Welcome To Needwood News!

2012-01-05T19:01:00.001Z

Views of Needwood School

Who are they in these pictuers ?

2011-08-17T19:07:00.005+01:00

A new Dragon making an a appearance in 'The Dragons Den' !

1970's

1950's

2011-03-25T21:48:00.000Z

TRIBUTE TO FRANCIS – WEDNESDAY 23 MARCH 2011

Francis, or BK as many of you knew him, was born within the sound of Bow bells on the 10th of June 1934. His father was a jockey and his mother, was a nurse from Killarney in Ireland. Francis was an only child and grew up in Newbury and Tring and was educated at St Edmund’s School in Ware, which he will have told all of you at some time, was run on Jesuit lines! He grew up during the Second World War and learned to use a gun at an early age, which he used to shoot rabbits for food on the Chiltern Hills.
On leaving school, he decided to become a teacher and gained a place at Kesteven College near Grantham. His shooting skills were put to good use there and it always amused him that he was able to conduct clandestine poaching activities without being caught. He would regularly hide a brace of pheasants in a wardrobe but one day caused something of a stir, when blood was seen trickling under the door! He met Ruth at the College and they married in 1958, and produced 2 wonderful daughters. It was no accident that Francis chose a vocation in a caring profession. His whole life was characterised by service. Teaching didn’t pay well in those days and he started his working life with Bibby’s the corn merchant, becoming their youngest District Manager. It wasn’t long though before he was lured back into education and took his first job as a specialist teacher of the deaf at Needwood School at Rangemore in Staffordshire, where he worked from 1962 until 1985, rising to the post of Deputy Head teacher. He was well known in the school for wearing steel tipped shoes and the pupils, despite their hearing difficulties, could always hear him coming. He didn’t really want to catch them up to no good, so he told them it was his early warning system.
Because of his obsession with being well dressed, invariably in a suit or blazer and tie with highly polished shoes, it was easy to think of him as somewhat stiff and formal. In reality, he was a real softy. His entire life was spent helping others. He saw National Service in the Royal Signals and was on active duty in Suez. He went on to serve in the Territorial Army and reached the rank of Major, he was justifiably proud of being presented with the Territorial Decoration by Princess Anne.
The institutions of the military and the school suited Francis well and there was a hiatus in 1985 when a change in Government policy to mainstream teaching of the deaf resulted in the closure of Needwood, just at the point that Ruth had secured a post as Housemistress near Blackpool. After a period chasing up and down the country as an award winning sales manager, in 1990 Ruth and Francis bought Ashfields Residential Home. Once again, Francis had found a vocation which, this time, allowed him to focus on the needs of elderly and vulnerable people. Ruth took on the role of matron and they were a formidable team known for their high standards of personal care and for ensuring their residents were integrated as part of the community. Francis would regularly work through the night without sleep, if things needed his attention.
The contribution Francis made to the community, was little short of extraordinary. When they were at Needwood, Francis ran the local youth club 3 nights a week. He was a founder member of the LIONs in Salisbury. Ruth remembers how, in the harsh winter of 1971, Francis spent many hours delivering coal to homes which were without heating. Francis was a staunch supporter of the Royal British Legion, which kept him in touch with his military roots. He was President of the Heanor branch and was always very active leading up to and on Remembrance Day itself. He coordinated the distribution and sale of poppies and acted as Parade Marshal for the Heanor Remembrance Day parade. He also loved country pursuits and was a regular participant in hunting, shooting and fishing, as well as being a keen follower of racing. He and Ruth always supported the Derbyshire Show, where he ran the main ring for a number of years.

As many of you know, politics was a passion for Francis and he was very active locally, serving as a Conservative councillor for both Amber Valley Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council and as Honorary President of the Heanor Conservative Club. He was driven by an inner belief in the improvements he wanted to see in society and the knowledge that by taking responsibility and standing up for those members of society less fortunate than ourselves, you can make a real difference. And Francis did make a real difference he had the knack of being able to deliver on issues that mattered.

His frustrations were many and varied and ranged from his perception of Europe and its interference in the running of the UK, taxation, employment law, health and safety legislation, the fact that boxing had moved onto Sky TV and, of course, anything technical, for which he relied completely on Ruth. He failed his video recorder programming test at least a dozen times! Technical things often got the better of him: although he was latterly an advanced motorist, he did manage to drive his ride on lawnmower up a tree - in fact he frequently got it stuck and was often seen with the lawnmower on its side waiting for Ruth to push him free. It happened so frequently because of the contours in the garden that they devised an ingenious pulley system, which got him back on the job – you could call Ruth the 5th emergency service! He once lost control of another lawnmower, which toppled over and the brake lever went through his wellington boot and skewered him to the ground! He also had a knack of being involved in accidents at the most inconvenient of moments. He managed to break both of his ankles - the first time was just as he’d set the kitchen on fire with a chip pan, which hindered his attempts to seek help and the second was just before moving from Barton to Hoar Cross.
Francis often used to say that he did not think that many people would turn up to his funeral. Looking around the church today, I think he would be genuinely humbled by how many of you have taken the trouble to come and pay your respects to him. He was recently asked to take part in a BBC documentary about a wine investment fraud and in true Francis fashion, he said at the end of the film that his approach had been that even if the wine was to depreciate, at least he could always drink it!

Despite his ill health at the end, he remained focused on his family. Francis, I know you are with us today - thank you for enriching our lives in so many ways. You can be proud of all you have achieved and we will continue to strive to make you proud of us.

Ruth has asked me to read an extract from a letter she received yesterday from Councillor Alan Cox, the Mayor of Amber Valley Borough Council:
“He will always be remembered for, amongst other things, his wicked sense of humour. One example of which I will never forget. When B-K was elected in 2000, there were so many Conservative councillors that there was not room for them all to sit on one side of the Council chamber so B-K decided to sit on the other side with the Labour councillors. One evening he was being ribbed by them as to why he was sitting on their side of the chamber. He immediately stood up and, in his inimitable fashion, said ‘Mr Mayor, the reason I sit on this side of the chamber is that the view is better’. Needless to say, the Labour Group did not try to take the rise out of him again.”

A Sad Day

2011-03-06T16:38:00.011Z

The ever popular Mr Francis Bulkeley-Kirkham.

Needwood School, in colourful surrounding.

Sad News of 'Big Mick'

2010-11-15T18:37:00.009Z

A sad day.

It was a great shock to hear about the passing of Michael Kirby and we are grateful to Geoffrey Daniels for sending a copy from the obituary page of the Burton Daily Mail. Geoffrey will represent the Needwood Old Scholars and attend the funeral service. Also present were Ivan Jackson & Andrew Furness.

