CODRT Newsletter COLOUR 2019 02
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CITY OF DERBY RETIRED TEACHERS ISSUE NO 92 February NEWSLETTER 2019 Main Items in This Issue 2. In Our Thoughts 7. Science Fiction - Biddy Robinson versus Science Fact & Ann Salt - Val Holmes 3. Catherine Crompton 9. Derby’s Neglected - Rick Horth Composer - Bill Grange 5. Derby Churches Quiz - Bill Grange 6, Blood Brothers - Ann Salt and Bill Grange The Newsletter is edited and designed by Bill Grange For future issues send material to Visit our website: him at : www.codretts.co.uk 19 Elm Grove, Allestree, Derby Compiled by Bert Mason DE22 2HB 01332 551403 …Where a version of this news- [email protected] letter in can be viewed. CONTACTS Chairman: Mr. R. Horth (01332 551624 Vice Chairman: Secretary: Mrs. B R Ward (01332) 550383 Treasurer: Mr. F. P. Wilson (01332) 771658 TBF Representative: Mrs. J McGarry (01773) 607206 2 Newsletter February 2019 In Our Thoughts Since the last Newsletter, we are sad to report that two of our members have passed away. Marie Garner was an active committee mem- ber who joined in many of our outings and Activities with her husband Ken. We sent our deepest sympathy to Ken and the family. Joyce Morgan was also an active member of our group and will be missed. We sent our condolences to Arthur, her husband. Chris. Jowitt, a committee member, has been ill for some time and is now in a home for respite care. In cases of bereavement or illness Contact Biddy on 01773-823954 There have been a few instances of hospital or Ann on 01332-513412 visits for other members for various ailments. It seems eyes, hips and knees have needed some repair!! All are now recovering well. Newsletter: I hope everyone enjoyed Christmas and ap- Important Notice preciated the comparatively mild weather. Have a happy and healthy 2019. This will be the last Newsletter to be sent out on the current distribution list. Biddy Robinson and Ann Salt The next Newsletter will be sent to Coffee Mornings: those who have paid their 2019 sub- Important Notice scription. As we have had problems with the We explained the background and need bookings for coffee mornings at the for this change in the last two Newslet- Evergreen Hall, Allestree, we have had ters. to change the venue for the meetings on Tuesday 11th June and Tuesday 12th If you would like to continue to receive November 2019. the Newsletter and have not already done so, please send your subscription We have been lucky to be able to book (currently £8) to our treasurer Frank Mickleover Golf Club, where we had Wilson or contact any committee mem- this year’s Twelfth Nigh Lunch. The ber who will be happy to help you with February, April and September coffee this. mornings will still be at the Evergreen Hall. Rick Horth, Chairman Barbara Ward Newsletter February 2019 3 Catherine Crompton ture, particularly drains and sewers which A Riddle wrapped in a to this day often carry their name on the grids and manhole covers. mystery inside an enigma By Rick Horth Many questions arise as to how Catherine and George ever came to meet and marry. If you have a reputation for an interest in Stephen, our speaker, gradually unfolded local history, then sometimes unlikely the mystery and supplied likely answers to treasures come your way. Such was the the conundrums. Catherine was born in provenance of an old diary Nottinghamshire yet they passed to our November, married in Chelsea in 1865. 2018, coffee morning They had eleven children speaker, Stephen Flinders. although four died in infan- cy. Their first child was The diary had been kept by born two years before their Catherine Crompton and wedding. Such an anomaly contained fairly clipped en- would not cause comment tries about events in her now but in Victorian high life. You might reasonably society was far less accept- have passed over it as being ed. Their second child was of no importance or inter- born fifteen weeks after est but in doing so you their wedding. would miss a story about a very important local family The mystery continues to and the social fabric of Vic- grow as the 1871 census torian society in which they in Chesterfield records lived. George Compton as un- Stephen Flinders married. Was this an error Who was she? by Frank Wilson or was this a reflection of Well she was married to keeping two worlds apart in George Crompton who was a leading Chelsea and Chesterfield? light in the Crompton Evans Bank which eventually became part of the Royal Bank The census of 1861 in Chelsea provides of Scotland. It’s head office was in Ches- another element to the puzzle for it re- terfield. The story grows when you learn cords as member of George’s household that they owned amongst other enterpris- a Catherine Mee, which was Catherine’s es , the Stanton Ironworks and as that maiden name. organisation grew and prospered under the paternalistic influence of the propri- So the possible answers begin to emerge. etors, they built houses for their workers at Hallam Fields. The company’s success They moved from London to Stanton can be linked to the growth in infrastruc- Hall in 1883. 