8370 research outputs found
Sort by
Marks Evans interviewed by Colin Hyde, 19 May 2008
No full textEarly recognition of natural history was interest in birds and dinosaurs. Junior teacher introduced stuffed animals into classroom. Encouraged by teachers to study at Loughborough Grammar where he took Biology, Chemistry and Maths A'levels. Awarded Fisons price in sixth form. Studied Biological Sciences at Birmingham University and explains why chose zoology over pharmacology. Mentions interest in palaeonotology encouraged by Robert Bakker book on dinosaurs/Gregory Paul's 'Predatory Dinosaurs of the World'. Explains how started PhD on exercise physiology of Eider ducks at Birmingham. Left to go on palaeontology course at UCL. Mentions Brendon Massey & Steve Publicover at Birmingham. Talks about specialism in Plesiosaurs and working on publication. Mentions volunteer at New Walk Museum with Jan Dawson in Biology 1994. Mentions John Martin. Talks about Museum Studies course. Volunteered at Natural History Museum on UCL material from South Africa. Surveyed 17th century fossil collection in Cambridge for dissertation. Talks about John Martin and Grace Griffiths. Mentions job in Cardiff at National Museum of Wales documenting bramble collection through Rubus Project and Geology department. Describes interview for New Walk Museum job. Started at Deputy Curator. Admires David Attenborough's Fabulous Animals. Talks about Oxford clay. Favourite book is Douglas Adams & Mark Carradine's 'Last Chance to See'. Favourite specimen is Barrow Kipper in New Walk. Reflects on ten years at New Walk
Glenfield Tunnel showing wall blocking eastern portal
No full textGlenfield Tunnel: the eastern end of this tunnel designed by Robert Stephenson for the Leicester & Swannington Railway has been blocked off and the cutting beyond infilled. Only an emergency access (a small vertical shaft through the door visble in the end wall) remains. The tunnel runs for a dead-straight mile from the New Parks area of Leicester to Glenfield. Trains last ran through it in 1966. Concrete reinforcement was added to areas of the tunnel brickwork in 2007-8
Barry Powell interviewed by Colin Hyde, 24 April 2008
No full textBarry Powell (BP) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH), 24 April 2008. BP talks about family background, father was a Coach Painter at the Brush at Loughborough. Mentions father in law was a Miner, BP was interested in mining and majority of friends were miners. Started work at Snibston Colliery as a Fitter, had a City and Guilds Certificate. Later became an Engineer's Machinist, worked on lathe. Recalls many fatalities in mines, could be dangerous, role of fitter was very solitary. Talks about locomotive shed where he worked, long workshop, started there in 1963. Talks about potential dangers in locomotive shed, steam, heat, weights. Completed underground training with fitters, working on compressors to earn more money. Mentions equipment worked on; trepanner which was difficult to manage when it broke down, shearer and panzer. Talks about tools, mentions brought own hammer to work. Mentions worked on Dosco machine with Eric Hill, working with hydraulics. Comments on working night shifts for twenty five years, mentions wife was accustomed to family working in mines at night, had two children together. Mentions went to and from work on bus. Talks about Shepshed, large mining communities, often worked at Whitwick and Snibston collieries. Talks about strikes in the 1970s, negative public attitudes towards strikers. Mentions wages, suggests mining was not a well-paid profession. Mentions mines gradually closed, was offered a transfer to Daw Mill colliery but refused and accepted redundancy. Later took job at Loughborough University as Technician, worked there for fourteen years and enjoyed the job. BP recites poem he wrote entitled 'The Pony Driver's Lament'. Talks about ponies used in the mine
Gordon Smith interviewed by Colin Hyde, 15 May 2008
No full textGordon Smith (GS) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH) at interviewee's home, 15 May 2008. [File 1 begins 00:00] GS talks about family background, maternal grandfather helped to sink Desford Colliery shaft, bought horse and cart and set up coal delivery business. Father's family were farmers. GS Followed friend into mining, went to Nelson Colliery and was offered job as Apprentice Electrician, had basic underground training at Desford colliery. Mentions preferred Desford, decided to stay and completed management course at Coalville Mining Technical College. Worked at Desford as 'pony boy'. Mentions overtly masculine and competitive nature of the ethos at Desford and at Ellistown mines, champion 'Slogger' in Great Britain was 'Slogger Brown', Arthur Brown. Talks about pay, mentions learned how to drive Samson Coal Cutter, describes this machine in detail. Describes using Anderton shearer, panzer and Mechamore. Mentions enjoyed driving the machines, had fun and enjoyed comradeship with other miners. Talks about miners' strikes, Desford colliery closed down shortly before the strikes, GS moved to Snibston Colliery. Mentions left the pit to work on surface to take care of his children. Talks about strikes in detail, picketed at Bagworth Colliery, met with Peter Heathfield, Secretary of National Union of Mine Workers (NUM), picketed elsewhere around the country. Attended many meetings, addressed crowd at Wembley, met with many MPs Dennis Skinner, Tony Benn, Frank Field. Mentions picketing at Orgreave. Comments on politics, family was conservative. [File 2 begins 00:00] Comments on impetus behind strikes, GS suggests there were still large coal reserves to be mined, believes Margaret Thatcher was misleading public about amount of coal left to be mined. Mentions at end of strike, GS went to work at South Leicester colliery, had to retrain at Birch Coppice before returning to the pit, was eventually asked to help close the mine. Talks about Yorkshire Miners' Gala, attends ever year, march held in Durham. Suggests people in Coalville were generally against the strikes at the time. GS believes many have forgot about Leicestershire's mining heritage, GS expresses his pride in being a miner. Talks about camaraderie in the mines. Detailed description of mine closures