Happy days with Michael at his parents house with his dog. So long BIG MICK, rest in peace.

Song

by Victor James Daley (1858-1905)

What shall a man remember

In days when he is old,

And Life is a dying ember,

And Fame a story told?

Power-that came to leave him?

Wealth-to the wild waves blown?

Fame-that came to deceive him?

Ah, no! Sweet Love alone!

Honour, and Wealth, and Power
May all like dreams depart-
But Love is a fadeless flower
Whose roots are in the heart.

Comments

2010-10-04T18:42:00.004+01:00

Some of the 'comments' from the past 18 months on Needwood News.

Hmm ! Now, can anybody translate this Chinese puzzle !!!!!!!!

Wow Scouts, what about Guides or Brownies ?????? Names please. By suzi wong 17/05/10.

Sunday Walks ???? How can any of us Needwoodians ( especially us older guys) EVER FORGET ?? Did any of our younger generation go on these Sunday walks ?? One thing I will say, it certainly kept us fit and I do have the odd smile or two some of the stuff we got up to keeping a look out for our headmaster Mr Richard Barratt! ahem. By joan 05/04/10.

Lovely photos of Jenny and Jingle. Come on teresa, i'm sure you have got some stories about them ??? By suzi wong 16/03/10.

I think it's asking you for sex! I see gogosex amongst the chinese! And it's being recorded on dvd...... ( had a few chinese commments lately in Chinese !!!! editor). By mad.maggie 12/04/10.

Ha ha I like that comments Mags, never even notices that !! I'm really laughinghere ha . Just looking at photos from Reunion, some great and funny photos there, faces some people pull !!!! ha ha. By suzi wong 16/04/10.

Joan Ainscow (nee Randall) said my first owned car was a Mini. I bought 2 minis for £25 to build one good car-paid several visits to the car scrap yard as well as buying new parts, ie small wooden steering wheel which was my pride and joy - oh I was soooo proud of it and had it for many years until my ex-husband wrote it off hitting a horse!!! ( I thought this was Jim talking ? editor) By joan 02/02/10.

How many of you had a Mini ? Let see photos of ot on blog. By sjbrown 17/01/10.

Tragedy

By Harry Graham (1874-1936)

That morning, when my wife eloped.

With James, our chauffer, how i moped.

What tragedies in life there are!

I'm dashed if i can start the car.

Scouting Days

2010-04-19T23:06:00.009+01:00

Those were the days !!!!!

Needwood 'Menagerie'

2010-03-07T11:30:00.018Z

Does any body knows who these boys are with their pets ?
Does anybody have any information as to how Jenny and Jingle came to be at Needwood ? Where did they come from ?

I do know that Jenny dies in the mid 60's but what became of Jingle ?

Jenny

Jingle

The Secret

By George Edward Woodberry (1855-1939)

Nightingales warbles about it,

All night under blossom and star;

The wild swan is dying without it,

And the eagle crieth afar;

The sun he doth mount but to find it,

Searching the green o'er;

But more doth a man's heart mind it,

Oh, more, more, more!

Over the gray leagues of ocean,

The infinite yearneth alone;

The forests with wandering emotions,

The thing they know not intone;

Creation arose but to see it,

A million lamps in the blue;

But a lover he shall be it,

If one sweet maid is true.

Ten things you never knew about ....Love.

1. At a conference on love and attraction in Cardiff in 1999, love was defined as 'the cognitive-affective state characterised by intrutive and obessive fantasising concerning reciprocity of amorant feeling by the object of the amoranse'.

2. According to a recent survey, two per cent of people have fallen in love in a supermarket.

3 Slovenia is the only member of the United Nations that has 'love' as part of its name.

4. Friday takes its name from the Norse goddess of love: Freyia or Frigga.

5. A survey in 1999 revealed that Britons who make love on a foreign beach are more likely to be from Birmingham than anywhere else.

6. By way of explanation, one researcher said,"There aren't many beaches in Birmingham".

7. Church reformer Martin Luther recommended making love twice a week. More was lustful and less gave insufficient chance of conception.

8. Research suggests that the average person falls in love seven times before marriage.

9. Forty-six per cent of the flowers sent in Britain on Valentine's Day are roses.

10. "Love,n: A temporary insanity curable by marriage" (Ambrose Bierce, Devil's Dictionary).

Lost & Found (Milne's)

2010-02-07T10:54:00.016Z

Well, what can i say. I has received an Email last May from an old childhood school friend saying "Hello this is Lesley Milne can you remember our Dads used to share the driving from your house to school. Can you remember we used to stop at Buxton for a cold drink ( Chocolate & Doughnut with jam in the middle remember? ) and the man with a huge moustache ( like Jimmy Edwards ) he called us over and gave us half a crown each i think ......."

Well, what a surprise after 45 years, gosh that long ! So we have kept in touch and decided to arrange a meeting and what was more appropiate : the Mini Reunion at Wetherspoon last Christmas. So, news has got out and a few of Lesley's old friends has decided to come and what a success that day was. She has decided to stop on with us because she was really thoroughly enjoying herself with her new found friends (this is Needwood, Forever Friends ) and so late at night we went out for a meal with Jim Brown & Susan Ford. Lo and behold, it has started to 'Snow'. What a great way to end the night ! The way we were. 1958, our first Sport Day, showing our athletic prowess with our 'Rossettes'.

Mid Summer Party 1960.

Lesley and Cheryl Copeland, probably 1964 just before leaving Needwood to go to Mary Hare Grammer School.

Lesely with her best friend at Needwood, Mrs Helen Cottrill nee Maccallum.

The way we are 2009, 51 years later, meeting up for the first time. Gosh younger than ever !! Come on, be truthful.

Editor note; If any body have a similar story that you would like me to post on the Blog, please do contact me and I would be happy to do so.

Sunday Walks.

One Sunday my mother & 'aunty' set off from Nantwich to visit Coventry Cathedral. On their way back from Coventry they decided to pay me a surprised visit. They were driving along that stretch of road from Barton-under-Needwood to the New Inn when a car overtook them. They could see that it was going too fast & watched in horror when they saw it went out of control & ploughed into a group of children. They saw one child was knocked down onto the ground & that was ME ! (Margaret Chapple). What a shock for them when they saw it was me, so of course they imagined the worst when the stopped. Well luckily all I had was some cuts down the back of my legs. All I remember is a mighty loud bang behind me & I was lying on the ground. The car was lying upside down in a ditch ! Mr Williams was driving along the stretch of road & witness the accident too. My mother took me back to school to get myself attended to.

