John ‘Jack’ Lally

John ‘Jack’ Lally

An inspirational teacher by Danny Corns John or Jack to his friends, “Pop” to his pupils, was a founder member of the Ilkeston & District Local History Society in October 1966. He was also the Chairman and Secretary for a number of years. It was “Pop” Lally that...
The fastest barber in town?

The fastest barber in town?

Joseph Wright of Ilkeston 1861-1942 Joe Wright was a well known Ilkeston character at the beginning of the last century. Born on Christmas Eve, 1861 in a house off Bath Street, his parents were John Wright, a bricklayer’s labourer, and his wife Selina...
The ‘Squire’ of Shipley Hall

The ‘Squire’ of Shipley Hall

The life of Alfred Miller Mundy ‘Squire’ Alfred Miller Mundy (9 January 1809 – 29 March 1877) of Shipley Hall was born on 9 January 1809 at Shipley. He was the third son of Edward Miller Mundy (d. 1834) and his wife Nelly Mundy (née Barton). Edward was the owner of...
Wartime childhood memories

Wartime childhood memories

by David Kirk As I was born in December 1937, my memories of this conflict are limited but I have tried to give some flavour of my early childhood. My earliest memory is of being outside my home on Gordon Street when a single aircraft came over which was flying very...
The Mayor, the King and the Old Bailey

The Mayor, the King and the Old Bailey

(A longer read) From information kindly supplied by Michael Harmer John and Gertrude Macdonald were married on 23rd July 1902 John Angus McDonald (the spelling was anglicised to ‘Macdonald’ when the family moved to England) was born on 27th December 1871 at the Easter...
Great War stories

Great War stories

(A longer read) When we think of the First World War, most of us think of trenches, machine guns and mud in France and Belgium. Most of the men from Ilkeston and District who went to war from 1914 to 1918 did fight in Picardy and Flanders, but local men also fought at...