Ilkeston life newspaper January 2016

KIRK HALLAM TO GET A WHEELY PARK Skateboarders, scooter and BMX riders are Leisure, says: “This is fantastic news for Kirk in for a treat later this year when Kirk Hallam and we are deHallam gets a wheeled sports park.

A friend through your letterbox

20p where sold

JANUARY 2016

A community publication for Ilkeston and the surrounding districts including Kirk Hallam, Cotmanhay, Shipley View and West Hallam Visit our website: ilkestonlife.com New comic strip by Victoria Clayton— page 6

The facility costing £130,000 has been confirmed by Erewash Borough Council and it is hoped that it will open in the summer.

Funding has been provided by the council, the Lottery-funded Big Local Kirk Hallam group and WREN, a not-for-profit business that awards grants to community projects.

These three organisations will now work together to plan the design and layout of the park in consultation with young people in Kirk Hallam.

Once agreed, the wheeled sports park will be built on the popular leisure site at the rear of Windsor Crescent, where there are already sports pitches, a children’s play area, changing rooms and a multi-use sports area.

Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and

lighted that we can now get on with the project at a site which is becoming an excellent leisure and sport ‘hub’ for young people in the area.”

His comments were backed by Brian Cooper, Chair of Big Kirk Hallam: “We are very pleased with the news – it’s a great present for the young people of Kirk Hallam.

We have waited a long time for a new skate park and it has been a clear priority identified by residents in our consultation about how to spend the Big Kirk Hallam funding.

We are looking forward to working in partnership with Erewash Borough Council and WREN.” Preparation of suggested designs and consulting with young people will start early in the New Year.

Ilkeston’s favourite son nominated for Freedom of Erewash honour Local historian Danny Corns is pushing for Ilkeston-born actor Robert Lindsay to be made a Freeman of the borough. He has made his case before Erewash Council and is waiting, as we go to press, for a decision from them.

Danny collected 172 signatures on a petition and was given five minutes to present his case before the council.

He said: “Robert Lindsay has been a television star for more than 40 years.

He is a local man who doesn’t forget his roots; that’s one of the main reasons why I put him forward. I was listening to him on Radio 4 recently and even there he didn’t miss the opportunity to mention Ilkeston and his old Gladstone Boys School teacher Mr Lally.

“He often comes back to his old town; I saw him recently at an Ilkeston football match in the pouring rain—how’s that for dedication! I went up to him and asked if he’d like to meet up for a cup of coffee. The next day we met up as planned and he spent over an hour there talking to a group of us in the U Choose café.”

Robert’s TV roles include Wolfie in Citizen Smith, Ben Harper in My Family and Captain Sir Edward Pellew in Hornblower.

He is soon to be seen in the Disney musical film Galivant, where he plays Chester

GOOD READS

INSIDE

Two pages of

YOUR LETTERS

Ar’ve killed men, I ay!

Story in Ilson dialect

by Jim Sumner

Christmas in the fifties MORE MEMORIES FROM

Patricia Spencer

Robert Lindsay Wormwood, a villain.

Danny remembers seeing Robert as a youngster in a school play. “I saw him play the Artful Dodger in Oliver Twist and you could tell he had something. Robert always said he owed his career to Mr Lally.

“He is highly respected in the town—there was no trouble getting the signatures on the petition. He’s a great publicist for Ilkeston and that’s why he should have the freedom of Erewash.”

Stanton days remembered Are you in the picture?

Ilkeston’s Lost Soul

By Duncan Payne

Print run of 10,000 copies distributed locally—outstanding coverage for advertisers

Christmas in the fifties Reflecting community life in and around Ilkeston

Local

Independent Fresh Entertaining If you don’t get a copy through your letterbox, Ilkeston Life is available online and from various places including: U Choose Smoothie Bar, 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston; John’s News, 17 Bath Street, Ilkeston; Ilkeston Coffee Bean, 156 Bath Street, Ilkeston; Blinkinks, 48 South Street, Ilkeston; Patti House, The Old Chapel, South Street, Ilkeston Wayfarer, 307 Nottm Road, Ilkeston; Lobina’s, 338 Nottm Road, Ilkeston; Manna House Café, Queen Elizabeth Way, Kirk Hallam; Post Office, Ash Street, Cotmanhay; Linda’s Mini-Market, Cotmanhay Rd. New stockists welcome.

Editorial office: 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston Tel: 07539 808390 Editor: Robert Attewell ilkestonlife@gmail.com or robert@ilkestonlife.com

By Patricia Spencer Christmas in the 1950s was nothing like most children experience today. We did not have much in the way of decorations.

But we used to enjoy making our own garlands from the sheets of crepe paper, which came in many colours, red being the most popular.

We would cut strips from the sheets, glue them together with flour and water which was very messy and not very successful as most of it stuck to us and our clothes rather than the garlands. We would then twist them and hang them across the ceiling, securing them with drawing pins.

We had a very small Christmas tree with branches shaped like some of our toilet brushes today. You had to be careful not to cut yourself as you hung the baubles on the tree. It stood on the sideboard—all of two foot tall or, 61 cm in today’s measurements.

We had a few glass baubles as decorations but they were very delicate. I am afraid I put my fingers through a few of them and had to withstand my mother’s anger, as she couldn’t afford to replace them. However, I got better at taking care of these baubles as I got older and many have survived to this day and hang on my Christmas tree every year along side their newer more contemporary counterparts.

Every year we would bring out the box of small red wax candles and their clip on holders to adorn the ends of the branches. Of course we were never allowed to light them or the whole lot would have gone up. They were a real fire hazard.

To decorate the top branch we would use an old dolly peg and a bit of the crepe paper, pink or white for this of course, and paint a face on the peg with crayon.

The same silver strands of tinsel trailed

Advertising Manager: Paul Opiah paul@ilkestonlife.com Distribution Manager and 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: 15th of preceding month.

2 Ilkeston Life, January 2016

D

o you enjoy writing or listening to poetry?

Why not come along to the U Choose Smoothie Bar, 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston on the last Thursday of the month between 7 and 9pm.

U CHOOSE POETRY GROUP

down from the branches from year to year but because we had nothing, we enjoyed the simply pleasure of making these decorations, and to us it always looked beautiful as the tinsel sparkled and glimmered in the firelight.

Every year mum would sit us down at the table to write a list in our best handwriting to send up the chimney to Santa. We would sit in front of the glowing coals and throw it upwards so it would spiral up the chimney out into the night sky and somehow find its way to Santa. How I loved that coal fire. I would sit for hours dreaming ,watching the sparks fly up and away.

I would sit in Dad’s chair if he was working, but if he was in, it was his chair and no-one else was allowed to sit in it.

ANNUALS Mum would always buy Film Annuals for Christmas for my two cousins in Retford. If, I was very good and washed my hands and sat quietly at the table I was allowed to look through them, turning the pages very carefully before she put them in the post. This was a very special part of Christmas for me.

Our requests to Santa back then were very modest—maybe a jigsaw or an Enid Blyton mystery, plasticine, or a game of snakes and ladders. We didn’t have colourful stockings or sacks. Mum always put a clean pillowcase at the end of the bed for Santa and he always left an apple and an orange and a few nuts.

We used to eat them in those days because we didn’t get them very often, they were a real treat. My children always put them back in the fruit bowl. They were more interested in eating all the chocolate.

We would sit Christmas afternoon cracking open the nuts. But the almonds were always left because they were the hardest to crack.

Thank goodness for the shelled ones we can buy today.

Mum always managed to get the ingredients together to make a Christmas cake for tea. I only ate the icing and marzipan and left the cake for mum and dad.

She always made a trifle too. We always had raspberry trifle with jelly, custard and a thick layer of cream and a few glace cherries on top.

I have just a few 2016 calendars left to sell with views of the local area. If I sell them all, I will have broken last year's record. They are £5 each (In aid of The Treetops Hospice at Risley and The City Of Nottingham NHS Burns Unit).

FREE local delivery. People can message me for more details.

Email: tom.football1@tiscali.co.uk

To pay for our Christmas treats mum did smocking on baby dresses. She would sit up until all hours with a wooden block covered in fabric on the table in front of her. Onto this block she would pin a baby dress and smock different colours and designs on the front. They would then be taken back to the factory in Nottingham. She would collect her cash for the few dozen she had worked on and pick up more. She did this for many years and it helped put food on the table.

In my memory it always seemed cold and frosty or foggy at Christmas when I was little. We had to scrape the ice from the bedroom windows in a morning and there were lots of icicles hanging from the gutters and drainpipes.

The hedges on the border of the front gardens would be full of sparkling fairy webs.

Today most of those hedges have gone to be replaced by fencing or open parking spaces.

You didn’t see many cars about in the early 1950s. I used to sit for hours waiting for a car to come up Cavendish Road, to put it in my notebook.

When we had a fall of snow and it froze on the pavements all the kids would be out making slides. We sometimes had a few days of fun with these. Then, if another fall of snow didn’t come to take it away, one of the neighbours would come out with their ashes as they got sick of trying to avoid it.

When I got a bit older, I used to go carol singing sometimes on my own, sometimes with a friend. I used to love it, I’m not sure anyone else did. But I did manage to collect a few pennies, threepenny bits and sometimes even a sixpence, so it was well worth the effort. I used this money to buy small presents for family.

We enjoyed simple pleasures back then, today I’m afraid, Christmas seems to be about how much money we can spend.

.

James’s bright idea to bring a touch of colour to his school Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy students James Wheatley and Harry Buchanan have planted daffodil bulbs at the school's entrance so that passers by will be able to enjoy a cheery display in the Spring. James had the idea to brighten up the grass verge and approached headmaster Dave Smith who thought it was a great suggestion too.

With the help of Richard Windsor and the Green Space team at Erewash Council and Ormiston’s Eco Group led by Mr Deavin, the bulbs have been set. James and Harry are Year 8 students. James’s mum, Kerry said: “I am so proud of James for having the idea in the first place, and taking pride in his school and the town he lives in!”

Above: the planting team outside Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy.

Left: James Wheatley on the right with friend Harry Buchanan.

Club’s youngest photographer wins another award

Doing their bit for Children in Need Staff at Ron Brooks Toyota helped raise money for the popular TV led charity Children In Need. Pictured is Adam Lyons with his collecting bucket at the Derby Road showroom.

Ilkeston Arts & Camera Club member Harry Johnson has gained an acceptance in the under 25’s category in the North & East Midlands Photographic Federation’s Annual Exhibition for 2016. His photograph is entitled “Sand Racer” and he was the only one of the club’s several photographers to obtain an acceptance this year.

The exhibition will be on show at Patchings Art Centre, Calverton, Nottinghamshire from 9th January to 14th February.

IACC Chairman Tony Raven said “Well done to Harry, who is our youngest member and has achieved in a couple of years with the club what many of our members have not yet managed in many. Keep up the good work Harry - you are an inspiration to us all.”

Harry is no stranger to winning however, as he won the award for “Best Print in Exhibition” at the club’s own exhibition earlier this year. Ilkeston Arts & Camera Club was founded in 1902 and more of his and other members’ work can be seen on the website. www.ilkestonartsandcameraclub.org.uk and the Club’s Facebook page.