My memory cell is very small & what i don't remember is WHO was with me in that group of school children. I think there was 3 others with me. I think I was 12 - 14 so that would make it the year 1961 - 63. Can anybody enlighten me. Thank you.

Mrs Margaret Dorkins nee Chapple.

The Secret.

By George Edward Woodberry (1855-1930).

Nightingales warble about it,

All night under blossom and star;

The wild swans is dying without it,

And the eagle crieth afar;

The sun he doth mount but to find it,

Searching the green earth o'er;

But more doth a man's heart mind it,

Oh, more, more, more!

Over the gray leagues of ocean,

The infinite yearneth alone;

The forests with wandering emotion,

The thing they know not intone;

Creation arose but to see it,

A million lamps in the blue;

But a lover he shall be it,

If one sweet maid is true.

Needwood School.

We became school chums

In a grand house

With gardens, lakes and flowers

Woods, fields and trees.

Time to leave and say goodbyes

To the sheltered life

Part of our lives died

When life sees dark

So full of fears.

And hopes are filled with pain

When you feel lost

Upon life's path

Then guidance comes again.

Each passing phase

When all seems lost

Will turn around-you'll see

Then future hopes

And future strengths

Will flourish there to be.

For in your heart

You'll find the place

Where all you've lost will grow

When thoughts as wings

Upon the air

Into your life will flow.

When life returns

With love so bright

Ideas and hopes conceived

Remember then

In passing thoughts

What you've so far achieved

Your dreams of hope

Are shared by all

Their loving thoughts bestow

When times are hard

Don't give up hope

For doubts and fears will go.

School chums

Same upbringing

Feeling forgiven

Strong bonds in tow

Recall happy days

And happy times.

Always here to stay

We share our dreams

And hope

Upon life's path

Back to that sheltered place

Which we call home.

Linda Breeze nee Evans

Ten things you never knew about.... Yorkshire Puddings;

1, The earliest known reference to what is now known as Yorkshire pudding was in a book The Whole Duty Of A Woman written in 1737.

2, The first time it was called 'The Yorkshire pudding' in print was in 1747 in The Art of Cookery Made Plain And Easy by Hannah Glasse.

3, and the earliest citation in the Oxford English Dictionary for the abbreviation 'Yorkshire pud' dates back only to 1975.

4, Traditionally, Yorkshire pudding was eaten as separate course before the meat was served.

5, A 'Yorkshire Pudding Boat Race' was held in Bawby, Yorkshire, from 1999 to 2001.

6, The 3ft-long boats were madefrom Yorkshire pudding and coated with Yacht varnish.

7, The event was the brainchild of Simon Thackary. The group behind it has coptrighted the 'Yorkshire Pudding Boat Race' name.

8, If you throw sausages into the batter, it becomes'toad -in-the-hole'.9, Yorkshire Pudding Day was inauqurated in 2008 and is always held on the first Sunday in February.

10, The Restaurant at St Paul's Cathedral in London will be serving a special Yorkshire pudding lunch on Sunday (today the 7th) in honour of the dish.

William Hartston

James Brown Lifelong Ambition.

2009-12-31T16:41:00.034Z

Notices Jim's name plate on the Rocker cover ! Excellent.

Jim Brown regretted selling his Austin Cooper S so much that he decided to build the perfect replica. Martin Vincent reports. September 1996.

Jim Brown, a tall, quiet-spoken motor mechanic from Birmingham, is perhaps the archetypal Mini enthusiast. Jim has worked on Minis from the days when he started his apprenticship as a 16-year old at a small local garage--and has owned one for most of the years since. These days, Jim is just as enamoured with the charm of the Mini as ever, a fact that's clearly evident from the Cooper S replica featured here. To the casual observer, this is a particular well cared-for Austin Cooper S Mk1, though the keen eye will spot from the giveaway clues of the later-type concealed door hinges and wind-down windows that this one is actually a replica. Replica or not, Jim's beautifully details Mini, the culmination of 18 years of ownership, is a stunning example. Jim initially acquired PHA 151F back in 1977 on behalf of a friend who was looking for a Mini. It was a 1968 Austin Mk11 998cc, originally painted beige, but by that time it wore metallic blue paint with an oyester roof. The friend drove around in it for a while, but soon found the need for more power. "I had a a Mk1 Cooper at that time," explains Jim, "and i was becoming a bit disillusioned with it, for a number of reasons. Anyway, I was persuaded to part with my Cooper in exchange for PHA 151F plus some cash, and ran it for nine months or so, gradually realising how stupid I'd been to let the Cooper go. Soon, I came round to the idea of recreating in PHA 151F what I once had, and in so doing I was able to realise a lifelong abition - to build my own car." And so it was that the tail end of 1978 saw Jim seeking out various Cooper and Cooper S components in preparation for the rebuild. A solid base for the rebuild was found when a colleaque who was planning a similar project was persuaded to sell his prepared and painted Mk111 shell for £400. "It was finished in Ford colour called Jupiter Red, and I liked it I decided to keep it the same colour," says Jim. The shell, together with a spare 998cc Cooper engine that Jim already owned, made a fine starting point for the creation of his dream Mini. In the mean-time, various new and used Cooper bits were being added to the pool of resources, including a set of Cooper S dics and driveshafts. The S callipers were actually brand new, obtained from a neighbour who thought they were MGB items, while the Italian-made 10 in Minilite-style wheels were a birthday present from Jim's wife Jean. They're a little bit proud of the body-work, but not so much as to necessiate the fitting of wheelarches, which Jim dislikes anyway. Now shod with Yokohama A-008 rubber, they complement the classic lines of the car perfectly. The Cooper project was all beginning to come together nicely, but then a house moved put a stop to progress for a year or two and Jim's renovations switched to those of a bricks-and-mortar kind. So it was not until autumn 1982 that PHA 151F finally emerged onto Birmingham's streets, resplendent in its wine-red paint and with all-new red-piped, grey leather-look interior trim. And that's how it stayed for the next few years, apart from the addition of a black-painted roof with vinyl Britax sunroof. A new lease of life for Jim's Cooper replica began to take shape when he was invited to join the Birmingham Mini Owner's Club back in 1988. He began regularly to visit the Mini shows, and as the paintwork on the car was by this time beginning to deteriorate, Jim began the painstaking task of stripping all the paint back to bare metal in preparation for a top-class re-spray. Close examination for rust then followed, and the doors, boot and bonnet were replaced, as were the A-panels. Reward for all this work came in 1989 when the car was chosen as one of the group of Minis used for the Mini 30 photorgraph in the anniversary celebrations, and also for the filming sessions for the BBC documentary on the Mini. All this attention convinced Jim that perhaps he should lay the car up for the winters and save it as a show car used for fun, rather than drive it on an every day basis. But Jim still wasn't quite satisfied with his creation. It needed more power, a state of affairs that was soon changed when Jim came across a genuine Cooper S 1275 engine and gearbox. It needed a new crank and a rebuild, but it had a Stage 2 head. It was just what was needed. Being a mechanic, Jim carried out the engine build himself, but the block was bored to give a capacity of 1293cc and installed a Kent 626 cam. Other than the fitting of a Janspeed long centre branch exhaust and an alternator in place of the dynamo, it's standard right down to the twin 1.25 in SU carbs. This engine sounds and runs as sweet as a nut, a factor that Jim attributes partly to the dynamic balancing job carried out by Trevor Wilkinson of Halesowen. A flavour of originality has been enchanced by the use of the dark green finish for the block and head. It's actually a cellulose paint, applied by brush. Believe it or not, it hasn't needed repainting since the engine was fitted in 1989. It was soon after this that Jim took the plunge and entered his car for concours competitions. A couple of second placings gave encouragement to do more work on the detailing, and before long Jim was well and truly hooked. Scrutinise the car as it is now and the attention to detail has to be seen to be believed. Even those hidden away parts such as the chrome-plated driveshafts and ultra-slim wheel spacers don't escape Jim's attentions. In fact, all the suspension, brake and under-bonnet parts are either polished, chromed or epoxy powder-coated. No detail is too insignificant to be ignored. Many of the bolts, for example, have now been replaced by allen-head bolts with blue-anodised covers. The alloy castings for the Cooper S distributor and alternator are burnished to perfection, as are the stainless steel brake pipes and the custom-made brass Austin Cooper nameplate atop the rocker cover. Much of the brightwork adorning the nose of the car has been replaced, some with replica items, such as the Austin Cooper S Mk1 grille and badges. Those old-style Lucas PL headlamps are also retro items. This Delightful brew of old and new parts adds up to a particularly desirable Cooper S replica with a distinct stamp of character about it. Jim has spent many hours creating the car of his dreams. I reckon that the results prove that all that time and effort has paid off.

