City of Leicester & Leicestershire - The Good and Historical Stuff

[davieG]

 

Born and Raised in Leicester  · 

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Humberstone railway station. Sent in by Rob~with thanks x

 

[RoboFox]

On 05/12/2024 at 10:07, davieG said:

 

Wigston In Photos 1950-2000

11 January 2019  · 

The Oven Door, 35 Bell Strret, Wigston

"Standing in line for bread, September 1977. The second of two bakery strikes that year. The queue extends all the way round the car-park, out of sight, and ends in the lanes back near to its start."

(Gerry Broughton - People In Wigston Magna)

 

Wow. I'd forgotten about The Oven Door. 

 

No idea when it closed, but it was still there in the early-mid 90s when we used to go shopping in Wigston with my grandparents. An iced finger bun was a highlight of every trip. Simpler times. 

 

Looks like It's a Costa now. How depressing. 

[davieG]

 

Leicester Memories

Peter Taylor

Frog Island Leicester 1992 .

[davieG]

The good news - https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/health/leicester-patients-early-access-potentially-9783531?int_source=nba

Leicester patients to get early access to 'potentially life-changing' treatments as new funding announced
Cancer, obesity, infectious diseases and heart attack treatments are all on the cards

 

Leicester patients are set to be among the first in line for “potentially life-changing” new treatments after the Government announced funding for clinical trials. One of 20 new research hubs is to be set up in the city, with trials to “build upon research into cancer and obesity”.

They will also look at treatments for infectious diseases such as flu and respiratory syntactical virus (RSV), the Government said today (Thursday, December 12). The funding is aimed at allowing those in “under-served regions” to be able to participate in research.

Speaking to LeicestershireLive, Labour health minister Baroness Gillian Merron said this was “great news” for the city. She said: “This is going to allow local people to participate in research, which means access to new treatments which they wouldn't otherwise be able to access, for example, dealing with cancer, obesity and heart a heart attacks.”

 

 

Baroness Merron added the funding was based on the principle that “prevention is better than a cure”.

“We want to see people living longer and healthier lives and, of course, if you have this kind of access to research, you're looking to the future, but you're also providing for now," she continued. "So, it really is a step-change and I'm thrilled to see that there is this centre in Leicester.”

The minister added, during a trip to the city earlier this week, she spoke to a local woman, Mary, who is currently involved in a clinical trial after suffering a heart attack. She said: “What really struck me is what Mary said about the importance of taking part in a trial and being able to do it locally so that it [doesn’t take] much time for her to do that.

“She has access potentially to a life-changing treatment and she stressed that if she can save somebody else having a heart attack, she is glad to. So all credit to Mary and everyone else, and all the staff, who make this possible.”

The city is set to get £4.7 million over seven years for the new clinical trials, which will be take place in existing hospital space.

Professor Melanie Davies, Leicester’s clinical director of patient recruitment centre, said: "We are delighted to have been successful in our bid to host one of the new Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDC) here in Leicester and continue to build on our achievements as a Patient Recruitment Centre (PRC).

"It's really important that research at all levels, including commercial research, is delivered in the NHS because we know that patients have better outcomes in healthcare settings where research takes place. Research brings new treatments more quickly to the benefit of patients and helps support the health and wealth of the nation.

"This new funding will enable us to continue to invest in research staff for the CRDC, based at the Leicester General Hospital, but also establish and develop research sites in the community, to make it easier for people in Leicester, Leicestershire and Northampton to access opportunities to take part in research."

 

 

The bad news - https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/health/government-refuses-commit-funding-major-9783399

Government refuses to commit to funding major Leicester hospitals transformation
The funding programme was paused after Labour took office

 

The Government has refused to commit to providing funding for a once-in-a-generation transformation of Leicester’s hospitals, saying it was still “reviewing” its decision. The city's three hospitals were selected in 2020 to form part of the previous Conservative's 40 new hospitals pledge.

The Government-led New Hospitals Programme was intended to modernise hospitals and create buildings and services that were fit for the future, with a target completion date of 2030. While the precise figures were still to be announced, the scheme was set to see hundreds of millions of pounds of investment given to the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL), which runs the hospitals. UHL was intending to start work on site next year.

