Newsletter 20 January 2019
In this issue 2019 - A year 2019 - A year of change and opportunity Retiring Chairman, of change and Richard Gaunt, predicts a bright future for FONA. opportunity pages 1 - 2 FONA’s News Review This change in leadership provides A visual reminder of FONA with an opportunity to take some of our previous stock of where it currently stands, Newsletters. whether it is fulfilling all the functions it can (or should) do and page 3 planning towards a sustainable, A very special event workable future as a support, a Details of our joint event resource, and a celebration of with the Friends of the our wonderful Archives service in National Archives. Nottinghamshire. The organisation is currently taking stock of its page 4 current strengths, considering The Journals of Anne ways in which it can (with Cooke As many of you will have seen independent, external support) Karen Winyard takes us from the programme card and build the organisation and - where on a fascinating voyage What’s On brochure for December appropriate - seeking funding of discovery through the 2018 - March 2019, I am standing support to enable it to initiate Archives. down as Chairman of FONA and new initiatives. So my departure - editor of the newsletter at the R-EXIT (to coin a phrase) - need not pages 5 - 6 AGM in March, after seven years in mean the end of the organisation, Remembering the these roles. I have been delighted but the start of its next phase. West Bridgford UDC to be involved in establishing Please be part of that process of buses the organisation from its initial renewal and offer the organisation Peter Hammond’s talk on conception to the position it enjoys whatever help and support you can this once-familiar public today. However, it is the right - not only as members (though we time for me, both personally and prize that nevertheless) but also as transport undertaking. professionally, to stand down, potential committee members or in pages 7 - 9 having completed three full two- willingly responding to requests for year terms of office (as well as opinions, ideas and information on a year in the role of prospective what the organisation might do in chairman before the organisation the future. was officially constituted). 1
Debts of Honour Signed and a chaired discussion of the topic and a chance to meet with others I’ll be speaking at the AGM sealed of like-minded views. Please do about my time in the role of As we move forward, we need support the event and book as Chairman and how I have to try new ventures and reach soon as possible. The viability of seen the organisation develop out to different sorts of partners. the event depends upon us being and grow. But it is right for An obvious partnership is with able to break-even with advanced me to take this opportunity of the Friends of the National bookings. Please also let other extending a sincere thank you Archives. We have arranged a organisations and contacts know to all those - past and present joint event, in February, at which about this event which is open to - members of the committee, two speakers (including our own anyone who has booked ahead of members of the organisation, Ruth Imeson) will speak on the the day. heads of the archives service in topic of ‘Signed and Sealed’. In Nottinghamshire, and others, order to cost this effectively and Au Revoir not who have helped, encouraged cover the necessary travel and and supported the organisation other arrangements, we have, on Goodbye during these years. Particular this occasion, had to make this As we move into 2019, we may all thanks are due to the committee an openly bookable event, at a be feeling a sense of uncertainty members, without whom the higher than usual charge, without about the state of the world in organisation could not function. reserved tickets for members. which we live. However, within Mention should here be made of Details are available later in the our own organisation, we have Howard Parker and Christine newsletter. We would ask you to every reason for optimism. I look Drew, both of whom have given book via the Eventbrite link we forward to seeing FONA grow valuable time and commitment to have advertised to a site run by the and prosper in the future, in the FONA. Unfortunately, for personal Friends of the National Archives. knowledge that it has strong reasons, both of them have had to We have had to pass on a booking foundations and a supportive resign from the committee, ahead fee on this occasion. However, membership to sustain it. of the AGM. for £11.67, we are providing two excellent speakers, refreshments, Richard A. Gaunt I would also like to thank all those non-committee friends who have willingly undertaken additional, essential work, helping Subscription Renewal the organisation and making it the friendly and supportive Members should have received their renewal notices for subscriptions environment which it represents. before Christmas. As a new initiative, we have also included a programme Particular thanks are due to Sheila card, so that you know about all our events for the year ahead. Please Leeds and Pauline Chettle for refer to the card for full details on dates, timing and booking events. continuing to provide refreshments at FONA events, to the Archives staff for supporting with practical arrangements (including room layout, booking events and 2019 JANUARY technical support), and to Bob Stoakes, without whom our design 01 © and promotional materials would have looked distinctly below par. Later in the newsletter, there renew FONA is a montage of some of the membership 2019 Programme of Events newsletter front covers which have been created since Bob came on board. I remain indebted to him for all he has done to make the newsletter what it is today. 2
