This article was originally published in The National Association of Mining History Organisations (NAMHO) newsletter No. 70, December 2014, and is reproduced here with the kind permission of Sir Neil Cossons, who wrote the article on behalf of Clipstone Colliery Regeneration Group, and of Roy Meldrum, who took the photographs. Thanks also to NAMHO.

Clipstone Colliery (March 2010)

The future of the great headstocks at Clipstone has been an open wound in the mining heritage world for years. If Clipstone is to be saved then tough action is needed now – focussed and forthright. Listed Grade II in April 2000, before closure of the colliery in 2003, the site has the tallest pair of headstocks in England and, at the time of their construction, in Europe. They are the most visible surviving evidence of the post-war and post-nationalisation pit modernisation programme, representing the state-of-the-art technology that lay at the heart of the coal industry in the 1950s. An application to de-List the headstocks was not taken forward in light of an application to demolish, filed with the local authority – Newark and Sherwood District Council – in 2003 but has still not been determined. The Council has remained reticent in the face of repeated requests by English Heritage that the application should be decided. Meanwhile the owners, Welbeck Estates and the Coal Authority, fail to meet promises to negotiate with potential preservation interests, national and local.

History

Clipstone Colliery, east of Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, dates from the early twentieth century when a new excavation was begun by the Bolsover Colliery Company to exploit the Top Hard coal seam. The company was originally established in 1889 by Emerson Muschamp Bainbridge (1845-1911), mining engineer and, later, well known philanthropist and Liberal politician, in order to extract coal from land owned by the Duke of Portland in Creswell and Bolsover. It was very profitable and by the turn of the century featured in the Financial Times top thirty share index. In 1912 the company leased 800 hectares around Vicar Pond at Clipstone where test boreholes located the 2m thick Top Hard coal seam at a depth of 585m.

The sinking of the shaft was interrupted by the First World War but construction work on the surface buildings continued. Sinking resumed in 1919 and by 1922, two 6.4m diameter shafts were complete. The new colliery was operational by 1922, and went on to become one of the most productive in Britain, delivering four thousand tonnes of coal per day by the 1940s. Mining of the Top Hard seam began in 1927 but by the end of World War II the seam was almost exhausted and plans were made for extracting coal from much deeper levels. In the post-war period, the colliery underwent further development to access the Low Main Seam, a deeper seam of coal located almost 240m below the Top Hard.

Clipstone village was built in 1926 by the Bolsover Colliery Company on the former site of Clipstone Army Camp. The company followed Emerson Bainbridge’s benevolent philosophy as evidenced by the construction of model villages like Clipstone that were designed to cater for residential and recreational needs of the workforce. Other Nottinghamshire pits founded by the group included Rufford (1911 – 1993) and Thoresby (1925 – date). The formation of the National Coal Board (NCB) in 1947-48 heralded a period of mechanisation and modernisation in order to fulfil the UK’s increasing demand for coal. At this time the Bolsover Company was the third largest in Britain and its Clipstone shafts were among the deepest in the country.

In common with many pits sunk during the 1920s, Clipstone’s steam-winding gear was upgraded in the 1950s. In order to exploit the rich new reserves of coal the ‘Koepe’ friction-winding system was adopted. Invented in Germany in 1877 by Frederick Koepe, these winders were installed throughout the German and Dutch coalfields from the late nineteenth century onwards. There were a small number in England, but the Koepe system was not widely used until the post-war re-investment in and re-structuring of the mining industry after 1945. After nationalisation of the coal industry in 1947, the advantages of Koepe winders became more apparent. Government funding for colliery expansion meant that sites such as Clipstone could invest in improved systems and increase production by working deeper seams more effectively. Clipstone became a state-of-the-art colliery, employing over thirteen hundred men at its peak, and produced almost a million tonnes of coal in 1986.

Technology

The Koepe friction hoist system uses a single loop of wire and a powered pulley rather than the more-common winding-drum. Friction hoists are mounted on the ground above the mine shaft or at the top of the headframe. Tail ropes and counterweights are used but are not fixed to the wheel, instead passing around it. The tailropes and weights offset the need for the motor to overcome the weight of the conveyance and hoisting rope, thereby reducing the required horsepower of the hoisting motor by up to 30 per cent. Friction hoists, unlike drum hoists, can and normally do use multiple ropes giving them a larger payload capacity. Friction hoists are also less expensive than drum hoists.

