Friday, March 6, 2009

DAVID  HIRST

Until May 2004 I lived on the West side of Boston & knew Donington well through cycle rides in the area. I then emigrated to Mauritius where my wife Patricia was born. We now live on the West coast of MauritiuS, an  area well known & much loved by Flinders during his detention here from 1803 to 1810 which wasone third of his adult life. If you enter "Matthew Flinders in Mauritius" in your computer search engine you will find a most comprehensive  record of Flinders time in Mauritius, some 41 pages long compiled by Witgar Hitchcock a descendent of Matthew. From this I have been fascinated to learn that he spent much time at the same beauty spots that I spend my leisure time exploring, including visits to Tamarin Bay which is my local beach!

March  24, 2008

My father Geoffrey (Geoff) Rowland HOLMES grew up in Donington in the 1930's  apparently living at 9 Church St (J W Davison's butchery shop) with his father James H HOLMES & mother Alice May (nee DAVISON). Dad attended DGS just before and after the start of WW2 and apparently was very involved with W E Taylor the headmaster at scouts and other activities. My dad and grandfather operated "Bridge Farm" together until 1953 when he moved to Leics with my mum Megan (nee RYLOTT of Gosberton Clough) in 1953. They married on 29 July 1950 at  the C of E church and I was born 8/10/51 and we moved to Bridge Farm.  Grandfather lived there alone (his wife died in May 1948) until dying in 1961.  My own parents have passed on - Geoff in june 05 and mum Megan in Jan 1982. I'm piecing together my version of the HOLMES/DAVISON and RYLOTT family trees and  would appreciate and snippets that would add to the pool of data. (Ian Evans and Jane Pearson have already supplied quite a bit) my email is pghATmultilineDOTcomDOTau . I've got photos of Mum & Dad and their assorted friends at DGS and at Old Doningtonian functions that could be sent to  appropriate people archiving that sort of thing. I've also got old (for me)  photos of (I believe) my Gt grandparents & also some places in Donington. Regards from downunder,

Peter  HOLMES

Thu, Mar 13, 2008

HELLO
 
I have lived in  Donington all my life . Yes I would like to  see something done to the Red Cow, it is a shame to see it like it is now, I would like to see a Gym in the village but I would like to see a swimming pool  come back to the village. I feel that it was a mistake to let that go and it would be better for the schools and have it open at night and at weekends and on school holidays
so it would always be in use.

Many Thanks

Michelle Harris

Tuesday, March 11, 2008
 

Every time I go out walking my dog, I can't help but admire the great improvements that are going on in our village. I should like to thank everyone involved for the creation of our lovely park area and, more recently, the Teen Park.   It looks absolutely great and will, without a doubt, be enjoyed by  our youths.  It is a credit to all of those involved in the planing and realisation.
Thank you for everyone's efforts and keep up with the good work.  It is appreciated by all of us in the village.

Lynn Burton and family

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Greetings,  my name is Stephen Nicholson from Sydney, Australia. I just wanted  you to know that I have created a Google Earth tour of the  voyages of Matthew Flinders. The tour also includes a 'legacy' section  which includes most of the monuments and places named after Flinders. The statue recently erected to Flinders and Trim are in this legacy section. So firstly,  you may wish to add a link to your site pointing    people to this educational tour:

 http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/992723/an/0/page/14#992 723 

and  click the "View in Google Earth" link. Open the downloaded file into Google Earth, and then start opening and switching-on folders which relate to different voyages. If you go to the 2nd last folder "Flinders' Legacy", the very last placemark is Donington. Click it to pop up a window showing  the statue and the stain-glass window in the church. Secondly, if someone could give me some feedback on the Donington placemark - making sure I have it in the right place for Flinders' statue - I  would appreciate that. I also have noticed that there is a park dedicated to Flinders now. Alas I'm not sure where to find it and some directions would be handy such that I could include that as well in the Legacy folder. I hope the people of Donington might find this work of some interest.

