The Beestonian Issue 76 by The Beestonian

The

n a i n o t s e e B issue No.76 June 2021

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is SO bracing with apologies to the late, great John Hassall.

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Beestonian The

e don’t want to tempt fate, therefore I won’t write too much about how nice it is to be taking further steps towards some sort of normality again.

What we will do is encourage you to spend as much as you can with local independent businesses instead of big national and multinational chains. If Beeston is to emerge from the pandemic in a strong position, it will do so because people will have supported the independents, keeping money in the local economy. Please think about what you buy in the supermarkets and see if you could buy it from elsewhere. If you order a takeaway, check out doing it via BeestonEats rather than one of the national apps. Maybe try a local beer down the pub instead of one that could have been brewed anywhere. Perhaps trying a coffee from somewhere other than a chain outlet. One thing that is continuing to attract new businesses to the area is that Beestonians have done this in large numbers previously, but we need to keep it up. Unfortunately, the country has taken a massive hit financially from Covid, and the amount of chain stores that have vanished is likely to keep growing. The city centre has a huge number of empty units, where only a few years ago there were waiting lists for prospective tenants wanting to set up shop. I went to Birmingham recently and was shocked by the number of boarded up and shuttered premises. It’s hard to imagine Beeston in a similar position to this - as long as we keep our spending local, we will retain the heart and soul of the town. I for one am very excited about the new cinema opening, and expect it to be a great success. It will draw in plenty of people from surrounding areas, which will be good for those businesses starved of trade over the last year. All we need now is another attraction and we’ll be overtaking Derby as Nottingham’s little sister. How about a safari park on the golf course? A theme park to rival Alton Towers on that land between Boots and the Rylands? Or a new Formula One circuit where Siemens was? Like most, I’ll be happy with what we’ve got just now – fantastic independent retailers, loads of brilliant pubs, a huge range of amazing restaurants, cafes and takeaways, and plenty of creative, kind, generous people that make up our community. Stay safe, and keep looking after each other. JC

John Cooper Editorial

beeston l a n o s r e p Up close + Street Art Leccy Boxes

The fantastic Beeston Street Art project has continued to brighten up the area, most recently having organised the painting of several junction boxes. The work was funded by donations, and has transformed the previously dull, shabby and downright boring street furniture into fun and cheerful canvases for artists to showcase their work. More are being planned for the near future, so keep a lookout for them!

Crows by Rikki Marr, Middle Street, opposite the Tesco petrol station.

Honey Bear by SiFok, on the corner of Meadow Road and Victory Road in the Rylands.

Not Everything’s Black And White by Helloffwih, on the corner of Trent Road and Trent Vale Road, also in the Rylands.

Robin Robin by Cut It Out, Queens Road, opposite KLG Glass.

Abstract by Kynobio, Chilwell Road/Devonshire Avenue/ Middle Street junction.

Positivity Tree Stump Whilst not strictly street art, when the first lockdown started in March 2020, someone took to writing positive messages on some of the freshly cut tree stumps in Attenborough nature reserve. One of these said “All things will pass in time 2020”. Helen Inglis took photos of it almost exactly a year apart, which perfectly illustrated how things do pass in time.

beeston speaks i am

Ron Neighbour: Retired Butcher

am originally from Birmingham and came to Beeston on the Easter Bank Holiday in 1964, to view a business which was for sale on the High Road. I was pleased to see the road packed with shoppers and many small independent businesses supplying a wide range of goods. So, I bought the butchery business from G Eddowes”. “Beeston and the High Road have proved to be a great place to work and live, with many amenities within walking distance. Having had the pleasure of serving many Beeston

residents over many years, I don’t believe that you would find better people anywhere. Kind, amicable and with a fun sense of humour. I remember once asking a customer how they cook their meat. They said; “Until smoke comes out of the oven.””. “I believe that many Beeston residents today would love to be able to go back to personal face to face shopping at small independent shops, and be served by a smiling assistant. But alas time moves on”. CF

Boathouse Cafe

World Cup Win

arkrun is a free to enter five kilometre event for walkers, runners and volunteers which take place every Saturday morning at 9am at more than 2,000 locations in 22 countries across five continents. The events incorporate both a healthy and social aspect, with a 5 kilometre run followed by a visit to a local café afterwards. 7 years ago when Beeston got it’s very own Parkrun, the Boathouse cafe were asked if they'd like to help out doing food for it. They agreed a little meal deal and since then it’s gone crazy. Sarah (co-owner) explained “It is an amazing Saturday morning. About 9.30am we get bombarded with sweaty people. It can be 100 -200 people and we just have such a laugh, it’s unbelievable. It’s like a family thing rather than a business” When you go down there as a runner, you can’t help but notice the buzz, chatter and excitement after the run. Teas, bacon cobs, etc are whizzing out of the serving door, numbers being shouted and there’s a lot of banter and laughter. Tony (co-owner) knows everyone’s name and most people’s food and drink order. Sandie (co-owner) explained that they’ve only got only got 33 seats in the cafe, but everyone fits in, squeezes up, changes seats - it just works and nobody cares. When they saw they’d been entered into world cup of Parkrun cafés competition by one of the current team of race directors, Gaby, they were delighted. The competition was set up by With Me Now podcast, and voting was frenetic. There was much sharing and excitement on social media and you could watch the votes coming in, and Beeston’s lead extending! In the semi-final the Boathouse was up against a cafe in Australia which provided much tension and fun. Voting patterns changed as the Aussie voters went to sleep and the Brits and beyond began to wake. After a close fought battle in the grand final, in a very tense live broadcast countdown the

Boathouse won the award thanks to over 1,600 votes over Twitter and Facebook, beating Bere Island’s Bakehouse. When asked why Beeston won, Sarah laughed and said “cause we have a friendly atmosphere, the bacon cobs are banging, and Tony has the banter”. And you honestly can’t argue with that! If you go to the Boathouse café and unfavourably compare it to some of the quaint, genteel, parkrun equivalents around the world you are missing the point. Sarah, Sandie and Tony are rightly unapologetic, this cafe is not trying to be serene, and middle class, it has its own unique character. This uniqueness extends to having a genuine WW2 landing craft that saw action in the D-Day landings at Dunkirk and featured in the blockbuster “Saving Private Ryan” moored outside. It has it’s very own pirate that looks out across their beautiful stretch of the River Trent and Beeston Weir, and boasts feathered guests such as swans, various geese, ducks, pheasants, and all the creatures coming from the Attenborough nature reserve which starts within a matter of yards of the cafe. It even has a 5ft metal sculpture of a robin to admire as you’re tucking into your egg cob. Sandie who has co-run the Boathouse in Beeston for 14 years, said: “Over time the number of attendees has grown from around 20 in the first week to the last parkrun where there were 325 people. We saw a post on Facebook saying we were in the last eight of this competition and it just went from there, to win a fantastic award like this is a testament to the great support we have from the people who visit. “We have now been closed for just over a year, so we are looking forward to opening back up and the return of parkrun.” Parkrun have stated that they expect all five kilometre events to be returning as of Saturday 5 June 2021. EK & JB

Eddie Kay & Janet Barnes Parkrun victory!

