There is a chance to win up to £25,000 every Saturday when you play Gedling Lotto.
You just need to match six numbers to win the £25,000 jackpot.
We now publish the winning numbers each Saturday night.
THIS WEEK’S WINNING NUMBERS (23/12/23)
1 1 6 2 8 1
How does Gedling Lotto work?
Gedling Lotto is a weekly lottery draw that raises money for good causes across Gedling Borough. All good causes supported by the lottery will benefit the Gedling Borough and its residents.
Play the lottery, support Gedling Borough – it’s that simple!
From every £1 ticket you buy, 60p will go to local good causes in the Gedling Borough and improve our community.
Some of the many causes to benefit from the Lotto include:
Gedling Eye looks back at the highs and lows of 2023 across the borough, continuing with July to September…
JULY
THE FATE of a new development in Arnold remained in limbo following news that the housebuilder has gone into administration.
Work on the new development on Rolleston Drive was put on hold while the manufacturer of the factory-built homes destined for the site sought a buyer to help raise cash to keep them operational. However news broke that the modular homes builder, Ilke Homes had gone into administration resulting in the closure of its manufacturing facility.
PICTURED: The reality of the new homes on Rolleston Drive and the dream affordable home for so many. (GEDLING EYE)
A preschool which had been serving communities in Gedling borough for 50 years announced that it was closing due to financial difficulties. Carlton Preschool Playgroup, which is based at the Richard Herrod Centre in Foxhill Roady rented out a room at the centre from Gedling Borough Council and had 34 children on its roll. Seven staff have been made redundant as part of the closure, which manager Maxine Payne described as “devastating”
A suspect from Carlton was charged in connection with a string of 14 shop thefts as police continued efforts to crack down on retail crime. A 33-year-old man was arrested in the Carlton area by officers investigating raids at the Co-op store in Westdale Lane West, Mapperley, between February 11 and 2 July 2023. Daniel Whitchurch, aged 33, of Portland Road, Carlton, was subsequently released on conditional bail and was due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on July 20 2023.
More than 1,200 incidents of fly-tipping across Gedling borough ended up costing taxpayers £189,000 in 2022. Fly-tipping, the illegal dumping of waste, is the costliest form of waste crime in England with estimates from 2021 from the Environmental Services Association (ESA) suggesting the overall cost of fly-tipping across the country is £391.8m a year. During a Gedling Borough Council Full Council meeting on Wednesday, July 12, Cllr Mike Adams (Con) asked the Labour-led administration what the total cost of fly-tipping was to taxpayers. Responding Cllr Marje Paling, the chairwoman of the environment and licensing committee, said: “Last financial year the cost for removal of fly-tipping in Gedling was calculated at £189,000, which equates to £1.61 per resident and it was for 1,220 incidents in 2022.”
PICTURED: Rubbish dumped in Stoke Lane, Gedling borough
A wanted man from Mapperley Park who fled the country was left “speechless” after returning on a plane and finding police waiting for him. Anas Bahbaishi, aged 33, bought a one-way ticket to Saudi Arabia after being charged with driving whilst disqualified. The businessman was due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 10 May but flew out of London Heathrow four days earlier. A warrant was issued for his arrest and Nottinghamshire Police inquiries found he had flown out to the city of Jeddah. Police at Manchester Airport received a notification from Border Force that Bahbaishi, previously of Cranmer Street, Mapperley Park, Nottingham, had checked in for a flight from Jeddah to Manchester and Nottinghamshire Police was informed and officers from the City South neighbourhood policing team travelled to the airport and awaited his arrival. He was arrested on the plane moments after landing and transported back to Nottingham for questioning.
A Netherfield GP will hung up her stethoscope after serving the community for 31 years. Dr Caitriona Kennedy informed patients via social media that she has taken the decision to retire. The GP has worked for Trentside Medical Group, which owns the Netherfield Medical Centre where she is based, for three decades. In a post on the Trentside Medical Group Facebook page she wrote: “After 31 years at Trentside, it is with a mixture of sadness and excitement that I am retiring from the Partnership.”
A new CCTV camera was installed at an anti-social behaviour hotspot in Colwick after Gedling Borough Council was granted funding from the Government’s Safer Streets fund. The 360-degree CCTV camera was installed on Balmoral Road to help tackle anti-social behaviour and support the new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which is active in the surrounding area. The camera provides high-quality images to the council’s CCTV control room and is used to assist the police with investigations, as well as aiding the council’s Community Safety Team and Neighbourhood Wardens in tackling anti-social behaviour.
PICTURED: Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke MBE with Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry at the new CCTV Camera on the corner of Balmoral Road, Colwick.
A project to restore an historic Victorian train station in Gedling to its former glory was dealt a major blow after its bid for £250k of heritage lottery money was rejected. A grant application to support Gedling Youth and Community Hub with their work in restoring the building on Shearing Hill has been rejected by The National Lottery Heritage Fund for England, Midlands and East, according to their website. The announcement gives no indication as to why the grant application was rejected however a spokesperson from the National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “We can confirm that Transforming Gedling Old Station has been rejected. We know this is very disappointing news. There is a high level of competition for grants at every stage of the grant application process and unfortunately, we are unable to support all the applications we receive.”
A teenager appeared in court after a fight in an Arnold street. Police were called to Cavendish Street following reports of an assault and when officers arrived at the scene they found a teenage girl had suffered stab wounds. She was taken to hospital with injuries that are not currently believed to be life-altering or life-threatening. Officers quickly located a suspect in a nearby street and a 17-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, possession of a knife in a public place and possession of a Class B drug.
