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The Origins of

In the late Autumn of 1969 two friends met, over a drink - or - three David Selby the then divisional adult education officer for S. E. Derbyshire, and his friend Wilf Sugars a local builder, fell to discussing the closure and demolition of Parklands School, built at the turn of the century as J. M. School. It was an imposing building, but unfortunately it had outgrown its usefulness as a children's school and was to be pulled down.

David, realising the need not only for adult education but for clubs and other organisations to have somewhere to meet, advertised a meeting of interested parties to be held at Wilsthorpe School. Disappointingly this was very poorly attended.

After studying the bottom of his glass for a while in the hope his friend would take pity on him and refill it, Wilf suggested that David should try again but this time contact the evening classes, clubs and all other such organisations as he could find, then follow up with an advert with the day, date and time etc.

So a second meeting was held on Friday 17th October 1969, again at Wilsthorpe School, but with a much greater turnout of people wishing to form groups and clubs but having nowhere to meet.

Some of those attending this meeting were amateur artists who attended the available evening classes, but felt that an art club was what was really needed.

David chairing the meeting, agreed saying there was a need for some sort of art activity in the district and to form an art club was the best possible solution, as there were already several good art classes in existence.

Of the 38 people who showed an interest in forming such a club at the night's meeting, 36 paid 2/6p (12½p) to help form and become the first members of what was to become 

"The Long Eaton and District Art Club"

Reproduced for the site with kind permission from Mike Harrop