Report transcript in: Community Reporter Jean talks to Annie about the park and her experiences over the last 40 years

Please Report the Errrors?

Hi, lady. And lovely to see you today.

And would you like to tell us a bit about how you viewed Longford Park? Right. Gosh.

Well, we're going back a long time now. Um, I moved into the area,

uh, 39 years ago,

and I used to live, um, on Longford Road. Um, probably about 400 yards from the park.

And, um, within a very short time of moving in, I got a dog.

And so I started to walk my dog regularly through the park.

Um,

and, um

actually fell in love with the park. Got to know a lot of people because of being a dog.

Walker, you get to meet lots and lots of people.

Um, and also,

lots of people would have seen me because my dog used to chase the squirrels.

So I was

constantly chasing up to the dog screaming Bang, come back.

And he totally ignored me.

Um, this lunatic was running through the park trying to get her dog.

It was a

key to our spaniel,

um,

and then going through the park, Um, what we started to do, and my partner and I,

who then became my husband but

we both worked. And so in summer we used to get up early and go and play a game of tennis

before we went to work. I can't believe that I did that, but we must have gone up

at seven o'clock and played half an hour of game of tennis. Um, in the park. Um,

And if anybody doesn't realise there's about six tennis nets, they're

kept in shape, which is brilliant. At one stage, you did or were supposed to pay for

using the courts, but they then, um, did away with that, which I'm very grateful for,

Um, because what's so nice during any time of the year,

but particularly when Wimbledon is on,

um, lots and lots of people are playing tennis,

and there are still people playing tennis now in November.

Um, because I am now on my fifth dog,

and I'm still walking through the park

and

just notice you've got parakeet in your garden.

So the parakeet is coming to the park as well.

And when I was first coming into the park,

um,

uh,

there used to be 12 gardeners,

um, in the park, and they all worked just in Longford Park which was quite amazing.

They had big greenhouses in in the park, actually in the walled garden area where the

boon green is.

And they used to produce all the flowers for the, um,

traffic buildings and the public buildings

and

such, like,

um, and now, sadly, not one gardener is based in the park.

They come and they do their job and they go away.

And I think that is really very, very sad because,

although, you know, for the little time they have,

um, they do as best as they can. But I think there are times when

we could do with, um, more time being allocated

to the park.

Um and, um, yeah,

I think that would would benefit people as a dedicated team devoted,

I think,

with the mobile.

I think so, because then they'd have a commitment to it.

I mean, at the moment, there's I don't know if you're aware, Jean.

There's a woman who comes in in the morning,

and she had, I think, a stroke or something a couple of years ago,

and she takes a lot of the she cleans up all the leaves,

and she's quite

stable. Um, she's got more stable as her health has improved.

But, you know, here's this woman and she's cleaning a lot of the

place

of leaves which years ago the, um, the governors would have done so

you know, or credit to it. And

there are quite a lot of, um, volunteers who are picking up litter

that is one of my blood bears litter.

There are not enough litter bins in the park.

There has never been enough litter bins in the park. Um,

and I I find that really upsetting because in the height of summer,

I think a lot of people try to be helpful.

Once the little bins are full, they then get their black bin bags out,

and they put all their rubbish in it and they leave it by the bin,

and then the foxes come out

and clear it up and then just mess it all over the park.

So we definitely need more little bins and more gardens.

Um,

can I talk about

so you've mentioned that you're a dog walker and a tennis player.

You use the park for any other reason?

Well, I mean, when friends come to stay, we always come into the park.

Um, but I as a dog walker, I'm in the park every single day. Anyway,

um, I've got grandchildren now.

Um, I lived in the park, so I lived on Longford Road for three years,

and I lived in Longford Park for 24 years.

Um,

and now I'm out of the park on the other side

in Stratford and where I have been for nearly 12 years,

I think,

um,

So I had a daughter and we were in the park regularly playing,

um, on the swings or just picnicking in the park.

And her friends would come into the park with us riding bicycles,

roller skates, playing cricket, playing football, anything and everything.

Really? Um,

yeah, I've regularly used the park,

and even though I walk the dog, um,

talk to lots of people.

So it sometimes you go out thinking you're going to be 20 minutes

and then you get back, and it's an hour later.

Um, and I made quite a lot of friends as dog walkers and some years ago,

probably about 15, 20 years ago.

Um, there was quite AAA group that we all used to walk out dogs at the same time.

And, um,

one of the chaps got remarried.

And, um,

we ended up going to his wedding

at the Longford, which is just in the grounds of Longford Park.