Heaven and Earth

Of pure ablution round earth's shores

The moving waters at their priest like task

Gazing on the new soft green mask

Or snow upon the new mountains and moors

Stars in velvet black sky enveloped the day

Till it is time to eat and pray

Until the passed day is ready to shine.

The day delight in sweet remembering

Live tapestries woven and completing

The sight of beauty form my eyes

Warm breaths, whispers and sweet voices

Man asks the world for grace

Thou art alive with fate

Am frightened with hateful thoughts

Of man's dark misdeed to do wrong

And to wreck havoc and destruction

For one's own good to change the world

To terror and evil darkness unknown.

Only for heavenly progenies

To restore our visions of the future

With calm, love, hope and peace

Open face of heaven to breathe

When from the heavens I saw

My heart took fire with pleasure

To feel forever the sweet unrest

It is heaven we rejoice

Warmth, whiteness and paradise

Our citadel timeless and full of light

And sweet godly victory to bind.

Written by Mrs Linda Breeze nee Evans.

Another 'Lost & Found' !

2009-12-08T21:16:00.018Z

I has received an E-mail last month from an old classmate Linda Evans, it was a great surprise !
Class of 1967-1968. Linda sitting at left.

An Autobiography by Ex Needwood old scholar Mrs Linda Breeze 'nee Evans'.

I attended Donnington Lodge, Newbury at the age of three, then went to Belle Vue Primary School when my family moved to Shrewsbury. Ian Turner and Helen Collins were in the same class as me (also Needwoodians). I was twelve when o attended Needwood School. Year 1963 to 1968. I remember a lot of teachers, Mr Overend, Mr Jones, Mr Redmond, Mr Silver, Mr Dalziel, Mr Williams, Mr Howells, Mr Armstrong, Mr Read, Mr Thomas, Mr Tucker, Mr Powell, Brother Richards, Mr Leese, Mr Bulkeley-Kirkham and finally Headmasters Mr Richard Barrett and Mr Eric Brown. The female teachers were Mrs Bulkeley-Kirkham, Miss Bombroff, Miss Aldred, Miss Allen, Miss Blythe, Miss Myall, Miss Waite, Miss Woodward, Miss Clarke and i can't think of anyone else and the Housemothers were Miss Bailey, Miss Dolman and Miss Hodgekiss. When i left school i went to work in a Silhouette Factory as a sewing machinist. Then at a Metal Factory as a piece worker (Ian Turner and his Dad worked there on night shifts). I left home for good (my father has been working at GKN in Wellington during the day time to start with, then did a lot of night shifts. He had been there for so many years until he died). I then became a Postulant at the St Francis of Assissi Convent near Yeovil before moving to the convent of Sisters of Charity in Bristol until i became a novice. As i had no where to live when i left, so worked as a chambermaid at Linton Lodge Hotel in Oxford before moving to work at the Savoy looking after the famous Celebrities's Suites and meeting them. Among them were Rita Hayworth, Bianca Jagger and her daughter Jade, Muhammed Ali, Rock Hudson and Louis Jordan. I left the Savoy to get married to a porter who worked there. I have had several jobs like being a Housekeeper then Medical Records Clerk at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford before i finally became Secretary to a group of Lecturers and Professors in the Department of Statistics in Reading University. I met someone else and had two children and have been a home maker since. I now live in Newcastle upon Tyne having been on my own for a number of years with my son Emery aged 15 years. I am now 58 years young and remember so many pupils including Moray Seni, Shelia Price and Jean Caddick. My favourite friends were Jane Tasker and Helen MacCallum who i stayed with for a few weekends while at school. I stayed with Helen Collins and played with her before i attended Needwood. We have not spoken to each other since. I would like to have contact with all those who knew me at Needwood especially Kay Norman. Linda Evans.

Mrs Ruth Bulkeley-Kirkham write in 'The Derbyshire Magazine' Bygones.

Many thanks to Mrs Kay Callow for E-mailing the newspaper cutting to me.

Autumn Song

By Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923).

Now's the time when children's noses,

all become as red as roses.

And the colour of their faces,

makes me think of orchard places.

Where the juicy apples grow,

and tomatoes in a row.

And to-day the hardened sinner,

never could be late for dinner.

But will jump up to the table,

just as soon as he is able.

Ask for three times hot roast mutton-

oh ! the shocking little glutton.

Come then. find your ball and racket,

pop into your winter jacket.

With the lovely bear-skins lining,

while the sun is brightly shining.

