Ilkeston Life Newspaper November 2016

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NOVEMBER 2016

A community publication for Ilkeston and the surrounding area Visit our website: ilkestonlife.com

A poem for the Queen Eileen Berrisford ,aged 88, a member of Ilkeston Methodist Church, wrote a poem for the Queen’s 90th birthday.

It was read out at the Party in the Park in the summer, and the organisers of the event, Ilkeston local churches, thought it was so good they decided to send a copy to Her Majesty.

And now an appreciative reply has arrived from Buckingham Palace, expressing thanks and apologising for the delay due to the enormous amount of birthday mail received by the Queen.

About our Queen

I saw them grow into young ladies, As lovely as any I’ve seen, Then at the loss of her father Elizabeth became our Queen.

For 64 years she reigned over us, So noble and royal right through, With a special love for her people, Her horses and corgis too.

We are privileged to have such a Queen, Whose faith in Jesus does not hide, It shows in her wonderful nature, For she asks God to be her guide.

We hope she will reign for many years more, Fulfilling her duties as well as kind deeds, She works so hard for her country, God gives her the strength that she needs.

And now we are here to celebrate Our Queen’s very special birthday, For she’s reached the aged of ninety, May God bless her forever we pray.

As a child I enjoyed seeing photos Of Princess Elizabeth and Margaret Rose, They were so very pretty And wore such beautiful clothes.

A copy of the reply from the Queen’s lady in waiting Philippa de Pass can by found inside.

Members of the Nottingham Road church have had the letter with royal insignia framed for her.

Eileen, who lives in Kirk Hallam, was delighted that Her Majesty had enjoyed the poem and taken the trouble to send a thank you letter. This is the poem she wrote.

TEEN TALK: Will Redfern, Jess Tinker and Lauren Adams performing their sketch called ‘Catherine Tate, Spitting Lyrics’ at the show put on by Ilkeston Youth Theatre recently. Photo: John Shelton

The gates at West Park will open at 6pm, with a funfair, stalls and food on offer to This year’s Erewash Bonfire and Fireworks ensure a great night out for all the family. extravaganza will be held on Saturday 5th The event will begin at 7pm with the official November and promises to be as spectacular lighting of the bonfire by the Mayor of Ereas ever with a stunning ‘Best of British’ wash, Councillor Abey Stevenson, and will themed display set to some rocking music. be followed at 7.30pm by the start of the Organised by Erewash Borough Council, the dazzling firework display. annual celebration is held at West Park in Advance tickets, including money saving Long Eaton and is one of the biggest comfamily deals (£10), are on sale at Long Eaton munity bonfire and firework displays in the and Ilkeston Town Halls and Long Eaton county, attracting thousands of people. and Ilkeston Leisure Centres.

Best of British will sparkle!

Steven’s new book is a Macmillan fundraiser A poet from Ilkeston is due to publish his seventh book of verse this month.

Steven Michael Pape’s ‘Life in the Past Frame’ also contains images by Ilkeston based photographer Alan Davidson of Davidson Photography.

All the proceeds from the book are going to the Macmillan Unit at Royal Derby Hospital in memory of Steven’s cousin Denise Roe who lost her battle with cancer in July, aged 51. One of the poems, ‘Bright Star’, is dedicated to her and was read at her funeral.

Steven says, “ I'm very happy with my poetry in this book and Alan's striking images have added an extra dimension to them. Subjects include nature, children, society, loss, reflec-

tions on the past and thoughts on present day living.”

The book will be available on Amazon priced £10.99, but advance copies can be ordered and purchased from Steven directly for £8. A local book signing is being planned.

Life in the Past Frame, which is 85 pages long, will also be available from Derbyshire Libraries from next year.

Stephen is a regular contributor to Your Space (page 11) where one of the poems from the book, ‘The imagination of children’, is featured this month.

Pictured: Hot off the press—Steven Pape and Alan Davidson with the first copy of the book. Photo: Stephen Davidson, Alan’s brother.

Robert Lindsay receives Freedom honour

By Patricia Spencer, who remembers getting his autograph when he was a schoolboy thespian and predicting ‘You’ll be famous one day’

KIRK HALLAM COTMANHAY SHIPLEY VIEW HALLAM FIELDS STANTON-BY-DALE DALE ABBEY WEST HALLAM STANLEY

STANLEY COMMON AWSWORTH COSSALL TROWELL SANDIACRE STAPLEFORD LONG EATON DERBY

Local

Independent Fresh Entertaining

I

f you don’t get a copy through your door, Ilkeston Life is available online and from various outlets including newsagents, shops, cafes, Post Offices and supermarkets in our growing circulation area. Besides Ilkeston, we are currently supplying: KIRK HALLAM COTMANHAY SHIPLEY VIEW HALLAM FIELDS LARKLANDS STANTON-BY-DALE DALE ABBEY WEST HALLAM

STANLEY STANLEY COMMON AWSWORTH COSSALL TROWELL SANDIACRE STAPLEFORD LONG EATON

Editorial office: 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston, Tel: 07539 808390 Editor: Robert Attewell ilkestonlife@gmail.com or robert@ilkestonlife.com Staff feature writer: Patricia Spencer patricia@ilkestonlife.com Staff photographer: John Shelton john@ilkestonlife.com Advertising manager: Paul Opiah sales @ilkestonlife.com or paul@ilkestonlife.com Webmaster: Adam Newton adam@ilkestonlife.com © Copyright 2016 The material in Ilkeston Life is protected by copyright. If you wish to reproduce anything, please contact the editor.

While every care is taken to be accurate, we are only human and mistakes do occur occasionally. If you are unhappy with any of the content in the paper, please contact the editor in the first place.

We accept news and information from correspondents in good faith and cannot be held responsible for inaccuracies. We try not to include stories which may cause distress to anyone. If you have a view on any of the articles, please write and let us know. Your letters are always welcome, but we reserve the right to withhold or edit.

Anonymous letters will only be printed in exceptional circumstances.

Deadline for adverts and editorial contributions for next month’s paper: 15th November (unless by arrangement). Send to us by email if possible: ilkestonlife@gmail.com

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s I walked across the market to the Town Hall with Paul Opiah, one of the people behind the Ilkeston Life newspaper and Danny Corns, our much loved local historian, the weather was atrocious. Danny and Paul are the two people who brought the proposal to the Borough council to have Robert made a freeman of Erewash.

We had a major storm in the afternoon and it appeared it wasn’t going to get any better, even for our very own Robert Lindsay.

The Erewash Museum Tent had been set up earlier to hopefully hold the award cereCouncil leader Chris Corbett and mayor Abey Stevenson applaud as Robert receives his award mony outside, but it was not to be. receive many awards including a Bafta, a To- When he was asked if he ever got star struck, When we got there about 5 o’clock there was ny and three Olivier awards. he said not really. The only time he came near hardly anyone waiting, and who could blame Chris said, “Robert is one of Ilkeston’s most to it was when Barbara Streisand walked into them? his dressing room when he was on Broadway famous sons and we salute his incredible We were all ushered inside out of the rain and achievements here today”. and he said he called her Babs.

I was asked to wait in the room just inside the Robert accepted his award from the mayor and When he was asked what advice would he main door along with John our photographer. was then asked to speak about how he felt give to young people just starting out he said, There was much confusion from the staff as “Trust yourself and be true to yourself.” about the honour. they tried to decide where to hold the event.

He said it was probably the best honour he had When Bob and I spoke to him, I showed him By this time one or two people were arriving two programmes that I have kept for the last received and he was thrilled. When he was outside despite the dreadful weather, shelterasked would it be going up on a wall at home, fifty-one years. They were Ilkeston Theatre ing under their umbrellas. programmes from 1965 when Robert first he said he wasn’t sure about that because As we sat waiting a familiar figure appeared at when he put up his Bafta it was taken down by started acting. the door, Robert had arrived with his family. his family to be replaced by their mum’s He had already mentioned being in “The Boy He came straight into us and shook our hands, ‘Gotcha’ from Noel Edmonds.

With The Knife” in his radio interview, so I saying, “Typical, I come back to Ilkeston and Robert thanked Danny Corns for sponsoring thought he would be interested to see the actuit’s raining.” al programme. him for the award and then talked with fondThe staff by this time had decided the event ness about his mum and dad who always sup- He said it was when he did this play that he should be held indoors as the weather had no ported him in his career and how sorry he was thought to himself – this is what I want to do, intention at all of being kind to us, so we were that they were not still here to see it. and I can do it. And of course he could, he asked to go upstairs to the council chamber had a special talent even then at fifteen years ‘MI DUCK’ where we were seated at the front in the secof age.

He told us a little story about when his mum tion reserved for the newspaper reporters.

I was working back stage at the time. The and dad went over to New York to see him I was very nervous as this was the first time I and they went for a walk and found a purse on show was at the Town Hall. Afterwards I had had been to an event like this as a reporter. But the pavement. Being the honest people they done a buffet back at the Theatre Club and I as it turned out it was quite informal and it were, they took it straight into the local police took the programme to him and asked him to took quite a while to get the audience seated. precinct and said, “We’ve found this purse on sign it. He said, “Why do you want me to sign it?”

Robert’s family were seated across from us the pavement, mi duck.” and many friends and family were coming up The policeman fetched his colleagues to listen I said, “Because one day you are going to be to greet Robert and have their picture taken famous.” to the Ilkeston dialect and it became a lovely with him.

He laughed. He also said it was strange seeing story to be brought out time and again, no One of the councillors took charge of the pro- doubt. “I think they thought we were aliens,” his family name on the programme. He did not ceedings and the microphones. He had two, want to change his name at the start of his quipped Robert. one for the people out in the rain and one for career but he was told he had to and he was Robert had no qualms about saying that he the lucky ones inside. There were still people could not wait to get away from Ilkeston when also told he had to lose his Ilkeston accent. He outside in the pouring rain and credit to them he was young. He wanted something different recalled being told how to pronounce the word for staying put, as there certainly was ‘no long without sounding the ‘g’ at the end as from life and although it was scary he had to room at the inn’ upstairs.

Ilkestonians would. Eventually he mastered try. the new way of talking.

Finally the room was brought to order as the But despite that, Robert has always come back Mayor of Erewash, Councillor Abey StevenWhen Robert went to Clarendon College after to Ilkeston regularly to see his family and son, arrived in his ceremonial robes. friends who have always remained close. And school he was planning to train as an English and Drama teacher, which would have been Councillor Val Custance our previous mayor of course he still loves to go to see Ilkeston had already spoken to us to tell us she was the football team play. He now has a fondness for wonderful for any youngster that had come one who had signed the declaration for Robert Ilkeston he did not have when he was young. under his tutelage. But it would have been a to gain the freedom of Erewash but Abey was He said, “I now yearn for the old place. Peo- great loss to the acting profession. Who else to present the award being the current Mayor. ple in Ilkeston are always ready to say, ‘Hello, could they have got to play Wolfie in Citizen Smith, the role that set him on his road to Chris Corbett, in his role as leader of the Ere- are you alright?’ Or, as Jim Sumner would fame? wash Borough Councillor, started the proceed- say,’Ar ya all rayt m’ duck?’ There is a I asked Robert if he had ever thought about ings by saying that the conferring of the title warmth here you do not find in London.” staying in America when he went over to work of Honorary Freeman of the Borough is the He described his life as a roller coaster ride on Broadway. He said no. He had lived there highest honour the Borough Council can beand said he had been blessed with the people stow and has only been given to the 2nd Bat- that had helped him get started, especially Mr for two and a half years in the 80s but was pleased to come home. talion the Mercian Regiment, the successors to John Lally and Mr Brian Levers, two of his the Sherwood Foresters, and more recently to Gladstone Boys School teachers.

At the moment Robert is filming in Prague.

Sir Dave Brailsford who has done so much for After Robert had finished his speech inside he He would soon be flying over to do his final British Cycling. put on his jacket and went out to speak to the scene of the film. The film is about Albert Einstein and he is playing his father.

Chris then went on to talk about Robert’s people that had waited in the rain to see him. many achievements on stage and screen.

The bright spark of talent that was spotted He still has Ilkeston in his heart.

If you live in Ilkeston, especially if you were After the hall was cleared we went back down- when Robert was fifteen has grown brighter over the years and given him a brilliant career born here, you cannot fail to know about Rob- stairs to hopefully get to speak to him. on stage and screen, and long may it glow. ert’s schooldays at Kensington Junior and We had to wait for him to finish a radio inter- Ilkeston is proud of him.

Gladstone Secondary School where he devel- view before we could talk to him and they oped his love of acting. He has gone on to asked him most of the questions we had ready.

Party in the Park

ment kiosk, toilet facilities and improved storage for bowlers, new gates at the park’s two entrances on the corner of Drummond Road and Bristol Road and the corner of Manners Road and Bristol Road, specialist restoration of the bandstand, which will be completed off site, a new timber pergola and refurbishment of the marble pillars, and path improvements using resin bonded gravel to areas around the bandstand and entrance gates.

Party in the Park, an Erewash Borough Council event, took place in Victoria Park last month. It featured Dinnington Colliery Brass Band, Circus Sensible Workshop and free taster bowls sessions. Those who went along were able to see improvements in progress including the restoration of the bowling Photos: Kerry Louise Wheatley green pavilion, to a include a new refresh-

School’s Scooter Smart Training Day Ladywood School children from Nursery up to Year 3 have taken part in a scooter safety training day.

Specialist trainer Rob Bounds from Derbyshire's Travel Smart Team and PC John Aldred taught and demonstrated scooter safety, and all the children were given reflective safety bands and stickers.

Teacher Amanda Robinson said: “The day was part of our work of encouraging the children to choose healthier and safer lifestyles.

“As a result we are going to be awarded our Modeshift STARS bronze award.

“Modeshift STARS is the national schools awards scheme that has been established to recognise schools that have demonstrated PC John Aldred, Head teacher Miss Mellanie Lawson excellence in supporting cycling, walking and three children at the Kirk Hallam school’s scooter and other forms of sustainable travel.” safety day.

