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CalendarMAPPERLEY NOTES

1983

Notes From Parish Magazines



May 1983

Burial

  • Gladys Louise Margaret Sheridan, aged 62 years, died 8th April, buried 13th April

July 1983

Cremation

  • 15th June following Service at Mapperley Church, Eileen Nellie Summers, died Friday 10th June, aged 62 years

Burial

  • June 16th. Ethel M Isam, died Saturday 11 June, aged 83 years

Summer 1983
Mapperley entered The Best Kept Village competition


September 1983

West Hallam POTTERY

The history of the West Hallam Pottery is well known by many. The site of the present kiln 'shell' was, until late 1921 a tyre works, owned by Mr. Turton. In 1922 the first pottery kiln was in operation. Mr. John Derbyshire, a local butcher, Mr. Aldershaw, a local cattle dealer, Mr. Smith, a Derby tobacconist, became joint owners of the pottery with Mr. John Fairbrother, a local preacher, as potter and manager, Mr. Bagguley as turner. The right men at the right time. The boiler and the engine came from the old West Hallam colliery and colliery men installed the machinery, and did the brick work. Albert Brown was the electrician, Sam Straw was the joiner, Mr. Wilkinson was blacksmith and Frank Upton was fitter. All local men working together, glad of the work.

Ernie Frost went to work at the pottery, at the age of 14, in 1926. He stayed there, working alongside his father, until 1931. His first job was to track down a Red Admiral butterfly and bring it to the pottery for Mr. Bagguley to paint on some vases. Ernie then progressed to practically every other job - getting the clay, working it, slabbing it, taking it to the potter or turner, packing the kiln, firing the kiln and packing the finished items for sale. As Ernie will tell you if anyone was off sick, the work was done by someone already working there - the reserve men were, in fact, hard at work! This meant that the work was far from monotonous one could, as Ernie puts it -'muck in'.

In 1924, after exhibiting at the Wembley Exhibition, West Hallam Pottery had full order books. Tea pots were sold to Woolworth's - where nothing cost more than sixpence -the pot cost six-pence and the lid twopence! There were orders from Rowntrees for square, cream, teapots which were filled with chocolates and sold at Christmastime. There were orders for up to 200,000 bulb bowls per year, plus the vases, ornaments, jugs, mugs etc.etc. sold through different outlets. There was a good supply of clay close at hand -similar to the clay used by Denby Pottery. There was coal just under the ground for use when necessary, and the right amount of talent.

So, what went wrong with this flourishing business? It seems to have suffered from management problems, and was largely dependent upon the fortunes of John Fairbrother. Like many talented men, John was not without his problems and he predicted that when he was no longer at West Hallam Pottery, the pottery would cease to be. Despite changes in management and ownership - the prediction seems to have been true. The pottery ceased business in 1935. For the next twenty years it looked as though the workmen had just left. Nothing was touched. It became a ghostly place Mr. Stevens, formerly a local milkman, bought it for the land and kept chickens there. The old moulds etc were all buried and the appearance changed, until it became as we have seen it until most recently.

Now, it would seem that the pottery is to take on a new lease of life. Charles Stone, already established as a potter in Mapperley Village, has bought the old Pottery. His plans are exciting, and according to Ernie Frost, only needs to sink a 60 foot shaft to find all the three clays he will need - plus coal, plus the veritable treasure-trove of plaster casts of jugs, teapots, vases etc.

For Ernie, and man of his contemporaries, things have almost gone full circle. He will be reminiscing with Charles, no doubt advising about the merits of electrification.

In the recreation of the bottle kiln, the beautiful ceramic model which was made by nineteen year old Chris Wright, from Heanor, will be of great help. Chris has just completed his second year at Derby Lonsdale College, and for project work decided to re-create the kiln as a three/four foot model. He prowled around the old kiln, making sketches, counting bricks and generally getting the feel of the place. Old buildings fascinate Chris and he wanted to be correct in every detail. He visited Ernie Frost and spent hours talking about how things were. His drawings were finished, he knew in his mind how it was going to be and he began the actual making Probably the most arduous task was the pulling of the huge pot But, eventually, the huge cutaway model was finished.(Chris actually made two, as one was for Charles Stone, and obviously it was safer not to have all his eggs in one basket). Ernie Frost has given Chris's model his seal of approval: the model is correct in every detail.

Now Chris will be able to carry on with the many other facets of his artistic life, for this young man is multi-talented. His early childhood memories are of making mud pots, fired in the oven by his understanding mother. He has al-ways sketched - beautifully. He has worked with a carver and cabinet maker, so Chris's carved Welsh Love Spoons are perfect. His wood carving is of a very high standard, combined with such natural creative ability.

Chris seems to be able to turn his hand and eye to almost any creative field. He is working at jewellery at the moment, and ceramic cottages - which are already being sold as far afield as America and Ireland.

There are two more years at College before Chris steps out into the wide world where he will need to earn a living. He is a practical young man, full of ideas and plans. He is versatile, and is unlikely to fall into any kind of rut. It would be nice if everything works out well for Chris. Like the pottery - the right things and the right people coming together at the right time for him.

An impression of Charles Stone's scheme for the renovation, upon which he is now working—a coffee shop with living accommodation above, is in the foreground, and stretching back from it a single-storey building houses a craft gallery and pottery workshop. In the background a further single-storey building is to be wrapped around the old kiln (as it used to be) where there is to be an historical display, and a horticultural building (in connection with the nursery garden planned for the rear.)