The first British Koepe installation was at Bestwood Colliery, also in Nottinghamshire, but the system proved unsatisfactory and was later removed. Koepe winders were tried with mixed success in several other pits during the 1930s but with the modernisation of Clipstone Colliery in the 1950s the system was perfected. Two headstocks, linked by a central powerhouse were completed in 1953 to the designs of architects Young and Purves of Manchester. The headstocks were constructed by Head Wrightson Colliery Engineering of Thornaby-on-Tees and Sheffield, whilst the winding engines were manufactured by Markham and Company in Chesterfield.

Clipstone No2 Shaft Koepe winder (March 2010)

The headstocks when built were the tallest structures of their type in England, and remain today as a highly visible presence in the former mining landscape. Each is comprised of a latticework steel tower which rises from the side of the central powerhouse building. The upper part of each of the headstocks incorporates twin headgear sheaves – 7.3 metres in diameter – mounted in an ‘under and over’ arrangement to support the continuous winding rope. The brick buildings below and between the headstocks are functionally-detailed Modernist designs, the stepped powerhouse with extensive areas of glazing to its upper level. The complex was designed to operate two shafts, the No. 1 Service Shaft to the north for colliery workers and the lowering of materials, and No.2 Winding Shaft to the south, designed to raise the coal skips. The two outer heapstead or pit bank buildings enclosed the shaft heads and the surface car circuits which were linked to underground coal and dirt conveyors. When the site was first listed in April 2000, the colliery was still operational, and the component structures – buildings and headstocks – were structurally complete. Since that time they have suffered vandalism and some deterioration.

Clipstone No1 Shaft Headstocks (March 2010)

The building was designed to house large items of machinery and the electrical equipment needed to power them. The front section of the powerhouse contains two Koepe winding engines, each powered by two direct-coupled electric motors linked to motor generator sets to convert the public AC supply to DC. Adjacent to each winder is a control cabin from which the winding in both shafts could be monitored. The generator sets and switch gear are located on two levels in the rear section of the powerhouse. On each side of the power house are pit bank buildings located above the shafts, into which the winding ropes extend via the headstocks. The shafts are now sealed, but much of the associated equipment including the rails on which the colliery cars ran, and the turntables which allowed them to be manoeuvred, remain in-situ. Both parts of the powerhouse are equipped with travelling cranes and running beams carried on lattice metal piers that facilitated the installation and maintenance of the winders and generators.

Although Clipstone never made a loss, the pit was mothballed in 1993, but temporarily reprieved in 1994 by RJB Mining (latterly UK Coal) who operated the colliery profitably for a further nine years, during which it produced nearly four million tonnes of coal. In later years miners struggled to overcome adverse geological conditions and the colliery experienced a decline in the quality of its coal. The pit finally closed in 2003.

On 19 April 2000, whilst the colliery was still operational, Clipstone headstocks and winding house were Listed Grade II by the Secretary of State on the advice of English Heritage under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 giving timely and clear recognition of ‘special architectural or historic interest’ and the desirability of preservation.

Nottinghamshire’s existing preserved headstocks at Brinsley (not in their original location) and Bestwood, and neighbouring Pleasley in Derbyshire pre-date Clipstone and represent a much earlier form of industrialization, characterised by horse and steam power. By contrast, Clipstone presents the best surviving example of post-war, twentieth century coal mining technology.

Clipstone colliery provided employment for miners who had migrated from exhausted coalfields in Scotland and the North East of England. Coal output from the so-called Dukeries coalfield (which included Clipstone) fuelled not only power stations and homes but made a significant contribution to the local economy and the nation as a whole. However, these achievements were eclipsed by the political and union conflict of the 1984 strike and the history of coal production in the post-war era remains largely untold. Today, Clipstone’s headstocks and attendant winding house stand as a memorial to the men who toiled and in some cases gave their lives in the pursuit of coal production.

