This page is still being worked on; please contact us if you are interested in any other Hickling sports and clubs or if you have any information or photographs that we can add to these pages – thank you.

• Cricket
• Football
• Tennis
• Miscellaneous
• Wadkin Archive – book extracts
• Wadkin Archive – newspaper cuttings

Football

(Wadkin archive) Hickling Swifts: January 1902: Hickling v Nether Broughton – played on the Nether Broughton cricket ground at the Red lion on Monday afternoon. Hickling team: T Rose (goal), E Shelton & Wm Burnett (backs), E Covel, A Wright & J Spencer (half backs), J Roe  & C Shelton (left wing), C Smith (centre), A Shelton & C Simpson (right wing). Owing to good form of C Smith, E Covel & J Roe Hickling finally won by 5 goals to 2.

(Wadkin archive) March 1903: Hickling v J Ewing’s team, Melton Mowbray. Mr Ewing’s team journed to Hickling to try conclusions with the celebrated Hickling Swifts. The visitors won the toss and kicked with the wind, but the home team scored the first goal (Arthur Shelton) within fifteen minutes followed by a good scoring shot from the left by Arthur Wright and thus at half time the Swifts had secured two goals. After the interval, neither side scored and the result was Swifts 2, Mr Ewing’s team 0. A Wright played throughout in good form. Mr H Sleightholme (the school master) was the referee.

(Wadkin archive) These records come from c. 1938 when the Hickling football team was called, ‘The Swifts’. They were managed by Mr Holland who lived on Faulks’ Lane and played in Mr Robinson’s field, opposite Elm House. Football meetings were held in the loft above Simpson’s Butchers shop.

Hickling seems to have had several football teams over the years; for example, playing on Faulks’ field next to the canal c.1990s. (more information to be added, in due course – please contact us, if you can help with this).

Tennis

(Wadkin Archive) “For many years tennis was played on a very pleasant grass court at the back of the Rectory. Access to this was up the drive and through the rose garden passing a lovely stone sun-dial, unfortunately, this club had to be disbanded in 1952. Following this, permission was received from the British Legion to rent a piece of ground at the top of the Dove-cote field and a tennis court was mown and fence erected but this did not continue because of lack of support.”

Miscellaneous.

Wadkin Archive – book extracts

Reflections of Yesteryear:

(p18) Sunday school was held in the day school after which the children walked down to Church for the morning service. Following the arrival of Canon Ashmall in 1905 the Sunday school was held in the men’s institute in the morning and the Church in the afternoon. For the Summer treat, as the outing was always called, the Sunday school children were taken by horses and carts to Nottingham where they transferred to steamers on the Trent to their destination of Colwick Park. Other treats followed during the summer, to Belvoir Castle and Bunny Park. In later years these treats were held on the Rectory lawn and took the form of tea and games. The following day a flower and egg service was held in the Church, the gifts were then taken to Nottingham General Hospital. At Christmastime mothers of the Sunday school children were invited to tea held in the institute when crackers were pulled. Prizes were then awarded according to yearly marks. On Shrove Tuesday the children were given an orange which was indeed a great pleasure. For children attending the Methodist Chapel, the Sunday school commenced at ten o ‘ clock where Mr. Alwyn Shelton was the superintendent. The highlight of the year was the Sunday school anniversary held on the last Sunday in June. The platform was erected in three tiers on which the children sat in their very best or new clothes. The girls wearing a new ribbon in their hair. The Chapel was packed with people both for the afternoon and evening services with extra forms placed along the aisles and in the porch. The following day, which was a half day holiday from school, a children’s tea was held in the Chapel schoolroom, any children from the village were invited to attend. This was followed by a public tea at five o ‘ clock. Games took place in Home Close, Mr. Dickman’s field opposite Clawson Lane. The children of both Sunday schools felt extremely proud the day they were considered old enough to join the adult choirs in their respective Churches. Mr. Alwyn Shelton ran a choral society which he conducted with Miss Hilda Brooks (later Mrs. Harold Burnett) playing either the organ or piano. Selections from ‘The Messiah’ and ‘The Crucification’ amongst others were sung in both Church and Chapel. The Society also sung at Nether Broughton, Kinoulton, Long Clawson and Willoughby Churches. A Band of Hope, again run by Mr. Shelton, met in the Chapel schoolroom. Children joining signed ‘The Pledge’ which meant no drinking of alcohol during ones lifetime. Recitations and dialogues were given by the children.

(pp38-9) The boys and girls each had their own playground but did join together in one yard for rounders. The girls played hopscotch and ball games. The ball would occasionally be sent over the wall into Mr. Edson’s garden, ‘The Ruins and the children very seldom allowed to retrieve it, he was not a popular person with the children for this action. Out of school hours many games took place along the road as there was no traffic except the odd horse and cart. Whip and top and bowling the hoop went well as the children ran along. The iron hoops were made in the village by the blacksmith, wooden ones had to be bought from a hardware shop. A game called ‘lurky’ was a great favourite. This was played by one child standing with his foot on an old treacle tin whilst everyone else hid. ‘He’ counted to twenty then tried to find the others before anyone managed to kick the tin. Many happy hours were passed lying on the canal bank with a long twig to catch mussels, which once caught would be returned to the water.

