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www.ilkestonlife.com ILKESTON LIFE October 2021 15

Life’s ups and downs

- and fate’s fickle finger

Story and painting by Betty O’Neill Continued from last month’s paper

Part Two - The Real World
I never regretted making Michael come home. It was a dream job and existence for
him (especially after such trauma and grief) but not compatible with family life.
We then made a big mistake, one which I must admit to encouraging. When I was unpacking
his baggage I opened a case which was full of money! Rolls of it in different currencies. ‘Oh
my God! What did you do? Rob a bank?!’ I squealed. ‘Oh no’, he laughed, ’It’s only tips and
commission from wine accumulated over the months. I just threw it in my case every night
when I finished work. I didn’t really know what else to do with it.’
He had worked relentlessly for His foreman was Harry Hardy, ‘Something designed the completed one. Ad infinitum. and eventually got trained up as
seven days a week for months and well known in Ilkeston as the by a sadist’ Or for at least an eight hour shift a Quality Control Technician. He
months. So on his return he de- oldest football referee still playing. anyway… He said he could see moved to the Trowel Toy division
cided to have a little break instead Fred had a word with Harry and They put him on something called his brother-in-law, Fred, who had where he was much more at home,
of getting a job. I encouraged him they fixed Michael up with a job. the ‘Riggs’, a large welding got him the job, grinning at him wandering around, checking the
knowing it would be good for us Fred still laughs now about the machine. My husband described it at the end of his little walkway. work the ladies were turning out
as a family. The break though last- day Michael turned up for his first to me as ‘something designed by My husband admitted he had and no doubt gossiping away
ed over a year! He didn’t sign on, shift. He had never worked in a a sadist to break the spirit of the thought the same about Fred for the day! He admits he was much
knowing he was fit for work and factory before and the workshop strongest man.’ He said he would getting him that job as I had about better at telling people what to do
that this was his choice. Any bills he was going into was incredibly press a button and the machine him when the photographs from than doing it himself.
which needed to be paid and it hot, noisy and smelly, with every- would start welding a bike frame Australia landed through the door! * * *
was, ‘Oh get some from the case!’ one working ‘hell for leather.’ at half a dozen different points. My husband’s slight, nine stone
That was until one day I opened I had sent him off in the same way While this was happening the self slumped home from his first Life had returned to something re-
the case and found just one lonely he had always gone to work - neat- operator would walk ten paces to shift that evening looking like a sembling normality again and we
roll of dollars & Japanese yen. ly pressed white shirt, a tie, smart an identical machine, take a frame limp lettuce. were both overjoyed to discover I
‘The money’s all gone!’, I cried. jacket and his ‘snap’ in a Tup- off that had just gone through Fred quietly said to him as they was expecting a baby. I eventually
Panic stations ensued! He had to perware container. Fred gleefully the process and clamp another left that evening, ‘welcome to the gave birth to a perfect and beauti-
get a job and quickly. My sister’s recalls how they thought it was on. He would press the button to real world Michael!’ ful baby girl. Nothing could spoil
husband, Fred, worked at the Ra- someone from senior management start to get it welded, walk back He didn’t last long in that depart- that. Could it..?
leigh bike factory in Nottingham. arriving for a tour! to the first machine and take off ment before he moved to another
Guide dogs supporter group is seeking local volunteers

rector from Kimberley, spare some time to support us then
A who looks after guide dog we’d urge you to get in touch.”
puppies, is urging people to join Volunteers must be age 16 or over
a local group, in support of sight and Guide Dogs provides all the
loss charity Guide Dogs. training required for each role.
In 2004, Barbara Holbrook, rector The UK’s first guide dog part-
of the Parish of Kimberley and nerships qualified in 1931. Since
Nuthall, decided to volunteer as a then, the charity has partnered over
Puppy Raiser for Guide Dogs. 36,000 people with a guide dog
Puppy Raisers provide loving, and transformed the lives of thou-
temporary homes for guide dog sands more through other services.
pups for around a year and help To find out more about joining
them get used to the outside world the Ilkeston Guide Dogs support-
and learn basic commands. er group, contact Volunteering
Barbara, who’s currently looking Coordinator Melanie Brown via
after her 16th puppy, said: “When melanie.brown@guidedogs.org.uk
I got ordained, I thought about or call 0800 781 1444.
how I could become part of the lo-
cal community and it was either by “Guide Dogs is a great cause Join Ilkeston group When budding star and Julie Andrews came over from
getting to know dogs or children. to raise money for because it’s Nottingham with her step-father
“I’d heard of Guide Dogs and life-changing.” Nichola Bonsall, Community came to Ilkeston Ted and mother Barbara to attend
thought I’d give puppy raising a The group run stands at local Fundraising Relationship Manager this. She was just 15 years old.
go as I didn’t know what it would events such as Kimberley Christ- for Guide Dogs covering Ilkeston, When the above poster appeared “Who would have thought then
be like to have a dog.” mas tree light switch on to help said: “We’re in desperate need of on social media recently, it brought she would have gone on to play
After signing up as a Puppy Raiser raise funds and need more volun- new volunteers to join our Ilkeston back memories of Julie Andrews iconic roles in films such as The
and learning more about the char- teers to come forward. Guide Dogs supporter group. visiting Ilkeston. Sound of Music and Mary Pop-
ity’s life-changing work, Barbara Barbara added: “We meet once a “Our volunteer supporter groups Dr Jim Jeffery wrote a very inter- pins?”
decided to help found the Ilkeston month at Rumbletums communi- run a range of activities, from esting article about it in the Janu- • The Pines Club was a local young
Guide Dogs supporter group. ty café in Kimberley, to discuss local events to collections, helping ary 2019 edition of Ilkeston Life. people’s group meeting at a big
FUN ideas. us raise the £75.7 million it costs He wrote: “In the 1950-51 pan- house called The Pines on Stanton
The group is part of a network of “It would be great if people could to run our vital services each year. tomime season she took the title Road, Ilkeston. One of its many
Guide Dogs supporter groups in spare some time to offer support “It costs around £54,800 to role in Red Riding Hood at the activities was to put on a panto-
place across the country, who help at events and stalls and be part of support a guide dog from birth to Theatre Royal, Nottingham. By mime each year at Christmas time.
raise awareness and funds for the the group, even if they can’t attend retirement and Guide Dogs relies coincidence, the Pines Club had These were excellent productions,
charity. every meeting. almost entirely on public dona- decided to do the same panto in usually created by the talented
Ilkeston with my sister Joyce once
Barbara said: “The group mem- “Every pound we raise is a pound tions, so the support we get from again playing a key role. grocer/writer Albert Moorley.
bers are friends and we have a that Guide Dogs wouldn’t have if our local groups is vital. If any readers have memories of
lot of fun together, which is very we didn’t raise it.” “If you’re from Ilkeston or the sur- “The club had an eve of the pan- the pantomimes or The Pines, we
important. rounding area and think you could tomine ball at Ilkeston Town Hall would love to hear from you.