Tim Pollard This issue: Ch-ch-ch-chchanges

h-ch-ch-ch-changes!” sang the late and very much lamented David Bowie, commenting on the state of the world (unless he was pretending to be a steam train approaching a major station, which I doubt), and I’d love to know what he’d make of the state of the planet now. Personally I think when he and the equally missed Lemmy (from Motorhead) died, that was the start of the world slipping into some form of dark, unpleasant alternate right-wing Trumpian universe… but I digress before I’ve even started, which is good going even for me. The world always has and always will change; people have gone through times of feast and famine, peace and war, joys and sorrows, Bowie and Jedward (etc). since time began and we have more changes ahead of us here in Beeston too. In a couple of hours, I’ll be heading off to one of our newly reopened pubs for a (hopefully lovely) socially distanced Sunday lunch sat outside in what looks to be glorious weather. How different from a few months ago when the world was cold and grey, everything was closed, the news was relentlessly depressing and the only social interaction I had was with postie and Amazon drivers. We’ve lost a few shops and businesses too in that time (indeed one near me appears to have closed without ever having opened up; an empty shop had a big refurbish, new window signs in anticipation of opening and then… nothing. Signs gone, windows whited again…). However, more shops, restaurants and venues are opening up now and there seems to be a dynamism and buzz about Beeston that’s impossible to repress (not that I’m trying). Older readers may recall a time when Beeston had a cinema, but now we have a new facility on the verge of opening, the market is back and whilst we may lament some old favourites (I miss you, Chimera Games) we have loads of new restaurants and shops to support.

But what about *us*, the people of Beeston? How has this past year (and longer) affected you? Not at all – or at least very little – for some; massively for others in terms of health, wealth and happiness. Some losses will stay with people for the rest of their lives, but I hope as a community we can pull together to support each other even though it’s been a tough time. It’s easy (especially in a world where we’ve been hiding away and deliberately avoiding human contact) to retain that wariness and suspicion and allow it to grow into mistrust or even fear; reports of pet and bike thefts or the antisocial behaviour of children and teenagers in parks can take hold and colour a world view more than is desirable. Are things worse than they used to be? There are quotes from ancient Greeks bemoaning the lack of respect youngsters show to their elders, I think it was ever thus. Bike thefts in the area do seem appalling, but a friend in the Police tells me the whole ‘pet-napping’ thing really isn’t an issue - or at least certainly nowhere near as bad as the media (and social media) frenzy around it suggests. And maybe it’s the weather but I’m feeling a bit more positive too; even though there’s still no Robin Hood work around I’m getting things done in the garden and around the house and something’s changed in my head too – it feels like a genuine determination to move forward, to be positive and not to let a bleak past claw me back into the black and grey. A positive attitude has to be a good thing I’m sure – for me and for all of us, and for Beeston. For as the great Mahatma Gandhi (himself a one-time visitor to Beeston)* said to the little boy who had swallowed a number of coins and wanted to know how to get them back, “Just Wait. Change is inevitable”. * I know, he didn’t really say it, Disraeli did – but he never visited Beeston, so Gandhi’s way cooler. TP

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Fuzzy Felt Answers: 1. Clash of the Titans 2. Drop Dead Fred

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5. Ghostbusters 2 6. The Young Ones

CANAL BOAT STORY

t’s very peaceful, it's relaxing and has done a lot for my health” says Beeston canal boat owner as he describes his experience of life on a boat.

Normal life revolves around buying a house, creating a family and having a successful career. For these two men, life wasn’t just about sticking to social norms, they wanted to explore life in a new way; through water. Moored on the Beeston canal, John Dubson, 75, and Jim Goodsin, 64, describe life on board. Mr.Dubson has been part of canal life for 31 years and has had his wide-beam boat, the Neveah, since 2016. John has had three boats in his life but prefers his dutch-barge styled boat which is bigger than his previous ones with a fitted kitchen and living room area. John said: “I am limited to where I can go because of the size but I can still go to rivers because they are wide. This’ll be the last boat for me as it is too much for just one person.” The boater explains how covid has restricted his movement but is now excited for the return to normality: “We can’t move at the moment. I’ve always been a continual cruiser so you move every 14 days. I’m waiting till later this month to have some repairs done to the boat.” Jim Goodinson has lived in Beeston since the mid 90s and has had canal boats for 23 years. The Whirligig is a secondhand cruiser stern boat that Jim got back in 2012. Jim said: “Whirligig was the name on it, some people believe it's bad luck to change a boat. I rent my house out and live on the boat most of the time.” Even with the pandemic, Jim explains last year was the busiest year for him as a painter and decorator as he booked lots of jobs but is looking to retire soon. Jim adds: “Covid has slowed boating down and the Canal and Riverside Trust has asked us to try not to move if its not essential but you can move for things such as fuel. 99% of boaters have stuck to that rule.” The boaters have known each other for over eight years and last summer travelled to Lincolnshire together. Jim said: “I would say there's a community vibe, majority of people all know each other in Beeston. We

look after one another.” They both enjoy the benefits of nautical living and how it's given them the opportunity to experience new ways to live. John said: “It’s a good life, you just relax and chill out. I’ve seen some really lovely places and I’ve been all around England. Boating is a fantastic life.”

"... there's a community vibe, the majority of people all know each other in Beeston. We look after one another.” Jim, like John, agrees with life being more peaceful: “Living on the water you get a lot of chilled out time and there aren’t as many pressures. It’s got a lot of nature, I have swans tapping on the windows most mornings. Something you don’t always get to see if you live in a house. It’s very peaceful, it's relaxing and has done a lot for my health”. The canal cruisers explain the importance of understanding boat life before taking the plunge and buying a boat. John’s advice is to hire one out first and see if you like it as boating life isn’t always easy. “People have died on their boat from the cold in winter. If you do like boating but are not retired, hire a boat. You've really got to be retired to travel.” Jim said: “Boating is something you either take to or you don't. You get a lot of people walking round in summer and say how nice it looks. When winter comes those boats are for sale. You’ve got to be a certain breed to get through winter.” The Canal and Riverside Trust has stated that canal boaters can cruise freely and stay overnight on their boat. No indoor mixing on boats is allowed until 17 May, in line with Government restrictions. Boat travelling suspensions were lifted in early April, meaning Jim and John can enjoy their freedom of movement across the waters. ED

