish. The best part is that there is no need to book, they can just turn up on the day! No experience or musical ability is needed, all you do need is a sense of enthusiasm and fun. Everyone is welcome and sessions are fully inclusive and dementia friendly, you even get a cup of tea and a biscuit at half time!
So, when did it all start?
Helen tells me “I have been leading these sing alongs with Cliff McCardle since September 2022, but Music for Everyone
‘Beeston Open Voices’ began back in April 2018. Helen has been leading interactive singalongs for over 30 years in community groups, care homes and schools. She loves to see the positive difference it can make to those who attend.
Attendance at the sessions is free, but she suggests a donation of £2 for the charity Music for Everyone.
Middle Street Resource Centre is celebrating 50 years of supporting the community with mental health services and activities like Helen’s.
In case you would like to read more about the sessions Helen has provided a list of socials for your reference ;
www.music-for-everyone.org/ whats-on/adult-music/open-voices
www.facebook.com/joyfuljukebox
helentoothmusic.wordpress.com
Our favourite weekly
Singing has been shown to have several benefits for both physical and mental wellbeing. Here are some of the ways in which singing can improve your overall health:
1. Reduces stress and anxiety: did you know that singing releases endorphins which are chemicals in the brain that promote the feelings of happiness and relaxation, just like laughter does, which is why I always incorporate some music in my laughter yoga workshops.
2. Boosts immune system: singing can increase the production of immunoglobulin A, which is an antibody that helps fight infection. This can help boost your immune system and reduce the risk of getting sick.
3. Improves breathing: singing requires deep breathing and good posture which can improve lung capacity and overall respiratory health. This can be particularly beneficial for people with asthma or other breathing difficulties.
4. Enhances social connection: Singing in a group can create a sense of community and belonging. This can be particularly beneficial for people who may feel isolated and lonely.
5. Improves mood: Singing can help improve mood and decrease symptoms of depression, this is because singing releases endorphins which are also known as the ‘feel good ‘hormones .
6. Boosts cognitive function: Singing requires the use of multiple parts of the brain, including memory, language and motor skills, thus singing can improve your cognitive function and memory.
7. Enhances confidence: Singing can be a way to build self confidence and overcome fears of public speaking or performance. By practising singing and performing in front of others, you may become more comfortable in social situations.
Poison Ivy!
Evil aunt fed salmon to my cats - laced with arsenic!
HEDGING HIS
boyfriend caught stashing slips from the bookies in our privet
Flower bed
romantic gesture goes badly wrong after severe allergy to pollen
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Garden hoes!
Hubby cheated with call girlsin our shed!
Neighbour grew prize-winning marrows with human manure from my wife!
“Need a hand
to trim your bush?”
My trip to A&E after romp on artificial grass
Rubbery shrubbery
Lonely hearts
my secret tryst with randy gardener
Decking or dicking?
Lonely lungs - Actual, proper stories!
Chest freezer.
Jumper with great big hole cut out of the front. Not very practical but definitely eyecatching. £2. Call Keith on 0115 785478
Labour-saving device.
Contraption that will ensure a swift birth and also make Keir Starmer electable. £45. Call Alistair on 0115 327748
Manuel manual.
Instructions on how to operate inept waiter from popular 1970s sitcom. £34. Call Basil on 0115 379643
After 8 mince. Delicious wafer-thin square slices of ground beef, in their own little greaseproof paper sleeves. £4 per box. Call Jamie on 0115 246434
Open Mike Night.
Far too open. Mike overshares his personal problems all evening. Call Mike on 0115 318766 for details
Dictator.
Spud shaped like a phallus. £2. Call Keith on 0115 785 478
Look at what you could have won. It's a speedboat! £101 or more. Call Jim on 0115 965388
Recurring nightmare.
One where you haven't done any revision for an exam and then all your pens stop working. Will exchange for a dream about big friendly bear that digs up buried treasure. Call Julie on 0115 876689
Hot dogs.
Pair of lurchers that have been lying too close to the fire. Call Barrie or Dilys on 0115 887643
Arnold and Kimberley mugs. Collection only from Burton Joyce. £1 each. Call Bert and Joyce 0115 789446
Baby bouncer. Has full SIA door supervisor licence. Only 7 months old but hard as nails. Call Gavin on 0115 463468
Collection of vintage jazz magazines.
Well thumbed. Lots of genres, including scat. £2. Call Keith on 0115 785478
Car boot sale. Ridiculously early on a Sunday morning. Why can't it start in the afternoon so I can enjoy a lie in? Don’t call Sarah on 0115 743880 until the afternoon
Coarse fisherman.
Never stops effing and blinding, and leering at passing women. Will swap for kind old gentle fly fisher. Call JR on 0115 743785
Bank holiday?
Why not spend a long weekend in a branch of Barclays? Call Polly on 0115 642774
Pool balls. Smell/taste quite chloriney, hence £2 the pair. Call Keith on 0115 785478
Carrier bag full of old phone chargers.
About 10 to 25 years old. Simply can't bear to part with them, so they aren't for sale. Don't call Sarah on 0115 743880
Traffic jam.
Seedless. Tastes of diesel fumes. £5 per jar. Call Jeremy on 0115 386768
Baked Alaska. Just out of the oven. Needs eating quickly. Call Sharon on 0115 239896 any time after 8pm next Tuesday
Peg bag. HRH Prince William design. £5. Call Keith on 0115 785478
Jet packs.
I thought we'd all be riding about on them by now. Never mind eh? Call Terri on 0115 437896
Man size tissues.
6 foot x 3 foot 2 ply sheets. £6 each. Call Andre on 0115 372668
Stopcock.
Ideal treatment for overly frisky husbands. Contains Bromine. £3 per tablet. Call Keith on 0115 785478
High Viz.
Popular adult comic, needs retrieving from the top of my wardrobe. £7. Call Simon on 0115 965854
Take That CD. Have it. Please. Just grab it and leave. Call Robbie on 0115 376554
Dusk.
Quite foreboding. Will swap for morning, preferably if it includes birds tweeting. Call Dawn on 0115 644585
Old fashioned Quality Street tin. A big metal one that puts those little plastic modern tubs to shame. Contains fart from 1982. £4. Call Rose on 0115 356597
You wait ages and then 3 come at once. Not at our parties. Adults only. Call Keith on 0115 785478
Copper coppers. Models of policemen made from partially melted 2 pence pieces. Exactly as bad as they sound. 46p. Call Robert on 0115 254674
Cat litter.
Unravelled ball of string, feathers, half a mouse. £4 the lot. Call Tom on 0115 326753
Bath salt. With matching pepper. Ideal seasoning gift for those who like to eat and bathe at the same time. Also sponge cake for afters. Call Cleo on 0115 878646
Ring pieces. Various fixings and fittings, including plenty of those clasp bits that hold jewels in place. Call Keith on 0115 785478
Corn Flakes. Plus other shavings, scrapings, clippings and general detritus from local chiropodist. £3 per bag. Call Stacey on 0115 473654
Disappointing packed lunch. Sliced brown bread marmalade sandwiches, raspberry yoghurt and an apple. Will swap for Mighty White stuffed with wafer thin ham, bag of Frazzles and can of Tango. Call Colin on 0115 337438
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Ever since visiting my cousin in Sussex last year and hearing about his love for long bow archery, I’ve been keen to learn more about the sport.