However, the scheme was thrown into doubt in July when Labour’s new health secretary, Wes Streeting, announced that he had asked Government officials to "urgently" review the pledge, to determine whether there is the money for it and whether the 2030 target was realistic. LeicestershireLive asked health minister Baroness Gillian Merron about the city’s chances of getting the much-needed investment when she visited Leicester earlier this week to discuss funding for a new clinical trial centre in the city.

 

Baroness Merron refused to commit to the Government putting up the funding for the transformation locally, instead repeating party lines about Labour’s “inheritance” from its Conservative predecessors.

She said: “I think it's important to look at what this new government inherited. That was the longest ever waiting list, but also the lowest ever patient satisfaction.” The minister added that “tackling waiting lists” was “absolutely top” of the Government’s agenda.

“Since we got an allocation in the Budget fairly recently, we are now going to be able to deliver 40,000 extra appointments, scans operations per week over over the next year and that is the first step in our new government's commitment to ensuring that patients can expect to be treated with within 18 weeks,” she added. “The NHS is broken, but not beaten and, for Leicester and everyone across the county, and indeed the region and the country, we are absolutely committed to getting people the healthcare they need in a timely fashion in a way that works for them.”

Gillian Merron
Baroness Merron could not guarantee Leicester's hospitals would get the funding (Image: Marco Secchi/Getty Images)
LeicestershireLive pushed Baroness Merron for a “yes/no” answer on whether Leicester would receive the New Hospitals Programme funding. We were told the Government was still “reviewing” the move.

Baroness Merron added: “I'm afraid again under the last Government, the resources were not there despite the promises. So we do understand the need to improve hospital, not just hospitals by the way, but in indeed the estate across the National Health Service.

“But again, we've inherited a very difficult position. We are reviewing all of it and we absolutely understand the need for change and for delivery and, and that is where we want to go.”

The money was expected to deliver a series of much-needed improvements to the hospitals' estate. These included a new women’s and family health hospital at Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI), with a new, state-of-the-art building to be built on the site to house it, the trust previously told LeicestershireLive.

Also on the cards was a dedicated children’s hospital created in a newly refurbished and expanded Kensington Building. The Windsor Building at LRI had also been earmarked for an extension which would create a new space for the pharmacy, clinical genetics and immunology.

The midwifery-led maternity unit which is currently based at St Mary's, in Melton, was expected to move to Leicester General. Its home would be in the Coleman Centre, which would undergo a renovation. Critical care services – medical care for people who have life-threatening injuries and illnesses – were also expected to be expanded at both the LRI and Glenfield Hospital. A new community diagnostics facility was also a possibility for Leicester General Hospital.

 

 

[davieG]

 

Leicester Memories

Peter Taylor  ·A ' Pea Souper '

Gallowtree Gate 1964 .

[davieG]

Born and Raised in Leicester  · 

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Hannam Court Buildings, Charles Street, early 1950's.

[Wymsey]

On 12/12/2024 at 09:38, davieG said:

 

Leicester Memories

Peter Taylor

Frog Island Leicester 1992 .

My Father had one of his tyre and exhaust depots not far from there.

[davieG]

 

 

[davieG]

 

Leicester Memories

Peter Taylor 

West Bridge Station 1948 .

[davieG]

 

Leicester Memories

Peter Taylor

Glen Parva Station , closed 1968 .

[davieG]

Anyone's Mum or Granma?

 

 

Leicester Memories

Peter Taylor 

M&S Leicester Sales Assistants - very smart 1960`s .

[davieG]

 

 

History of Leicestershire in Images

Mervin Wallace  ·

THE WHO

Those of us having been teenagers in the early 60s, could hardly get through one sentence about it without mentioning The Who. They were a fabulous live group known for their incredible, if somewhat dangerous stage presence. I remember on several occasions standing less than two feet away from Pete Townshend and Keith Moon trying their hardest to destroy their kit, and it was pretty terrifying and exciting in equal measure. In the band room of the George, in Hinckley, Leicestershire, I was fortunate enough to get two autographs of the only two now still alive and performing.