Florence is top cat Kirk Hallam churchgoers are celebrating after Florence the deaf vicarage cat, who has a regular column in Ilkeston Life, was named Pet of the Year in a photo competition.

Florence’s owner, Reverend Christine French, was delighted with the award and thanked all the people who voted for her.

Florence is a 5-year-old rescue cat who lives with other feline friends in the All Saints vicarage on Ladywood Road. She is a regular visitor to the church at services and other occasions like weddings, funerals and concerts.

Although cars are a danger to her because of her deafness, Florence is not afraid of dogs because she can’t hear them bark and, as she said recently in our paper, unlike most pets she enjoys watching fireworks because she sees the pretty colours without hearing the loud bangs.

Bear Winner

Pictured: Tired Florence. See page 7 for her latest column.

The winner of the Ilkeston Life raffle to win a giant cuddly polar bear was Elaine Langton.

.

Ilkeston Life, January 2016

3

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

Your paper evoked many memories, including my youth club days at The Pines Dear Sir, The recent item in your columns evoked a lot of memories of my childhood and teenage years in 'Ilson'. The mention of the four cinemas made me remember an occasion at the New Theatre on Lord Haddon Road, when a real circus was visiting, and an elephant preceded the famous Blue Peter event by several years by leaving a calling card on the stage.

Other memories from my childhood: The original fire station was on the corner of my street (Havelock Street and Stanton Road), and the firemen had to practice running out the hoses on the street, ending up right in front of my house. They were wearing full uniform of thick blue serge, and they sweated profusely. No-one had a car then, so we were able to play in the street, and any car could be heard long before it arrived. All the schools in my area have gone, the Catholic junior, Gladstone and Hallcroft. The headmaster at Gladstone, Mr John Lally, ran a shoe shop a little way down Bath Street. We all had our weekly exercise by walking in a crocodile down to 'The Rec'. I remember waiting near the top of Derby Road to see the annual carnival, and one year the special guest was a well-known boxer, Randolph Turpin. The carnival was a huge event in those days, with many more bands and floats than nowadays. The carnival queen rode at the top of a special charabanc, courtesy of Barton Buses. Talking of buses, there were four companies running services, Trent Motor Traction, Bartons, Midland General/Notts & Derby Traction, and good old Felix (do you remember those lovely thick cardboard tickets?). They all terminated on the Market Place, except for the trolley buses which ran from Church Street, Cotmanhay, to Crompton Street, Hallam Fields. There was so little traffic in those days, you could tell whose bus was coming from the sound of the engines.

I used to carry an accumulator to Vic Graves' little wooden shop at the bottom of South street to exchange for a fully-charged one (I think it was for the radio). We had a 'Defiant' radio, which was the Co-op's own brand. A nice errand was to run up to Briggs's chip shop for 'six pennorth' of chips in a pudding basin. Diagonally opposite Vic Graves shop was the Electricity Board office building where we paid the bill and I, like all small children, was fascinated by the revolving door. I am pleased the building is still there, unlike the old White Lion Square. There were two pubs, the White Lion and the Travellers' Rest, an ironmongers (where you could get firelighters, paraffin and bundles of sticks, among many other interesting things), a row of terraced houses, G. W. Taylor's chemist shop and, in later years, the first legal betting shop in the town. Also in that area, at the top of Park Road, was the Premier Garage, and above it the Premier Ball-

4 Ilkeston Life, January 2016

THANKS TO CLEAN-UP TEAM

The Pines on Stanton Road (now a day nursery). room (there was a popular spectator sport, watching people being thrown out on a regular basis).

The car park at the top of Stanton Road used to be bigger, and every October saw it used as home by the fairground people, with those wonderful maroon caravans which were so well-maintained. The visiting fair was known as 'Pat Collins Fair'. I remember saving my 'fair money' to buy a Dinky Toy at Walkers Stationers opposite the Ritz (I too remember the 'tanner rush'!).

CO-OP ‘DIVI’

Photo: Garth Newton

Along came the 60s and my teenage years. What a wonderful time for all of us. Ilson was buzzing, and the youth clubs were doing well. My own was The Pines Youth Centre on Stanton Road (It's now a nursery)*, and we had great times there, dancing to our own records, debating (!), arranging hikes in Derbyshire, putting on shows, playing table-tennis and snooker, having local groups play in 'The Hut' and, in one particular year, taking part in Youth Week. One of the events was a 24-hour darts marathon in the Drill Hall on Albert Street, in which we created a record score, and which went into the Guinness Book of Records. We were also allowed to share the common-room facilities at Ilkeston College (they took away my playground to build that), and put on dances in the hall.

Talk of dances reminds me that we progressed from the youth clubs to older pursuits as the years passed, and we were able to go to Ilkeston Co-op Hall, a huge auditorium, on Saturday night, where we saw, and danced to, some well-known bands. Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Billy J Kramer, The Big Three from Liverpool, The Bob Miller Band, and Johnny Kidd & The Pirates – Johnny didn't have a good time, as he came without a PA system; the band had their own amps, but Johnny thought he could rely on the house system – wrong! The speakers in the hall were no better than ours at home, so no-one could hear him.

I think that's it for now, but I hope it rings bells with any of my contemporaries who shared those times.

I can just remember the end of rationing, and the only thing resembling a supermarket was the Co-op on South Street, with its vacuum tubes and 'Divi'. The post office was directly opposite, with the delivery office behind. Ilson was thriving at the time, with plenty of work via the pits, the railways, Stanton Ironworks and other industry. Bath Street was humming as everyone walked into the town, and the shops at the bottom all made a living.

The 'Rec' was a popular place for everyone, and the cricket pitch was of County standard, with County matches being played there every year, all school sports days were held there, and the ice-cream kiosk opened occasionally. It was bordered on the western side by a branch railway line from Stanton to the Northern line by the old Manners Colliery.

The mention of railways reminds me that there used to be a station where the Tesco store now stands. The station was removed, and a Midland General bus depot built in its place. Opposite there was the famous Rut* If you were at The Pines Youth Cenland Hotel, and behind that for many years tres 1960-65, please let me know was Ilkeston Town Football Club, playing in through this paper. the Central Alliance. Alongside that, at the bottom of Manners Road was a Bartons de- Tom Russell, Ilkeston pot and offices.

Please may I, through your Ilkeston Life newspaper, convey my sincere thanks to the Pride In Erewash team and to the officer Richard Windsor for his continual support.

The community litter pick system has proved a wonderful success and it is a credit to everyone who works in the Erewash team with Richard, including the staff organising the diary dates, the many helping hands on the day, through to the final collection and the ‘removal’ team members involved with the process. As members of the public, we don’t usually see everybody in the team but I think I can speak on behalf of everyone that I have ever done a community litter pick with and say A Big Thank You to all the staff at Pride In Erewash; your dedication in helping the community with our voluntary work is gratefully acknowledged and appreciated.

Pictured are local residents who helped at our most recent Community Litter Pick at the old Oakwell Brick yard site off Derby Road. The whole site has been vastly improved since we have completed several community litter picks there over the past two years, and to all the volunteers who have helped make this a different place, a special Thank You too, we could not achieve such fantastic results without you..

Michelle Booth, County Councillor, Ilkeston West

STORIES WANTED

Do you have an interesting story about an ancestor? An old photo? A locally made object to show? Or do you have questions about local history?

Ilkeston & District Local History Society is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year and we would be delighted to see you at one of our monthly ‘Open House’ mornings at the U-Choose Smoothie Bar, 1 Bath Street between 10am and 1pm on the last Saturday of the month.

The next ‘Open House’ is on Saturday 30th January 2016. Come along and tell us all about it! See our website for much information about the history of our area and how you can find more out for yourself at www.ilkestonhistory.org.uk.

You can email the Society at contact@ilkestonhistory.org.uk.

Grant Shaw, Ilkeston

Ilkeston Local History Society’s new 50th Anniversary logo >>

ENJOYED CINEMA ARTICLE

WOODSIDE FARM DEVELOPMENT

I really enjoyed reading about the cinemas in Ilkeston and just wanted to add that my auntie, Lily Morley, used to sing as the pianist played at the silent screen. Not sure which picture house. I was also reminded that when the film "Rock around the clock" was shown at the Ritz (early 50s possibly 1954/5) there was dancing in the aisles.

As a supporter and member of the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust for nearly twenty years, I always eagerly await the seasonal Newsletters from the Trust. The Winter edition recently informs members of the very local Woodside Farm development, where conservation can be seen in action-since their locally reared lamb, beef, local hay produce and high quality firewood proves that farming and wildlife can co-exist.

Many Ilkestonians will know the Woodside site really well, especially the many horse riders and dog walkers amongst us, who regularly exercise their animals near to and around the old American Adventure site next to Shipley Country Park. This ‘Woodside Farm’ area is 85 hectares of mixed grass and wetlands, dotted with ideal woodlands that are perfect habitat for grazing livestock. During the yearlong cycle, I, like so many others, see how the Trust utilises the rotation of their livestock around the fields and meadows, allowing the wonderful creation of natural and ideal habitat for many species of insects, wildflowers, birds and mammals.

When Derbyshire Wildlife Trust first took over this site from the Derbyshire County Council, I was delighted to see how my support over the years (and that of others) had helped to make a difference and I think that to have this natural diversity on our doorstep is a real bonus because it keeps the vast open spaces accessible to the public, while managing the various sites to their very best potential, very often, by volunteers who live locally and can walk the distance to wherever they are volunteering on a particular project.

Visitors to the site, whether walking, running or cycling, will have noticed the many fences, gates, bridges, viewing platforms and enhanced trail networks having been created over the past few years, I am in debt to all those volunteers who have made such massive improvements to ‘Woodside’ because I am one of the regular users of the site. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Volunteers—we applaud you for your sterling work.

P.S. Derbyshire Wildlife sell their beef in 10kg or 20kg boxes and lamb in 10kg boxes, call their office on 01773 881188 to order your locally reared meat.

Regarding wartime radio memories: there was a regular programme called "Works Wonders" which came from different work places in the country and, around 1943, it came from Stanton. In keeping with the situation, it was introduced as coming from "an iron works in the Midlands" and talented employees performed. My dad, Harry Morley, was well known for his renditions of Stanley Holloway monologues such as ‘Albert and the lion’ and Arthur Askey songs such as ‘Busy bee’ so he performed. I donated the original script for this show to Erewash museum. Do hope this is of interest.

Joy Marshall, Ilkeston

IN AGREEMENT WITH MRS PAGE

I agree with Mrs Page (last month’s letters) about employment medical examinations being an embarrassment for teenage girls.

No one likes having to take their clothes off for a doctor and for shy teenage girls it can be a really embarrassing and unpleasant experience.

My daughter had to undress for an examination by the company doctor prior to starting work, she had to take everything off except her underwear.

She is very shy and sensitive and suffered acute embarrassment and self-consciousness.

She was in no need of medical attention and Michelle Booth, County Councillor, had no need to suffer the indignity.

Ilkeston West.