Ellie Danemann Life on a boat

Scott Bennett This issue: Scott looks at DIY

was watching a film the other night. A couple were decorating, and they were beside themselves with joy. No arguments, no sulking, no awkward tension as one of them flips out and slings a roller into the wall. I don’t know what colour they’d chosen to paint that front room with, but I would hazard a guess it was probably called something like “hint of smug bastards”. These people weren’t just smug either, they were stupidly happy. Giggling like children, playfully dabbing each other’s noses with the brushes, it was like some weird foreplay. I’m glad the camera cut when it did, otherwise I think they’d have ended up going at it right there on top of the pasting table. I can only assume that it was emulsion they were using too. You try that nonsense with some oilbased gloss and you’ll be scrubbing your face with white spirit for a week. But it got me thinking, there are really people out who actually enjoy DIY. They choose to spend their bank holiday weekends wandering around B&Q looking at wallpaper samples. They say things like, “we should do a feature wall Robert” and “let’s use eggshell on the banisters darling, it’s more hardwearing” and they do all this without getting divorced. It’s incredible. If this were my wife and I, we’d start sniping away at each other in the kitchen section, moaning about how one of us isn’t showing enough enthusiasm. Graduating to some heavy swearing near the floor tiles, and a full-on wrestling match as we go through the till. The reason I hate DIY is the same reason I hate golf. I’m not good enough at it to enjoy it. I probably could be with enough with practice, but I don’t have the time or the patience. I tend to wish I was good at DIY, right at the point where I actually need to do some. When I have the hammer and chisel in my hand, looking blankly at the project in front of me, that’s when I need those skills to enter my head, but unfortunately by then it’s too late. It’s ridiculous when you think about it. It takes years of training to be a tradesman, learning all those skills, on the job for hours every day. I’m so arrogant that I think I can just recreate it on a Sunday morning in my jogging bottoms and some tools from Wilko’s. That’s like thinking you can play Premiership football just because you can do some keepyups on the patio.

My wife Jemma always tries to cushion the blow, but the inescapable fact is that I’m pathetic and I’ve failed. “Don’t worry darling, at least you tried, we’ll just have to get a man in.” She often does, and that man is my dad. Both my dad and my father-in-law are just so practical. They have so many skills, they just know how to do things. Where does this knowledge come from? Has it crept in via osmosis? They blend in at a builder’s merchants, they can locate damp by just sniffing the air, they tap floorboards and walls for no reason, and can plan out an extension without even using a tape measure. It must have started at birth? I reckon my dad probably built his own cot. Standing there on the mattress, just pulling the nails out of his nappy, smacking them in with his rattle whilst smoking a roll-up. There was no such thing as playgroup back then, there was just apprenticeships. These kids didn’t have time to play in a pretend kitchen, because they were too busy helping to tile a real one. In the past Jemma has waited months for me to do things. She’s dropped subtle hints. She left Dulux colour cards scattered around the house, made me watch Homes Under The Hammer on repeat, and taken me for romantic dates down the paint aisle. Sometimes I find myself in awe of other men. The coolest person I’ve ever met was a brain surgeon from LA. I was hosting a conference in London and he was one of the main speakers. I’ll be honest, I’ve never wanted to be another man so much. He looked like a movie star and not only that, he saved the lives of children for a living. At some points during the day, I found myself just staring at his face. Mesmerized by his perfect teeth, my mouth open, just daydreaming and dribbling. He said to me when we were talking: “When I go into the theatre Scott, it’s not about my personality anymore, it all comes down to the skill in these hands, my reputation lives or dies by these hands.” What could I say to that? “Yeah, that’s just like me mate when I’m in the theatre, my reputation lives or dies by those dick jokes.”

Afterwards I went onto his Instagram page and it was just a picture of him coming out of surgery in the full medical scrubs, looking up to the camera, his arms outstretched, and the caption read, “another life saved”. I went onto mine and frankly I was ashamed. I’ve got one at the same angle, looking up to the camera, my arms outstretched, just after eating a massive pizza. At least I didn’t have the caption, “another slice finished”, that would’ve been appalling. Jemma has given up asking me to do DIY now, she just takes matters into her own hands. I’ve come home to find her smashing out the kitchen with a lump hammer or knocking out the fireplace with a lump hammer, or knocking through a wall with a lump hammer. To be honest I don’t think it’s DIY, I think she’s just really angry. The other problem is I always want praise when I do even the most minimal maintenance tasks. I’m like a toddler wanting their artwork on the fridge door. My idea of DIY is wandering around the house with a can of WD40 giving things a little spray, demanding the same level of praise as someone who has built an extension. “Look at that love, I’ve sorted that hinge out, listen to that door, beautiful now that. No, there’s no need to thank me. If you need me, I’ll be in the shed drinking beer!”

they’d be Ray Winstone. Just standing there staring at you, unflinching and intimidating, spitting everything back in your face. “You ain’t putting that thing in me mate, I’m the Daddy ere’ take that Rawlplug and do one, before I cut ya!” It takes hours just to drill a hole a centimetre deep, Bruce Willis had an easier time drilling that comet in the film Armageddon. It’s a 1940’s house. I reckon post-war they thought, just in case it happens again, let’s make these walls totally impenetrable. The areas above our windowsill could take a direct hit from a bazooka! What were they thinking? It’s a semi-detached house in Nottingham not the bleeding Pentagon! I felt like I was trying to drill a hole in the middle of the A52. I was sweating, my arms were shaking and my drill smelt like a burnt out clutch on an old Ford Capri. It’s a decent drill, or at least I thought it was. A hammer drill apparently, well I reckon it’s an MC Hammer drill, because that thing ain’t touching sh*t! I think I understand now why they call them drill bits, because that’s what mine are in by the time I’ve finished with them. They go in all hopeful and proud, like hardened marines, but come out all jaded and demoralized. “Sorry sir, they’re just too strong for us!”

I’m frightened of DIY, that’s never a good starting point. I’m terrified of making mistakes. Every job I do just seems to escalate. One moment I’ll be hanging a picture in the front room, two hours later, I’m in Screwfix, with a pencil behind my ear, eating a sausage roll and ordering a cement mixer.

There is one job I do enjoy doing though. Using my pressure washer. Everyone should have one. There is something very primal about that. I think that’s why men enjoy chasing that air freshener up and down the trough in a pub urinal. They aren’t childish idiots, it just reminds them of their pressure washer.

My tongue comes out when I’m concentrating too, that’s not a good look is it? Imagine asking someone to come and fix your boiler and you catch them just licking their own face. You’d immediately ask them to pack up their tools and leave.

When I use it, I think I slip into some sort of trance. I’m just on a quest to pressure wash things. One day I imagine I’ll be doing the patio, then I’ll just end up wandering the streets, like a serial killer looking for victims, jet washing stray pets and blowing chewing gum off the pavements.

I tried putting up some curtain rails once, it took me about six hours. That’s just madness. You can’t be spending three hours on one curtain pole. Rawlplugs are one of those things in life that should be so easy. Not when it comes to our walls. I’m not saying they are hard but it was like trying to drill into Iron Mans nut sack. If those walls were a person I think

The pressure washer has achieved something incredible. It’s made a chore enjoyable. That’s the secret. I think I’d happily volunteer to do the hoovering if I could do it actually seated on top of the Dyson. That’s the problem with DIY, most of the enjoyment comes after you’ve finished, not during. The satisfaction of standing there

looking at the result of all your hard work, on the platform at the “Admiration Station” that is the moment people love. But does that moment make up for all that stress, arguments and tension? Of course it doesn’t. Do it yourself? Nah, I’d rather get a man in mate. Scott Bennett Comedian www.scottbennettcomedy.co.uk Twitter - @scottbcomedyuk Instagram - @scottbcomedyuk Stand up from the shed – Live stream Every Week Live – www.facebook.com/scottybcomedy Podcast – Search “Stand up from the shed” on Apple and Soundcloud Twitter - @standupinashed

Amy Victoria Gathercole They turn our bulky rubbish into life-chances for vulnerable children!

