The Sounds of Summer

   The clickety-click in the still air of a distant train speeding along the tracks; children laughing whilst at play in a neighbour's garden; the drone of a lawn mower cutting the grass; the buzzing of insects pollinating the flowers; the thud of willow on leather at a cricket match; the crash of thunder as the rain teems down; the bells in the church tower calling people to worship on an otherwise quiet sunny Sunday morning, a Brass Band playing in the park - these are the sounds of summer.

Radioactive

   There was an entirely different atmosphere this Sunday afternoon though as The Carnaby Rocks, Radioactive (pictured) and the Midnight Pumpkin Trucks entertained in an event called "Summer Sounds"from the bandstand in Victoria Park. I suppose one of the sounds I missed in those listed above was the noise of a rock festival but at least we didn't get the squelch of the mud so frequently associated with the likes of Glastonbury!

Cancelled Carnival

There was huge disappointment all round this weekend as the Annual Carnival had to be cancelled. It was not surprising really as the strong winds and heavy rainfall during the preceding week had left puddles on the car park (left) at the recreation ground and the ground itself was waterlogged. It would have been folly to stage the carnival here.

I think it was last year the the Summer Happening on Victoria Park also had to be cancelled due to similar conditions. Not only is it disappointing for the general public when these things happen but it is even more so for the organisers and charities who would normally have benefited from the events.

The truth is though you can look elsewhere and always see someone worse off. For example this week in west Wales, people have been driven from their homes by flash floods but it is in the face of such tragedies that communities come together to help each other. The people of Wales will come back even stronger, Ilkeston will have another Carnival and communities will continue to thrive. Life will go on with or without the help of the government. And David Cameron thinks the "Big Society" is something he thought up. Come into the real world David; open your eyes and see what has been happening for years. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18387529

Speculate to Accumulate

It was Motorcycle Day at the Erewash Museum on Saturday, one of several free events that are being held throughout the year. We've already had the Rock & Roll Birthday Party in April and Circus Week and Swing Back To The Forties are two more events lined up for June.

And yet it was only in 2004 that there were fears the museum was about to be closed as the council looked to balance the books (Newspaper report). Fortunately local pressure and the work of the Friends of Erewash Museum meant that the threat of closure was removed and last year it won the coveted Derbyshire Museum of the Year award. Last week we were celebrating the Green Flag award in Victoria Park where another investment has reaped its just reward. Perhaps there's a lesson there for our government in Westminster - instead of cut, cut cut, a policy of investment is needed to revive our economy. As someone else once put it, you have to speculate to accumulate. Investment in our country and our people will bring its own rewards.

Green Flag Award

Erewash Borough Council officials and judges in Victoria Park, Ilkeston during judging in July 2011 for the "In Bloom" competition which also resulted in the award of a Green Flag confirming it is one of the best parks in the country.

Curtailment

As part of the government's cost cutting exercise, free swimming for youngsters is to cease but the local council have decided to postpone the new policy until after the schools re-open in September which means schoolchildren will still be able to enjoy free sessions during the summer holidays. It is to be hoped they also spend some time improving their language skills instead of using the foul mouthed obscenities that passed between a group of youngsters who crossed from the direction of the Leisure Centre and entered Victoria Park as I was taking this photo this afternoon.

Midsummer Happening

The Rotary Club's Annual Midsummer Happening was held in Victoria Park this afternoon and alongside the usual charity stalls and entertainment around the bandstand, there was also a display of classic vehicles, a traditional ice-cream salesman doing a good trade in the fine but showery weather, bouncy castles and a tent with a number of rescued parrots that was attracting a lot of attention. And a jolly good time was had by all.

Tree Trail

Last year the identification posts in Victoria Park did not match the leaflet produced by the Council but since then new post have been installed topped by brass plaques designed by students at Ilkeston's Special Arts School. Today the new Victoria Park Tree Trail was officially launched by the Mayor of Erewash in the presence of some of the students and besides me, photographers from two local newspapers were also there.

Pictured is the Ilkeston Advertiser photographer as he set up the shot featuring the students and the Mayor and Mayoress for this week's edition of the paper.