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I am so pleased to have found the Arboretum web
site. I was born in Derby in 1935 in Friargate and eventually
moved to Osmaston Road where my mother and father were steward and
stewardess of the Engineering Workers Working Men's Club. Leaving
the club by the rear entrance gave my sister and I our route to school
(St Joseph's) via the Arboretum. I remember
that walk every day so well.
My younger sister had become traumatised by the sound of aircraft during the war and, although the war had now recently ended, the sound of an aircraft engine sent her running madly through the park - with me in hot pursuit, being the older and therefore responsible sibling. I was interested by another guest book contributor's mention of the baths in Reginald Street. This is a wonderful memory for me of visiting the slipper baths. We didn't have a bathroom in our flat and the abundant hot water and fluffy white towels were my first experience of luxury! The attendants filled the bath from the tap controls in the corridor.;
Thank you so much for this wonderful website.
Maureen Hickingbottom (nee Lavelle), Northampton
18 December 2024 16:26 |
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| I
discovered your very interesting web site while researching family
history. Edward Buckton Lamb was my great aunt's father in law. We look
forward to visiting the Arboretum on September 18th. Gay Seguro
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| I
wanted to say how great it was to come to the 'LIVE in the Park' event
on the 3rd July, to celebrate the diversity of cultures in Derby. It was
good to be in such a mix of people, different cultures, different music,
a good atmosphere. We need more events like this, to build understanding
and friendship between people. Thank you for putting it on. Ruth <[email protected]>
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| Born in Derby in 1947, I
remember the Arboretum...its lovely trees, bandstand,fish pond and above
all the delights of the aviary where I remember pheasants, a macaw, crested
cockatoo and a talking jackdaw. I would be lifted up on to the boar
plinth and was told about the absent boar! Later I saw it deteriorate
into what was almost a "no-go" area with bare earth where
there was once green grass on which no one was allowed to walk. The
cruelty involved in the vandals' destruction of the aviary whenever it
was is too painful to contemplate (did anything survive?) Happily it sounds as if the restoration of England's first park continues and I rejoice that so many support this. As for the Boar I have no strong feelings not remembering it but I cannot see that a wild boar is an offence to Muslims. After all even vegetarians can appreciate animals they don't eat! Muslims do not hate pigs; they just do not eat them! John Palin <[email protected]> Worksop, Notts UK - Wednesday, March 09, 2025 at 15:11:25 (GMT) |
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| Wow the park looks great
now I live right by it and I used to go their all the time with my
brothers now I'm really happy that its looks so good but is it in
keeping with its past? Felicity <flick_gordon> Derby, Derbyshire UK - Wednesday, February 16, 2025 at 14:30:07 (GMT) |
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| Having spent my childhood
in the Arboretum, dodging the park attendants, it was lovely to come
back and feel safe in it again. the 1960's did it no favours but
with the new clean image and the park rangers, it is good to be able to
walk around it again freely. thank you to all that sorted it out. Please keep it as it is! Helen Helen penny <nellie [email protected]> derby, UK - Tuesday, January 04, 2025 at 09:54:18 (GMT) |
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| Found your site
interesting and useful as I am researching information about Derby to
send to a musician in Australia who was born in Derby and plans a trip
"home" in 2005. I was looking for the Information Bureau
e-mail address so I could send for a guide. Can you let me have this
please? Miss Annie Christopher <[email protected]> Bournemouth, Dorset UK - Tuesday, November 23, 2024 at 06:59:08 (GMT) |
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| I was born in Arboretum
Street and lived with my mother, Doreen (nee Walters) and father, Jozef
('Joe') from 1952 until 1956 and although some of the memories are a
little hazy I do have some old black & white photographs of the
family in the Park. My grandmother (Ethel Walters) used to live in
Douglas Street and I have some memories of the times we used to play in
the Arboretum as well as numerous trips, when I was older, to the
Baseball Ground to watch the Rams. David Zydzienowski <[email protected]> Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Monday, November 08, 2025 at 08:40:20 (GMT) |
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| It is with sadness that I
noticed today the cleared site of the very recently built slipper bath
on the park grounds. This was one of the historical and social ties of
the area. It was built following the closure of the Reginald Street
Swimming Baths facilities in the 1980's. It seams a waste of funds and
the facilities of a sound building. Perhaps someone who used the baths
will write their comments of the passing of this history? William Penny <[email protected]> Derby, UK - Friday, October 29, 2025 at 20:39:50 (BST) |
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| Most interested to read
about your Florentine Boar and wonder if there is any thoughts about the
cost of a proposed replacement or any campaign to try and raise some or
all the funds by public subscription? Brian Howard <[email protected]> Haslemere, Surrey UK - Saturday, October 02, 2025 at 12:18:30 (BST) |
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| re: the boar. I think the
multicultural community of derby will see the boar for what it is. a
part of the history of derby, not a means to cause offence. why cant the
politicians of derby express it as so instead of creating an argument
about something no one even thought about until they mentioned it. I have
a lot of friends in the Muslim community who value history as we do
and do not find this particular part of Derby's history any more
offensive than the ram or Florence Nightingale. just put it where it
belongs Susan page <[email protected]> derby, UK - Saturday, August 28, 2025 at 02:09:25 (BST) |
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| To read how the boar
really got broken, read the Derby Evening Telegraph Bygones, January
2003. (No comment :) Raymond Whitehurst Derby, Derbyshire UK - Sunday, July 04, 2025 at 20:49:28 (BST) COMMENT: Read the section on the boar's destruction on the Boar Page and here to see the newspaper article page. |
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| Meeting a friend in Derby.
she's coming from Skipton, I'm going from Evesham. Derby is about half
way. This web site was perfect for us to decide on a place we could
visit and spend our precious few hours together. Thanks for the info and
the map. Ruth Bull Ruth Bull Evesham, Worcestershire UK - Tuesday, May 04, 2025 at 20:39:44 (BST) |
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| I live bordering the park.
