The Rainworth Drill Hall was situated on the right hand side of Kirklington Road. Just to the rear of The Robin Hood public house.. The Hall was taken over every Thursday evening by a group of ladies which I used to call ” The Skipping Club “..
The club was run by a gentleman by the name of Eddy Hodgkinson, an experienced gymnast and ex footballer.. The group of girls themselves became very good in their performances. showing their skills at Berry Hill Miners Rally and at Garden Parties.. All this took place in the early 1950’s…
The pictures show ” The Rainworth Girls Brigade ” being put through their paces in the Drill Hall.
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I used to go there in the late 60s for St John’s Ambulance training with my big brother Kevin.
I remember John Lishman and Melvin Reevely. We went to Skegness and Ryll for a weekend at the local holiday camps and paraded in the town on the Sunday. The only holiday I got!
Do you know when the photos of the Girls Brigade were taken please?
What a great article Alan it brings back so many memories for me. I used to attend the boys club there in the late 50s early 60s. They had all the gymnastic equipment for us to use. My dad’s youngest brother was an amateur boxer and he used to train there and I used watch with my dad as he went through his routines. I knew Mr Hodgkinson, what a gentleman he was. I think he lived on South Avenue next to the Drill Hall. His wife worked at Python Hill school and his son Mick was a very good musician, playing for a local group in the early 60s called The Stormcats, who later became The Mansfields . He later made quite a big name for himself on the music scene in America. Sadly he passed away in June 2007 aged 61.
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