AUGUST
A CCTV appeal was launched by police after a disabled man was robbed on the doorstep of his Carlton home. The victim was trying to unlock his front door when a man rifled through his shoulder bag and stole cash before leaving the scene. It’s believed he was followed by a man after getting off a Nottingham City Transport number 27 bus at the bottom of Carlton Hill, Carlton, and then walking to his home in Southdale Road. As part of their ongoing inquiries, officers released images of a man they believed may have information that could assist with their investigation.
PICTURED: Police want to speak to this man following a doorstep robbery in Carlton (IMAGE: Notts Police)
After being closed for over two years, due to Coronavirus restrictions and the death of the museum keeper, the Calverton Folk Museum reopened. Owned by the Calverton Preservation and History Society and situated on Main Street, Calverton next to the Baptist Church the Museum is housed in a 4-roomed, Grade II listed, 18th. Century cottage. The museum was opened in 1974 and has a variety of displays depicting local history and heritage. There is also a kitchen and bedroom from about 100 years ago and a variety of objects relating to local coalmining, farming and education.
Newstead’s annual Family Fun Day event was heading towards cancellation due to the atrocious British weather until the British bulldog spirit kicked in. After some very last minute changes and the addition of an indoor venue the event was able to go ahead much to the delight of the several hundred people who attended. Those braving the weather were rewarded as the weather Gods decided to be kind and blue skies finally emerged in time for the main attraction – the Savage Skills Stunt Show.
KH Hair Arnold stylist, Amelia Krasinski secured her place at the UK finals of a major hairdressing industry competition. The 18-year-old was named as a finalist in the Colour Visionary category at the Wella Professionals TrendVision Awards UK & Ireland. The prestigious event celebrates exceptional talent and has become one of the most iconic hair competitions in the hairdressing industry.
PICTURED: Amelia Krasinski, who has secured her place at the UK finals of a major hairdressing industry competition.
It was a season of success in the borough for one talented primary school. Stanhope Primary, in Gedlingvillage, reached the finals of the county cup football competition with both their girl’s and boy’s teams, with the girls going on to take the crown. Years five and six were competing and the amazing achievements of both teams were recognised by sporting royalty, with the pupils having a video message from Carl Froch, as well as a special assembly with England international Sophie Bradley-Auckland.
A man was caught hiding in a loft at an Arnold property with a JD Sports bag containing cannabis and cash when he tried to evade arrest. Officers attended an address in Worrall Avenue on Thursday, August 10 were looking for a man wanted in connection with a GBH offence. Within the rear first floor bedroom was a small loft hatch leading into the loft space. Officers made themselves known but no one responded. Once entering the loft, they found the suspect in a dressing gown lying on his side in front of the water tank attempting to hide. A search of the loft – close to where the man was hiding – recovered a black jacket containing a quantity of cash and a black JD Sports drawstring bag containing a quantity of cannabis and more cash.
Administrators confirmed that hundreds of staff at Wilko working for the collapsed chain would lose their jobs. The redundancies were being made after the latest deal to buy the business fell through. Private equity firm M2 Capital said it made a £90m bid for Wilko but was unable to provide proof of funding in time to complete the sale. PwC, which is overseeing Wilko’s sale, said it was it was clear there was no viable offer to buy the whole business.
SEPTEMBER
Nottingham City Transport expanded its network to serve the new Chase Farm development in Gedling. Chase Farm is now served by an extension of NCT’s Sky Blue 45 service, providing a 10 minute Monday to Saturday daytime service to Mapperley and the City Centre with Sunday daytime buses operate every 20 minutes, with a half hourly service every night and last buses back from the City at midnight on Mondays to Saturdays.
PICTURED: A bus at Chase Farm
A Mapperley man appeared in court after a woman was attacked in an alleyway. The 50-year-old victim was walking home after a night out when a man crept up behind her in Diversity Way, Radford. It was reported the attacker grabbed the woman around the neck and pulled her to the ground, before stealing her handbag. Following inquiries, police arrested a suspect in connection with the incident. Darren Unwin, of Mapperley Road, Mapperley Park, Nottingham, was subsequently charged with robbery and intentional strangulation.
Sainsbury’s launched an exciting new service in Colwick, with the introduction of a brand-new Ultra-rapid Electric Vehicle (EV) charging hub at its store by Colwick Loop Road. ‘Ultra-rapid’ is the fastest type of EV charging currently available on the market. Designed to be quick, reliable and easy to use, Sainsbury’s new service will allow customers to charge Electric Vehicles in as little as 30 minutes – providing enough power to travel up to 200 miles – rather than waiting for hours when using slower types of EV charging.
Carlton Community Hub hosted their official launch and family fun day on Saturday, September 23. The hub was established by Christian charity Hope Nottingham two years ago, building on a long-standing foodbank partnership with Main St Methodist Church. The community hub offers a wide range of holistic support to the local community and the foodbank has been enhanced with a wonderful community café every Tuesday and Friday afternoon.
Pictured: Carlton Community Hub (PHOTO: Gedling Eye)
A woman from Gedling risked arrest and a possible two-year imprisonment by holding up signs outside Nottingham Crown Court, as part of the growing public campaign Defend Our Juries. The silent protest was one of 21 being held today across England outside Crown Courts. Amanda Pumo, 64, a retired therapist from Gedling said: “Defendants should be able to tell the jury the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Isn’t that what you swear to do in Court? And the truth includes why you’re protesting. If defendants can’t tell the whole truth, how can the jurors make a truly informed decision about their guilt or innocence?”