FONA’s News Review
NA F January 2015 Newsletter 8 F Happy New In this issue Newsletter 11 In this issue A New Year to be JanuaryN 2016 (Archives) Year! F inspired - and to Newsletter 9 inspire The Victoria N A New Year to be July 2015 A ARichard Gaunt describes County History in Nottinghamshire the proposed changes In this issue to FONA’s role in inspired - and to 2016 Re-open for business! Re-open for The social world A look at the newly inspire of Nottingham’s From Southwell to refurbished and Botany Bay - historic green business! spaces extended detective story Nottinghamshire Derek Wileman, an archive Archives Volunteer Researcher Introducing at Southwell Judith Mills, Workhouse, uncovers FONA’s treasurer- FONA AGM and talk fascinating details designate by Carol Barstow about the Fogg family of Sutton-on-Trent Carol Barstow, Librarian Many of you will be aware that, in November Visitors to the archives meeting room willat recognise Bromley this photograph House, You make us so 2015, a new Community Benefit Society - Talk and book signing as one of the Canal side scenes which adornedtalks itsabout walls. her book ‘Inspire – Culture, Learning and Libraries’ was by local novelist, “In Grandmother Gell’s proud Alan Dance New Year is traditionally a time forKitchen” looking back as well as planning A commemoration of launched in Nottinghamshire. ahead. This newsletter adopts something of that same spirit. As well as the black renaissance reporting on recent events and visits for members, we consider projects This new organisation has been established to deliver cultural, learning which rely on extensive use of Nottinghamshire Archives. By the time and library services on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council from 1 Visit to Manuscripts A Sunday to of the next newsletter (MayA 2015), visit the to Archives the extensionBoots programme April 2016. Inspire has been established on a not-for-profit basis and will & Special Collections, remember - two will have been completedArchive and the service reopened to the public. As we be run by its members, who will be able to vote for (and be nominated University of anticipate these new facilities, the committee would like to wish you all a hundred years ago to) the organisation’s 12-strong Governance Board. One third of the Advertising for the ‘Opening Fun Day, 02 May 2015’. Nottingham very happy and healthyJudith New Year! Mills reports on 2016 will mark seats on the Board have been reserved for the membership, with the rest FONA’s latest outing the bicentenary of made up from representatives of arts, heritage and learning as well as the Richard Gaunt (Chairman) Nottinghamshire Archives re-opened to the County Council, who will continue to own all the assets for which Inspire the Nottingham will be responsible. Please note that, as they are separate organisations, public on 28 April 2015, following‘Earthquake’ a £2.5m membership of Inspire is separate from membership of FONA. However, January 2017 Our next event investment to refurbish and extend the joining up is a simple, free process. Ask at the Archives or consult the Newsletter 14 ‘Forman of Nottingham: website address (given below) for further information. A Printing Legend’ existing building, thereby helping to preserve Inspire will have a wide remit of operational responsibility including the the county’s rich archival heritage for future Nottinghamshire Public Libraries, the Arts Development Service, the Happy New Year, generations. Education Library Service and Nottinghamshire Archives and Records In this issue The new look archives building now includes additional space to Happy New Year, Happy accommodate new archives, including specialist storage for photographs Happy Birthday! and digital media, a computerised building management system, an Birthday! additional meeting room (which can be used as a learning space) and an By tradition, the Christmas and New Year period is a time to In a series of articles improved computer suite for accessingSeptember digital heritage, with 2017 free public reflect upon past achievements and anticipate future plans. Richard Gaunt surveys wi-fi throughoutNewsletter the building. 