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We moved into Arundel Drive in June 1970. Many households
were similar to ours - 30-something parents with young children. Ours were aged
five and seven and were, I believe, the first to be enrolled by Mrs Baker, the
newly appointed head teacher at Bramcote Hills Primary School. In those days
the school was infants only. Junior children were bussed to Beeston Fields which
broadened their horizons considerably.
Our neighbours soon told us about the Community Association. We paid the very
nominal fee and joined. The highlight of the year was the splendid dinner dance,
then held at Grange Farm. Tickets had to be purchased on the day they went on
sale, otherwise they were sold out.
Someone told us that Bramcote Hills was the nearest thing
to a village community you would ever fmd in the suburbs. Certainly we felt
it was a caring community. In many ways the hub was the post office, run by
Ken and Joyce Cooper. Incidentally, no child dared misbehave in that shop.
The Association contained a large number of groups including
the baby-sitting circle, tennis (afternoon and evening sections), badminton
and bridge and held a collection of equipment available on loan. The National
Housewives Register, although not a part of the Association was also active.
Suddenly a threat appeared to our rather comfortable existence
on Bramcote Hills. It was the Zone and Collar Scheme, intended to encourage
the use of buses at peak hours by the simple expedient of setting the traffic
lights at red for prolonged periods during rush hour. Extra buses were to be
provided to Nottingham although no additional provision was to be made for other
destinations. Many of us were suspicious of this scheme which was devised by
the City Council, on which we had no voice, prior to local government reorganisation
in 1974.
My concerns were sufficient to propel me to the AGM of the
Association where I was duly elected to the Committee (1973?). Councillor Dorothy
Ashton was Chairman, Bill Foster Secretary and Bob Smith was Treasurer. The
Zone and Collar Sub-committee consisted of D Ashton, W Foster, P Knighton, M
Small, R Smith and myself Its activities included traffic surveys and correspondence
with the County Council, who seemed very reluctant to modify the scheme in spite
of our evidence. The scheme was introduced in 1975. Compared with the 1974 oil
crisis it made little impact and soon faded away.
The other major issue for our community was the setting up
of what became the A52 Youth Club. The Community Association pressed for this
initiative. A management committee was set up under the chairmanship of Cyril
Cooper. Peter Young and I were on this committee and became active helpers,
while a team of ladies (Maureen Bishell was one) was responsible for the coffee
bar. It wasn't all plain sailing; for example there was a difficulty with the
school over storage space and more seriously with the garden walls in the neighbouring
roads. A minority of the clientele thought it amusing to kick these down. We
instituted patrols to prevent this, but damage was done later, probably after
the perpetrators had visited the pub. Eventually our contact was lost when the
Local Authority disbanded the management committee, deeming it inappropriate
for 'amateurs to manage professionals'.
Zoe Plant's arrival on the committee of the Association was
a by-word for years. Her husband, Geoff, attended the AGM (probably in 1975)
and was about to be elected to the committee when it was pointed out that we
were short both of a Secretary and of women members. "Don't worry",
said Geoff, "my wife Zoe can take my place". He upped and left, and
a few minutes later Zoe began her period ofloyal service to the Association.
At about this time, the area covered by the Association was
extended to take in the new estate at Bramcote Moor. Nevertheless the Association
was going through a difficult period. Whilst many of the sections were thriving,
there were not too many willing to take on the main offices, particularly the
Secretaryship. There was
even a proposal in committee that the Association should be wound up.
Whether in reaction to this or the perceived need to celebrate
the Queen's Jubilee in 1977, activity increased rapidly. The summer pub ramble
began in 1977, essentially in the same format as today. The early venues were
the Druid Inn at Birchover, the Bromley Arms at Fiskerton, and the Bradgate
Arms at Newton Linford.
The other event begun at this time was a day coach trip to London. We were not
certain whether we would fill a coach, so we made sure that Forest were playing
in London (at White Hart Lane) on the day in question. Glyn and David Yeoman
went to the match which Forest won 3-1. For a while the London visit became
an annual event.
Meanwhile Grange Farm was no longer available, so the Annual
dinner dance moved to the University Club.
We considered starting a rambling section, but a greater need
emerged. Neither the school nor the youth club offered our young people the
opportunity to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Years earlier,
the Association had had a D of E Section led by Stan Savage, but this had lapsed.
A new section, very quickly to be known as BRAMCADE, was formed. 21 years later
it is still going strong, but that's another story.
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