A Scrapbook of Hickling:

(p42) Football (circa 1938) Hickling’s football team was known at ‘The Swifts’ the manager being a Mr. Holland who lived down Faulks Lane. The team played in Robinson’s field (opposite ‘Elm House’ now occupied by Mrand Mrs. F. Windey). Football meetings were held in a loft over Simpson’s butchers shop.

(p42) Tennis Club For many years tennis was played on a very pleasant grass court at the back of the Rectory. Access to this was up the drive and through the rose garden passing a lovely stone sun- dial. Unfortunately, this club had to be disbanded in 1952. Following this, permission was obtained from the British Legion to rent a piece of ground at the top of the Dove – cote field and a tennis court was mown and fencing erected but this did not continue owing to lack of support.

Maggie’s Memories:

(p3) CHRISTMAS at Rose Cottage as I remember when a girl. Uncle Alf and Aunt Lily and Cousin Rowly Pepper always came to stay over Christmas, they lived at Melton Mowbray. For Christmas dinner roast beef was a must. And one of the vegetables, salted kidney beans, home made plum pudding and brandy sauce. Boxing Day dinner was cockerals (which Uncle Alf brought as a present) and all the family came for tea and supper. Tea consisted of tinned fruit, jelly, blancmange and custard, bread and butter, cakes and Christmas cake. For supper home cured ham and home made pork pie, Stilton cheese, mincepies and lemon curd tarts baked in individual patty tins (and these were quite large against todays pastry tins which are in sets of twelve or six) and of course trifle with always tea, and tea only to drink. The best dinner and tea service were brought out and washed so carefully and always used at Christmas. Huge fires would be burning in both front rooms from early morning and always during Boxing Day evening. There would be a family sing-song around either the piano in one room or the American organ in the other and Donny would play either his violin or comet with Emmie or myself on piano or organ. After a good sing-song the older ones would settle down for a game of cards and the younger ones with the usual festivity games.

(p24) On Shrove Tuesday at 11 a.m. the school bell rang, this was to remind ‘mother’s to start preparing batter for the traditional pancakes and Miss Hopkinson who lived at ‘Malt House’ sent a basket of oranges to school to be distributed among the children, then a half days holiday and this was the day when ‘whips and tops’ came out, both boys and girls played, it was a grand game. One days holiday was always given on ‘Goose Fair’ Friday when I went to school at Hickling, the Fair began at midday on the first Thursday in October, continued on Friday and ended at Midnight on Saturday, was then held in the Market Square (now on the Forest), special buses were put on and Friday was always aclaimed Children’s Day, most people brought a ‘Fairing’ from Goose Fair, some small trinket and always a bag of Grantham Ginger Bread and one of Brandy Snap (was Nottingham Goose Fair).

(p25) Mr. Pepper would walk round the class with his cane pushed up his coat sleeve and woe betide any child who misbehaved for the cane would be used, he also would play games out in the play ground, but we girls thought him rather rough when there was a fall of snow we were not allowed to stay inside at playtime and Mr. Pepper would snowball us all, and he loved pushing snow down our necks and we hated it. Mr. Pepper was very musical and organised excellent school concerts.

(p27) In those days one never saw a car on the roads, there would be an occasional horse and cart so we children played games on the road as we went to and from school, games such as whip and top, marbles, hoops, which were mostly made by the local blacksmith, the wooden ones were bought from a hardware shop. ‘Staggie, Staggie Roany’ was fun, we all held hands across the road and chased ‘My Blue Pony’ this was a quick way of getting to school. Another game we loved was ‘Lurky’ we put an empty treacle tin outside the ‘Beer Off’ hedge next to Mr. Parkes gate and every one hid excepting one standing with his foot on the tin, and after counting out loud up to twenty he would try and find everyone and if anyone could run out and kick the tin shouting ‘Lurky’ 1.2.3. he won, and the game started all over again. Lots of games we played in the school playground and I loved ‘Hopscotch’ we played two kinds. Another ball game ‘Sunday, Monday’. The boys played cricket and football in their yard and for ‘Drill’ lessons in the Summer we often all played rounders in one yard. Many times when playing in our yard with a ball it would get thrown into Mr. Edgson’s garden (Mr. Barnes garden now) over the school wall and over the Big Green into the garden and it was very seldom we were allowed our ball back again, you can imagine the names Mr. Edgson was called.

(p32) The following day, Monday (I think we had a half days holiday from School) there would be games in what was then Mr. Dickman’s field (now Bogue Estate) then a children’s tea in the schoolroom and any children from the village could attend, with a public tea at 5 p.m. The tea consisted of brown and white bread and butter, plain, currant and seed cake, all baked by the village Baker Mr. Harriman, bread and cakes baked in the long tins, and the same bakers oven is still in the original bake house, which is now an outhouse where Mr. Penson lives and is called ‘Cobblestones’. Mr.&Mrs. Harriman also kept the Post Office and Grocery shop.