Following pit closure and after consultation with the Coal Authority, most of the surface structures at Clipstone, including the pithead baths and coal hoppers, were cleared. The former pit tips (supported in part by funding from RJB Mining) returned to nature and form the basis of Vicar Water Country Park, a popular destination for cyclists, anglers and walkers.

In April 2014 Thoresby; Nottinghamshire’s last remaining colliery, together with Kellingley in South Yorkshire, were scheduled for closure. With the end of deep mining in Britain, the preservation and celebration of our industrial heritage and mining culture through sites like Clipstone becomes even more important for future generations.

Preservation

Efforts by Clipstone Colliery Regeneration Group to save the Grade II listed headstocks, whilst sympathetic to industrial heritage and historic preservation are very much focussed on community engagement and the creation of new opportunities. One idea involves adapting the twin headstocks as a zip-line launch-station and visitor observation platform, offering spectacular views across Sherwood Forest. [Former mineworkers from Clipstone claim that on a clear day the view extends as far as Lincoln Cathedral]. The magnificent winding-house could be developed as a multi-use extreme sports and leisure facility, with indoor climbing wall, skate park, heritage centre and training suite. The surrounding site could accommodate both affordable housing and business units for start-up enterprises.

In 2013, Nottingham-based architects Maber Associates Ltd produced initial design concepts for the Clipstone Colliery Regeneration Group in order to help visualise the restored site and stimulate debate about the future of Clipstone Colliery headstocks amongst key stakeholders including Local Government, landowners and the wider community. Like many former mining areas, Clipstone suffers from structural unemployment. Establishing the area as a World-Class Sport and Leisure Hub would complement established tourist destinations such as, Center Parcs Holiday Village, Forest Holidays’ Log Cabins, Sustrans and Byways cycle trails, Amen Corner Karting, Rufford Country Park and others.

Through regeneration of the site, the group plan to address the social, economic and recreational needs of the local community, stimulating growth through tourism and leisure, whilst reinforcing cultural identity and civic pride. Indeed, a report commissioned by jointly by English Heritage and Newark and Sherwood District Council has concluded that there are no obvious commercially viable alternative uses for the site and, with the benefit of financial support for heritage, the Listed structures may yet hold the key for inward investment in Clipstone’s future These ambitions can only be achieved through public support, political will and the continued efforts of volunteer organisations and advocates. But time is running out.

The application for consent to demolish the building and headstocks made in 2003 to Newark and Sherwood District Council has yet to be determined, but it is hard to conceive that a convincing case for demolition could be sustained within the National Planning Policy Framework. The request to English Heritage for de-listing the building and headstocks, has not been taken forward because the application to demolish remains under consideration by the Local Planning Authority. The List description was, however, revised in 2012 to reflect the unquestionable significance of these structures.

The application for consent to demolish the building and headstocks made in 2003 to Newark and Sherwood District Council has yet to be determined, but it is hard to conceive that a convincing case for demolition could be sustained within the National Planning Policy Framework The request to English Heritage for de-listing the building and headstocks, has not been taken forward because the application to demolish remains under consideration by the Local Planning Authority. The List description was, however, revised in 2012 to reflect the unquestionable significance of these structures.

Selected sources

http://www.healeyhero.co.uk/rescue/menu/individuals.htm

Comprehensive resource covering the history of Mining in Nottinghamshire. Leicestershire and Derbyshire.

http://www.miningheritage.co.uk

A History of Coal Mining in 10 Objects – a digital humanities project produced in 2013 by Dr David Amos and Paul Fillingham, supported by Dr Sarah Badcock, and the University of Nottingham Centre for Advanced Studies. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. An illustrated eBook is available from the website.

The Clipstone Colliery Regeneration Group

The CCRG are in the process of submitting a HLF Young Roots application in conjunction with Garibaldi College and YMCA.