Let us run and play together,

and just love the autumn weather.

I Who All The Winter Through.

By Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1895).

I who all the winter through

cherished other loves than you,

And kept hands with hoary policy in marriage-bed and pew;

now i know the false and true,

For the earnest sun looks through,

and my old love comes to meet me in the dawning and the dew.

Now the hedged meads renew

rustic odour, smiling hue.

And the clean air shines and tinkles as the world goes wheeling through

And my heart springs up anew

bright and confident and true.

And my old love comes to meet me in the dawning and the hue.

White Hart.

White Hart

In the bent and broken grasses where the frost has starched the trees.

Something white and spectral passes through the December days.

With a sun all rouged and lazy as an actor drunk on stage.

Hardly designs to make the daylight now the old year turns the page.

White Hart, captured in a clearing watchful in the forest fern.

With the winter soistice nearing searching for the sons of Herne.

For the moment, nothing's stirring in a birless, silent sky.

Just a breathless camera whirring while the creature passes by.

Vanishing beyond the trees in December days like these.

Needwood trip to School Camps / Sailing at Chasewater

2009-10-30T22:17:00.023Z

Sailing at Chasewater, Cannock.

September 25th 1965. The first of my three outings to Chasewater, not knowing what to expect ! An adventure on the High Seas, well near enough, it was a reservior.

We arrived at our Chalet (the next 2 years, we we're camping in tents) which was our lodging for the duration of the course, one for the Boys and one for the Girls. Two of our Teachers, Mr Williams and Miss Allen were our Supervisors for our week stay.

After breakfast, is the daily inspection of the camps by the Camp Warden and then the ritual of raising the Union Jack up the flag-pole ( we didn't have the 'Jolly Roger' then !).

Our class room was the Mess (where we have our meals, study and evening activities with other school childrens). Now to learn how to sail a boat, what fun ! Oh, there's a big Bell hanging from the roof, and a board with the rules (punishments) of the house by the code of the '7' Bells ? Crikey, talking about walking the plank !

The life-jacket we were given to wear was heavy, bulky and large. I thought it was more than likely to drown us than it was meant to keep us afloat ! One day to my suprise, my boat capsized while practicing a maneuver, ditching my crew-woman and myself into the water. Wow, it was warm, luckily i was standing in 3 feets of water. WE'RE SAVED !!!

The Seven Bells ; The first bong of the bell did not take long to be activated, when at meal time on the first day, it had got rather noisy that the Camp Warden stood up and rang the bell. BONG ! not once, not twice but three times 'code 3', the Three Hills (i think) we had to run there and back, panting and out of breath ! More like climbing Ben Nevis !! Another time, some lads played a prank by getting us up early one morning, the Camp Warden wasn't best impress and gave us 7 Bells ! We had to run the full circumference of Chasewater Reservior ! Ouch !!

I was suprised to receive a letter during the week while i was at Chasewater ! It came from 2 of my best friends, they managed to acquire a typewriter to composed the letter (as seen below, naturally in good English, i wonder if their grammar had improved since !) and had it posted to me. I was really chuffed. Thanks pals.

Footnote ;

To Brian. Suprise ! Yes, i do still have the letter that you and Glyn wrote to me as you can see above. You must have been about 12 then, just a nipper ! Thanks mate.

To Glyn. If you are reading this, get in touch mate, long time no see !!!

If anybody would like to write to me about there time at Needwood or trips with photos to be included on Needwood News, please do send them and i will be happy to add them on to the Blog.

Name the mystery Old Needwoodian !

2009-09-27T21:53:00.025+01:00

Who are the following Needwood Old Boys !!!
Answers anybody ?

The picture below is Alan Cane who came to Needwood in 1959.

Thanks to Jim Brown for the details.

Scottish Dancing by Miss Bombroff.

This is a picture from 1958.

Anybody recognised themselves ? This is a picture from 1960.

From Marie George, Eileen Talton, ?, Wendy Lambourne : ???? Does anybody recognised themselves ?

This picture was taken in 1962 in the Assembly Room.

From the left is; Elizabeth Haywood, Celia Foster, Moray Seni, Yvonne Styche, Valerie Rolands, Brenda Taylor, Hilda James, Olive Henry with Miss Bombroff at the centre.

The Late Keith Floyd.

A recipe not to be used in everyday cooking unless you have a very 'disgruntled, dissatisfied and a bloody pest of a customer' !!!

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun.

Conspiring with him how to load and bless.

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;

To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel;

to set budding more,

And still more,

later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For summer has o'er brimmed their clammy cells.

Needwood Sporting Days.

2009-08-15T19:38:00.033+01:00

Needwood School, sporting events and achievements.

Boys Football team, winners of The Denmark Cup in 1980.
They played Whitebrooke from Manchester with the fianl score 4-3 in our favour. The scorers were Adam Hodge-2, Mark Lunn and Stephen Bent. The line up is : Adam Hodge, Scott Furley, Mark Lunn, Errol Haughton (goalkeeper), Stephen Smith, David Rutter, PE Teacher Mr Stubbins. Sitting : Joseph Vieira, Gary Hollins, Philip John (captain), Martin Kemble and Stephen Bent.
Many thanks to Adam Hodge for the details.

Needwood House Athletic team, winners of 1982.

Boys Cricket team, winners of The Shorrock Cup 1980 (?). Beating Derby, Manchester and Longwill schools.
Any body got any further details for me to add ?

Boys Football team, winners of the The Denmark Cup in 1970, beating the Stoke school by 7 goals to 1 at Derby school sport field. Wow !! Some achievement and what a goal feast. They played Bolton, Braidwood on the way to the final. The scorers were Jimmy Lamb, Stephen Wilkinson-2, Bruce Findley-3, and an own goal !

The line up is (may not be in order?) Robert Devey, Peter Powe, Stephen Wilkinson, Jimmy Lambe, Timothy Clarke, Robert Stevenson, Gareth Jones ,Mr Howell (coach), Kneeling Christopher Swift, Neil Baker, Bruce Findley (captain), George Twist (goalkeeper), Neil Baker. Missing is Andrew Lynch as subtituite(was acting linesman on the day of the final) Wondered how our team scores so many goals !!!.

That a hat-trick ! (wondered if this is the first in the Denmark Cup ?) in this competition !!! And Bruce Findley may be the only player to have played in all 3 Finals !
Many thanks to Peter Wallace for the details.

I also understand that the Needwood football team has won the Denmark Cup again in 1969 ! I assume that Brian Ashley, Micheal Jedras, Robert Devey, Wallace Jones, Kevin James, Bruce Findley, Micheal Green and probably Roy Cope as goalkeeper would be in the line up with new players of 1970 team ? Do anybody have any information or pictures ?