FORTY BRIDGES REMEMBERED Congratulations on your bumper December issue!

Two comments on the main features. Whilst restoration efforts concerning the iron viaduct are commendable, I am surprised no mention was made of the more visually stunning ‘Forty Bridges’ near Awsworth. This brick built viaduct was a famous landmark and a marvellous and welcome sight to be enjoyed by people returning to Ilkeston from that direction.

Regarding cinemas, the first time I went to the Scala I must have been very young since my brother and sister placed me hidden between them as we handed in our entrance tickets leaving us with some ice cream money.

Then the Scala had some unique double seats, much sought after by courting couples. I also well remember the old gentleman who someThe Awsworth/Kimberley/Giltbrook viaduct was demolished in times stopped the film and 1973 to make way for the A610 bypass. threatened to throw us all out.

I remember seeing a pantomime at the New Theatre which included a always choosing the Kings and during showings he mysteriously disappeared, the ventriloquist's act (corny in the extreme). reason being , as I was to eventually discovThis cinema was the one I most went to being the fortunate recipient of a free balco- er, because in contrast to the Ritz , New Theatre and Scala, it had a bar. Like your ny ticket provided by a school friend Roy Reeks whose grandma got them for adver- correspondent, I too remember waiting outtising the weekly programme in her shop on side hoping some adult would take me in for an ‘A’ film.

Nottingham Road.

My father sometimes took us to the pictures Barry Everley, Sheffield

Mrs J Bowler, Ilkeston.

Mrs Page, who says firms’ medicals on teenage girls cause embarrassment, is correct.

When I was a teenager my employers insisted on all girls being examined by the doctor each year.

We all had to strip down to our bras and knickers each time. It was terribly embarrassing and undignified, as well as totally unnecessary.

CONVERSATION GROUP

Mrs R Marsh, Cotmanhay

Richard Shaw, Ilkeston

You may have seen my letter in the November issue.

I have booked a room at the Cantelupe Centre on Tuesday February 2nd for all those who are interested. Just come along at 3 pm.

It's a chance to talk about whatever news item is on your mind.

Many thanks.

attending her classes since the craze first swept the UK. Combining fitness with fun A smile is compulsory and regular changes to the music and choreography avoid the clasTeaching Zumba in the community still gives Teresa a great vibe, especially when ses ever becoming repetitive, whist out of people uncomfortable with gym environ- class activities such as Halloween theme nights and the legendary Xmas party fuel ments provide positive feedback on the this refreshing relaxed approach to keeping welcoming atmosphere where fun is as fit. important as fitness and ladies work at With class participants ranging from teens to their own levels to attain their individual those over 70, it is simply the best way to fitness and weight goals. combine fun with fitness and meet a few Now a well established proven fitness disci- new friends along the way. pline, Zumba is aimed at people who prefer For those looking to add increased toning a friendly non competitive environment that onto their 2016 “bucket list” then the new replaces the daunting gym floor with enerZumba Toning classes will not disappoint gizing atmospheric lighting and music with with maraca style weights providing addiinternational flavours. tional resistance and delivering results.

Teresa Reynolds-Wood continues to be mo- For more Information contact Teresa on tivated by the positive feedback from her 07515 866155 or check out her web site for “Zumba ladies”, many of whom have been a class near you.

Advertising feature

Ilkeston Life, January 2016

5

How well do you know your Ilkeston?

Another ‘Know your town’ quiz compiled by local historian Danny Corns

Transforming attitudes: School makes a noise about bullying Chaucer School recently had a visit from Opitimus Prime and Bumble Bee, Transformers from Funtimez Mascotz.

The children, who had created comics using the I-pads based around the Transformers, were amazed to see their super heroes in their classrooms.

Throughout the week the children wrote songs created films and playscripts based around the anti-bullying theme.

PC Jo Price and PC Sam Doar also came into school to discuss staying safe/anti-bullying and ran a competition in which the children had to design a poster with the message 'Make a noise about bullying'. The idea was to encouraging the children to speak out if they were a victim of bullying or if they saw someone else being bullied.

The entries were judged by Derbyshire Police and the overall winner Rylea Beagley was presented with a scooter kindly donated by Ilkeston Tesco. All the activities were showcased in a special Friday Pictured are the Transformers; Miss Oldnall, Logan O'Connor and afternoon assembly.

Erin Faulks; and PC Jo Price and PC Sam Doar.

Have things changed?

This article submitted by David Montague Heathcote was originally written by E R Thompson in 1922 and copied as something worth keeping by David in 1992.

1. When Corporation Road was opened in the early 1890s it was known by another name. What was that name?

2. A well known Victorian cricketer is buried in Stanton Road Cemetery. What is his name and what does his headstone show?

3. A large store stood on the site where Woolworth’s was built. What was the name of this store and what did they sell?

4. There was at one time a workhouse in Ilkeston. Where was it?

5. Houses have been built on the site of the former Charnos factory. How did Charnos get its name and what were its products?

6. When did the Ilkeston tram system open and where was the tram depot?

7. There was an inn situated alongside the Erewash Canal near the Awsworth Road canal bridge. What was it called?

8. Spring Farm at Kirk Hallam was the home of the Rice family. What was the name of the famous authoress who stayed there?

9. The former White Cow and Needlemakers Arms pubs on Nottingham Road were unusual in one respect. What was that?

10. Jane Smit, the former England Ladies wicketkeeper has strong connections with Ilkeston. What are they?

Mental Revolt From the point of view of politics and economics, the world just now is a depressing place.

Everything seems to be going badly wrong, and nobody seems to know how to stop the rot.

From the point of view of psychology, the trouble centres both in those who rule and those who are ruled. Mankind has apparently ceased to rule circumstances. One and all, we are drifting into the position of willing victims of Fate.

It is all wrong. It is wickedly wrong, since man has the power to dominate circumstances, create his own future and even create his own present.

A nation, no less than an individual, possesses willpower, the ability to learn from experience, and to choose whether the world shall be ugly or beautiful.

What is happening today is a steady disappearance of the will to work, the courage to tackle and surmount difficulties, and the will to win.

From the government downwards, there is a vague belief that we are helpless in the grip of forces we cannot control.

Such an attitude gathers strength from its own existence. The longer it persists the deeper its roots go.

I do not deny that the position is serious. Facts are facts, and they have to be reckoned with, but they must be regarded as a starting point, not as a conclusion.

Tradition, habit, custom – these are the mental chains that are binding the nation. What is needed is a mental revolution, a complete break with the past, and an approach to our problems with minds freed from misconceptions.

6 Ilkeston Life, January 2016

Sorry…

Due to pressure on space, Danny Corns’ article

Bomb Damaged Ilkeston has had to be held over until next month.

———

Peter Pan panto competition winners Lisa Simons, Tahnie Roe and Helen Stanley each won a pair of tickets for the Peter Pan pantomime at the Seven Oaks marquee last month. The answer to the competition question was, of course, Neverland.

———

Check on your neighbour in the cold weather, especially if they live alone.

Great songs just for Erewash Listen now on 96.8fm or online at www.erewashsound.com

New Year Thoughts

The diary of

Florence the Vicarage cat

I can feel it in my whiskers, I can sense it in the air and soon I hope to feel it under my paws. I love it, for so many reasons, as it falls down from the sky, the other cats snuggle up warm inside by the fire and radiators, but I love being outside, chasing it and catching it on my nose. But it cheats and when I do catch a flake, it melts on my nose and disappears, leaving me with a wet nose and no crisp white flake.

The more that falls from the sky the better it gets, as then it covers everything in the garden and the churchyard and beyond, everything becomes as white as me. Jumping into it can be risky but can be great fun too – it crunches and squashes down under my paws. Initially it freezes my paws and makes them go numb but that’s part of the fun. I love running around the churchyard when it’s snowed, as I’m camouflaged, so it’s a great time to go looking for the church mice to play with – I follow their little paw print in the snow, seeing where they live but they never seem to want to come out to play. The squirrels are more fun, and we play ‘tig’ together, I chase them as they hunt for the peanuts in the garden (I think they are meant for the birds) and because they don’t see this little white cat hiding in the snow, I can get closer than normal and often touch their tail with my paw and meow ‘tig’ but they don’t really understand it is a game and just run faster away from me, squirrels cheat at ‘tig’ but I still love to play it with them.

Fortunately though lots of people do like playing with all the bright white snow too, they throw balls of it at each other, and rather than complaining, people just make one themselves and throw one back – laughing. I love joining in when they roll a large ball of snow into a huge one, then put another one on top of it. I’m not sure why they put a scarf around the snow figure but it’s good fun to join in and I can jump up to stand on the top of it. But it can be a bit slippery and off I fall, only to jump back up again and again. Landing in the powdery snow can be softer than landing on the bouncy grass in spring. I do love snow.

I do hope I’m not wrong, I hope my whiskers are right and I wake up to see snow everywhere.

Happy New Year -

May Light always surround you; Hope kindle and rebound you.

May your Hurts turn to Healing; Your Heart embrace Feeling.

May Wounds become Wisdom; Every Kindness a Prism.

May Laughter infect you; Your Passion resurrect you.

May Goodness inspire your Deepest Desires.

Through all that you Reach For, May your arms Never Tire. ― D. Simone

A New Year Poem

Another fresh new year is here …

Another year to live!

To banish worry, doubt, and fear, To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me To live each day with zest …

To daily grow and try to be My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity Once more to right some wrongs, To pray for peace, to plant a tree, And sing more joyful songs!

— William Arthur Lowe

A New Year’s Prayer May God make your year a happy one!

Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain, But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes; Not by making your path easy, But by making you sturdy to travel any path; Not by taking hardships from you, But by taking fear from your heart; Not by granting you unbroken sunshine, But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows; Not by making your life always pleasant, But by showing you when people and their causes need you most, and by making you anxious to be there to help.

God’s love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead.

News from local churches

Teen Challenge Conference Report

THERE IS HOPE

Pantomime is coming to West Hallam Methodist Church – “Oh yes it is!”

This year sees the 17th Pantomime hosted at West Hallam Methodist Church. “Jack and the Beanstalk” features over 30 young people and around 20 adults from in and around West Hallam. Over a third of the cast are first time pantomimers. A new team of ladies have volunteered to manage the costumes - quite a feat as this year’s pantomime boasts three cows.

Performances will be on Friday 5th, Saturday 6th, Thursday 11th, Friday 12th and Saturday 13th February with evening performances at 7.30pm and Saturday Matinees at 2.00pm.

The Ticket Hotline is on 07729 665754 (after 4.00pm). Each ticket allocates one seat and space is strictly limited. On arrival at the performance a donation of £6 Adults; £4 children to acknowledge your appreciation of the time and work involved in producing the pantomime, to defray expenses, and help with the church’s work would be much appreciated. The church is on High Lane West adjacent to the Bottle Kiln. For more information about the church visit

www.westhallammethodistchurch.co.uk.

John Moorley

Holy Week plans There will be a preliminary meeting to discuss possible joint activities in Holy Week at Ilkeston Methodist Church at St Andrews on Thursday 14th January. The meeting will be in the Prayer Room at 7pm.