16 FONA’s progress and its For FONA, this is particularly appropriate. future opportunities pages 1 - 4 In search of Stanley In this issue Philip Derek Wileman tracks Philip Boobbyer down the history of a Newsletter 17 Denise Amos on the January 2018 forgotten resident of In this issue the Workhouse at life and work of Boobbyer Nottingham’s longest Southwell Meetings and Events serving Medical Officer Medical Officer A Request for Assistance pages 5 - 9 Meetings and of Health. of Health for pages 1 - 2 The Nottinghamshire pages 1 - 4 Nottingham Victoria County History A Journey into local and has day-to-day responsibility for 1889-1929 Events - a Request Project Founder members of FONA celebrate its launch in 2012. Welcome to new family history by Peter running the service, have seen members. Hammond A major research project major transformations in the On 24 March 2017, the Peter’s research into his physical fabric and organisation page 5 for Assistance which is drawing on the organisation will be five years old. infrastructure. The3x consequentgreat grandfather, riches of Nottinghamshire I need not rehearse here all that of the Archives, but the transition It’s that time of year overcrowding andEdward poor housing Carver. Archives has happened, to FONA and to has been evolutionary rather than This year marks the 160th again! conditions, coupledpages with3 - 5 poverty, pages 10 - 11 Nottinghamshire Archives, in the revolutionary. My hope for 2017 anniversary of the birth of Philip A reminder that led to disease and widespread intervening period. All that needs is that FONA can continue to build Boobbyer, born 1 June 1857. He suffering. TheThe situation British was Airways Identifying and dating to be said is that the organisation upon these strong foundations subscriptions are due on was the longest serving Medical exacerbatedCalendar in Nottingham as it Victorian and Edwardian has now developed from its initial and develop its capacity to supportJanuary 1st. Officer (MO) for the City of was still surroundedHoward byParker its ancient recalls photographs foundations to be an important the Archives service, not only pages 5 Nottingham and only the third common thefields role and playedmeadows by and Thos. A report on the representative and consultative in its consultative capacity (in MO to serve the city after their succession to the former ArchivesInspire Unsung Hero all the earlyForman additional & Sons housing in the presentation to FONA by body, which is still rooted in an introduction in 1875. appreciation and enjoyment of Users Group) but in fundraising honourable mention had to beproduction accommodated of thiswithin iconic David Ackrel 1 Nottinghamshire Archives by and supporting the Archives withCongratulations to Until 1872, Nottingham’s public the mediaevalcalendar. core of the town. page 12 In this issueits users and friends. TheNewsletter newly new acquisitions.18 Sheila Leeds. health had been the domain of Only afterpage the 5 -passing 7 of the News of the next FONA refurbished and extended Archives page 6 the Sanitary Committee which Nottingham General Enclosure Act FONA funds new in 1845Nottingham did land become in availablethe FONA and Nottinghamshire meeting building, and the development of had been established in 1848. Great War Archives are consulting about accessions Inspire as the organisation which June 2018 Discovery of a lost Prior to this, health had been for building. page 13 the sorts of events which people Older people seem to prefer Ruth Imeson on FONA’s Uncle left to individuals to sort out the A review of the recent would like us to offer, at what daytime rather than evenings but latest contributions to FONA finds lostHoward Parker discovers problems. Unfortunately, for many Nationally,talk given the governmentto FONA by times of day and on what subjects. realise this may not suit younger, the Archives collection. an Uncle he never met. years, the local authority had attemptedCarol Lovejoy to address Edwards. the A simple questionnaire was sent working people. pages 1 - 2 pages 6 - 8 been more interested in saving problempages 8 of- 9 overcrowding and out, on behalf of the archives, archives and brings taxpayers money than investing disease with a series of Public Gift Aid Discovery of a lost with the last subscriptions There are lots of suggestions Emma Wilmot in improvements. Like many Health Acts, especially those Judith Mills with a Uncle - a postscript reminder, but it would be about topics and people of interest Richard Gaunt on the Victorian cities, Nottingham had of 1848 and 1875, but many reminder of the value of useful if FONA members could but few suggestions regarding them home trail of the forgotten artist to cope with a great increase Howardlocal authorities Parker’s were article dilatory in in Gift Aid. e-mail me ([email protected]. potential speakers, beyond those of the Victorian Dukeries. in population during the 19th thetaking last edition up these comespowers. Theto act 1 page 3 uk) with any thoughts on the who are already well known. The pages 9 - 10 century and this placed enormous a fittingof 1848 end. was a significant piece On 17th March 2018, at the following provocations, arising general feeling is that programmes The Napoleonic Wars pressure on its inadequate sanitarypage 9 AGM of FONA, I was pleased Forthcoming Events out of soundings taken by FONA