Girls Netball team, winners of The Stella Lewis Cup in 1968. Having played Whitebrooke,

Manchester and then Birkdale into the final .

The line up is : Helen Graham, Jean Kitchen, Dorothy Barber, Gina Harridence, Sonia Wincott, kneeling are Blanche Graham, Pamela Drury and Ann Bowler.
Many thanks to Helen Chapman for the details.

Boys Football team, winners of The Denmark Cup in 1968. Having played Bolton, Birmingham, Manchester (i'm a bit vague about the teams we played on the way to the final ?)and in the final Birkdale scoring 3 goals without reply at Stoke school sport field. The scorers were Kevin James-2 and maybe Mario Lamano ?

The line up is : Kevin James, Robert Devey, David Hobbs (goalkeeper), Gulzer Khoker, Mario Lammano, Roy Cope, Mr Howell (coach), kneeling are Micheal Jedras, Bruce Findlay, Wallace Jones (captain), Brian Ashley and Micheal Green.

Boys Football team, 1962/3 ?

Had anybody got any details about this photo ? Would appreciate your input.

Standing : ?, Stephen Alderson, John Jones ?, John Buchannon, David Price, Peter Flower.

Kneeling : Ian Turner, Kieth Miller, Colin Heath, John Fotherby and David Goyns.

Old Before Your Time

Older, lad ? You've no idea

It only goes downhill from here

Your body will be first to say

Its architecture leads the way

When downstairs flat

convert to bay.

And colour scheme

reverts to grey

Now that which once grew

thick on top

And cluttered up

the barbershop

Sprouts raggedly

from cracks and nooks

Where these days,

no one ever looks.

And what firm must

now hang down

All shrouded in a dressing gown

A woolly world from this point on

With half your filling cabinet gone

Old wkatisname or whatsername

Looks half-famillar in the frame

Alas, no clue can ever come

The mirror's keeping

strictly schtum.

While you become

your dad or mum.

Since time, the vandal,

moves bt stealth

Enjoy it, while you have

your health.

Technology

2009-07-11T21:52:00.022+01:00

Cash crisis forces deaf users to hang up on phone service.

Although the technology is in place, British hearing-impaired people are being denied access to a modern phone relay service. By Cathy Heffernan.

Imagine arriving at work to find that your phone has been taken away while your colleagues still have theirs. And one year on, you're still without a phone.

That's what happened to Simon Pearse and Alan Goldsmith last November. Pearse, an actuary who is hard of hearing, stated using a technology called captioned telephony (CapTel, at captionedtelephone.com) to make calls after his company switched to a digital phone system on which he found it difficult to hear clearly. In captioned telephony calls, an operator turns the voice of the hearing caller into captions on the phone of the deaf caller using voice recognition software. Put simply, it is a phone with subtitles.

Goldsmith, a manager at DSM, a global chemical company, says the system enabled him "to have real telephone conversation. In fact, some people who know me had thought my hearing had returned!" The two men are not alone. An Ofcom feasibility report into relay services found that between 420,000 and 1.2 million people have difficulty in using voice telephony. While many are elderly and could be put off by new technology such as CapTel, the potential uptakes is still huge.

Hello operator?

However, relay phone services depend on subsidies to remain affordable for customers : it is adding the human operators that drives up the cost. As Ross Trotter, vice-chairman of the National Association of Deafened People, told the BBC recently : "For hearing people, a phone call costs a penny a minute. For a deaf person using a video or captioned relay service, the cost is nearly £1 a minute".

Although CapTel is alive and well in the US, in the UK the service was subsidies by government funding that cost between £70 and £600 per user. This confined the service to working hours, and not enough people used it and the service closed down last November (bit.ly/captel2) after 18 months, with nothing to replace it.

"I stopped using the phone," Pearse says. But this got TAG (tagcomm.org.uk)-an action group campaigning for better telecom services at fair prices for deaf people-going. The closure of a number of phone relay services in the past few years, including CapTel, prompted people like Ruth Myers, who chair TAG to start a campaign, "Bringing
Deaf Telecoms into the 21st century". TAG is a consortium of organisations lobbying for better telecommunications for deaf people, and is now calling for a review of the current phone relay funding structure, which only covers Typetalk, a phone relay system introduced in 1991.

Typetalk is the dinosaur of phone relay systems. Jeff Whinney, chief executive of the SignVideo interpreting service, explains : "More companies are switching over to digital telephony networks, which makes traditional analogue textphones redundant unless special adaptations are placed within the networks to accommodate them. Second, the last company to sell textphones-Teletec International ceased trading in 2007 and all textphones have to be imported."

For all technology advancement in the past 15 years, there has been no real improvement in access to the phone system for people with hearing difficulties since Typetalk was introduced. Legislation obliges the government to fund Typetalk calls so they can be at the same phone rates as on voice calls. However, despite lobbying by TAG of Ofcom, the department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR)-the former DTI-BT and other leading telecoms providers, no funding has been set aside to ensure that other more efficient relay services which have come into play since legislation was passed have been made affordable-the main reason why they couldn't survive in the UK.

Myers says : "Four decades after telephones became commonplace in British households, many deaf and hard-of-hearing people still struggles to use the telephone network and some cannot use it at all".

'Basic human right'

In contrast in the US, where the onus for universal services in telecommunications is on the industry, all phone customers are charged a small levy which is used to provide captioned telephony and other relay services, allowing companies to offer deaf people phone services at the same rates as other people. Additionally, deaf people in the US can choose from several kinds of relay systems.

Email, chat software and text messaging have, without a doubt, made the workplace (and the world, for that matter) more accessible.

But what happens, when you come across a technology glitch on your internet banking? You are given a voice phone number to call. And there's hardly a 999 email address, is there? It's true what Claudio Pollack, the director of consumer policy in Ofcom : "Access to a phone call is a basic human right".

Pearse and Goldsmith say CapTel allowed them to achieve their potential in the workplace. Goldsmith has reverted to using Typetalk while Pearse has to ask colleagues to take note at conference calls. "I fell a bit of a burden doing this," he says.

Christopher Jones, the director of AccEque Ltd, a company that offers consultancy services in telecommunications for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, agrees : "We are in an extremely poor state for accessibilty and quality for deaf people with telecommunication access. This is affecting deaf people's performance in the workplace." In parliamentary reception last October, Malcolm Bruce MP. Whoose daughter is deaf, describe the lack of modernised phone relay services as "an increasing and unintended form of discrimination that must be rectified". The technology is available to allow deaf and hard-of-hearing people this to be rectified. Now, the will-and the money-need to be found.