An 'Ecumenical Link Meeting' with lunch will take place at The Manna House, Kirk Hallam for all those interested in maintaining inter-denominational links in the Ilkeston area, on Thursday 21st January at 12.30pm.

Dr Roger Allen

On the weekend 13-15th November the annual Teen Challenge UK Workers Conference was held at Swanwick.

TC UK is a world wide Christian organisation formed over 50 years ago in New York to help young addicts with life controlling problems. This is usually drugs or alcohol but can be anything that people have become trapped into and their whole life revolves round satisfy the craving. People are trapped in lethargy, loneliness, poverty and crime, and feel there is no hope.

The TC UK Centres in England not only provide a safe place to detox and recover but offer a new life of true freedom to live fulfilling, rich lives. There is the hope of holding down a job, building relationships and sustaining healthy, strong marriages where children can be brought up in a safe secure environment.

Less than 10% of ex addicts from secular rehabs are still clean after 5 years but with TC UK more than 80% are still clean after five years. This is because of the life changing experience they have when they commit their lives to Jesus Christ. This is a free choice they take allowing him to guide and help them live in this damaged world.

Many find jobs within the TC UK centres, churches or other caring organisation like social workers, teachers, nurses, etc.

The Workers Conference is to review the past year’s ups and downs and to encourage the volunteers who week after week in all weathers are out and about in their communities, building relationships with addicts and offering hope to them and their families in their desperate situation.

To meet ex addicts, who bear the scars of their previous life style, and see them healed, with satisfying jobs, married and bringing up their children is what makes this work worthwhile. There is a TC UK outreach in Ilkeston and all the workers attend some of, or all, the conference each year.

They can be reached on 07702 880750 or at The Manna House cafe Kirk Hallam, Smoothie Bar on Bath St, Queen Street Baptist's Thursday lunch time drop-in or look out for the navy and yellow jackets on the Ilkeston Market Place. Twenty miles south of llkeston is the National Headquarters of TC UK, training and men's centre, Willoughby House, Upper Broughton, Leicestershire (01664 822221). Visit www.teenchallenge.org.uk to find out more.

Marion Thornley

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

Florence Members of Nottingham Road Methodist Church fellowship presented a Nativity scene at the Ilkeston Christmas lights switchon in the Market place last month.

Get messy at Ilkeston URC (Green Spire Church): Saturday 9th January, 4—5.30pm Ilkeston Methodist Church at St Andrews: Thursday 28th January, 3.30—5.30pm The Faith Journey page is brought to you by members of the local Christian community and with occasional inspiration from

Ilkeston Life, January 2016

7

the all nighters at the legendary Northern Soul venue, Wigan Casino, on specially laid coaches.

In the early days of the ballroom the Northern Soul scene didn’t exist as such. DJ’s played the latest US soul tunes and long standing favourites to keep the dancers happy. However, an enterprising few across the country decided to do a bit of exploring, their quest being to find undiscovered or rare records of a similar style to the Motown sound so popular during their sets.

Suddenly, a whole batch of these previously unknown tunes burst into life and the cult of Northern Soul was born. DJ’s competed against each other to discover the rarest records,

by Duncan Payne and many gems were unearthed as well as plenty of duds.

Britain’s love affair with American black music began in the The classic example is Frank Wilson’s ‘Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)’, the original of which was never commercialearly sixties when the sharply-dressed Mods adopted the music as their own. What began as an obsession of R&B and ly released. Only two copies are known to be in existence, Jazz evolved into the appreciation of the new sounds emerg- one of which was allegedly sold for £25,000. Many Northern Soul fans now own a copy after Tamla Motown finally reing from the Atlantic and Stax record labels and the brand leased it many years later. The term ‘Northern Soul’ was new beat of Tamla Motown. Soul music had arrived. invented by legendary soul music journalist Dave Goddin, Mods got to hear their music thanks to Radio Luxemburg who realised that the scene was peculiar to the north of Watand the pirate radio stations initially, while the music paper Record Mirror gave them a heads up of what to look out for. ford, unlike the capital which was pre-occupied with all the latest releases.

It was the only publication in this country to give soul the The Regency Ballroom quickly evolved coverage it demanded during the early days.

Of course, there were venues that catered for their tastes. into a Northern venue.

London’s Flamingo Club and The Twisted Wheel in ManWhen Dave Knight was ousted around 1970, Geoff Scragg chester were two of the most popular and famous clubs of was brought in and a number of other DJs from the surroundthe time but regular events spread over the provinces as DJ’s ing area, such as John Blach and Roger Sydenham (DJ Sid) and entrepreneurs realised that there was a need at a more became regulars. Scragg was crucial to the popularity and localised level. Nottingham had its venues like The Beachsuitability of the venue. It was here that he developed his comber and The Dungeon which gave time to soul music Road Runner sound system and the use of giant cinema although events began to emerge in smaller towns too. One speakers which gave amazing clarity to the music he was such venue – sadly overlooked these days by soul music his- playing. Many felt that the sound system was the finest in the torians - was right here in Ilkeston: the Saturday night sescountry. sions at The Regency Ballroom.

Yet the Saturday night sessions didn’t fit the typical NorthLocal DJ and promoter Dave Knight had already spun soul ern Soul mould as the DJ’s catered for all soul lovers’ tastes. music at the Shipley Boat Inn but he was after something Typically the evening would begin with the latest or rare upmuch grander. And what could be grander than the Regency tempo soul sounds followed by the big soul hits of the day.

Ballroom? He hit the ground running, so much so that the The tempo then dropped before finally it was all systems go weekly events only stopped in the mid-seventies because the with the 100mph Northern Soul beat.

Co-op decided to close the ballroom. Soul fans from across the Midlands used to attend with many of them moving on to Ilkeston never truly got its soul back when the Regency Ballroom closed. Kev Roberts, a huge figure on the UK soul scene for many years, launched a revival night at the Co-op Regency Rooms in 2002 and it was so successful that it became a monthly event for six years. Attendances numbered around 1,000 each time and it was described as the ‘number one soul event’ in the UK. However, the nights were not quite as described as they catered for a much broader taste and the clientele to match.

Smaller or one-off nights have taken place in Ilkeston or nearby over the years, The Festival at Trowell and the Albion Leisure Centre sessions being fine examples. But nothing comes close to The Regency Ballroom in its heyday.

ILKESTON’S LOST SOUL

Memories of Saturday nights at the Co-op

<< Regency Ballroom

Story in Ilson

Ay sherted agen: “Yo punished mar lad an ay ‘asner dun owt wrong so ar’ve com to sort it ert.”

Ay tewd me ’is name an’ ar soon knew worray wa talkin’ abert.

I said, “Reyt, ner ar’ll tell thee what ’appened, an’ I’m gonna gerr aif a dozen lads from your lad’s class ta

By Jim Sumner tell thee what really went off an’ yo’ll ’ear for yersen why ar punished your lad.”

Ar gen ’im a fost ’and accernt a what ’ad gone off, then a towd mi secretary Yo never know what’s gooin’ ta ta fetch six lads from this ’ere class ’appen when yo’re a ’eadmaster. Ar’l an’ ow brought ’em to my office. tell yuh summat that ’appened to may!

I ’ad ’em in one at a time an’ made Ard bin ’ead for quite a few years this angry, tough parent listen to what when suddenly one mornin’ a big thi ’ad to say, and ay began to realise strappin’ chap com bargin’ into mar that ’is lad ’ad bin tellin’ ’im a pack o’ office – ay’d gorra face like thunder lies. Ay wa still as mad as ’ell but ner an ay sherted: “Ar’ve com to comay wa mad wi’ ’is own lad. plain, an ar’l tell thee this – ar’ve killed men, I ay!”

Ar fetched ’is own lad in an ay started scratin’ when ay knew ay’d bin fun I said rayt awee in a quiet voice, ert. ’Is dad said ta may, “Arm sorry “Well, yo not gooin’ to kill may, are Mr Sumner, ar’ll gi ’im a bluddy good yuh? Sit yersen dern an’ tell me ’iding when ar gerrim back ’om.” what’s upset thee.”

dialect

AR’VE KILLED MEN, I AY!

8 Ilkeston Life, January 2016

Ar said to ’im straight awee: “No, thar mussner. Ay’s’ad’is punishment an’ ay’s lont ’is lesson, so just tell ’im off fer tellin’ lies an’ the matter’s finished way.”

Ay’d calmed dern a bit after a few minutes so a said, “Way can both dow wi a cup a tea; sit thissen dern an way’ll ay a chat while we drink us tea.”

Ay said: “Ar like the sernd o’ that.”

While way wa drinkin’ it, ay tewd may ay’d bin in th’ special services an ay’d sayn a lotta action.

When ar tewd’im ar’d been in th’ R.A.F. in Egypt, Iraq an’ th’ Persian Gulf when ar ’ad to join up, ay made the biggest fuss a may.

Ay went back ’om after abert aif an hour an’ after that ay cudner do enough for the scowl.

When yo’re a ’eadtaycher yo ay ta be ready ta deal wi all sorts a folks – ar suppose that’s what mays the job so interestin’. Thiz never a dull moment.

DJ Geoff Scragg manning the decks at The Regency Ballroom.

Ilkeston soul enthusiasts pack the floor.

12 CO-OP CLASSICS AND THE YEAR THEY WERE ORIGINALLY RECORDED: Earl Jackson ‘Soul Self Satisfaction’ (ABC) 1968 The Steinways ‘You’ve Been Leadin’ Me On’ (Oliver) 1966 Eddie Purrell ‘The Spoiler’ (Volt) 1967 Howard Tate ‘Every Day I Have The Blues’ (Verve) 1968 Cal Tjader ‘Soul Sauce (Guacha Guaro)’ (Verve) 1965 The Tempos ‘(Countdown) Here I Come’ (Canterbury) 1967 Tommy Neal ‘Goin’ To A Happening’ (Pameline) 1967 Jackie Edwards ‘I Feel So Bad’ (Island) 1966 Inez & Charlie Foxx ‘Tightrope’ (Dynamo) 1967 Root & Jenny Jackson ‘So Far Away’ (Beacon) 1970 Earl Van Dyke & The Motown Brass ‘6 by 6’ (Soul) 1966 Fred Smith Orchestra ‘Personality Theme’ (Mirwood) 1966

Maggie backs Small Business Saturday across Erewash

Local MP Maggie Throup was delighted to support this year’s Small Business Saturday and has again urged Erewash resident to shop, eat and drink locally.

Maggie spent the day visiting a number of independent businesses throughout Erewash, including Pete’s Upper Crust Café, Paul Walkers Butchers, Fintons Bakehouse, Express Dry Cleaners, Paul Bostock’s Hair Salon and a new real ale pub The Canalside.

Commenting on the day Maggie said: “Small Business Saturday is an excellent opportunity to show off what our town and village centres have to offer.

“I am delighted that over the past year we have seen a number of new shops opening on our high streets, as well as significant investment in the renovation and restoration of some of our most iconic town centre buildings.

