TFB and his roadmap out of lockdown are still driving. The vaccine programme is still on track and grounds for optimism, although bizarrely the age criteria seemed to drop 15 years in one fell swoop. I have now been for a first jab. Outdoor sport is on the verge of a resumption, so my goalkeeping career can press on for the last minute surge into Gareths squad for Euro 2020 or should we say Euro 2021 now. Jordan Pickfords injury woes have created an unexpected vacancy. As capacity crowds look unlikely here or anywhere else in Europe, it could be a good way in to spectate. I will happily bench warm and add my experience. Mr Pope can do all the hard work. We now know it will April before shops can open and the hair grows longer by the day. The Welsh are back in the saddle on the grooming business and there is some speculation that the 2021 FA Cup Final could be trial event for the return of fans. We will see. In the meantime we continue with our exploration walks, but spend huge periods of time at home.
pieces of ground near where we live to look down over the city. There is development everywhere. The two businesses to be in it seems are construction and parcel delivery. The ground is all torn up below our vantage point, as yet more new homes The woods where stand have been saved, but the open grasslands are now swallowed under a sea of mud or bricklaying teams. There were many local objections to the plans, but it seems profit won out and the plans for the 2000 + houses are now well underway. There are fences everywhere, indicating the next piece of land in the development phase. The mini shopping precinct is already occupied and causes chaos. The access appears ill conceived and cars snake out of the various drive through fast food and coffee establishments. There was clearly a plan, but not a very good one. It seems unlikely we will walk this way again soon. We press on across to the cemetery, where a legend of soul looks over his adopted region. Charles Edwin Hatcher is not a name on the tip of everybodys tongue. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Charles became better known across the world
as Edwin Starr. He was brought up in Cleveland, Ohio and had a string of hits with the Mowtown label - War, SOS and Headline News - before relocating to the UK. We possibly know him best from his 1979 UK hits, H.A.P.P.Y. Radio and Eye to Eye Contact - staples of the dancefloor down Philmores in the NEPSR. He made his home in the western suburbs of Nottingham and died from a heart attack in 2003. He was just 61. The gravestone is inscribed with Agent 00 Soul in reference to his debut single in 1965. Keep the faith.
Edwin is laid to rest on Wilford Hill, but his image is very much alive on a wall in Beeston town centre. The local District Council in conjunction with businesses funded a mural on the rear of the shopping precinct, which features Edwin and two others who formerly resided in NG9. Paul Smith, British fashion designer, was born in Beeston in 1946 and opened his first clothing store in the city centre in 1970. He has done rather well since and still has local representation at a flagship store in a grand Georgian building on Middle Pavement. The third
subject of the mural is Richard Beckinsale, the deceased star of series Porridgeand Rising Damp. The street art is the work of French artist, Zabou. Street Art has a bit of a thing in NG9. There is quite a bit around the town if you look carefully, ranging from a work the Canary Girls of the Chilwell munitions works to other TV stars. Boon rides his motorbike on the side of the Star Inn. However, the pub has a more famous connection to the wonderful world of Auf Weidersehen Pet. The series were made at the former Central TV Studios on Lenton Lane and the pub was used as Barrys local and a meeting place for the lads in Series 2. It was meant to be in Wolverhampton, but remains a top class real ale destination just round the corner from the Edwin Starr mural.