Gedling Eye looks back at the highs and lows of 2023 across the borough, continuing with April to June…
APRIL
BUILDING site mess at a school entrance in Gedling caused fury amongst residents.
Locals said they were being forced to walk on the road due to building site mess on the Clegg Construction site on Burton Road. Pedestrians said they had to walk into the road as the footpath outside the building site at Carlton Le Willows Academy became ‘a quagmire’ every time it rained.
One local parent said the footpath was ‘a mess’ even when it wasn’t raining.
PICTURED: The site outside Carlton le Willows Academy entrance on Burton Road (IMAGE: Gedling Eye)
A POPULAR Sneinton bakery made the move to take over new premises on Carlton Hill.
Beccy and Mark Wilson, a husband and wife duo, opened the doors of The Bakery & Kitchen to Carlton Hill customers for the first time.
Beccy told Gedling Eye that they had been looking for a new premises with seating for a while that was not too far from where they were based in Sneinton. They had looked at their new property previously and said they ‘were delighted’ when it became available again as a lot of their existing customers come from Carlton.
PICTURED: Pictured: The Bakery & Kitchen (PHOTO: Gedling Eye)
A WOMAN attempted to pull a two-year-old boy from his mum’s arm in Gedling.
The incident happened in Arnold Lane towards the junction with Friday Lane.
The mum had one child in a pushchair and another in her arm when an unknown woman approached her muttering under her breath and then tugged at the two-year-old in his mum’s arm.
A NUMBER of patients at Stenhouse Medical Centre in Arnold were told they may need to find a new doctor if they have moved out of the area.
Managers at the surgery made the request on their Facebook page posting: “Over the last couple of years the number of patients registered at Stenhouse has increased considerably as has the complexity of those patients. We have to accept new patients who live within the practice area, so after taking advice, have taken the difficult decision, to ask some patients living outside the area to register elsewhere. These are mainly patients who live a significant distance out of the area.”
PICTURED: Stenhouse Medical Practice
PLANS to demolish a former church in Arnold and replace it with housing were turned down by councillors who said it would be a ‘travesty’ if they went ahead.
Construction company Direct Land Investment applied to knock down Beacon Baptist Church in Killisick Road and replace it with housing but Gedling Borough Councillors voted to refuse the application. A petition ‘Save Beacon Baptist Church from demolition for housing’ gained 193 signatures.
CARLTON Town FC fought off relegation to secure their Step 4 status.
Tommy Brookbanks, co-manager of The Millers, said: “You look at it from January 7, nine games we got four points. From March 7, nine games we got 19. Now that is playoff form”.
Relegation was avoided by virtue of North Shields failing their ground grading and Carlton Town only finding out that they would not have to play a relegation playoff three days before they would have had to have played said playoff.
MAY
LABOUR retained control of Gedling Borough Councilafter winning 28 out of 41 seats – giving them a comfortable majority.
Labour lost two seats in Cavendish to the Liberal Democrats but gained a seat in Plains ward from the Conservatives. Four Liberal Democrat seats were won which was two-seat gain. No independent candidates managed to secure a council seat during the election.
PICTURED: Gedling Borough Council leader John Clarke
A NAIL BAR in Calverton was repossessed by landlords.
Customers of ‘Nails Bar’ were shocked to find the business on St Wilfrid’s Square locked and empty and a forfeiture notice on display on the inside of the main door.
Locals expressed their shock at the closure on the village’s dedicated Facebook page, with one writing: “Calverton Nail shop, GONE!!!!”. The notice was served by Parkinsons Bailiff Services Ltd, Enforcement Agents on Long Hai Cao of 14 St. Wilfrid’s Square, Calverton, NG14 6FP and all signage was removed.
CARLTON Town’s official website revealed that the football club was to call an emergency meeting after receiving a ‘horrendous’ electricity bill.
Following a submitted meter reading they were hit with an electricity bill for over £7900. The club revealed that their direct debit contribution to the annual bill will almost double going forward – adding to growing travel costs this following the FA’s decision to move the club into the Northern Premier East League from the Midland League.
CALVERTONParish Council (CPP) joined the national Coronation celebrations and organised a mass picnic in William Lee Park.
The event was attended by over 3,000 partygoers following similar successful events delivered by CPP at the Christmas lights switch on and the very successful and well-received Jubilee picnic.
Cllr. Andy Meads (CPP Chairman and co-organiser) told Gedling Eye that a last-minute grant from a special National Lottery fund had helped the council afford to pay for everything.
He said: “It was all free for residents including bouncy castles, a giant slide, a 100 ft obstacle course, a climbing wall, fairground ride, and wipe out game.”
PICTURED: Crowds enjoy the coronation in William Lee Park
THE OXFAM Homeware store on Arnold high street closed after it was revealed by head office said that they could not afford to keep the site running.
The outlet was one of two shops run by the charity in the town.
An Oxfam spokesperson said: “Oxfam shops exist to raise as much money as possible to overcome poverty and suffering in some of the poorest countries in the world. We constantly evaluate the profitability of all our shops, to ensure they are efficient and making the most money for Oxfam’s vital work. Sometimes this leads to difficult decisions about the viability of particular shops.
