[Saint Martins Church...Bilborough]

I attended Saint Martins from 1958 to 1965, which seemed ages at the time. I was involved in the choir, the youth clubs (Junior and Senior) and served on the altar. In March, 1958 Father Lavender was on his way out, possibly to retirement. The curate, Father Mitchell was eager to take over as rector but was rejected, presumably by the P.C.C. So Father Mitchell and his daughter had to vacate the flat at the rear of the rectory (as did John Fletcher) while the building was refurbished for Father John Wilkins and his family comprised of three boys and a daughter. Father Michael Davenport arrived as the curate circa 1963 and moved on around 1965, initially to Kettering but ultimately to Saint Benet Fink in Tottenham where he remained until he died of cancer around 10 years ago. Father Derek Shewring arrived when Father Wilkins moved to Carrington and then to west Bridgford where he died of cancer. Father Shewring and his architect brother made the alterations to the interior of the church including installing a false ceiling and painting over the lower half of the fresco either side of the East window. The recent refurbishments including restoring the fresco cost around £750k, funded by the National Lottery. I don't know what happened to then stained glass East window but there is no sign of it in recent photos on the church web site.

Names which some may recall include John Fletcher, David & Margaret Kyle, Gordon & Patsy Fletcher, Bernard Kraft, George White, David Kyle's father, (all church wardens) John & Jane Marson and their mother & father, Ann & Keith Jewsbury, Michael Chambers, Richard Savage, Sandra Fletcher, Pete & Lynn Haywood, Martin Kingsford, Peter Clarke, Jaqueline Hooper and her brothers and parents & Frank who lived on Wigman Road! Apologies to the many whose exact names I cannot recall., 

I lost touch around 1965 and remained working for Lloyds Bank apart from a spell with National & Grindlays Bank in Calcutta, India where I was privileged to enjoy the life of a sahib/boxwallah for a short time.

[Sneinton in the 1960’s]

Yes. The pub was closed long after I left. I think that, at one point, it was tenanted by the husband and daughter of Mrs Littlehales (?) who used to run a small shop at the end of Key Street. I’m amazed the block of flats is still standing. I remember it being built more than 50 years ago? 
I wondered why the mounts was flattened. Was it to create playing fields for the school on Carlton Road?

 

[Sneinton in the 1960’s]

My memories of the mounts are those of a four year old who was allowed to wander at will. To me it was an adventure playground which I always thought comprised sandstone. I lived at 267 Windmill Lane, a former terraced house opposite Key Street and the Red Cow, which was demolished (as was much of the housing in that area) after we left in early 1950. Apart from roaming at will I remember the mounts as a short cut to the cinema in Sneinton Dale where we used to go for the Saturday morning rush. James Jonex