Archive Material: Evington Echo (Issues 101 to 110)

The following is a very selected collection of items from past issues of the Echo. It is the personal view of Mike Stevens, one of our team.

A photograph of the “old' library was on the front page. “Old” because it was about to close for 6 months to be extended and refurbished.
The Mayflower Junior School Cricket team were pictured. One of the players is named as “Paul Hayward”, but he looks like Paul Haywood who went on the play for Leicestershire and remains very much associated with the county Club . Does anyone know if it is indeed Paul Haywood?
Before the advent of the internet, the Echo was read in many places via a hand-to-hand system. In this edition, the following process is described …. The Civic Editor passes it to a friend. It then goes to her daughter-in-law who gives it to a Mrs Norma Brook. It then goes via an address in Oadby to Mrs Brook's sister-in-law who lives in Totnes, Devon . Then, amazingly, to Ruth Williams née Newport formerly of Norwood Road , in Australia . Then to Joan Capey, formerly of Roundhill Road , also in Australia & finally, sometimes to Barbara Hall, formerly Norwood Road , in America . Although this a a sterling effort, nowadays the Echo can be read via the internet www.evingtonecho.co.uk
Terry Wogan visited Mayflower School to broadcast for BBC Radio 2 in aid of Children in Need.
In addition to the new library another amenity was provided in the form of a Cash Machine (ATM) at the (then premises of) Alliance and Leicester Building Society.
The history of Cole nurseries was featured in this edition.

Issue 102: February 1994

A painting by celebrated local artist Shirley Easton graced the front page. It showed a garden scene and the then editors commented “if only we could have printed this in colour” (As of 2008, they could have done so, but of course such facilities were not as available then).

Issue 103: April 1994

As a part of their GCSE Sociology Course, conducted a debate on whether smoking should be banned. It was conducted along the lines of debates in the House of Commons, with pupils taking the roles of Prime Minister, leader of the opposition, Speaker etc.
The Chairman of Leicestershire County Council, Duncan Lucas, performed the a “sod cutting ceremony” at the site of the new Evington Valley Infant's School. It was planned that the school would be completed in 1995 and be a 270-place school for 5 to eleven year olds. In addition, a 30-place nursery will also be built on the site.
A new 6 th bell was hauled into place in the tower of St. Denys church

Issue 104: May 1994

National Spring Clean week was marked at Linden School by a “Litter Pick”. (Actually, it was reported that the school do this every week).
John Collier asked for assistance with his hobby “Aviation History in Leicestershire” particularly photographs and press cuttings relating to thi subject. Mr Collier was interested in finding more about squadron Leader N.V.B. Whitehouse, an RAF Pilot who was killed during the 2 nd World War and is buried in St. Denys churchyard.
The Echo printed a letter from Careen Wild who expressed her sorrow at the closure of the Shell petrol station on Downing Drive . The station had been in her family for 37 years.
The 50 th anniversary of D-Day was a major was widely featured in this edition.
Emile Heskey (Year 11) was selected to play for England Under 16 in the European Championship finals in Dublin .
The proposal to allow cycling in Evington Park produced healthy debate with many letters being sent to the Echo, both for and against the idea.

Issue 105: June 1994

In the previous issue (104) there was a photograph of a hot air balloon flying over Evington. As a follow-up, A. Stopford sent another picture to the Echo showing how near to his house the balloon had come.
Two senior members of staff at Judgemeadow School have announced their retirement, A Green the Principal and Mrs J Palmer the Office Manager

John Atkins and Tony Baxter have retired from the City of Leicester School. For many years they directed and produced the School Play and latterly, musicals.

There was much debate concerning methods to prevent vehicles speeding on Evington Lane between the Wakerley Road junction and the library. Mike Pepper, the Head of Traffic section at the City Council accepted that traffic does well in excess of the speed limit on that stretch of road.
Proposals were made for speed bumps which were highly unpopular to the provision of 30mph speed signs (although these would be ‘against” regulation), see above.
The very last meeting of the Evington Royal British Legion took place. There was the ‘Laying-up of the Standard”, a Wreath Laying and a service of Remembrance.
The 40 th birthday celebrations of Whitehall Primary School were reported.

In celebration of Christmas, the front page had photographs of the following: St. Joseph 's, Mayflower Methodist, St. Margaret's, St. Denys, St. Philip's, the church of God , Goodwood Evangelical, Evington Chapel and Wycliffe Church .
Several residents were “horrified” that the Council had responded to a “complaint” and began to drastically prune the Cherry Trees in Cordery Road . After protestation to the workmen, they ceased their operation and the Council retracted their decision to prune the trees.
The library re-opened and the Echo reported that “although from the outside it didn't look any bigger, once inside, the spaciousness is apparent and there are more light areas”

Bad news and Good news – Evington Park . It was noticed that the large beech tree in Evington Park was not looking healthy and was shrinking. It was decided that the tree was dangerous and it was felled. Good News the tree has been replaced. (What does the new tree look like as I write now? Feb 2009)
As reported in earlier issues, Neville Maggs completed the Athen's marathon and raised £1,816 of which £285 was from collecting tins in Evington. Neville had significant injury problems prior to the race but completed it in 4 hours 16 minutes. His next race is the London Marathon.

Local dentist Pamela Baker-Clare retired after 32 years practising in her surgery on Evington Lane . Pamela kept “open house” to marke her retirement and was delighted to receive 200 visitors, friends and patients, past and present.
Ron Hardy, a Leicester City Guide was making a study of road / street names in Evington and was eager to know why the three RAF associated roads Biggin Hill, Cranwell and Fairford to be so named. Did the Echo receive answers?