They added: These decisions are never taken lightly and we always take into account the impact on our staff and volunteers.”
The closed Oxfam Homeware shop in Arnold
GREENE King’s decision to go cashless at a pub in Mapperley left regulars angry.
The change at The Travellers Rest on Mapperley Plains was part of the company’s trial to drop cash payments as most customers pay via card.
Many punters did not agree with the decision as they do not want to participate in a cashless society. Ross Da’Bell, 65, of Arnold, was one of many customers disappointed with the change. saying: “I was a regular and they didn’t tell me this had happened until I finished my meal there. I’m against this as I’m older generation and like paying cash, I know where I am, but more, they’ve taken away choice.”.
Another customer added their view on a Facebook group post, they wrote: “Won’t be going again unless this changes.”
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Police arrested a 54-year-old suspected drink-driver after a two car head-on collision in Ravenshead left a woman with broken bones.
Officers from the Road Policing Unit were alerted to the incident at Main Road where there was significant damage to both vehicles and debris was scattered across the roads.
PICTURED: The secene of the crash in Ravenshead (PHOTO: Notts Police)
JUNE
ARMED officers arrested a man in Daybrook after the police were called to an address in Frobisher Gardens, Daybrook.
It was reported that threats were made towards people inside the property. Police said armed officers detained a suspect within minutes and that no-one was injured. A 55-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
NOTTINGHAM City Transport ordered 12 battery-electric buses as it seeks to move its fleet to zero emissions. The greener buses will serve the borough’s Red 50, which goes to Victoria Retail Park in Netherfield, and the Blue 39, which provides public transport to parts of Carlton. NCT said the new fleet is able to run a full day’s service on a single charge.
A BURGLAR from Calverton who left his blood at a crime scene in Arnold after stealing a car was jailed.
John Wilson, aged 39, broke into a home in Sandfield Road, Arnold, on April 11, 2023 and carried out an untidy search of the property. He stole a jewellery box, purse, two sets of car keys and the car which was parked on the driveway. However, detectives investigating the burglary were able to link the break-in to Wilson after finding traces of his blood on a stairgate.
Wilson, of Labray Road, Calverton, was jailed for a total of 18 months when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court.
PICTURED: John Wilson (PHOTO: Notts Police)
AFTER decades serving Gedling Borough Council and three mayoral terms, 87-year-old former Mayor and political icon Peter Barnes retired following the local elections.
Peter spent a collective 53 years in local government, 49 of which were as a member of the borough council.
POLICE Officers made a significant breakthrough after a public appeal for information prompted a grandson to come forward about unidentified remains found in Coxmoor Road.
Russell Lowbridge was only four years old when his grandfather, Alfred Swinscoe, went missing in early 1967 after drinking at the Pinxton Miners Arms in Derbyshire.
Family members had been waiting 56 years for answers after Alfred, aged 54 at the time, went missing in mysterious and unusual circumstances. DNA tests were carried out on Russell and Alfred’s son, now in his 70s, and matched against the bones exhumed from the ground.
Police launched a murder investigation and a team of dedicated detectives are now working alongside a team of scientists hoping they can to bring his killer to justice.
PICTURED: Alfred Swinscoe, aged 54 at the time, went missing in mysterious and unusual circumstances
ALMOST 50 formal complaints were made against Nottinghamshire’s crime commissioner Caroline Henry after she was found guilty of speeding five times in 12 weeks.
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Mrs Henry pleaded guilty to the five speeding offences at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court. Mrs Henry was clocked travelling over the 30mph speed limit twice near Burford Primary School in Daybrook.
She was further caught speeding on roads in Chilwell and Beeston and on the A610. She was fined £2,450 and banned from driving for six months at the time. A report detailing the complaints the crime commissioner received over 2022/23 was noted during a Police and Crime Panel meeting at Nottinghamshire County Council’s County Hall on Monday, June 5.
AN ONGOING police operation cracking down on nuisance car cruisers in parts of Gedling borough resulted in more than 120 drivers being dealt with.
Operation Triplefin was launched in October 2022 to prevent and reduce antisocial behaviour and criminal activity associated with the car cruises. Hotspots for unlicensed gatherings, which have caused road safety, noise, and antisocial behaviour concerns, included the Colwick Industrial Estate and near Victoria Retail Park in Netherfield.
A SCHEME to make cycling safer in an area of Mapperley was handed a cash boost from the Government.
Nottingham City Council has accepted more than £1.7million from the Active Travel Fund to invest in creating a cycling and pedestrian route along Porchester Road that will be clearly segregated from traffic.
The council was awarded the full grant due to its track record of building safe walking and cycling routes.
The City Council expects to hold a public consultation later this summer, where local residents, cyclists and people who commute through the area will have a chance to give their views and suggestions on the designs which are currently being developed.
Pubgoers across Gedling borough will soon be able to save money when they visit the budget boozer chain next month with some pints costing as little £1.99 and a range of food on offer too.
Wetherspoons will be reducing the price of some of their drinks and meals for just over two weeks, starting on Tuesday, January 2 and ending on Wednesday, January 17.
The average sale price of favourite pints such as Bud Light and Doom Bar will be just £1.99.
Meanwhile, a classic cocktail will cost £2.99, a bottle of Beck’s Blue at £1.49, Pepsi Max (14oz) at £1.49 and Lavazza coffee, tea and hot chocolate (with free refills) at £1.29.