 Yours sincerely,

 Stephen  Nicholson.

Date 12/12/07 - From Mike Thompson

The Red Cow seems an ideal site for a  support location for small businesses. There are many such business around, not with great profit margins, but needing an cheap (ish) office & computer /  business / marketing support. Neither do such businesses have the capability to  entertain/meet clients or small conference facilities etc. The court yard would make a great coffee shop meeting place. How about a local business exhibition /  design center. Something to stimulate local industry and attract people into the  village. Hope that helps. Mike.

Date 13/08/07 - From Bryn  Phillips

Hi, I've been in the village for approx 16 months now and have already seen what an improvement Donington has taken. I think the park is coming  along fantastically and will provide a good space for young and old alike to  meet, chat, or just sit in peace and ponder on lifes meaning. However taking my  daughter for a walk the other week through the park I caught sight of what can only be described as infantile graffiti on the walkway in the 'chronometer garden'. Why do kids feel the need to do such things and then ruin it for  others?

On another note, i read your article about what to do with 'The  Red Cow', and must say i always think up of what i would do if i had the money. One thought would be to restore it back to a hotel/restaurant/bar, but that would take business away from the three public houses already in the village. I hope whatever happens to the building that it does not become housing, whether  it housing association or so called 'affordable housing', as i believe it will  severely degrade such an old and historic building.

My wife, daughter and  i hope to be in the village for the foreseeable future and would love to see this place bloom and grow and become a decent place for children to grow up in.  I would like to get more involved with what goes on, but due to me being in the  forces, find that any time i get at home i like to be with my family. If that situation changes then i will certainly put my name forward.

Best Regards
Bryn


Date 23/07/07 - From Manuela Beins

My partner Andy and I have lived just outside Donington for the past 10 years and I am  writing to you today with regard to the ad in the Boston Standard about ideas  for the Red Cow Hotel project. It is a shame that this old building has been derelict for so long. It could be transformed to suit many different uses. Our  idea would be to have it turned into an antiques centre with units to be let out  to various dealers and members of the public for display and sale of antique  and/or modern second hand furniture and small collectables etc. And items could  also be sold on a commission basis perhaps. There should also be an English  restaurant /cafe / wine bar based on a rustic theme complementing the cobble  stoned courtyard. In addition to that retail and craft shops could also  integrated.

We are not sure if the building has a hall size room, if there is one, this could be used for holding monthly or even weekly antiques and  general household auctions... and live music could be played to entertain the customers in the restaurant / bar...

PS: A few years ago "The Greyhound Inn" hotel at Folkingham had been converted into an antiques centre with a beautiful bar and restaurant. We used to love going there rummaging around or  just go for an afternoon day out. Apparently this hotel/centre attracted coaches  of people to come and visit but unfortunately Folkingham is situated further  away from the main stream and the centre eventually closed down. Now Donington  on the other hand is of course close to Boston, Spalding, Horncastle and near to  the A17/16 and right on the A52.....

I hope my comments are giving  inspiration and food for thought and we look forward to seeing "The Red Cow  Hotel" revamped - in whatever new shape and form.

Kind Regards
Manni


Date 06/06/07 - From: Bill Breeden

If you are interested in Donington's heritage............watch this space for our second  Literary Lunch which explores the different ways of recording Donington's  Heritage and Culture . If you wish to be invited please reply to IDEA at  webmaster@doningtonidea.org

Date 06/06/07 - From: Bill Breeden

The  Lincolnshire Teaching Primary Care Trust has embarked on a Public Consultation  Procedure regarding Shaping Health and seeking your views on NHS Services across Lincolnshire ..............You can complete the electronic consultation feedback form on the PCT website www.lpct.nhs.uk . You can find a copy of the consultation document and a summary version on the PCT website . If you need further information then contact the Public Involvement Team by e-mail on public.involvement@lpct.nhs.uk

Date 06/06/07 - From: Bill Breeden