have to be based mainly around at Home to accept two new additions to the availability of speakers, so page 11 FONA helps the committee member Edward Hammond the Nottinghamshire Archives there is little point in indicating which means the contents begin ArchivesSeptember with essential 2018 Christine Drew:- recounts his recent FONA collections. These items were interest in a topic if you are unable at the opening of the school. The Newslettermachine 19 parts presentation. generously purchased from FONA also to suggest a speaker. accession number is 9303. page 10 ‘There does not seem to be a pages 4 - 5 funding and are now on deposit. consensus about the preferred day The Great Escape The volume contains a history of and time of meetings and events. There is a perceived sense of John Beckett on the school at Winkburn, which Nottinghamshire overlap in the ‘offer’ made Nottinghamshire’s own is a small village north-west of In this issue by groups such as FONA, the POW escape story. Newark. The school was opened 1 pages 6 - 8 on 23rd April 1877 by Anne Louisa Nottinghamshire in the time of Jane Milnes Greenwood and 14 scholars in the time of Jane Upton Hall were admitted. As with any Austen Christine Drew reveals school log book the information A report on the recent Austen her research into the is a valuable source of village talk by Chris Weir. history of this grand life, providing details of illnesses, pages 1 - 2 building. names of children and teachers, pages 9 - 11 results of inspections, attendance My ‘other’ Favourite levels and references to harvests. FONA & Inspire Archive Members This makes the volume invaluable recount their experiences welcome visitors to an understanding of the social of both public and page 12 Ruth Imeson receives the Winkburn and economic conditions within School logbook from FONA Chaiman private archives . FONA & Data Richard Gaunt. a small village at the turn of the Protection 20th century. pages 2 - 3 page 12 The first is a school log book for For example, on 28th September Coming up! Winkburn, which you would not 1900 “school re-commenced on A look forward to the usually expect to see outside of a Monday, after a vacation of six next FONA event. county record office. The volume weeks. As most of the children page 4 covers the years 1877 to 1912, were gleaning another week Chris Weir with one of the illustrations from breakershis talk . and Pentrich rebels was given”. This is a reference The Stapleford showed the dark underside to to collecting leftover crops from Cemetery Gravestone Quadrilles, tea and dancing at the the seemingly well-controlled and farmers’ fields, a task which could Memorial Project assembly rooms. These were just well-mannered customs of the The story behind a local part of the polite accomplishments English during the early decades initiative to record a which Georgians would have of the Industrial Revolution. unique collection of engaged in, had they lived in Chris was able to draw on many 1 gravestone inscriptions. Nottinghamshire during the time years of privileged access to the of Jane Austen (1775-1817). Chris pages 5 - 7 holdings of the archives, as a Weir offered FONA members a long-serving member of staff, The Thomas Forman lively survey of social habits and to illustrate some of the ways Preservation Society pastimes, innovations and new in which contemporaries wrote, News from one of our ideas, held (perhaps appropriately) illustrated and talked about the Institutional Members. on the morning of the royal times through which they were page 8 wedding between the newly titled living. His talk was peppered with Duke and Duchess of Sussex. interesting and quirky accounts 1 But Nottinghamshire in the late- and illustrated with newspaper eighteenth and early-nineteenth advertisements and contemporary century was not just about polish and politeness. Luddite frame
3
A very special event
Signed and Sealed
A joint event hosted Ruth Imeson, Heritage Dr Paul Dryburgh, by Nottinghamshire Services Manager for Principal Record Archives, the Friends of Nottinghamshire will Specialist at The Nottinghamshire Archives explore the signatures National Archives will and the Friends of The held in Nottinghamshire explore the practices National Archives. Archives, the reasons and rituals of sealing, The event will examine for their existence, and the materials used, their local and nationally held the different styles of iconography and heraldry, records to reveal the roles signature used by some the different types of of signatures and seals in of the county’s most and seal used by institutions identifying the ownership least famous residents. and individuals and how of documents. sealing changed over time.
The talks will be followed by a chaired discussion and accompanied by a display of original documents/ artefacts. Light refreshments will be available.
The event takes place at Nottinghamshire Archives on Saturday 23 February 2019, 1.30 - 5.30pm. General admission £11.67 (including £1.67 fee). Tickets available from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/signed-and-sealed-tickets-52443888081.
