Events - Celebration events to mark 125 years of Hucknall Library

CELEBRATION events to mark the 125th anniversary of Hucknall Library are set to come thick and fast over the coming months.

The Market Place venue was built in 1886 at a cost of £2,000, although the official opening was delayed until the following year because of a lack of books.

Staff are continuing celebrations of the landmark with a talk by Annesley Woodhouse author Martin Weiss on Saturday March 17.

His presentation will cover 250 years of history in 30 minutes with a focus on mining and railways.

Other attractions lined up later this month (on dates to be announced) include a visit by thriller author Stephen Booth and a schools’ visit aimed at bringing the world of books to life.

A talk by a Nottingham archivist is scheduled for Friday March 23.

Well-known Hucknall historian Maureen Newton will host a question-and-answer session on Friday April 13.

On Friday May 18, the anniversary celebrations take flight with a talk on Nottinghamshire’s aviation heritage by Howard Heeley, of the Newark Air Museum.

And then an illustrated talk, entitled ‘Byron And Sport’ by Ralph Lloyd-Jones, on Friday June 8 will coincide with the Hucknall-based International Byron Festival.

From: http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/community/celebration-events-to-mark-125-years-of-hucknall-library-1-4316727

Book - New book explores life at local coal face

OUR district’s rich seam of mining history is the subject of a new book released on Saturday.

‘Coal Mines Remembered 2’ is Annesley Woodhouse mining expert Martin Weiss’s second book on the subject of mines and features scores of photos from local pits and plenty of first-hand accounts of work underground.

Mr Weiss, formerly Chad’s coal industry expert and who later worked for the Coal Board, said he had researched the new book for two years and gathered tales from local mine workers.

“We were world leaders in mining technology in this area, during the 70s and and 60s, and at one time visitors would fly in from all over the world to see how things were done.

“The book is mainly about local pits, but there are tales from further afield, too.”

Among the memories is an account of the explosion at Sutton Colliery in 1957, which killed five men and injured many more.

The booked is priced £12.99 and Martin is signing copies of it at Sutton Library on Saturday morning between 10am and midday.

Sutton Library manager Gail Renshaw said: “Martin’s books are always popular and entertaining and his coal mining titles fill a valuable gap in local publishing.”

There will be another signing at Kirkby’s Conservation Society shop in Kingsway on Tuesday morning, 13th December.

Mr Weiss would like anyone interested in contributing to a third book in the series to contact him on Mansfield 754844.

“I am keen to record as much as possible about local coal mining so if any readers have fresh tales to pass on I’d be delighted to listen as another mining book is a distinct possibility.”

From: http://www.chad.co.uk/lifestyle/new_book_explores_life_at_local_coal_face_1_4015283