“I want to see this positive trend continue, and remain committed to working alongside local business owners and our council to ensure we pursue new opportunities to bring people into our town and village centres, as well as capitalise on new investment such as Ilkeston Train Station which is set to finally open next year.”

Money saving voucher over the page

Ilkeston Life, January 2016

9

Chaucer

letter writers Chaucer Junior School pupils entered the Royal Mail’s Young Letter Writer of the Year competition.

Here are a few of their entries.

fantastic at diving, and even more I’m confident at holding my breath, and yes, this is my dream job.

I would love the job for so many reasons, here are some of them: I love all sea creatures, I also enjoy searching for new discoveries. It would be amazing and a perfect job for me because I am good at exploring and love being underwater.

Thank you so much for spending your time reading my letter.

Rylea Beagley

Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to apply for the job of teaching people to ride horses. This would be my dream job as I am horse mad. I feel I would be very good at this job for so many reasons.

Firstly, I ride horses, next, I’m kind, caring and I love them a lot and good with working Katy-May Hawden, 7 My dream job is to be a hairdresser. I would with children. like to be a hairdresser because I can do great My reasons are, when horses are hurt I will help them. Secondly, I watch telly about hairstyles like buns, fishtails, plaits, ponythem. Thirdly, I work with horses. Finally, tails. I am really good at this job because I am very creative, kind and make lots of prof- my mum and my grandma have a horse of their own, so I know how to treat them beit. I can add up easily. It’s fun to hairdress cause when I go to my grandma and granpeople. I even hairdress my dolls that have hair. I love brushing people’s hair because I dad’s house I look after my grandma’s horse for her and her name is Connie. make the hair very soft. It is fun. It will be very fun making new styles every day. I will Thank you for taking your time to read my wonderful letter. Please let me get the job be good at the job because I make really because I love horses a lot. good hairstyles. My buns are very neat. I am very chatty and thoughtful. It will be fun Jasper Thorpe. 8 meeting new people. I can’t wait to be a hairdresser.

Dear Sir/Madam. I am writing to apply for my dream job which comes from way back in time. A time when Britain was ruled by Lola Allen Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to get the job the Romans. There were so many vital job of an underwater diver. It would be amazing roles during this time but there was only one for this is my dream job. I feel that this is the I would have chosen. I have always drempt job for me because I’m really good at swim- of being an Ancient Roman teacher. They’re ming, I’m amazing at finding things and I’m still here in the world somewhere. I would

10

Ilkeston Life, January 2016

have been a resilient and patient teacher. I would have been giving out worksheets to the children.

This job was very important to the Roman empire because I would help children to recognise when they are older they would be able to have a dream job. Every day I would have taught them every second. I would inform them how long they have left. I’d make a real difference to the school I would go to.

I would make a good role model to the government as well. They would have a famous Latin poem. I would teach the following lessons: English, maths, PE, RE, topic, guided reading, circle time, history, music, art, geography, PSHCE and handwriting. They would have a time machine.

Typically, I would wear a yellow tunic and a purple cloth or a black tunic and a maroon cloth. When I would be relaxing I would wear a tunic and a toga over it. When I’m asleep I would wear a blue tunic. I would have a Roman soldier outfit.

I would have a piece of fruit for dessert. For main course I would have stuffed olives, roast dormice, oysters, snails or peacock eggs. First course: bear’s head, chicken, lobsters or pigeons. For breakfast: bread cheese and just water. I would relax by playing chess, going to the bath house or watching the gladiators fight in the coliseum.

That’s my dream job adventure with the Romans. It would be a big adventure.

I believe that job would be perfect for me. It is a great role for me.

Sofia Lee, 7 Dear Sir/Madam, My dream job is to be a healer that is also a jeweller. I would love the job because I really like stones and crystals. I think they are really shiny and pretty.

What makes me really want the job is being

with the community and meeting new people.

It attracts me because I get to use shiny crystals and smooth stones and I know a lot about them. I would be brilliant at the job because I know all the meanings of the stones, the crystals and the names. I am very friendly and I won’t charge much for it unless you have two hours, that will be one pound. I’m chatty and good with my community, also I have fantastic knowledge on stones and crystals. I believe in God and I am fit. Please consider me for my dream job being a healer and jeweller. I enjoy being in my community.

Jack Lowe, 9 Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to you because I am telling you about my dream job as a Roman craftsman.

A craftsman would make pots, plates, armour, whatever their main focus was. Craftman was a vital job.

An important thing would be what I wore, black/brown robe usually and a rope to keep the robe from falling down. Footwear would be sandals.

My wages would be mid-level. I wouldn’t be rich or poor. I would be able to buy and average house and have enough food. I would cook my food over a fire. I would go to some decent food markets for some good food. If I was to ever go out for a meal I would usually wear a white silky toga.

I would need to be skilled and strong. My work would be risky because I may work with boiling hot magma.

I would relax casually in the baths sometimes. I would bathe with my friends or go to the arena, obviously with my spare money.

GEORGE’S TRADITION MONEY SAVING VOUCHER

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

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

A Fracas There’s been a fracas down our street, With screams and shouts and running feet.

It happened early in the morning, Still quite dark before the dawning.

It woke us up with quite a start, We thought, ‘fighting’s not too smart’.

But what were we supposed to do?

We felt quite angry, well wouldn’t you?

Being dragged out of our bed, Thinking, ‘someone could be dead’.

Then, our anger turned to fear, Getting involved could cost us dear.

When the fuss had all died down, We were left feeling like a clown.

Two Tom-cats had been in a fight, Over a female they’d met that night.

John Wright

Litter I would like to talk about litter, I’m writing cos I don't do twitter.

Please put your litter in the bins provided Or take it home to your own houses.

Hallam Fields Young Writers

We are happy to showcase the writing of boys and girls from local schools. Here we feature the work of some pupils of Hallam Fields Junior School.

Bring up your children to be responsible Dropping litter in the street is totally reprehensible.

There are bins outside Hallam Fields school Teach your children the golden rule "Sweets in mouth, litter in bin" Or lots of trouble you'll be in.

There are bins outside the Post Office on Little Hallam Lane Is putting your rubbish there, so much of a pain?

There are bins on Cavendish Road and Field Road Ready to be filled.

So why do people spread it round our streets and playing field.

Please put rubbish in the bins keep our streets and paths real clean So visitors to Ilkeston can say.

It's the cleanest place they have ever seen.

Patricia Spencer

The Lord has called me The Lord has called me, He has called me by my name, He has not called me for prettiness, He has not called me for fame.

He has looked into my heart, To see the good I want to do, He calls me, I reply on cue.

He doesn't call me for wealth, He doesn't call me for toys, He doesn't call me to read a book on the shelf, He doesn't call me for the boys.

The Lord calls me for wisdom,

Such a wonderful thing, The Lord asks me to spread wisdom, And that's what I'll bring.

Fascinated, I stood there in a trance like state. But still the trail led me on like a wisp.

I too was eager to carry on.

Kristina Dudley, aged 9

A thicket of trees lay up ahead. I entered them slowly. Softly, they swept back and forth, filling the air with harmonic tunes. I stood there listening for what seemed like eternity.

Smiling is infectious Smiling is infectious, you catch it like the flu, When someone smiled at me today I started smiling too.

I walked around the corner and someone saw me grin, When he smiled I realised, I had passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile and realised it's worth, A single smile like mine could travel round the earth.

So if you feel a smile begin don't leave it undetected, Start an epidemic and get the world infected.

This place- the Nutbrook Trail - really felt like home.

Kathryn Dudley

A Walk in the Cemetery As I walk through the graveyard I see many headstones, Bearing the names of women and men, Even children can be found, Now and then.

The Nutbrook Trail

These stones are carefully etched with neat lettering, To remind the wanderer passing by, Time runs out for all of us, One day we will die.

I could hear the stream sighing as it tumbled over the mirror-like stones. The gentle song of the birds filled my ears. Above me was a mountain of trees that was acting like the strongest shield anyone could hope for.

These deceased people are unknown to me, But others know them very well, They journeyed with them, And stories can tell.

Rex Toplis (a favourite poem)

I felt my way along the rocky path. The rocks felt as precious as gemstones. They led me to a field inhabited by hairy brown creatures with long ivory horns. Looking closer, I saw that the heavy beasts were the highland cows with their horns standing tall and proud on their bushy faces.

Sometimes touching words are written on their resting place, And I wonder “What will my grave say?

I must be a better man, Starting today.”

Robert Anthony

A story starter by Charlie Richards – told him to use the shower but he went to the ing in front of them was the structure, the old toilet and flushed himself. I tried to tell him rundown cabin.

Year 4 how to use a toothbrush but all he did was Lyra hesitated for a short moment but masOne day there was a child walking to a jewellery shop. When she got there and opened the doors, there was a creepy bell that went off. While she was walking to the counter, the jewellery was shining in her eyes. She could hear freaky whispers saying, “Come over here. Open the box.”

The whispers were coming from a rusty old box. The girl walked over to the box and the shopkeeper said, “Don’t touch that box child!” But she didn’t listen. She put her hand on the box and opened it...

put it into his ear. Then he looked out of the window and saw a cat but he thought it was a sabre-toothed tiger. He ran out of the door to kill it. He threw his spear at the stray cat as it ran away to safety.

A character description by Theo Smith – Year 5

No one is as good as Bogie Nose! Yes, he looks innocent, but no one can slice a dragon’s head clean off like Bogie Nose. His arms are like dragon’s wings and spread like wings. He can weave and dodge things for a A newspaper report by Reece whole day and it takes him no time at all to Widdowson – Year 3 get through the forest whilst having to slay A short narrative by Joshua Perkins It was a busy day for Mr Incredible yesterday and dodge fire from dragons. He is probably as he saved 100 people from a falling train the most fearsome Viking in his tribe. He – Year 4 and a cat from a tree! The local people were would never run away from a fight with a One Sunday, Hannah was quietly reading her grateful for the help of Mr Incredible. He dragon and he has the most accurate shot in favourite book about gorillas. Hannah was saved the cat by shaking the tree out of the the world. Bogie Nose is tall and can almost desperate to see a real life gorilla and the ground. Then Mr Incredible realised that a fit into a giant’s clothes. creatures were her favourite animals. man was falling from a building so he had to “Daddy please can we go to the zoo?” asked save him. Mr Incredible rushed and jumped, A descriptive narrative by Luke Hannah. then he pushed him into the building.

Dad’s face went bright red with charged anWoolley – Year 6 ger and his eyes scrunched up like marshDylan Tippett – Year 3 continues the Peeking out of the tent, Lyra faded into the mallows. shadows and took out of her shoulder bag the report.

“Not now Hannah, I’m busy!” shouted Dad golden compass. It glittered in the light that Mr Incredible saved the day again. Next he angrily without looking. the fire provided and the symbols shone. The had to slow down a speeding train that was “Why not?” replied Hannah. symbols showed a desolate, uninhabited cabout of control.

