Category: GOING OFF AT TANGENTS
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SNAP 76
Diary References In mum’s 1976 diary, I came across a reference to something called SNAP 76. On 2 June, when mum was feeling depressed and had been cross with my siblings, Malcolm Carter suggested she go with his wife Christine to the Scope – Snap 76 – Festival Choir at St Andrew’s Hall which she…
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Harrison Slater
Contacted by Grandson In February 2026, I received an email from Simon Hoyle. He had seen material on the web site about Fred Harrison Slater, the well-known speaker and elocutionist, who was his paternal grandfather. He thought it was lovely to see how much his grandfather was appreciated by my family and others. Biographical Information…
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Sutton Back Lane
Unfamiliar Geography One of the challenges of understanding my grandfather’s and mother’s diaries has been mastering, what to me has been, the relatively unfamiliar geography of Kirkby in Ashfield. This is because although I was born in Kirkby, we moved away when I was a baby and I have never lived there. I have described…
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“Outward Bound”
Nottingham Castle and “Outward Bound” On Saturday 4 April 1925, grandad noted in his diary that “we went to Nottm Castle & Theatre “Outward Bound”“. We refers to grandma, Ethel Cirket, and grandad, Gordon Parkin. This was some five years before they married, see Chapter 16. Nottingham Castle On this Saturday, they went to visit…
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Considering Coal
Experiences of Coal A recent post on Kirkby Living Memory Face book Group asked about people’s experiences of using coal. There is a lot relevant to this question in my family’s diaries. However, although I have written a little about Kirkby as a coal-mining community, see Chapter 5, there is a lot more relevant material…
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Supporting Norwich City: The Late Seventies
Early Experiences I have detailed my early experiences of supporting Norwich City in a post on the topic. These include the period of the early seventies, also see Chapter 106. Those experiences rely heavily on my own memories and limited mentions in family diaries. My Diaries While those are also sources of information for this…
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Caister to Happisburgh Walk
School Sponsored Walk When I was at the Hewett School, see Chapter 118, I recall doing a sponsored walk on the beach from Caister to Happisburgh to raise money for the school swimming pool. This walk was between 15 and 17 miles. It was on sand so equivalent to a longer distance on a firmer…
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Denis John Randall
A Service of Celebration On Friday 1 August 2025, Jo and I attended a service of celebration for the life of my uncle Denis John Randall. It was held in the Newstead Chapel of Mansfield Crematorium and celebrated his life following his death on 3 July 2025, aged 97. My Uncle Denis and my father,…