I’ve often seen the targets and safety warnings when walking my dogs around the edge of the rugby fields in the Rylands, so I decided it was time to find out more about the activity happening on my doorstep.
Chugs (Beeston Rylands Archers Club Secretary) had kindly offered to let me have a go at archery, but unfortunately a rugby match had been arranged where they train (Nottingham Casuals Rugby Club), so Chugs, Lizzie (Chairperson), and Jason (Treasurer) met me on a Friday evening in a wonderfully busy Boat and Horses for a chat.
What immediately struck me was their genuine warmth and respect for each other and their mutual love of the sport. They were keen to talk to me and explained that their club is like an “Archery Family” to them. Whilst they were committed to the sport, they clearly loved the social aspect of archery, not to mention the tea and biscuits!
It was fascinating to hear them describe the different classes of archery and explain that it’s one of the few sports where someone very
new to competition can shoot (shoot is the term used in archery) alongside the very best.
Some other facts they cleared up for me:
1. You can take part at any age. You are ultimately competing with yourself.
2. Physical and mental fitness is required and having a good strong core is important to success.
3. Metal detectors are used to find stray arrows to ensure none are left behind.
4. It doesn’t cost much to get started, as you can normally borrow club kit until you know you want to commit.
They ‘shoot’ all year round, and are reluctant to give into bad weather, laughing at their mantra that “skin’s waterproof”. They always train outdoors on Sundays, but when the days are too short in the winter, they are grateful to be able to use the indoor facilities of Trent Vale Infants School for mid-week training.
So, what does it take to become a good archer? The gang all agreed that patience,
commitment, and a positive mindset are required. Archery is all about self-improvement, and focus. In return they benefit from an activity that they described as fun, relaxing and mindful.
Beeston Rylands Archers operate a fourweek beginners course (8 hours in total), this provides the minimum hours and a set criteria (including safety) required to take part in the sport.
Unfortunately, they are not planning any beginners sessions due to some exciting changes the club is going through in 2023. These plans will be revealed and brought to you by the Beestonian as soon as they are available. Until then, you can find out more about taking up the sport at www. nottsarchery. co.uk
Once upon a time, there was a young girl called Trina. She lived in a place called Stevenage in Hertfordshire. A large town, not that far from London, and where racing driver Lewis Hamilton was born. Trina liked to visit her local park and adventure playground. And on the way there, she used to pass a house that had a front garden full of gnomes. Trina found this ‘Gnomeland’ enchanting and it’s a memory that she has treasured ever since.
As the years went by, Trina grew up, found a job, got married and had children. Just like anyone else. Twenty five years ago she moved to her current house on Elm Avenue in Beeston. Many miles from Stevenage, London, and famous racing drivers, but still a place with parks. Sadly not many gnomes, either in gardens or not.
One day, some four years ago, Trina was in a local shop, and she came across a little
door on a shelf. An idea appeared in her mind. She remembered the gnome garden of her childhood. “I’ll buy this and turn the tree outside my house into one where fairies live.” So, she did. Even though the tree is a hornbeam, and not an elm.
Trina also put some stones round the base of the tree and added some soil. She tried planting some flowers, but they sadly died, due to the roots of the tree. But moss and some little plants like alpine speedwell and sweet violets do grow. Disaster struck one day when someone stole the fairy door. Trina was heartbroken, and posted a message on Facebook, asking for its return. It wasn’t, but six other replacement doors secretly appeared instead.
Aunty Trina, as she is now known, started to add various things to the fairy garden. Little seats that she had made from willow. A duck pond, a path, so the fairies wouldn’t get muddy feet, and other bits and pieces, just to make it more inviting and homely for the tiny people. Local children like Erin, and adults started noticing the tree fairy house
and began leaving notes and cards, saying how nice the garden was, or asking what a fairy’s favourite food was. Aunty Trina likes to read these and replies to them on the tree fairy’s behalf. She leaves them by the tree, so that they can be picked up the next time someone passes by. The tree fairy house is now so popular, that it has its own Facebook page: ‘Tree-Fairy Beeston’. It has also been seen in local magazines and on the television. Which is more than any gnomes have. Especially those from Stevenage.
The tree fairy likes to participate in events like Easter, Christmas, saint days and other special occasions. And so, with Aunty Trina’s help, they will decorate the garden with anything suitable. Aunty Trina has several drawers full of things that she’s made or collected, one for each season, and others for special occasions. It’s something that she hopes to continue with for many years to come.
Morning, sleep well?
I never do. I’m sure I’m not the only one. I’m always surprised when I can’t sleep at night but I shouldn’t be. My days are a relentless rollercoaster of adrenalin and anxiety, trying to plough through a to-do list that never ends. Why do I think I can just do all that and then lay down and gently drift off?
Sleep has always been tricky for me. Even when I was a teenager, I can still remember lying awake for hours, listening that orchestra of the night. The central heating gurgling, the milkman clinking and the sound of the foxes having an orgy behind the bins.
I got chronic insomnia as a kid. I used to fear going to bed, I started to hate it, like it was a real person. Deliberately trying to derail my life, pressing mattress springs to the surface or sagging in the middle. Having insomnia as a teenager isn’t great. I mean I had my whole life ahead of me, and how can you follow your dreams if you’re always awake, it’s impossible.
As I’ve got older, things have got better, but I still think that sleep is one of those parts of my life I will never get right. Whenever I’m watching a film and a couple, normally in a post coital embrace, will happily lay there for hours, one of them falling asleep on the others chest, I’m always baffled. Haven’t these people got a decent pillow? I mean it’s a tough call, a soft supportive surface that’s good for your neck, or two nipples, a rib cage and an ear full of armpit?
Sleeping is about relaxation, but how easy is it to do that in this world of chaos in which we live. Some people trying and connect with their spiritual side, channeling their inner peace. My wife drinks herbal teas, we’ve got a cupboard full of them. They are called things like, “Inner peace” and “Tranquility” it’s basically heroin for the middle classes. She’s also got ones called “Energy” and “Vitality” I often switch the tea bags round and see if she notices. I don’t think she has, although there was that one night where she got up for a wee and then spent an hour just dancing with a glow stick.
Wayne Rooney listens to a hoover as a constant white noise to help him
sleep. It works but I think it’s just a plan to make Coleen do all the housework. I like the shipping forecast. I’ve never been on a fishing boat in my life, but I like to pretend I am. It helps me drift off sometimes. Only problem is I often wake up in a cold sweat after having a nightmare about fishing quotas and cod stocks.
