2011 - Another Year On
w/e 01 January 2012
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
As we embark on another year we can look forward
to some special events that are scheduled to take place during
the next twelve months. Not only is it the Diamond Jubilee year
of Queen Elizabeth II but there is a summer of sporting events
headed by the London Olympics and the European Football Championships
to say nothing of golf's Ryder Cup, Grand Slam tennis matches,
a series of cricket Test Matches plus a whole host of other competitions.
And on top of all this 2012 is the tenth anniversary year of
Ilkeston Cam but before we get ahead of ourselves, as has become
my custom at the turn of the year, it's time to take a look back
at some of the places we've visited and featured during the previous
twelve months and to show a few images that missed the cut the
first time around. The year was pretty much a mixture as before
with a couple of new Country Walks, a Town Walk around Kimberley
and Swingate, our regular monthly visit to take in the heritage
of Derby, frequent visits to parks and gardens, the Autumn Footprints
Walking Festival and annual events including the Carnival, Charter
Fair, Remembrance Day parades and Well Dressings. So let's begin
at the beginning and recall our first outing last January.
That first outing in fact was to Shipley Country Park but we
ventured little further than the car park as the cold and icy
conditions made it unsafe to go much further. This view is along
the Nutbrook Trail with the park on the left. The rest of the
month (apart from the Derby Heritage Walk - a constant feature
of the last week of each month) and all of February too was taken
up with the Town Walk around Kimberley.
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Previous Town Walks and Village Trails had usually followed printed
leaflets but the Kimberley walk was one of my own making and
followed a convoluted route through the town looking at various
points of interest on the way. At this time of year there are
very few organised events whereas during the better summer weather
I am sometimes spoilt for choice as to which events to cover.
It was in February however the the local Air Cadets joined the
congregation at St Mary's Church for a Sunday morning service
after which they paraded for inspection by our local Member of
Parliament.
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I think we are all aware of the financial situation and the fact
that many local government budgets have been slashed. One victim
of the cuts was the Silk Mill Museum in Derby and a few days
before it was due to close for an anticipated two years, we paid
it a visit taking a number of photos for possible future inclusion
in the Derby Heritage Walk series. At the current rate of progress
though the museum is likely to be open again before we reach
it on our proposed route! I still find it surprising and incomprehensible
that the powers that be chose to close the Silk Mill, Derby's
Industrial Museum featuring among other exhibits Rolls Royce
engines and a whole section on railways. The educational benefits
let alone the tourist potential were surely enough to warrant
looking elsewhere for savings but when you consider what has
transpired since with regard to Bombardier, Britain's last train
makers based in the city, it is perhaps not surprising at all.
The Silk Mill stands at the side of the River Derwent right in
the centre of Derby and from the side of the museum this view
of the river also shows the St Alkmund's bridge.
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 During
March the weather had started to improve and spring was in the
air which meant I was able to get out and about looking for spring
flowers around the town, down by the Erewash Canal and even enjoy
a Country Walk from Dunnshill to Dale Abbey. One place to see
a carpet of colourful crocuses in March was Stanton Road Cemetery
and there was a return visit there in April to rub shoulders
with star of stage and screen, Ilkeston's own Robert Lindsay.
Robert is the President of the Friends of the Cemetery which
is no longer used as a burial ground and the event (left) was
a celebration of the recent restorations carried out by them
 In
March we were also able to revisit Shipley Park, take a walk
along the Manners Link and through Chaddesden Wood and April
turned out to one of those months where I was spoilt for choice.
Easter fell late in the month, bluebells were in full bloom and
of course everywhere was bedecked with St George's and Union
flags for the Patron Saint's day and the little matter of a Royal
wedding. Fine weather in May induced us to visit local beauty
spots at Martin's Pond and the University campus at Nottingham.
The latter also entailed a walk through Highfield's Park where
the rhododendrons added colour to the lakeside walk (right).
In June we began a circular Country Walk through Strelley, Swingate,
Awsworth and Cossall, the various sections of which, interspersed
with other updates to the website, would take us through until
August but the main event of June of course was the annual carnival.