A small new business making a big difference

s lockdown is lifting and spring is blooming all around us, thoughts naturally turn to cleaning, sorting, organising and planning trips to the tip as we spruce up where we live. Especially after the year we’ve all just had. Did you know that there’s another new option that will save you having to contend with queues of cars at the tip and having to lug hefty furniture out to the street? Which also helps support vulnerable children and orphans? Well, read on. You can turn your bulky rubbish into lifechances for vulnerable children. Brad Moore and his wife Cyrilyn are both incredibly passionate and generous people, who made a pledge and a promise 20 years ago whilst visiting an orphanage in Uganda. A commitment to support orphans, and questioned: “how can we best engage?”. Ten years after this, they founded the amazing charity Operation Orphan and now work in 16 countries achieving this mission.

"Brad and the moving crew were a pleasure to deal with, they were supportive, understanding and helpful...”

In the past year, during lockdown, they’ve grown again with a new complementary enterprise in WasteNottWantNott. This has been created to recycle and reuse unwanted bed frames, mattresses, sofas and other bulky items, instead of them going into landfill. Since launching mid-pandemic they’ve already made over 120 collections saving so much waste from landfill. Isn’t that amazing? Did you know that more than 7.3 million mattresses are disposed of in a year in the UK? Shockingly, currently only around 20% of these are recycled. That means nearly 6 million mattresses are being sent to landfill or incinerated every year. By offering an environmentally friendly alternative WasteNottWantNot are supporting a green initiative, helping to combat a huge issue and generating another income stream to support vulnerable children in need locally, nationally and internationally. Earlier this year Brad and the team opened up a pop-up donation drop-off point on Beeston Square too. During lockdown the crew set up in the first pop-up shop to make donations easier. It is no longer operating at the time of print, as now the new tenants have occupied the premises. There is the intention to set up another pop-up if premises become available though. The shop worked well for a few months whilst it was open and made it easier than ever for the charity to receive generous donations of essential items, and get them directly to the families who need them as quickly as possible.

Over lockdown thousands of people have lost loved ones and, as I tragically experienced first hand, we were at a loss of how to fulfil the wishes of said loved one in donating her things to those who need them, and to help charity as she would have wished. Brad and the moving crew were a pleasure to deal with, they were supportive, understanding and helpful and their brilliant and safe service meant my family and I could donate beds, mattresses and drawers to be utilised by families in need. Which in a time of grief provided some comfort.

Speaking with Brad he wanted to give a big heartfelt thanks to you! “We’d like to say a huge thank you to Beeston and the wider local community, for placing your trust in a new operation with WasteNottWantNott, for booking weekly pick-ups and collections over the last few months and for your support as we’ve been getting things off the ground, to help address more local needs and bed poverty. We are confident that we can and are making a difference, helping the environment and supporting children in need across Nottinghamshire and beyond. Through our new local Nottingham business, we are helping the environment by recycling bulk waste & 100% ensuring that it doesn’t end

up in our landfill. As all the profits that are made are invested back into Forget Me Notts (the local arm of the Operation Orphan project and charity that supports the needs of vulnerable children and families in Nottinghamshire and the UK). In the past year, over 235 beds have been provided to homes that need them, and 520 children have been helped as a result of all of the efforts all thanks to you. So thank you and please keep spreading the word to help us grow and support more people who need our services and support.” If you want to follow what Brad and his crew do then they tell their interesting and inspiring story regularly across their social media channels (facebook. com/OperationOrphan and instagram.com/ wastenottwantnott) including some informative and fascinating videos that are well worth a watch. Such as how their recycling partners TEXTEK actually shred 1million mattresses a year and utilise all the parts that they can, it’s not quite magic. If you’re in need of a bulky waste collection please visit www.operation-orphan.org/ wastenott-wantnott AVG

65 Only £ A3 for an or print A4 r £55 fo

Prints now available

Rendered in pen and watercolour, our expanding collection of Beeston's spectacular pubs and restaurants are now available as limited edition, signed Giclee prints.

• • • •

High quality Giclee prints, on thick A3, textured paper. Each print is individually signed and numbered by the artist £65 for A3, £55 for A4 (plus £5 postage if outside Beeston) Postcard sets coming soon...

Interested? Drop us a line at: thebeestonian@gmail.com and we'll arrange payment and delivery.

All p ro go to fits supp help o Bees rt the tonia n

t s e e B Mini The

4 # t s e e B i in M o t Welcome Goodbarton, Created by Helen

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Graphics by Dan Cu

The World in Beeston Did you know there was a cafe in Thailand called Beeston cafe, named after our town? Did you know Beeston is twinned with towns in Germany and Poland? Did you know there are Nottingham University sites in China and Malaysia? Beeston may be small, but its reach also stretches around the world…!

Dot to dot

An Italian artist, Roberto Alborghetti, who is also the official biographer of Pope Francis, established a link between Beeston and Tuscany after becoming fascinated with something with strong connections to our home town, which became the inspiration for his paintings. Can you work out what that is, from doing our dot-to-dot?

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• 19 • • 20 70 • 21 • 22

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Logic Puzzle

Pottery

University

Castles

Hoovers

Bad Weather

Illness

Missed Connection

Lost Luggage

England

China

Germany

Australia

Some intrepid Beeston explorers set out around the globe to visit places that have various kinds of links to our home town. Can you work out who went where, to see what, and what delayed them on their travels, by completing this logic puzzle?

Patrick

Lina

Jay

Jess

Hoovers

Castles

Univeristy Pottery

Lost Luggage

Missed Connection

Illness

Bad Weather

Name:

•

Destination:

Jay set off on a mission to find some • wonderful pottery in a town named after a famous Beestonian, Bendigo. His hold up was not caused by the illness which slowed down a trip to our twin town, Gutersloh, in Germany •

Interest:

The person unfortunate enough to • lose their luggage was off to visit a university with an identical building to the one in Beeston, which is not found Australia. • Bad weather scuppered Patrick's visit which had nothing to do with hoovers, they are more up Lina's street.

Delayed by:

Jess's Beeston based holiday took her to Ningbo in China; a missed connection was not what delayed her holiday. The shortest trip made was to Beeston Castle, in Peckforton Castle, England; this was one of our male travellers, with the other male making the furthest trip for his holiday.

flags of Beeston

snap!

When you’ve finished the puzzle on the other side, cut out and keep these snap cards, which feature the flags of countries which we have found to have links to Beeston! To make sure your cards are stronger, and last longer, glue the page onto some thin cardboard (such as that from an empty cereal box) before you cut them out.

The world in Beeston! There are all corners of the globe represented in our small, but wonderful town. These photos of symbols and images from other countries have been taken around on and around Beeston High Street and Chilwell High Road. Can you spot them and fill in what buildings/shops they are attached to?!

