Lynne really was about Loughborough this week!!

Well, are the weeks ever quiet?? Is there ever any let up in this local history lark that sees me chatting with chums, engaging in email exchanges, partying with heritage project volunteers, and going all star-struck over those Star Wars toys?! Seems not!

So, a few landmark events this week to share with you.

The week started with a plea for help in publicising a book signing event taking place in the Harvester on Ashby Road. My friend had written a book about the Sea Around Us (the former name for the Harvester) and had been invited to sell the book at the 35th anniversary of the pub on Bank Holiday Monday, with all proceeds from the sale going to Sam White Legacy fund. Whilst chatting, my friend revealed that he is the only person to have sat on the town hall clock!!! Sounds a bit odd, doesn't it, but it makes more sense when I tell you he used to be a fireman!!   

Then Woodhouse Eaves seemed to take over my thoughts again early this week, partly because I was contacted by someone enquiring about Burleigh Hall. During my research I discovered that the owner of Burleigh Hall had donated towards the children's recovery home at Woodhouse Eaves. A bit more research revealed that actually, there were at one time 8 recovery / convalescent homes in Woodhouse Eaves, so quite which one it was, I'm not sure, but I've a pretty good idea. Here's a picture of one candidate:

Coincidentally, chatting with a chum later in the week, unprompted, he mentioned that he had spent some time at the children's convalescent home in Wooodhouse Eaves when he was a young child, recovery from TB! How absolutely amazing is that?!

Meanwhile, in the local studies section of the public library, I was perusing the Taylor's exhibition and chatting with the volunteers there, when I was introduced to the wife of the former carilloneur. That was extremely interesting, as my uncle plays the carillon in his church in New Jersey. 

I also discovered that the library had a short dissertation which explained the background to the recovery / convalescent homes in Woodhouse Eaves, so I shall be popping back to read that in more detail at a later date. Better not leave it too late as I believe the library will be closed from mid-November to the end of 2018 for the installation of SMART access. 

Friday night I was at a party to celebrate the culmination of the Woodhouse Eaves St Paul's church heritage project which saw the collapsing chancel repaired, and the history of the church and its environs researched and showcased in the church over the last couple of months. Volunteers had researched a huge range of topics - from bells to clocks, from bats to birds, from slate to stained glass, from village life to personal lives. Research was recorded and displayed on pull-up banners, talks were given and walks were led. The Memorial Rooms were full to bursting with volunteers who had taken part, and they were thanked for their contribution to the project with a wonderful buffet, and sincere thanks from the person I can only describe as the "project manager".

Saturday I made a special trip into town to purchase a copy of "Songster", a book written by my friend, and illustrated by her friend. As it's not yet officially published, these were being sold on a market stall. On the way there I bumped into a bowler friend - a different one from the one I bumped into earlier in the week in town - and we chatted for a while, and once I was at the market stall, whilst chatting to another friend, I discovered that during the carillon renovation works, he had been lucky enough to actually go right to the top of the carillon, and touch the cross on the top! 

If any of you have read a book called "Loughborough in 50 buildings" you might have seen mention of Delice, the cafe on Baxter Gate. Well, since the book was published, Delice has closed its doors, but today was the opening day of a new cafe based in this beautiful 1930s building, Baxter's Tea Rooms, so I popped in there for a quick brew - which turned into a long cuppa when I bumped into friends who were also in there, and then another as I was on the way out!!

Delice

Eventually, on Saturday afternoon I made it the New Walk Museum in Leicester to see the Star Wars exhibition! It's a lovely building, and has been fairly recently renovated, with a new stairs put in, and extra cafe tables. Anyway, the Star Wars exhibition was upstairs, and was really quite exciting (even for someone like me who isn't really into the SW thing), mostly because it brought back memories of my misspent youth!! On leaving the museum, we popped into the cathedral to see RIII, had a coffee in the nearby Buddhist Centre and then had a wander around the city. For a special treat, we had dinner at Feast India, a buffet on Melton Road, Leicester.

Sadly, I missed two things this week: firstly, the bells of St Paul's starting their return journey to London, having been at Taylors for refurbishment, and then the refurbishment of the Fearon Fountain. 

Anyway, better go now - I have research for a book to do!

You are welcome to quote passages from any of my posts, with appropriate credit. The correct citation for this looks as follow:

Dyer, Lynne (2018). Lynne really was about Loughborough this week! Available from: https://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/2018/09/lynne-really-was-about-loughborough.html  [Accessed 2 September 2018]

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Lynne