Another fine Saturday ensured bumper crowds both in the town
centre for the parade and on the recreation ground which played
host to many events in the main arena and numerous charity stalls
and other displays and entertainments around the ground.
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As well as the circular walk in July we were also invited to
"Swing Back To The Forties" at the Erewash Museum,
enjoyed a day out at Conkers in the Heart of the National Forest
and saw the Well Dressings and Scarecrow Trail at West Hallam.
In a month were the diary was full of events we joined the Friends
of Victoria Park and some council employees one afternoon to
meet with the judges of the Britain in Bloom competition to promote
the park. Our combined efforts and presentations combined with
the unstinting work of the gardeners resulted in not only an
award for the town in the competition but also with a Green Flag
Award for the park.
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 We
were back at Victoria Park in August and several more locations
as we photographed many of the flower beds and hanging baskets
that had contributed towards the competition and had enhanced
the town through the summer. As well as our regular Derby visit,
we concluded the Cossall circular and also found time to visit
several locations noting how they had changed in recent years.
By the end of the month (left) on Bank Holiday Monday the annual
concert at the Erewash Museum took place on a cool showery afternoon.
Later in the year the museum also won an award and became the
"Derbyshire Museum of the Year".
 Three
of the four weeks in September were devoted to another Country
Walk, this time around Bramcote Hills and the Nottingham Canal,
the fourth week of course being in Derby. Although the images
didn't appear on the site until October, we spent a number of
days in September on organised walks participating in the Autumn
Footprints Walking Festival (right) in Amber Valley and Erewash.
From the level fields south of Ilkeston to the hillier landscape
in the north, the Festival shows how lucky we are to live in
this area of contrasting scenery and only goes to prove once
again that the other man's grass is not always greener.
October brought autumn to the fore and we visited several parks
both in Ilkeston and other nearby places such as Shipley and
Wollaton as well as other footpaths and open spaces to see some
of the "Shades of Autumn". The main event of every
autumn in Ilkeston of course is the annual Charter Fair but to
illustrate this month I've chosen this tranquil scene just as
the trees are starting to turn overlooking Osbourne's Pond in
Shipley Country Park.
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As we entered November there were even more autumnal colours
to be seen as we reflected on some "Golden Days" and
also began another Country Walk, still to be completed in the
New Year, which leads from Victoria Park to Mapperley Village
and back. The was the Whittlestone Walk and the two sections
completed so far have both been under grey skies. It was also
a grey day on Remembrance Day but the crowds still turned out
for the service and parade on the Market Place.
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And so we come to December and if I'm honest once Advent had
started, Christmas came on me like an express train and is receding
just as quickly. Two of the four weeks relied on the Ilkeston
Christmas Festival for the Latest Images on this site and as
well as the Whittlestone Walk the twenty fourth part of the Derby
Heritage Walk featuring the Arboretum brought 2011 to a close.
Much of December was hustle and bustle for many people, myself
included as I had undertaken a task which although enjoyable
and rewarding, took up a lot of time. There were moments of peace
and quiet though and I've chosen one of them at the Christingle
service in St Mary's Church to represent the month and to act
as a reminder of the real meaning of Christmas.
In contrast to last year this winter has been comparatively mild
and the snow which blighted us in 2010 did not reappear in 2011's
December. What the rest of winter holds as we begin 2012 no-one
knows but we can only take each day as it comes. At the end of
2010 I looked forward to 2011 and pondered plans for the future
on the site. I anticipated that there would be more from Derby,
more Country Walks and maybe another Village Trail as well as
covering the usual annual events. Now as 2011 ends I can reflect
that most of those plans were fulfilled and expect 2012 to continue
in the same vein. So I'll repeat the hope from last year that
you'll join us each week and that at the year's end I'll be able
to reflect and wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2013
just as I'm wishing you now for 2012.
The series mentioned on this page can be found in the Special
Features, Archives or Favourites page for 2011 which can all
be accessed from the links below.
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