A video was prepared entirely by young entrepreneurs who have recently left college and very much in line with our philosophy of supporting young people into apprenticeships and business. The video was entered in a Short Film Competition recently run by locality: communities ambitious for change.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp5AeYq0C1E

http://locality.org.uk/projects/power-change/film-comp/

http://www.clipstoneheadstocks.co.uk/

There is an e-petition to save Clipstone Colliery headstocks, which can be found at:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/61497/

There is also a Facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Clipstone-Colliery-Headstocks/106659108993

After leading a nomadic existence for the past seventeen years, the life-size statue of a Nottinghamshire miner, erected by public subscription to mark the pit disaster at Bilsthorpe Colliery in 1993, has finally returned home.

Originally sited in the pit yard at Bilsthorpe, the statue moved to Haworth Colliery when Bilsthorpe closed in 1997. When Haworth closed in turn, the statue went to the UDM offices at Berry Hill, Mansfield, and now with the latter moving elsewhere, the opportunity to return it to Bilsthorpe has been taken; it now serves as gate guardian at the new Heritage Museum adjacent to the Village Hall.

Lawson Little

New book by peopleshistreh, paperback, 172 pages, ISBN 9780956913968.

With this book, we have re-published our popular pamphlets, To the Castle!… and Damn his Charity…, together for the first time in a handsome paperback edition:

Damn his charity!

In 1766 a riot broke out during Nottingham’s Goose Fair. Large cheeses were snatched and rolled down Wheeler Gate and Peck Lane, apparently bowling over the Mayor. The first part of this book examines the story behind this tale and places the Great Cheese Riot within the context of the wave of Food Riots which took place that autumn.

To the Castle!

In October 1831 Nottingham Castle was burned down during the Reform Riots. Although this event is often referred to, little is known about who the rioters were and what may have motivated them. We took a close look at the direct action of these ‘misguided rascals’, discussing their identities and motives, as well as living and working conditions in early nineteenth century Nottingham.

Nottingham Rising – The Great Cheese Riot of 1766 & the 1831 Reform Riots is available from: Five Leaves Bookshop, Nottingham Waterstones, Nottingham Tourist Information, Housmans (London), Bookmarks (London) and The Sparrows’ Nest at a cost of only £6

During World War Two Royal Air Force Winthorpe was a major RAF station providing vital training for aircrews destined for No.5 Group bomber squadrons operating in Lincolnshire. A new book is now available about the station in Nottinghamshire, which was located close to the Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire county border.

After several years of detailed research, Colin Savill BA (Hons) has written a new history of RAF Winthorpe. The book has just been published by the Newark (Notts & Lincs) Air Museum, which is located on part of the former RAF Winthorpe airfield site.

The book is entitled RAF Winthorpe – The Story of an Airfield 1939 – 1959 and it is the story of RAF Winthorpe from its beginnings to its demise as an RAF station.

The book (ISBN 978-0-9500341-6-4) is in a softback format; 216 pages (paper weight: 130gsm); with circa 120 black & white photographs and illustrations; and it includes a Foreword by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford KCB CBE ADC RAF.

Copies of the book are now available to purchase from the Museum Shop and they cost £15.00 each. Anyone wishing to purchase a copy can visit the museum between 10am and 4pm daily and you do not need to pay a museum admission fee if you just wish to shop. Copies are also available by mail order – please check for rates; telephone 01636 707170.

The author – Colin Savill – was born in Newark, Notts and educated at the Magnus Grammar School. Following RAF service he worked in engineering for many years before becoming a mature student at, then, Bishop Grosseteste University College, Lincoln graduating in 2010 with a BA (Hons).

He joined Newark Air Museum in 2009 as a volunteer and became a trustee of the Museum in 2012. He is widowed with two daughters and several grandchildren; and lives in Tuxford.

A book signing event will take place in the Museum Shop on Saturday 15th November 2014, between 10am and 3pm when Colin will be on hand to sign copies of the book and to discuss aspects of his research.

Rushcliffe School Pupils Acting in the Framework Knitters Museum’s Education Film

On Wednesday 15 October an event was held to thank students from Rushcliffe School for the part they played in a unique joint project by the Framework Knitters Museum, in Ruddington and the school. The project, funded by Museum Development East Midlands (EMDA), saw the students take an active role in a £100,000 redevelopment of the museum, having a direct impact on the both the developments to the site and exhibitions, and the creation of a new educational resource.