4 The Journals of Anne Cooke Karen Winyard takes us on a fascinating voyage of discovery through the Archives.
I discovered Anne Cooke quite by chance when researching Assistant Poor Law Commissioner Edward Gulson at Nottinghamshire Archives.1 Cross-referenced with Gulson’s name was the Journal of a Nottinghamshire Lady 1835 – 1839 in two volumes.2 I had low expectations, anticipating a dull catalogue of descriptions of the weather and occasions when the vicar called for tea. What I found was a vivid account of life in and around Southwell that might have been written by Jane Austen. St. Peter and St. Paul Church, Upton.
Anne Cooke is an example of how an ordinary life is often quite Nottinghamshire, when the school to become Head Master extraordinary. To begin with she Journal begins. at the Magnus Grammar School is not, in fact, a Nottinghamshire in Newark. It is probable Anne lady. She was born in Macclesfield I have not discovered when Anne moved to the area to join her sister on 30 January 1777, the eldest moved to Upton. Nottinghamshire and brother soon afterwards. The daughter of Joseph Cooke, a Archives purchased the two first Journal entry dated 16 August prosperous attorney, and his volumes of her Journal in 1977 1835, suggests she has been there second wife Anne Swanwick. from a London antiquarian some years as she has received a The Cooke’s were a tightly knit, bookshop. Clearly part of a silk hood and gloves as a memorial affectionate family, prominent in longer series, their provenance of Mrs Ann Longstaff whose Macclesfield society. Anne and her remains a mystery. Researching funeral took place 3 days earlier. siblings were all well educated and, Anne’s history I found that, after although Anne never marries, two her father’s death, she and her Anne’s niece, Mary Heywood, of her sisters make advantageous mother returned to her mother’s marries the second master at matches. Elizabeth marries John hometown, Market Drayton, Newark Grammar School, Thomas Reynolds of Smethwick near and lived there until her mother’s Massey, and in 1836 they move to Birmingham and Mary weds death in 1825. The connection Hawton, where Thomas has been Samuel Hole of Caunton. A third with Nottinghamshire began with appointed curate. Anne joins them sister, Helen, is not as fortunate Mary Cooke’s marriage to Samuel when her lease at Upton ends and in her choice of the less affluent Hole who was living and working remains part of their household William Heywood. Sadly Helen in Manchester at the time, but for the duration of the Journal. dies in 1819, survived by three returned to Caunton following his The family move again a year later daughters who play a large part in father’s death in 1818. Around this when Thomas Massey is appointed Anne’s life. One of them marries time, Anne’s brother, Joseph, left a Vicar Choral at Southwell Edward Gulson, another lives the law and began a career in the with John and Elizabeth Reynolds church and as a teacher. In 1829, 1 Edward Gulson was responsible for creating the whilst the youngest, Mary, is Joseph Cooke left his position at Poor Law Unions in Nottinghamshire in 1836. living with Anne herself at Upton, the Macclesfield free grammar 2 Nottinghamshire Archives, DD/689/1- 2. 5 Minster and Head Master of of illnesses needing medical was scrutinising its practises and the Southwell Grammar School. assistance from broken legs to administration as part of a national Through her family connections, weaning an infant. It would seem Inquiry; and there was a growing Anne is perfectly placed to dentists were as expensive then movement in support of a more comment on the social life of the as now: ‘22 April 1839: I went to evangelical style of ministry among upper middle classes at a time Nottm to the Dentist, his charge the middle classes.3 Anne’s interest when they are beginning to gain and my expenses cost me nearly in Thomas Massey’s career provides in power and influence following 35/-’. valuable insights into the clerical community.
She also reveals the extent to which Southwell was impacted by the slave trade and ownership of slave plantations in the West Indies. This was one of the greatest surprises the Journals held for me. I assumed the Becher family’s involvement in the slave trade was an isolated connection,4 but in fact slavery was a matter of great and real debate in Nottinghamshire with many prominent local families owning estates in the West Indies. When Gladstone’s opponents used his father’s ownership of such an Southwell Minster and below, Southwell Grammar School, now offices. estate against him when he stood for Parliament in Newark in 1832, they were not being opportunistic.