Some people buy windchimes which have to be the worst example of cultural appropriation I can think of. They are fine if you’re living on your own ranch in the middle of nowhere, but not when you’re in a semi-detached in Milton Keynes. They claim to be trying to ward off evil spirits and presumably, replace them with a load of pissed off neighbours.
Mobile phone companies are now selling mindfulness apps. They are offering a solution for the anxiety they’ve helped to create. Brilliant. That’s like McDonald’s selling gym passes. I can’t fall asleep now if I haven’t got Stephen Fry’s voice in my ears. Which annoys my wife, because she has to sleep on the sofa, he’s a big lad.
I grind my teeth too. Some people use drugs and alcohol to medicate against the stresses in their lives, I prefer to grind it out through my own face. Eight hours every night, giving my face a workout. Another year of this and I’ll have a jaw like Desperate Dan.
“How did he get that panel show!” *grind*
“How did they sell out the palladium!” *grind*
The dentist has said I’m grinding my bottom teeth away. Like the coastal erosion on the cliffs of Scarborough, in about ten years they’ll be nothing left, I’ll be trying to eat a Twix with two sets of gums, not able to chew, just having to tenderize it like a piece of steak.
I remember she looked at the bottom row of my teeth and said:
“Do you grind your teeth?”
“I don’t know I’m asleep?”
“Has your wife noticed?”
“I’m not sure, she’s asleep too?”
Then she said:
“Well there is certainly one thing we can do”
I thought:
“You come round for a sleepover?”
She gave me a gumshield, which isn’t a great look is it. Nothing kills off romance quicker than having to pop out a gumshield first. Mind you I suppose it’s better than the other way around, having to put one in. You might as well have a bell on the headboard and a referee in the corner. We do have a bucket in there, but that’s just for Jemma to be sick into on Valentines day.
Recently we went to buy a new mattress, something we haven’t done for years. Jemma and I were both getting bad backs. Having a bit of mild soreness is one thing, but when you’re struggling out your bed with the posture of a cashew nut, bent up like a pyjama cladded Quaver, something needs to be done. I wanted to try it in person this time. You spend a lot of time sleeping. It’s like shoes, you have to be comfortable. You wouldn’t do a Duke of Edinburgh in flip flops would you?
They say, never go food shopping when you’re hungry, I say never go mattress shopping when you’re tired. I’ve been falling asleep to the same sentence on my kindle from 2019, so this was always going to be a high risk day.
It’s a strange day out buying a mattress. Wandering around a showroom, waiting to lay on various beds. You have to queue up and let other couples try them first, it’s like a theme park, they may as well call it Mattress Kingdom! It’s so surreal, everyone still has their shoes on, with handbags dangling off the sides.
You hear their review, a little window into their lives:
“This won’t be good for your back John, way too saggy”
“Swap sides Julie, you don’t sleep nearest the window”
It’s absolutely fascinating. Some people were encouraged to roll over on their side, some laid on their backs, one woman laid on her front, face down. That was disturbing, who choses that as a sleeping position? Face down, airways blocked by a pillow. That’s not sleeping, that’s smothering. She shouldn’t listen to the shipping forecast at night, she’d think she was drowning at sea.
We had an assistant with us, she was showing us all these options. She asked us what mattress we were looking for. I said that I’d always fancied a memory foam, my wife said two singles, which was unnecessarily cruel. There were so many to choose from, it was overwhelming.
“What do you think of this one? This has gel in it, this one is on offer, this is a best seller?”
We didn’t care, we were knackered. I just wanted her to leave us so we could have a proper sleep. I was so tired, I’d have laid across her desk if she’d have stuck a pillow on it.
I might suffer from insomnia at night, but you catch me in the afternoon during a sugar lull, I can sleep anywhere. I sometimes volunteer to take my daughter to her after school classes
just so I can have a nap. I don’t mind paying for that direct debit, it’s worth it, even if I have been woken by an angry violin teacher banging on my car window and shouting, “do you want your child back or what?!”
In a recent survey most married couples have said that they’d like separate beds. It was good enough for the Queen and Prince Philip so why not for us? It’s not normal to sleep together. In our house our daughters have their own rooms, able to spread out, in total comfort. We’re squashed in together, breathing into each other’s faces and we pay the mortgage, it’s not right?!
I think if you did have separate beds, in separate rooms, the problem is, we would regress. We’d become teenagers again. She’d come down to your room, you wouldn’t hear her knocking because you’ve got Limp Bizkit blasting out at full volume. She’d open the door, choking on a cloud of Lynx Africa, she’d make her way to you, across a carpet of crusty socks, crunching like autumn leaves. Then she’d have to make love to you in a racing car bed, under a Toy Story duvet. Then at the end, if that wasn’t bad enough, your Mum comes in to ask if she’s staying for tea.
The night after you’d go down to her room, but she wouldn’t even let you in, because she’s too busy talking about Robbie Williams and having a pillow fight with her best mates. The difference between the respective sides of a bed tells you a lot about the differences between you as people. Jemma’s side is so neat, you can barely tell she’s slept in it, it’s like she’s steamed those sheets open like an envelope.
Geometric lines, her kindle placed neatly next to hear glass of water, which is always on a coaster. She wakes up exactly where she fell asleep, pinned in the centre like the filling in some ravioli.
My side, chaos. It’s like a hedgerow on the side of the M6. I once found sand in there.
I’d not even been near a beach! My pillow is awful, I’ve not changed it for years. Once I find a good pillow I like to stick to it, literally! It’s not bedding anymore, it’s evidence.
The world of mattresses is high tech now. They use 3d scanning technology. We had to lay on a simulator and see a picture of ourselves on the screen above. This simulator measures your body, maps out all the pressure points and recommends the perfect mattress. It could either be soft, firm, medium or the one we had suggested, “bloody expensive!”
They recommended a mattress to
us….£2500?! The assistant said, it’s got springs in it’s got foam, it’s got gel…I said:
“Has it got cocaine in it love?!”
I don’t want a mattress I have to put on my house insurance! I’m putting it on my bed, not through private school!
She said it’s been tested by over 10 million sleepers, I thought, well we don’t want that one then, it’ll be knackered, where did you get that from the Premier Inn?! It had something called, “Anti Motion Transfer Technology” in it. Which is a sculptured support system, to respect your partner's sleeping space. We’ve already got that, it’s known as “Jemma’s Elbow”.
The assistant told us not to worry as we can pay for it in instalments. No thank you! The last thing I need when I’m trying to sleep is worrying about paying off the thing that I’m sleeping on!
I may as well be sharing my bed with a loan shark!
It’s hard to recreate the conditions that a mattress will be used in isn’t it? It’s two o’clock in the afternoon and you’re laid on a bed, in full daylight opposite a carpet right, it’s not exactly lab conditions is it?
If they want people to buy these mattresses they need to let you experience a real world test. Put someone next to you who when they are in a deep sleep, just stops breathing for no reason and you think they are dead.
Then bring in someone who’s internal temperature could melt the polar ice caps? Just lays there generating heat like Iron Man. They are hot to the touch and love to roll over in the middle of the night and stick a sweaty breast to your back, like a suction cup on a window pane!