Low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks are also included in the sale such as Erdinger, BrewDog Punk AF, Stella Artois, Heineken 0.0, Kopparberg Strawberry & Lime, Adnams Ghost Ship and Beck’s Blue.
Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin said: “Department stores and shops hold their sales in January, so it is the perfect time to have a sale in the pubs too.
“The range of drinks and food on sale in the pubs is aimed at suiting a wide variety of tastes.
“This year we have included our biggest selection of low and non-alcoholic drinks. I believe that the January Sale will prove popular with our customers. As always, staff at the pubs will serve customers responsibly.”
The January sale will be available across all Wetherspoon pubs, of which there are more than 800.
Customers will also be able to save on food, such as the small breakfasts, small “3 for…” plates and a range of burgers.
Here’s where to find your nearest Wetherspoon in Gedling borough:
Plans to erect a detached building to house 8 apartments across 3 floors on existing waste land at Gas Governor, Cross Street have been refused by Gedling Borough Council planners.
The planning application at Gas Governor, Cross Street, Arnold, NG5 7AB was submitted by Vale Architecture acting as agent on behalf of the applicant, Direct Land Investments Ltd. of Sutton Bonington.
A recommendation sheet dated December 28 authorised by the Planning Delivery Manager / Principal Planning Officer at Gedling Borough Council recommended that the application should be refused and formal notice of the refusal was issued on December 28.
IMAGE: Site Plan (Courtesy of Gedling Borough Council planning)IMAGE: Location Plan (Courtesy of Gedling Borough Council planning)
The recommendation sheet highlighted that ‘The proposed development is not of a high standard of design with a low visual amenity, due to its scale, massing and appearance being out of keeping with the immediate locality, representing an incongruous feature in a prominent position.’
The recommendation sheet further stated that ‘The proposed development due to its scale, close proximity and the position of first floor windows would be significantly overbearing and overlooking to the neighbouring properties on Duke Street, particularly 21 Duke Street, to the detriment of neighbour amenity and that the proposed development would have an unacceptable impact on the amenity of future occupiers, due to the main bedrooms to flats 7 and 8 having a poor outlook, due to only being served by roof lights.’
IMAGE: Proposed site elevations (Courtesy of Gedling Borough Council planning)
Neighbouring Properties were notified and a Site Notice displayed adjacent to the site and seven responses were received. These raised the following issues:
If parking restrictions are put in place near the site, this could have a significant impact on neighbouring properties.
Due to its size, bulk, scale, layout and prominent location, the development would have an incongruous appearance and would cause harm to visual amenity of the street scene and local area.
The proposed access would be detrimental to highway safety, due to its close proximity to the Cross Street/Acton Road junction.
Acton Road currently has traffic flow issues and is used as a rat run.
The impact of the proposal on the neighbours on Duke Street would be significantly detrimental in terms of being over-bearing and in terms of overlooking.
One neighbour queried whether double yellow lines would be placed on the corner and what the extent of these double yellow lines would be
Further details on planning application 2022/0737 can be accessed HERE
You might be able to spot some familiar faces taking centre stage in this series of detergent commercials from the 70s.
Washing powder giants Persil recruited several residents from Priory Road in Gedling to help sell detergent powder to the great unwashed back in the 1970s.
You can watch all the adverts below.
You will also spot some familiar Gedling landmarks amongst the archive footage – some still standing, others now long gone.
One of the stars of these vitage commercials was Abi Michael.
Abi got in touch with Gedling Eye back in 2018 to share her memories about the adverts.
She left Gedling several years ago and now lives in Cornwall with her husband and young daughter.
PICTURED: Abi in the original Persil commercial from 1976
NOW: Abi pictured today with daughter Isabel
But despite becoming a familiar face to millions back in the seventies, Abi has no recollection of filming the popular commercials.
“I have no memory of it at all. I was about two at the time,” she said.
“My mum said she was paid £25 for the commercial, so I asked her for my earnings plus interest after learning about the commercial from Gedling Eye
“We lived in Priory Crescent at the time and remained there until I was about 10. We then moved to Hucknall. I live in Cornwall now, as does my mum.”
The adverts now have a special place in Abi’s heart, as they also feature her beloved aunt – who has since passed away.
She told us: “My auntie is on one of them too. She passed away a few years ago, so it was lovely to remember her as she was when I was younger.
Were you in these adverts? Do you know anyone who was? If so, email news@gedlingeye.co.uk
Gedling Eye looks back at the highs and lows of 2023 across the borough, starting with January to March…
JANUARY
CARLTON le Willows Academy announced plans to install CCTV cameras in its school toilets after “inappropriate” use and vandalism by pupils.
A spokesperson said at the time: “The inappropriate use of these spaces and significant damage caused has led to a significant minority of students unwilling to use the toilets during the school day. To address the situation we are installing CCTV cameras in each of the single sex toilet spaces. These cameras will be strategically located so they look along the line of cubicles, along the top of the cubicles and along the line of sinks.
They added: “They will not focus inside toilet cubicles when doors are shut or into the urinals in the boys’ toilets.”
PICTURED: A test of the CCTV cameras being installed in toilets at Carlton le Willows Academy that was sent to parents along with a letter outlining why cameras were needed
GEDLING Borough Council announced plans for the relocated Arnold Market to stay in Eagle Square until the end of the year (2023), subject to a consultation.
Traders were moved to the square from their original town centre location after 50 years while the works were carried out on the AMP development, which opened in 2022.
