Daffodils and Dirt
Readers may be interested to hear that Nottingham born actress Samantha ‘Sam’ Morton has ventured into music and has a new album out. One of the songs is dedicated to our Hungerhill Road in St Anns and another is named Highwood House after the Homeless Family Hostel.
According to the Guardian newspaper review, Daffodils and Dirt was ‘inspired by Morton’s childhood, first living with abusive parents then moving around as a ward of the state, Daffodils & Dirt could have been unrelentingly dark, and its lyrics are often raw. But Russell’s production captures a sense of mystery and wonder, even hope, that makes these songs feel almost like fables’.
Here’s the cover artwork for Daffodils and Dirt.
Mange Tout
Thanks to Debbie for sending this photo of the old menu board at the former Mange Tout restaurant on Mapperley Top. It was taken through the window the other day. A bit of a blast from the past for some.
18k views made sure that the old restaurant was remembered.
Rebecca Grant
Mapperley born and raised actress Rebecca Grant has been part of Speakers4Schools, speaking and inspiring students from 17 UK schools. She said: “Proud to support opportunities for state school students” and quoted Nelson Mandela: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela
We went on to post a separate article about the Grant family and their time in Mapperley.
Freddie Mercury
We were again reminded of Mapperley’s links to Freddie Mercury’s family when this lovely photo of Jer Bulsara (Freddie’s mother) with her daughter, Kashmira and grandson, Jamal.
Jer died in 2016 and Kashmira has since moved away.
Jer was well known on Mapperley Top and even attended Queen tribute shows at Mapperley Plains Social Club.
Brough Motorcycles
Thanks to Nottingham Memories page for sharing this photograph of Lawrence of Arabia riding one of several motorcycles built by Sherwood manufacturer Brough.
George Brough and his Brough Superior Motorcycle works was on Haydn Road in Sherwood (from 1919 to 1940). The motorcycles were dubbed the Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles in The Motor Cycle newspaper. Approximately 3048 motorcycles were made and around a third of that production still exists. T. E. Lawrence more famously known as (“Lawrence of Arabia”) owned several of these motorcycles.