What on my line?

Typetalk Deaf people have been using "minicoms" (textphones) to make calls for decades, but they could not be used to call voice phones. The idea of a relay system, where an operator would relay between textphones and regular phones, emerged. The UK's version, Typetalk, launched in 1991. However its analogue machines do not work with digital phone systems-making it unsuitable for workplace.

Talk-by-Text A PC application that allows text calls to be made and received-like Typetalk, a relay system. Faster, but only works on PC's not Macs and users complain that it's difficult to deduce emotion from text-based relay calls.

SignVideo Deaf users call the Sign-Video on a videophone, connecting to an interpreter who pops up on their screen. The interpreter makes their call, relaying between the videophone and voice phone.

CapTel Uses the voice recognition (VR) software. An operator re-voices the hearing person's dialogue into VR software, turning it into text. The web version lets people make calls anywhere, as long as they have a computer and phone. It can even work using a BlackBerry or mobile phone.

Wax, Technology, from the pages of 'RNID' One in Seven.

2009-06-05T22:06:00.015+01:00

Due to unforeseen circumstance's, i have been unable to update the Blog with new material this past month.
I am now back online, so, bear with me while i add some new materials for publishing. Editor

The Secret Millionaire.

2009-05-25T10:56:00.012+01:00

Hilary Devey apartment at Rangemore Hall, very luxurious, elaborate and scrumptious !!! Anybody recognise where the rooms were ?

All the fun at the Fair.

2009-04-05T21:38:00.022+01:00

The Needwood School Fancy dress party.

That night our Housemothers help us to create and make various outfits to compete for prizes and to be judged by our Teachers. I remember Glynn Jones won a prize by staging a sit down with a banner 'Ban the Bomb' in the middle of Assembly Hall floor calling out "ban the bomb, ban the bomb, waving his banner" while the rest of us would walk round in circles as each of the contestants would be eliminated until there were none of us left standing ! Yes, that him still sitting on the floor !!!

All dressed up and ready to..... Where is our ship ???? Recognise anybody ?

The year 1976 Saturday June 26th. Enjoying the day out at Needwood summer fair, a chance to catch up and see whose's around.

Look at those 'Flares' trousers aren't they HUGE !!! Dorothy could only afford one half, so used it at a skirt ?

The Autumn Garden party at Needwood, situated on the 'Infants' playing fields. Mr Jimmy Edward was expected to declare the Garden Fete open but was unable to come ? Drat, i was looking forward to seeing him in the flesh.

Did anybody 'Beat the Bell' ? I couln't, maybe i was too small ??? My favourite trip on the Minature Train puffing along the narrow gauge track. What fun !!!

I remember the 'Coconut Shy, David Brooker and I came away with one each as our prize. Was our teeth very strong to crack it ?

The India House

by Thomas Love Peacock (1785-1866)

From ten to eleven, have breakfast for seven;

From eleven to noon, think you've come too soon

From twelve to one, think what's to be done;

From one to two, find nothing to do;

From two to three, think it will be a very great bore to stay till four.

The Tewlve Months

by George Ellis (1753-181

Snowy, Flowy, Blowy, Showery, Flowery, Bowery

Hoppy, Croppy, Droppy, Breezy, Sneezy, Freezy.

Technology/ More Hearing Aids

2009-03-28T19:03:00.014Z

From the pages of RNID, One in Seven.

Telemole Subtitle Recorder through VCR, early 1990's.

This was a fiddling contraption to use, it had 4 buttons for programming (date & times), But the box rest ontop of the VCR which meant you have to be on your hands and knees to program the recording ? Guess what ? No remote control ? At the same time, your VCR have to be programs with exact details in order to get Subtitles on your video cassette !!!! Argh

Ann Jedras 'Philips KL6510' 1960. Body wearing hearing aid.

Helen Chapman's 'Philips Barrette KL6000' hair slide design hearing aid 1959, made in the Netherlands. Supplied by the National Health while living in Ireland.

Lost and Found

2009-03-12T21:50:00.027Z

Staff and Pupils' football team.

Mr Redmond and Peter.

Then and Now.

Teresa Procter at 5 years old (above) and now below with friends from Needwood.

Jim had lost direction ?

Sport Day 1959.

Anybody recognised themself ?

If any old scholars would like to add pictures such as above or better still, send me your favourite pictures & the 'occasion/event'. Just write to me at googlemail.

Incident at the Pond / Early Hearing Aids

2009-02-08T18:45:00.014Z

Mr Jim Brown has post a comments about the Hearing aids, he ask where was the Audiology Room and who was the teacher's who did the repairs and issues batteries ?

Can anybody remember Mr Shaw ( not sure if the name is right ,i think Mr Sharpe is more familar ?)doing a stint in the middle sixies. Any names for the Fifties, Sixies, Seventies and Eighties ???

The Audiology room, where was it ? Any comments !!! Somewhere overlooking the Girls section of the Covered Way as looking through the window !

Medresco on Right. The BW61 in middle. The Be 51 at centre bottom.

The Monopak on Left. The Medresco and battery case on right.

The Day was Monday the 13th, the Month was January, the Year was 1958. This was the day when I was admitted to Needwood School for the Partially Deaf.
The drive through those big gates off the main road all the way to the car park outside the Headmasters office and you look up and see a huge gigantic house in front of you ! As a 6 year old 'Infant', you are guided inside an awesome labyrinth of corridors, high ceilings, massive fireplaces, numerous classrooms and dormitories !

Happy days when we were 'Infants'. In fact, in my first year, we spent many days exploring the grounds surrounding the school. We were chaperoned by either our Teacher or Housemother mainly at weekends. One incident that still bears with me after all these years was a good soaking I got at the pond. The pond in question was as you see in the picture, at the end of the walkway from the car park next to the Headmaster's office. There was a group of us 'Infants' on a tour and we stood on the pond edge, when someone whom I know, gave me the elbow ! Next, I was sitting at the bottom of the pond ! I think my housemother (Miss Johnson if am correct) had to give me a change of clean clothes but my hearing aid suffered the worse of a ducking !!

"Ms Kitching had to write a letter to my parent and this is what she wrote: Rangemore Hall, Burton-on-Trent. 3. 2. 58. Am sorry to tell you that David has had a mishap with his hearing aid. Apparently, he slipped into a small pond on Saturday morning and got his hearing aid all wet. David seems to be no worse for the wetting, but the hearing aid has suffered, and it will have to be send away for repair. It is quite likely that the clinic will not return the Monopak, but will issue the ordinary Medresco with a bag. I hope this dosen't happen, as the Monopak is so much easier to wear. there is supposed to be a general issue of Transistor hearing aids to all children next September, but that is rather a long time to wait. Anyway, we must hope for the best. Yours Sincerel, M Kitching."

