EVINGTON HILL LADIES' CLUB

Betty Creedon, Chairman, introduced Neil Crutchley, our April speaker, who talked to us on his experiences of reporting for the Leicester Mercury. Mr Crutchley worked at the Goldsmith's Library for 25 years and his knowledge of music led him to report initially on concerts, ten years on and his interest in local history led to more features and over 100 articles.

Neil is a member of the Victorian Society and his talk included references to Leicester's many unsung heroes including Charles Jennens whose family made their fortune from iron and who was a friend of the composer Handel whom he entertained royally at the family home, Gopsall Hall. Jennens wrote the libretto to five of Handel's oratorios and most famously the Messiah. Leicester was an important city in medieval times - one of the first parliaments was held here, the poet Geoffrey Chaucer was married at St Mary de Castro church and the Christian writer and preacher, John Bunyan, stood guard at the Castle during the Civil War.

At our March meeting we welcomed local historian and author, David Bell, who entertained us with a talk on the ghosts of Leicester.