WEST HALLAM VILLAGE HALL – COMMUNITY ‘S VIEWS SOUGHT The views of West Hallam residents are being explored through a consultation organised by the West Hallam Village Hall Charity Trustees. Copies of the consultation are being delivered to homes in the village along with this November issue of Ilkeston Life.

West Hallam Village Hall is a well-used community facility. Maintenance of the Grade II listed building is ongoing and improvements during the summer have included new energy efficient central heating. This was made possible through an award of £7,500 from Erewash Borough Council’s Rural Communities Grant Scheme. However much remains to be done. Major structural repairs are required and there are limitations including

inadequate disabled facilities.

Further external funding is vital to meet these challenges and other future needs of everyone in West Hallam. All potential funders require evidence that the committee has strong community support for projects.

Local householders are being requested to complete the brief survey to demonstrate support and participate in agreeing priorities and securing essential funding.

Completed forms should be returned by Wednesday 30th November 2016 to: The Village Hall, Brew and Bake, 9 The Village or 46 Hallam Way. If you don’t receive a form or are unable to drop your form off in person ring Ann or Mary on 9303340 or 9305386.

Alternatively the form may be completed online at www.westhallamvillagehall.org.uk

A Not-So-Tall Story “Mirror, mirror, on the wall; who is the fairest of them all?”

To find out, come along to the Seven Oaks Inn to see Ilkeston Theatre Company's latest production – 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' by James Barry. This is based on the traditional tale by the Brothers Grimm.

Snow White, played by the youngest member Penny Courtney, falls in love with the extremely handsome Prince Valiant (Louise Bradley). However, the path of true love never runs smooth, especially as Snow White has an evil step-mother, Queen Evilynn (played enthusiastically by Angie Jacks). When Mirriam the magic mirror (new member Jill Laurie) points out to the queen that she may have acquired one or two wrinkles, the queen is furious.

She arranges for Snow White to be led deep into the forest by the idiotic, but kindhearted Muddles (Seven Oaks landlord, Ryan Pound). Here, Snow White is found by the Seven Dwarfs who take her back to their cottage. Snow White, although delighted to be rescued, is somewhat disconcerted by the motley crew's housekeeping skills.

Queen Evilynn is still intent on revenge, but don't worry, Snow White has many friends including Clarissa the Cook (Ben Mills) who are determined to give her the happy ending she deserves.

The panto is in the large marquee, Seven Oaks Inn, Stanton-by-Dale, Ilkeston DE7 4QU on the following dates.

Friday 2nd December, 7.30pm Saturday 3rd December, 7.30pm Sunday 4th December, 4pm Friday 9th December, 7.30pm Saturday 10th December, 2.30pm Saturday 10th December, 7.30pm Tickets on sale now at the Seven Oaks are £10, with concessions at £8.50.

Group discounts are also available.

For further information or to book please contact Seven oaks on 0115 932 3189.

Ilkeston Life, November 2016

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Have your say Get in touch with your views— Email: ilkestonlife@gmail.com Post: The Editor, Ilkeston Life, 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 8AH

Education begins at home Could someone fully explain to me why it was assumed, and still is, that the majority of children who attended Grammar schools came from wealthy or “privileged” backgrounds?

My older brother and most of his friends who passed their Eleven Plus and went on to attend Ilkeston Grammar School did not come from such families. After he had left the Navy at the end of the Second World War our dad worked as a milkman for the Co-op, he shovelled scrap on the furnaces at Stanton, eventually working his way up to foreman. Our mum, like so many other local women, worked most of her life in local hosiery factories, even operating a knitting machine in the front room of our two-up two-down terraced house on Hobson Drive to make ends meet.

grasp of where food comes from?

And so to my latest gripe. How many of us see young parents on the streets, in cafes, on buses, glued to their i-pods, i-pads, i-phones, or whatever fatuous piece of modern itechnology that comes to hand, often with earphones firmly wedged into the sides of their heads taking not a blind bit of notice as to whether their child is asking them something, trying to attract their attention or even attempting to make eye contact. I witnessed a child on board a bus asking his mother “what’s that water”, referring to the River Trent. “No idea mate,” replied the mother!

And that was that. Not “I’ll find out” or “let’s Google it”. No, her mother was far too busy texting someone to be bothered with such a trivial question.

And now we have teachers claiming that children are starting school with little or no communication skills, unable to see further than their arms length (of course the distance the child has held the i-pad it was given on its first birthday) unable to balance properly unless staring at a tiny screen. Poor backgrounds? Under privileged? Don’t make me laugh. I used to work at the museum in Ilkeston. One day one of our regular young visitors popped in. Pale waxy skinned, red eyed, lank dirty hair, clothes clearly unwashed for days, in fact you could almost smell the malnutrition. But what did she have to show me? Her nice new mobile phone which her mum had just bought her.

Price £75!

If only political correctness could be put aside for just once then our teachers, politicians and numerous tax funded educational experts would have the courage to speak the truth. That education and the ability to learn and advance ourselves begins at the very start of our lives and more often than not has hardly anything to do with class, wealth or privilege. Those parents who find they can’t be bothered to talk or read to their children because they’ve got incoming texts or emails or back to back soaps and chat shows to watch will often blame the schools, or claim their children have one or more of the multitudes of syndromes going the rounds at the moment before they will realise let alone admit, it was they who let their children down and condemned them to a poor start and a life of missed opportunities and to make the same mistake when their turn comes around to have children.

We also often hear talk of children from poorer backgrounds not being given the same opportunities as those from better off families or of children not being able to reach their full potential.

To me much of this is utter twaddle and I suspect the politicians, academics and general tree huggers know the truth but dare not speak it.

Most children are born with a brain which is an empty void or palette as one might say, save for its natural instincts of course. When we had our first child my mum advised us that the first four years of a child’s life are probably the most important time because it is during that first four years that parents have a chance to fill that child’s head with as much information as possible. Talk to them, read to them and communicate with them; however young they seem their minds are absorbing information almost from day one.

This is the same advice I gave my own daughter when she gave birth a few months ago and already the results are noticeable.

By the age of two our son could recognise and pronounce every letter of the alphabet! I used to ask my daughter to tell me what colour each car was that went by (though admittedly it was invariably yellow). We would walk around a supermarket asking our children to point out and identify fruit and vegetables, where the bread was, which meat we were buying and so on. Much to the puzzlement of many who probably thought “what’s the point of that, a tiny child can’t possibly know the difference between an apple and an orange”. Ah but it was a start. Stephen Flinders (Even More Annoyed of Sandiacre) Perhaps why some children today have no

In defence of older people

are the ones who have paid in everything, no handout in those days.

The population hasn’t grown bigger all because some old people have lived longer.

There must be a lot of older people out there We have got lots of teenagers having chilwho are sick and tired of hearing whenever dren these days, not to mention millions of there is a crisis in the NHS or whatever, that immigrants living here, all adding to the population. So please don’t keep going on it is the older people living longer who are about the older generation living longer, creating the growing population. making them feel a burden, which they are We older generation are the ones who really not. worked hard in the 1960s and after, putting in very long hours for very little money. We ‘Oldie’, Ilkeston

4 Ilkeston Life, November 2016

There are more letters on other pages

Headmaster’s death at sea Dear Sir, I can assure T Carr (whose letter appeared in October Ilkeston Life) that Mr A D Nash was headmaster of Hallcroft School. I was there from 1947 to 1951 and if your correspondent, T, is as I suspect Tony Carr, he was a year or so senior to me.

advised that, tragically, Mr Nash had died following a heart attack.

Unable to contact next of kin Mr Nash My son David, at Hallcroft in the seventies, or other relatives, the decitook part in an educational cruise of areas of sion was taken to bury the former headmashistorical/geographical interest. From ter at sea. So Mr A D Nash was committed memory, David thinks in was 1978. to the deep off Gallipoli.

After retirement, Mr Nash obviously maintained contact with his former employers and The memorial ceremony was witnessed by pupils and staff of his beloved school. accompanied staff and pupils on the cruise.

The Hallcroft contingent’s flight from Eng- As a point of interest, SS Uganda was commandeered as a troop carrier during the Falkland was delayed owing to fog, and consequently they boarded SS Uganda a day or so land Islands War of 1982.

Yours faithfully, after the scheduled departure from Naples.

Shortly after setting sail, the children were Michael Draper, Ilkeston

Lincoln Castle - an unlikely place for wheelchairs After reading about the accessibility of Lincoln Castle on the excellent website www.lincolncastle.com, and being hooked on history, I decided to put it to a rigorous test in my trusty electrical wheelchair one very windy day in September.

ways, that is exactly what I found myself doing! Albeit, I could not traverse the whole wall but it was the best bit with spectacular views of the cathedral and ancient town.

Most of the Victorian prison is accessible including many cells but careful driving is needed as the prison authorities weren't There is no car park within the castle boundaries but there are two handy council known for providing spacious containment!

The prison chapel is not accessible but a car parks adjacent to the castle walls balcony overlooking the room is accessed (beware - disabled badge holders have to via yet another lift, although my only critipay but are allowed extra time free of cism was that no information panels were charge). provided on the balcony as they were in the Lincoln town has many cobbled streets but, chapel itself. hey, it has been around since before Roman times and is beautiful so we wheelchair us- The wondrous Magna Carta (actually three ers can put up with some teeth rattling, alt- documents) is housed in an up to date vault, hough in the square between the castle and which is reached via a steel bridge and lift.

The lift stops at three floors which includes the cathedral a smooth pathway has been a short information film. In all I counted very thoughtfully provided across the cobbles. After paying for our tickets (carers go four lifts throughout the castle (one was a free) in the tempting shop and after studying platform lift) which is amazing for a building built in 1068 and the castle authe thought provoking "time machine", we had a meal in the cafe which is spacious and thorities deserve much praise. All well worth the £22m restoration. has wheelchair friendly tables.

I urge everyone, not just disabled people to I was very impressed by the obvious thought which has gone into making such an visit Lincoln Castle but if you are disabled you can look forward to an exciting day and ancient building disabled friendly. I never do something adventurous - not just a visit believed that one day I would be able to drive my wheelchair along the top of a cas- to the shop/cafe/toilet as some tourist attractions seem only to offer those less mobile! tle wall but with the provision of a lift and the widening of the pathway via steel walk- Esther Collington, Kirk Hallam

James, 15, helps fallen pensioner A Encouraging students to show kindness to others is important to us —SJH head

Carol Kirkman tracks down her helper James Kells, 15, at St John Houghton Academy

pensioner has thanked a Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy student who came to her rescue after a serious fall which left her needing hospital treatment.

Carol Kirkman, 65, tripped and fell forward on to her face as she was walking up steps to her daughter’s house in Ilkeston.

She suffered a nasty cut to her head and knee and bruising but was saved from suffering more severe injuries by her titanium glasses which took the brunt of the fall.

As she lay on the floor, 15-year-old James Kells, who was walking home from Saint John Houghton CVA, came to her aid and helped her up.

Mrs Kirkman, of Waingroves, said: “I was rushing to see my grandsons at my daughter’s house because I was due to go away the next day and I just missed the first step up to her front door and fell very heavily. I was lucky really because the glasses I was wearing are made of titanium and are indestructible and they took the brunt of the fall.

“I hadn’t seen anyone behind me but I heard somebody asking if they could help me as I was trying to crawl up the steps. I now know it was James and he helped me up and when my daughter came to the door he asked if I was going to be alright. It all happened in a flash.”

Mrs Kirkman’s daughter took her to the Royal Derby Hospital where she had a brain scan as she was suffering from double vision.

Her cornea was also scratched but doctors said she was fine to go home and asked her to schedule an appointment with her optician.

Since the accident, which happened on Friday, 23rd September at 6.15pm, Mrs

Kirkham managed to track James down to Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy in Kirk Hallam.

She visited the academy to thank him for his help and gave him an Amazon voucher.

She said: “I just wanted to acknowledge what he did for me really as young people often get a bad press and I’m grateful to him for stopping and helping.”

James, of Ilkeston, said he was glad that he could help.

He said: “I was walking home from school and Mrs Kirkman was in front of me. I heard her fall and I could hear groaning. I walked over to her and made sure she got up. My granddad died from a fall so I know how serious they can be. I’m just glad she’s OK.” Joan McCarthy, head teacher at Saint John Houghton CVA, praised James.

She said: “We are pleased that Mrs Kirkman has recovered and we wish her well. We are also extremely proud of James for stopping and helping in the aftermath of what must have been a traumatic incident.

“Encouraging our students to show kindness to others is so important to us and James’s actions are a great example of this.”

We know our readers love to see good news stories like this, so let us know if you hear of someone whose good deed deserves to be featured.

When this story appeared on our Facebook page, it was viewed, liked, shared and commented on by thousands of people! Now it can be enjoyed by thousands more in the newspaper.

Ilkeston Life, November 2016

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16th Ilkeston Scouts come out on top

Rampage is an annual County competition that has been running since 1992 at Drum Hill Scout Camp.

Twenty-four teams of six Scouts compete over eight different challenges and activities including climbing/abseiling, map reading, air rifle shooting, fire lighting, a blind fold challenge, a mental challenge, grass skis and a treasure hunt to score points.

This year’s competition was won by the

team from the 16th Ilkeston (St. John’s) Scout Group.

The team comprised of John Wildey, Jack Barker, Oscar Blair, Robson Hazard, Josh Lebeter and JoeAtkins.

The photograph shows the lads with their trophy after prentation by Sir Richard Fitzherbert, County President, and also in the picture is James Stafford, the County Commissioner.

shop’ and presumably sold loose food for cats and other pets. I can’t remember it being open; only as a closed down shop.

