Taylors of Loughborough and more!

This week has been another of those rollercoaster type weeks that serves to remind me of what's important in life. 

On Thursday I went out for a farewell meal with a bunch of work colleagues, some of whom were retiring. Some had firm plans for how they were going to spend their retirement, others were a bit more undecided, or rather, were going to go with the flow. Of course, the usual "we'll keep in touch" and "we'll pop back and see you" comments were made, but we all know how difficult it is to keep in contact with people when you no longer see them everyday, and they live the other side of Leicester! Still, I hope they remember all the good things that happened at work, and enjoy their retirement. 

On Friday I said a farewell of a different kind, a lady who was described as being Loughborough through and through, having been born only 400 yards away from where she died. It was both a sad and a joyful occasion, sad that I had only known this lady for 6 years, but joyful because we were celebrating her life - and wearing bright colours to keep us all as cheerful as possible. It made me realise how little I know about anything, and how important it is to ask before it's too late.

On Saturday members of my family and I travelled to the Cotswolds to meet up with relatives from the States who I hadn't seen since the very early 1970s, and who some of my family had never before met. It was an afternoon/evening meet up, and since we arrived a little early, we had a look around the local motor museum. That was super - loads of old cars, old metal signs, old toys, and much, much more! 

I couldn't however, at the time, find any Loughborough connections, that is, until I came to write this post!!! So, I spotted the name Onions, a popular name in Loughborough, and one part of the Birmingham engineering and iron founding company, established in the 1650s, which was named Alldays and Onions. I suppose the fact that the museum was in an old mill reminded me of Cotes Mill (a pub when I first came to Loughborough, but now a kitchen makers). And that the museum used ladybird stickers to share facts with the youngsters reminded me of Ladybird Books. Oh, and there was a Ladybird Book on display. And the fact that the woollen trade was an important one in the Cotswolds, just as it was in Loughborough. And one of the scooters on display reminded me of the bike event in the Market Place a couple of weekends ago! 

One other thing I spotted were three out-of-place milestones: I have a thing about milestones, and these certainly reminded me of one of Loughborough's. So, quite a few connections now I've thought about it! I've put some of the relevant photos at the end of this post.

So, onto the family gathering! I was so pleased to meet my uncle again, because it is he who plays the carillon in St Peter's Episcopal Church in Morristown, New Jersey, twice every Sunday and at various other times. He told me all about the Taylors bells they have, which were made in 1924, just after our very own Carillon was constructed. The St Peter's carillon now has 49 bells - that's two more than ours, but it started with only 36 in 1924, increasing to 47 by 1955, and to 49 by 1993. I believe the later bells were made in France, by Paccard/Bigelow and Petit & Fritsen.

There are 100 steps up the tower to the carillon in St Peter's church, and in order to make the ascent and descent safer, a handrail has now been added. Sadly, so far there has been no luck in finding a successor to make a committment to play regulalry in order that my uncle may "retire". Not that he wants to, but the climb is becoming increasingly difficult for him. Here's a video of him explaining about the carillon, a report of an event at which two guest carillonneurs played (with some lovely photos), and another short article featuring my uncle.   

Anyway, back at the gathering, I got talking to loads of people I'd not met before, and was pleased that people had heard of Loughborough, through its university's sporting heroes. But, imagine my surprise when I discovered that a gentleman at the gathering had actually worked at Herbert Morris - back in the day, as they say!!! He would arrive in Loughborough on a Monday, work until the end of Friday and then travel home again. Sadly, I didn't think to ask him where he stayed during the week, but it was great to talk to him! And that's just reminded me - there was something at the motor museum with a Loughborough connection and a Morris connection too: a model airship, just like the Zeppelins of 1916!!           

Hello Bro!!

The three chemists!

A former Morris employee!!!!

Siblings

Pensive moment

Siblings!

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Dyer, Lynne (2018). What a milestone! Available from: https://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/2018/06/taylors-of-loughborough-and-more.html  [Accessed 24 June 2018]

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Lynne