Over 70 people attended the annual quiz night at Stoke Golding Club, which for the first time was held on a Friday night.
Fourteen teams took part in the contest to answer 8 rounds of questions and 2 picture rounds. Aided by a new sound system and a new method of collecting scores after two rounds instead of one round as previously, the quizzing took place at a fast pace. The fish and chip suppers arrived promptly at 9 pm as planned, at which point the second picture round was handed out.
There were 10 questions on each topic: film and TV, transport, science, sports, food and drink, general knowledge, geography, and pot luck. Each team was allowed to play their joker once (but not on the picture round), which doubled their score.
The questions were somewhat more achievable than in previous years, which was reflected in the final scores. The winning team was “Splinters” with 89 points, followed closely by 6 teams whose scores ranged from 88 to 84 points.
Put next year’s quiz in your diaries – Saturday 14th November 2020!
This is a map of the site a few years before the closure of Ilott wharf. You can see that the left arm of the canal had already been dewatered in the 1950s when Measham town lost its stretch of canal.
The lads putting up the sign at the car park at Ilott wharf. They had previously scrapped the car park so it could be used again.
The chute at Ilott wharf in about 1965, just before demolition and dewatering of the canal back to Snarestone Wharf. The trains from Measham Mine were backed up on the siding, and men shovelled the coal into narrowboats moored on the canal.
The engine used to pull the coal wagons crossing Bosworth Road just west of the old coaching inn.
Referring to the previous steam engine photo, Peter Oakden is seen here having excavated the base of the street lamp, with even the electricity cable sticking out of it.
Trains crossing the fields coming from Measham Mine (on the horizon), heading towards Ilott Wharf.
This house, one of two at Ilott Wharf, had been a coaching inn on the Measham to Bosworth route. It was demolished in 1965. It belonged to the Coal Board and the last occupant was a manager from the mine.
The house in the background was the Ilott House which belonged to the Midland Railway Company, which also owned the canal. The little black shed in front of it was the tally shed where canal records were kept. Also shown are the loaded wagons on the raised siding and boats waiting to be filled.
Another view taken at around the same time. Ilott House has been demolished. The dilapidated tally hut is still there, as is the greenhouse seen in front of the tree.
Although life was hard, there was fun to be had for children. In the background, there is a train on the siding, and the coal shute can be seen on the far left.
The Goodwins at Ilott wharf. The gauging station is in the background. They borrowed the canoe from Bill Bradford, the local carpenter and undertaker, who lived at Bosworth Grange just east of the aqueduct.