A TAXI driver who left a blind couple from Arnold stranded because they had guide dogs with them was fined by magistrates.
Gavin and Mel Griffiths had booked a taxi to pick them up from the town back in July 2021 however when the taxi arrived, Mr and Mrs Griffiths were waiting on the pavement with their guide dogs and the vehicle turned around and drove off, leaving the couple stranded.
The judge ruled that the reason Mr Anwar failed to fulfil the booking was due to the presence of the guide dogs and despite pleading not guilty, Rajan Anwar, 52, was convicted by a district judge after hearing evidence from Mr Griffiths’ himself and considering evidence obtained from his phone and Uber which supported the prosecution’s case.
LOCAL protestors from Extinction Rebellion unveiled a satirical blue plaque (28) claiming Gedling MP Tom Randall “voted to block a law requiring water companies to dump less raw sewage into our waterways and seas 20 Oct ‘21”.
The blue plaques by the River Trent in Stoke Bardolph were unveiled in a spoof ceremony as part of a national day of action called ‘Dirty Water’ designed to highlight the shocking state of our waterways.
Protestors unveiled a satirical blue plaque
THE LAMBLEY pub based on Main Street in Lambley village closed its doors suddenly to customers.
A spokesperson for Star Pubs & Bars, who own The Lambley, told Gedling Eye back in January they hadn’t been informed that the pub would be closing.
They said: “The Lambley was leased to an independent operator to run as their own business. They closed the pub on Tuesday without notice. We are keen for it to reopen as quickly as possible.”
A PAINTER and decorator from Calverton who slashed a colleague in the face with a knife during a workplace row was jailed.
Steven Brett punched the victim and bit him on the neck before pulling out a blade during the violent attack at a building site in Grantham Road, Bingham. Brett, aged 35, of Ramsdale Avenue, was jailed for two years when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.
PICTURED: Steven Brett was sentenced to two years in prison following the attack at a workplace in Bingham (PHOTO: Nottinghamshire Police)
A NEW £18,500 CCTV Camera was installed by Gedling Borough Council to offer reassurance to users of an Arnold park.
The camera was installed at Killisick Recreation Ground, to hopefully reassure users of the recently refurbished play area and local schools, as well as to users of the nearby community centre and children’s centre.
FEBRUARY
A DECISION not to re-open ‘Woodies’ in Netherfield was taken following the death of Netherfield legend Chris Woodward, who lived until he was 92.
Chris was a much loved member of the Netherfield Community and many will remember him from the famous ‘Woodies’ sign on Victoria Road that directed customers to his premises to the rear of the Heron foodstore in the town. Chris operated his business for over 50 years.
PICTURED: The late Chris Woodward outside his shop in Netherfield (Photo courtesy of Emma Ashby)
A GEDLING burglar was caught and jailed after leaving his fingerprints at the scene of a break-in.
Dean Holm, 33, left his mark after removing his gloves to prise open a jewellery box he’d plundered from inside of a locked filing cabinet. Further damning evidence was found on his mobile phone, which showed he had researched several stolen watches to gauge their value and placed a call to a local pawn broker. Holm, of Burton Road, Gedling, pleaded guilty to burglary.
A PETITION to save Ravenshead‘s sorting office received more than 600 signatures.
Residents were very concerned that they may lose the Royal Mail sorting office that forms a major part of the village Post Office.
Gedling Borough Councillor (Con) and Chairman of Ravenshead Parish Council, Martin Smith was really concerned about the impact the closure could have on the community telling Gedling Eye: “Residents, particularly the elderly ones, are concerned that if letters or parcels need to be collected from the sorting office after a missed delivery, they will be faced with a long journey to collect their post.”
NINE-year-old Matilda Handy came up with an idea for a new ‘postbox to heaven’ at Gedling Crematorium allowing grieving people to send letters to their lost loved ones.
More crematoriums across the UK announced they were also planning to install a ‘postbox to heaven’ after the heartwarming idea proved popular in Gedling.
Nine-year-old Matilda Handy, left, came up with the idea for the new postbox. She is pictured with Mum Leanne Handy, right.
IT WAS decided that a new primary school at Gedling’s 1,050-home Chase Farm development would no longer be built due to a lack of demand for places.
Nottinghamshire County Council said the cash allocated for the 210-place school would instead be used to tackle pressure in secondary education, including support for an academy’s expansion.
The new primary school was promised during the planning process for the major housing development at the old GedlingColliery site. Developer Keepmoat Homes pledged to provide £3.6m in contributions towards the school, which would have been based on the development itself.
GEDLING fighter Leigh Wood lost his WBA featherweight world title after being knocked out by Mexico’s Mauricio Lara at the Motorpoint Arena.
Wood was dropped by a brutal left hook in the seventh round at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham. Although he bravely got back to his feet to fight on, his trainer Ben Davison immediately threw in the towel with Wood in no position to continue – much to the fighter’s disappointment. Wood had been fighting with a cut by his left eye following an accidental clash of heads in the first round.
CHILDREN at All Hallows Primary School in Gedling enjoyed a new set of percussion instruments thanks to a kind donation from the Carlton Male Voice Choir.
The gifts were a thank you to the All Hallows Primary School choir Children’s Choir who shared the stage with the renowned Carlton Male Voice Choir in front of a packed audience at their Christmas Concert (2022).
