April 2025
April 2025 and Mapperley seems to be getting ready for the summer. As usual, we welcomed new businesses, as well as saying farewell to established ones.
Farewell To Fleurtations
8th April
We posted that Fleurtations the florist and gift shop on Westdale Lane had ceased trading after 42 years. This is due to retirement. The shop is now closed but they are still selling the Jellycat brand of soft toys online.
We wish Graham and Cathy all the best for the future.
Understandably, many people commented:
Arhh end of an era, me and my brother worked there as teens, all the best G &C xxx – Sam Thackeray
Absolutely gutted. My go to place for new baby or children’s gifts and flowers ! – Natalie
You will be missed happy retirement xx – Jacky Kirk
A Street With A View
On 17th April, the sun came out and we shared this:
A lovely day and a lovely view over the city centre from Standhill Road in Carlton. Looking southwest you can see the tower of Manvers Court with the chimney at Eastcroft. In the distance are the iconic cooling towers of the former power station at Ratcliffe on Soar.
#mapperleyviews #carltonnottingham #standhillroad #nottinghamviews #ratcliffepowerstation
Story From WW II
In 19th April, we saw a post on another local history page by Janine Tanner and posted:
Can anyone help with this story?
The brickwork is in St Ann’s Nottingham at the point where Westminster Street (now Westminster Close) meets Hungerhill Road.
Apparently the words ‘Victory Day’ were scratched into the brick in the 1940s by a soldier who was on leave from the army during WW2. The wall was part of his family home and it was believed to have been in 1944. He scratched this into a wall on the side of a house. A few days later he went back to fight, and was killed in action. More than 80 years have passed since he wrote it, and despite the fact that Westminster Street no longer exists, the house itself is still there.
We did manage to unearth the story, thank to the help of local military historian Martin Kerry.
Here are some of the original comments:
It mentions Victory Day soon, indicating he foresaw the end of the war in 1945 – Dean Watson
My husband’s father and his brother lived in Westminster street with the family and had a builders yard. We still have the Westminster Street sign but can’t help on this I’m afraid. – Julie Holmes
Memories Of Carlton Forum Golf Range And Superstore
21st April, we shared a photograph of an advert in the Nottingham Evening Post from 1991.
Who remembers the Carlton Forum Golf Range where the Richard Herrod Centre and housing is now? Pitch Close and Fairway Drive give a hint to what was there. This advert from the Evening Post is from September 1991. The shop was called Golf Superstore and there was even a bar there too.
Many of you remembered it well:
I was there when it opened and they had a bit of a do. Got Gary Sobers’ autograph – Richard Morris
Quite a few famous people there but the only other one I can remember is Godfrey Evans (England wicket keeper)- Carl Hibbert
Trevor Robinson was the owner and most everybody got their gear from there, he was later a partner in the European Golf shop on Mapperley top, I worked there for 8-9 years – Rob Andrews
Lived just across the road and remember it being opened by Peter Allis. out in the pro shop mid 70s when John Mason was the pro. John also designed the 18 hole course at Mapperley GC from the previous 9 hole.