Then the final test, let you drift into a deep restful sleep. One that carries you away into another dimension, a beautiful sleep, like a God or a baby in the arms of its mother. Then, just before you hit the real REM phase, they bring in a child who shakes you awake and tells you that they’ve pissed the bed.
Sleep well, no chance mate, not even on a mattress worth two grand
Scott Bennett Comedianwww.scottbennettcomedy.co.uk Twitter - @scottbcomedyuk Instagram - @scottbcomedyuk
The Brand New Podcast “Brew With the Bennett’s” on Apple Music, Acast and Spotify Now! Twitter - @BWTBPod / Instagram - @BWTBPod Scott’s greatest hits tour “Great Scott!” is on sale now go to: www.scottbennettcomedy.co.uk/live for tickets!
What do you know about hockey?
Here’s the thing. Anyone who knows about hockey probably needs no introduction to Beeston Hockey club - aka The Bees. The Men’s and Ladies' first teams play in the country’s top leagues, winning league titles and the National Cup. The club regularly churns out international players including the likes of former Great Britain captain Adam Dixon and counts Olympic gold medallist Hollie Webb among its alumni. We’re talking serious sports here! By which I mean that if hockey had the money behind it that football does, we’d have a globally famous sports club on our doorstep. The fact is that there isn’t generally much fuss about hockey.
Allow me to take you by the hand and introduce you to club hockey at Beeston.
WHAT?
Hockey, obviously. A fast-paced, skillful, non-contact sport. To play at the top level you’ll need considerable fitness - studies show hockey players cover more ground in a game than almost any other sport. Of course if that’s not your kind of thing, one of the lower teams or even the club bar might be a better fit for you. Beeston has you covered.
WHEN?
The season runs September to March (but we don’t let that stop us playing socially in the summer). Adult league matches are every Saturday with training on various weekday evenings. Junior training and matches are on Sundays.
Beeston HC resides at Nottingham Hockey Centre on University Boulevard at the Highfields site which currently houses six artificial turf pitches including those funded by Nottingham University and Nottingham High School. Whilst it is the largest hockey site in the world outside the Netherlands, the single most significant provision for some is going to be the Stick and Pitcher bar which boasts a viewing balcony, draught beers and food. Such are the delights of a post-training sausage sandwich and hot chocolate on a Sunday morning, it was years before my kids confessed that the hockey was a secondary concern to the snacks.
WHO?
For youngsters from as tiny as four upwards the junior setup is a huge and thriving beast with hundreds of kids. Coaching is provided by the keener members including some of the club's top players.
Juniors are incorporated in the adult league sides from age fourteen. This is the benefit of a skill-based sport; teenagers can share a pitch with adults and still contribute and develop. A number of fathers, for example, play alongside their sons - presumably doubling the joy or despair in the household depending on the results. With nine men’s teams, seven ladies’ teams, juniors, over 40s veterans and a mixed side, there’s somewhere for everyone and, with so many sides, the range of ability is huge but the passion and competition are present in every team.
Community. The sort of community that will support you, challenge you and laugh with you and at you. This means treating you like family, including a healthy degree of mickey-taking. Nicknames abound, and there is always recognition for the best player in a match and lighthearted nominations for anyone who has embarrassed themselves for any reason. The friendships within the club are enduring and close with multiple instances of teammates who end up as ushers and bridesmaids at each others’ weddings and godparents to each other’s’ children.
It’s not all inward-facing either: Beeston and the Nottingham Hockey Centre are also active in wider community events including partnerships with groups representing the refugee and disabled communities. It is a source of pride that Beeston not only continues to support itself as a club, but has also raised over £135,000 for charity.
Happily there are lots of opportunities to watch high level hockey on your doorstep in Beeston including multiple international fixtures held at the Hockey Centre plus you can find live coverage of matches online on the dedicated YouTube channel Bee TV.
So, if you’re keen, competitive or simply curious, take a walk (or a tram) down to University Boulevard and see what all the fuss isn’t about.
or around a decade Broxtowe has celebrated the achievements of several influential local people that resided in the borough sometime in the rich history. As well as famous names such as Thomas Barton, Richard Beckinsale and Sid Standard boldly embossed on the bright blue enamelled discs, we have plaques that mark auspicious events such as the Chilwell Explosion of 1918 and to recognise places of historical significance like Beeston Station which was originally opened in 1839. We are proud of our plaques. They are the result of the dedication of a team of volunteers, a collaboration between representatives from the local historical societies and Beeston Civic Society and the trail took six years to complete. Our plaques are blue to tie-in with the tradition which began in London in 1901 as it was felt the colour complimented the red bricks of the city. Nevertheless, since our last blue plaque was installed in 2015 it has become apparent that none of them are dedicated to women.
To remedy this, Beeston Civic Society
launched their ‘Lady Plaques’ campaign on International Women’s Day on March 8th of this year as part of their 50th Anniversary Celebrations. It was a call to action for locals to nominate ‘historical women who lived, worked and quietly achieved things in our district.’
Tamar Feast tells us “The inaugural plaques that will be installed in 2023 will be red to commemorate the 50th year of the society.”
They have already uncovered some excellent examples of women who contributed significantly to education, health and politics. And whilst some of them may have lived here too far in the past for us to have knowledge of them, Dr Winifred Alice Melland Thompson, the first female GP in Beeston died in 1990 so some Beeston residents may remember her and her practice at Oban House where she lived and worked for nearly forty years.
If you would like to learn more about the Lady Plaque initiative or you know of someone you feel is worthy of recognition, then head on over to the Beeston Civic Society website – they would love to hear from you!
CL
LCue a montage of images – me in Robin Hood kit, Nottingham Castle gates with a big ‘Closed’ sign on them, me looking a bit sad in an obviously staged and uncomfortable photoshoot at the Pearson Centre, Beeston, all accompanied by a gravelly American voiceover… “Tim wrote about bereavement, male mental health in Beeston and the potential reopening of Nottingham Castle. Now, in the explosive climax to that article he reveals all…”
That’d be great right? So, having promised to get stuck in and find out more about support groups in our lovely town what did I do, what did I find out and is it any good?
Well the Castle is definitely reopening and... yea, I’m not allowed to say much more
As for the mental health groups in Beeston - no idea, I did nothing. Shocking, I know. Not because I didn’t want to, admittedly – but because I instead ended up talking with a few friends who’d had some really horrendous issues to deal with recently (including a couple of them suddenly losing their long-term partners, for instance) and they said they found talking to me helpful - and that in turn helped me too, because talking is both important and cathartic.
I’d had some very lovely people help me though when I was out of my mind with grief about losing my late wife Sal; family, friends and even via some lovely messages from strangers on the internet (you see there nice people out there, truly) – and not just in the first few weeks or months but in an ongoing way. I’m still hugely thankful, overwhelmed and indebted to them for it; nearly six years later I think I’m just about OK, mostly - I still have bad days, brokenhearted days and sometimes really dark days, but with their help and that of our beautiful baby girl Scarlett (now a bouncing, happy and enthusiastic nine and a complete joy) I’m ‘getting there’, as they say. Mostly.