Woolworths, Farrands, Maypole and Meadow were nearby. Castledines had a shop at the bottom of Heanor Road and there was MitchOn hearing a familiar noise on TV, it took ells second hand shop on Station Road. me back to the Co-op of my youth when the Those days there were plenty of shops, unlike sales assistant placed your money in a tube today where we seem to have a town full of which then went along a series of wires to gyms, tattoo and nail places and vape shops. the cash office.

Another memory that comes to mind is of My thoughts then took me on a wander Field House School where Mrs Barton and through the rest of Ilkeston, starting from the Mrs Jacobs were really lovely teachers. Then Market Place full of double decker buses and on to Cavendish School where Miss Hollingthe old Liberal Club on Lower Marker Place. worth put the fear of God into you. Other A little further down, Harry Whitehead’s fur- staff I remember are Miss Weston (music), niture shop took up both sides of Bath Street Miss Skills (English language and literature), Miss Peck (choral speech) and Miss King, the with his wife Bert (short for Bertha) selling headmistress. prams on the left. Below this was Harry’s brother on the other side of the arch: Arthur Another eccentric who comes to mind was the owned Kandy Kabin. boat keeper on the Beauty Spot, which was Reynolds Records was a popular music shop really beautiful then. The Beauty Spot was owned by David Reynolds. David had a stut- at the bottom of Little Hallam Hill at the enter so one had to be careful when buying sin- trance to Kirk Hallam estate. There was a gles and albums. Imagine asking for ‘De Do little shop, a square pond and a picnic area surrounded by trees. We used to call the man Do Do, De Da Da Da’! Actually he was a ‘Popeye’ and we hired rowing boats from lovely guy and his knowledge of the music him. industry was legendary.

In my teenage years the places where you Taylors Corn Stores was lower down, opposite where Boots is now and the manager was could go to dance were the Premier, Graingers, little Co-op, big Co-op, Unity Hall and Mr Stirland, who ended every sentence with Bennerley Dance. ”Very much obliged, madam”.

I can recall all these things but not what I Ilkeston had quite a few characters but the want from Tesco! Isn’t old age a confusion of ones I remember best are ‘Ecky’ (Hector memory! I hope that some of you who are as Doar?) who ran the swimming baths and ancient as me can recall similar interesting Frank Turner of the Scala cinema.

Do you remember the shop covered in green things from your younger days, which seem and white Victorian tiles just above Mark and so different from the way things are now.

Spencer? It was known as the ‘cats meat Steph Needham, Ilkeston

Letter

Remembering Ilkeston Past

A class at Granby School around 1959, as remembered by Alan Chambers: Back row: John Trussell, Gary ?, Peter Warner, Alan Judd, Clive Fretwell, Peter Royle, Terry Duffield, Brian Eades, John Rigley. Middle row: Teacher ? , Kevin Limb, Ross Webster, Ivan Chambers, Charles Sudbury, Mick Hardy, ? , Stuart Armes, Philip Blount. Front row: ? , Chris Dean, Carol Limb, Jill ?, ? , Angela Richards, ? , Anita Dooley, Susan Baggot.

the £3,000 mark.

Ilkeston FC manager Paul Holland has indicated that he will be in attendance and exThe IFCSG Annual Race Night will soon be pects members of the first team will also be there. upon us. The past couple of years has seen the Group stage highly successful events at The event is being staged on Saturday 19th The Dukeries Club on Cotmanhay Road and November with an 8pm start. Please come along if you fancy a flutter and there will be this year will be no different. prizes to be won. See you there!

Anyone is welcome to attend whether you Duncan Payne are a member of the Supporters Group or not, and all monies raised from the event will go towards the purchase of a new PA system at the New Manor Ground. This year’s event will hopefully take us past Ilkeston FC Supporters Group

RACE NIGHT

6 Ilkeston Life, November 2016

Church throws open its doors

The Diary of a Vicarage Cat Dear Diary, I’m trying to keep my promise with God and be nicer to the other cats but it’s not easy. For instance just yesterday morning I saw old Jasper out of the corner of my eye, he was slowly walking up to the food bowls. No surprise there, Jasper loves his food, and other cats’ food too. So I thought I’d be nice and helpful and help him to exercise, and to burn off a few mouthfuls of his second breakfast. But what happened? Well as I ran up behind him and tapped him on the back, he shot up in the air and banged his head on the underside of the kitchen table, making my guardians quickly look round. Then I got picked up and not the nice picking up I like, but got carried away and dumped in another room.

I promised to God I would be nicer, so if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again, and I don’t want to break any promises. So I saw Padgely, he looks like Jasper but younger and a lot slimmer. Padgely is more fun than old Jasper so I walked up to him, in my funny little sideways walk, a bit like a crab. Padgely knew I wanted to play. Then as both of us stared at each other, like a flash I jumped on him. He was shocked. I’d caught him off guard and he looked a little scared. But he played too and he jumped on me, so using my front paws I boxed him off me, and then I jumped back at him, and my claws must have been a bit sharp as he looked in pain and opened his mouth, meowing I think. Then I felt two strong hands lift me up and before I knew it, I was on my male guardian’s shoulders – he’s tall so it’s a great view from his shoulders but I wanted to play with Padgely, who had now run off in a sulk. I wanted my guardians to know I

was trying to keep my promise, as I got dumped back in the front room again.

Pippin was in the front room, sleeping on the sofa. I’ve learnt my lesson and stopped picking on her and try whenever possible to be kind to her. Gently I crept on across the sofa where she was sleeping, and just gave her a friendly little sniff, touching noses for us cats is a sign of friendship, so I just gently pressed my little nose to hers. And then I jumped back because she jumped up too – she wasn’t expecting to see me and she must have been in the middle of a dream because she hit me, hard, and it hurt. Automatically I hit her back and that’s when I felt two strong warm hands reach around me and pick me up and not in that nice way either, but carry me off and shut me in the little bedroom.

Oh why do things go wrong? I was just trying to be helpful and each time I got the blame for being naughty, when I wasn’t. Sometimes life isn’t fair, and trying to keep promises, especially with God isn’t easy, I hope God sees everything and knows what’s in our hearts, and understands I was only trying to be kind.

Bye for now - Florence Local churches—why not announce your Christmas activities and services with a display advert in next month’s Ilkeston Life?

One-eighth page £60; Quarter page £110.

Story Café

tingham area, formed in 2010 with the intention of making music for personal enjoyment, West Hallam Methodist Church (next to Bot- and to benefit others by their public perfortle Kiln on High Lane West DE7 6HP) will be mances. staging another Story Café on Friday 11th Six of the group will entertain us and some November at 7.30pm. will share the story of their faith journey.

Story Cafe showcases guest artists who enter- Their Musical Director Sally Watson qualitain the audience and share their life story. fied as a Music Therapist in 1996, and has The guest artists will be Sally Watson and the worked in that field along with music teachTorkard Ensembe. ing since.

Torkard ensemble is a community-focused, There is no charge for admission but donainclusive group who perform a variety of mu- tions are invited to cover the cost of the event. sic, so they will share songs from lots of dif- Drinks and cakes are on sale during the evenferent genres. They are a group of about 50 ing. John Moorley musicians and singers, mainly from the Not-

Louise Freeman (nee Parsons) The Smoothie Art Group would like to pass on some information regarding Louise Freeman (nee Parsons), who before moving to Sleaford was a member of our group.

In May of this year Louise married Ian, whose first wife was sadly killed in a car accident, leaving him with two very young children, Daisy and Joshua.

Their wedding day was one never to be forgotten, both the children took part in the service and Ian’s first wife, Maxine, was very lovingly included in different ways.

Louise has suffered for many years with back problems having to resort to a wheelchair over the past few years but Louise is a very determined young lady and walked down the aisle on her wedding day on her father’s arm, much to the delight of the congregation.

On Sunday 25th. September, Louise, Ian, Daisy and Joshua attended the morning service at Nottingham Road Methodist Church, the church where Louise worshipped before her move to Sleaford. Everyone was amazed to see her walk into the church and commented on how radiant she looked.

On Monday 26th. September, Louise had a fall in her bathroom. Her step-daughter,

Daisy, called for the ambulance and Louise was taken to the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham with a broken neck. At this moment in time she is paralysed from her shoulder blades down. She is slowly, miraculously, making progress but has a long road in front of her.

Ian and Louise have so much faith in the Lord. Friends, relatives, people who don’t know Louise but who believe that prayer can be effective, are sending up prayers for her recovery which will take a long time.

Ian is travelling from Sleaford to QMC every day, then returning late evening to catch up with his children. Friends in Sleaford are organising the school run and after school care for the children.

As you can imagine, lots of unexpected expenses are being incurred, petrol, car parking, mobile telephone costs and the fact that Ian has decided to become Louise’s full time carer, therefore no incoming salary.

Paul and Lina at the Smoothie Bar on Bath Street suggested that this item be put in the Ilkeston Life because lots of people who visited there know Louise and her lovely smiling face. They have kindly put a collection box on their counter should anyone wish to donate towards this really worthy cause.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and please will you all pray for her, this will be really appreciated by Louise and Ian.

O

ver 120 people came through the doors of the ‘Open Church’ day at Stapleford Baptist Church.

With the pews out, the floor level and the high platform gone the chapel became in the quirky words of one of the elders “a fabulous, friendly ,flexible, forum”- a welcoming space which was buzzing with activity on Saturday 8th October.

With interactive displays about the current life and work of the church, activities for children, a tour of the building, treasure hunt and of course refreshments, there was plenty for all to enjoy.

A good deal of interest was shown in the archive and photo display which contained items going back to 1887 and through to the present day.

Guests enjoyed searching for themselves or family members and friends

News from local churches Pre-Christmas Market

St Andrews Church, Wilmot Street, Ilkeston is having a Pre-Christmas Market on Saturday 19th November between 9.30am and noon.

There will be plenty of stalls selling gifts, gift wrap, cards, jewellery, craft items, etc. There will also be refreshments and cakes to buy and take away. Dorothy Haywood

Festival of Trees

A Festival of Trees with the theme What reminds us of Christmas? will be held at St Andrews, Ilkeston on Saturday 10th December.

Groups and individuals will display traditional and unusual Christmas trees, along with Nativi-

in the photos and looking for names in the documents and record books on display. Conversations were had and memories exchanged. A number of local history enthusiasts attended, keen to seek out missing information for their own research and photocopies of documents were made for those who requested them.

The following day, the new space was filled to capacity for a Celebration Service; firstly giving thanks to God for the provision of the building and all it has enabled the church to do over the last 138 years and secondly celebrating the Baptism (by total immersion) of two young Christians. It was joyful end to a busy and exciting weekend! J R Dunn

ty scenes and other visual reminders of the season. This event has become a popular attraction over the years. Dorothy Haywood

Looking at Advent

On Saturday November 26th , 4 - 5.30p.m, Sandiacre Methodist Church on Butt Street is open for Messy Church. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Everyone is invited young and old alike, come as friends, family or on your own! We will be exploring the season of Advent. Rev Ken Johnson

Christmas Fundraiser

A Christmas Market at St Giles church hall, Sandiacre, takes place between 11am and 2pm on Saturday 19th November. Cakes, produce, preserves, pickles, etc., also tombola, raffle and light lunches will be available. Maureen Dumelow.

Church but not as you know it Activities, music and a simple meal for you and your children Get messy

here Saturday 12th November: Ilkeston URC (Green Spire) 4—5.30pm Thursday 17th November: St Andrews Methodist Church, 3.30—5pm Saturday 26th November: Sandiacre Methodist Church, Butt St. 4—5.30pm If you like Messy Church, how about trying the Toddlers’ Service at the Green Spire church (URC). It's 'upstairs' (entry from Wharncliffe Rd) and the next one is on Friday 4th Nov. at 10 am. It’s like Messy Church but much shorter (½ hour) and it’s specially for families with very young children. Drinks, biscuits, toys to follow.

The Faith Journey page is brought to you by members of the local Christian community and with occasional inspiration from

Ilkeston Life, October 2016

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TRINITY BOXING CLUB’S MEMORABLE WEEKEND Ilkeston's Trinity boxing club had a sell out tournament at the Festival Inn in tribute to the memory of club founder John Rafferty, with 5 out of 6 Trinity boxers claiming victory on the 10 bout bill. Then two days later two of the club’s boxers advanced to the National semi finals of the England boxing development championships with emphatic victories.

On the Friday club captain Kyle Hughes claimed an outstanding points victory in the bout of the night with Doncaster boxer Kyle Fox and his performance in the Middle weight fight also earned him the Ralph Smitheringale Memorial Cup for best Trinity boxer.

Also winning in style was light welter weight Matt Richmond who unloaded a barrage of punches in the second round to finish his bout with Manchester boxer Mike Hill.

In the junior ranks there were unanimous points wins for Charlie Wilson, Tommy Dennis and Bobby Parkes underlining the

club’s strength in depth.

On Sunday East Midland champions Alex Testro and Sam Bates (pictured) were impressive in their quarter finals in Scunthorpe as they advanced to the National semi finals. Alex faced Coventry boxer Matt Rahill in his Junior 75kg bout and after a close first round landed a big left hand punch early in the second round from his south paw stance to stun the Coventry lad who was counted out by the referee giving the unbeaten Trinity star a massive victory and a place in the National semi final at the Doncaster Dome.

Joining Alex at the Dome will be Light heavy weight star Sam Bates who out boxed Stoke rival Jamie Cunningham to take a clear unanimous decision. Sam was as ever elusive and scored with solid counter left hooks and straight rights to take a deserved decision.

Super cake

SEEN AND HEARD Popular poetry Is Erewash a borough of poets? Your Space this month has a whole page of poems, and even then several have had to be held over until next month.

There are three stories about poetry in the paper too—Steven Pape has a new book out, Harold Loseby wins Trowell Writers’ Stand and Deliver competition and Eileen Beresford has been commended by the Queen for the poem she wrote in celebration of her birthday.

We are getting poems from all over the borough. All kinds too: commemorative, imaginative, descriptive, deep, humorous, happy, sad, moody, mean, rhyming and free verse.