4 Newsletter February 2019 George died as a successful banker and to learn of the work Stephen had done on paternal industrialist in 1897 and is buried their ancestors and in return showed him in the family plot in Stanton. Catherine some their family photographs including died twenty-two years later in 1919 to be one of George and Catherine in formal buried there also. family pose. Just to keep us in our state of intrigued They might seem very ordinary but what surprise, Stephen told of us of a recent an intriguing story delivered in an en- contact from a descendent of the Cromp- thralling and lively manner by Stephen. ton’s from Canada. They were interested Some Explain the word ‘autocracy.’ more A country that has lots of Exam cars. Bloopers Explain what is meant by the word ‘dictator’. Someone who reads out loud. Name Labour’s first cabinet minister. What was the biggest threat to peace in Mr. Chippendale. the 1980s? Heavy metal. Because it Name Britain’s highest award for was very loud. bravery. Probably Nelson’s column. What was Sir Walter Raleigh famous for? Summarise the major events of the He is a noted figure in his- Cold War. tory because he invented It started by someone cigarettes and started a throwing an ice cream and craze for bicycles. then someone threw a lolly back. Name two of the classes which existed in the medieval period. Why was the Berlin Wall built? History class and Geogra- Germany was competing phy class. with China. Newsletter February 2019 5 Derby Churches Quiz. CastleHere is aHoward selection of churches situated within the City or just outside it. How many can you name? The answers are on back page. Compiled Bill Grange 1 3 2 5 6 4 9 8 7 10 6 Newsletter February 2019 Blood Brothers as part of the coursework on the play, as By Ann Salt a set text. We felt they may spoil our enjoyment but in actual fact their behav- iour was exemplary. We salute them and A party of CODRTs members visited the the teachers of Stoke! Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent on 14th October, 2018 to see a production of the By Bill Grange the captivating and moving story, written by Willy Russell, of twins who, separated at birth, grow up in totally different home As with Ann, Diana and I had seen a circumstances. At first, the two families production of Blood Brothers before but live close together in Liverpool, to the this was several years ago in the West chagrin of the wealthier family. Later, End of London. However, that perform- when the more successful family move to ance was much inferior to the one we a place in the countryside to escape the enjoyed in Stoke. situation an unfortunate set of circum- stances cause the poorer family to move I have to admit that the dramatic ending there too, setting in train a path no-one and the wonderfully powerful singing of could have foreseen. the female lead, Linzi Hateley, brought me to tears! I had already seen a production of this show at the Assembly Rooms in Derby At the end, all of the audience rose en- and found it dark and depressing. The thusiastically to their feet. Later on, when Stoke production however was dynamic perusing the internet, I found that and emotionally charged. It was gripping ‘Blood Brothers’ is widely known as the from beginning to end with both the ‘standing ovation musical’. I don’t re- acting and the singing. The audience were member the London production eliciting swept along to its devastating ending one but the performance at the Regent which was a shock certainly did deserve it! even though everyone knew in their heart of hearts that it was the only possible conclu- sion. It was the kind of show that lived with you long after- wards. The audience was made up of a goodly proportion of school students, obviously there for information Newsletter February 2019 7 Science Fiction versus Now, some three years later, she has some Science Fact fifty published stories. by Val Holmes Derby, she said, was a perfect location for her genetic teaching role having so many Lured by this intriguing title, some 56 associations with distinguished scientists, retired teachers and friends gathered for including Erasmus Darwin, the grandfa- our annual Twelfth Night Lunch at the ther of Charles.