His feet fell off but he manIt was Hannah’s birthday the next day. When in in the middle of nowhere. She started to she went to bed in the middle of the night she aged to save all the people on the train. It breathe heavily. was a very busy day! found a cute toy waiting for her at the end of “Lyra, what is it? What’s wrong?” asked the bed. She got it in her arms and hugged it, Pan. A Tiger Story by Daniel Johnson – then she threw it into the corner of her bed“I feel something. Something bad,” Lyra room. Just at that moment a huge hairy goril- Year 3 replied. la appeared to be standing in her bedroom.

One day Little Nose was sleeping and woke She snuck out of the tent and trudged Hannah was scared. through the snow to where Iorek was resting. up in my house with a jolt. He woke up in “Don’t be scared,” whispered the gorilla po- the living room and the TV was on. He “Iorek, could you take me to the next vallitely. “We can go to the zoo.” ley?” thought little people were in it, so he bent When they got to the huge, dark zoo they “You want to ride me?” he questioned. down and turned it upside down. Then the were locked out. phone rang and he went and got it and picked Iorek bounded through a bank of snow and rode off into the night sky. Stars shone up “How are we going to get in?” asked Hanit up and went halfway up the stairs and nah. dropped it on the floor. We fixed it and then above, leading them to the cabin. Several seconds later, Iorek came to a halt and stand“We will climb over,” replied the gorilla. went to the bathroom to clean ourselves. I

tered her fear and, clutching Pan, approached the building. She entered the room and the door creaked behind her. A black silhouette was huddled in the corner. Moonlight dappled through the cracks in the wall. The figure was Billy!

Dragon – a kenning poem by Will Syson A fire breather A mad flyer A heavy breather A crazy beast A mad monster A monstrous terror An evil creature A night slaughterer A village destroyer A people eater.

An acrostic poem by Rio Barrett Hallam Fields is the best Apples hanging from the tree Love my school Lots and lots and lots A lot of treats at the token shop Merits on the chart Fun games at playtime It’s amazing!

Every day is great Lessons are fun DVDs at wet playtime Soooooo fun

The Spook – a short story by Leylan

In the basement of my house there is a box.

Mum won’t let me open it. “Leylan!” Mum shouted. “Yes,” I replied. There was no sound. Then I heard a bang! I saw blood but no mum. I ran to tell my next door neighbour but no one was home. I came back home and went into my basement. I looked inside the box. It was empty.

To be continued…

Ilkeston Life, January 2016

11

JANUARY 31st 1916: THE

NIGHT THE ZEPPELINS CAME

The L44 in flight. This is the ship Franz Stabbert (inset) was in command of when he was killed.

by Stephen Flinders Part 1 It was the morning of Monday January 31 st 1916. As people all over England were preparing to go about their regular business at the start of the working week, nine huge P Class Zeppelin airships of the German Imperial Navy Airship Division were preparing to leave their bases on the north German Coast with orders to attack England. Led by Fleet Commander Kapitan Peter Strasser, their instructions were to attack the cities of Liverpool and Manchester, if not, any targets the crews deemed of importance.

At the outbreak of war with Germany on August 4th 1914, the British Government fully expected air raids to take place immediately. But nothing of the kind occurred, although German naval vessels soon began shelling a number of towns on the East Coast.

This was due in part to the German Kaiser’s reluctance to sanction air raids over English towns and cities, especially London. Remember, Kaiser William II was the grandson of Queen Victoria and our King George V was his cousin. Besides, the Kaiser did not consider civilians as legitimate targets, ironic considering the dreadful treatment suffered by the French and Belgian civilian population as the German Army advanced through Belgium and northern France during the opening phase of the war.

However, it wasn’t long before those holding the real power in Germany i.e. the Military, persuaded Kaiser William to allow air raids to take place, falsely promising only docks, railway and industrial sites would be targeted but knowing full well such accuracy would be impossible.

News of an impending raid was beginning to reach England by the mid afternoon. No such thing as radar in 1916 but at least naval vessels and fishing boats were capable of sending in reports of sightings, which in turn were relayed to what civil defence England possessed at the time.

Over the English Channel the weather was good, with icy cold but clear cloudless skies and little if any wind, ideal conditions for the Zeppelin crews if they had any hope of locating their targets. However, as the fleet of nine airships approached the east coast they ran into a band of thick fog, so thick in parts, the crews later reported it as heavy drizzle.

Crossing the coast of Norfolk near

12 Ilkeston Life, January 2016

Mundesley at around 4.50pm, the first Zeppelins to make land fall were the L13 and L21 commanded by Kapitan Lieutenants Heinrich Mathy and Max Dietrich, two of many names which would become familiar to Englishmen during the Great War. Heroes they may have been in their own countries but in this country they were despised as evil murderers of innocent men, women and children.

About an hour later the L15, commanded by Joachim Briethaupt also crossed the coast near Mundesley. Within the hour they were followed by the L16 (Werner Petersen) the L14 (Alois Bocker) both coming in over Holkham, then by the L17 (Hermann Kraushaar) and the L19 (Otto Lowe) at Sherringham. Finally just after 7pm the L11 (Freiherr von Buttlar) and the L20 (Franz Stabbert) arrived over the Wash, making land over Sutton Bridge. It was the Zeppelin L11 which carried the Fleet Commander Peter Strasser.

FOG However, the airships were already in trouble. The fog had thrown them off their bearings and with no such thing as today’s navigational aids; they relied almost entirely on what they could see of the landscape below.

For example, after wandering lost in the skies over and south of Norwich both the L16 and L17 gave up and headed for home around 8.30pm though not before the L16 had dropped several bombs on Isleham Fen. Today it is probably difficult to grasp how big these airships were. The Zeppelins raiding England on that fateful night measured 585 feet in length. To put that into context the likes of Lincoln, Litchfield or Worcester cathedrals, which I am sure a number reading this article will have visited, would not be long enough to contain one. If parked up inside such a building, a further 100 feet of airship would still be sticking out of one end! Or, if one has the inclination, stand in front of the John Warren on Ilkeston Market Place and walk away till you reach almost to the end of Anchor Row and you may get an idea of how long these monsters were.

By 7.30pm four of the Zeppelins, the L13, L14, L15 and L20 were over the Midlands and heading towards the towns of Loughborough, Burton upon Trent, Ilkeston and Derby, despite the fact they believed they were making towards Liverpool and other targets to the west of the country. .

A warning of a possible raid had been passed to some local constabularies after the

first bombs had fallen over Norfolk earlier in the evening but it seems not all received the alarm.

At around 8.00pm the L20, commanded by Kapitan Leuntnant Franz Stabbert with Leuntnant Ernst Schirltz second in command attacked Loughborough, leaving a trail of destruction, 10 dead and 8 injured.

Ilkeston was the next target of the L20.

Continued next month

Answers to How well do you know your Ilkeston?

1. It was called New Road and appeared on maps by this name until it was renamed.

2. James Tilson. His headstone shows cricket bat, bails, gloves and stumps carved in stone.

3. Woolliscrofts was the store name. It was opened in 1867 and was a draper and tailors and reputed to be the largest store between Nottingham and Chesterfield.

4. The workhouse was situated roughly where the new police station is sited. That section of Heanor Road was known as Workhouse Hill.

5. Charnos is a derivative of the two founder’s names: Charles Noskwith, it’s products being fully fashioned nylons, stockings and lingerie. Does anyone have a photograph of the fire which occurred in the late 1940s or early 1950s? – Danny.

6. It opened on May 15th 1903 with the tram depot being on Park Road opposite were Moorleys Print and Publishing is now.

7. The Jolly Boatman. Boatman’s Close nearby is probably named after it.

8. Mary Ann Evans, otherwise known as George Eliot.

9. To my knowledge they were the only pubs known by those names in the country.

Let me know if you find others – Danny.

10. Jane is the daughter of Fric Smit and the niece of Wim Smit, the former Liberal councillor, the owners of Andriesse Ltd. Wim learnt Greek so he could sell their products in Greece. During the last war, Andriesse was taken over by Coventry Gauge Tool Co. Ltd.

Audience hooked on Peter Pan panto

Well done Ilkeston Theatre Company. The group always put on a good panto and this time’s, the less familiar Peter Pan, was no exception.

Paul Ensor as pirate Smee, Ben Mills (Captain Hook) and Ryan Pound (Tiger Lily) held everything together through their rapport with the audience, especially the children who were not afraid to voice their feelings, adding to a great atmosphere of fun and excitement.

It seems a shame to single out individuals for praise because everyone played their part in an ambitious performance, but you have to admire the likes of Rachael Flewitt (Peter Pan) and Penny Courtney (Wendy) for remembering so many lines and delivering them so professionally.

All the leading characters performed with confidence, and Louise Bradley (Tinkerbell) hushed the crowd with a moving rendition of ‘To make me feel your love’.

One of my favourite bits was a ‘Rik Mayall’ moment (perhaps not intended) when Smee went into the audience and got someone to write in a birthday card for Hook. (Young Ones and Bottom fans will have caught on.)

Also playing their part were Mr and Mrs Darling, the lost boys, mermaids, redskins, more pirates, a crocodile and a dog, all adding to the entertainment.

Much work had gone on behind the scenes to enable this production to take place. Enabling characters to fly is no mean feat, especially the weighty Hook – the audience loved it when he clumsily took to the air via the clever contraption they had rigged up. The scenery too was excellent, especially the deck of the Jolly Roger.

IL local show reviewer

24 stands at art show

Following a very successful art festival in May this year, the Smoothie Art Gallery held their first Christmas Fayre at the Catholic Church Hall in Ilkeston on 22nd November.

Distinguished popular local artist John Cundy cut the ribbon and officially opened the event. He welcomed everyone and said, “The Smoothie Bar and Art Gallery are carrying on a welcome tradition of supporting artists in the community, a tradition which began in the 19th century when the impressionists, ignored by the art establishment in Paris, were provided with wall spaces in the cafes and the city. The Smoothie Art Gallery and Café generously offer wall space to established and also aspirational artists - and the latter would undoubtedly receive a boost from a public display of their work. Well done, Paul, Lina and the team at the Smoothie Bar and Art Gallery.”

John spent the afternoon visiting each of the 24 stands and talked to the artists, encouraging them, and commented on how impressed he was with the quality of art work on show.

Caroline Mcfarlane, showcasing her talents, created a lot of interest with her pencil portraits of the children visiting the fayre. Approximately 140 people visited the event.

The Smoothie art café on Bath Street is where the art group is based. The artists really appreciate the kindness of Paul Opiah, the owner, who allows them space in the shop window and the upstairs gallery to display their works.

Another Ilkeston art festival is planned for Sunday 1st May 2016 at the same venue.

Ann Sutcliffe.

£15 buys this space To advertise in Ilkeston Life contact Paul on 07539 808390 or email

THE WAY WE WERE

Stanton days remembered

Stanton workers

Above left: Furnace Fitters are pictured at an apparent presentation. The year is thought to be about 1959. Photograph supplied by Brenda Matthews. Above right: 1952 intake of junior office girls at Stanton's Training Centre. Joan Wright, who supplied the photo, remembers the girls as: Back row: ---, ---, ---, Barbara Beardsley, Shirley Stenson, Joan Wright, Margaret Hodgkiss. Front row: Joan Hemsley, Sheila Johnson, Hazel Jackson, Christine Moseley, Shirley Witham, ---.