As someone has said: ‘You can say things in poetry that you can’t say out loud’. And ‘Poetry is the one place where people can speak their mind. It is the outlet for people to say in public what is known in private’.

Well done to all our contributors and keep the poems coming.

8 Ilkeston Life, November 2016

Another art form is cake making and Dawn Cunningham of Devine Cake Confections has demonstrated her talent again with this amazing cake in the shape of the Galloping Horses ride, a favourite at Ilkeston Charter Fair. When so much work has gone into a project it seems a pity to eat it, but just like the Fair, it has to go.

New shops It’s nice to see some new shops appearing in Ilkeston. Work converting the old Co-op store into smaller retail units is nearing completion, and Bath Street and South Street have some newcomers too.

Ilkeston Life wants new businesses to succeed so if you have a story let us know.

As the slogan says: Shop local. And as Chapman’s bakery posted recently: ‘When you buy from a small business, you’re not helping a CEO to buy a third holiday home, you’re helping a little girl get dancing lessons, a little boy his football team’s jersey and mums and dads put food on the table. SHOP LOCAL’.

Well said!

Harold’s ‘Taxing Time’ takes Stand and Deliver title

Trowell Writers are a friendly group who meet fortnightly on Monday evenings, 7.30 to 9.30 and love meeting new writers and encouraging those who have never written anything before to have a go.

We issue our own newsletter of writing tips, news about competitions and articles and poetry. Members are encouraged to submit and share their work and news about their writing successes.

We also run an associate member scheme for those who cannot attend every meeting; they receive the newsletter and are kept in touch with our activities and are entitled to members’ prices for all events and items within the group.

If you wish to have more information or have any queries, please telephone 01773 711127 or write to Trowell Writers Club, 26 Derbyshire Avenue, Trowell, Notts. NG9 3QD. Then come along for a trial meeting.

Trowell Writers Club held their annual Stand and Deliver poetry competition on Sunday 9th October. It was to celebrate National Poetry Day, 6th October. It was also held in honour of Arthur Walters who sadly passed away in January 2016. He is sadly missed, along with his wife Vambria, they were founder members of the group who created the annual writing competition.

A good afternoon was enjoyed by everyone with 25 poems being entered. The clear winner was ‘A Taxing Time’ by Harold Loseby. He was happy to receive the Stand and Deliver 2016 trophy and £15 prize money and certificate.

This was kindly donated by Janet Devereux in memory of Arthur. He was a prolific and past master of the art of comic and tear jerking verse who regularly himself would win Bromwyn Hayes the Stand and Deliver title.

Christmas surprise!

Gift vouchers from only

Hallam Fields achieves fourth Green Flag Hallam Fields Junior School have successfully achieved their Green Flag award for the tenth year.

The ECO Schools initiative is run by Keep Britain Tidy and requires schools to work on up to 9 different ECO topics. In their recent assessment the school’s ECO team, made up entirely of children aged 7 to 11, were praised for their ‘outstanding effort’ and ‘passion for the ECO topics covered.’

The first Hallam Fields Junior School ECO Council was set up by teacher Sharon Sutton in 2004 and the school gained their first Bronze ECO Flag award in 2005.

Initiatives over the years have included the establishment of a school garden and orchard which now grows crops that are harvested and used in the school kitchens. The year 3 block has been fitted with solar panels in order to save energy. Habitat hotels have been built to house wildlife over the winter. Large willow domes now grow in the school grounds alongside three outdoor classrooms. Leaves and waste are collected daily from the playground and dinner hall to be recycled in the compost bins and water is collected in several water butts. An ECO friendly IT suite was recently built complete with a living roof and ECO heating system. Each year the school contributes to the RSPB Bird Watch and takes part in Switch Off Fortnight where children monitor energy use at school and at home. A variety of

items are collected and recycled by the school including batteries, foil and ink cartridges. The school has a Gardening Club and a Cookery Club. It also sponsors a child in Gambia and takes part in the shoebox appeal every year.

However, this year the Hallam Fields ECO Warriors really had to pull out all the stops and impress the Green Flag Assessors. In order to gain their fourth Green Flag all 9 topics needed to be covered: Water, Transport, School Grounds, Litter, Healthy Living, Waste, Energy, Bio-diversity and Global Citizenship.

Amongst other things a healthy tuck shop was set up and run by the ECO Warriors where children can buy healthy snacks during break time. An Up-cycling Club was set up where unwanted clothes are up-cycled into new items.

The school became a Sun Safe school during the summer. A butterfly garden was established and butterflies released there, and the whole curriculum really embedded children’s understanding of Energy across each year group as they investigated alternative sources of energy. The school is very proud of their new Green Flag and are looking forward to another year helping to save the planet.

A huge thank you to our amazing ECO Warriors; Olivia, Phoebe, Fletcher, Ebony, Lucy, Alfie, Billy, Faith, Grace and Lucy!

Sheena Cowley

ROYAL APPROVAL: A letter from the Palace.

Story on front page.

mand for visitors, therefore if anyone has just one hour a week they could give to help someone near to them please contact the Cen1st-7th NOVEMBER 2016 tre on 0115 9466740, pop into the Centre on Did you know that loneliness is bad for your Granville Avenue in Long Eaton email volunteers@erewashcvs.org.uk or apply health, having a destructive impact on via the National Volunteering Websomeone’s quality of life? site www.do-it.org.uk, search via postcode.”

The UK’s first ever Befriending Week is being celebrated to give an opportunity to high- Once a person has enquired about volunteering a volunteer application form is completed, light the vital support being given to people by wonderful volunteers, giving their time to two character references and a Disclosure and Barring Scheme certificate processed after visit older or disabled members of our comwhich an invitation to an Induction Session is munity. arranged for all volunteers. Any agreed out of The Volunteer Centre in Erewash recruit peo- pocket expenses incurred are reimbursed too. ple from all walks of life to help with their Everyone needs other people but not everyone Befriending, Sitting and Shopping Projects has someone and for people who become isothroughout the borough. lated and housebound because of ill health, Befriending services are literally a lifeline for disability or social disadvantage, being people who are lonely. matched with a befriender often fills a huge Linda Brown, Volunteer Manager, said “We gap. would like to thank our brilliant volunteers for Volunteering is therapeutic too, it can help currently supporting 124 members of the Ere- alleviate loneliness, people make new friends, wash community. learn new skills and it can open up a whole Referrals are received on a daily basis and new social life - give it a try! new volunteers are vital to help with the deLinda Brown

NATIONAL BEFRIENDING WEEK

NATIONAL AWARD. Bellini’s, the Gulf-branded petrol forecourt in Heanor Road has been crowned champion at the coveted 2016 SuperStation Awards which celebrate best practice in petrol and convenience retailing across the UK. Open to over 700 forecourts and recognised by the forecourt industry for its role in driving up every aspect of customer service, SuperStation reached its exciting climax in true Hollywood style with a traditional Gala Awards Dinner at Chesford Grange, Leamington Spa. Bellini's won in the Best Forecourt Shop category. Judges were impressed by its high standards of convenience retailing and constant reinvestment to improve the customer experience despite the pressures of two major supermarket chains in close proximity.

Following their victory, Peter and Pat Bellini said: “Our work to provide the best possible offering for our customers will continue and tonight is recognition of all the hard work that our 30 staff members put in day in day out.”

Ilkeston Life, November 2016

9

Erewash in Bloom Awards 2016 Schoolchildren, local residents and business representatives have been honoured in another outstanding year for the Erewash in Bloom awards.

The Bloom competition is Erewash Borough Council’s annual gardening extravaganza to find the borough’s best green-fingered gurus and the 2016 results were announced at a presentation event at Morley Hayes Golf Club on Friday 7th October. This year’s competition attracted more than 120 entries from people of all ages and from all corners of the borough as well as from schools, businesses and community organisations.

Bloom is the flagship project of Erewash Borough Council’s Pride in Erewash Campaign and features a whole range of categories, from best front and back gardens and best hanging baskets through to best business display, school garden, and a fun tallest sunflower competition.

The Mayor of Erewash, Councillor Abey Stevenson, presented awards to the winners, which were announced by Dave Bramwell, Erewash Borough Council’s Head of Greenspace and Street Scene.

Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says: “It is always a great privilege to be able to salute our Bloom champions and marvel at their gardening skills and wonderful displays. It was another stunning year, making it a very difficult job for the judges. Well done to everyone who entered our popular competition.”

This year’s competition is sponsored by The Oddfellows, a friendship group open to everyone. It has 280,000 members nationally and 139 branches across the UK. The group has been part of social history for over 200 years, providing advice services, benefits and welfare support for those in need. For further information visit: www.oddfellows.co.uk Left: Chaucer School, joint winners of best School Garden along with Grange Primary School, Long Eaton.

RESULTS Best Street or Communal area 1st (joint) - Communal Gardens of Maple Cottages, Risley Hall Park Friends of Kirk Hallam Lake and Meadows 2nd (joint) - Three Trees Community Garden, Ilkeston EPHA House sheltered accommodation, Ilkeston 3rd (joint) - South Street Communal Area, Draycott Eat the Streets community gardening project, Ilkeston

Best Allotment Site 1st - Sandiacre and Risley Gardenholders’ Association 2nd - Elm Street Allotments, Borrowash 3rd - Shacklecross Allotments, Elmcross Allotment Association, Borrowash

Pubs, Restaurants and Hotels 1st - The Spanish Bar, Ilkeston 2nd (joint) - Carpenters Arms, Dale Abbey - Seven Oaks Inn, Stanton by Dale 3rd - The Stanhope Arms, Stanton by Dale

Business, Commercial and Places of Worship 1st - Bramble Lodge, West Hallam 2nd (joint) - Barry Fitch Ltd, Little Eaton Brooklands Court, Long Eaton 3rd - March Hair, Little Eaton

Best Front Garden 1st - John Eley, Morley Lane, Stanley 2nd - Brian Pinfield, Holland Meadow, Long Eaton 3rd - A. J. Hickinbotham, Wharncliffe Road, Ilkeston

Best Hanging Baskets and Planters

Ilkeston 2nd (joint) - Sue Hainsworth, Beech Croft, Breadsall Julie Hilton, Vicarage Lane, Little Eaton 3rd (joint) - John Eley, Morley Lane, Stanley David Mayo, Newbery Avenue, Long Eaton

Best Rear Garden (medium to large) 1st - John Eley, Morley Lane, Stanley 2nd (joint) - Leslie Haines, Stevens Lane, Breaston A. J. Hickinbotham, Wharncliffe Road, Ilkeston 3rd - Steve and Gill Barnett, Briar Gate, Long Eaton

Best Rear Garden (Small) 1st - Maria Coleman, Lakeside Avenue, Sawley 2nd - Jean Whitwell, Pimlico, Ilkeston 3rd (joint) - Sue Hainsworth, Beech Croft, Breadsall David Mayo, Newbery Avenue, Long Eaton

Best Wildlife/Environmental Garden 1st - Maria Coleman, Lakeside Avenue, Sawley 2nd - Michael Bilbie, St Vincent Close, Long Eaton 3rd - John and Rosina Osborn, Belper Road, Stanley Common

Best School Garden 1st (joint) - Chaucer Junior School, Ilkeston Grange Primary School, Long Eaton 2nd (joint) - Parklands Infant School, Long Eaton Ladywood Primary School, Kirk Hallam 3rd (Joint) - Sawley Junior School Morley Primary School

Tallest Sunflower (under 16s) 1st - Charlie Etchells, Long Eaton 2nd - Chaucer Junior School, Ilkeston 3rd - Ruby Etchells, Long Eaton

1st - A. J. Hickinbotham, Wharncliffe Road,

Another success for the Friends of Kirk Hallam Lake: At the Erewash in Bloom Awards at Morley Hayes the Friends of Kirk Hallam Lake won First Joint Prize in the Best Street or Communal Area category, which carries on their success in the competition over the last few years. The Friends work hard improving the lake and area every Wednesday and Sunday morning (more volunteers welcome) and organize a very successful Lakeside Festival every July.

10

Ilkeston Life, November 2016

For colourers

Art Sale

Derbyshire Library Service is hosting a Mindfulness Colouring for Adults event in Ilkeston Library.

It is on Tuesday 15th November 2016, 1.30 – 3.00pm and is a Christmas Special!

Join our friendly Mindfulness Colouring Group, adults of all ages are welcome. Why not make new friends whilst relaxing with a coffee and colouring?

Free event, light refreshments provided. For more information please telephone 01629 533275.

Marie Timbrell Reader Development and Stock Management Librarian Ilkeston Library

Smoothie Artists are holding their Christmas Art Fayre at the Catholic Church Hall, Regent Street, Ilkeston on Sunday 20th November, 12..30 to 5pm.

Over twenty local artists will be displaying a selection of original paintings, prints and photographs for sale at reasonable prices. They make ideal Christmas gifts for family and friends—or for yourself!

Unique seasonal greetings cards and decorative items also on show.

Meet and chat to the artists!

Entry is free and light refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon.

Barry Sutcliffe

Your Space Poems plus Share your creative writing with other Ilkeston Life readers.

Email ilkestonlife@gmail.com or drop in/post to The Editor, Ilkeston Life, 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 8AH.

Halloween The moon was full it was the night of Halloween All through the streets children are seen Scarily dressed for the night of the witches Bats, toads and spiders appear from the ditches.

Laughter and screams are heard from here and there From children having fun from harrowing scares It is the night of witches in long pointed hats Making spells in their cauldrons from frogs, toads and bats.

Children hollow out their pumpkins to light up a fearsome face Warding off evil spirits as they walk from place to place Fancy dress and gory make up give most grownups a fright In their dimly lit doorways on that dark October night In the warmth of those doorways much happiness was found Children eating their treats till next year comes around It was the end of summer ,dark months lay ahead As happy children make their way home to snuggle up in their beds.

Thomas Hosker

Grass Cutting Day Sun had broken through the mist on a mild summer morning which promises a far hotter day The door is open and the grass outside still sparkles with a dew which fell much earlier.