Here’s a flag sat alongside the Union Jack. Which restaurant is it above? Answer: Whose window has all these lovely Italian items in? Answer:

Which restaurant has this outside its entrance? Answer:

Who delivers a great taste of Italy!? Answer: Which shop has an Eiffel Tower in its logo? Answer:

Which shop has this Arabic script above its front? Answer:

Where can you find this Geisha? Answer:

Which building do the Nottingham Korean Church meet at? Answer:

Which establishment has a Buddha sat in its window? Answer:

Callout for under 16s Mini Beest journalist! Hello! In the true spirit of The Beestonian, I would love to have a youth perspective/voice in our next issue of The Mini Beest. We’ll be focusing on ‘The Fun Outdoors’, looking at all the activities and places available for young people to do and visit around Beeston. Do you have an idea for a story, or article you think would fit well within that theme? If so, send your idea to thebeestonian@gmail.com by the end of June. The article must be focusing on someone or something in the Beeston area. It could be an investigative report on something, an interview with someone, your thoughts on a subject, a review of something. It will be limited to 500 words.

We’ll be printing our favourite in the next issue of the Mini Beest.

Survive & thrive

ollowing the Sarah Everard tragedy and resulting debate and protests, we’ve been working with our community groups to express and understand our emotional responses and concerns. We’ve been thinking about how personal safety related issues affect the residents of Beeston Rylands.

Our youth club held a session talking about keeping safe and they shared experiences that made them uncomfortable or at risk both online and on the streets / in public. One of our young people had been approached by a man on social media who posed as a teenage boy and continued to harass and message the young person pressuring the individual to send pictures and meet up. Fortunately, in this instance the young person was intuitive enough to alert an adult and the police were quickly involved. Others spoke about feeling intimidated when walking alone or at night. They created statements that would go on placards if they could demonstrate their feelings to the government. The young people articulated their frustration and they showed real insight through providing some simple but effective solutions. Ideas such as having sensors on street lights, more stringent checks for people that have positions of trust and authority and grassroots education in PSHE that supported all young people to recognise and respect peoples’ privacy, space and safety – one 12 year old stated “that some people might not know what they do or say could make others uncomfortable so if we could help people understand it might stop them from being like that in the future.” Our older Friday clubbers have explained how isolated it can feel with little public transport in the Rylands. On our weekly social ZOOM meeting we were able to hear just how restricted some of our residents felt. We were discussing and

getting excited about the new cinema but as conversation flowed it became obvious that the huge social benefits this modern mecca offered was governed by what time the film would end and whether it would be dark by then.

For our older residents that don’t drive, the prospect of walking back over the bridge in darkness was a level of vulnerability that is not an option. This is also true for trips to Nottingham for the theatre or meals and in one case visiting a loved one at QMC had to be meticulously planned around the journey back into the Rylands as the bus only goes as far as Queens Road. We questioned as a group why our little section of Beeston had been quarantined from the rest of our vibrant hive of opportunity and how such a pernicious form of discrimination had been allowed to evolve in 2021, pandemic or no pandemic – the residents are isolated from the rest of the town. This has led to an idea for a community transport bus called the Rylands Rover. The idea would be that the minibus would be run by volunteers for the community. It would be a phone call away to come and pick an individual up and drop them at the exact location. There’s also a new social evening starting soon on Tuesday nights, so Rylanders have a safe place to go, to listen to music, chat and dance that is within walking distance and run by DBS checked volunteers. The Tuesday social will start in May 2021, and we’re at the early stages of applying for funding to make the Rylands Rover happen. If you’d like to know more or talk about getting involved in of these exciting projects; volunteering, fundraising or sponsoring, please email: acemillington@ gmail.com. Janet Barnes and Naomi Robinson; Rylands community activists

Community Matters This issue: Safe, Social and Connected

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Sport is Bouncing Back A

fter the darkest winter in recent memory, spring has arrived with blossom on the trees and the country now having the freedom to play outdoor sport again. Isaac Seelochan speaks to the sports club chairman, secretary and those who are delighted that their daily exercise is no longer just walking and jogging. Most local sports clubs across the country would have been fearing for their future when lockdown first struck Britain in March last year. Despite being given a temporary respite last summer, they soon had to close their doors again during a second national lockdown in November. This was followed by a third at the start of the year which many believed to be the worst yet. But after the dreary winter months of January and February, the country is outside again and enjoying the smell of freshly mowed grass and the thunderous sounds of an ace. Any club without its members cannot survive so those in charge are understandably pleased to be back. “We’re absolutely delighted because we know how much people want to play,” says Chris Clift, chairman of Chilwell Tennis Club who were voted club of the year by LTA Nottinghamshire in 2020. “Obviously we can only have up to six people but if we find that it gets booked up then we have another six who play later on.” The clubs enforced closures over the past year have given them time to upgrade to all-weather courts. They will now be open beyond the spring and summer months after years of attempting to improve the club. The 67-year-old added: “We managed to get funding from Sport England, Nottinghamshire County Council and the Chilwell Memorial Institute have pitched in as well. The dream has virtually become a reality.” Whilst many will be eagerly returning to the clubs they have missed; some are taking part for the first time. Denise Preet, 58, recently had her very first experience of Chilwell Tennis Club. “My friend has been a member for a few years, and she told me we ought to come down and have a look at the new surface because we like to play,” she said.

Isaac Seelochan

“The surface is innovative and with my knees being of an older age I will hopefully be able to play for longer.” Nottingham Croquet Club are also benefiting from the lifting of restrictions as club secretary Ellen Gee explains: “We were well and truly ready to open again because a lot of our members have been stuck at home, so it was nice for them to come back and play. Membership has been static since we reopened which is good as some clubs have lost a lot of members because people are having to shield.” “We’re also having three open days this year as our first one was invitationonly due to us having to facilitate a reduced lawn capacity because of covid restrictions.” The club held a junior day for school children during the Easter holidays with one of those in attendance being eightyear-old, Tilly Hallam, who enjoys the social side of croquet as well as playing several other sports. “I enjoy that I can see friends as well as playing,” she says. “I also do swimming and hockey.” The lifting of restrictions has arrived at the perfect time for Adam Plumbley, chairperson of Beeston & Toton Sycamore Cricket Club, as preparations for their season get underway. The 32-year-old research librarian began his tenure when they were struggling for volunteers and players after suffering several relegations on the bounce. Several players were tired of the negativity at the club and started holding secret pub meetings before Adam and several others took over from the previous long-standing board in 2019. They were one of the few clubs last summer who met the necessary criteria to play on public land under Covid restrictions and Adam is pleased that remains the case. He said: “It was relief in the fact that we know we're going to get a season and I think it was key that you’re allowed to go and do sport before you can go to somewhere like the pub. The big thing about cricket is that it is a very social sport in terms of the time that you get to spend with a wide group of people who you wouldn't necessarily meet anywhere else, as well as the idea of being able to go outside and enjoy the summer days that we're hopefully going to get.”