November 1983

Holy Baptism

  • Sunday 9th October Suzanne Marie Barratt

We Will Remember Them

It is hard for us to appreciate just how significant the Dedication of the War Memorial in West Hallam must have been for the many local people present above, bearing as it must have done the names of their families. Some of names of those present will be known to villagers. We would like to compile a list. If you could let me know, we will publish them. This photograph represents the history of a village community. Ed.

REMEMBRANCE DAY PARADE AND SERVICE

Starting from Silver Jubilee Club, Station Road, at 10.15 along Station Road, Belper Rd Newdigate St, Bagot St, Station Rd and Beech Lane.

Service at War Memorial at 10.45am and in Church afterwards at 11 am.

For further information ring Mr Powell on 301689.

The War Memorial was unveiled on the 6 August 1921 by Captain Fitz-herbert Wright. This event was attended by the choir, the local band and fifty members of the RAOB in full regalia. The Memorial was erected on a piece of land by the Church gates given by Spencer Rook who also gave the base and surrounding wall. The figures of the Memorial were carved out of a single block of Sicilian marble.

There is no comparison between men and women.
It is like trying to compare a rose and jasmine.
Each has its own perfume.
Women are not equal to men:
But then men are not equal to women.

A verse of Islamic poetry quoted from The Tablet.


People Matter Report - November 1983

Bernard Mellor

It seems appropriate that at the time of year when we especially remember those who 'fought for King/Queen and Country' we turn our village spot-light on a man who volunteered to do just that. On September 7th, 1939, Bernard Mellor went into Derby with the sole intention of enlisting in the armed forces. He had wanted to join the R.A.F. but that would have meant going back the following week, and Bernard was determined to join up that day. So, Bernard came away having joined the Royal Engineers. In a field somewhere not too far away from Folkestone, 'square-bashing' began. Marching drill on a parade ground with the rhythmic beat of steel heels helping men keep in step is one thing - marching on grass if quite another! At the Kitchener Barracks, Chatham, another period of testing and training began. Bernard sailed through his Trade Test, and became 'proficient enough with a rifle to be shot at.'

After all the necessary injections and vaccinations, and one week's draft leave - which, unfortunately, Bernard spent recovering from the effects of the vaccination - the Company were issued with Tropical Kit and embarked for an unknown destination. The war-time saying 'walls have ears' was taken very seriously. The Tropical Kit was soon recalled, having been used only to confuse 'Gerry'.

The Company landed in Cherbourg, and half travelled to Rennes and half to Nantes. Bernard would describe the following few months as 'cushy'. There was work, of course, and there was always plenty of work for a 'chippy' - or joiner - like him. His apprenticeship with Stapleton at Cotmanhay stood him in good stead. There was also time to relax and sunbathe in the South of France. Time to be befriended by local families and converse in a most effective pigeon French. Those halcyon days were short lived. The German army pushed forward, and Bernard found himself rapidly transferred, because of his height, to the Military Police Corps escorting Convoys up to the Front, and bringing stricken refugees away from the fighting zone. It was whilst on duty near Arras in Northern France that Bernard received injuries which were eventually to lead to his discharge from the war. It is not known whether the injuries were caused by artillery bombardment or by a land mine. Whatever the cause, Bernard was reported as missing, believed killed in action. Thanks to the kindness of the Field Hospital Chaplain, the Rev. Rawthorne, the Mellor family in Ilkeston, and fiancée Mary, were notified of Bernard's survival. Shortly after Dunkirk Bernard was shipped home.

There followed a terrible period of recuperation and convalescence. The visible wounds healed more rapidly than the effects of shell-shock and the horrors of war. However, Bernard did recover. He married his one, true, love Mary Hardy. He went on to establish himself as West Hallam's joiner and Undertaker. From 1942 until his retirement in 1982 Bernard said 'goodbye' to free time, and devoted himself to the care of the deceased and the bereaved. The influence of such good men as his own father, who graduated from being an acolite at Holy Trinity Church, Ilkeston, to becoming a local Lay Reader, and Canon Harry Price, have left their mark. For Bernard is a man of great faith. His loyal service to his fellow man, be it acting as Scout Leader, leader of a Bible Group, Sunday School Superintendent, or sharing the sadness of others, is proof of his personal beliefs. He is not afraid to speak of the healing power of the Holy Spirit. He is not afraid to help and encourage others on the Christian road. There are many who are grateful for Bernard's guidance in their lives.

The counterpart of this very public figure is: Bernard the devoted family man. His wife and four daughters - sons-in-law and grandchildren know of his great need for the warmth and humour of the family. Here is a man who has known that to succeed may mean to be dogmatic; that to survive war is a miracle; that to have faith is to share it. This handsome patriarch still has a humorous twinkle in his eye and his placid Mary by his side. He is not averse to counting his blessings and thanking his God.

Bernard passed away on January 29th 1985 aged 67 years. As a craftsman he was first rate, he made and fixed the oak alter rails in St Wilfrid's in memory of his parents Frank Boden Mellor and Edith Mellor. He also made the oak flower stands in the sanctuary, the seat outside the church gates and the stocks in Mapperley.

A commemorative set of stocks erected May 27th 1967
to mark the fact that on 28 May 1267 King Henry III granted to Simone De Arden the right to hold a weekly market.


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