A machine starts up in the distance and buzzes like an angry bee.

The council workman goes about his task of cutting the daisy strewn grass.

Which will it be today?

The push along or the sitting on machine?

No matter, the job will get done either way.

The sound comes nearer and the cats crouch motionless by the door, poised for flight from the noisy monster which is approaching.

A flash of mingled white, tabby, ginger and they’re gone.

The sound gets nearer, passes the door and dies away, only to return seconds later.

Back and forth, back and forth, leaving behind mown grass in misshapen clumps about the lawn.

(He has no basket you see.)

At last it is finished and the noise recedes in the distance, Birdsong fills the air once more and the sun streams down from a cloudless sky.

The air is sweet with the smell of mown grass and the cats creep back to their station by the door.

One, two, three, all there now.

Is it safe to go out?

Yes and off they go, running, sniffing and assessing the changes in their territory.

I sit, coffee cup in hand, relishing the warmth, inhaling the fragrance, listening to the birdsong as life gets back to normal on grass cutting day.

June Barnes

Instructions It wasn’t quite the end we imagined for you, No tranquil ascent to the heavens above, No heralding angels to escort you there, No peaceful acceptance, no tearful farewells, No requests or last wishes to fulfill.

It wasn’t your way, you were always a fighter, You’d face any challenge—not easily give in, Determined and strong, you’d see the job through, Meeting good times and bad with equal good grace, Keeping your sense of fair play and humour.

Teasers Folk who cut off t’s are teasing Listen to what they utter: Why do you have second best?

You know it’s better with butter.

Then they say, “I’ll see you ’amorrow,” When it’s tomorrow they mean.

They just can’t lose letters here and there Ignoring how important they have been.

They are trying to impose a change, In order to baffle their peers, But while us older people exist, Our language should last a few years.

Change is sure to happen, of that there is no doubt, New words will appear in the book, They’ll be pronounced in so many ways, You will not know how the crumble will cook.

John Wright

Oh, Feathered Friend

A bird sat high up, on a fragile branch, Watching soldiers marching across his land.

A somber coloured fellow, dressed in black, Who could not these moving figures understand.

What were they doing in his calm domain?

He thus looked down at them with some disBut now you’re at peace leaving so many mem- dain. ories He seemed to emphasise their coming gloom, Of a life so well lived and loved by so many, The terror and deaths of lads so bold.

If you’d left us instructions they’d probably As if he knew what we could not yet know, say: “Be honest and brave, stick up for what’s right, How men survived the horror and the cold, Be tolerant and kind and follow your dreams.” This forlorn soul, with coat smooth and sleek, P. Stevenson Stood chirping from his yellow coloured beak.

The imagination of Oh, feathered friend, look not to see them go, For their adventures are not reserved for you. children They travel on to things you know not of, In the imagination of children Of agony and fear you have no clue. all the flowers are smiling Their world is not your world, they had to go, the butterflies are talking Along with comrades, off to fight the foe. as the bees are beguiling. © Ernestine Northover The clouds look like animals any rain is God's tears Millennium Park / Cossall Pit their imagination is endless big hopes and little fears.

As I stand alone in Millennium Park I hear the souls of the colliers who toiled in The grass is like a carpet the dark tickling their tiny feet I see the soft glow of lanterns and the shining all the worms in the soil of steel are like lost treasures underneath.

I hear the gentle voices of anthems The swans are huge mad creatures As they queued by the wheel swimming with their young I smell the odour of ponies, the sweat and the eating all the old bread hay that both of us have flung.

I smell the black of the coal that they fought Their imagination stays endless every day. they see what we once saw From Awsworth they came, just up the hill the confusion of the adult world Others from Ilson and some further still has not yet reached their door.

Some marched together, and some came

© Steven Michael Pape

Little faces Whether you are happy, angry or sad, Emoticons can fill that space, If you have a letter, invitation or card, For each feeling there is a face.

You can choose a red face for anger, For jealousy there’s green, For sorrow there’s a crying emoticon, The receiver will see what you mean, There’s even a ghost to scare, Thumbs up, kisses and not fair, Head scratch, wink and despair, Whatever your mood, it’s there.

John Wright

alone Pity the luckless who never went home.

Now rotten the chocks, and gone are the beams That held the roof back as they slaved at the seams The land is now flattened, silent the steams Gone are the men, just the ghosts and their dreams.

But look around you, all is not lost Six apple trees grow From the cores of their snap From which they were tossed.

Sandy

Terrified The terraced house of my infancy has disappeared Now bleak boxes stacked high serve as flats for invisible tenants.

But I played in back yards, got dirty, used the outside toilet

with yesterday’s cold, hard newspapers put to more intimate use than reading…

Tin bath-time was once a week in front of an open coal fire with one thin, small towel to dry myself.

A trip to the local rec once a week if Grandma had the time and energy but mostly I’d play in the street seeing mothers walking with blackened bare feet.

Now people say the terraced houses were slums but I don’t remember anyone calling them that when I was young!

I’d like to go back to when the only thing that terrified me was being out shopping and losing sight of my mum.

Franklin Charles Bishop

Dyers beside the Leen The car-park is a small wood of elders, thistles and nettles.

I stand at the chained gate and view the silence: the collapsed roof of the cycle shelter blocking the path beside the offices, small bushes in guttering, the lawns’ rank grass, sliding doors padlocked.

Memories walk the dark corridors, talk in echoes recalling names: Len Brown the storeman, hard Baz Brown – no relation – who could empty a side-paddle of hose faster than anyone else, ‘Tant’ Rick, George, rolling reefers, his nostrils stained with snuff, and Audrey, who suddenly put on weight after working late one Saturday with Ron, the electrician; their daughter in her thirties now.

Tomorrow a demolition team will arrive.

I rest my head against the cold metal bars remember rabbits nesting in a sand-pit, a woman spread-eagled and floating face down in the Leen one cold morning at the end of a night-shift, the tears in the Chairman’s eyes as he said ‘Sorry’ his long handshake of goodbye.

Jeremy Duffield

Farm House This house was square red brick No frills or folderols here A work place as well as a home As dark red on inside as out Somehow set in the decades before Immoveable in my mind The socks wedged on string over dark smoky fire The table so large The clock ticking loud Flies congregate in the paraffin fumes Of my relative’s rural home.

Jeanne White

Note to contributors Please make it easy for us to feature your poem. Use upper and lower case, not all caps, and send by email. Then we can copy and paste it in without having to retype. We appreciate that not everyone is able to do this, but if you can, please do so. Email: ilkestonlife@gmail.com

Ilkeston Life, November 2016

11

Story in Ilson

dialect

By Jim Sumner

Bonfire Nayt It wa Bonfire Nayt an’ some on us wa gooin’ dern to young Jack Glazebrook’s cos ay’d gorra lotta firewocks an’ ’is mother said summeris pals could goo dern to ’is ’erse ta ay a bittera party ertside. Way used to goo dern to Jack’s ner an’ agen and way allis ’ad a good time.

When ar got theer abert aif past six, Jack said to may: “Just look o’er theer sitthy, what dusta think abert that then, arabert that fer a bonfire!” Well, thar ortera sayn it, it wa the biggest ard ever clapped eyes on.

After another aif-hour all mi mates ’ad comm. Way lit the fire an’ yo orterer sayn it bon. It wa that ’ot way ’ad ta gerrerta road on it an’ goo fother back. Way wornt aif enjoyin’ ussens, especially when Jack’s mother brought some roast taters an’ sausages ert. Ard just eaten four on ’em when Ogly Plumb from dern Langley comm up ta may and said: “Dusta want a swig a this ’ere?”

Ara said: “Warasta got theer?” An’ ay showed me a bottle a that theer lemon cordial stuff you ayta put watter tow afore ya can drink it. “Where aster got that from?” ar said.

“Never mind that,” said Ogly. “Dusta want a swig or not? If thar duzzner want any, ar s’ll ay it all misen.”

Ar said: “Yo ay ta put watter ta that or it’ll may thee badly.”

Ogly said: “Thar art a sissy, thar art, yo dossner ay any on it.”

As sown as ay said that ar gorrowda th’bottle an’ ’ad a good swig.

DO YOU GET IT? Does Ilkeston Life drop through your letterbox every month? If so you are lucky, because you live in an area where someone has volunteered to deliver the paper. If not, you have to hope you can pick one up somewhere before they run out. Why not make sure of a copy of Ilkeston Life every time for you and your neighbours by delivering some copies on your street or in

It abert took th’back o’ mi throat ert an’ made me pull a face.

Ogly made gam on me an’ ay finished off the bottle wi’ tow or thray more long swigs.

“There y’ar,” ay said, “that’s erta drink it.”

Ar said ta misen: Thar’s a silly bogger drinkin’ all that.

For the next aif-hour, way stood rernd the fire laughin’, shertin’ and lerrin’ some firewocks off. Way wa ayin’ a rayt good time.

Allerasudden, Ogly Plumb comm up ta may an’ said, “Ar dunna fayl very well, ar’ll ay to goo ’om.”

Ay lowked terrible anall, an’ last ar saw on ’im ay wa bayin’ sick at th’top o’ th’drive.

Ar thewt no more abert it for abert ten minutes, but then ar ’ad this rotten pain rayt in the middle o’ mi stomach an’ ar wanted ta goo ta the lavatree. Ar knew then it wa the bottle a stuff way’d drunk that ’ad caused it.

Ar asked Jack weer th’lavatree wore an’ ay tewd may ta goo ta the outside lavatree cos mi feet wa sludgy. Ar raced theer, closed the door be’ind me, dropped mi trersers an’ sat dern on th’seat. Ar’d no sooner sat dern than young Jack, oo’d follered me, oppened the door quick an’ chucked a Little Atom firewock inside. Ar shot up an’ just managed to kick the firewock ertside before it went off.

Jack was still theer laughin ’is ’ead off. Ar tewd’im not to bay s’bloody daft, an’ ar yewsed one or tow wods that mi Sunday Schowl teycher wudner a bin very playsed wi.

Jack said: “Ar shanna dow it again Jim,” burrar didner trust’im so ar weeted for a bit an’ when ar thewt nubdy wa lowkin’ ar nipped back to the lavatree agen. Ar lowked all arernd an’ this wa nobuddy abert so ar went in quick an’ closed the door. Thi wa no lock on burra thewt it’d bay all rayt this time.

Ard just sat dern on the lavatree seat again when dam may, ar ’eard young Jack laughin’ erside. Afore ar could gerrup, ay opened the door an’ dropped two a thray wick-wacks inside. Ar waras mad as ’ell an’ gorrup quick again, pulled the door oppen and kicked the wick-wacks ertside, just as thi started crackin’ an’ jumpin’. Jack ran off your area? Deliver as many or as few as you like. We will contact you when each new edition comes out. Collect your copies from the UChoose Smoothie Bar on Bath Street, or we can drop them off for you. Your neighbours will love you.

Contact our office (U Choose Smoothie Bar) if you’d like to help to distribute Ilkeston Life.

You’ll get it then!

PICTURE PUZZLE

by Roy Foulkes

Where in Ilkeston town centre is this building? Answer on page 14.

laughin’ agen, and ar ran after ’im to gi’im a good ’idin’.

Ar cudner find ’im though. Ay’d goraway while ar wa still in th’lavatree.

Not long after, ar wa nearly doin’ it in me trersers so ar went back ta the lavatree an’ ar thewt ta misen, ar’ll dow thi this time, Jack, an’ ar put a big piece a wood ar’d fernd propped up against the door in the lavatree.

Ar wa rayt prerd a misen for such a good idea an’ ar sank dern on the lavatree seat an started ta dow worrard gone in for, an’ ar breathed a sigh of relief an’ satisfaction.

Suddenly ar ’eard young Jack laffin’ lerdly ertside an’ ’is voice saymned ta comm frum a diff’rent direction. Ar worna tow worried though cos ar knew the door wudner oppen cossa the wood that wa ’owdin’ it shut. Ar thewt ta misen, arv dun thee one this time, Jack Glazebrook.

Alleraasudden, ar ’erd a scrapin’ noise above mi rayt shewder an’ as ar lowked up, mi ’eart nearly stopped beatin’ cos Jack ’ad just dropped a ninepenny ‘Landmine’ through the ventilator grill just at the back on me. Ar cudner do owt abert it so ar just ’ad to sit theer frit ta death while it kept bangin’.

ROTARY CLUB HELPS LOCAL CHILDREN The Rotary Club of Ilkeston responded to a visit by Linda Jenkins, a member and Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Long Eaton Dawnbreakers, who came to bring a hard-hitting message to Ilkeston Club members. Her subject was ’The Acorn Project’ which is overseen by the Arena Church.

Linda revealed that in the Ilkeston area, there were a significant number of children aged between 4 and 11years who needed support in their daily lives. She went on to say that the group of children, discreetly chosen following discussions with schools, need guidance and help in finding the more healthy food which promotes growth and stamina, derived from the more varied type of vitamins which they had not been getting.

Getting too much ‘junk’ food, the children were not developing as they should, and The Acorn Project ensures they all have a very healthy diet.

Pictured is Linda receiving a cheque for £500.00 from the Immediate Past President

Columnist Geoff Hayes is taking a break

12 Ilkeston Life, November 2016

Ar called ’im all the names under the sun burrit didner do any good, in fact it made ’im wos. Afore ar’d finshed on the toilet, ay dropped two Little Imps, a Air Bomb an’ a Aerial Torpedo rayt against me. In a small space they all made a ’ellava racket an’ mi ears wa whistlin’ like ’ell.

To top it all Jack shoved through the grill one a them theer big fire crackers that thi yewsed ta ay in ’Ome Guard. Ar gor erta road a this even though ar adna finished on th’toilet. Ar knocked the plank from the door , charged ert still pullin’ up mi trersers an’ wi mi ’ead spinnin’. Young Jack wa noweer ta be sayn,, an’ a good job anall cos ard a killed ’im. Ar lowked all o’er th’place burray worner theer.