HSBC confirmed that it’s Arnold branch would close on May 9 despite pre-tax profits rising at the banking giant.
HSBC had previously announced that Arnold was one of 114 branches across the UK that would close from April after blaming the Covid pandemic for a decline in footfall.
HSBC said that the selected branches were serving fewer than 250 people a week.
MARCH
BIZARRE single and double yellow lines appeared in Gedling, leaving residents flabbergasted.
The new lines were added to Wood Lane and residents said they looked like they’d been painted on ‘by schoolchildren’.
They were introduced to address parking issues caused by visitors to Carlton-le-Willows Academy and those visiting Gedling Woods.
The quality of the double and single lining works attracted a large number of derogatory comments on Facebook with one resident writing: “I thought my child was at nursery but it seems they got the chance to do drawing on the roads around Gedling village instead’
PICTURED: The new yellow lines on Wood Lane in Gedling
A POPULAR Colwick play area reopened after six weeks of renovation work.
Almost £100k was spent on Colwick Rectory Play Area to improve the site and add new and inclusive facilities. The refurbishment included a wheelchair-accessible roundabout, zip wire, trampoline, a multi-play unit with 17 different features, new swings and more. Funding for the facilities were thanks to FCC Communities Foundation, a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, conservation and heritage projects.
LAMBLEY WI celebrated its 70th birthday in the way they do best – they decorated their village bus stop.
Alison Moss, secretary of Lambley WI said: “Today was a very cold day and there were lots of numb fingers and toes, but we battled through and it looks as fabulous as ever.”
PICTURED: The bus stop in Lambley that has been redecorated by the local WI
CARLTON Post Office finally re-opened after having been closed for over seven weeks.
The post office, which had been based within the old McColls store, had been shut since Thursday, January 19 – but finally reopened its doors, contained within a new Premier store under new management with an independent Postmaster..
A NEW £45,000 Holocaust memorial garden was officially opened at Gedling Country Park.
The memorial garden commemorates the millions of people who lost their lives in the Holocaust and other genocide atrocities that followed across the world.
The focal point of the memorial garden is a sculpture of a flame to represent the Holocaust Memorial, surrounded by a circular footpath, lined with cherry trees and native wildflowers, as well as several benches.
The garden has been designed to offer visitors a peaceful place to reflect and remember the millions of men, women and children murdered during the Holocaust.
PICTURED: Cllr Michael Payne is joined at the opening of the memorial garden by members from the Nottingham Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.
GEDLING Borough Council announced that it’s fleet of bin lorries would be using greener, biofuel instead of diesel.
The move was part of a pioneering initiative that aims to reduce the CO2 emissions of the fleet by 90% and promote environmental sustainability.
They said that the change of fuel use will provide a cleaner working environment for staff, reduce fuel usage and minimise pollution and waste. The scheme is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%, Nitrous Oxide emissions by up to 27% and Particulate Matter emissions by up to 84%.
Our readers from across the borough give their weekly take on the biggest issues impacting Gedling and beyond.
You can write a letter of your own to us by filling in the simple form below, and it may appear online.
Some letters refer to past correspondence which can be found by clicking HERE. Join the debate by email. Send your letter to letters@gedlingeye.co.uk and put ‘Letters’ in the subject line.
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Please pick up the phone!
PICTURED: A call centre
“Did you know we have a website?”
Really? ‘Contact us’ is the button I always look for……
But, more and more these days, we cannot get a response or even an acknowledgement from businesses and councils. If our calls are so important to you , then please, please PLEASE….PICK UP THE PHONE.
E-mails can be responded to in seconds……but I think the delete button on many companies’ keyboards are the first to wear out.
Many councils declared even before working from home became a right , that for efficiency they would become ‘digital by default’, yet still many have no digital superhighways they can command – or understand.
Advertising for more customers? Well, don’t ignore the ones you already have.
Now when you walk into a restaurant, the first engagement is not, “Good evening, lovely to see you.” No , it’s the less friendly, “Have you booked a table ?”
Well, I kept calling but no-one picked up the phone. And the place is half empty usually too but still the ‘how do we get rid of these people’ opening gambit still takes place.
Christmas is now here so I hope you talk to someone to change that faulty that present.
I WRITE in total frustration at the ineptitude of our local railway.
For decades now we have been subjected to delays, cancellations and engineering work . We have also suffered the industrial action by Aslef and RMT. Yet the service at Carlton Station continues to decline and trains, if they run at all! They take longer to get to destinations than in the days of steam.
And as a further blow – the greedy train companies have just announced another rail fare rise!!!
If cancellations and late trains were unusual I wouldn’t mind but it seems a daily occurrence at Carlton Station that there are issues of some kind despite the years of work and the millions spent.
The country depends on its rail infrastructure and it’s simply not fit for purpose.
I wrote to East Midlands Railway for comment about the constant delays and cancellations. I am yet to receive a reply.
Time for renationalisation I’m thinking .
Going forward it’s National Express for me – I’m done with trains.
To achieve this in Gedling borough we would have to do away with the two hours free parking and also charge £5 per hour which would kill all trade in Gedling towns – so stop being selfish Val Griffin.
Tony Henderson via email
Got something to say? Send us your letter using the form below
Thu 28 Dec – Thu 4 Jan 2024 Various Times £6.80pp / £5pp on Tuesdays
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Wish is an all-new musical comedy welcoming audiences to the magical kingdom of Rosas where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force: a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe, King Magnifico, to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.
