Lynne About Loughborough: August 2025

Friday, 22 August 2025

Carillon museum opens, leisure centre opened!

Over the past few summer months I’ve managed to miss several events taking place in our lovely town – like the dedication ceremony for the Hope Bell in Queen’s Park, the VJ Day Commemorations, also in the park, the Pride event which also happened in the park, and I’m sure there are other events that I’m not aware of!

This morning, I was lucky enough to be in Queen’s Park for the (re-)opening ceremony of the Loughborough Carillon Tower and War Memorial. This was a very emotional event for me as I have previously been a volunteer in the museum when all floors were open to the public, so I was keen to see the new ground floor space. I have to say, I wasn’t disappointed.

After a short speech by Mel, who looks after the people who volunteer to staff the Carillon, and whom you might have seen recently lighting the beacon in the park at the VJ Day commemoration, and from the mayor, the ground floor was declared open, and the doors thrown wide!

My first glance, and I could feel the atmosphere in there! Although the space is still small, and many artefacts are no longer on display, the designers had done a wonderful job of creating an interesting, engaging, and informative display, a tribute to all those who are commemorated. There was not a single space that had not been used to good effect: look up, look down, look all around as I always say!! I must admit though, even I struggled to read the caption to a photograph that was at floor level, and had to kneel on the floor!

There were many people in attendance, and the room was a little crowded, so I didn’t have a chance to read any of the information in detail, nor look closely at the artefacts on display, so I shall make a return visit – or two! If you’d like to visit, you can find the opening hours – and much more information – on the Carillon Tower and War Memorial website. https://carillontower.org.uk/

While I was chatting at the opening of the museum in the Carillon, I was alerted to the fact that it was 50 years ago today that the town leisure centre was opened. This was built on the Brown’s Lane football ground, which had also been the venue for the Grand Bazaar and Fete that was held in 1922 to raise money towards the building of the Carillon, which included the competition to win the Alexandra Bedspread. By the same token, of course, it must be 50 years since the swimming baths in Queen’s Park, now the Charnwood Museum, closed, when the pool(s) opened in the new Brown’s Lane leisure centre.

And, don't forget to visit the Carillon in our beautiful park!

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Posted by lynneaboutloughborough

With apologies for typos which are all mine!

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Thank you for reading this blog.

Copyright:

Dyer, Lynne (2025). Carillon museum opens, leisure centre opened!

Available from: https://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/2025/08/carillon-museum-opens-leisure-centre.html [Accessed 22 August 2025]

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Lynne

Sunday, 10 August 2025

All the fun of the seaside!

Since completing my challenge of reading all the Agatha Christie novels, I’ve had a chance to read a few more books, including some more crime novels, and other books like The Observant Walker, Postal Paths, and Newark-on-Trent.

I’ve just started To the Sea by Train which seems an appropriate book to read, given that it’s summer, so holidays are on the cards, and that there’s an exhibition at the public library about the Leicester Fortnight – so the time when all the local factories closed down for two weeks so workers could go on holiday, but probably more likely was because it meant that the company could completely shut down for a period and save some money on overheads, like lighting, heating, and general energy consumption.

Of course, it wasn’t just Leicester and Leicestershire that closed down for a short period. Other towns and cities did too, Coventry, for example. According to this article, while Leicester and Leicestershire folk made their way by train to Skegness, people from Coventry went by bus to Great Yarmouth.

Anyway, back to “To the Sea by Train”. Only 39 pages in and I did a bit of a double-take! I wasn’t expecting to find our lovely town mentioned, but there it was, in black and white! The author was considering a trip to the seaside town of Brighton, that had taken place in August 1844, and which was organised by Rowland Hill, who is perhaps better known for beginning the Penny Post. On this particular trip people were going to Brighton races, and the author presumes that these groups of racegoers were not members of the Temperance Society!

He says:

“Surely it was almost impossible to go to Brighton races and not drink, and this early excursion was presumably a rowdier affair than the landmark event organised by the temperance campaigner and holiday entrepreneur Thomas Cook.”