Ar went off ’om faylin’ sorry for misen an’ for th’next wick a tow ar went rernd lowkin’ for Jack burray managed to kayp erta mi road. In fact ar didner say ’im till Christmas an’ bi then ard calmed dern a bit. Way went Christmas singin’ together an’ ay gen may all th’munny way’d collected so ar thewt ard better let bygones be bygones. Burrarl tell thee this – if ar cudda gorrowd on ’im on November fifth ay wudner a bin ’ere todee.

Ilkeston Rotary Club members Chris Smith (left) and Kevin Smith with Linda Jenkins of Long Eaton Dawnbreakers

of Ilkeston Rotary Club, Chris Smith (left), overseen by the current President of Ilkeston, Kevin Smith.

The Ilkeston Rotary Club takes great care to include local good causes in their lists of donations, conscious of the fact that they receive support from local people in the community. Charity begins at home.

Mike Perry.

THE ILKESTON

Coffee Bean Lower Bath Street

Join us on Friday 11th November to celebrate our

15 years of trading Home-made cakes and soups Light lunches

The Way We Were

Bennerley remembered When we featured pictures of Bennerley School being demolished at the beginning of the year, many people expressed their sadness.

Our Facebook page received one of the biggest responses we have ever had from former pupils who were ‘devastated’ to see the school that played such a major part of their young lives being knocked down by bulldozers.

Alan Chambers of Shipley View has sent us some old photographs of the school from the fifties and sixties.

Until 1943, Bennerley Boys and Bennerley Girls were separate schools. When they amalgamated, Mr F Taylor became Head.

From 1956 to 1967 Mr L Richards took charge, and he was followed by Mr D Edinborough (1977 to 1989).

The school’s main catchment area was Cotmanhay. As a secondary modern (like Gladstone and Cavendish schools), it catered for pupils aged between 11 and 15 who had not achieved high enough marks in the eleven-plus examination to be selected for Ilkeston Grammar School or Hallcroft School.

At least these pupils did not have to suffer the trials of homework, and they received a good rounded education which prepared them well for good citizenship and the world of work.

Trips to local industries were a regular ocIlkeston’sShipley first Tesco store Pit, Stanton currence: Woodside

Ironworks and the Wolsey hosiery factory to name a few places visited.

There was a strong horticultural tradition in the school, also bee-keeping and rabbitkeeping. Sport, drama and a railway club were enjoyed too.

The school was later to become a ‘comprehensive’ and later still an academy: Ormiston Enterprise Academy. Finally it controversially merged with Ilkeston Ormiston Academy, moving to the King George Avenue site in Ilkeston.

The academy was then renamed Ilkeston Ormiston Enterprise Academy.

The school buildings on Bennerley Avenue, Cotmanhay were then demolished, causing an outcry from those who had been led to believe this would never happen and those who remembered with fondness their happy times in the classrooms and corridors of a much-loved place of learning.

Above: Another page from the Trade Section of the Ilkeston & District Directory of 1965/66

Top to bottom: Bennerley pupils of 1966 who put on a ‘Cinderella’ pantomime; Boys in the rabbitry, 1962; The girls athletics team with the district shield they won in 1952; Bennerley Intermediates football team, 1958-59.

Do you recognise anyone in the pictures?

Ilkeston Life, November 2016

13

Music Scene

HELLO FOLKS !

DAVID POTTER TAKES A WANDER THROUGH THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS SCENE BOTH PAST AND PRESENT “There’s a guy works down the chip shop swears he’s Elvis” sang Kirsty MacColl and there’s a few people I know who’ll tell you that if he ever does materialise again it’ll be in just such a place up the road in Heanor.

The reason for that is down to the remarkable life and career of record shop proprietor and Elvis aficionado Albert Hand.

The shop on Derby Road at Heanor (see picture) became an Aladdin’s Cave and the go to place for world wide fans of The King who enjoyed the personal touch and superb mail order service on offer including the monthly publication of “Elvis Monthly” which became the longest running monthly publication about a single artist ever (483 issues).

Albert’s involvement accelerated when he took over the reins of the Original Elvis Presley Fan Club in 1962 and took it to another level.

The world wide fan club now had a new base and Albert presided over a spectacular transformation in its profile over the next five years with new branches and activities springing up in towns and cities covering the world, ad-

DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS SURGERY

ministered from the centre of it all…Derby Road in Heanor.

Stories and legends abound, one of which concerned the local butcher who supplied the Hand family joints.

He was in the habit of skewering the meat with a piece of paper marked “deliver to Elvis” and on one occasion a relief roundsman failed to deliver it and back it came to the butchers shop with the message attached “return to sender…address unknown”.

During this period Albert and his wife Phyllis made one of five trips to the States where they had a wonderfully appreciative reception from Elvis and members of his family and entourage and took in a visit to Graceland and the Sun studios in Memphis where many of the earlier hits were produced under the direction of owner Sam Phillips.

Eventually Albert wound down his involvement and spent a large part of the remainder of his working life serving as a local councillor in Heanor.

He died at the age of just 46 in 1972 and Elvis sent a telegram to Phyllis on hearing of his death.

Five years later Elvis Presley himself passed on and it would be nice to think that they sit down together for a mint julep at the end of another long day in the studio in the sky… unless of course Elvis has a shift to do in that chip shop.

Mention of record shops set me thinking about those we had in Ilkeston in the past.

Ones I remember were Vic Graves Electrical at the bottom end of Bath Street and Reynolds near the top. Woolworths also had a record counter that sold cut price covers of current

hits on their own “Embassy” label.

I think the very first record I ever bought for my new Dansette player (a reward for passing my ‘eleven plus’ exam ) was a 78rpm ‘Freight Train’ by The Chas. McDevitt Skiffle Group with Nancy Whisky.

I’d love to hear your own memories on that subject. Give me a shout and we’ll see where we can take it.

Finally this month: If you get your copy of

Ilkeston Life soon enough, my good friend Pat Thorpe is putting on an Open Mic with food at West Hallam Village Hall (opposite The Punch Bowl) on Sunday October 30th between 11.00 a.m. and 4.00p.m. Entry is £1 with children free. All proceeds will be going to Cancer Research. She’s asked me to “do a turn” so why not come along and say hello?

Peace, love and “vegetable rights”. davidilkeston@gmail.com or 0797 1899 704

A night with Ilkeston Youth Theatre

County Councillor Glennice Birkin Member for Ilkeston East and County Councillor John Frudd Member for Ilkeston South are holding a Members’ Surgery on Saturday 12th November 2016 10am to 12 noon Ilkeston Town Hall, Ilkeston DE7 5RP

DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS SURGERY County Councillor for Ilkeston West

Michelle Booth Is holding a Councillor’s Surgery on

Saturday 12th November 2016 10.30am until 12 noon in

Ilkeston Library Foyer Market Place

14 Ilkeston Life, November 2016

Answer to Picture Puzzle, P12 The Chapel House flats on Burns Street, just below Scala cinema.

Thirty-two young people of the Ilkeston Youth Theatre put on a show called A Night With IYT at St Andrew’s church last month. It comprised of 28 songs and sketches, many of them written by the performers themselves. They proved beyond doubt that ‘Ilkeston’s got talent’ and were warmly applauded by an appreciative audience over four performances. The group has been going for nearly ten years and the age range in the latest show was 6 to 18. Leader Lisa Clements and her helpers are to be congratulated on the work they are doing. Pictured (above left): some of the younger members; (above right): Frankie Byard; (beneath): Marshall Butler and Jess Tinker.

Shed 2 Studios opened its doors as part the Creative 10 Celebrations; a series of events, exhibitions and activities happening in and around Erewash to celebrate 10 years of Arts Development in the borough.

You could easily walk by the building on Heanor Road unaware of the wonderland inside, but on Saturday 17th September, members of the public came along and had a cuppa, a cake and a chat, and saw what the resident art and crafters were up to.

Pictured clockwise, starting from the top are Travis Kelly (Evolution Revolution) demonstrating computer aided design work and laser cutting to young Anthony Opiah; Dawn Turner—glass design and cutting; Tom Machin (Greenwood Design) - furniture design and restoration; Rachel Carter– woven bronze sculptures; and Jeff Gilford (JJ Guitars).

To find out more about the workshop visit www.shed2studios.co.uk

The Friends of Straw’s Bridge

West Hallam Amateur Gardening Society

Four of the six disease resistant elm trees planted last year have died. They were part of a larger batch planted at various sites in the area, many of which also failed. The nursery which supplied them has accepted responsibility and will be replacing them free of charge.

The new trees will be planted in November.

The two men charged with illegal fishing in the main pond earlier this year are due to appear at Derby Magistrate’s Court.

An attack by dogs on swans, resulting in the death of three cygnets, is being investigated by the RSPCA. Visitors are asked to keep their dogs under control at all times. If you come across injured birds you can call the Swan and Wildlife Rescue Hospital on 07763 424892.

Recent complaints about the number of brown rats seen on site have prompted the Borough Council to commission a survey by a pest control firm. Their conclusion is that there is an infestation of rats most probably caused by the excessive amount of bread being fed to the birds. The Council and the Friends have always urged people to feed corn rather than bread in the interests of the birds’ health. Here is another very good reason to heed that advice. Just like birds and other wild animals rats go where the food is. There is a simple way to keep the rat population down: don’t feed them.

While rats are part of nature they are not everyone’s favourite. But that is not the only reason for limiting their numbers. The rat is also the wild animal most likely to be infected with Leptospirosis. This is a disease which can be passed on to humans and other animals such as dogs by contact with soil or water contaminated with urine from an infected animal. In its most severe form it is known as Weil’s disease, and it can lead to organ failure and internal bleeding and can be fatal.

But now for some good news!

As reported in the September issue, Straw’s Bridge has achieved the Green Flag Award for another year. This means we actually get another green flag! If you visit the site on Thursday, November 3 at 2pm you can join the Friends, the mayor of Erewash, local councillors and others for the flag-raising ceremony.

Keep up with events by visiting the website: www.friendsofstrawsbridge.co.uk and on Facebook. Your wildlife photographs are also welcome on the Facebook page.

Jeff Wynch

Bulbs that give interest and colour throughout the year was our speaker's subject in September. Kevin Pratt, gardener and botanist, has a special interest in bulbs and is the author of the book "Gardeners' Guide to Growing Fritillaria". Kevin worked for 35 years as a selfemployed gardener, working in some very beautiful gardens in Hale. He is now semiretired and enjoys running his small nursery, spending time in his own garden and sharing his knowledge and love of plants with others.

Not only did his talk include the popular and well known bulbs but also the more unusual varieties such as the pretty blue or white Ipheion, the ‘Baby-Breath’ Muscari and pale blue Puschkinia. We often think of Muscari as being blue without considering its other colours -- pinks, whites, yellows and purples.

Kevin's love of Fritillaria became increasingly apparent as his talk continued. Along with his lovely slides we were given information about how and where to grow different varieties from the ‘Snakes Head Fritillaries’ to the stately ‘Crown Imperials’.

Throughout the seasons bulbs make a lovely show, either naturalised in meadow or woodland areas, in flower beds or in pots. We were taken through the bulb year with small hardy Ipheions, Scillas and Puschkinias, sun loving Galtonias, beautiful cream coloured Hymenocallis resembling the daffodil, Alliums, Arisaemas and the white or green tinted Eucomis. Kevin had also brought a wide selection of bulbs for us to buy as well as copies of his book. Several of our speakers bring plants for sale which is always a popular feature.

Our next meeting is on Monday 21st November when Sally Smith is returning to help us make a Christmas Wreath and Decorations.

Jenny Edgson

Ilkeston Charter Fair pictures will be in the paper next month

Ilkeston Men’s Probus

Find out what happened when a young Ilkeston lad and his pals went carol-singing on a cold and frosty Christmas Eve in 1923. Journey with them from Ilkeston Junction through the gas-lamped streets and unlit lanes and footpaths to the houses of the great and the good and the ordinary where they hoped they would be well received and given a few coppers for their collecting box. Read We Wish You A Merry Christmas by the late George Parsons in next month’s Ilkeston Life.

President Mel Birch welcomed the guest speaker, Mr Stephen Woolley, a consultant solicitor in the local firm of Geldards at the October Probus meeting.

Stephen gave a most interesting talk about his career in law and of some of the various events that he has had to deal with. He talked about his early education away at boarding school and how it was a cultural shock to have to deal with society in the ‘real world’.

One of the cases he dealt with was a greyhound that had been swapped by the owner and fitted with false teeth, to fool the authorities.

The greyhound set off, caught up with the pursuit hare, into which it sank its false teeth which became embedded in the hare giving the game away!

Stephen gave an outline of his early days in law and in particular of some of the senior partners with their eccentricities. It gave him some tremendous experiences in different branches of the law, including attending Magistrate Court.

Maurice Hart gave a vote of thanks for an excellent talk.

Barry Sutcliffe

Ilkeston Life, November 2016

15

Direct Help and Advice – a way forward for those in need

Scout camp at Rugeley The 10th Ilkeston Scout Group (All Saints Stanley Common) celebrated 50 years since the re-formation of the group in style at the (former) home of the Marquis of Anglesey.

Tents were pitched in the walled garden at Beaudesert Activity Centre in Rugeley, Staffs.

And 75 young people spent a hectic and adventurous weekend there.

Thanks to Helen and Vicky for superb catering and to Warburtons Bakery for kind donation of bread, cobs and delicious crumpets.

A full moon enhanced wide games in the dark – a magical experience concluded with camp fire songs with other groups.