But to bring this back to Beeston I’d like to tell you of a real act of true kindness by a local company that will soon be playing a much bigger part in our town’s social life.
As Nottingham’s official Robin Hood I’ve made a lot of friends over the years and one of Sal’s and my favourite annual occurrences were beer festivals – of course the CAMRA Nottingham Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival (or the ‘Me Festival’ as I jokingly call it) but also the Lincoln Green Brewery Beer Festival at their brewery in sunny Hucknall. Sal and I would turn up in full medieval kit to mingle, pose for photos and (of course) enjoy some of their fabulous beers. Scarlett used to come with us too, obviously not partaking but still enjoying it and definitely taking the limelight from us on many an occasion!
So it was a bit of a surprise to me when after Sal died I got a call from Lincoln Green
asking me if I’d like to come in to the brewery to help brew a beer. I recall it clearly, I was face down on my bed, having managed to get up and get Scarlett ready for and taken her to nursery; I’d just collapsed back down and wanted nothing to do with people, the world - or anything, to be honest. But I said yes because they were such nice people and I thought I should probably force myself to do something. And then I decided I couldn’t. And then that I would, then wouldn’t – you get the picture.
On the day and literally right at the last minute I finally decided I would go, although it was a damned close thing. I rocked up at the brewery, to be met by the wonderful Anthony Hughes who owns it, the equally excellent Anthony Hewitt who persuaded me to come and several others. I was asked to pour some Beeston-made honey into the brew, which was actually great fun - and then I went home, thinking no more of it but very grateful for everyone’s friendship and support.
It was only sometime later, on the day of the big CAMRA Nottingham Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival up at Nottingham Castle I was told what unbeknownst to me I’d actually helped to create – Lincoln Green had brewed a special honey beer (using the honey I’d poured in) specially for the festival and named it after Sal in her honour - ‘Sally Pollard’s Honey’d Amber’ a gloriously tasty beer she’d have absolutely loved. Not only that, they’d secretly invited three other breweries to brew other beers named after her too. I was blown away by everyone’s affection, compassion and love for Sal (and Scarlett and me) and I still am - it was a genuine act of true kindness.
And now, as you can read elsewhere in this issue, Lincoln Green are soon opening two separate premises in what was The White Lion pub right in the centre of Beeston and I for one cannot wait to see what they’re going to do with the place, how they grow, become another successful part of Beeston and become involved in the community with the same amount of heart they showed me. So I know I’m biased, but I’ll certainly be welcoming them with open arms and most definitely raising a glass (or two) to and with them as well.
And I know for sure #SalWouldApprove :-)
As someone who doesn’t often tr avel to the wonderful town of Beeston, I thought I would t ake it upon myself to share how this strong community is presented to an outsider. Coming from a small town myself, I understand the importance a community holds. It’s not just about knowing everyone, it's more the sense of belonging and knowing you have a place to be who you are. That’s what I admire about Beeston, there is something for everyone whether it be strolling down the High Road or browsing the endless menus filled with delicious foods. You may say that every town has shops and cafes, however Beeston has set a standard as their high street is mostly made from thriving independent shops, that all have something special to offer
I also have to mention the positive promotion of the community projects that demonstrate how connected everyone is. For example the ‘Happy Bench’ which was installed in Beeston Rylands, is an amazing way to get people to talk and build up the confidence to talk to someone new. I myself have met a lot of new people in Beeston and have slowly lifted that confidence barrier to open up more opportunities. The community works hard to preserve history, especially the buildings and architecture. The independent local businesses have continued to grow, adding to the uniqueness of the town. My favourite places to visit include The Pudding Pantry as they have great food and they have very welcoming staff, I also like to stop by White Rose as they have lots of varied clothing choices that can fit different people's preferences.
I think that their business is a wonderful way to promote recycling clothes, especially when the world is trying to combat the fast fashion industry. Another amazing place is Nosh which is a Chinese cuisine restaurant that adds diversity and authenticity to the High Road and has a friendly atmosphere. I wanted people that live in Beeston to feel proud of their community and I thought, what better way to do so than from an outsider’s perspective.
One of Beeston's best independent businesses has recently moved and grown. Totally Tapped, the micro 'tap house' of local brewery Totally Brewed, has relocated over the road and along a bit from its former home on the High Road, into what used to be the Skills travel shop
Sadly Totally Brewed has ceased to be, but Totally Tapped is still offering a wide range of high quality local beers - from the darkest stouts to the palest IPAs. All the cask ales come from Nottingham breweries such as Bang The Elephant, Lenton Lane, Neon Raptor, Liquid Light and Grasshopper.
The new pub is a fair bit bigger, especially with the opening of a new sun-trap beer garden at the back of the building. The atmosphere is very
welcoming and cosy, appealing to people of all backgrounds and ages. Dog-friendly too. Don't tell anyone else, but the beer is incredibly reasonably priced! At a time when pubs all over the country continue to struggle, it is refreshing to see Beeston continuing to buck the trend. Get out there and support your locals, and they will be there for future generations to enjoy JC
The afternoon of Tuesday 7th March was a significant one for hundreds of people living in the area around the former college site in Chilwell
Many residents first report hearing a loud rumbling noise like thunder, then buildings shaking as if in an earthquake. This stopped, to be followed by a roaring noise. An unlucky few were then subject to the sound of thousands of gallons of water dropping onto their homes, along with rocks and earth thrown into the air by the water force.
Contractors developing the former college site had somehow managed to drill through one of the high capacity water mains on ground close to the tram line. This resulted in a burst which blasted a hole a couple of metres across, sending an extraordinary amount of water dozens of feet into the air and onto houses the other side of the tracks on Gwenbrook Avenue and Lime Grove Avenue.
Sadly it took Severn Trent Water several hours to halt the flow, by which time the flood
water had swamped a vast area downhill, emerging from drains and causing chaos as far away as The Beekeeper on Queens Road. The trams were forced to stop running for a couple of days whilst repair work was carried out, and many people were evacuated from their homes.
To get an appreciation of the scale of it all, search on YouTube for ‘Beeston burst pipe’, and you will see some astonishing drone footage.
As usual, Beeston’s community spirit shone through, with those affected thanking those who had helped them during the emergency. It is lucky that no one got seriously injured, and we hope that everyone who suffered damage to their homes are able to get back to normal asap.
JC
Photos by Ewan Cooper
John Cooper
Speaking to Daniel Cullen , in his shed studio a week after he released his debut novel HOBS he told me he had been sitting on the notion of writing a story about the cave dwellers of Derbyshire for around seven years before finally getting it to print. The original idea came from a conversation with his mum, but he sat with it for ages before ‘it was stitched into another story’ he was working on A combination of lockdown, and the desire for his son to be the right age to read and enjoy it, was the push Dan needed to prompt him to get his book published. The time he gained during the initial lockdowns allowed him the space and perspective to weave together the separate sections into a finished folk tale, that I believe will capture the imagination of young and old readers alike. In the same way that the cult Netflix series Stranger Things appeals to adults, with significant nostalgic references and a heavy dose of childhood magic, I believe it is a book that has universal appeal - especially if you were lucky enough to grow up in a Derbyshire village like me and are more than a little bit familiar with the local dialect the characters use.