Above left: Stanton Old Works furnaces with hot metal ladles in foreground. Above right: The Spinning Shop, storage hoppers and elevators of the Prestressed Concrete Pipe Plant.

Above left: Stanton in the news—Advertiser dated June 20th 1947. Above right: a Stanton ladle formerly used for carrying molten metal, now situated in the grounds of Erewash Museum.

“

I always loved Stanton from when I was a young man. When I started there as an apprentice, the smell of the place, the feel of it and even the people were fantastic. Unlike today where they’d laugh at you because you couldn’t do your job, in those days folks helped you. If you were behind with your work they’d help you out. That’s what made it so different to things today.”

—Thomas Hosker in Stanton, Gone But Not Forgotten, published by Ilkeston Local History Society.

Left: Another page from the Trade Section of the Ilkeston & District Directory of 1965-66.

Right: An Ilkeston Co-op advert revealing 1952 prices for football boots.

Ilkeston Life, January 2016

13

West Hallam Amateur Gardening Society

Kerry Ledger School of Dance

The Friends of Straw’s Bridge

Garden Design – an illustrated talk by Chelsea Gold medal winning garden designer, Sue Hayward, was given at our November meeting. Sue began by telling us of her change in career 15 years ago from lingerie designer to garden designer! She said she wished she had done this earlier as she had always had a passion for gardens and plants.

Her talk was accompanied by many ‘before and after’ pictures of the beautiful gardens she has created. These tended to be of quite a grand scale though there were elements from all her designs that could be used in smaller gardens.

The principle of ‘less is more’ is important in Sue’s designs and she told us she is often brought in to help simplify gardens and create a coherent scheme for her clients. This involves looking at what can be saved from the existing garden particularly larger shrubs and trees which are expensive to replace and some sensitive pruning and reshaping can often be all that is needed before they can become an integral part of the new design.

Sue explained 4 principles of good garden design which are; unity/harmony/oneness of the scheme, simplicity less is more, scale and proportion a general rule being 1/3 hard landscaping, 1/3 lawn and 1/3 planting, balance how different areas of the garden interrelate and overlap with each other. When designing it is important to take into account the direction of the garden and Sue said she carries a compass with her when visiting gardens for the first time, this helps her to site seating areas and to choose suitable plants. Practical needs also need to be considered, a simple picket fence to screen a bin area made an attractive screen in one front garden designed by Sue. When choosing plants Sue considers those that give structure and provide winter interest first and then chooses for the other seasons to give all year interest. Soil preparation is important and Sue often uses pelleted chicken manure to improve fertility. A favourite plant is Hydrangea Annabelle with its large white heads and we saw pictures of these in Sue’s own garden and some of the gardens she designed. She also told us that she uses nepeta, rather than lavender, in many of her designs being easier to care for and a favourite tree is the weeping pear with its silvery foliage and attractive shape.

This was a very enjoyable and informative talk giving us lots of ideas for our own gardens to think about over the dark winter months.

Our next meeting is on 18th January when our speaker from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust will give a talk on Gardens and Wildlife, everyone welcome. We meet at Methodist Church, High Lane West at 7.30pm.

Judy Pittson

The Kerry Ledger School of Dance based on Lord Haddon Road in Ilkeston have had an Autumn term full of success. On the 22nd November the dance school entered three troupes representing them at the Association

of American Dancing Awards day competition at Blackpool Winter Gardens. All three troupes were congratulated by the judges and the Senior Troupe gained 6th place in the nationwide competition.

In addition to this the school had dancers get through to the Scholarship and Debut Semifinals and finals held at Buxton Opera House. Student teacher, Abbie Smith came in the top 20 in the Senior tap and ballet competition. Helena, senior dancer gained 5th place in the Debut song and dance competition.

The dance school has also recently had another set of excellent examination results with 100% success rate. The school is now working hard to rehearse their dance show 'Jet Set' to be performed at St John Houghton School, Kirk Hallam. 'Jet Set' will be staged on 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th March 2016. Contact the Dance school for further details.

Pictured: Circus that gained 6th place in the awards day competition.

With perfect timing at the start of National Tree Week in early December, the Friends planted the six disease resistant elms referred to in last month’s article. These trees will add to the diversity on site as well as providing habitat for the White-letter Hairstreak butterfly. Erewash Borough Council has resurfaced the paths leading from the Nutbrook Ponds (the two smaller ponds at the rear of the site) to Pewit Carr LNR and Manor Floods LNR. Later in the month a couple of dozen hazel whips, kindly donated by a member of the public, were planted on site. Contrary to popular belief these are nothing like walnut whips, and people are advised not to eat them.

At the time of writing, access to the Nutbrook Ponds from the main pond is limited to those wearing wellies or willing to get their feet wet. The flood under the old railway arch has returned for the first time since 2013. Then the problem was solved by EBC having the water pumped out.

In late November a Little Egret was spotted on site. If you have any photographs of Straw’s Bridge or its wildlife you can post them on the Friends’ facebook page.

More information, pictures and news can be found on facebook or by visiting www.friendsofstrawsbridge.co.uk The next meeting of the Friends will be held in February and full details will appear in the next issue of Ilkeston Life.

Jeff Wynch

U Choose Poetry Group Local wordsmiths meet on the last Thursday of the month at the U Choose café, 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston to share their work and listen to other members’ readings.

The group is open to anyone who enjoys verse and other forms of writing, including well known poems, poems with a local flavour, nostalgic verse, short stories, humorous pieces and dialect.

If you would like to give it a try you will be made most welcome between 7 and 9pm. And you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee or a smoothie while you’re there. This month’s meeting is on Thursday January 28th 2016.

14 Ilkeston Life, January 2016

The Friends of Bennerley Viaduct The Friends are continuing to hold workdays at the viaduct, clearing debris and vegetation and re-pointing the brick bases of the piers supporting the structure. As the project moves forward volunteers will take on more conservation tasks and any training will be provided.

Dates for your diary: Wednesday 13th January, 7pm. The next meeting of the group will be held at 22 Lower Stanton Road, the offices above Shipley Blinds (entrance at rear).

Wednesday 27th January. Workday at the viaduct. For full details contact Bill Tomson on 0115 853 2953 or email bill.tomson@sustrans.org.uk Jeff Wynch Ilkeston Methodist Church

CAROL SINGING AT MORRISONS On Saturday 12th December members of the Ilkeston Methodist Church entertained shoppers with traditional carols and Christmas songs. The singers were accompanied by musicians on keyboards, violin, flutes, guitar and a very enthusiastic person on percussion!

Over £380 was raised for the Sue Ryder Charity, Morrisons’ chosen charity. A big thank you to the people who so generously donated to this very worthwhile cause. Also, a vote of thanks from Ilkeston Methodist Church to the Morrisons management for allowing us to provide the music, and also the staff who moved display items to accommodate the musicians and singers. This is a venture which Ilkeston Methodist Church hope to repeat in the future. >>>>> Ann Sutcliffe

Music Scene

HELLO FOLKS !

The musings of Ilson muso David Potter.

Happy new year everyone and a big thank you, once again, for your comments and responses, especially those with your memories of the Co-op ballroom.

These include Paul Miller from Shipley View who has provided a wealth of information on many of the acts which appeared including Johnny Kidd and The Pirates which is where we’ll continue the story.

Born Frederick Albert Heath Johnny Kidd in 1935 at Willesden North London, Johnny Kidd took up piracy in 1959 and had a string of hit records between then and 1966.

These included: Shakin’ All Over, Restless, I’ll Never Get Over You, Aways And Ever, and I Can Tell, most of which featured in their several appearances in Ilkeston.

As with many bands, then and now, there were many changes of personnel but two constants in the Pirates line up were drum-

Groups, clubs, societies, special interests

mer Clem Cattini and Matlock born guitarist Mick Green (who we touched on in the last column.)

It all ended in true rock and roll fashion when Johhny was killed in a head on car crash near Bolton, Lancashire in 1966 aged 31.

The Pirates carried on (and still do) but now sadly minus Mick Green who suffered heart failure five years ago only one day after becoming a grand father.

I’ve been given a reminder last month that there is a Folk Club operating in Ilkeston at the Stanton Institute on Hallam Fields Road.

They meet every Wednesday beginning at 8.30 and if anyone would like to contact me with any further information I’d be happy to include it in the column.

Finally this month: information on a brand new monthly internet (and soon to be radio) show launching this month produced right here in Ilkeston, and hosted by yours truly and fellow musical compatriot Alan Morley There’s a dedicated page containing the show on www.ukfolkmusic.co.uk and you can also find us on facebook (The Folk Show). We’d love to hear your comments, suggestions and requests.

If you want to tug my coat on anything just give me a shout on davidilkeston@gmail.com or leave a message on 0792 9100 974 (note new number).

ROBINS ON THE ROAD “Kevilsonlad” captures the essence of an away day with Ilkeston FC

CAMBRIDGE CITY F.A. Trophy First Qualifying Round Halloween and we’re off to Cambridge… except we’re NOT because we’re actually heading for St. Ives in the neighbouring county of Huntingdon which is where today’s opponents are currently ground sharing with St. Ives while their plans for a 3,000 capacity stadium incorporating community facilities come to fruition in Sawston.

Known as “The Lilywhites” (white shirts, black shorts) our hosts currently play at our own level in the Southern equivalent of the Evo-Stik Premier league.

The coach is full and the sun is breaking through the fog as we arrive at the lovely town of St. Ives, bursting with all sorts of places of cultural and historic interest to while away the time before the game…..so we head for the nearest pub.

Time for a pint of “Doom Bar” at The White Hart before heading on to The Royal Oak with a lovely selection of real ales, the best of which is “Inferno” produced by local brewery Oakham Ales, and then completing our mini sampling tour at the aptly named Floods Tavern situated on the banks of the River Ouse.

Raising a glass of “Golden Newt” (Elgoods Wisbech) to the passing river boats, it’s time to make our way to the ground, resplendent in our Halloween costumes to begin the serious business of the day…. checking out the club house.

One of our number who wishes to remain anonymous (he writes a music column in this paper) also checked the slippery surface in front of the clubhouse but fortunately bounced when he hit the floor.

I suppose at this point you want to hear about the game.

We won one nil (Charlie Coulson free kick just before the interval).

Further entertainment on the way back when our lady travel secretary wandered into the Gents by mistake at Leicester Services. (Well she does wear the trousers in whatever she’s involved in.)

Cambridge Forum quote afterwards: “By the look of the Ilkeston supporters they had a good day out. The fancy dress was brilliant.”

THAT’S HOW WE USUALLY LOOK MATE. (Kevin is a member of the Ilkeston F.C. Supporters Group who run trips to all of the Robins away games. You can find information on this, and much more on www.ifcsg.co.uk)

walk followed by soup and rolls at West Hallam Village Hall.

Please book beforehand.

January 4th, 10.30am. 7 ILKESTON RAMBLING CLUB Monday miles, Foremark Reservoir & CalNew Year’s Day Friday January ke Park. Meet at Ticknall Village 1st: Mystery walk led by Ian Ste- Hall (SK353241, DE73 7JW) phenson.