Scouts had a scary bike ride around Cannock Chase, led by the Derbyshire Bike Team. Cubs took to the water in coracles, a sure recipe for getting wet. Beavers joined Scouts and Cubs in a variety of activities but especially enjoyed the Monkey Tree; racing up 10 metre high tress on climbing holds. Alan Cooper

Friends of Bennerley Viaduct

VIADUCT RE-CONNECTS WITH DERBY The Iron Giant exhibition which had Ilkestonians flocking to the Erewash Museum earlier in the year has since been on display in Awsworth and Cotmanhay. It is now all set to visit Derby College, Ilkeston on 7th November for two weeks. The exhibition will then spend time at each of the College’s other sites at Broomfield Hall, Morley, and the Roundhouse and the Joseph Wright Centre in Derby. The viaduct started its life in Derby where its component parts were manufactured before being transported to Bennerley to be assembled on site. The completed Heritage Lottery Fund project will be another stage in the building of the Great Northern Greenway which will eventually allow walkers and cyclists to follow the route of the former railway line from Derby to Nottingham.

Recent sightings of UFOs in the Erewash Valley can be easily explained. It was no alien invasion but drones controlled by engineers carrying out a detailed inspection of the Bennerley viaduct. Dave Gent, Principal Engineer, and his team, also used lasers and other hi-tech equipment in their survey which will provide the clearest picture yet of the condition of the structure. The data collected will inform the Sustrans Heritage Lottery Fund bid to restore the viaduct and create a walking and cycling path along its deck. Dave, an expert on wrought iron, and for whom the project is “a dream come true and a once in a career opportunity”, was full of praise for the volunteers who have spent eighteen months removing ballast from the deck and clearing scrub around the piers.

The series of Heritage Walks along and around the viaduct organised by Kieran Lee in September was a tremendous success. Some walks were oversubscribed and more are planned, although the route will be modified following the recent closure of the footbridge over the railway line from the Erewash Canal towpath to the Bennerley site. The footbridge is to be demolished and replaced, but it will be another year and a half before the new one will be in use.

If you missed the broadcast on Erewash Sound of local people’s reminiscences about the viaduct and the part it played in their “misspent youth”, do not despair; you can still listen to it on the website and Facebook page.

Volunteers on the viaduct project received a boost recently when Erewash Borough Coun-

cil agreed to set aside some secure storage space for tools and equipment. This will also benefit other local groups linked to Sustrans, such as the Erewash Valley Rangers, who look after the Nutbrook Trail, and the Wildlife Champions who are documenting and helping to preserve wildlife on land owned by Sustrans. (If you think you might like to join the Rangers or the Wildlife Champions contact Dan Robertson on 0115 853 2948).

The next meeting of the Friends group will be at the Gate Inn, Awsworth, on Monday, 31st October. (Let’s hope you get your copy of Ilkeston Life in time!) Join us over a pint of real ale to hear more about Sustrans’ exciting plans for the viaduct.

Kieran Lee is still available to give talks to groups about the viaduct’s history and its planned future (078235 536 941 or Kieran.lee@sustrans.org.uk). You can find the Friends on Facebook or by visiting bennerleyviaduct.org.uk.

Jeff Wynch

The radio station just for Erewash Great songs, local news, sport and interviews

Listen on 96.8FM and online

16 Ilkeston Life, November 2016

Direct Help and Advice is an independent charity, established in 1995 to help tackle homelessness, poverty, housing and unemployment difficulty. The charity has developed over the past 20 years to address the growing needs of our local communities, including providing specialist Housing and Debt advice, Community Training and Employability services for local people and homelessness prevention projects. We currently support over 6,500 people each year.

Our site is located in Ilkeston, bottom of Bath Street. We are a small team of dedicated staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to provide the support that our clients need.

We also have specialised trained Solicitors and Case workers who work with clients on matters of debt and housing issues. Sessions run every Wednesday 9.15am-2.30pm.

We offer lots of help with unemployment difficulty, from a twice weekly job club, to basic computer training courses. We also offer accredited training such as CSCS

cards, to food hygiene qualifications. These are charged at low rates for unemployed people to help them get back into work. As an accredited training centre we provide qualifications in Food Hygiene, Food Allergen Awareness, Health and Safety and Risk Assessment Awareness. We also provide courses on First Aid for Appointed Persons.

These are our most popular courses and our basic computer training is an online course delivered at your own pace. It covers how a computer works, how to use a mouse and keyboard, introduction to the internet, how to send an email and much more. DHA staff are always on hand if you get stuck, and you can attend the course as much or little as you like. The job club is a relaxed afternoon session, where you can look for jobs, get help with CVs or cover letters, in our IT suite.

If you think we can help you, please do not hesitate to contact us. Either pop down to the office for a chat, or give us a call on 0115 930 0199.

Charlotte Mason Training & Development Co-ordinator

Orchestral Music at St Mary’s A performance by J26 Sinfonietta and Organist John Sears J26 sinfonietta was formed in 2009 by local musicians, Deena Draycott and John Watson.

Having performed several concerts around Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire over the last 7 years they have decided to visit Ilkeston and perform a concert in collaboration with John Sears, the organist at St. Mary’s to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the installation of the organ. It was moved from a church in London where composer, Felix Mendelssohn played it. The concert will take place on 26th November at 7.30pm and will include an organ recital by John. The orchestra will perform the quirky Trombone Concertino by Ferdinand David (soloist: Kevin Holdgate) Handel’s overture to Saul and Haydn’s 99th symphony. Many of our musicians are multi-instrumentalists and five have got together to play a recorder arrangement of Brandenburg concerto no.2 by Bach also to be performed in this concert. There will be an interval with refreshments and an opportunity to chat to the musicians involved. The orchestra is now conducted

by Mat Davis and the leader is Tim Capes.

A bloke told me tonight that ever since he had his neck in a brace he's never looked back.

- John Allen

It’s a hat trick for Erewash Museum

County Council to reach foster families through heritage and culture.

To celebrate International Women’s Day staff and volunteers wrote a series of blogs and staged an exhibition exploring the histories and lives of women Award winning Erewash Museum has struck gold who had lived or worked at the museum’s Dalby again with a hat trick of honours at the Derbyshire House base in Ilkeston.

Heritage Awards – including scooping the prestig- The good news follows the opening of a learning and ious ‘best museum’ title with the overall Award community centre at the museum earlier this year.

The old coach house and stables were transformed for Excellence.

It is the third time in six years that Erewash Borough into the new centre thanks to a total of £563,600 funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Friends Council’s museum has taken the top award, which of Erewash Museum and Erewash Borough Council. again confirms it as the best in the county.

Photo: Pictured at the awards ceremony are, from left, The honours were handed out during a ceremony at Collections Officer Nicola Wood; Museum Service ManagCrich Tramway Village on Friday (7th October), when the museum team were also presented with two er Helen Martinez; Volunteer Co-ordinator Rebecca Buck; and Museum Volunteer Lynne Mills.

Highly Commended awards – the first for reaching new audiences through its foster families project and the other for running the International Women’s Day project on a limited budget.

The museum’s foster families project featured workshops and was run in partnership with Derbyshire

Local Walking Groups Erewash Ramblers

Thursday 3rd November. 10.30am. 6 miles. Hucknall & Misk Hill. Meet at Greasley Church LayBy (SK490472, NG16 2AB). Led by Alan Brown.

Monday 7th November. 10.30am. 6½ miles. Nutbrook Trail & Nottingham Canal. Meet at Pit Lane, Trowell (SK491391, NG9 3QH). Leader Clive Davis (07808 238704).

Wednesday 9th November. 10.30am. Short walk. Cranfleet Canal. Meet at Trent Lock car park (SK489312). Leader Clive Davis.

Sunday 13th November. 10.00am. 8 miles. Chatsworth Walk. Meet at Bakewell, Station Rd/Coombs Rd P&D CP (SK220686, DE45 1BU). Leaders Brian & Yvonne Ashby (07970 080121).

Wednesday 16th November. 7.30pm. Social: “The Isle of Wight Coastal Path” Illustrated talk given by Andrew Firth.

West Hallam Village Hall.

Thursday 17th November. 10.30am. 5½ miles. Staunton Harold & Calke. Meet at Ticknall Village Hall.

(SK35324,DE73 7JW. Leader Clive Davis (07808 238704).

Monday 21st November. 10.30am. 6 miles. Walk from Markeaton Park. Meet at the park CP, P&D (SK333379, DE22 3BG). Leaders Brian & Yvonne Ashby.

Wednesday 23rd November. 10.30am. Short walk. Shipley Park. Meet at Straws Bridge car park (SK453413). Leader Alan Brown.

Sunday 27th November. 10.00am. 9 miles. Thorpe, Fenny Bentley & Mapleton. Meet at Narlows Lane CP (SK164505, DE6 2AT). Leaders Jacqui & Royce Drew (07592 263284).

More details from the web site: www.erewashramblers.org.uk or Tony Beardsley, 0115 9 17 0082.

Ilkeston Rambling Club Sunday November 3rd: Programme meeting at The Poacher, South Street, Ilkeston, 7.45pm.

Sunday 13th November: A nine-mile walk starting from Grantham Canal. Leader: Bill Greengrass.

Sunday 27th November: An eight-mile walk starting from Melbourne Church and taking lunch at Breedon-on-theHill. Leader, Mick Brown.

Thursday 1st December: Club Social Evening at Th e Poacher, 7.45pm.

More information from Jim Cresswell, 0115 944 2633 or mob.07747 419380.

Long Eaton Rambling Club Sunday 6th November - Alport Village Circular, 9 miles.

Meet 9.00am Long Eaton Town Hall.

Thursday 10th November - Sutton on the Hill Circular, 7 miles. Meet 9.30am West Park Leisure Centre.

Sunday 13th November - Alport Heights Circular, 9 miles.

Meet 9.00am Long Eaton Town Hall.

Sunday 20th November - Long Eaton Circular, 9 miles.

Meet 9.00am Long Eaton Town Hall.

Sunday 27th November - Eddlestow Lot Circular, 9 miles.

Meet 9.00am Long Eaton Town Hall.

New members always welcome.

All walks meet in Long Eaton to car share to keep travel costs to a minimum. Many more events and activities are organised throughout the year, including day trips out, weekends away and holidays. So come and join our friendly club on one of our forthcoming walks.

Full details can be found on the web site: www.longeatonramblingclub.org.uk or alternatively you can phone John for more information on 0115 849 5813.

Ilkeston Life, November 2016

17

Not everything is on the Internet, you know

Funding gift to table tennis club Ilkeston Table Tennis Club members were extremely grateful to receive some funding from Stanton Ironworks Benevolent Fund recently.

Presenting the cheque to Rob Kirk, the founder member of the club, was Wendy Marriott from Saint Gobain PAM UK. Everyone applauded the presentation and also enjoyed a piece of the celebratory cake afterwards!

The funding will help the club develop by, amongst other things, sending two players on a table tennis coaching course.

This will allow the club to offer coaching to anyone who would request it.

It will also allow the club to replace necessary equipment as and when required.

An open session is held every Friday evening at Ebenezer Church Hall, Heanor

Road, Ilkeston. Doors open at 5.30pm and close at 7.30pm. Charge is £2 per player.

Anyone is welcome but players aged 14 or younger should be accompanied by an adult.

Pictured: Celebration cake; Wendy Marriott of St Gobain PAM presents a cheque to Rob Kirk; Table tennis in progress at the hall.

The Ilkeston and District Local History Society recently held a four day event in Ilkeston Library in celebration of their 50th year.

A number of screen presentations took place, starting on Saturday with “The Ripley Rattler”

by Brian Keys of the Heanor and District Local History Society. Later Bill Tomson of Sustrans spoke about the history and preservation of the Bennerley Viaduct.

Monday brought Stephen Flinders, chairman of the Ilkeston society presenting photographs never been seen before, followed by ‘What Happened to Ilkeston’s Railway Stations’ with Grant Shaw and Paul Miller, co-authors of Railway Tales. The evening saw Ann Featherstone and Beverley Kilby give an excellent taster of their new book ‘Ilkeston as it was’.

ILKESTON GAZETTE Private collections of photographs from Andrew Knighton, Jim Beardsley and myself were on show on Tuesday and Wednesday with the Library presenting old documents, newspapers such as the Ilkeston Gazette from 1938, photographs and maps titled appropriately ‘Not everything is on the Internet, you know’.

Everyday saw good attendances with much interest shown. Ilkeston and District Local History Society wish to thanks Friends of Stanton Road Cemetery, Friends of Park Cemetery and Heanor Local History Society for their participation in the event.

Many thanks must also go to Ruth, Jackie and the Library staff for their great help in putting this event on and their participation in our 50th year. Thanks too to the general public who turned out in good numbers to make it a special occasion.

Danny Corns, IDLHS

18 Ilkeston Life, November 2016

We have a team of about eight ladies who will be swimming 25 miles at Ilkeston swimming baths on the 5th and 6th November. We have three hours on the Saturday and five hours on the Sunday to complete the mission and are hoping to raise about £1,000.

The decision to do the swim came when I suffered a miscarriage last May and the week later my friend suffered an ectopic pregnancy. Together as we approach our due dates, we decided to do something positive with our time!

We are raising money for both Sands and Tommys.

We have a Facebook page: https:// m.facebook.com/ teamswimjustkeepswimming/? ref=bookmarks where you can find out more and support us if you wish.

Chantelle Birch and Team Fish.

Library’s upstairs closure Ilkeston Library will be undergoing some essential roof works during the period from 24th October until early December. During this time the whole of the Upper Floor will be closed. A small selection of travel and poetry stock plus access to daily newspapers will be moved to the lower library; but access to any local studies materials will be limited. We will do our best to answer or redirect any queries you may have during this period.

We are also advising anyone needing to use our computers that they should pre book to save disappointment.

We now have a new telephone number 01629 533275 for general enquiries; and 01629 533271 for local studies (not available during closure period).

Please bear with us during this time, and staff will be only too happy to assist and keep you informed.

Crafty Sew and Sews will still meet on November 8th but will be meeting in the lending area from 1.30pm. We always welcome new members.

We have a new group ‘Mindfulness Colouring’ meeting 18th October, and 15th November 1.30 to 3pm. Come along, join in and de-stress with free tea/coffee. All free.

