Welcome to the Broomfield Hall Alumni Website.
Welcome to the home page of the Broomfield Old Students Association (BOSA) section of the Derby College website.
The BOSA website should be seen as a living document that you can add to, especially where there are gaps in the story.
It is hoped that the website will be of interest to all former students of Broomfield as well as to current students and the wider public.
There is information about the College from 1947 onwards with pictures and stories as well as news about former students and staff and anecdotes submitted by them.
To see any of the pages simply click onto one of the sections at the top of this screen.
Can you find yourself or your friends in any of the "Year" photographs? Were you really that young once?
You may also be interested to know that you can buy a copy of any of these photographs from BOSA at a cost of £10.00 each including postage. Contact us using the link at the top of this page
We also have information about forthcoming BOSA events for your diary (see top of this page)
Any feedback that you can give will be welcome as will any contribution you can make to the content by way of stories, anecdotes or, pictures.
These may be serious or humourous but you will be sharing them with others.
Please do add your memories as this will bring the website to life for both the young and not so young.
To send us any words or pictures you just have to use the "contact us" button at the top of this page.
Do you know Henry Woolley? He did just that. To see his fascinating and varied story use the 1970-79 button at the top of this page and then click on "Where are they now".
You may also like to look at our Facebook page and add comments or try and contact old friends on the site.
To do this go onto Facebook and then in the search box type in ALL of the following: BOSA-Broomfield Old Students Association
We hope that you enjoy the website.
David Furmston
BOSA online editor
On behalf of the BOSA Committee
Broomfield Hall Campus, Morley, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 6DN An extensive working estate providing a 200-acre classroom supporting the land-based, leisure and public services sectors, with students on a variety of pathways leading to positive destinations in the world of work, further and higher education.
Derby College has re-opened its plant centre at the Broomfield Hall campus in Morley to give Horticulture students vital work experience and boost their future job prospects.
The Plant Centre is open to the public on every weekday and weekends between 10am and 4pm, except Wednesdays, selling more than 40 varieties of vegetables, herbs, alpines, border perennials and bedding plants at cost effective prices.
The plant centre will also be holding regular events for staff and students to share their expertise with visitors.
The first Plant Fest will be held on Sunday May 24 between 10am and 4pm. The day will include a hanging basket workshop in the morning and then the chance for visitors to talk to the ‘Plant Doctor’ in the afternoon to discuss any problems they are having. There will also be guidance on spring pruning and a Gardeners Question time at 3pm.
The grounds of Broomfield will be open for guided walks and the Animal Care Unit will also be open to the public (entry £1) with the opportunity to see the small animals, reptiles and rare breeds that are looked after by the students.
Derby College Horticulture assessor and Plant Centre Manager David Harris explained: “The greenhouses at Broomfield Hall have been refurbished and we have been working hard to grow a wide range of plants which are now available to the public.
“Students are gaining valuable work experience at the centre – growing the plants and serving customers – which will greatly help them as they progress onto careers in the Horticulture industry.”
Among those involved in the plant centre are mature students Catriona Cummings from Ilkeston and Cindy Hollick from Turnditch.
Catriona (pictured left) is a keen gardener and has come back to College two days a week – combining her Horticulture studies with working in the Communications department of Derbyshire County Council.
Cindy recently set up her own gardening business and is boosting her formal qualifications with the level three course at Broomfield.
Catriona explained: “We have all been heavily involved in the development of the plant centre and it is great that we are now open to the public and serving a steady stream of customers.”
Cindy added: “Everyone has a passion for Horticulture and gaining experience in customer service and the retail side of the industry is very valuable alongside the theoretical and practical skills that we are learning here.”
The plant centre joins a host of other Derby College commercial facilities which are open to the public.
They include the floristry workshop, dog grooming parlour, equine centre and Little Explorers day nursery at Broomfield Hall; the Sensi hair and beauty salons at Ilkeston and at the Roundhouse; the Engine Shed restaurant and conference and event facilities at the Roundhouse and The motor vehicle garage at the nearby Johnson Building in Pride Park.
Derby College Chief Executive Mandie Stravino concluded: “Our role is to prepare students for the next stage of their lives whether that be an apprenticeship, work or Higher Education.
“Work experience is a key part of all of the students’ learning programmes at the College so the commercial facilities which are open to the public not only provide that on site for learners but also generates a vital income stream for the College to reduce our reliance on public funding.”
An extensive working estate providing a 200-acre classroom supporting the land-based, leisure and public services sectors, with students on a variety of pathways leading to positive destinations in the world of work, further and higher education.