I read HOBS over the bank holiday weekend, and thoroughly enjoyed escaping between the pages that reward with vivid description,
For four days in April, Beeston became the Mecca for short film makers, as the latest Beeston Film Festival took place at the Arc Cinema
and NG9’s own Vicky McClure. Unfortunately they didn’t make a guest appearance, but former Dinnerladies actor Andrew Dunn did. He played Tony the canteen manager. For the festival, he took the role of an antiques dealer in the horror ‘Badpenny’.
discernable emotion and a sense of pace that makes it difficult to put down. I was on tenterhooks with every turn, I just had to know what happened next! Not only that, the book contains some of Dan’s hauntingly beautiful illustrations, a nod to the supernatural events contained within. It also helped that the font is larger as I couldn’t find where I had put my reading glasses at the time!
As you immerse yourself in the narrative, you sense danger and intrigue right from the start and quickly learn of a malevolent force deep beneath the quarry. You meet a security guard who is scared of the dark, a wild-haired, wise old crone and of course the protagonist himself Jac, who having been displaced in a strange new life, wearing a heavy cloak of melancholia, seems to find trouble round every corner. But there is also a tangible sense of hope for Jac, both in a new friend and the strange happenings late one night where an explosion of light changes the course of his existence forever.
Dan tells me his favourite writers growing up were Douglas Adams, Stephen King, John Banville, Phillip Pullman, Charles Bukowski and Neil Gaiman so it’s no surprise that his own writing contains elements of mythology, fantasy and science fiction. It definitely gets The Beestonian Team seal of approval, and we are glad you were ‘brave enough to start’ Dan!
DU
The legends are true: HOBS are real. Except these aren't Pixies or elves or any other such fairytale nonsense; they're aliens
Stranded on earth for hundreds of years, the HOBS have made a new home, deep below the English countryside; a secret city called Narrowdark. It's hidden, secure, and safe. But when an ancient power is released into the world above, they have to act.
Because all that power just crashed into a rather shocked 12 year old human, called Jac...
As the cover of the programme guide proclaims, it is ‘The Midlands Biggest International Short Film Festival’. And it certainly was, with over 150 films screened between the 13th & 16th of April, under various genres like comedy, horror and naturally drama. The festival was of course organised by adopted Beestonian John Currie and Commercial Director Simon Pryce. Who remembers those early days of the upstairs at the old White Lion pub? Not quite with a white sheet and a film projector, but the complete opposite now, as it’s at a professionally run cinema. Making it on par with the Sundance festival, or Cannes, but just missing the sunshine and glamour.
The highlight of the festival was of course the awards night. Where the best films, directors and performances were up for award; the ‘B’Oscars’, which once again were designed and created by glass artist Rebecca Joy of Joyful Dragonfly. A name familiar to some, as she used to have a shop in Beeston called BeCass.
Despite the films being short, and not having huge budgets, quite a few well-known actors popped up in roles. These included Mark Gattis, Celia Imrie
Now in its ninth year, the festival goes from strength to strength, with it now being qualified by the British Independent Film Awards CIC and is recognised by the British Film Institute. 2024 will be its 10th anniversary and I wonder what surprises John and his team will have in store for film fans and the people of Beeston?
Iguazu: A Beeston based gift shop with an emphasis on helping people all around the world reached its 20th Birthday this summer, and to celebrate such a monumental occasion we spoke to Business Owner Neil Walton to delve into the backstory of such a uniquely charming independent store.
“At university my dissertation was on the inequalities within the Capitalist market. I wanted to go and witness many of the issues I had learnt about first hand and chose the unlikely location of Paraguay to do this. There were maybe 100 Europeans working there at the time, and absolutely no tourists.”
Living in one the poorest neighbourhoods in the capital, the expendability of life acted as the driving force in Neil’s desire to open a Fairtrade store. Constantly connected with the creativity and talent of the local craftsmen, Neil found himself confronted with the burning desire to work out how to help the locals when back at home. “I knew I could pay them twice what they were asking for and still be able to sell it in the UK for enough profit to make it work for everyone.”
In the early years Neil sought out a multitude of fair-trade importers and started buying their products, and as Iguazu grew he had the ability to import directly from overseas, travelling out to Thailand to connect with over 60 family businesses. “These relationships allow me to work directly with the producers. And the mix of using market leading fairtrade importers combined with our own imports gives our customers the most varied range of ethical products on the market.”
With Igauzu owing so much of its success to Beeston, Neil reflects that it “Has long
now felt like part of Beeston's furniture. We have people who are still coming in 20 years after we opened. We now even have the children of these people coming in as adults to continue their support!” Neil reflects that the “Beeston customer base is incredibly loyal, and we cannot be more grateful for that. The people of Beeston have shown their support by always coming back and shopping with us. We hope this will never change, and Iguazu is certainly not going anywhere!”
“I’ve learnt that if you believe in something, then you can make it happen. It would have been a lot easier to just sell normal products and not worry about the producers. But then we wouldn’t be Iguazu, and I would have lost all interest!”
“I’ve learnt that we all need to work together to make something special happen, thanks to our brilliant staff we’re currently focusing on growing our online presence and ensuring we keep our supply chain healthy and full of exciting new ideas.”
Having opened the third shop up in Newark amidst the chaos of Covid, the business is resting, partaking in external events to help find those people who don’t yet know of Iguazu. Neil says his “biggest long-term aim is to create the same passion for the business in my children as I have. As a single dad, sometimes they must come to work with me, and I can see their love is growing. I can’t think of anything better than to watch them take it over from me one day and let me go off buying forever more!”
An independent furniture and gift store that fuses both care and consideration for ethical trading values across continents with a care for family and community.
Iguazu has no plans to slow down, celebrating its 20 years with full force.
FB
Tree appreciation connects worlds. It can connect us to ourselves and our place in the transience of life as we undertake our everyday walks on the school run, commute, or trips to and from the shops. Glennie Kindred’s 2019 book Walking with Trees gives examples of how human encounters with trees weave together and deepen our connections not just with nature on a local scale, but in studying the tree species in our streets, parks, and back gardens, can give us a relationship with species that originate from different parts of the world. This interrelationship serves as reminder that we are all apart of and dependent on the natural world and such connections are not just across scales of space, but also with the deep ecological past of the earth and the very origins of life on the planet, how we are custodians of now for future generations of humans, trees, and the biodiversity of life. How the diverse species of street trees serve to improve the air quality of our town, absorb the heavy rains to reduce flooding, and provide shelter and shade in the increasingly heated up and strong sun of the summertime.
in our region. A reminder that the benefits of trees in our civic areas provide meeting places and markers for our lives and our daily interactions, enriching the landscape and its human, animal and plant inhabitants. People walked and talked sharing personal tales, anecdotes and recollections from over half a century, and the intergenerational nature of the tour allowed for children and older members of our community to share their own testimonies of how vital our trees are in making Beeston a wonderful place to live.