Now back to the Anniversary. After tea and of course during the afternoon before tea, children with some adults would meet in Mr. Dickman’s field and play cricket then an evening service. We children on the platform again singing our anniversary hymns, our own Methodist Minister was the preacher and there was always a Chairman, but the service was never long and afterwards everyone went back to the field for more games, and during this period Mr. Dickman would come along from his house with a seven pound brown paper bag of nuts, he would throw a couple of handfuls on the grass and we children would ‘Scramble’ for them, sometimes we were lucky and sometimes not, we would also have sweet scramble for, we did love and enjoy our S. School Anniversary. It is sad now to see such poor congregations at the S.S.A, and so few children. In 1973 only five belonging the Sunday School sat on the platform, the five others were children from the village or relatives, there is not any choir at the anniversary and children somehow don’t know how to sing, they say their recitations much better than they sing, and it is so sad, the children do enjoy their day but it is hard work for the teachers, the Monday tea and service ended quite a number of years ago and a day at the sea-side is their treat instead.

We always had a party in the schoolroom around Christmas; we had tea first sitting at the long trestle tables with pure white damask cloths, not a fancy tea, good wholesome food the same as at the S.S.A. I think the choir came too, after tea the tables were taken down and everyone enjoyed games, we played ‘Shy Widow’ ‘Come and sit on my Knee’ ‘Musical Chairs’ ‘Stations’ ‘Trencher’ ‘Pass the Ring’ they are just some games I remember, it is doubtful if any of these are played at the parties of today. They were lovely parties.

(p43) Tennis at Rectory I remember when a well supported Tennis Club used the Rectory Tennis Court, it was very popular in the Rev. L. Fosters time but the present Rector let it grow wild and would not allow anyone to play at all, it was a shame when the court was in such good condition.

(p51) BEECH HOUSE Such a beautiful Copper Beech tree on the front lawn, hence the name of the house. Unfortunately the tree was felled some years ago, and Hickling people were very sorry. The house has been modernised completely, and a family new to Hickling live there. Mr. Dickman lived here when I was a girl, and the S.S.Anniversary games held in the home field. I am delighted to see the new owners have planted a Beech Tree in the front garden,  after modernising the house and grounds.

(p65) CRICKET CLUB Only through the War years can I remember Hickling without a Cricket Club. From only a small child I was taken to the Cricket field when matches were played, this was the old Field by the Canal with only a cart track for a road, or go along the Canal Bank, and a number of those living at the top end of Hickling would go down Clawson Lane, get over the stile by the brook bridge go over a couple or more fields to the Cricket Ground, everyone was interested, no one went out of the village for sport or entertainment of any kind, Hickling people supported Hickling Sports, (that is more than happens today) there would always be supporters at each match and we girls would shout our heads off if any of the visitors were extra good looking, we followed the Club around on our cycles and one or two of us often scored for them, but we wern’t fond of sitting in the pavilion. Hickling have won Cups on more than one occasion, one was the Vale of Belvoir Cup. Matches were played on Saturday afternoons and in the evenings, but no one ever played on Sundays. The present Cricket Field is on the Bridegate Lane, they have a new pavillion and are putting in new toilets this year (1976) and still have to go outside for players, so many of the youngsters are not interested, it is a great shame.

(p65) FOOTBALL There was a Football club at one time but not as I recall and I know some of the young men who were keen football supporters walked every Saturday evening through the season to Upper Broughton Railway station to collect the Football Post, Uncle Rowly Simpson was one and William and Waiter Parkes, Albert Rose and others, they must have been keen. The school boys have had matches through the years, And today there is a Sports Club for the young people in Hickling and Kinoulton. Although Uncle Rowly is now 85 and living in New Zealand he still is interested in his two favourite football teams, Nottingham Forest and Notts. County.

(p65) TENNIS CLUB I mentioned earlier of the well supported Tennis Club at the Rectory which unfortunately had to be disbanded. Another try was made on the Court at Beech House, but through lack of support ended and yet again was tried out in the Dovecote Field, but was not successful for long.

(p66) SKITTLE ALLEY at the Plough Inn during the summer time, the fishermen would play and visitors who would rather be outside than in the Plough enjoyed a game.

(p66) CROQUET was played on the Rectory Lawn especially at Garden Fetes, we kids enjoyed this game.

(p90) Mr. & Mrs. Robert Parkes Farmer. Lived at the farm house opposite the Village Hall where their great, great nephew Eric Parkes lives. They had one daughter Sally and two sons William and WaIter, none of them married. Mr. Parkes nickname was ‘Pinchy Bob’, enough said. After the parents died and the sons took over the farm, they would walk behind one another either to their land or allotment and would not speak one word to each other, were keen followers of Nottingham Football Teams and went to all the local village cricket matches.

Wadkin Archive – newspaper cuttings:

(if you are able to help us with transcribing these newspaper cuttings, please contact us.)