Welcome to the Evington Echo

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

A comment was made that traffic congestion was becoming a problem outside Whitehall School, in the early morning and between 3.30 and 3.45. The first signs of the now overwhelming ‘school run’. Mrs B. Penfold had enquired about the possibility of a footpath on the golf course side of Evington Lane. The City Engineer’s Department said that provision had been made in a list for 1986/7 but it had low priority.

George Lyons, the retired Head Gardener at Evington Park was the subject of the ‘Friends and Neighbours’ column.

Issue 32: May 1985

A plaque to commemorate the years that the author E Phillips Oppenheim lived in Evington was unveiled. The ceremony took place outside ‘The Cedars’.

The Echo thanked it’s reader who completed a questionnaire which gave much valued views on the newspaper. The editors were pleased to note that although the ECHO cannot compete with daily papers, many thought that it can serve a need for local issues. The ECHO was rated higher than other free publications that drop through letterboxes.

There was an advertisement in the Miscellany column for the sale of ’20 rolls of Vinyl Wallpaper’ and ‘5 litres pf gloss paint’. Obviously someone had changed their mind about decorating!

Congratulations were given Ian Meadows of St. Denys’ Road, who won through to the final of BBC TV’s ‘Mastermind’. The broadcast, due in May was eagerly awaited.

Evington artist David Eaton, won a prestigious award from the Royal Institute of Painters, He was also elected a fellow of the Instritute.

The City of Leicester school produced the play ‘Tea House of the August Moon’. It included the appearance of a real GOAT, which somehow fell into the school pond and was hastily dried off for her appearance.

Issue 33: June 1985

A ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of VE day took place at the War memorial on the Green. World War II veterans present included Alan Clayson, Stanley Tipton, Roy Bodicoat, P Bull, Len Chawner, RJ Shears and Bill Moore.

Paul Russell the European Surfing champion was the subject of the ‘Friends and Neighbours’ column. Paul surfed in many countries, and competed in three world championships. Incidentally, Paul’s father is the Leicester City footballer, Eddie Russell.

Evington Valley Infant School celebrated it’s 50th anniversary with an open afternoon, attended by 50 parents.

Kenneth Wayne said farewell after 11 years as vicar of St. Phillip’s Church.

Arbor House is a significant part of Evington life and a comprehensive article was featured in this issue.

Several residents of Blundell Road were the subject of a ‘Down your Way’ column.

Issue 34: September 1985

This issues listed not one but 4 Editors: Ann Blandamer, Chris Bonser, Peggy Odom and Joy Sharpe.

A photograph on the front cover showed a footabller heading the ball and asked who he was. It was Eddie Russell of Leicester City, who lived in Evington. Also in the photo was Ron Jackson, who was a teacher in Leicester for many years.

A double-page spread covered Bowling in Evington, with several photographs of the players, particularly of the ladies.

Former City of Leicester School pupils were awarded degrees from various universities. They were: Michael Harrold, Philip Heaps, Philip Makepeace, Prashant Patel, and Jeremy Rogers.

ECHO people were delighted to hear that the newspaper was read avidly in Kansan City, Missouri, USA. It is passes around members of the local flower club after Florence Olendorff (nee Cherry) receives it from her niece Jeanette Koleczko of Rectory Gardens.

Issue 35: October / November 1985

CRISIS AT THE ECHO was the bold front page message. Several key members of the ECHO team were being lost and replacements were urgently required. The following were needed: a treasurer, an advertising manager, a distribution manager, 3 area distributors and an artwork assistant.

Alistair Dibbs contributed what was described as a ‘beautifully written letter’ saying that a tawny owl was spotted at dusk in his garden on 5th September. Alistair, one of the younger readers was 7 years old when he penned the letter.

The Evington Wildlife group met and used bat detectors to search for these animals in Kingsway Spinney. Pipistrelles were successfully detected.

Several organisations held their meetings in Evington. Those mentioned in this issue were the 'Feel Good Foundation’, the ‘Leicestershire Bobbin Lace Guild’, and the ‘Jemkim Canine Obedience Club.