Derek Massey interviewed by Colin Hyde, 17 September 2008
No full textDerek Massey (DM) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH), 17 September 2008. Describes family background and involvement in mining industry, grandfathers and father worked in the mines. Talks about early life, first started working for Brush Transformers, was called or National Service, had option to work in mines as a reserved occupation which he took. Mentions people had little respect of miners. Talks about education, attended Rooney Secondary Technical School. Talks about nationalisation of mines. Mentions achieved Higher National Diploma, worked at Snibston colliery, started as a Pony Driver, took shot firer and deputy course, started making £17 a week. Achieved National Diploma at Mansfield Technical College, worked as Deputy at Nailstone colliery, later got job as Overman at New Lount colliery. Recalls relocating to Bagworth colliery as afternoon Undermanager, then to Measham colliery as Undermanager, stayed there for twelve years. Talks about role as Safety Engineer at Rawdon Colliery, was offered redundancy, instead took role as Safety Inspector for the UDM. Mentions favourite roles, enjoyed hand filling, using Samson Stripper at Whitwick colliery. Mentions grandfather was a member of Snibston Colliery Band, at his funeral the band led the cortege to Broom Leys cemetery with muffled drum. Discusses history of brass music and bands within mining industry and church. Talks about family involvement with music and colliery bands, mother's family were musical, practiced instruments at home. Recalls safety quizzes set up by collieries, DM's team won national finals. Mentions Coal Board also set up ambulance competition. Compares the collieries he has worked at, suggests they all had a family ethos. Recalls deaths and injuries amongst miners at Snibston colliery
Terry Green interviewed by Colin Hyde, 10 April 2008
No full textDescribes childhood spent travelling around due to father's job in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and opportunities to film and record on the Ascension Islands. Had a career with Dunlop for 25 years before becoming a Freelance Conservationist. Currently wotking for Leicestershire County Council (LCC) in schools. Is a volunteer for the British Trust for Conservation Volunteer's (BTCV) and the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust (LRWT). Has worked with local figures including Baz Forgham and Colin Green. Mentions that efforts to start a junior wildlife scheme were not successful, but has maintained a committment to educating on natural history. Details his job including the 'Woody Tree' campaign in the National Forest (NF). Mentions concerns over the loss of natural habitats for wildlife. Recalls that he did a wildlife diary for the Leicester Mercury newspaper and that he is thinking of turning this diary into a book. Interview finishes with a description of his collectionof natural history material and his personal interests
Ghost sign for Redfern Painter and Paperhanger on Chartley Road, 2008.
No full textGhost sign for Redfern Painter and Paperhangers indicating the addresses of two sites: 78 Dunster Street and 5 Chartley Road. According to the 1932, 1941 and 1954 Kelly's Directories, a Thomas Redfern Jr. is listed at 78 Dunster Street as a painter. In both 1932 and 1954, Thomas Redfern, shopkeeper, is listed at 5 Chartley Road, but in 1941, a Mrs. Gladys Redfern, shopkeeper, is listed at 5 Chartley Road
Ghost sign for Steamin' Billy Brewing Co. on the corner of Briton Street and Western Road, 2008.
No full text"Ghost sign for Steamin' Billy Brewing Co. Ltd. of their signature Jack Russell. This sign was painted on the pub The Western, but was covered in 2021. This sign is located on the rear of The Western.
The Steamin' Billy Brewing Co. was founded in 1995 as a pub-owning company, brewing their own beers for local pubs in Leicester. The beer was named Steamin' Billy after the Jack Russell of the licensee Barry Lount of the Cow & Plough in Oadby, Leicester.
The pub was established in 1895 under Everards until 2007 when Steamin' Billy acquired the pub. After refurbishing The Western, and even introducing Leicester's first pub theatre in 2013, Steamin' Billy's lease ended in 2020. In 2021, Everards reacquired the licence, turning The Western into an all-day cafe and covering the Steamin' Billy Jack Russell with The Western's new logo.
Philip Rudkin interviewed by Colin Hyde, 17 August 2007
No full textBriefly describes childhood interest in jackdaws. After various jobs joined Rutland Natural History Society (RNHS). John Stapleton introduced him to recording bird song. Joined Wildlife Sound Recording Society (WSRS). Favourites for recording were warblers, grassphoppers and crickets. Purchased own recording equipment and discusses why he chose particular types. Talks about reasons for equipment such as different microphones for frogs. Outlines development of recording equipment. Comments on White Throat population and Kestrel survey for British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Chronicles the loss and changes to natural habitats in the East Midlands region. Favourite recordings are natterjack toads, woodpeckers, red dear on Grimsthorpe estate and grey seals at Donner Nook, Lincs. Recalls contacts with a number of sound recordists and media personalities in the BBC. Briefly explains bat detecting. Talks about work as tutor for the Workers Education Association (WEA). Recalls winning award at the British Amateur Tape Recording Competition for a documentary