The club has worked hard like most to ensure that they can re-open with several safety steps needing to be considered before re-opening. “We’ve had to do quite a lot of covid based risk assessments including all the steps that we're taking to reduce transmission,” Adam says. “We have a set of guidelines from the ECB (the England and Wales Cricket Board) including that we're only allowed to practice in groups of six and if we are at games, we need to have breaks every six overs to make sure everyone's washing their hands.” The one clear message is the welcome return of the social side of sport that has been sorely missed over the past year. Normality in everyday life may still be some way off but the return of outdoor sport signals the road towards it. www.clubspark.lta.org.uk/ ChilwellMemorialInstituteLawnTennisClub www.nottinghamcroquet.org.uk Email batscc1@gmail.com if you are interested in joining Beeston & Toton Cricket Club.

Debra Urbacz This month: Difficult Roads, Beautiful Destinations

Creative I

n the spirit of the approaching summer and Covid restrictions easing, stretching our legs further afield or planning a little holiday may be at the forefront of our minds. A longing to escape the confines of the borough will have driven some of us to scrutinise the new ‘rules’ and look at what kind of accommodation will be open to use should we wish to plan our escape. Some would say that this ‘lockdown’ has been a long trek.

One of the easiest ways to get away and stay Covid safe is to go camping. Now it might still be a little chilly for some of you to consider getting your tent out, but if you own a caravan or campervan then you are likely to be able to load it up with all the essentials and motor off somewhere this summer. Campervans are possibly the greatest, and coolest, invention to date. A compact home on wheels, they can take you anywhere, plus they allow you to access all basic amenities with minimal set up on arrival. Not only that, they are great fun! It was one local couple’s love of the campervan lifestyle that lead to a delightful creative project that captured our imagination for this issue of the Beestonian. James and Alice Kellett embarked on their children’s book almost five years ago. ‘Dub! A Campervan Adventure’ was written by James and Illustrated by Alice, who has a little bit of an obsession with the VW campervan and left behind a career in teaching to pursue her dream of becoming an artist – mainly painting the classic VW split screen campervan. James started the story, asking Alice to illustrate it, knowing that Alice’s young daughter Isla would love it. Shortly after getting together Alice started her business Pretty Splitty and James was kept busy running Froth at Chilwell’s Creative Corner, which later became known as Canvas & Coffee. Getting married, buying their first campervan and then having their first child meant that Alice didn’t get much spare time to work on the illustrations for Dub, and it wasn’t until the national lockdown last spring that Alice returned to them. With the coffee shop closed and Alice heavily pregnant with their second child, having the book to work on was a real positive focus. Alice completed the illustrations in May and their son was born shortly after. The book still needed to be digitised, layout defined, a cover added, and edits completed before it was ready for publishing. The couple self-published, and due to the second lockdown, they were able to get off to print ready for release in December 2020. Since then Dub! has been shipped to

Japan, Australia, USA, Canada, Spain, Sweden and all over the UK.

Isla is the ‘baby’ at the front of the book amusing herself with the jangly keys, when Dub becomes detached and tumbles into the gutter. He appears to have been woken from a slumber by the fall, and free from the chains of the keyring he embarks on his own adventures. The call of the open road beckons but it was a lonely life for Dub. He tries to make friends, and meets an assortment of characters along the way with humorous but also disastrous consequences. Reflecting on his less than perfect adventures, he is nevertheless filled with a air of contentment, a poetic parallel for those of us who may be looking back over the past year remembering the challenges with an air of relief, reassured that somehow we got through it. Sometimes the journeys we find ourselves on are less than smooth, but we learn from them and we grow. And judging by the final image in the book, Dub is definitely a lot surer of himself than he was when he first started his journey! These adventures end with him basking on a sun-baked beach and giving us a cheeky wink. James enthused about how well the book has been received: “We’ve absolutely loved receiving feedback from the little ones who have read our book. To think that there are Dub books all over the world, potentially being enjoyed at any moment is a really cool thought. We had a friend brought their little boy over this week and he saw our campervan on our drive he said “look Mum it’s Dub!”, which was amazing! Our lives have been so full-on during lockdown looking after our children and homeschooling that releasing the book feels like a distant memory at times, so whenever we get a bit of feedback it makes our day.” ‘The book is gorgeous. A great introduction to Dub and so well written and illustrated.’ (Paul) ‘My son loves it and asked me to read to him 3 times when we got it.’ (Emma) Work has already started on Dub’s next adventure, though James realises that finding time in their busy life will be a challenge. Nevertheless, he is really looking forward to his coffee shop reopening, seeing his customers again and their reactions to Dub, which will also be on sale as well as their famous waffles! Canvas & Coffee - canvasandcoffee.uk The book can also be purchased from www.prettysplitty.com/product/dub-book DU

Beeston

For this issue we have chosen to feature local illustrator Connor Hattamsworth who coincidentally also has a love of camping adventures and the great outdoors. His illustrated alphabet is still one of my favourite projects to date, each capital letter filled to the brim with inked images of wildlife and their natural habitats – all so finely executed. My favourite is the proud lion with majestic expression and a representation of his savannah home, tiny giraffes filling his flanks.

TREES OF The Tree of Hope is 1 year old! studying nature art in their class with Miss Naylor prior to lockdown, and already holding a love of nature, especially birds, bugs and trees. Fraser, Archer and Edwyn (and their mums Maxine, Sarah, and Jo) set up a small, socially distanced ‘lockdown nature club’ and met outdoors once a week in Highfields Park. We would meet near a chosen tree and from there we would do something creative connected to the natural world around us: bird spotting, plant identifying, sketching, nature hunts, but the thing that stuck was making art in nature.

Dr Jo Norcup By Archer, Edwyn and Fraser (with assistance by Dr JN, Maxine and Sarah)

The very first thing we did was create an Andy Goldsworthy inspired piece of nature art to reflect our appreciation of all NHS workers, shaping twigs and cut grass into a large heart with NHS in the middle of it – a huge floor display at the paddling pool end of Highfields (where the Serenity Garden has since been created).

ay 2020: Beeston, like the rest of the country was in lockdown. Keyworkers, teachers, parents were recalibrating and working hard to adjust and make sense of the new daily landscapes and rhythms we were all having to juggle.

We tried to make it big enough, we hoped, that the air ambulance that lands and takes off in the field over University Boulevard might see it, but if they didn’t then we hoped passing dog-walkers, people on their daily walks and exercise runs and cycles might see it and that it might give folks a lift: a way to connect and remind people that humanity mattered, gratitude mattered, kindness mattered. The idea to paint rocks came from the

For Archer, Edwyn and Fraser, along with other school children, having to negotiate home schooling or going into school under different circumstances was a major adjustment. The one thing that kept us hopeful was the natural world around us: the morning and dusk bird song, the changing flora, the allotments, the bees, the trees. Nature became a more valued friend than it had always been. The daily walk outside for exercise became something to look forward to: to spot something different, to learn a new plant name or bird, to mark the time passing in an affirming way and to remind ourselves that difficult times and challenges pass, but that to hold on, we needed gratitude and hope and to take us away from the worries of the human world. This Trees of Beeston article is dedicated to one very special tree that was ‘adopted’ in Highfields Park by three Roundhill School Beeston boys and friends. Inspired by

boys wanting to continue being creative, something more permanent but that wouldn’t be damaging to the natural world. Seeing painted rocks created by other Beestonian children (like the ace snake stone near Beeston Rylands school), we decided to paint hopeful stones and place them at the base of the tree in the park where we met. A place for hope to materialise. The stones would have hopeful messages, good wishes and art painted on them and also serve as a place to leave stones dedicated to special people, ideas and organisations in our lives. Positive energies going into the future.

