WHAT’S ON IN RUDDINGTON THIS SPRING?

Fingers crossed that spring will eventually arrive, we’re sure you’ll be looking for reasons to get out and about in the local area. Luckily, there are lots of things to do in the village to keep you and the kids occupied at weekends and during the Easter and spring holidays.
Great Central Railway –  (GCRN)
As part of its regular programme of events, GCRN offers a wealth of activities for all the family. The Road Transport Event is taking place on Sunday 21 April and will see a display of trucks, buses and cars from yesteryear along with trade stands where you can buy models and artefacts for your own collections. Miniature railway and heritage steam or diesel train services will also be running. The May Bank Holiday Gala is a three day event that’s taking place from Saturday 4 to Monday 6 May. Each day has a different focus, with Saturday featuring classic cars and motorcycles; vintage buses on Sunday; and commercial vehicles on Monday. A beer festival featuring up to 12 different ales will run across the three days, with live music in the evenings. Daytime attractions include an extensive miniature railway, fairground organ and music from the Long Eaton Silver Band. And of course, a special timetable of heritage train services will be running over the full length of the railway, with evening runs as far as Rushcliffe Halt only. Guest locomotives are expected to include No. 92203 ‘Black Prince’ and Ivatt Class 2 No. 46521. Find out more about both these events at www.gcrn.co.uk.
Rushcliffe Country Park
There’s plenty to do at our local Country Park – and new leaflets and notice boards make it easier than ever to find out about the latest events and activities. New notice boards have been put up at three of the park’s entrances, each featuring a ‘What’s on’ diary that’s being updated monthly.  You can also call into the Visitor’s Centre to collect a new leaflet that tells you all about the different things to see and do during your visit to the Country Park. And if you’d like to stay updated with the very latest news, why not sign up to their email newsletter? Simply email countrypark@rushcliffe.gov.ukor drop your email address into the Ranger’s office and they’ll add you the mailing list.
Museums
Take a trip into village history with a visit to the Village Museum at St Peter’s Rooms or the Framework Knitters’ Museum on Chapel Street. The Village Museum offers an authentic insight into Ruddington’s past through reconstructed shops including Mick’s Fish & Chip Shop, a cobbler, ironmonger, pharmacist and toy shop. There’s also a schoolroom and telephone exchange, whilst a collection of farming implements acts as a reminder of the important role that agriculture used to play in our local economy. The Village Museum is open on Thursdays and Bank Holidays, 2:30pm to 5pm, from Easter Monday to the end of October. Meanwhile at the Framework Knitters’ Museum, you can discover all about the 400 year history of the craft that gave rise to the Nottingham lace industry. See how the knitters lived and worked, visit the workshops, see a knitter in action and even create your own knitted souvenir. There are also historic buildings to explore, a Textile Emporium shop and a tea-room. From spring to autumn 2013, the Museum is open from 11:30am to 4:30pm Wednesday to Saturday (and Bank Holidays) and 1:30pm to 4:30pm on Sundays.
(By Faye Stenson – pictures by the late Peter Woodhead)