This is Calverton calling on 1 April, 2026. I'm Pat and my talk is called New Beginnings. In the summer of 1956, I moved from a small village in the Trent Valley to the growing village of Calverton. This growth was due to the opening of a coal mine. And in order to accommodate the influx of people, two new estates were built on the north side of Main Street. The first being built by Basford Royal District Council and the second by the National Coal Board. There were also new schools and shops built. In September, I started the autumn term at a newly built school called William Lee Primary School. It was named after the Calverton inventor of the stocking frame. There were two classes in the school. My teacher was called Miss Blood and there were 43 children in my class, which was more than the whole of the primary school I had attended previously. I met up with children who had moved from different parts of the country, several from the northeast.
At my previous school, everyone went home at lunchtime. But my new school had a mid-down meal on the premises. This being a new experience allowed me to try different foods and most exciting of all different puddings. There had been very little social life in the village I moved from. Lots of new social opportunities were opened up to me in Calverton. The new part, the Seely family gave to the village, had lots of play equipment and was the place I met up with friends after school and in the holidays. My favourite piece of play equipment was the slide that used to follow the contour of the hill. Above the playing field, there was a new cricket pitch where we went to watch matches and help with putting up the scores.
Every Sunday, I attended Sunday school. St. Wilfried's Church had a well-attended youth club after church on Sunday night. This was held in the old school at Burnerpool. At Witson, the church and the chapels paraded around the village behind their banner, stopping to sing hymns at various points. Afterwards, we went back to the church or chapel for tea. Later, sports took place on the Seely Park. I joined the Girl Guides and meetings were held in a hut on Main Street. On the way to meetings, I often called at sis, and shop at the hut to buy sweets. Another novelty having shops. Our guide captain was Audrey Robson and I was in Iris Patrol. Irene Robson was the patrol leader. I remember going to the cricket field above Seely Park one night, stargazing with Mrs Cupid. She showed us how to locate constellations such as the Plow and told us about the way that has been used for navigational purposes.
I was very excited when my family bought a black and white television housed in a wooden cabinet. There were only a few programs broadcast, but I remember watching the Grove family. Later, there was a youth club at the Miners Welfare on Hollywood Lane. I loved the music and dancing. I settled happily into my new life in Calverton.