Anne Cooke has taken me on a wonderful journey across Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire; but she has also cha sent me burrowing in many different directions within Nottinghamshire Archives as well. I have discovered supporting documents, deeds and wills that relate to so many of the people and events Anne records, adding COPYRIGHT: ADAM PHILLIPS immeasurably to the overall picture of life in the area. I had no idea the 1832 Reform Act. They provide Anne paints thumbnail portraits how rich and varied our county a uniquely domestic and feminine of many of her friends and archives are, we are fortunate to perspective on people and events. acquaintances and the Journals have such a valuable asset. are full of local gossip and intimate Many of the entries concern family domestic details. But she also 3 Michael Austin’s A Time of Unhappy Commotion (Merton Priory Press, 2010), gives a good account and friends, giving fascinating provides a wealth of information of the history of the Southwell Collegiate details of fashion, food, (Anne is on the wider aspects of life in church at this period. Correspondence held at Nottinghamshire Archives between Tallents and partial to a barrel of oysters), travel Southwell. The Collegiate Church Gladstone, DD/TS/1/2/147, and between Tallents and the Duke of Newcastle, DD/TL/1/1/400 - 407, and health. Anne is often afflicted of Southwell dominated the detail the internal unrest within the church. with bilious attacks, possibly the town but was under pressure 4 For details of the Becher family’s involvement, oysters were to blame; and she from two sides. The Ecclesiastical see R. E. Hardstaff’s Human Cargo. The Southwell Connection (Southwell & District Local History also records a number of instances Duties and Revenues Commission Society, 2004). 6 Remembering the West Bridgford UDC buses A review of Peter Hammond’s talk to the FONA meeting of 15th September 2018.
September 2018 saw the 50th anniversary of the takeover of the West Bridgford Urban District Council’s bus undertaking by Nottingham City Transport. Being a keen bus enthusiast (and still a part-time driver of old buses) Peter was keen to commemorate this anniversary by giving this talk.
One of the early buses in 1914
- in fact he was often late home buses had to be quickly obtained from school because he would from Alldays and Onions, on let the city transport buses which the original bodies were re- go by and wait for one of his mounted. favourite West Bridgford UDC buses to come along! Their smart During the 1920s, with the
Peter proudly wears his authentic appearance, along with the increasing growth of West WBUDC jacket, and below left, friendly and helpful crews, gave Bridgford, many new buses were with his brother, revealing an early the bus undertaking an excellent purchased, including the first of a enthusiasm for public transport. reputation, and it was a very sad long line of chassis built by AEC day when the takeover took place on 28th September 1968.
In fact West Bridgford was the first urban district council in the country to establish its own bus service, which was launched on 28th January 1914. The initial services were soon withdrawn He has fond memories of riding on however due to the chassis from 1926. In the early years of the once familiar maroon (officially of the first new Dennis buses the undertaking passengers had crimson lake) and deep cream being requisitioned by the War to change at Trent Bridge onto buses to and from junior school Department. Five replacement Nottingham Corporation trams, 7 but this system was sensibly rectified in 1928 when a (Ella Road) and the 21A (Davies Road). Another route joint through motorbus service was agreed with the was the no.1 (Seymour Road through to Kingston Corporation into the city centre. Road) which was operated by single-deckers.
The very first double-deckers were open-topped, Later housing developments served by the West and when it rained it was a common sight to see Bridgford buses were the Clifton estate from the the women move downstairs and the men remain 1950s (joint services with Nottingham City Transport to be saturated on top! Some of the low bridges, and South Notts Bus Company) and then in the particularly that on Bridgford Road (prior to it being 1960s the Wolds Estate, for which route 15A was rebuilt in the 1930s) posed problems, and one introduced. The buses to Clifton had to be of the conductress was known to shout out to those on top low-bridge type because of the low railway bridge “Keep your seats and mind your nuts!” along Wilford Lane, and thus WBUDC, along with the other operators, had to either convert or specially The author Clifford Dyment, who spent some of purchase low-height buses. Perhaps some readers can his childhood in West Bridgford, gave a very fitting remember such buses, which had long seats upstairs description of these early buses in his autobiography with a sunken side gangway - and if you were sitting entitled ‘The Railway Game’ (1962), when he said: on the offside downstairs you had to be careful not to bang your head when you got up!