Hmmm … Our author continues:

“He [Cook] is taken to be the originator of the railway excursion, having laid on a jaunt from Leicester to Loughborough on 5 July 1841, which, given the absence of sea, doesn’t like it would have been much fun even had alcohol been involved.”

Hmmm, again …

If I’ve tracked down the right newspaper report of the event, either the reporter wasn’t a member of the Temperance Society, or people really did actually have a fun time! The Nottingham Review of 9 July 1841 had this to say:

“Tee-total Festival at Loughborough

A number of delegates from different parts of the midland counties, having had to meet at Loughborough this week, for the transaction of the general business of the societies, it was agreed upon to take advantage of the occasion and have a festival, which the tee-totallers of Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Harborough, and other places should be invited to attend: William Pagett [sic.] Esq., although not, we believe, a tee-totaller himself, kindly granted them the use of his park [Southfields] for the occasion.

The morning dawned rather inauspiciously, but as the day advanced the weather became fine, and dissipated the fears of those who took an interest in the holiday. Engagements had been made with the railway directors, for the persons coming from Leicester and Derby, at half the usual prices; and at about eleven o’clock, crowds of people were seen wending their way towards the railway station to witness the arrival of the train from Leicester. The committee of the Loughborough Tee-Total Society were in attendance with a flag to receive them. About half past eleven the train arrived, consisting of one second class carriage, and nine third-class carriages, each crowded with respectably dressed and apparently happy tee-totallers.

We understand there were about five hundred in all. They had with them the Leicester Independent Band dressed in uniform, and two flags. Having joined the Loughborough friends, they proceeded in procession towards the Market Place, and were met by a number of the members of the Catholic Society with a banner, near the Barracks. [1] The number of spectators was immense, the Nottingham Road from the Canal Bridge to the Barracks being one mass of human beings.

A number of the Dragoons at the Barracks, had got astride the roof, and being stripped to their shirts, and wide white trousers, their fine proportions were swelled to those of Patagonians. The windows were also crowded with fierce moustachioed faces, one of which in particular attracted our attention. This soldier, like those on the roof, was stripped, his head was covered with a red woollen night-cap, his moustaches were black and of great size, and he regarded the moving, joyful crowd with the imperturbable gravity of a Turk. The procession having arrived at the park, more from Leicester partook of ham and other refreshments, which had been provided at the general expense.

At two, the procession was again formed, and they then proceeded to the station house, to meet the Derby and Nottingham friends. In consequence of the late excited state of Nottingham [2], but few came over from that place, but from Derby above one hundred had arrived. After they had joined the procession, the whole then paraded the town. On arriving in the Market Place, they formed into a circle, and sung the National Anthem accompanied by the band. They then went to the park and dispersed themselves into separate parties to amuse themselves with dancing, “drop handkerchief” [3] and other games.

Owing to the large number, more than was expected, attending, the preparations for tea were hardly so complete as would have been wished. After tea, addresses were delivered to those who could be prevailed on to leave their amusement to listen. The Rev. Mr Babbington, took the chair; Mr Forth, from Nottingham, Mr Robinson from Leicester, Mr Cook from Harborough, editor of the Temperance Messenger, Mr Burne from Wolverhampton, the Rev. Mr Jones, Unitarian minister, from Derby, Mr Vaughan, from Mountsorrel, and others delivered addresses. About nine, the procession again formed and proceeded to the station house, but a considerable number remained in the park until darkness had ended the day and their innocent sports.”

Sounds to me like people actually did have fun on their visit to Loughborough, and I cannot imagine why one would think otherwise!

Now, what had I intended to write about … Thomas Cook … Agatha Christie … ah, yes connections!! Next week maybe!!

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NOTES

[1] All that remains of the barracks is a little road called Barrack Row, which runs beside the Post Office sorting office on Nottingham Road, and leads out onto Duke Street.

[2] I’m not sure if that might have been Chartist riots, perhaps?

