Unexamined Lives

The story of the 20th century as lived by residents in the Derbyshire village of Borrowash

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Death Penny Announcement Published in Local Newspapers

The announcement of the acquisition by Erewash Museum of the Margaret and Edwin Hassé Memorial Plaques (Death Pennies) has received widespread coverage in local media outlets.

It was made in a Press Release issued by Erewash Borough Council in January and quickly appeared in the Nottingham Post, Ilkeston Advertiser, Long Eaton Chronicle and Long Eaton Website Extra. An interview with Unexamined Lives’ genealogist Keith Oseman was also played on Ian Skye’s Breakfast Programme on Radio Derby.

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Unexamined Lives Exhibition Closes With Gala Night

The Unexamined Lives Exhibition at Erewash Museum closed with a Gala Night on 29th November, 2016 which marked the culmination of six years’ work on the Unexamined Lives project. 

Project Director Helen Clark said “We are very grateful to Helen Martinez from the museum and all her staff for the use of the facilities at the museum, both on the night and in the preceding weeks of the exhibition including opportunities for artists Mik Godley and writer, Chrissie Hall, to hold exhibition-related weekend workshops.”

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Eric Highton – Obituary

Eric Highton, whose Life can be found on the Unexamined Lives website at  “All the World’s a Stage – Eric Highton”  has died after a long illness at the Royal Derby Hospital on Tuesday 9th August 2016. He was aged 91 years.

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WW1 ‘Soldiers’ Pennies’ For Margaret And Edwin Hassé To Have Final Resting Place At Erewash Museum

In 2014, much of the work undertaken by the Borrowash Heritage Lottery-funded ‘Unexamined Lives’ project centred upon the War Memorial in the village. Our researchers Keith Oseman and Peter Ball uncovered the histories behind the names on the Memorial and Keith created a ‘Virtual’ First World War Memorial for our site. One person who stood out because she was the only woman to be commemorated on the village Memorial was Margaret Helen Hassé. In the 1911 Census, Margaret (born in 1887) is recorded as living in the Fulneck Moravian settlement near Leeds and working as a music teacher. Margaret’s brother, Edwin who was killed in action on July 12th 1916 is also listed on the Memorial.

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Friendship Across The Years – Walter Greiner and the Day Family

This is the remarkable continuation into the 21st century of the friendship between the family of Walter Greiner, the German POW in the Alvaston camp and the Day family. It began when the Day family invited Walter, who died last year, to Christmas dinner in 1946 as a gesture of reconciliation. Walter’s daughter Birgit has written to Brian and Maureen Day to say proud he was of the stories we have posted on the website and in the Derby Telegraph “Bygones” section about their friendship.

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What Did The Youngsters At Ashbrook School Think the “17 Princess Drive” Play?

One of our most exciting projects came to fruition just before Christmas 2015 when seventy pupils at Ashbrook Junior School in Borrowash performed ‘Number 17: 100 Years’ History of a Borrowash House’ written by our own Chrissie Hall.

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What Did They Think Of It So Far? – Ashbrook School

Number 17: 100 Years’ History of a Borrowash House’ is a specially commissioned play that looks at the residents of a particular house, home to ten families over the years – and through that story the history of our community here in Borrowash.

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Losing Old Friends and Finding a New One – Brian Day

We were delighted to hear in March from one of our “Lifers” Brian Day whose story appears in  “A Green Thought – Brian Day“. It was Brian who told us that another of our subjects, his long standing friend Walter Grenier, had died in late 2015. Brian has been in contact with Walter’s wife Anita and also updates us on another sad loss …. and  new arrival in the Day household!

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What’s Soot? – Julian Hanby

There are always a few defining moments when you’re working on a Community Theatre project. Of course, there is the first meeting (“Will anyone turn up?”); there is the point of no return (“I’ve been saying its months away but now it’s next week!”); and of course there is the moment of applause, of ending, of hugs and of going on your way (“What are we going to do next?”)

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Additional Lottery Funding Awarded

Unexamined Lives’ is delighted to announce that we have been awarded ‘second tranche’ funding from The Heritage Lottery Fund having satisfied their requirements.

We are particularly pleased to note that the range and variety of the project was commended as was the quality and accessibility of the website and the clarity and precision of the accountancy provided by our Treasurer, Peter Ball.

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