MAPLE TREES are growing again, in Mapperley Village, near Ilkeston.

Sycamore Close No More By Mrs Joan Law of The Coachways Date unknown

The old sycamore tree that gave its name to the cul-de-sac at the end of the Coachways in
Mapperley village is no more.
A council worker told someone that sycamores are weak trees but this feeble one had stood there for more than one hundred and fifty years. Not so feeble eh?
It is on the 1881 map of Mapperley village and many of the older inhabitants can remember with affection how they played around and underneath it.

This old tree, having stood so proudly for this length of time, was almost obliterated in just one short day, leaving a trunk totally bereft of branches standing like an old lady ashamed of appearing naked in public.

The council claim that the tree was in a dangerous condition with rotting branches, but a few weeks earlier when we had the strongest gale force winds blowing, not one branch fell.

In summer time this tree was in full leaf, perhaps an odd thing for a tree supposed to be rotting.

Many villagers have expressed their shock and sadness at losing this landmark and hope that another tree is planted there to replace it.

Had many people complained about its condition? Were people frightened of it falling down and hurting someone?

If so, could not the council have thinned out the branches and made it safer without actually felling it completely.

No-one would want anyone to be injured or frightened but as people looked at the felled branches they felt that the rot was merely in a few.

The Major Oak and other ancient trees have been made safe and preserved. Why not this one?

We have lost too many trees over the years in this area.
If you look at the 1881 map of the village there were trees all the way down Slack Road.
It must have looked very attractive and given shelter and food to many insects, birds and animals.
Hardly any trees stand on Slack Road now.

The only things some people are interested in nowadays are building more and more dwellings and trying to encroach onto green belt land.

Let us look after our village.
It is small, quiet and almost unspoilt.

My Memories of Mapperley School by Mrs Joan Law

Looking through some old photos, I came across a snap of my pre-war football team, Mapperley Miners Welfare, from around 1935.

The lady who took the original was one of the players' wives and the camera she used would probably have been a box brownie.

I would like to give the picture to the team if they would like it for their collection.

I spent several years at Mapperley village in those days, some of the happiest times at the home of Mr and Mrs Ernest Peacock, who treated me like their own son.

Mr 'E' thought I was a good enough player for Mapperley M W, as it was known from 1934 onwards. I also spent two Christmas Days and Boxing Days there.

As the Earl of Harrington Hounds met at the Black Horse for their Christmas meet on Boxing Day, we - Billie and Frank Peacock and myself - followed them sometimes, once as far as Loco Park, Stanley.

We had some good times at the Black Horse and the Candlestick Hotel, near the pit. I think Mr Sherwin kept one or the other. The landlord at the Candlestick had to carry the beer up from the cellar.

I had to bike to Mapperley from Ilkeston - about four to five miles - every week in the football season and at other times as well.

Once or twice, Mr 'E' would say, when I arrived on match day: "Come across to the pub." Then he would give me a new-laid egg and say: "Put that in y'ole. It'll make you play well today."

I also went a few times during the war as I used to go fishing with Billie Peacock. There were times at Mapperley that I'll never forget. I can remember all but one on the photo. The boys at the front are the Pritchart twins. I wonder how many are still alive.

Ted Gilbert (86), Nuthall Nottingham

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