The first stage of the redevelopment, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, was launched at the end of July, and included the redevelopment of the historic site and the introduction of two brand new exhibitions. The second stage is the launch of the education programme, including an innovative interactive film, which will be formally launched next week. Throughout the creative process for each aspect of the redevelopment the students have been instrumental in providing feedback, and suggestions, to shape the finished product, and they even starred in the film.

Emma Jenkins, aged 16, a year 12 pupil at Rushcliffe Secondary School, worked on the film script and the museum promotional leaflet. She said “it was amazing to see things evolve as the project went on. I really enjoyed meeting with the script writer, as he really wanted to know what we thought so he could make the script better.”

It is not unusual for museums to consult with their community and audience when creating new exhibitions, or conducting a redevelopment, but where this project stands out is how involved the group of students were. At each stage of creation and production, as far as possible, they were given a chance to review what was going on and provide input, interacting with the museum and film professionals in a frank and honest way. They were also given the opportunity to meet with the museum’s marketing consultant to discuss how the redevelopment was going to be promoted.

Izzy Hale, aged 17, a year 13 pupil at Rushcliffe Secondary School, mainly worked on the script. She said “I learnt a lot from taking part in this project. I now know how important it is to consider other audiences in what you do, as I the film was aimed at people younger than me. I also understand how important it is to always put your opinions forward; it was great to feel that they were valid and heard.”

The event, held in the museum’s historic chapel, allowed the students and their parents to have an exclusive first viewing of the interactive film, and to view the redevelopments that have taken place around the museum. Each student was presented with certificate and gift token by the museum to thank them for their hard work during the project.

Paul Baker, museum manager, said “It has been a fantastic experience working with the students. They have all been incredibly professional and a pleasure to work with. I hope they are as proud of what we have achieved as we are. We are now keen to explore other ways in which the museum can support the school”

For more information about the museum visit Framework Knitters Museum. Bookings for the school and group education programme are open now, and the interactive film will be available to the public on selected dates that will be published on the museum website.

A book about Socialism, Chartism and Co-operation – Nottingham 1844

The book was launched to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the founding of the first co-operative society in Nottingham set up on the principles of the Rochdale Pioneers.

During the past year we have celebrated the pioneering work of Co-operators, Chartists and Socialists in and around mid-19th century Nottingham with a series of events, beginning with the book launch in June 2013.
Talks, walks and book sales soon followed, and there are photographs and comments on these in the ‘Events’ pages.
Many of these events have taken place in collaboration with other organisations, and most of them are included in the ‘Contacts’ pages. Some have been nominated to receive donations from the sale of the book during the Special Offer period.

Special Offer! A seasonal class conscious gift – Chris Richardson is launching a ‘Special Offer’ for the Xmas/Solstice/New Year period: the book will sell at the usual price of £7.99 but will be posted to the buyer or someone they nominate free of postage & packing charges (saving £1.50), with a message of their choice (e.g. if it is sent as a present), signed and gift wrapped.

And – £2.50 will be donated to a local society from every book sold: People’s Histreh, Nottingham Women’s History Group, and Notts & Derbyshire Labour History Society have been nominated so far, but you choose which to support. More information from http://acityoflight.wordpress.com/

THE LAST POST TO PLAY ON NEW INSTRUMENTS ACROSS UK IN MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO WW1 GENERATION

Community organisations across the UK are signing up to host events for the Last Post Project this November that will commemorate local First World War stories, play music from the era and see the Last Post played on a variety of different instruments in tribute.

Across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland a diverse range of groups have already signed up for the project and more are being urged to join to unlock local World War One heritage. A selection of Last Post events registered to take place in November include:

London – Leyton Orient FC Supporters Club – November

At half time on the pitch, Leyton Orient FC Supporters Club will play the Last Post in front of 6,000+ fans for former players of Clapton Orient who fought and died during the First World War

Liverpool – Pagoda Arts – 8^th November

Pagoda Arts will use traditional Chinese instruments to host a performance and play the Last Post to raise awareness to the local communities that over 100,000 Chinese people served in the First World War

Bristol – Arnos Vale Cemetery & Merchant’s Academy –11^th November

To mark the signing of the Armistice on the 11th November 1918, a commemoration ceremony will be held at Arnos Vale Cemetery. The ceremony will be held at the World War 1 memorial where over 300 service men are laid to rest and the Merchants Academy orchestra will play songs from the era and the Last Post on a variety of instruments.

