The Erewash Museum in Ilkeston turned back the clock to the rock and roll years on Saturday 21st April 2012. With live rock and roll music from Glenn Darren and The Krew Katz, there were also period cars and fashions and the event was sponsored by the Friends of Erewash Museum as part of the Museum's 30th birthday celebrations.
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Sunday, 15 April 2012
A Station For Ilkeston
There was a final push in the town centre on Saturday to gather signatures for a petition calling for a return of a railway station to the town. Now whilst I think this is a good idea, I cannot wholeheartedly support the campaign as logic and common sense tells me the preferred location is in the wrong place. Ilkeston Junction is served by one half-hourly bus service and access to a station there will only increase traffic along Station Road when the stated objective is to reduce it there. 
The narrow railway bridge over the line, is rusting away and is desperately in need of repair Four councils, Erewash, Broxtowe, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire would all be involved in the planning process at this location.
My (and probably many other people's too) preferred location would be on the old Trowell Station site. This involves only two of the councils, is served by two bus routes, the Two every 12 minutes and the 15 every 20 and the bridge over the line was replaced about eight years ago. Access is much easier for the majority of the town's population and would not exacerbate the Station Road situation.
Talking to our MP on Saturday who is pressing for the new station, I was informed that it is hoped to introduce a shuttle bus service from the new station to the town centre to bring students in to the relocated Derby College. The problem there is the plan intended to regenerate the town centre is to build a supermarket on the existing college site thus having the opposite effect by drawing people away from the town centre. All parties involved should get their act together as at the moment there is a distinct lack of joined up thinking.
The narrow railway bridge over the line, is rusting away and is desperately in need of repair Four councils, Erewash, Broxtowe, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire would all be involved in the planning process at this location.My (and probably many other people's too) preferred location would be on the old Trowell Station site. This involves only two of the councils, is served by two bus routes, the Two every 12 minutes and the 15 every 20 and the bridge over the line was replaced about eight years ago. Access is much easier for the majority of the town's population and would not exacerbate the Station Road situation.
Talking to our MP on Saturday who is pressing for the new station, I was informed that it is hoped to introduce a shuttle bus service from the new station to the town centre to bring students in to the relocated Derby College. The problem there is the plan intended to regenerate the town centre is to build a supermarket on the existing college site thus having the opposite effect by drawing people away from the town centre. All parties involved should get their act together as at the moment there is a distinct lack of joined up thinking.
I don't write these things purely and simply because I've reached the "grumpy old man" stage of life although that may have a bearing on the tone. Being born and bred here and having lived in the town all my life, I care for the place. I wouldn't have being doing my bit to try and promote it for the last ten years with the Ilkeston Cam website if I didn't. But seeing the detrimental effect Ilkeston has suffered with previous well-intentioned decisions, it's vital we get this one right and logically the best place for a station is the former Trowell Station site. Monday, 9 April 2012
Out Of The Silence
The silent procession by Christians from churches in the area as an act of witness on Good Friday was a rather sombre occasion. A leaflet handed out included: "So 'Out of the Silence' we thank our God for His gift of Jesus and as we recognise Him as the one who took our place, we join in our worship. We will not be silent on Easter Day as we celebrate that the Jesus who was crucified and put in a tomb was brought back to life by the same love that allowed Him to die on that first Good Friday."Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Weather For Fools
I originally wrote the following on April 1st for the Ilkeston Cam website but forgot to copy it to Blogger.
I thought I'd give you a rest this week from another pet peeve although there are several more that I could easily give voice to. There's plenty of time to return for a good whinge later so this week I'll turn my attention to something else.
After a week of really fine weather with relatively high temperatures for the time of year, the weather forecast today is for a drop to the seasonal average and even a slight possibility of snow tomorrow! Now I know that's it's April Fool's Day but can we really be expecting a return to scenes like this picture? I still maintain there's no such thing as global warming or as the experts are now calling it, climate change. I'm more inclined to believe my own theory of calendar slippage. I just hope that last week wasn't our summer and we are now moving into autumn. But no, it's still only spring and the falling temperatures will certainly be putting a spring in our step in the next few days. England must be one of the few places in the world where you can experience all four seasons in a few days!
To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring. - George Santayana (1863 - 1952)
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I thought I'd give you a rest this week from another pet peeve although there are several more that I could easily give voice to. There's plenty of time to return for a good whinge later so this week I'll turn my attention to something else.
After a week of really fine weather with relatively high temperatures for the time of year, the weather forecast today is for a drop to the seasonal average and even a slight possibility of snow tomorrow! Now I know that's it's April Fool's Day but can we really be expecting a return to scenes like this picture? I still maintain there's no such thing as global warming or as the experts are now calling it, climate change. I'm more inclined to believe my own theory of calendar slippage. I just hope that last week wasn't our summer and we are now moving into autumn. But no, it's still only spring and the falling temperatures will certainly be putting a spring in our step in the next few days. England must be one of the few places in the world where you can experience all four seasons in a few days!
To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring. - George Santayana (1863 - 1952)
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