The Who were formed in London in 1964 with the original classic line-up of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist John Entwistle who died on 27th June 2002, and drummer Keith Moon who committed suicide on 7th September 1978.

[davieG]

[davieG]

 

Leicester Memories

Terry Jones  ·

For many years Leicester enjoyed all the fun of the fair right here in the city centre.

Huge street fairs were held in May and October and filled Humberstone Gate, from the Clock Tower to Rutland Street.

Sadly the fairs were stopped in 1904 because it was said they interfered with the traffic.

On Friday May 15 1903 the Secretary of State for the Home Dept heard the pros and cons for the abolition of the Leicester Fair.

Apparently Leicester’s Town Council believed it would be for the convenience and advantage of the public that such fairs should be abolished.

But a petition of nearly 5000 names in favour of keeping the fairs had been presented and the fair’s supporters had engaged counsel to present their case to the best advantage.

The objectors had not been idle either. They had gained the support of the Non-conformist places of worship, the Sunday Morning Adult School, the Sunday Schools, the Band of Hope Union and the Leicester Temperance Society.

With this powerful lobby and the Town Council’s support, the objectors won, and the last Leicester Fair was held in Humberstone Gate in 1904.For just one day, the fair was revived for Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation on June 2, 1953.......

[davieG]

 

 

Leicester Memories

Peter Taylor  

A derelict Glenfield Station in 1968 , showing the west portal of the now closed Glenfield Tunnel .

 

Margaret Wright

Living in Glenfield and watching this decay was soul destroying. But at least there are houses there now and the link to it is in the name. Unfortunately though the path into the tunnel from there is closed. It only opens on heritage days to get easy access

 

• 

 

 

Leicester Memories

Peter Taylor  

Approaching the Glenfield Tunnel ( Unknown Year )

[davieG]

Leicester Memories

Peter Taylor 

West bridge Station .

The original railway buildings were a wharf shed, joiner’s shop, company office, engine shed, workshop and smithy. The railway was originally intended for coal so carrying passengers was not a priority. For many years local inns and tiny cabins served as booking offices and passenger carriages were attached to goods trains. It was not until 1840 that alterations were made to the office building to provide ‘some accommodation’ for passengers. There was no platform at the original station and passengers had to climb aboard using steps and handrails attached to carriages. A narrow passenger platform was eventually created in 1876. By 1893 a new purpose built station had been constructed next to Tudor Road.

 

© Story of Leicester

 

 

 

Leicester Memories

Peter Taylor  

The first West Bridge Station with narrow platform.

Mary De Castro Church spire in the background .

[davieG]

 

Leicester Memories

Peter Taylor  

Improvements have been made to the station on The Rally which commemorates the first station in Leicester at West Bridge . Opened 1832 .

© Leicester Parks .

[davieG]

Born and Raised in Leicester  · 

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Belgrave Gate, 1949.

[The Fox Covert]

On 19/12/2024 at 09:10, davieG said:

 

 

Leicester Memories

Peter Taylor  

A derelict Glenfield Station in 1968 , showing the west portal of the now closed Glenfield Tunnel .

 

Margaret Wright

Living in Glenfield and watching this decay was soul destroying. But at least there are houses there now and the link to it is in the name. Unfortunately though the path into the tunnel from there is closed. It only opens on heritage days to get easy access

 

• 

 

 

Leicester Memories

Peter Taylor  

Approaching the Glenfield Tunnel ( Unknown Year )

Thanks for posting. Photos of Glenfield station, which closed a century ago, are very hard to come by!

[The Fox Covert]

Work-in-progress scene from the 1950s. An elderly Johnson 2F crosses the level crossing in Station Road, Glenfield. This location is still near the edge of Leicester suburbia, but nothing in this scene remains today. The line, only the third steam railway in the country after the Stockton and Darlington and the Liverpool and Manchester, is closed, the house for the crossing keeper has gone and I don't think the tree in the left background is still there. I complete my drawings with watercolour so I will post again in a few weeks.