We would like to wish the Ilkeston And District Local History Society a very happy 50th anniversary; and it was a pleasure to be able to help host their celebration events here reecently. The events created a lot of local interest and gave us the chance to showcase some of our resources too.

The library also celebrated the life of a local poet Dorothy Walters who very kindly left Ilkeston Library a legacy in her will. This was used for a poetry workshop.. the results of which were read out at an successful event in October which included the unveiling of a special plaque in our foyer. Please come and take a look. Jackie Swepstone

Family and Personal Announcements

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS ELECTRICAL

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Tel. 0115 944 4128 Mob. 07723 016702 Small Jobs Welcome Your Local Electrician SEWING

STITCH IN TIME Curtains and Upholstery Leather Sewing—Loose Covers including for boats, motor homes, pubs

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end a birthday greeting Thank someone Congratulate someone Announce a birth Announce a death Remember a loved one in your local community paper We can help you word your announcement

MISSING PERSON Steve Orme is looking for his Uncle Albert Orme, who was a submariner and served on HMS/M Oberon, an 'O' Class Conventional submarine in 1975 as a Leading Stoker.

Uncle Albert came from Derby and would now be aged around 60. Anyone with information please contact Len Inglis by email: lennox.inglis@googlemail.com or contact this newspaper who will forward details.

FOR SALE Eastwood Acoustic Guitar plus Ritter bag, excellent condition, never used, £50. Tel. 0115 877 1182.

Acoustic Solutions Electonic Keyboard.

Boxed, excellent condition, £50. Tel. 0115 877 1182.

Model Ilkeston Life Delivery Truck.

There are only a few left of this limited edition model vehicle. 115mm (4.5 ins) long and 45mm (1.8 ins) high. Makes a great gift and brightens up a home or office. £7.50 from our office, U Choose Smoothie Bar, 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston.

Clothes alteration service

07951 066487 www.stitchintime07.co.uk Email: stitchintime07@gmail.com

VAPE LOUNGE

MOTOR SERVICES

Mortal Vape Co. Vape/Coffee Lounge 76 Bath Street, Ilkeston (Chapel Street corner)

Find us on Facebook

PLUMBING

Local traders—this is a good place to be seen.

Regular advertising brings regular work.

ELECTRICAL

John Allen Plumbing and Heating  Gas servicing 194293  Plumbing  Heating  Boiler breakdown and servicing  Free estimates

Tel: 0115 930 9262 or 07910 871183

DEATH

Marion Clay (nee Birkin) Born Ilkeston 2/11/1935.

Passed away 26/9/2016.

Married to Harry Two sons: Paul & Russell Four Grandchildren: Ruth, Amy, Adam and Jack Two great grandchildren: Indi and Eva Beau Aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Marion attended Chaucer and Hallcroft schools. She was a member of the WI and for many years and a volunteer at Ilkeston Hospital League of Friends. She loved travel / music and all her friends.

Marion was cremated at Bramcote on Friday 14th October and friends and family remembered her life afterwards at Gladstone Lodge, Ilkeston.

Thank you for kind donations—given to Treetops Hospice.

PERSONAL

Volunteering opportunities

E

ach month Ilkeston Life receives a number of handwritten or non-computer generated letters and articles for publication.

We are looking for a volunteer to assist the editor by typing these into Word documents so they can be quickly copied and pasted into the paper. A good standard of accuracy is required as well as a fairly swift turnaround. Workload varies but is not heavy— two to four hours a month is all it should take a competent typist/keyboard operator.

We are looking for someone local who we could call on when required, and who could respond speedily if necessary. If interested, please email the editor at ilkestonlife@gmail.com. A small remuneration may be possible.

LITTER PICKS New Volunteers welcome - keeping our community clean and tidy.

Saturday 19th November—Community Litter Pick at Oakwell Brickworks site-meet up with us at the children’s play park at Oak Apple Crescent at 10am—we are doing another litter pick with the help of the Pride in Erewash Team. Gloves, hand held-pickers, bags and safety advice are provided.

Saturday 26th November—Community Litter Pick at land to rear of the GP Practice and the Police Station off Heanor Road — meet Heanor Rd end at 10am-same as above. All equipment provided by the Pride In Erewash Team. Any questions regarding either event, please contact Cllr Michelle Booth on 0115 9444 658 or email michelle.booth@derbyshire.gov.uk. Everyone welcome!!

ILKESTON ROLL OF HONOUR World War One: 1914—1918

Walter Wilson Stanton Ironworks employee killed in Ilkeston on 31st January 1916 when aged 42 years as a result of a bomb dropped by a Zeppelin. He is commemorated on the Ilkeston cenotaph.

James Hall Stanton Ironworks employee also killed in Ilkeston as a result of a bomb dropped by a Zeppelin on 31st January 1916. He is commemorated on the Stapleford War memorial in St Helens Church.

We will remember them.

Remembered especially by families, friends and Stanton Ironworks colleagues.

REMEMBERING THOSE COMMEMORATED IN STANTON ROAD CEMETRY, ILKESTON

World War One: 1914 - 1918

Gunner Albert Aram, Royal Garrison Artillery, aged 21. Died 16th June 1919.

Private Samuel Bonser, Queens Own Hussars, aged 33. Died 3rd August 1918.

Private William Clewes, 16th Batt Sherwood Foresters, aged 42. Died 2nd August 1915.

Private Paul Harrison, 4th Batt Sherwood Foresters, aged 26. Died 28th November 1918.

World War Two: 1939 - 1945

Gunner Patrick Moloney, Royal

Artillery, Aged 30. Died 30th December 1945.

The Price Of Peace We will remember them.

Remembered especially by families, friends, and Friends of Stanton Road Cemetery

BIRTHDAYS November 4th: Happy Birthday to Marion Marsland of Bamburgh Towers. Enjoy your day. From Bob, Mary, Anne & Ivor.

5th November is Birthday Celebration Time for Amanda Poolton—Have a Lovely Birthday! Love and Kisses from Michelle, Louis and all the four legged friends. Xx Polly Dewey—A Very Special Happy Birthday Greeting sent to you for your big birthday that you’re celebrating this year on 6th November. Love and Best Wishes for today and all year round from Michelle and the kids!!

WINDOW CLEANER

Ilkeston Life, November 2016

19

JUST A THOUGHT Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships ― Michael Jordan

Sport

Ilkeston FC round-up by Matchman

ON THE Olivia is SPOT chipping away at a stage career

Robins on the rise Sat. 24th September - NPL

ILKESTON 1 BUXTON 0 After a draw and three defeats in their opening four league games the visit of table toppers Buxton was a daunting prospect but Ilkeston produced their best performance so far. In an exciting local derby, a first half goal by Anthony Dwyer gave Ilkeston a flying start and something to hold on to. Ilkeston should have been ahead before that when Mark Shelton got past the onrushing Bucks keeper but could not turn the ball into the unprotected goal from the narrow angle. There were further chances for both sides but the Bucks couldn't break through the home defence to find an equaliser and Ilkeston deservedly earned their first league win.

Tue. 27th September - NPL

HALESOWEN 2 ILKESTON 1 Two goals by the excellent Halesowen striker Kaiman Anderson proved to be the difference between the two sides. Ilkeston started brightly enough and only a brilliant save kept out a header from Anton Brown. Halesowen then started to get on top and Anderson put them ahead before half time with a close range header. Halesowen continued to dominate in the second half and Anderson added a superb second with a curling shot that went in off the post. Anthony Dwyer scored a late consolation for Ilkeston which caused some consternation for the home side in added time but overall it was a below par performance by Ilkeston and Halesowen deserved their win.

Sat. 1st October - FA Cup 3rd qual. round

ILKESTON 1 STOURBRIDGE 2 A contentious penalty decision which went against Ilkeston proved to be enough to end their FA Cup dreams. Stourbridge started well but it was Ilkeston who took the lead on 16 minutes. It was a wonderful header by Rory Coleman after he had been found by Luis Rose. The Glassboys levelled on 36 minutes with a looping header from Leon Broadhurst.

Then with 57 minutes gone Stourbridge were awarded a hotly disputed penalty when Jak Kenworthy tackled Chris Lait in the box. It looked like Kenworthy had won the ball with a clean tackle but the referee thought otherwise and a penalty was given which Benbow duly converted. Ilkeston were left chasing the game but Stourbridge held out and go through to the next round.

Tue. 4th October - NPL

RUSHALL OLYMPIC 1 ILKESTON 0 Ilkeston remain bottom of the league with just one win after hardly creating a worthwhile chance and four goals from seven games gives a clue as to why they are where they are.

Third placed Rushall are a decent side and a result against them is always difficult but Ilkeston’s travelling supporters were given very little to get enthused about. The Pics were robust and physical as usual and denied Ilkeston any time on the ball. Central defender Henry Eze was outstanding for Rushall winning everything in the air. Defensively Ilkeston did alright but the home keeper had an easy night. Alex Reid scored Rushall’s goal on 19 minutes and later rattled the crossbar whereas Ilkeston’s only real chance of note was a too-high header by Luke Foster.

Sat. 8th October - NPL

when Lavelle-Moore’s header was cleared off the line but Corby then swept up the other end and took the lead. The home fans celebrated wildly after the ball hit Jak Kenworthy and crept in. This was the trigger for Ilkeston to spring into life in a much more open second period and the equaliser deservedly arrived in the 75th minute. Rory Coleman was tripped in the area and took the resultant penalty himself.

His first shot was beaten out by keeper Aiden Grant but Coleman followed up to score. In the 92nd minute Ilkeston snatched the points with Morris’s strike which took a deflection on its way in.

Tue.11th October - NPL

ILKESTON 1 BARWELL 0 A superbly executed lob from Mark Shelton against mid table Barwell was enough to give Ilkeston back to back wins. The decisive goal came in the 52nd minute in route one fashion.

Shelton collected Durrant’s long clearance and seeing the Barwell keeper off his line he lobbed perfectly into the goal. Ilkeston may not be scoring many goals but they don’t give many away and once again their defence stood firm. Matt Baker and Luke Foster are proving a sound defensive pairing along with reliable keeper Ross Durrant. Only 242 fans turned up to watch the game which coincided with a televised England game. The scoreline was a repeat of the earlier FA Cup game played at Barwell when Shelton was again the scorer and the win lifted Ilkeston off the bottom of the league table.

Sat.15th October - NPL

David Potter talks to rising starlet and proper little madam...Olivia Rice rating for her singing from the prestigious Trinity College in London. e’ve just recently celebrated the Currently studying for her GCSEs at Kirk life and career of Robert Lindsay Hallam Community Academy and an active and it may not be too long before we have member of the Ilkeston Army Cadet Force, cause to do the same with another Ilkestoni- Olivia also has time to pursue her number an whose star is showing every sign of one passion...acting. gleaming just as brightly.

A member of the widely respected NottingIf you’re standing in the hungry queue on ham Arts Theatre (which was the subject of Ilkeston FC’s New Manor Ground at the a BBC 4 documentary not so long ago) her food outlet run by mum Lindsey, it’s very involvement so far has included important likely you’ll be asked: “Do you want chips roles in many of the company’s highly acwith that?” by Olivia who’ll be assisting claimed productions such as Oliver, Oh her.

What a Lovely War, Les Miserables, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast (guess It’s one of those occasions you could be which one she played), Midsummer Nights remembering and telling people about in a Dream and Jekyll & Hyde the Musical. few years’ time.

I first came across 14-year-old Olivia when This impressive CV has now led to a pilot DVD currently circulating amongst the she wandered into a music session I was movers and shakers in the TV, Film and hosting a few months ago and asked if she Advertising industries. could do a couple of songs she’d written.

Here’s a tip…If you come across Olivia get I was glad I said yes. her to autograph that chip tray. You won’t Beautiful lyrics and with a sensitive guitar regret it. accompaniment demonstrated a very precocious talent indeed. She also plays the piano Contact details for any enquiries: email: ricey.lindsey@hotmail.co.uk (Olivia’s mum). and has already earned a Grade 3 musical

W

ILKESTON 3 SKELMERSDALE 0 Ilkeston’s resurgence continued with a comfortable victory over struggling Skelmersdale.

Luis Rose gave Ilkeston the lead after 16 minutes and despite chances for both sides that was the only goal of the first half. Anthony Dwyer doubled Ilkeston’s lead in the 66th minute with an excellent finish into the top corner before Malachi Lavelle-Moore made the game safe with his first Ilkeston goal. This was a very competent Ilkeston performance albeit against modest opposition and things are starting to look brighter now after three consecutive wins. The win takes Ilkeston out of the relegation places. They make the long trip to play high flying Blyth Spartans on Tuesday night and this will be a much sterner test of Ilkeston’s credentials.

Tue. 18th October—NPL

BLYTH SPARTANS 3 ILKESTON 1 Spartans captain Robbie Dale once again proved to be Ilkeston’s tormenter with another match winning performance against them.

Ilkeston defended well in a goalless first half but soon after the restart keeper Ross Durrant was forced to save brilliantly from Dale’s point blank header. Durant then saved a penalty from Dale, only for Pattenson to follow up and score. A minute later Dale hit superb solo goal to make it 2-0. Just when Blyth seemed to be cruising Ilkeston got one back: Malachi Lavelle-Moore silencing the crowd with a stunning 20 yard finish into the bottom corner. Suddenly Ilkeston were back in the game and Blyth became jittery. Lavelle-Moore was inches away from equalising when he couldn't quite connect with Atkinson’s low cross.

However, it was to be the home side who had the final say with a last minute goal.

CORBY TOWN 1 ILKESTON 2 A stoppage time goal by Ben Morris gave Ilkeston a vital win in their bottom of the table clash at Steel Park. The first half was scrappy with few chances as both sides battled to get the upper hand but the second half was to start in dramatic style. Ilkeston nearly went ahead

20 Ilkeston Life, November 2016

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