BEESTON Maxine and Richard (Fraser’s parents) worked really hard in creating a small removable and non-damaging sign to place next to the tree to explain why the stones were there. What and why we started the ‘Tree of Hope’. We wished it that others might join in too. Then we got to work, painting our stones, each of us, mums and sons, painting a few different messages on the stones, sometimes just bright colours, sometimes words, sometimes faces. We told others about what we were doing and visited the tree every time we met to leave more.

"This Trees of Beeston article is dedicated to one very special tree that was ‘adopted’ in Highfields Park by three Roundhill School Beeston boys and friends”

choosing a tree that would be magical, and we called it the Tree of Hope. Children could paint a rock with a wish or hope on it, e.g. ‘I wish covid would go away’. Each time we visited we thought it would be taken down but over time the rock count went up! And up! We hoped it would be something fun and could make other children happy and also get them out into nature which would make them feel better in lots of ways”

Archer, reflecting on the Tree of Hope says: In all honesty, we thought it might stay a couple of days, but now, a year on, the Tree of Hope has found its folklore space for our community. We have walked past and seen others leaving stone memorials and messages, others stopping and reading. We have spied children pointing it out to parents and grandparents. Some stones have been taken and moved, and other stones have been made and added. The Tree of Hope has a community life of its own and below are the reflections of the three eight year old boys, who (ably assisted by their mums) made the Tree of Hope possible reflect on their nature lockdown art. We hope, the next time you walk through Highfields Park, you will look out for the Tree of Hope, and if you want to, paint a rock and place it there. The final words are from the youngest ever Beestonian contributors Fraser, Archer and Edwyn:

Fraser Writes: “We created the Tree of Hope because Covid hit the earth and children were not able to play like before and they were sad. They could go to the park to exercise for a bit, so me and my friends created a space by

“I think the Tree of Hope helps people express their feelings over lockdown. It also lets people be creative and remember people who have been lost”

For Edwyn, the Tree of Hope has become something to reflect on: “The three of us made our own Tree of Hope t-shirts and we’re really pleased we have the Tree of Hope. I’ve told my friends about it, and my friend Evelyn has painted rocks and left them here too. It started as something we did, but it’s nice to think about it as a tree that is special for other people too. I hope it shows people that children care about the tree, and other trees we have because nature keeps us alive and without the trees our world is very sad. I hope it makes people see all trees as hopeful, and that we can make the world more hopeful by being creative and thinking about how we all can look after each other and the natural world and stop dropping litter and plastics everywhere.” Dr JN

All change aT 

commerciaL John Cooper

really refreshing thing to see is how many Beeston pubs appear to have come through lockdown unscathed. None more so than the Commercial, which is right back on form after years in the wilderness. Most recently it took the form of a very good but not so profitable Indian restaurant, before the current team took it on. Ronnie Guest and Michael Gratton have signed a long term lease with pub owners Greene King, and installed Gemma Brown (well known from her time at The Star) as manager. After a stuttering start thanks to Covid, the pub has now finally got into its stride. The initial reopening was planned for March 2020, although the first lockdown put paid to that. It finally opened the doors in July, only to then have to close again in late autumn as the second wave took hold. Investment in outdoor covered seating has meant that thirsty Beestonians have been able to take advantage of the relaxation of restrictions, with a capacity of over 200 outdoors. Gemma has seen lots of new customers as well as returning familiar faces, with a really good mix of ages. Luckily the deal with Greene King does not restrict Gemma to selling certain types of beer, therefore allowing her to meet the strong demand for real ale from local breweries. This includes Black Iris, Totally Brewed, Castle Rock, Shipstones, Dancing Duck, Blue Monkey, Beartown and Bradfield amongst them. This commitment has seen recognition

from CAMRA – at the time of writing the pub has made it through to the last 12 of the Nottingham Locale competition, beating off stiff competition from Beeston stalwarts including The Crown, The Victoria and The Star. As well as local ales, their commitment to reducing food miles extends to their other suppliers – fish, fruit and veg from Hallams, and meat from Meat4U means they have a very strong food offering as well. They are also soon to offer coffee from Nottingham award-winners 200 Degrees. Plans for the future include a 2 floor extension, which will increase capacity on the ground floor, and create more space in the upstairs events room, to also include a new roof terrace. This will see plenty of regular themed nights such as jazz and comedy. Perhaps the best news of all is that the team have just signed a contract to breathe new life into another superb but often overlooked pub – the Malt Shovel. The winning formula of local ales, good food, great service and a friendly atmosphere should work really well there too. Despite Beeston having lost a few pubs over the years, the ones that have survived have undoubtedly improved massively. Along with the addition of the two excellent micropubs (Pottle and Totally Tapped), the future looks bright for Beeston – or should that be Beerston?

Photos by Richard Key

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We are determined to ensure that everyone who wants to read The Beestonian is able to, in times of lockdown or otherwise. The temporary closure of lots of places we’d usually distribute from hasn’t made this easy. Our current stockists include Hallams, Out Of This World, Broadgate Post Office, Gill’s Fish and Chips, the Cycle Inn, Dessert Haven, The Circle Eatery, John Flynn Opticians, The Doughmother, J&B Autos, The Commercial, the Victoria and events at the Bartons Garage. For locals who are unable to get to any of these places, we have set up a subscription service – for just £15 you can have the next 8 copies of The Beestonian delivered direct to your door (for those living outside NG9 it will cost a little more, as they will be sent by first class post). Simply visit our Ko-Fi page – ko-fi.com/thebeestonian – and check out at our shop. Every subscription includes a free A5 postcard of a locally drawn Beeston landmark delivered with each issue. If you’d like to support The Beestonian anyway, you can also make a donation through the Ko-Fi page. We’re a community-led, non-profit making, and reinvest all funds into getting The Beestonian to as many people as possible (we currently print 2,000 copies of each issue and are hoping to increase this when it is affordable).

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Nicholas Cage*:

The Inside ScooP W e’ve had many famous types pass through our town, and some even make it their home. One who is more prominent than most is Nicholas Cage, who for several years now has been staring from his window, like a sentinel watching over the Square ensuring that harmony reigns. Despite being notoriously taciturn, and made of cardboard, we still decided to approach the star of The Croods, Color Out of Space and other films you somehow overlooked existing and get the inside story: SORRY THE OSCARS OVERLOOKED YOU THIS YEAR. HOW YOU FEELING? Yeah man, I really thought I had a fighting chance with my new film, Jiu Jitsu (it's on Netflix, go watch) but it's all politics man. YOU TOOK UP RESIDENCE ABOVE THE HIGH STREET CROSSING IN BEESTON A FEW YEARS BACK? WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE TOWN? Was drinking in this little pub the Pottle and one thing led to another and I moved in with this Irish guy, nice guy, but always made me do the pots. YOU SUBSEQUENTLY DISAPPEARED FOR A FEW YEARS, CAUSING MUCH DISTRESS AMONG BEESTIONIANS. WHERE DID YOU GO, AND WHY DID YOU DESERT US??