From Foster Avenue, we walked into Beeston square itself and discussed the layout and practical purpose of the presence of the ten lime trees. Lime trees (not the kind that grow lime fruits but instead produce limescented flowers) are fabulous for cleaning the air of pollutants as well as providing homes for insects and pollinators, some of which are eaten by the glorious pied wagtail community that roost and fly past the trees in The Square. In the summer, these trees provide pockets of shade under which Beestonians can sit, shelter, and scoff their James’s Jackets or just take time out to people-watch and listen to the leaves.
On Sunday 2nd October 2022 this column went live and literally walked the printed-talk by leading one of Beeston and District Civic Society’s walking tours. Walking the Trees of Beeston Central had been envisaged as taking place at the height of autumnal colours, but extreme weather conditions with the heatwave of August 2022 sped up the process and by the time the thirty or so hardy Beestonians arrived at the steps of Beeston Library for the start of the tour, the grey clouds and windy weather seemed to promise more leaves on the floor than in the branches. However, many of the trees still held onto their hues of orange, red, yellow, and green, and as we walked the sun came out. During the 90-minute tour we meet over a dozen varieties of trees and the exchange of anecdotes, knowledge and appreciation of trees filled this columnist’s heart full of joy.
It was a chance to share and exchange our individual and collective human reflections, memories, and encounters with our fellow Beeston-dwelling trees as well as information about their botanical, medicinal and cultural enrichment in the lives and histories of humans
Beginning outside Beeston Library, the large number of engaged and enthusiastic attendees were introduced to the Laburnum and Holly trees which flank the entrance to the library (the cherry trees that are also present there were considered alongside different varieties of prunus trees that have been planted for their spring colour, as well as their capacity to provide habitats for pollinating insects, moths and butterflies). Opposite the library flanking either side of the entrance to the old Town Hall building are two impressive Copper Beech trees. Trees as sentinels in marking out spaces of significance goes back to pre-Christian times, where trees served as markers for gathering places for community members to meet, discuss affairs and to perform rituals and celebrations: this remains true across many belief systems and in many sacred spaces built for worship; the gardens of churchyards, temples, mosques; the forests and trees themselves, serving to elevate and underscore connection with the earth and the branches of trees that stretch into the heavens. Trees connect us spiritually and ground us practically. Trees are conduits for life on the planet and that this vast profound prospect can be contemplated by spending time in the company of one tree means that in Beeston we are fortunate to have such beings in our company.
From the library we turned and walked down Foster Avenue towards the car park outside the police station and the council buildings. Here we noted the many cultural benefits of the Ash and Rowan trees, and observations were made by Pokémon fans how many of the main characters and trainers in the global anime hit are named after trees, (and I am also reminded by younger members of our community to mention that our fabulous primary schools in Beeston name their class groups after the natural world, including birds and trees!).
Crossing Beeston Square, we headed towards the High Street and paid our respects to the London Plain Trees outside Hallams and W H Smiths. The London Plain – just like the Lime Trees – are fantastic for cleaning air of pollutants from car exhausts and these also provide amazing shelter from rain and sun thanks to their large leaves that form a carpet of crisp brown leaves in the autumn. Heading towards Broadgate Park, we paid our respects to the Maidenhair Trees (Ginkgo Biloba) that are situated near the junction of the high street opposite Bistro 66 and discussed the medicinal benefits of the fruiting varieties (most street Maidenhair trees are Male species and do not fruit, a bonus given their acrid smell although the fruits are considered very good for the health and the extracts are used in herbal medicines), and a Beestonian helped to illustrate this by showing those assembled a packet of the vacuum-packed fruits he had just bought from Fresh Asia on Derby Street. Beestonians joined us as we walked towards Broadgate Park to pay our respects to our very own descendant of Sherwood Forests’ Major Oak, and we walked through Broadgate Park admiring the London Plains before crossing Middle Street NET tram stop to greet the small orchard of recently planted fruit trees that exist between the oak and the silver birches on Incredible Edible Beeston’s glorious spot on the corner of City Road.
Turning towards the West End, we walked past the majestic Beech tree that once overlooked The Beech Tree Lodge pub that became The Cow – a now ghost pub of Beeston that had once hosted a performance by The Sex Pistols before it was pulled down to make way for the current Tescos petrol station. That Beech tree serves as reminder to the original name of the pub as well as providing much needed hight from which Blackbirds and other birds sing, and as with the Copper Beeches, much needed habitat for insects and pollinators.
Travelling further along Middle Street heading in the direction of Chilwell we admired the Horse Chestnut tree in the grounds of Rob Slater Autos before we crossed Station Road, to admire and attempted to identify the wonderful trees outside the White Lion pub. Discussions of their changing seasonal leaf hues were interrupted as we admired the presence of the lavender bushes outside the Star Inn and we reflected on the joys of the very old Walnut tree that overhangs the old bricked walls of Manor House. Turning towards Beeston Parish Church and the final stopping point of our tour we looked at local history books from Beeston library to consider the changes to the landscape and what the roads looked like without the tree presence, approximating the age of the Sycamore trees and sharing recollections of the shared springtime seasonal joy of seeing the Magnolia tree in bloom near The Crown before turning into Church Street and the Churchyard of Beeston Parish Church where we discussed the social and cultural significance of the Yew trees in churchyards, the Scots Pine, and the Oaks. Eagle-eyed botanical expert Tamar also identified a Wych Elm in its grounds – a rare specimen and wonder and a new one for this columnist to admire.
Thanks to all for coming out who enriched this walk with their curiosity and expert knowledge about our trees. I walked home feeling uplifted and connected with fellow Beestonians through our conversations about our trees. We might not always take the time to share it, but collectively we had all felt the benefits and joys of connecting with the trees and clearly as humans this is something most of us do instinctively. Excitingly, plans are afoot to arrange another walk. Keep your eyes on the Beeston Civic Society’s ‘Walk With’ series for when and where this will be, and please do share your reflections and memories of Beeston street trees because it matters to our civic and collective sense of belonging. Our trees matter.
The Beeston and District Civic Society have been planting trees in Beeston for 50 years. This year they are having a ‘golden’ anniversary to celebrate this by raising funds to plant more. This remains a vital commitment and given recent vandalism on trees planted by the society in January 2020, it is more important to continue this tradition for the future inhabitants and generations of our town. For further details see beestoncivicsociety.org.uk
Until next time, take care of the trees that take care of us all. Your very own Loxley Lorax, Dr JN
“Trees connect us spiritually and ground us practically...”
