Archive Material: Evington Echo  (Issues 51 to 60)

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 Echo team.

Issue 51: October 1987

  1. A family of foxes were featured and pictured. A vixen had bred a family of cubs for 3 years under a shed, 12 feet from an unidentified house in Evington. (In recent years, in the 2000’s the urban fox has become a familiar sight).

 

  1. The circulation of the ECHO was 4850. (Currently in 2008, the print run is 5,300).
  1. A well-known local figure, Stanley Tipton MBE, was the subject of a deserved, detailed article. Mr Tipton was connected with the Leicester Royal Infirmary officially for 49 years, although he remained connected with the hospital for many years after that in his role as curator of the LRI museum. He was also a Governor of both Linden and Judgemeadow schools, as well as many other voluntary duties. (Sadly Mr Tipton died in 1990)

 

  1. Pictures from the Stoughton airshow included the Red Arrows and a flypast by Concorde.
  1. Jock Murray reminisced about a journey on the Sind Express from Karachi to Simla in pre-war India.

 

  1. Former pupils of the City of Leicester School who obtained degrees were included in this issue. They were: Susan Bunce, Gareth Davies, Lawrence Farmer, Philip Goward, Janet Haines, Simon Hammond, Gregory Haracz, Neil Harrington, John Holmes, Katalin Holland, Gail O’Brien, Susan Pears, Emma Stephens and Julian Webster. (Where are they now?)

Issue 52: December 1987

 

  1. Christmas Dinner with a difference. Instead of the traditional fare, Jane Essex, suggested the following: Scallop Shells with Mushrooms and Cheese sauce, Marinated Sirloin with Red wine with Fluffy Almond potatoes, Sprouts in onion butter and glazed carrots. To finish, Fruit Pavlova. (I note the scallop shells recipe did not include scallops, only the shells!)

Issue 53: January 1988

 

  1. This issue contained a summary of the weather in 1987 compiled by Jonathan Wilshire. It was the wettest year since 1980 and the dullest since 1981, though temperatures were average. A photograph showed 1-2 feet of snow in Evington Main Street.

Issue 54: March 1988

 

  1. Evington Chapel was built 150 years ago. A detailed history was included in this issue.

Issue 55: April 1988

  1. Pearl Lee, a familiar face in Evington library, retired after 19 years service. She began when the present library opened in December 1969. In those days the library opened every day until 8.00pm and all day on Saturday.

 

Issue 56: May 1988

  1. Photographs of the Arboretum on Shady lane were shown in this issue. Compared with today, the area was sparsely populated with trees.

 

  1. Jean Harris, the organiser of the Evington Ladies Charity Group was featured in the “Friend & Neighbours” column. Although working at the Co-op on Downing Drive, most of her spare time was taken up with fund-raising which has resulted in equipment being purchased and presented to several local hospitals.
  1. The Leicester Astronomical Society held their meetings at Judgemeadow Community College. They had a presentation entitled “Ancient Methods of Measuring Time” by Alan Mills of Leicester University. (The Society hold their meetings nowadays at the National Space Centre)

 

Issue 57: June 1988

  1. The house which occupied the corner of Evington Lane and Hawthorn Drive, was shown “Before and After” … demolition! Planning permission had been sought to re-develop the site and erect a four-storey block containing ten flats. However, during the panning process, the house was demolished. Apparently an owner may demolish a property without permission if it does not come within a conservation area. Permission does have to be sought for the construction of the new dwelling.

 

Issue 58: September 1988

  1. Much debate was centred around a proposal to demolish the house and barn which was 77 Church Road. This brought into question the preservation of the area as a village.

 

  1. Debbie Jarvis, who lived in Thurnview Road until 1984 was chosen to represent the UK in the dinghy sailing at the Seoul Olympics.

Issue 59: October 1988

 

  1. The debate about the preservation of Evington “as we know it” was the front page of this ECHO. The editors had a petition to make Evington a Conservation area. (This was achieved in 1989).
  1. This issue had a “Grouser’s Column”, which complained that electric plugs had to be purchased and fitted to expensive appliances. (Nowadays, probably for Health & Safety Reasons, fitted plugs are fairly standard)

 

  1. Jonathan Wilshire compiled the buildings which were listed in the Leicester City Council Planning Department’s records of April 1988. The buildings were: St Deny’s Church, the Baptist Chapel, Nos. 3 to 7 High Street and Evington Hall. The Cedars is listed as being “of local interest” but no statutory panning protection is afforded.
  1. The City of Leicester School had 1,264 pupils, 226 of whom were in the sixth form.

 

Issue 60: December 1988

     

    < Previous
    Next >