Slough – St. Peter’s Burnham Handbell Society – 15^th November

Churches, Clubs, Pubs and Businesses will unite to ring First World War tunes on handbells or bring instruments of their own. WW1 poetry will be recited before a performance of the Last Post from the handbell society.

Suffolk – Music Builds Communities – 8^th November

The evening will begin with an Enlistment Re-enactment where people representing all those who served will walk from their 1914 homes to a central point to sign a commemorative enlistment book. A sing-a-long of WWI songs will follow and The Last Post next played on a range of instruments. Between each will be items, including poems, letters from the war and diary entries.

Chepstow, Wales – The Drill Hall – 8^th November

A 180 strong community choir will take part in a WW1 Commemoration concert at along with other local artists reading poems and letters from conscientious objectors

Brechin, Scotland – Gardner Memorial – 8^th November

The Gardner Memorial Church are planning a huge community singing event entitled ‘Brechin’s Big Big Sing’ which will consist of a selection of WW1 songs, poems and dialogues. They will be inviting as many people as possible to take part including choirs, schools & choral groups as well as those who have never sung in public before to take part in a performance of the Last Post.

Tyrone, Northern Ireland – CRAIC Theatre – 14^th November

This theatrical performance will include WW1 poetry, accounts of contemporary letters and music hall songs of the period. The cast comprises 5 amateur actors in period costume and the Last Post will be played by a bugler from a local brass band.

Designed and run by arts organisation Superact with support from the Department for Communities and Local Government, The Last Post project has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to roll out the project in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in 2014. The Department of Culture Arts and Leisure is also supporting the project in NI.

Be it sports clubs or scout groups all types of community organisations are encouraged to get involved with the project and remember the First World War generation with music.

Commenting, Virginia Crompton, Executive Producer of The Last Post said:

“The Last Post project is a unique project and offers a creative opportunity for community groups to commemorate the First World War centenary.

“Whether you are an experienced event organiser or it’s your first time, here at Superact we offer free event toolkits, a Last Post songbook and have a team on hand to help people plan events.”

The Last Post Songbook, which is authored by Bellowhead’s Paul Sartin is part of a range of free resources provided by Superact to support organisations wishing to host an event this November. Including 15 songs from the World War One era, the songbook also includes music arrangements for the Last Post to be played on piano, mandolin, guitar and bagpipes and more.

A number of celebrities have backed the project including Stephen Fry who tweeted his support while TV personalities Hugh Dennis and Ben Elton have posted videos online saying who they will play the Last Post for this November. For Ben Elton, the inspiration was his grandfather Victor, who fought for four years in the German trenches, earning him a German military honour, the Iron Cross. Twenty years later he fled Germany as a Jewish refugee to seek sanctuary in Britain, the country he’d fought during the First World War. The first Last Post tributes are available to view on Superact’s YouTube channel at  http://bit.ly/1zNhn8b

Those wishing to find out more or plan their event can make use of free event resources on the website and register an event online for free to be part of Last Post fortnight this November.

For more information go to The Last Post Project

Whitwell, Derbyshire

“The Limestone Journey” under the auspices of Creswell Crags Museum, has sponsored a project undertaken by the members of the Whitwell Local History Group.  This involves the copying, processing, naming, tagging of 35mm slides from the Group’s archives.  About 1187 items have so far been loaded on to flikr, which is about the half-way point of the whole project.  It is a motley collection of material, but covers a wide range of subject matter, and contains many gems from the 1890’s to the present.  Many of these pictures should be of interest to Nottinghamshire too.