Ah man, I had to go get in fighting shape for my new film Jiu Jitsu, have you seen it? You should see it. And then Covid hit and I couldn't get back to my Irish Bro...

Lord Beestonia

WE’RE GRATEFUL YOU’RE BACK AND LOOKING BETTER THAN EVER. WHAT’S THE STRANGEST THING YOU’VE EVER SEEN FROM YOUR EXCELLENT VANTAGE POINT? Couple of pigeons fighting over a Gregg's sausage roll. Not Jiu Jitsu style though. YOU ONCE APPEARED ON AN EDITION OF CHANNEL 4 NEWS WHEN THEY RECORDED A PIECE FROM BEESTON. WAS THIS THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR SCREEN CAREER? I did? YES YOU DID. Man. I guess my highlight so far is living in Beeston, want my face on that wall next to Tesco though. WHAT WORDS OF WISDOM HAVE YOU FOR THE PEOPLE OF BEESTON? Wear your mask dudes and dudettes or we'll be having a Face Off… Many thanks to Cardboard Nic Cage’s agent, Peter Daly, for arranging this interview. Jiu Jitsu is now available on Netflix. Spare yourself, and don’t watch it. Honestly. LB

r e g a n a M n o R Richard Beckinsale! Ah, absolutely marvellous, wasn't he? Whether he was the perpetually frisky Geoffrey in The Lovers, lefty f irebrand Alan in Rising Damp, or Porridge's Lennie Godber with his one O Level in Geography, the straggle-haired, doe-eyed Beeston lad never failed to generate a smile and a little flutter of the heart. Sadly, you naffed off too soon.

*cardboard

Lulu Davenport This issue: Bird Hide

y up me lovelies, how the devil are ya? Ahhh, lockdown is finally easing and we are experiencing a lot of firsts for the year. The first gym visit, first pub pint and maybe even a first exercise class. I am actually writing this while on a treadmill, for my first gym visit, my flabby sofa hugging body bouncing forward like a resurfacing from hibernation hamster hurtling forward on its exercise wheel. Damn you Netflix and Beeston Eats! I know it needs to be done, but can I have a few months of sloth-like over indulgence? The answer is a complete and unresounding no, to quote an ancient Reebok advert, “belly’s gonna get ya!” This however does not stop me from hitting up pub gardens and calling into the marina for a cheeky sunset drink and a chip butty. That first pint of Carling was smoother than cheese on a cracker. It’s just a shame the night hit sub zero temperatures and I felt as cold as a penguin’s nut sack. I’m not gonna lie, sitting outside the pub in April while nursing a cold beverage is a skill that you have or quite frankly its money wasted. My advice: dress for the arctic, don snow boots and sunnies and you can’t go wrong.

Another first was shopping! Actually shopping for clothes, I was in my element hunting around Next for a party dress (I got ahead of myself) when a lady next to me did the loudest bottom burp I have ever heard, then shook her head at me while I went as red as my hair. You don’t get that with online shopping, do you? The first exercise class at my gym was outside in the car park. Luckily it wasn’t raining, but trying not to look like a total numpty during aerobics class during a danced out version of the Ghostbusters theme tune is not easy. At least I didn’t fall on my butt, after copious amounts of pineapple Jaffa Cakes I wouldn’t have gotten back up. The other quite fabulous first happened to be my visit on the first opening night at Attenborough’s very own brand spanking new micro pub, The Bird Hide. Located on Attenborough Lane, the Bird Hide opened its doors (in a technical sense) on Friday 16th April, and being the inquisitive soul I am, I hopped on over. As I said to a colleague, I am a ‘bird’, and that’s where I will ’hide’ (pause for applause), perfect.

By the time I headed over after the day job, word had already well and truly got out. A friend and I joined the queue as we waited for a space on the outdoor seating tables. After a short wait we browsed the beers and ciders on offer. I opted for the Broad Oak Purple Haze cider, and my friend went for the Third Time’s a Charm by Welbeck Brewery. There was also BG Sips by Blue Monkey and Sooty Stout, Rock Bitter and Centurion from Nottingham Brewery. The atmosphere was very friendly, and we chatted to those seated around us. It was the closest I have felt to normality for a long time. Owner Chris made everyone feel welcome by chatting to the punters and even got to have a catch up with me about the pub, despite being run off his feet. He told me that the idea started way back in May 2020, that the village needed a proper micro pub. The lockdown became a blessing as they had time to prepare the site ready for the grand opening. He was surprised at how busy it was, and truly taken aback by the support and popularity of the venture. It came as no surprise that the name was of course inspired by the local nature reserve and inside features numerous avian decorations including beautiful lights, suggestive pictures and a ‘beer hide’ themed cellar.

The Beestonian is... Editor in Chief / Lord Beestonian:

Matt Turpin Co-founder /Resident Don: Prof J Editor / Ad Sales : John Cooper Deputy Editor /Community Editor: Christopher Frost Design & The Beest: Dan Cullen Creative Editor: Debra Urbacz Sports Editor/ Digital Wizardry: Isaac Seelochan All Things Rylands: Janet Barnes / Naomi Robinson Finance/ Belper ambassador: Jade Moore

Throughout the night there was a constant stream of punters and after chatting to a few people I realised that many were neighbours and keen to support the newest boozery in the area. In fact The Bird Hide was that popular the place was drunk dry and announced via social media it was to close for a few days while they restocked the bar!

"After a fabulous first visit I am happy to say I will be going on a regular basis...”

Visiting info - it is worth noting that they take card payments only, no booking required as its walk-ins only, and for those wanting to grab and go, 2 pint takeaways are available. Opening times from 19th May are: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 5pm; Saturday and Sunday from 12pm - and they are dog friendly. Inside is only for toilet facilities with a face covering, and to go and laugh at the boobies-themed bird picture. After a fabulous first visit I am happy to say I will be going on a regular basis. Thanks to Chris and his team for a new watering hole. Did I mention that in the pipeline there will be acoustic acts? starting with May 21st and Claire L Shaw. Ooooo better just give me my own seat!

contributors this issue: Scott Bennett, Jo Norcup, Tim Pollard, Lulu Davenport, Amy Victoria Gathercole, Ellie Danneman, Lucy Morrow, Eddie Kay and Helen Goodbarton

Thanks to all who help us get the issue sustainable and available to all who want to read. If you’d like to help out - by advertising, promoting or writing with us, then drop us a line at thebeestonian@gmail.com. We are an absolutely independent, grassroots nonprofit community magazine with the sole intention of making Beeston a wonderful place to live, work and visit.

Stockists: (Subject to Lockdown ruling updates)

Fred Hallams, Out Of This World, Cycle Inn, Broadgate Post Office, The Bird Hide, John Flynn Opticians, J&B Autos, The Commercial, The Victoria, The Circle Eatery, The Doughmother, Gill’s Fish & Chips, Dessert Haven, events at the Bartons Garage. Soon to be available in lots more retailers, pubs, restaurants, cafes etc as lockdown restrictions allow.

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