How wonderful to see St Aidan’s, the place where I was christened in 46. Lovely picture, perhaps my elder sister is on the group.
By Jennifer Parkinson was Brown (06/05/2020)
I’m currently working on an entry for St Aidan’s for the Southwell & Nottingham Church History Project website and would like to use this splendid photograph. Would you be kind enough to give us permission, Martin? According to the local newspapers Father Oliver left in 1947 and was replaced by the Rev R. R. Somervell.
By Andy Nicholson (31/10/2018)
Alan Curtis, following my earlier reference to Father Oliver’s successor at St. Aidan’s. After some hard memory searching, after which I am reasonably expected to recover, Father Quarrell springs to mind. Can you, or anyone, confirm this to ensure that my strenuous efforts were not in vain?
By Martin Gorner (22/01/2016)
Thank you, Alan, it is pleasing to get such a response and to know that I have stirred at least one memory, I did also get responses on the Mansfield Living History FB pages. It did provoke a prolonged debate with my younger sister, my daughter and my granddaughter as to whether I was in the photo. I have conceded that I am sitting at the left end of the front row, wearing a stripey jumper, there had to be some family connection for my Grandmother to have the photo. What we can’t be sure of is whether she is in the back row or her niece. I wouldn’t have been allowed to go there on my own. I’m trying, currently unsuccessfully, to remember the name of Father Oliver’s successor, it is somewhere in my “inherited archives”. It was Father Oliver who baptised me at St. Aidan’s in 1943, he also officiated at my parents’ wedding at St. Mark’s in 1941. As a result of that, I did make contact with him to invite him to their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1991 but he was unable to travel.
You are right about the architecture, those houses were, and still are, quite sturdy although I would imagine that they are much better insulated now. No more going up to a cold bed and then leaving a warm one in the morning to find ice on the inside of the windows and then having to go “down the yard”. Yes, there was a friendliness among the families who were from various levels. We could always tell which children were from the poorer families, they would be out in the morning with a crust spread with jam, and marge if they were lucky. They also had one, or even two candles, and not to light their way! But — we could play out until after dark and safely.
My word! That is a great picture of the old corrugated iron church. Looks like it was taken across the front with Victoria Street in the background. Just a little after my time Martin, hence I could not spot Father Oliver in the group. First time I have noticed the old church coming to the end of it’s lifetime. What a wonderful group of local children can be seen. Looking at the terraced housing Martin, one can understand the friendliness of the families who lived on the streets in, I nearly said the good old days, but I suppose in a way they were. The architecture of the housing looks terrific. After the first world war, I understand the church harboured a board honouring the 22 men from the area who lost their lives. I was told it was moved to St. Mark’s Church. Alan
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How wonderful to see St Aidan’s, the place where I was christened in 46. Lovely picture, perhaps my elder sister is on the group.
I’m currently working on an entry for St Aidan’s for the Southwell & Nottingham Church History Project website and would like to use this splendid photograph. Would you be kind enough to give us permission, Martin?
According to the local newspapers Father Oliver left in 1947 and was replaced by the Rev R. R. Somervell.
Alan Curtis, following my earlier reference to Father Oliver’s successor at St. Aidan’s. After some hard memory searching, after which I am reasonably expected to recover, Father Quarrell springs to mind. Can you, or anyone, confirm this to ensure that my strenuous efforts were not in vain?
Thank you, Alan, it is pleasing to get such a response and to know that I have stirred at least one memory, I did also get responses on the Mansfield Living History FB pages. It did provoke a prolonged debate with my younger sister, my daughter and my granddaughter as to whether I was in the photo. I have conceded that I am sitting at the left end of the front row, wearing a stripey jumper, there had to be some family connection for my Grandmother to have the photo. What we can’t be sure of is whether she is in the back row or her niece. I wouldn’t have been allowed to go there on my own. I’m trying, currently unsuccessfully, to remember the name of Father Oliver’s successor, it is somewhere in my “inherited archives”. It was Father Oliver who baptised me at St. Aidan’s in 1943, he also officiated at my parents’ wedding at St. Mark’s in 1941. As a result of that, I did make contact with him to invite him to their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1991 but he was unable to travel.
You are right about the architecture, those houses were, and still are, quite sturdy although I would imagine that they are much better insulated now. No more going up to a cold bed and then leaving a warm one in the morning to find ice on the inside of the windows and then having to go “down the yard”. Yes, there was a friendliness among the families who were from various levels. We could always tell which children were from the poorer families, they would be out in the morning with a crust spread with jam, and marge if they were lucky. They also had one, or even two candles, and not to light their way! But — we could play out until after dark and safely.
To discover more about St Aidans Chapel of Ease memorial board that Alan has mentioned, look at http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/38761
My word! That is a great picture of the old corrugated iron church. Looks like it was taken across the front with Victoria Street in the background. Just a little after my time Martin, hence I could not spot Father Oliver in the group. First time I have noticed the old church coming to the end of it’s lifetime. What a wonderful group of local children can be seen. Looking at the terraced housing Martin, one can understand the friendliness of the families who lived on the streets in, I nearly said the good old days, but I suppose in a way they were. The architecture of the housing looks terrific. After the first world war, I understand the church harboured a board honouring the 22 men from the area who lost their lives. I was told it was moved to St. Mark’s Church. Alan
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