Category: History Group

Our April meeting was a visit to the National Memorial Arboretum by Vallences Coach. Vallences give us an excellent service, from the earlier booking point of view, and the journey.  The drivers are always polite, helpful and on this journey we were treated to some music I think we all enjoyed.  

The Arboretum is always worth another visit.  This time as well as the train with the wonderful guided tour and commentary – talks were offered such as ‘Shot at Dawn’ explaining why this happened.  

At the next ‘Main Meeting’ at John Godber Centre we will be taking names and money (bring your cards if possible) for the next visit on 17th June to Matlock Bath and Masson Mill Museum. 

Our next indoor meeting at Central Methodist Church which will begin at 2pm is on 20th May.  It is a talk from David Speed who will tell us all about ‘Beauvale Priory – Between Two Worlds’.

 Bye for now,  Maureen

Our indoor meetings are always held at Central Methodist Church on Baker Street at the time of 2pm – 4pm (ish).  Usually it is £2 per person to cover the cost of a speaker and the hire of the room.

At the March meeting Robert Mee came to tell us about the History along the Erewash Trail.  He explained the trail was 30 miles as a round journey from Langley Mill to Long Eaton and back so in one hour we would have to move at 30mph to get the whole trail covered.  He thought that each town we passed could really have a talk of its own but he showed ‘then and now’ images as we went along.  Perhaps some of us could drive over to the river Erewash which isn’t very far away to see some of the sights he showed.  

The April meeting is a visit to The National Arboretum by Vallances coach leaving Ogle Street in Hucknall at 10.30am on Wednesday 15th April.  We leave the Arboretum at 4pm.

For our May meeting we are back indoors to hear David Speed telling us about ‘Beauvale Priory – Between Two Worlds’.

Maureen Newton

Usually the History Group meets on the third Wednesday of the month but in  February it was the fourth Wednesday the 25th.  We always meet at Central Methodist Church at 2pm to about 4pm.  

Unfortunately the speaker was unable to come due to a hospital appointment so it was, as The Good Old Days Music Hall master said, Chiefly Ourselves.  Members learned and were reminded about lots of things such as David Attenborough has family links with Hucknall, calling occasionally at Sawly to chat with one of our members.  What do you know about who used shears, shawls and school pinafores; do you have an autograph book because there may be interesting names inside?  Did you enjoy visiting Papplewick Lido before the land was sold or discover a little about Portugal’s history?  Even Samuel Pepys got a mention.  Very well done to everyone who took part.

Next month on March 18th (back to our normal day) our old friend Robert Mee is coming to tell us about the History on the Erewash Trail. We missed him last year due to Covid and look forward to seeing him again with his excellent presentations.

Maureen Newton

Indoor meetings for the group are held at Central Methodist Church on Baker Street starting at 2pm and finishing about 4pm.  It is an entrance fee of £2 please.

At our January meeting we learned a lot about writers who had links with Nottingham and entertainers like Ken Dodd and Morecambe & Wise who began their careers at the Nottingham Empire.  I asked if Alex could supply us with his research notes for interest in the topic. He tells me a book by John Baird called ‘Following the Moon & Stars: A literary Journey Through Nottinghamshire’ is good or you could try researching at the library and online.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT THE DATE OF FEBRUARY MEETING this has been changed to February 25th, due to altered dates at John Godber Centre.  

MORE CHANGES:  Our speaker Ian Morgan has an unexpected hospital appointment and can’t make our meeting. What a shame.   Instead I have brought forward the meeting we would be having in November – ‘Bring, Show and Tell’ when members Bring an Artifact/Item/Book, Show it and Tell us the story of why it is important to them.  If you have something please mention it to me at the main meeting in John Godber on the 18th February, I’ll be in the refreshment room.   For information – There is another meeting in the church on the 25th so the car-park might be a bit busy.

Kathy and Sue will be in the foyer taking names and money £12 for our visit in April to the National Memorial Arboretum.  Money is for cost of coach only: Admission is free.  The coach leaves Hucknall at 10.30am and leaves the Arboretum at 4pm.

Maureen Newton

The History Group starts the new year of 2026 with a talk from Alex Rose called ‘A Literary Ramble Around Nottingham’  

All the groups indoor meetings are held at Central Methodist Church on Baker Street but there is a car park at the rear on Titchfield Street. Meetings start at 2pm, usually there is a break for refreshments and closure is about 4pm.

Later there will be details of the visits booked for this year plus costs and times of departure and return.

A special wish from the team of helpers is for History Group members to have a happy and healthy 2026.

Maureen Newton