The Medresco became a smaller model that we were able to wear in our pocket to the day we left school. Well , since those days, technology has advance so much that the hearing aids are available in different styles: in the ear, over the ear and cochlea implant to name a few, but are any of these waterproof ?

Footnote;

The 1950's;

Monopak/ol 44x: This was issued to me by the Halifax Hearing Aid centre. This model had a battery compartment in the hearing aid and a lead to the receiver/earmould, so was easy to carry about.

Medresco/ol 35a: This was the standard issue to Needwood School at the time. This model was in 2 part, the battery power pack in a leather carrying case (plus & negative terminal !) with a lead to the hearing aid, then a lead from the hearing aid to the receiver/earmould !

The 1960's;

A later model, a Medresco/ol 58, a pocket size model (beige colour) powered by an AAA size battery inside the hearing aid.

I would be interested to hear how old Scholars (pre 1958) were able to managed with the early Medresco or any earlier models ?

Would you belive it ! I still have all the models, from the Monopak to the present day ?

This is an extract from the NOSA Newsletter 1989.

Early Hearing Aids

As Micheal Caine would say'NOW NOT A LOT PEOPLE KNOW THIS'. Did you know that the earliest hearing aids were ear trumpets of animal horns to concentrate sound ? The first instrument to amplify sound electronically was used by Queen Alexandra who was deaf at the time of the Coronation of King Edward VII in 1902. It was mains powered and very cumbersome. Little did the King and Queen realise that when the visted Rangemore Hall in 1902, that it would one day be a co-educational school for the partially hearing ! Alas history does not record what Queen Alexandra thought of the worlds first electronic hearing aid ! Perhaps like Queen Victoria she was not amused !!!
Dan Medicott

More Memories of the Rough Slopes !

2009-01-27T18:43:00.010Z

Hide & Seek and Snogging !!!

Having seen this picture and also read a comments by Suzi Wong* of what she had mention about the Girls taking their Boyfriends into the woods for a SNOG !!!

Can anyone recall a game for Boys & Girls, where (Neigh lad, what is that horse doing?) the boys stand behind the tree and count probably to 100?
Meanwhile, the girls run off into the woods to Hide. When the boys have counted, they set off in all direction to Seek their favourite girl ?

The game idea, is for the boy to Tag the girl in order to be rewarded with a Kiss ! That if he can catch her !!!
And also, if it's successful. We reverse the roles and start again, what fun.

Does this jog any Old Needwoodian's memories or can you correct me ? Come on Post your comments and get communicating!!!

* Suzi Wong ? She must be a very shy,reserving timid young lady hiding herself behind an "alias" ! (Believe me not !) Know what i mean Sus... Ooops, nearly let the cat out of the bag ! (Anyway, who were you snogging? Hand up Boys).

Youth and Age by George Arnold (1834-1865)

Youth hath many charms,-
Hath many joys, and much delight;

Even its doubts, and vague alarms,
By contrast make it bright;

And yet - and yet - forsooth,
I love Age as well as Youth!

Well, since i love them both,
The good of both i will combine,

In women, i will look for Youth,
And look for Age, in wine:

And then - and then - i'll bless
This twain that gives me happiness!

It dropped so low in my regard by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

It dropped so low in my regard i heard it hit the ground,

And go to pieces on the stones at the bottom of my mind;

Yet blamed the fate that fractured,less than i reviled myself

For entertaining plated wares upon my silver shelf.

The big kitchen garden at Rangemore Hall

2009-01-10T18:15:00.007Z

These glass palaces, as some called them, were hideously expensive to run but they were a badge of presige. At Rangemore in Burton-on-Trent, which belonged to the brewers Bass, there were forty glasshouse, with three and a half miles of pipes, and three huge boilers. Inside, the work was hot and long and hard, a perpetual anxiety. The boilers called for hefty-armed stoking, and the complicated systems of pipes needed delicate regulation with the stopcock and valves. Too hot and the plants would fry; too cold and they would shrivel; too humid and they would rot. Without wind or bees, there were problems of pollinations and the gardeners had to run with the brushes from one flower to the next. But the glasshouse staff took great pride in displaying their wonderous produce.

Memories of Summer days on the Rough Slopes.

I have been reading a book entitled "A Little History of British Gardening" by Jenny Uglow. There was a reference to the Big Kitchen Garden and the Glasshouse at Rangemore Hall. This jogged my memory. Adjacent to the perimeter boundary walls were the Rough Slopes.

I remembered the times we spent here in the evening playing Cowboys & Indians, War Games, Hide & Seek etc, also our favourite pass time: building a den. We used planks of wood to build a roof over the hollowed ground onto the red brick wall.

After the summer holidays, back on the slope, we would find our den had been flattened. "Blamed it on the Rangemore boys!" We used to say. We would rebuild it, nip over the wall to pick some apples from the orchard. Then, enjoy our spoils back at the den! Bliss!

Can anybody recall their time on the Rough Slopes?

Poems

2008-12-30T18:37:00.004Z

The Old Year

The Old Year's gone away to nothingness and night: We cannot find him all the day nor hear him in the night: He left no footstep, mark or place in either shade or sun: The last year he'd a neighbour's face, in this he's known by none. All nothing everywhere: Mists we on mornings see have more of substance when they're here and more of form than he. He was a friend by every fire, in every cot and hall-a guest to every heart's desire, and now he's nought at all. Old papers thrown away, old garments cast aside, the talk of yesterday, are things identified; But time once torn away no voices can recall: The eve of New Year day left the Old Year lost to all.
By John Clare (1793-1864)

The Year

What can be said in New Year rhymes, that not been said a thousand times? The new years come, the old years go, we know we dream, we dream we know. We rise up laughing with the light, we lie down weeping with the night. We hug the world until it stings, we curse it then and sigh for wings. We live, we love, we woo, we wed, we wreathe our brides, we sheet our dead. We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear, and that's the burden of the year.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919)

Technology

2008-12-27T17:48:00.005Z

From the pages of RNID.

Products for deaf and hard of hearing people, to view;

RNID/Solutions; www.rnid.org.uk/shop

Connevans; www.connevans.com/

Humorous Xmas card of 2007

2008-12-15T18:11:00.007Z

Many thanks to Janyce & Brian Ashley for sending this card to me.

This had brightened up my day with a laugh.

Had anyone got a better one for 2008?

The NSOSA committee wish all Needwoodians a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.