Thomas Bond – a former Landlord of (our) “The Red Lion” High Street
During his twenty odd years at “The Red Lion” Thomas Bond built on his reputation for being a “straight John Bull” type. One of his pet aversions was having wives come to the pub to fetch their husbands away. His sympathies were, in fact, invariably with the wives. He turned away many a customer by ordering him to take his money home to his wife!
The Red Lion, which was founded in the 18th Century, when it was known as the Horse and Groom. It is not known exactly when but, one day, a circus was passing through Kegworth and left behind a lion in its cage in the Red Lion’s grounds where it stayed for a week!
Kegworth Air Disaster
47 people died in a plane crash on 8 January 1989, when it came down just short of the runway on the eastern side of East Midlands Airport. Although this was outside the village, it has subsequently been referred to as the Kegworth air disaster. A memorial to those who died in the crash stands in the village cemetery on Whatton Road. There is also a Plaque sited on the Ashby Road bridge over the M1, close to where the plane came down. Since the Air Disaster in 1989, the Parish Council and those who remember that fateful night, have marked each Anniversary by laying wreaths at both memorial sites.[22] A special commemorative service was held in 2019 at St Andrew’s Church in the village, to mark the 30th anniversary of the disaster.[23] Survivors, relatives and emergency services first-responders attended.
The High Street
Many buildings in High Street and London Road date from the 18th century, when the main London to Manchester road went up High Street and down Packington Hill. Some were town houses, others farmhouses with yards. Most of the latter have had their yards subsequently built on. The barn of number 55 High Street was demolished in 1979 to make room for another house, but the farmyard of number 48 remains, although the farmhouse was rebuilt in Victorian times. The internal road system of the village gradually developed as time went on as it became necessary to obtain access to neighbouring villages. The Romans used a ford across the River Trent nearby and a Romano-British farm lies at the end of Long Lane. A Saxon cemetery was found two hundred years ago and the bumps and hollows between the A6 and the River Soar may be the remains of a Saxon village.
John Tucker
My great grandfather was Thomas Bond landlord of The Red Lion 1893 to 1912. My Grandmother often told me of the time she lived at the pub. My memories of Kegworth were to visit my uncle Frank Bond and his sister Nellie. I do know she played the piano in the pub as I was allowed to wait till closing time while she played.
Village Ghosts
I was interested to read of Kegworth’s ghosts. I know about Dr. Bedford’s ‘Lady’ but I didn’t know about the High Street hauntings. In one way I feel quite left out as we lived at 20 High Street (which was originally, (‘The Chestnuts’) and we didn’t have a resident spirit. I drank in the Red Lion over the years during Edgar Daniels’ time and he never mentioned a ghost either. So there, some you see and some you don’t.
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