Leader: Clive Davis (07808 Thursday January 7th: Chat 238704). evening at The Burnt Pig, Sunday January 10th, 10.00am.

7.45pm.

7 miles, Ednaston, Culland Hall, Sunday January 10th: 8-mile Pools Head. Parking at Brailsford walk led by Clive Unwin. Park at Institute, Main road, Brailsford layby near Toadmoor at Am(SK256413, DE6 3DA). Leader: bergate heading for Whatstand- Royce Drew. well.

Wednesday January 13th, Sunday January 24th: 9-mile 10.30am. Short walk. Bramcote walk led by Alan Beaumont. Park village and Bramcote Hills CP at West Leek church—Cuckoo (SK500385).Leader: Alan Brown.

Bush—Gotham.

Thursday January 14th, More details about Ilkeston Ram- 10.30am. 5½ miles. Bestwick bling Club activities can be had Memorial Walk. Meet at West from Jim Cresswell 07747 Park Leisure Centre, Long Eaton 419380.

(SK378333, NG10 4AH). Leader: EREWASH RAMBLERS Sara Ashmead (07811 811802).

New Years Day Friday January Saturday January 16th: Area 1st: 10.00am, Short Walk. Meet AGM & Walk, 10.00am. Short at West Hallam Village Hall – walk. Darley Dale Methodist

Out and about this month

Church 2.00 pm. Followed by Area AGM at 2.00pm at the Methodist Church. See your copy of the “Area News” for further details.

Monday January 18th, 10.30am.

6 miles. Epperstone area. Meet in main street (SK652485, NG14 6AD). Leader: Michael Throup (07711 571448).

Wednesday January 20th, 7.30pm. Illustrated talk on “Kedleston Hall” given by Geoff Belk. West Hallam Village Hall.

Sunday January 24th, 10.00am.

8½ miles. Trowell, Cossall and Two Canals. Meet at Gallows Inn CP, Ilkeston (SK475403).Leader: Robert Mee (07757 134353).

Wednesday January 27th, 10.30am. Short walk. Stanton Gate. On Road Parking (SK482382) Leader: Joyce Mold More information about Erewash Ramblers from Tony Beardsley, 0115 917 0082.

Local students expand their horizons YMCA Derbyshire has been at the heart of the community in Derbyshire since 1847 with its sights ever set on breaking down barriers to achievement and helping local people fulfil their full potential. One of its core offerings is training and education, and the Ilkeston centre, conveniently situated behind the Market place on Coronation Street, has been operating since March 2009. It offers innovative learning and development programmes for young people and adults. Manager Hazel Finch (pictured) said: ‘We provide a caring and supportive atmosphere on our Study Programmes for 16-18 year olds and our tutors work with students to set individual learning targets to help them achieve their goals.’

The centre has expanded considerably over the years but still maintains a highly personal service and offers vocational qualifications in Health and Social Care, Hospitality and Catering, Retail and Customer Service, Employability and also in Functional Skills in Maths and English. ‘Students tell us that the small size of the college means better organisation and more personal attention,’ said Hazel. ‘We have many success stories of students who have improved their skills and confidence more than they could ever have thought possible, and who have progressed to exciting jobs or higher level training’.

YMCA Derbyshire is affiliated to the national and international YMCA movement, and recently secured Erasmus funding for a Danish exchange with a ‘Production School’ in Lolland, Denmark. A group of Hospitality and Catering students, including Becky Inquieti (16) from Ilkeston, worked in the school kitchens to demonstrate traditional English dishes to the Danish students, who reciprocated by demonstrating various Danish delights. ‘The weather was really cold and snowy and it was a really interesting experience meeting the Danish students and finding out more about their way of life,’ said Becky. ‘My favourite Danish dish was a pastry with marzipan and poppy seeds, and they really enjoyed our Toad in the Hole and Victoria Sponge!’

Denmark display of cakes and puddings, Becky Inquieti Centre

From Ilkeston to Adelaide and back – our Australian adventure

by Ann Shelton

DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS SURGERY ILKESTON EAST, ILKESTON SOUTH AND ILKESTON WEST WARDS

COUNCILLORS MICHELLE BOOTH, GLENNICE BIRKIN AND JOHN FRUDD

Saturday 9th January 2016 10am to 12 noon Ilkeston Town Hall The Folk Show Presented by Alan Morley and David Potter

www.ukfolkmusic.co.uk

Begins in next month’s paper

Ilkeston Life, January 2016

15

Sport

JUST A THOUGHT Kindness is within the gift of the very poor, the wretched, the despised. It is the true test of worth—Pam Brown.

Share your sporting achievements in Ilkeston’s community paper—email ilkestonlife@gmail.com

Young Robins go down fighting in front of record crowd end Ilkeston hit a post and saw another shot trikle agonisingly past an upright, so Wed 16th Nov ‘15 (FA Youth Cup 3rd round) 3-0 was hardly a fair reflection of the play.

In the second half Ilkeston stormed back with Ilkeston’s under 18 team attracted their big- two goals in the 65th and 67th minutes by gest ever crowd—927—for this FA Youth substitute Roy Lee. Then there was a big Cup clash, but they went down by the odd oooooh from the crowd as another shot whisgoal despite an exciting second half come- tled past a post. The young Robins were back. playing with renewed energy, and what They found themselves three down at the seemed like a hopeless situation had become interval despite a gritty performance. Two a close encounter. Newcastle’s defence held of Newcastle’s goals were wicked deflecfirm though, leaving Ilkeston to reflect on tion which wrong footed keeper Jamie Han- what might have been, but they were applaudnis and would have gone wide. At the other ed off by an appreciative crowd.

Ilkeston 2 Newcastle Utd 3

Hyde couldn’t hide their irritation Sat 21st Nov ’15 (Evo-Stik Northern Premier League)

Ilkeston 3 Hyde United 1

Two goals by Dan Udoh enabled Ilkeston to stretch their unbeaten league run to eight games. A physical Hyde team didn’t help themselves by having a man sent off in the first half. Lee Ndlovu headed Ilkeston into the lead and this was soon added to by Udoh.

Ilkeston appeared to be comfortable but Hyde managed to get one back and this brought about a dramatic finale. In added time Hyde forced a corner and their keeper come up for it. Ilkeston cleared the ball and Ndlovu found Udoh. Udoh went past a defender then cooly rounded the keeper who had raced back to his goal and slotted the ball in. The finish proved too frustrating for many of the Hyde players and there was a skirmish as the players left the field. Ilkeston’s photographer Craig Lamont was knocked out as an ugly scene developed.

Last minute loss

FA Youth Cup action at the NMG

Photo: Craig Lamont

KYLE RETAINS BELT IN IMPRESSIVE STYLE

very aggressive but Kyle moved well to avoid the punches and scored with powerful counters. He retained his belt with a commanding performance.

Trinity Boxing Club Captain Kyle Hughes retained his Derbyshire Elite Challenge belt with a convincing points victory on the South Derbyshire Academy show at the Gresley Old Hall.

24 hours earlier Kyle had missed out on a very close decision to the promoting club’s fighter Brad Park in the Central England Super Six competition but was pleased to accept the challenge of defending his belt in Derbyshire against a deserving challenger and travelled to Swadlincote to top the bill and this time made no mistake as he boxed and moved to take a convincing decision . Again Park was

BIG WIN FOR JOHN

16 Ilkeston Life, January 2016

John Casey scored an impressive victory on the South Derbyshire Academy show at the Gresley Old Hall. The young Trinity star finally faced up to Connor Snoddin of Bolsover after being disappointed at not facing him on the Festival show earlier. The lad from North Derbyshire made a positive start, coming forward throwing big punches but the Trinity lad soon worked this out and connected with solid counter punches.

John took control of the fight and despite the continued effort of Snoddin he dictated the pace and impressed with quality combinations on the counter to seal an impressive and deserved victory .

If we have served you well and you like our paper, please do something for us: it really helps if you can recommend us to your friends. We are always on the look out for people to help us as contributors, door to door deliverers or advertisers. This a community venture and we need your support to continue. If we could do better, please let us have your ideas. Email us at ilkestonlife@gmail.com or write to Ilkeston Life, 1 Bath Street, Ilkeston DE7 8AH.

76 minutes Workington were awarded a second penalty and this time Arnison scored to level the match. Just before full time Ilkeston thought they should have had a penalty when Udoh was brought down in the box but the claim was denied. To compound the disappointment Workington broke away and scored the winner at the other end.

Robins’ late show Sat 5th Dec ’15 (Evo-Stik Northern Premier League)

Ilkeston 3 Ramsbottom 0

Three late second half goals saw Ilkeston to victory after stubborn resistance from bottom of the table Ramsbottom. The wet and windy conditions made it difficult for both sides and after a goalless first half, it took Ilkeston until the 75th minute to make the breakthrough. It was an untidy finish which followed a corner by JJ Blake and was scrambled over the line by Lee Ndlovu. Five minutes later it was 2-0 when Michael Williams scored from close range. This was then followed by the best goal of the game. Udoh made himself space and blasted an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net to give Ilkeston an emphatic win in the end.

Sat 28th Nov ’15 (Evo-Stik Northern Premier League)

Beaten by lowly neighbours

Workington 3 Ilkeston 2

Ilkeston 1 Long Eaton Utd 2

A goal in stoppage time brought an end to Ilkeston’s unbeaten run. Although Ilkeston were twice ahead, Workington were not to be denied. The home side had a chance to go ahead as early as the first minute when they were awarded what appeared to be a soft penalty but justice was done when the taker’s shot struck the post. Workington adapted to the to the heavy going better than Ilkeston and it was a surprise when Ilkeston went ahead on 37 minutes following one of their rare attacks. Dan Udoh made the opportunity when he cut in from the left and crossed for Lee Ndlovu to nudge the ball home. Ilkeston held the lead until the 58th minute when Workington equalised through Joe McGee but within a minute Ilkeston were back in front, Joe Doyle smashing his shot into the roof of the Workington net. On

Mon 7th Dec ‘15 (Derbyshire Senior Cup)

Ilkeston paid the penalty for putting out a weak side against their Erewash neighbours.

Striker Michael Williams and midfielder Curtis Burrows were the only experienced players in the team on a night when youngsters from the academy were given a chance to show what they could do. Paulo Piliero gave Long Eaton the lead as early as the fourth minute from the penalty spot, although it looked a generous award. Ilkeston were much improved in the second half but the visitors extended their lead through Jerome O’Connor. Then Ilkeston were awarded a penalty and Burrows blasted in. To their credit, the Robins youngsters made it an exciting finish as they went all out for an equaliser but time ran out.

Reports by Matchman

SUPPORT THE ROBINS IN 2016 Upcoming fixtures at the NMG Monday 4th Jan. Lincoln Utd (Doodson Cup), 7.45pm.

Saturday 16th Jan. Halesowen Town, 3pm.

Monday 25th Jan. Frickley Athletic, 7.45pm.

Saturday 6th Feb. Whitby Town, 3pm.

Adults £6 Concessions £4 Children free if with an adult