August 29th saw the opening of the amalgamated City of Leicester and Spencefield schools. Apart from opening a day late due to a burst water main, there were no other major setbacks. Mr K.B. Lewis is the headmaster. The two buildings were to be known as the Gill and the Wyvern. A new telecom system had been installed so that all departments can contact each other. In addition, a group of 5th formers ran a courier service taking mail and other information to and fro between the buildings.

Issue 36: December 1985

The ECHO is saved. Two dozen helpers have been added to the ECHO team. It was a wonderful response to the call for help requested in the previous issue.

A new arrival on the streets ‘Fox Cubs’ small buses used by Midland Fox. The red and yellow vehicles are used on 2 routes that serve Evington.

A tree-planting programme was announced by the Recreation and Arts Department. It was planned to plant trees on Evington Drive, Evington Lane, Mayflower Road and in the Arboretum.

Two planning applications were made to develop the Evington Cinema site. One was for a public house and the other for 6 shops. (Neither of these materialised.)

A previous Editor of the ECHO, Betty Best, described a trip she took at New Zealand, Christmas Down-Under.

More clubs and societies which held meetings in Evington were featured including, the Aikidokan (Martial Arts) Club, the Wholefood Club, the Evington Railway Circle, the National Childbirth Trust and the Flower Club.

Cars were being parked around the junctions near the library and a call was made for double yellow lines.

Issue 37: January 1986

A Neighbourhood watch scheme was initiated by Doreen Morton, covering the areas of Linden Drive, Hawthorn Drive and part of Evington Lane. It was proposed that people in other areas might do the same.

The Leicester Education Authority had decided that the amalgamated City of Leicester and Spencefield schools would henceforth be known as ‘The City of Leicester School’

The Leicestershire hospice, LOROS was opened in September 1985 and was the subject of an article in this issue.

A problem was spotted by this reviewer, There were 2 different issues of the ECHO both dated February 1986 and both headed ‘Issue 38’ Bad marks to the proof readers!

Issue 38: February 1986

American Football had an increasingly popular following and the Leicester Panther’s Football team had a local resident, Adrian Atkinson as one of it’s players.

Issue 39: March 1986 (dated February 1986 and labelled Issue 38) see comment above.

Due to the new transport Act, City Bus was awaiting privatisation. This raised concerns that routes and concessionary fares would be at risk. Mr Bob Hind, Leicester’s Director of Transport told the ECHO that changes may occur but the reduced fare (5p) for Senior Citizens would continue.

The ECHO team visited the Leicester Mercury to see how a professional paper was put together.

St Paul’s School raised money for sister Dominique, a nun working in what was then called the ‘Third World’. The school had a ‘Sponsored Silence’ by pupils. Many staff wished it could have continued longer!

The City of Leicester presented the play ‘Hotel Paradiso’ for 4 nights. The teachers involved were Mr. Baxter, Mr. Sarson and Mr. Atkins. Thespian pupils included Matthew Davis, Sara Hurst, Justine Sterland, Darren Haines, Andrew Sacchi and Simon Donoghue. Jonathan Straw also acted and somehow broke 3 bones in his back! but was reported as ‘now recovering’.

Another slightly unusual object was advertised for sale in the Miscellany column, a ‘Canadian Mink Hat - £20’

Issue 40: May 1986

Residents had complained of a smell from the Co-op farm. The manager of the farm pointed out that ‘silage spreading’ had been carried out in the same manner for many years.

A team from the ECHO visited Lancaster Road fire station, which was then the largest of 28 such stations in the county.

Whitehall school’s football team won the prestigious county primary school’s competition, the Rice Bowl. The team consisted of Stewart Esterbrook, Scott Lapidge, (who each scored 2 goals) Adam Lee, Gary Jesson, Jamie March, Philip Russell, Gerard Johns, Jonathan Woodhead, Andrew Robson, Simon Wall and Nigel Povoas. Substitutes were Andrew Niblock, Michael O’Leary and Jonathan Parker.

Pupils from Mayflower School toured Leicester Market as part of a project. One aspect was the recording of the market trader’s cries, their method of advertising the food or other goods that they had for sale.

Chris Bettles recorded his experiences of training for and participating in the London Marathon. He took 3 hours 53 minutes, which included 6 minutes needed to reach the start line!