Archive Material: Evington Echo (Issues 61 to 70)

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 61: January 1989

The proposed Evington Conservation Area was a main feature in this issue. The proposal had been recommended for approval by the full Council Planning Committee. The ECHO had organised a petition which had well over 600 signatures and it was felt that this had a strong bearing on the decision. The area includes the Arboretum, the Church, the Common, Main Street and Evington Park.

An anonymous resident of Ethel Road suggested, that due to heavy traffic use, Shady Lane should be closed and used only as a bridle path. Cars, Busses and Lorries would be banned.

Plans for the development of the Evington Cinema site for flats for the elderly have been passed.

Issue 62: March 1989

It was announced that Stoughton Farm Park would be officially opened by the Duke of Gloucester. A detailed description of the parks were included in this issue.

There was yet another complaint about the concrete surface of Spencefield Lane. Some remedial work had been promised but it only amounted to “patchwork” (As this archive is written, May 2008, little improvement has been seen).

Issue 63: April 1989

The subject of the “Friends and Neighbours” column was Kenneth Baddiley OBE. He had been the District General Manager of the Leicester Health Authority until September 1987. After retirement, Mr Baddily assisted the Sue Ryder Foundation and the Leicester Charity Organisation Society.

The death was announced of Jock Murray who wrote a number of articles for the ECHO. He had a varied life, travelling widely and had been Secretary of the Leicestershire Golf club.

The ECHO organised a “Clean Sweep Week” in an attempt to rid Evington of the large amounts of litter, particularly drinks cans, crisp packets and sweet papers. Schools had been contacted to help and Mayflower, Linden and Whitehall had their own campaigns.

A preview of the Leicestershire County Cricket season noted that David Gower would miss many games as he was captain of England.

The Brookfield Bowling Club was featured in a double-page article in this issue.

Bob & Jessie retired as landlord of the Dove public house, prior to it’s refurbishment.

A feature in a previous issue of the ECHO prompted 2 letters from Mr. R.A. Rennison & Mr. W.G. Carter about the Evington Cinema’s history. Mr Carter reminisced that he was baptised in the ‘Tin Church” which stood on the site before the Cinema was built.

The Activities of many Clubs and Societies are detailed in the ECHO. As an example, in this issue, the following were included: Whitehall Townswomens’ Guild, Old Evington WI, Evington Hill Ladies Club, Evington Flower Club and the Evington Wine Appreciation Society.

Three business were featured as they were “under new management” They were “Le Gourmet”, “Farm & Garden” and “Graham Goode Car Accessories”

This issue (and the subsequent one No. 67) had a comprehensive history of the Evington Cinema by Stanley Goddard.

The site was purchased in 1916 for £567 by William Jennings a Leicester Boot manufacturer. In the plans, what we would know as the projection room was labelled the “Lantern & Winding Rooms”. The was also a “Crush Hall” a waiting room at the rear of the balcony.

One man, George Scarborough had what was described as ‘ a passionate belief in the cinema’s success’ and it became the family’s business until it’s closure. He also acquired 9 more cinemas in Leicestershire, Westleigh, Roxy, Knighton, Carlton, Fosse, Aylestone, Syston, Savoy, Plaza and Regal.

Stanley Goddard concluded his story of the Evington Cinema, appropriately entitled ‘The End.’ The last films were shown on April 28th 1979. They were “Kentucky Fried Movie” and “ Adventures of a Private Eye” (not very awe-inspiring titles!)

The ‘Friends & Neighbours’ column featured Fred Draper who had been Assistant Registrar at South Fields College and the Secretary of the Evington branch of the Royal British Legion for 25 years.

Mr W.N. Shannon had laboriously counted all the vehicles that had travelled along Spencefield Lane between 4.30am and 4.30pm. The totals were: Cars 1,949, Trucks and HGVs 254. How many are there today? Ten times that number? Would someone like to count?

Ernest Gilbert contributed a history of the Leicester General Hospital. The distinctive chimney, which could be seen from Old John brings back old memories.

It was announced that the Co-op was to explore organic farming. The land to be used is that which is currently proposed for the Pennbury Eco-town.

Confirmation that Evington was to be designated a Conservation Area was announced.

Mr W.N. Shannon who had compiled the data of traffic on Spencefield Lane, added to the information by measuring the speed, noise and danger of vehicles. The speed was calculated for most vehicles to be between 40 and 50 mph.

Shops in ‘the Village’ were featured. They were: Bennett’s, Fabio’s (hairdresser), the Post Office, the Cedars, Evington Motor Cycles, Farm & Garden Shop, Graham Goode, Evington Cellars, Forbuoys Newsagents, Peter Ladkin, Evington Dry Cleaners and Launderers, Le Gourmet, Shirley Smith and Lindens Hairdressers. (Not a fast-food shop amongst them, apart from the upmarket café / delicatessen Le Gourmet).

The death was announced of Irene Pollard OBE, a former Lord Mayor of Leicester and an Evington Resident.

Evington Library was 20 years old. The land at the corner of Evington Lane and the Common and previously the site of Ms Smalley’s cottage had been purchased in 1967 for the sum of £2,150. The library opened with a stock of 13,789 books. On the opening day, people queued to join the library. These borrowers were not only Evington residents but came from surrounding areas of the county.

The ECHO decided to buy a seat for the village green. Permission was asked of the City Council, who agreed it would be a welcome addition to the facilities on the green. A representative of the Council informed the ECHO that there would be no charge for installing the seat and in addition, it would be coated with ant-graffiti paint. The ‘Saga of the Seat’ is a lengthy one; briefly, it was forgotten, not ordered and lost and charges would be incurred. The Saga had not finished when this issue of the ECHO went to press …. To be continued…

School trips were in vogue; the City of Leicester had a skiing holiday in the French Alps, Judgemeadow went to Stratford-on-Avon to see the play ‘As You Like It’ and St.Pauls’ were organising a visit to Lourdes.

There was a one-page insert in this issue giving details of the proposed new development ‘Stretton Magna’ The proposals included 2,400 new homes, offices for 10,000 staff a hotel and two golf courses. A ‘Campaign Against Stretton Magna’ had been formed and members were sought to oppose the plans.

Photographs of past and present library staff were in this issue. The staff were: past – Val Rhodes, Joan Guest, Marie Rimmington, Pearl Lee and Joan Tams. Present staff were – Gill Mouncer, Ingrid Percy, Valerie Clarke, Barbara Spong, Anne Sharpe, Glennis Bennet, Diana Khan & Yvonne