And, um so I think there were probably six tables and one of the tables was full of

so all the people who had met in the park

and had gone to his wedding.

Um,

witnessed I Yeah.

I mean,

I've had some interesting episodes in the park one evening when we lived in the park

and there was a knock on our door at about,

I don't know,

89 o'clock in the evening. It was wintertime

and a young man shouting Help! Help! Help!

Call for an ambulance call for an ambulance.

We opened the door and there was a young man stood there,

and he and two of his friends have been playing football in

the car park because we lived very close to the car park.

And the his friend had ran backwards to head a ball,

but he trip banged his head on the car park.

And according to his friend, his Tom was stuck down his throat,

so I called the ambulance and my partner went out and, um,

he said he tried and tried,

and then he suddenly remembered because he used to go diving.

That apparently, if you pull the head right back the chin,

you remove the chin as far away from the chest as possible,

the tongue goes

back,

which is incredible. And that's what actually happened. So

and he helped, I think, saved the young man's life.

And about five or six days later,

there was a knock on the door and the young man was back to

to say he knocked on the door and said,

Is this where the man who saved my life lives,

which was great?

It was It was really, really nice.

We also had a terrible story of a young man who was mugged in the park. And, um,

that was a bit scary. Um,

he was, uh

I don't know. Do you want me to tell this story

badly

injured?

No, it wasn't. Actually, it was mentally he was. So he was coming down edge lane

with his girlfriend and he saw these young people looking a bit menacing.

And he came over towards the park thinking he was safer than being near

the, um, the fields to turn off.

And as soon as he got into the park, these young, they were only young lads on bikes.

They, um, put their hands in the pocket and told him that they had a gun

and that he was to take all his clothes off.

And so they made him strip

everything.

And,

um And then they they walked them and he

tried to run towards the house with his girlfriend.

But they then all

moved on the girlfriend and took her towards the gardens.

He ran, knocked on our door.

So I opened the door at 11 o'clock at night to a completely naked young man.

Um, but luckily, we call the police,

and the police got into the park and they didn't do anything.

And then they were just out to frighten

out,

and they did frighten him terribly badly.

But luckily,

the girl, nothing had physically happened to her. I

say, emotionally, she was quite torn. So

So, Yeah, so that was quite

traumatic.

It was horrible. Yeah. Really? Yeah.

And unfortunately, they didn't get the young men.

Um, but,

uh, yeah, this is the sad thing about public parks that might, you know,

it can be a dangerous place, because I I wouldn't walk through,

you

know? No,

it's

quite a dangerous place at night,

but,

um,

but I know that you've

got all the associations with the park, and I know you've been a volunteer as well.

And

I was part of, um, friends of Longford Park.

I don't know how many years,

four or five years when we were in the height of putting festivals on in the park,

which was wonderful when it was a nice day

because we had some very successful festivals.

I mean, it was really quite an amazing festival that we did when you think about it.

So we had two huge sort of,

um, stages. One was for dance, and one was for music.

Um, and theatre, I suppose. Then we had

stalls and, like, a car boot sale.

Um, and it was on from probably about, I don't know, one till five or six.

Um, and it, you know, lots of people came and we had a wonderful time.

And as I say, when the weather was great,

it was wonderful.

But I mean, it was really, really wonderful bringing all the local people together

people who were volunteering because it took quite a

lot of organising because I think I did the,

um, music stage,

um, one year. And I think it involves sort of contacting about eight

different acts and with lots of planning and booking and time spotting them

and making sure they have the right equipment in the right place.

And,

um, the marquees that needed to be there,

um And then, you know,

somebody else would coordinate with all the people who are going to have stores,

whether it was food stalls or,

um, people selling small gifts.

And then people would, um, local people could have their own little stores. Um,

yeah, it took a lot of organising

and you already had experience or did you learn through

organising

event?

Well, I I never done any three events.

When I was in my job,

I was a careers advisor and we used to organise higher education

conferences in Manchester where we used to invite universities come to come.

So I had some planning of that, but really,

it was a case of everybody just coming together and

and deciding, Um, what we were going to do how we were going to do it,

who was going to take the varying roles.

And, um, yeah, it was It was really It was really lovely to be a part of that festival.

Yeah, um, And also being being part of the organising with your local

community. That was really, really nice. I thought, um, so that was good.

I'm trying to think what else they did

when I was there

and

the Teddy Bears picnic.

I know. I didn't do that. No, I didn't get involved with that, Um,

but I know they done, because now they've organised drama festivals

and

not drama drama events

Festival

the

in the park,

The outdoor theatre. Have you attended some of those?

Yeah, Yeah, they're very good.