There are 49 albums so far and can be viewed at https://www.flickr.com/photos/127663472@N05/sets/

In order to maximise the usefulness and exposure of the material, our archivist has given the majority of images the following Creative Commons licensing: Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives (by-nc-nd).  Further information – http://creativecommons.org/about/license/

Most of the material has either been donated, with sharing in mind, or the original material is old enough for copyright to have expired.  We, at the Whitwell Local History Group, hope that the wider audience will enjoy looking at the photos.

Outlaws and Un-Merry Men

Trent to Trenches are running 4 Reginald Dolley Memorial lectures in honour of R.C.F. Dolley University College Nottingham’s first Professor of History who was killed near Arras in 1917.

The next one is on Saturday October 18th at 2:00 p.m in the Keighton Auditorium at the University of Nottingham. Admission is £4 in advance (tickets may be bought from the Theatre Royal box office) or £5 on the door but students, retirees and the unwaged will be admitted free of charge.

Julian Putkowski

Julian Putkowski is Britain’s leading expert on First World War military courts martial. His lecture at The Keighton Auditorium, University of Nottingham, Outlaws and Un-Merry Men will draw attention to soldiers serving with the Sherwood Foresters who were executed during the First World War. Julian Putkowski was born in Suffolk.  After being awarded a first class degree in History at the University of Essex he became a college lecturer and developed an interest in C20th military discipline. His seminal work, Shot at Dawn (1989), written with Julian Sykes, generated a sixteen-year long campaign that secured posthumous pardons in 2006 for British soldiers executed during the First World War. His other books include: The Kinmel Park Camp Riots 1919 (1989), British Army Mutineers (1998), Unquiet Graves, Execution Sites of the First World War in Flanders (with Piet Chielens)(2000), Les Fusilles de King Crater (2002) and Murderous Tommies (with Mark Dunning) (2012). His research has also featured in a number of controversial TV dramas and documentaries, including: The Monocled Mutineer (BBC1, 1986), Going Home (BBC1,1987),  People’s Century (BBC, 1994), Shot at Dawn (BBC, 1993) and Get Collins (RTE 2007). He has also excelled as a broadcaster with a reputation for researching and presenting critically well-received radio documentaries. The latter include: It is with very great regret (BBC Radio 4, 1993),  A Night on the Town (BBC Radio 4, 2004), Preposterous Files (Loftus North/BBC Radio 4, 2007) and Interrogators without Pliers (Rockethouse/BBC Radio 4, 2012).

A circular knitting machine at the Framework Knitters Museum

Members of the public will be able to knit a poppy on the same type of hand-powered machine that was used to knit socks for soldiers during the Great War to honour Nottinghamshire’s fallen soldiers. This one-off opportunity, on Saturday 11^th October, is free of charge, and is part of a wider knitting day being held at the Framework Knitters Museum, Ruddington, for BBC Radio Nottingham’s Big Poppy Knit campaign.

The Big Poppy Knit campaign, organised by BBC Radio Nottingham as part of the World War 1 centenary, has been created to commemorate the people who lost their lives during WW1. They are asking members of the public knit or crochet 11,000 poppies to mark each of the 11,000 Nottinghamshire men who fell during the war. The poppies will then be donated to the Royal British Legion to be sold as part of the Poppy Appeal.

The knitting day, which will run from 11 am to 4 pm, is open to all ages, and both knitters and non-knitters. The knitting machines that will be used to knit the material for the poppies, called Circular Knitting Machines, are really easy to use so can be used by children and those with no knitting ability. For those who can knit there will be space in the tea room to sit and create poppies, with a variety of patterns available. It will be free to take part in all activities. In addition to the poppy knitting all visitors will also be able to see the newly redeveloped museum for free that day.

During World War 1 a movement was launched to provide the men at the front line with knitting clothing, especially socks. The Country set about this task with great vigour, and many of the socks knitted would have been created on hand-turned knitting machines, such as the Circular Knitting Machines that are now at the Framework Knitters Museum.

“The Great War saw the country pull together and provide the troops with the knitted goods that they needed,” Paul Baker, Museum Manager, said. “Now it is our turn to knit, and help to raise as much money as we can to support our Armed Forces personnel. We hope as many people as possible will come to the event, both knitters and non-knitters, and support this great cause”.

For more information on the museum visit Framework Knitters Museum.