Ilkeston - Swing Back To The.... Cemetery
w/e 28 June 2015
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
  There are some weeks
when nothing much happens but now that we are in the summer season
events are coming at us thick and fast. For example last week
to name just two, we had the Waterloo Commemoration and the Long
Eaton Carnival. This week on Saturday there were at least two
more, one at the Erewash Museum and the other in Stanton Road
Cemetery. We were at both.
Saturday was Armed Forces Day and to coincide with it Erewash
Museum staged what is becoming an annual "Swing Back To
The Forties" event. A policeman in the uniform of the time
was on duty and land girls had an interesting display under canvas
nearby.
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As well as the land girls' display the event had exhibits both
inside and outside the museum with classic vehicles and a shop
selling a variety of tempting sweets from glass jars - providing
you had a ration book of course.
Music of the forties being played from the Erewash Museum gazebo
on the lawn accompanied the Festival Swing Dance Society demonstrating
various popular dances of the war years. A lady making announcements
between the dances and gasping for breath confirmed "It's
not easy dancing on grass!" For me she could have left off
the "on grass".
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Many of the volunteers helping at the museum were dressed in
period clothes and Churchill was keeping a close eye on the proceedings
whilst smoking his cigar and frequently giving the victory sign.
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More forties fashion was much in evidence complete with hair
styles and hats as volunteers got into character.
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The theme continued inside the museum with demonstrations of
rag rug making and a display of memorabilia.
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Meanwhile at Stanton Road Cemetery the Friend's Summer Fayre
was in full swing with music provided by Ilkeston Brass.
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Various organisations were represented at the Fayre including
the Ilkeston and District Local History Society who have done
a lot of research into the the area including many of the deceased
buried in the cemetery'.
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Another Friends group , those of Straw's Bridge Nature Reserve
were also present publicising their work and raising funds to
enable them to continue to improve the site.
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The cemetery at Stanton Road, now no longer used for interments,
is a haven for wildlife in the midst of urban surroundings and
the Friends have erected several bird boxes. I doubt that they
would be large enough though to house Mitch the owl who was also
present with his handler.
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One of the most famous celebrities buried in the cemetery of
course is Samuel Taylor, the 7ft 4.5ins Ilson Giant and pictured
here with his life sized statue are members of the Ilkeston Theatre Company. Stationed at various
graves they were bringing history to life as they adopted the
characters of the deceased and recounted their life stories.
So both at the museum and the cemetery although the events were
not connected, the work and dedication of a large number of people
and their characterisations made history more relevant to today's
population. Well done to everyone involved.
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