Events - Lunchtime lectures return (Eastwood)

LUNCHTIME lectures will return to Eastwood this month with a presentation on the history of Annesley at the DH Lawrence Heritage Centre.

Local historian, David Amos will talk about Annesley Hall, the Chaworth and Chaworth-Musters families, as well as the newly renovated ruins at the Grade 1 listed Annesley Old Church.

The talk on May 18 will start at 11am and displays will be on show for the Annesley Old Church Project. The Project Story Group will be doing a story telling session from 1.30pm.

Standard admission costs just £2.50, £2.00 for Broxtowe Leisure Card Holders and £1.50 with a DH Lawrence Annual Membership.

from: http://www.eastwoodadvertiser.co.uk/news/eastwood-kimberley-news/lunchtime-lectures-return-1-4509871?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

News - Community honour (Richard Dodge)

A MEMBER of Eastwood’s Royal British Legion has been awarded for his outstanding work in the community.

Richard Dodge, who worked tirelessly to help restore three war memorials, was one of just 11 people county-wide honoured at Nottinghamshire County Council’s Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) award ceremony.

Mr Dodge said: “I’m delighted to accept this award on behalf of my colleagues at The Royal British Legion.

“The funding that the Local Improvement Scheme has given over the last seven years has been invaluable and as a result we have helped restore many of the county’s memorials to former glory.

“I’ve been only too happy to help with research and to access records needed for plaques and dedication boards.

“I think the greatest pleasure is when families have a chance to pay their respects at the newly restored or newly created memorials – they really do appreciate the work that has gone in from all involved.”

The ex-town councillor spent several years researching the names of soldiers missing off Eastwood war memorial with the assistance of Rita Restorick – leading to the re-dedication service last August to officially install the 62 new names.

He also worked hard to restore Worksop and Colwick war memorials that were in a state of disrepair.

But Mr Dodge added: “My research on the Eastwood War Memorial still continues though because I still have not been able to identify the exact service personnel listed on the obelisk as Henry Anthony and James Ford, even though I have traced many servicemen with these names from the First and Second World Wars.

“Once I have identified these two named servicemen I will be able to complete a Memorial book I am putting together for the people of Eastwood. “

If anybody has any exact information on these two servicemen, you can contact Mr Dodge by email on valandian@ntlworld.com or by mobile on 07958 516130.

From: http://www.eastwoodadvertiser.co.uk/news/eastwood-kimberley-news/community_honour_1_3550877

News - Nottingham University saves DH Lawrence centre (Eastwood)

A £100,000 grant from the University of Nottingham will help save an embattled heritage centre dedicated to author DH Lawrence.

The future of Durban House in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire - where Lawrence collected his miner father's pay - has been in doubt for three years.

University spokesman Karen Cox said the centre would be used for summer schools, lectures and exhibitions.

It will continue to be run by Broxtowe Borough Council.

 

"We have been working with Broxtowe Borough Council on this for years… through lectures and the annual DH Lawrence Festival," Mrs Cox said.

"We want to do more work out in local communities. We will look to use Durban House as a base to work with local schools and colleges." 

The university has a collection of Lawrence's letters, photographs and writings.

Day-to-day operation of the centre will remain with the council, which will restore Saturday opening to make Durban House more accessible.

Durban House was built in 1896 for the Barber Walker mining company which employed Lawrence's father.

It has exhibits on the author's life and copies of his most controversial book, Lady Chatterley's Lover, as well as photographs and displays on Eastwood.

The DH Lawrence Centre was visited by more than 30,000 people in 2009 but cost about £150,000 a year to run.

Lawrence, who studied at the University of Nottingham from 1906-08, was born in 1885 in Eastwood. He died in 1930

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-12829228

 

Vacuum cleaner museum curator hails first year success

James Brown said: "I've had a lot of interest. More than I initially predicted. I'm quite happy."

Since opening in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, 12 months ago the independent museum has received international media coverage and visitors from across the country. 

Mr Brown said he had been kept busy doing interviews with over 20 radio stations, from BBC Radio Nottingham to CBS in America. 

His collection has featured in the Sunday Telegraph, The Daily Mail and Chat Magazine among other magazines. 

The curator has welcomed BBC Children's TV cameras into his museum, which houses his private collection of over 100 classic and vintage models dating back to 1919. And one of Mr Brown's 1960s vacuum cleaners is to star in BBC period comedy drama Rock and Chips.

James said the extensive press had led to many kindred spirits visiting Eastwood, with families "making a day trip of it", parents having been persuaded by enthusiastic children. "Mainly it's been boys," he said. "Younger children have an attraction to machines, anything that moves.

"I've had a family from Hull, a family from Birmingham, a family from Sheffield, a family from Chesterfield..." 

Mr Brown, 31, first became interested in vacuum cleaners himself at the age of four. He started his collection at the age of eight. But unlike many children James' passion has not waned and his private collection has continued to grow. He said having the museum has helped, with his favourite new addition being a Hoover 160."A woman was cleaning out her mum's loft and found it. She'd heard about my museum and wanted it to go somewhere where they wouldn't be got rid of. Her husband came all the way from down south to drop it in."I've had quite a few stories like that," he said. 

James is still looking for several models to complete his collection. The avid collector said: "I want to complete a line-up of the main Electrolux models. The Z100 is one of the main Electroluxes I don't have."The Spinney 800 cylinder I used to have as a child."Then there's one or two other 80s machines like an Electrolux Elite," he added.  The businessman, who originally received a grant from The Prince's Trust to set up his shop and museum, said he hopes to build on his early success in 2011. 

Mr Vacuum Cleaner museum, 58 Nottingham Road, Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, is open from Monday to Saturday. Entry is free.

 

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/nottingham/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_9349000/9349666.stm