If you visited the Canalside Heritage Centre last summer you might have enjoyed some of the large scale metal sculptures placed around their volunteer maintained gardens. The perfect pairing of hard steel and soft planting added an extra layer of beauty to this peaceful and contemplative space.
Scan the QR code to learn about the man behind the art.
Ola mi amigos! Lulu here, reporting absent. I may have been kidnapped by pirates and as we speak I may be consuming vast amounts of rum whilst pondering which sun soaked island to visit next. Or I may be hidden away covered in mud at a UK festival fighting pigeons for an overpriced chippy tea while tribute bands murder something vaguely similar to an AC/DC track. It could be either situation, or both. No ransom is required, and I am sure I will head back home after the summer, maybe a bit emotionally and mentally broken but full of banter and stories. Meanwhile, while I flit off into the sunset, a Beestonite by the name of Pete steps in (ta!) and gets up close and personal with a big name from these parts. Enjoy!
If you’ve ever watched Better Call Saul or been to a Liam Gallagher gig recently you would have likely heard Barrie Cadogan’s incredible guitar playing. That’s right folks Beeston has spawned a legit guitar hero. I met the blues and R&B virtuoso in the Crown to talk about growing up in Beeston in the 90s, his band Little Barrie and his prolific musical career as a session guitarist.
“Hey Barrie, so glad you came to meet us today.”
“I’m honoured to be here I really am, it’s nice to be back, my time in Beeston was very important to me, the people that I knew played a big part in me being involved in music.”
“What was it about Beeston that was so special?”
“Maybe just that time really, I was 14 in 1989 and my sister was already at college going out to gigs seeing lots of bands. There was a cool little counterculture in Beeston where anyone into music tended to just hang out. I feel quite fortunate a lot of us were on a similar wavelength and were generous with music, lending records, doing mixtapes and playing instruments. That was a really positive time. I've still got tonnes of stuff like band rehearsals with Pish and Adam (former “Polska” Band members) jamming from 30 years ago. “
“So after this were you were gigging with Polska in the mid-90s?”
“More like 97 yeah, I think, we were playing a lot but nothing was really happening more than writing music and just playing funky instrumentals. Dorian from Polska rented a house on Gregory Blvd, it was quite basic but we could just play with no complaints. I remember Dorian made a hole in the wall to fit recording cables in from one room to another and Adam pulled the chain off the bath plug to put on his cymbal to make the rivet effect like the jazz drummers had.”
“After Polska, when was it you moved London and released your first single as Little Barrie (Shrug Off Love)?”
“I moved to London in 2000, I’d started singing just because I couldn't find anyone to do it and just thought being a bit self-sufficient might not be a bad idea. Originally, I just wanted to be guitar player like John Squire, Johnny Marr or Pete Townshend.”
“Do you still feel like that, are you comfortable with your voice?”
“No never, but I like singing. You get imposter syndrome but it doesn’t stop you wanting to do it. I felt like I could say more with my guitar when I was singing, it’s how they work with each other, it feels quite vulnerable still but I need to do it.
I guess London is more like home now as I’ve been there for over 20 years. Coming from Nottingham gave me a different slant on music than the people I was mixing with in London, but then I got inspired by a lot of people down there. My friend Bill Denton ran a record shop, he was an amazing harmonica and bass player, that's when I got more seriously into Blues and things I hadn't heard before, he got me into Lee Dorsey and Chicago and New Orleans R&B. I met Lewis our bass player in London and we’ve being playing together since the end of 2000 so 23 years this year, he’s a very talented fella who doesn’t know how talented he is. I had feeling he was gonna be a good guy to play with, a really good rhythm section is hard to find.”
“Do you see your Band as ‘Little Barrie’ or do you see yourself as ‘Little Barrie’?”
“It’s got confusing coz people call me that, when I formed the idea it was just going to be a solo project but it quickly became a band and then the name never got changed so yeah it's a bit murky but I'm sure it’s done more good than harm.”
“You bought out your first album We are Little Barrie in 2005.”
“Yeah, that started out as recording a single because we met Edwyn Collins through a friend who owned a guitar shop and was playing in Edwyn’s band. We loved Edwyn and his studio, he suggested we carry on and do an album. We probably finished it by early 2004. The first album was a bit more funk and R&B soul influenced.”
“But then your music gradually got darker over the years.”
“I found a lot of beauty in darker melodies. I guess I was sometimes trying to break out of basic sort of R&B melodic structures, I felt like I'd done a lot of it, so I was looking for other things that make me feel something different.”
“It’s no exaggeration you’re highly respected in the live music scene as being the go-to guitarist for hire playing with Primal Scream, Liam Gallagher, Paul Weller, The The, Morrissey for example. I know you’re pretty laidback but when industry people refer to you as ‘the greatest guitarist of his generation’ does that make you feel uncomfortable?”
“A little bit I guess, but it's nice that people see something in you and because of that people might give you chance to do other stuff, but for me I'm always just trying to think where I could be or what might be next. I’ve been fortunate at times that landing one thing has led to another.”
“Do you think luck plays a part?”
“I think it can at times, but graft has a lot to do with it. It’s not always easy or glamorous sticking it out. It’s one thing getting somewhere, another staying.”
“You recently played with Liam Gallagher standing in for their guitarist Bonehead, how do you go about preparing for a gig like that, how much notice do you get?”
“It can be really short notice. The first higher profile gig I did was with Morrissey in 2004 where I had three days to learn 22 songs. That was a massive learning curve, there were loads of songs that I didn't know, it was quite terrifying. But you know, you get through it and then each time you do this stuff it puts you in better stead for the next time. With the Liam thing I had a decent amount of time, about three-and-abit weeks to learn a bunch of tunes for the first gig. Then we did two rehearsals before we played the gig in Blackburn, had a gap of about a month learning more songs and did a whole bunch of rehearsals before the first main show at Manchester City Stadium. After that was Knebworth for two shows. It was still intimidating, but I was made very welcome by the band and crew.”
“Let’s talk a little bit about Quatermass Seven, a recent album project you did with esteemed drummer Malcolm Catto (The Heliocentrics). It’s kind of an underwater psych fuzz project experiment, how did that come about?”
“We first met Malcolm over 20 years ago coz when we put out our first three records were on the same label Stark Reality. I saw Malcolm’s band at the time, The Soul Destroyers which completely blew me away, they were easily the best group doing the old heavy Funk sound. I sort of lost touch with Malcolm for a long time, then went down
to his studio and we talked about doing a project one day. That's how it started. We thought we might get two tracks, but we just carried on playing and used some ideas that I had that were kind of half formed and turned them into good things and we ended up with an album we were really pleased with. It felt exciting like new ground for us. We've got a new record in the bag as well.”
“Thank you very much for coming down to the Crown and for living a childhood dream of mine.”
“Thanks, I feel fortunate.”
Little Barrie and Malcom Catto Quatermass Seven is available on vinyl and CD at www.litlebarrie.com
Little Barrie’s latest collaboration project is Recovery Effects by Black Delta Movement featuring Little Barrie and produced by Malcom Catto.
