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Here is today's edition of The Nottinghamian:
Hello,
I hope you all had a lovely bank holiday. Today's edition of The Nottinghamian focuses on a trial scheme which allows bus passengers to book journey's 'on demand'. It is set to bring more reliability for people living in villages throughout Nottinghamshire.
We will also discuss the pricing of visiting a Nottinghamshire lion enclosure after people have branded it "ridiculous". Plus tributes pour in for a Nottingham lecturer who only ever worked at the University of Nottingham and I take a look back into Nottingham's recent history.
On demand
It's all change for bus passengers in dozens of Nottinghamshire villages. A new scheme allows passengers to book their journeys 'on demand' instead of using a timetabled route, which was often only every two hours.
The scheme is being trialled in villages around Ollerton, Retford and Newark, alongside an evening service which will cover Mansfield. 'Nottsbus On Demand' will not follow a fixed route or timetable, with buses instead travelling anywhere within three operating zones where there is not already a scheduled service running.
Councillor Neil Clarke hopes the scheme will "offer residents a reliable, affordable and greener way to travel" whilst giving them more flexibility. He added: "And because our buses will not follow a fixed route, they will provide a new transport option in those areas that are not currently served by our bus network." The trials start from Tuesday, August 30. Find out more here.
Ridiculous pricing
The price to see and feed lions in the middle of the Nottinghamshire countryside has been branded "ridiculous" with tickets costing up to £250. Reece Oliver, who keeps a number of wild animals in his Strelley enclosure, opened his doors for private bookings for the very first time this weekend.
The den sits parallel to the M1 in Main Road, Strelley, and now spans more than 1,000 square metres after Mr Oliver spent £30,000 extending it. He announced it would be opening to the public in August and said he would be charging £50 to £80 depending on the experience, with proceeds going to yet-to-be confirmed conservation work.
Tina Daniel, from Strelley, had been planning on taking her children but after making an enquiry on Facebook, she decided against it when she was informed of the price. Josephine Esprit, who also lives in Strelley, added: "That price is discouraging. I think it is ridiculous." Comparatively West Midland Safari Park tickets come to £25, Twycross Zoo charges £15 for admission in August for any child or adult. Read more here.
Weather and trivia
Weather: Rather cloudy, the chance of showers through Wednesday morning. Brighter by the afternoon with sunny spells, a few showers still likely. Maximum temperature 23 °C.
Pollen: Medium
Further reading: Angry residents who witnessed 'overturned car' on 'racetrack' road call for speed limit changes
Trivia question: Goose Fair moved from Old Market Square to the Forest Rec in which year?
The answer to today’s trivia question is at the bottom of the newsletter.
Notts nostalgia
Back in 2020, Nottingham was full of excitement after world-renowned street artist Banksy paid a visit to the city. He left his mark in the dead of night and it immediately lead to speculation after the work appeared on the side of a shop in Lenton.
The artist is known for his clever designs and our Hula-Hoop Girl did just that. The artwork was positioned near to Raleigh's old head office in Lenton and blended a real bicycle in with the wall art, giving a nod to the area's past. Countless Banksy fans visited the site to have their photo taken next to the mural in October 2020.
It was at a time when the city was battling with worst Covid statistics in the country. Hula Hoop Girl gave us all something to be excited and proud of when things were tough for Nottingham. But those feelings quickly turned to anger and dismay when news broke that the artwork had been removed, with the landlord of the building in Rothesay Avenue selling it to Brandler Galleries in Essex. Whilst only short-lived, Banksy's visit to the city is sure to be remembered by many.
An inspiration
Family and colleagues have paid tribute to an inspirational University of Nottingham academic, who helped found the institution's computer science department and teach hundreds of students over the years in his one and only place of work. Dr Leon Harrison sadly passed away on Thursday, July 28, at age 75 after years of serious health issues.
Leon's wife Valerie said: "He was very caring, very studious, very approachable, he loves his students, he loved his work, his students loved him I've had so many compliments from them. Valerie recently received a letter from a former student that Leon taught in 1972, stating that Leon "was very kind, approachable and of course knowledgeable. He was an inspiration and a brilliant academic."
Leon studied for his undergraduate degree at The University of Liverpool, before "his one and only job at the University of Nottingham." Leon's niece, Kerry Robinson, described him as an "incredible man", she said: "He was the most grounded and level-headed, but also scientific person that I've ever known. Read more here.
That’s all for today
Thank you for joining me for today's edition of The Nottinghamian. I hope you enjoyed it, and if you did why not sign up to receive it directly in your inbox every weekday by clicking here.
The answer to today’s trivia question, Goose Fair moved from Old Market Square to the Forest Rec in which year, is 1928.
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