[3] Here’s some information about the game:

https://www.ludozofi.com/home/games/drop-the-handkerchief/

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Posted by lynneaboutloughborough

With apologies for typos which are all mine!

_______________________________________________

Thank you for reading this blog.

Copyright:

Dyer, Lynne (2025). All the fun of the seaside. Available from: https://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/2025/08/all-fun-of-seaside.html [Accessed 10 August 2025]

Take down policy:

External Links:

Blog archive and tags:

Searching the blog:

site: https://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/ “Radmoor House”

NOTE – the words you’re actually looking for must be in “” and the first of these must be preceded by a space

Thank you for reading this blog.

Lynne

Wednesday, 6 August 2025

Celebrating 12 years of the blog!

So, a couple of days ago saw the 12th anniversary of the beginning of this blog! In previous years, I’ve invited people to write a post related to some of Loughborough’s history, to be hosted on the blog, but this year I thought I’d write a series of posts myself, a couple before the actual anniversary day, and a couple afterwards. However, I’ve missed both the before and the on the day opportunity, and I’m only here today because I couldn’t let the occasion go by without some kind of post!

I am rather staggered that the viewing figures for the blog are now nearing one million! It had never occurred to me that my ramblings about our lovely town would ever have much longevity, and the idea that the blog has been read so many times is, well as I said, simply staggering. As I write this post, views are 988,086, and this year (August 2024 - August 2025) alone there have been over 270,000 views!

The past year has flown by, too, and I have been kept busy, not only with the blog, but with lots of volunteering activities, attending heritage events and meetings, giving presentations, and leading guided walks. Oh, and a new book coming out in late September!

I have a bit of a penchant for sharing stories of people, some well-known, others less so, but I see this year I’ve reined that in a bit and kept it down to five posts [1]! Unless you count the others, like Robert Bakewell anniversary post [2]; a couple of posts about the Coltman family and Burleigh Hall [3], and three posts about Shelthorpe House and the people who used to live there [4].

With the 100th anniversary of the exhibition in Paris that led to the naming of the Art Deco movement and the April A-Z blogging challenge coming along at the same time, I wrote 26 posts related to Art Deco, which took up almost the whole of April! A full list of these articles was posted around the beginning of May. [5]

In September 2024 I presented quite a number of posts related to the Heritage Open Days events which were taking place as part of Loughborough’s contribution to this programme. Many heritage-related places took part and were open during the final weekend of the Open Days, and overall lots of visitors came and enjoyed their visit.

The Hope Bell and the beacon in Queen's Park

I try very hard to keep up with what’s going on in our town, but have really struggled this year! I presented the customary review of buildings that had been demolished, or disappeared during the previous calendar year [6], and managed to cover things like the installation of the Hope Bell (although I was away for the opening ceremony) [7], the re-dedication of the gates of the parish church [8], the parish church Christmas Tree Festival [9], an exhibition of research into Nanpantan [10], and a celebration of 120 years of our beautiful public library [11].

Other than to keep on blogging, I have no firm plans for the blog into its thirteenth year, but I know I still have a few series to finish for you, which includes Goadby’s History of Loughborough, a whole load of Agatha Christie connections to Loughborough, and maybe some connections I discovered on a recent trip to London.

In the meantime, you might spot me out and about leading guided walks, especially during this year’s Heritage Open Days, when I will be extending beyond the weekend of 20-21 September, and walking beyond the confines of the town centre streets!

Thank you for reading the blog!

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NOTES

[1] A.E. King pt 1, and A.E. King pt 2;

Thomas Barker; William Thomas Cartwright; John Thomas Judges

[2] Robert Bakewell

[3] Coltmans and Burleigh Hall pt 1, and pt 2

[4] Shelthorpe House the early years; the middle years, and the final years

[5] The full list of Art Deco A-Z posts

[6] Changes pt 1, and Changes pt 2, and Ones to Watch out for in 2025!

[7] Hope Bell installation

[8] Re-dedication of the parish church gates