Empire ★★★ Independent ★★★
Directed by Chris Buck, Fawn Veerasunthorn Voiced by Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine 1hr 38 mins // US 2023
The quiz is a Web based quiz so a phone tablet or laptop will be needed – don’t worry if not 100% with technology it’s really easy and our team are on hand to support if needed
Fri 29 Dec – Wed 10 Jan 2024 Various Times £6.80pp / £5pp on Tuesdays
Based on the extraordinary character at the centre of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl’s most iconic children’s book and one of the best-selling children’s books of all time, Wonka tells the wondrous story of how the world’s greatest inventor, magician and chocolate-maker became the beloved Willy Wonka we know today.
“Timothée Chalamet’s Chocolate Factory prequel is a superbly sweet treat” Guardian ★★★★★
“The most fun you’ll have in a cinema all year” Telegraph ★★★★★
Independent ★★★★ Empire ★★★★
Directed by Paul King With Timothée Chalamet Run-time TBC // US 2023
Napoleon is a spectacle-filled action epic that details the chequered rise and fall of the iconic French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, played by Oscar®-winner Joaquin Phoenix. Against a stunning backdrop of large-scale filmmaking orchestrated by legendary director Ridley Scott, the film captures Bonaparte’s relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine, showcasing his visionary military and political tactics against some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed.
“Joaquin Phoenix makes a magnificent emperor in thrilling biopic” Guardian ★★★★★
Telegraph ★★★★ Independent ★★★★ Times ★★★★
Directed by Ridley Scott With Jaoquin Phoenix 2hrs 38 mins // US 2023
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Covering the whole of Gedlng borough ‘This is Gedling’ magazine is being distributed now – you can pick up a FREE copy at your local pub, club, venue, theatre, takeaway.
This is Gedling is a Not for Profit (NfP) community initiative that depends on the support of advertisers, contributors, readers and donors to continue to bring FREE borough news and general interest content to the all 46 square miles and 120k residents of Gedling borough.
Goals from Lamin Manneh, Michael Ford and Alex Hardwick saw Carlton Town pick up a valuable three points with a 3-2 Boxing Day win at Grantham Town.
The win was merited in the end but the Gingerbreads made the Millers fight all the way for the points and will feel they might have got something out of the game had they defended a little more tightly.
Mark Harvey and Tommy Brookbanks made two changes to the side which had lost against Newton Aycliffe last time out. Shea Thompson-Harris was suspended and Alex Howes had been injured so into the side came Ford and Greg Tempest.
Carlton began well enough but the home side had the first chance when Osakpolor Solomon fired straight at Felix Annan after the Millers failed to clear a corner. But it was the visitors who took the lead on 11 minutes with a fine goal. Niall Davie played a lovely ball down the left to Manneh. He cut inside Elliot Walker before beating Curtis Hall at his near post.
Minutes later Peter Dearle sent Manneh away. He seemed to be brought down by Solomon but the referee awarded the free kick to Grantham.
Chairman Mick Garton catches up with Mark Harvey after the 3-2 Boxing Day win at Grantham Town (Courtesy of Carlton Town TV)
Rodrigo Goncalves saw a dangerous cross cut out by right back Khyle Sargent but from the resultant corner the Gingerbreads equalised. Carlton were caught out not paying attention to a short corner routine and when they failed to clear Curtis Morrison’s cross, Matthew Doyle rifled a strike into the roof of the net.
The goal clearly lifted Grantham and Morrison went very close to scoring with a shot that flew across goal and just missed the far post. Carlton responded and a fine run and cross by David Adegbola presented Hardwick with a glorious opportunity but he volleyed over the top from six yards when it seemed easier to head into an open goal.
Dean Freeman was called upon to make an excellent saving tackle as Grantham broke, while Niall Hylton made a superb clearance of his own shortly afterwards.
A good move involving Tempest, Davie and Manneh saw Hylton get a shot away but Hall saved easily.
The Millers had looked off the pace in the first period but they clearly came out with renewed energy in the second half and were ahead within four minutes of the restart. A fine run and cross by Manneh on the left saw Davie shoot at goal. His effort was blocked but the loose ball fell kindly for Ford who scored his first goal for Carlton with a firm strike into the roof of the net.
On 64 minutes Hardwick extended the Millers’ lead, heading home a Davie free kick. At that stage Carlton had control of the game and were playing some decent passing football as they looked to open up the Gingerbreads defence. But Grantham never gave up and they reduced the arrears on 78 minutes when Bradley Munns’s shot took a heavy deflection to wrongfoot Annan.
Hardwick went close to restoring Carlton’s two goal advantage when he charged down a clearance from Hall but he couldn’t get a shot away. Soon afterwards Lewis Durow saw a header cleared off the Grantham line.
The home side searched for a leveller but the closest they came was an effort from Goncalves which drew a good save from Annan. Carlton played out the six minutes of added time in relative comfort and celebrated with the travelling support at the final whistle.
Next up for Carlton Town is a Friday night home game under the lights on December 29.
Carlton Town: F Annan, K Sargent (A Howes 64), N Hylton, D Freeman, P Dearle, G Tempest, L Manneh (L Durow 71), M Ford, A Hardwick, N Davie, D Adegbola. Unused subs: Z Hill, M Jawarra, L Sisawo-Danso
Goals: L Manneh 11, M Ford 49, A Hardwick 64; Matthew Doyle 21, Bradley Munns 78
