Information & photos courtesy of Crich Tramway Museum.

60 years ago, on the morning of the 13th of August 1961, the inhabitants of Berlin awoke to find that two thirds of their city had been isolated from the rest by the tearing up of roads, blocking of railway lines and the erection of barbed wire fencing along the 97-mile border the western sector shared with the German Democratic Republic and the 27 miles that divided West and East Berlin. Within 4 days the barbed wire would be replaced by a concrete wall. 

Initially the inhabitants on each side of the Wall were unable to visit or even telephone each other. From the mid 1960’s West Berliners were allowed to visit their relatives in the East at Christmas. In 1971, following negotiations by the four occupying powers the restrictions were relaxed. 
Even then those in the East could only cross to the West for work, important family events and if they were pensioners or deemed no further use to the State. In the first two cases the existence of relatives in the East provided insurance that travellers to the West would return.

It is believed that in the 28 years of the era of the Wall about 5,000 people managed to escape to West Berlin, although at least 140 people died in the attempt. The restrictions on East Berliners travelling to the West were revoked on the 9th of November 1989 and reunification of Germany followed the following year. To those who visited Berlin in the 28 years of the Wall it was an interesting city to say the least.

 

Derbyshire Police dog handlers and their search dogs have been using Crich Tramway Village as a training ground.

The dog handlers are assessed for their ability before undergoing training to handle dogs.  The dogs typically spend around two weeks with their handler before undertaking a search course of six weeks. 

The dogs live with their handlers and will often serve for 8 – 10 years in the police force, depending on the breed and agility of the dog.

Asked why Crich Tramway Village provided a good training ground, PC Dean Allen said:

“It is a live venue with people around and plenty of places to search.  It is a recreation of the real world.”

Springer Spaniels are known for their intelligence, and for being alert, attentive and active, so it is no surprise that Indy, the 2- year- old brown and white Springer Spaniel and Ziggy, the 2½ year old brown Sprocker Spaniel have just completed their courses with flying colours.  The excitable pair posed for photos with Trainer PC Dean Allen and handler PC John Ashmore at Crich Tramway Village, before undertaking their important roles in searching for drugs, cash, firearms and ammunition.

The police force also use German, Dutch and Belgian Shepherds for other police activity.

Amanda Blair, Marketing Manager at Crich Tramway Village said:

“We’re delighted to be able to offer a venue for police dog training.  Our exhibitions provide a range of indoor areas, whilst the Woodland Walk is a challenging outside search area”.

The venue is currently open to the public Saturdays to Thursdays from 10am but will be open on Friday 4th June for the school half term.  For further information, please visit: www.tramway.co.uk or email: enquiry@tramway.co.uk

Information provided by Crich Tramway Village

 

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With the government’s proposed Step 3 roadmap out of lockdown planned from 17th May 2021, Crich Tramway Village is planning to open its indoor exhibitions and Workshop viewing gallery.

Some of the major restoration projects for the workshop at Crich Tramway Village are continuing and this requires re-organisation of trams in the main Crich depots.  These include London County Council 1 (Bluebird), Newcastle 102 and London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB) 1622 and Blackpool Brush Railcoach 298.

In addition, Cardiff Horsecar No. 21, which has been on loan to Crich for around 12 years, will be returned to The National Museum of Wales, Derby 1 is going into store and Halle 902 will also be going into store after spending some time on loan in Blackpool. 

All these tramcar moves have provided an opportunity to refresh the display in the Exhibition Hall, enabling the recent acquisition, the 1913 Barnsley & District Combination Car (a vintage bus), to be displayed in the centre and tramcars Gateshead 5 and Southampton 45 to be more easily viewed.

Workshop Co-ordinator and Duty Engineer, Dan Heeley said:

The Vehicle Movement Plan was made after diligent consideration of the best moves possible for tram conditions, restoration and ultimately new and better displays for our visitors.  

After a difficult year in 2020, it is important that we move forward with restoration, for which we have received funds and assistance from our partners, including the Blackpool Railcoach Fund and The Tramcar Sponsorship Organisation for Blackpool 298.

Crich Tramway Village is currently open for outside spaces from Saturday to Thursday, and following the government’s roadmap to recovery intends to open the indoor exhibition spaces from 17th May 2021 Saturday – Thursday, with Covid-19 measures in place.  Please visit the website for opening days and times and Covid-19 guidelines: www.tramway.co.uk

 

This newsletter has been produced by the Crich Patients' Participation Group and Crich Area Mutual Aid and has been delivered to all households in the catchment area of the Crich Medical Practice. It has information about vaccinations, prescriptions deliveries, ideas for keeping fit, cheerful and healthy during the last weeks of winter and an update from the Crich Area Dementia Friends.

You can download a pdf of the leaflet below.

• CPPG and Dementia Friends Newsletter Jan 21

Every January in Derbyshire, Scouts hold an event called "Chilly Challenge." In non-lockdown times, our 1st Crich Scouts would hike to a camp site and camp for a cold weekend, sometimes under canvas and sometimes in an equally cold hut.

The regular Scout campsites are all unavailable for camping this year in January (due to COVID-19) so the members of our local Scout group will be completing their Chilly Challenge weekend at home this year. It will all be happening next weekend 30 to 31 January 2021!

As the Scout leaders planned the weekend with the youngsters, one of the young people suggested that we get their friends and families to sponsor them, not for Scout funds but for the homeless. The rest of the members thought this was a great idea. These young folk really want to make a difference!

Bill Caine, one of our Scout leaders, has set up a Go Fund Me page for the charity Crisis. It's a charity well known for its work in supporting homeless people.

Please support our local youngsters as they make a difference to the lives of homeless people. They would be so encouraged if they reach the set goal of £500!

If you would please visit the Go Fund Me page and donate a small amount in support of for our 1st Crich Scouts in their "Chilly Challenge" weekend, we would be very grateful.

https://gofund.me/8b87540c