AUGUST 2022
Golfers, Bakers, Podcasters, Tour Guides
Despite it being the holiday season and the weather being so good, our Facebook page reached 310k people. Fantastic figures for a community page representing just three postcode areas.
It was also a busy month, despite many people taking a well-earned and long planned holiday.
We started by sharing a case from a Nottinghamshire based true-crime podcast. It featured a historic case that occurred near Ravenshead in 1817. Bessie Sheppard lived a hard life in perilous times. That life was snatched from her after 17 years, by a vagrant ex-soldier called Charles Rotherham. Psycho-Killer.co told the story. Check them out.
Then came another local history story, thanks to Gedling resident Angie Miles. She reminded us of a book published in 2002 about the old St Ann’s area. Inner-City Voices was a compilation of memories written by people who lived and worked in St Ann’s before the demolition of the homes in the 1970s. Angie Miles (nee Cundy) wrote about her memories in an exclusive feature for Mapperley People.
Pets always feature and missing animals are always a concern for their devoted owners. Most animals are reunited but there were two sad cases this month. One cat was found deceased in the owners garden off Spring Lane. We then learned that a missing cat named Kiki was also found deceased on the road near to the new Alexandra Place development on Mapperley Plains.
On a happier note, our dog search and rescue charity Drone to Home got involved with Lola who was missing from the Breck Hill Road area. Lola was soon found and back home.
Despite the heatwave and the drought conditions, there was a question asked about local firewood suppliers. We are all preparing for the winter and the risk of many of us ending up in ‘Fuel Poverty’, due to the crisis over the price cap being lifted.
The City Council produced a high quality video that featured the health benefits of cycling, and they chose Mapperley as the location to film it. Sure the hills are a challenge, but the views make it worth the effort.
On the subject of health and getting outdoors, Mapperley Golf Club held their ‘Women on Par’ event. This was a fun and social way for women to gain confidence on the golf course.
Local tour guide Martin Kerry treated a group of people to a tour of the Commonwealth War Graves in Carlton Cemetery. He told us about the remarkable men and women who faced extraordinary times during the world wars and gave their lives for their communities.
It was National Allotments Week and as usual the historic St Ann’s Allotments ran a series of events.
We were contacted by Kate Holmes (nee Melbourne) who sent us a photograph from 1967 taken in the back garden of her home at 33 Plains Road, Mapperley. The garden is now part of Bonington Road car park! Kate told us that 33 Plains Road operated as Barclays Bank from 1956 to 1963. Kate’s father worked for Barclays. The bank moved to what had been the Co-Op on the corner of Gretton Road and the Co-Op moved to where the Tea Rooms were, where it is now! 33 Plains Road is now Charles Lea Opticians.
It may be the summer holidays but Studio 3 Mapperley Dance and Fitness Centre were busy. They took a group of their young dancers to perform in Paris and then returned for a performance at the Valley Road Play Ground Summer Fair on Valley Road in Carlton.
The war in Ukraine was still in our minds and we reminded readers of the Facebook group CityHubUkraine. They have a donation point nearby at the City Hospital Minster Building
Two more artisan bakers have set up in Mapperley. Pose’s Pantry and Coosh Micro Bakery are now established and we wish them every success, providing us with high quality and freshly baked bread and cakes.
We were pleased to say that the replacement parts for the Community Defibrillator were installed, despite a nationwide supply issue. Thanks to the following businesses for making this happen.
The Heath Food Shop – Holy Cannoli – Ladbrokes – Tipsy T – Plains Fish Bar – Card Gallery – Job Lot Trophies – The Old Flower Shop – The Fruit Bowl
There was good news for the residents on Digby Avenue after a petition regarding road safety. The County Council have agreed in principle to install a crossing.
Now that households are settled in at the Alexandra Place development on Mapperley Plains, we have asked the County Council for an update on the petition to create and maintain a footpath from Mellish RUFC. Our MP Tom Randall is also aware and we have also asked GBC to consider using money from the Community Infrastructure Levy (raised from the Davidson Homes development at Alexandra Place). The obvious point is that some of the money raised would fit perfectly with the improved infrastructure that our petition is asking for.
We get another chance to show our support for our WBA World Featherweight Champion, Leigh Wood. He will defend his title at the Motorpoint Arena on 24th September.