And, um, and part of the Longford festival. I'm in a choir.

So our choir sang in the park as part of

the music festival, Uh, music stage or whatever. So,

yeah, that was really, really

nice.

Like the event.

That was great. Yeah, it really, really was. I mean, I say, sadly,

the last event that I worked on which I think

was the last one the weather was not very good,

and

I was doing the music stage the second

time around and the sound system something went wrong

with the

I think

that is the problem.

Big events that cost a lot and so much can go wrong. Can't be really

apart from the events, Have

you?

Have you got a favourite aspect or favourite area of the park that you like?

Well, at the moment, I absolutely adore the field, Um,

which is by the Children's playground, because that's where I come in,

walking my dog every day.

And when autumn comes,

I come into the park and the whole of

that field is surrounded by trees and mature trees,

a whole variety of different types of tree.

And I find at this time of the yeah,

I always think of it as like walking into an art gallery.

So every day the trees have got different colours on them,

and it's like every tree is a different painting, and it changes.

Um, and so I Absolutely I love that and I love the disc golf course.

I mean, that's another thing that, you know again,

communities have got together, and it wasn't necessarily

Longford community, but a community of people recognised that that was a

an empty space that wasn't being used.

And, um, came and did some wonderful planting and landscaping in there.

Um, and, um,

you know, I recognise that they I mean, this last weekend, they had a this golf

festival on. They did,

um, and a lot of people turn up. It doesn't matter what the weather is.

Terrible.

There was lots of people there, But But most days,

when I'm walking the dog in the morning,

you know, it's fairly empty. Or there might be the odd one or two,

um, people. But you just, you know, stay out of their way and everyone's very,

um, considerate of each other.

And they don't mind the dog walkers, and we don't mind them.

Um, and that's a lovely area to walk as

well, isn't it?

Because the again the different trees and they're all growing and producing fruit?

Well,

yes, they

count about 400 trees, and

and actually, I went to the when they did the, um

what was it called? Um,

when we sang

was

Oh,

it was great. So, um,

they plant some trees, and then

the cafe had heated up some punch

and they bought these huge vats of punch, so carried them down.

And we all sang songs from the cafe into the field. And then they set up,

um,

two areas where they could put these like, bats of punch.

And we all had, um, had a little cup or something, and we drank most of it.

And then you threw some of the cider into the ground as well to kind of bless it. And

it was great.

was

absolutely

brilliant. It was dark. And, um,

you know, it was winter time. It was just great. Yeah, very, very interesting.

Very, very much fun.

Yeah.

So and you've mentioned the problems with litter that can be very annoying.

Is there anything else that

big issue for you as a dog walker or as a grandma walking the grandchildren as

well?

I mean, things have improved tremendously because they actually tarmac around

the disc of,

and actually, what I would really like is I would like them to tarmac the path from

Cromwell Road because in winter, I mean, at the moment, it just gets

absolutely

I mean, pushing a push chair. It just gets all the wheels get really, really muddy.

And that's the only bit of the pathway that they actually,

because otherwise you have to walk on the road with the traffic.

Absolutely. So I would certainly like them to do some work on that.

And

there are a few holes, actually as well

and potholes in the road and coming again from Cromwell. They

work it, but it probably needs a

really good,

I think, a much better one to do.

And, um,

also what we probably could do with they. They've lined

the main walk from Edge Lane and from Cromwell with some lights. But actually

those lights need to be a little bit further into the park between,

um,

the Children's playground

and long foot and the long foot that needs to be lit up a little bit more,

particularly for the people who live around the back of the gardens.

That's pretty dark.

You are walking

down there.

I'm I'm not trying to encourage people to come and walk in the park when it's dark, but

there is a gap of total blackness, and that really could do with being lit up, Um,

between because you know in winter it's dark at

55. 30.

So is that near Longford Cottages, then you mean the back?

Well, not the long the long

cottages that needs it, but also the gap

between

the where the pets corner is and as you go up the rise where John Ryan's house was

light.

don't really go up there when it's dark, so I wouldn't know.

Well, I'll I'll walk the dog in the park. Um, and

what I often do is I go down.

Cromwell, If I'm for some reason I'm late,

I will go in by the lip bit by, um,

What's it called? Sunnyside.

Um, And then I'll walk from the pets corner to the main part, which again is lit up.

But that section is is dark, dark.

Um, and so I think we could probably.

And as you're coming up from the gardens up towards what would have been the entrance

to, um,

John Rylands house, it's a little bit dark on there as well. So I think probably

another maybe six lamps.

Very

useful.

Yeah.