It is great that all of the work is being carried out. My only sore
feeling was caused by the (necessary) removal of the huge horse Chestnut
Tree that was situated next to Grove House. It was the best conker tree
for miles when i was young. I have a couple of conkers around the house
that I collected only a few years ago and a reminder of younger days. I
have spoken with a few people about the development and all are very
happy with the regeneration plans. The discussion about the Florentine
Boar that is current is a difficult issue. If the park is to be returned
to its former glory the Boar should be returned. If the emotions of the
local community are to be taken into account then the boar should reside
on the river gardens site. A referendum should really be held for all of
the people who have an opinion with respect to the location of the Boar,
as the ongoing dispute between councillors is a farce and is wasting
time that could be spent on other issues. I cant wait until the park is
finished. Steven Noake <[email protected]> derby, Derbyshire UK - Thursday, April 01, 2025 at 10:38:12 (BST) |
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It is with great disappointment to
hear of Arboretum's plight with the sculpture of the wild boar that
will now not be re-instated where it belongs. I, like many of my
fellow British people, readily embrace the feelings and sentiments of
other cultures to which we can learn from and embrace, but such PC-led
decisions as this are unjustifiable on any grounds. Not allowing
pictures of Christ at Christmas has already been decreed in certain
chambers of Parliament and this is another ridiculous case. An
alternative of a simple sign post to allow Muslim's their own free
choice as to whether they wish to view the statue or not would have
been a far simpler, sympathetic and embracing solution. England's
finest park is losing a little of its character and sadly this will
cause resentment and not joy. |
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| I lived in Moore street
and played in the Arboretum we had a lot of happy time s whish those
days were now, Doreen <[email protected]> Derby, UK - Monday, March 22, 2025 at 10:33:34 (GMT) |
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| As a child I used to go to
the park to look at the birds and I do believe there were some peacocks
there as well fond memories Robert Berry <[email protected]> Derby, Derbyshire UK - Wednesday, February 25, 2025 at 09:26:59 (GMT) |
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| I lived on Parliament St.
My friends and I walked to play in the Arboretum many times. This was in
the fifties, finding this site bought back such fond memories of my
growing in Derby. I still miss it. Barbara Herring <[email protected]> Fairfield, California USA - Wednesday, February 25, 2025 at 06:16:56 (GMT) |
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| I have been looking at
your pages and it bought back many memories for me. As a child I lived
next door to the Arboretum in Harriet st I spent long summer holidays
playing on the swings and rolling down the hill on my skates (making
sure my mum did not catch me) my claim to fame about the Arboretum is my
mum was one of the first female park keepers her name was Lil (the kids
called her other names) She kept us in line but very often caught us
running over the hills or jumping over the flower beds the other female
park keeper was Trish I remember Charlie the kids would run rings round
him he was a soft touch what a great site this is well done Julie Robinson (nee Barber) <[email protected]> Derby, UK - Tuesday, February 03, 2025 at 19:14:13 (GMT) |
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| I remember playing and
walking though Derby Arboretum every day to catch my bus to school and a
place to meet up with my friends. lesleyreader <[email protected]> Christchurch, New Zealand - Tuesday, January 06, 2025 at 06:00:22 (GMT) |
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| Hello, a beautiful site
and lovely to see old/modern alongside, thank you Chris. Would be good
if someone/anyone has any photos of events around the old bandstand; in
the 1950's. I am just curious. Rhona Brighenti <[email protected]> Derby, Derbyshire UK - Friday, January 02, 2025 at 08:46:45 (GMT) |
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| I WILL VISIT THIS
WONDERFUL PLACE SOME DAY. maria silvia hoevel tome <[email protected]> Tigre, Bs.As ARGENTINA - Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 03:24:35 (GMT) |
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| I was raised in Peartree,
and played on the Arboretum most days. it's good to see that attempts
are being made to restore the park to its former glory. John Bocij <[email protected]> Manchester, UK - Saturday, September 06, 2025 at 12:27:12 (BST) |
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| I have fond memories of
the Arboretum, having lived alongside on Wilfred Street when I first
left home, some twenty years ago. Richard Chapman <[email protected]> Newlyn/Penzance, Cornwall UK - Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 19:29:06 (BST) |
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| Interesting website. I
ride through the Arboretum every day to & from work, the nicest part
of my day sometimes! I'll certainly revisit to keep up to date with the
new developments. Julie Bernstein <[email protected]> Derby, UK - Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 21:32:17 (BST) |
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| Always a pleasure to
browse through your detailed site, Chris. Well done on such an excellent
presentation and keep up the good work! Kind regards, Tony Tony J Griffin <[email protected]> Derby, UK - Wednesday, July 09, 2025 at 00:00:40 (BST) |
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| Chris, your web site brings back my childhood memories
of Derby, where lived until I was 16. I remember attending band concerts
with my parents, We children had to keep quiet and the seats were most
uncomfortable. Keep up the good work John Anderson Truro, Cornwall UK - Tuesday, July 08, 2025 at 17:35:23 (BST) |
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