[Paninistickers]

6 minutes ago, The Fox Covert said:

Work-in-progress scene from the 1950s. An elderly Johnson 2F crosses the level crossing in Station Road, Glenfield. This location is still near the edge of Leicester suburbia, but nothing in this scene remains today. The line, only the third steam railway in the country after the Stockton and Darlington and the Liverpool and Manchester, is closed, the house for the crossing keeper has gone and I don't think the tree in the left background is still there. I complete my drawings with watercolour so I will post again in a few weeks.

Just so I can try visualise what's there today, is the train heading into Leicester or out? 

[davieG]

11 minutes ago, The Fox Covert said:

Thanks for posting. Photos of Glenfield station, which closed a century ago, are very hard to come by!

They're off of that Leicester Memories FB page

[The Fox Covert]

10 hours ago, Paninistickers said:

Just so I can try visualise what's there today, is the train heading into Leicester or out? 

The line used to run from Leicester  to Swannington Colliery. There is a junction at Desford where it joined the line from Knighton Junction. The train is heading towards Leicester and there used to be a station just to the left of the picture which closed in the 1920s (hence Station Road). The site of the station is now occupied by the housing in Stephenson Court. Beyond the station is Glenfield Tunnel, which passes under the housing estate opposite the hospital. The tunnel is still there but there is no railway track. The station at the Leicester end was at West Bridge, again totally unrecognisable today. By the time of my drawing in the 1950s the line would have served a few factories and coal merchants and there was a wharf to transfer goods to the canal.

[davieG]

Leicester Memories

David Hutchinson  

 

Leicester birth of a designer

Ernest William Gimson (21 December 1864 – 12 August 1919) was an English furniture designer and architect. Gimson was described by the art critic Nikolaus Pevsner as "the greatest of the English architect-designers". Today his reputation is securely established as one of the most influential designers of the English Arts and Crafts movement in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Ernest Gimson was born in Leicester, in the East Midlands of England, in 1864, the son of Josiah Gimson, engineer and iron founder, founder of Gimson and Company, owner of the Vulcan Works. Ernest was articled to the Leicester architect, Isaac Barradale, and worked at his offices on Grey Friars between 1881 and 1885. Aged 19, he attended a lecture on 'Art and Socialism' at the Leicester Secular Society given by the leader of the Arts and Crafts revival in Victorian England, William Morris, and, greatly inspired, talked with him until two in the morning, after the lecture.

Two years later, aged 21, Gimson had both architectural experience and a first class result from classes at Leicester School of Art. He moved to London to gain wider experience, and William Morris wrote him letters of recommendation.

After a brief period traveling in both Britain and Europe, Gimson settled in London again and in 1889 he joined Morris's Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB).

Gimson designed many buildings in the UK, with the two most notable being his first new house commission, Inglewood in Leicester, and the National Trust property in Leicestershire called Stoneywell. Both are now Grade II* Listed in recognition of their architectural importance.

His architectural style is "solid and lasting as the pyramids… yet gracious and homelike" (H. Wilson, 1899). Lethaby described him as an idealist individualist: "Work not words, things not designs, life not rewards were his aims."

Today his furniture and craft work is regarded as a supreme achievement of its period and is well represented in the principal collections of the decorative arts in Britain and the United States of America. Specialist collections of his work may be seen in England at the Leicester Museum & Art Gallery, and in Gloucestershire at the Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum, Rodmarton Manor and Owlpen Manor.

 

 

 

 

[kushiro]

Gimson has a connection to the football club. 

 

Look at these magnificent pictures of the new bridges across the canal in 1889, published in the Leicester Daily Post:

 

 

 

 

Gimson designed the ironwork. For anyone who has approached the football ground from the West End, those bridges are a central part of the matchday experience. 

 

You'll notice also that the names of the two bridges are the names of the homes of Leicester Fosse.

 

We moved into the Mill Lane ground in 1889 (just after those photos were published). Then when the land was needed for housing, we moved south to Walnut Street (after a brief spell at Grace Road). Shortly after, of course, the ground was renamed 'Filbert Street'.