And also probably, um

uh, probably some extra help in the gardens. I think it's been

it survives it maintains, but

I think it could do with

little bit of

more more quality.

I I think so. Um

I mean, I'm hoping that they've dealt with the flooding in the gardens.

I know they've been working on it

for years, but sadly, it flooded again last year, didn't it?

And the year before and the year before,

they now

given some attention, they put something, Um, so I hope that they've resolved that

and also the little sort of rockeries.

I think that could deal with a little bit of attention

because again, bits of that are a bit muddy. And,

um,

it's had a lot more use, hasn't it? In

the

lockdown, You know, when the play areas were closed,

kids were I mean, my granddaughter loves playing on there.

She thinks it's the mountains, you know, because we're all high rocks. And also

the area where the big tree is, where the pond is

has, um,

the line.

The line is gone again,

that could be a

proper water supply. I

don't know how they resolve that. Maybe I don't know whether they can

capture some water in some way and

and

keep

it?

Um,

yeah. Totted up in some respect.

Um,

and also the the bit where John

Rylands is.

I think that that was planted where John Rylands house was.

That area was planted a long, long

time

Sullivan

Museum.

And again, it's OK,

but

I think it really if you go to somewhere like walk

and gardens and you see how beautiful those gardens are kept.

And I think what happened there is

it was supposed to be sort of self sustaining, and it is.

But

it could be so much nicer if somebody would just take.

I don't think the gardeners go into them.

And

some of the walls have been damaged as

well.

think people would skateboarding or something,

and they

damage

the wall. And and some of the,

um, plants,

They're, you know, this vast areas of soil till you get to the plant. So that area need

to fail.

Yeah. Some plants need to be rebuilt in there.

Um,

so, yeah, I'm trying to think if there's anything else that

is, um

I have concerns about I mean, apart from fields getting very wet.

But I don't know if there's anything wrong.

Drainage

in the park.

But again, hopefully they've resolved that over by the larger Children's play

that

they were

had utilities. Yeah, that was the aqueduct, wasn't it?

Yeah.

So is there anything else you'd like to tell me about your?

Well, what I also think is been wonderful over the last probably

10 or 15 years

is that parks are being used. Longford Park is being used again.

And it reminds me of when I was a child and I used to go to

I come from within. I used to go to within

park a lot,

and that was wonderful. The all families were out playing all sorts of games.

And actually, I think that's happening more and more and more,

and particularly in lockdown, everyone comes with their kids.

They have the parties. My granddaughter had her fourth birthday party in the park.

Um, and lots of people families come and

in lockdown,

you saw people bringing their food sitting till sort of eight or nine o'clock,

talking with their friends in the park, which

I thought was great. I think park should be full of people. That's what I think.

And, um,

so I very much enjoyed that And of course, if they

tended to all these extra things that me doing, I think more people,

um, would use the park as it should be used

and

possibly

God, I was in the the, um, animal area because I can take my grandson in there now.

Um,

and that's looking very sad.

I mean, and again,

it's not no offence to the people who

are looking after it because it's all volunteers.

But,

um,

it's yeah, it just looks rather sad. And, um,

not much is going on.

They they have to get rid of the birds because

they couldn't afford to keep those lovely little love birds.

But they were lovely things to watch. And now,

um, if the rabbits are in their cages, you don't see anything.

The chickens are in their cages, the ducks are asleep by the pond.

And if you're lucky, you know, um, Ganda and

Frodo will be out. They might not be. And so there's that whole area.

Whereas I think when there were guinea pigs and birds

and I remember years and years ago when it was,

um, Easter time, they used to show you the little, um, eggs being hatched.

They had There was an incubator, wasn't there,

and it was open to the public. Could see it. And of course, that isn't there now,

So we've lost. Um

uh, that and I did have a discussion with another neighbour who was

absolutely most of

time in

there,

and I was trying to explain to him why

we haven't got the birds because they're costly.

But when I then looked at it from his eye,

I realised, actually, he did have a point. You

have a point. I think we do need some money invested in

pets.

And you know that maybe Children could then stroke then that

kind of thing.

Um,

think other parks do have, so that would be an area.

Um, but I think other than that,

trying to look at all the park, Um

I mean, I I like the fact that this big fields that people can do as they choose on them,

you know, they'll play football or take the dogs or whatever.

On the whole, most dog walkers are sensible.

uh, so, you know, unfortunately, you'll always get some people who don't

do what they're supposed to do. But the vast

majority are good pet owners. And

thanks very much.

Gossip. Too

much.

Yeah,

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Author

cat@curatorsof…

Post date

04/11/2021