We travelled to Trent Bridge in one of There were many characters amongst the bus the West Bridgford Urban District Council buses. crews. There is also the well-known story of a young “These buses of the twenties weren’t as dignified clippie who asked a local alderman for his fare. This as mahogany sideboards, like modern buses, not gentleman was rather indignant, and claiming that he shock-absorbed, streamlined, silenced, insulated, had the right to travel free, he exclaimed: “Madam, I air-conditioned; they shook and rumbled and never pay my fare, my face is my ticket,” to which she rattled in the way that really co-operative replied, “That’s a pity - the Council has instructed me machinery should. When you set your foot on one to punch all tickets!” of those vehicles and felt your body vibrate as the bus’s body vibrated, you knew that you had By the 1960s increased subsidies from the rates were entered into a partnership of power, and that becoming a serious issue, and this culminated in 1968 knowledge gave you pleasure. with the bus undertaking being disposed of. Bids were put in both by Barton’s and Nottingham City Transport, but as the latter promised to employ all of By the 1930s most of the long-standing routes the staff (including mechanics) it was their offer that in West Bridgford had become well-established,” was accepted. The writing was certainly on the wall namely the 11 (Melton Road/Valley Road), 12 (Trent when the Nottingham Guardian of 27th July 1968 Boulevard), 14 (Eltham Road and Gamston Bridge), commented - in a cutting that Peter had saved at the 15 (Loughborough Road and later to Eton Road and time: ‘The familiar sight of those dark maroon, almost Rugby Road), 21 (Gordon Road and later to Glenmore prune-coloured, buses debouching their passengers on Road, Alford Road, and Wellin Lane), and the 24 (top South Parade may soon become a memory.’ of Musters Road). Relatively short-lived were routes 13 This prediction proved correct, for the final day of West Bridgford’s own buses soon followed on 28th September. The Guardian Journal reported two days later:
A streamer be-decked brown and cream 21 bus left Nottingham’s market square at the “ringing signal of a young passenger at 11.05 p.m. on Saturday, to end an era begun 54 years ago… Enthusiasts gave the last West Bridgford UDC bus a lively farewell on its trip to the Alford 8 celebrations of the former bus undertaking were celebrated. Nottingham City Transport even repainted one of its own modern buses in the old West Bridgford colours that same year in tribute.
One of Peter’s favourite WBUDC buses on his route, the 21. Many of the original WBUDC records are now held Road terminus. Flash cameras lit up South Parade at Nottinghamshire Archives, and these include many as driver Edward Squires [actually Frank Squires] letters and papers concerning the bus undertaking, of Crosby Road, West Bridgford, pulled away. such as original orders for chassis and bodywork for Streamers hung by passengers fluttered from the buses, some of which Peter illustrated in his talk. windows. One passenger stuck a sign reading There is also an extensive photograph collection of ‘The End’ on the rear window of the bus. the buses. One of the illustrations Peter showed in his And police gave the vehicle an escort part of the talk was taken in October 1964 and shows one of the way. West Bridgford buses travelling along Arkwright Street on his route, the 21. By pure coincidence sitting on The West Bridgford buses will gradually be the front seat downstairs is Peter - when aged 5 - and repainted in corporation green and cream his Dad. So you never know who you can find on and the crews will get City Transport uniforms. old photos… Later, schedules will be reorganised along with those for the city … when the new one-man buses are introduced on selected routes in Nottingham.
A detailed feature appeared in the West Bridgford and Clifton Standard” on 5th October, which included the following interested statistics: ‘It began on 28th of the month. It ended on the 28th, and it will be the number 28 that will be remembered in West Bridgford as a lucky one and finally an unlucky one. Ironically, as well, West Bridgford’s fleet consisted of 28 buses.’ The latter newspaper also reported a special social held for the staff and named those who received awards.
True to their word the newer West Bridgford buses were soon repainted green and cream - and very smart they looked. However, the older vehicles, some of which were already over 20 years old, ran without being repainted until being scrapped. The final former West Bridgford vehicles were withdrawn from service in 1976. Fortunately, one original WBUDC bus has been preserved, and occasionally makes an appearance, such as in 2014 when the centenary 1914 - 1968 9 March 16th 2019
Save the date!
Papers for the Annual General Meeting, including details of any committee vacancies, will be distributed in mid-February, under the terms of the constitution.
Please support the organisation with your presence.
All rights reserved, 2019
If you would like to contribute articles to the FONA Newsletter please contact Richard Gaunt, Chairman.