Southside June 2023

Introducing tiled roof system for your conservatory manufacturer and installer.

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alternative to traditional or old polycarbonate panels, providing and creating a room that is useable all year round.

Whatever the shape and size of your existing conservatory roof, we can replace it with a custom-made, lightweight tiled roof. This type of roof consists of an aluminium structural frame (see image top right) with integrated insulation

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including mood, spot and patio lighting) the possibilities are endless.

years in the most extreme weather conditions, to give you our standard

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8 Fashion

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Welcome to our June issue. If y yoou’re looking for something to do this summer, a srail put exploring the region’ lwwayys to the top of y yoour agenda.And there’s no bttltditthtPkRil

better place to do it than at Peak Rail, e y wher yooucanrelive the golden age of etchfr steam.The short str romRowlsey to Matlock is the perfect place to enjoy noon tea, after whisky tasting and meet Santa (booking for Christmas starts now!). op do dr Elsewhere we ro owwnto Chesterfield’s Chatsworth Road and find everything from green spaces to independent businesses.

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See y yoou next month.

Richard Abbey Executiv xe veEditor

hiifh2023 W The nominations for the 2023 Weestside & e no ds ar ar A Southside Restaurant & Bar Aw w rd ow w w y open. Findoutho yoou can be par t of this yeear’s event 26

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all adv For veertising enquiries please contact:

PUBLISHINGMANAAGGER Sally-Anne Sharp: 07712 660800 sallyanne.sharp@rmcmedia.co.uk W

SALES EXECUTIVES Sam Waarsop: 07772 627320 sam.warsop@rmcmedia.co.uk

Mandy Ogle: 07702 176988 mandy.ogle@rmcmedia.co.uk

PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Amanda Roy: 07843 633184 amanda.roy@rmcmedia.co.uk

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Richard Abbey Tel: 07989 358215 richard.abbey@rmcmedia.co.uk

DESIGN Dan Wray dan.wray@rmcmedia.co.uk

DISTRIBUTION Chris Clayton Tel: 07843 633188 chris.clayton@rmcmedia.co.uk

ACCOUNTS SteveWasden Tel: 07503 154498

Email: steve.wasden@rmcmedia.co.uk

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Published by: RMC Media, Offic 1 Broadfield Cour

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Website: www

dia, Office 1 Enterprise House, ourt, Sheffield, S8 0XF Email: info@rmcmedia.co.uk ww.rmcmedia.co.uk

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any other company or group. Press, Buxton, Derbyshire. uxtonpress.com

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Step into summer with Carla Ruiz at New Image, 277 Middlewood Road, Sheffield, S6 1TG. Tel: 0114 234 4880. www.new-image.co.uk

Green with envy

YOU’LL BE A FOOL TO MISS OUT ON THESE SUMMER STYLES FROM OUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT BOUTIQUES.

Check out the latest summer collections from Marc Cain at Izzi of Baslow, Radcliffe House, Cock Hill, Baslow DE45 1SR. Tel: 01246 582500. www.izziofbaslow.com

Essentiel Antwerp off white Danbury sweatshirt £175. Capsule Wardrobe, HGM House, Nether End, Baslow, DE45 1RR. capsulewardrobe.uk

Joy dress by Iconique, RRP £169 on promotion at £119 at Blanc & Blanc Occasions, 177 Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, S40 2BA. www.blancouture.co.uk

Adam penny loafer town show. Check out a range of Trickers shoes at Charles Brooks Shoes, 241 Fulwood Road, Sheffield, S10 3BA Tel: 0114 268 0590. www.charlesbrooksshoes.co.uk

New Summer stock in store at b. biscuit, 77 Junction Road, Hunters Bar, Sheffield, S11 8XA. Tel: 0114 266 1221. www.bbiscuit.co.uk

Journal summer collections in store at Oliholpho, 255 Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, S40 2BL. Tel: 01246 229900. oliholpho.co.uk

Summer dresses in store at Dotique, 296/298 Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 2BY and Peak Shopping Village, Rowsley, Matlock, DE4 2JE. Tel: 01246 498536. https://dotique.co.uk

Hot summer styles from Luisa Cerano in store at Sister, 409 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield, S11 8PG. Tel: 0114 267 1330. www.sisteronline.co.uk

Look red hot with Lise Charmel at Lace of Bakewell, Orme Court, Granby Road, Bakewell, DE45 1ES. Tel: 01629 814933. www.lacebakewell.co.uk

Love to dance?

Want to have fun?

Our 'On Broadway'® Dance Fitness classes in Chesterfield, Bakewell, and Sheffield are perfect for women just like YOU who love to dance, have fun and want to reveal their inner showgirls!

FUN AND FITNESS GUARANTEED! “the best stress-buster in the world!”

“I love it! The routines are great. The hour goes past so quickly, I come out with a smile on my face and can't wait for the next class!” Lisa

FREE TASTER

every 4 weeks - book here:

Where to find us - classes available in: Chesterfield (Walton and Brampton)

Tues evenings & Sat mornings

Bakewell (Bakewell Methodist Church)

Wed & Fri mornings, Thurs evenings

Sheffield (Ecclesall Road S11)

Mon – Sat mornings, Mon – Thurs evenings, Mon & Thurs afternoon Classes also available online.

PLACES ARE LIMITED SO PLEASE BOOK EARLY

Charlotte Tilbury The Flawless Filter, £39

The infamous complexion booster has the versatility of a primer, the mega-watt glow of a highlighter, and the perfecting properties of your favourite digital filter for a porelesslooking, creamy finish.

Dior Solar The Self-Tanning Gel, £37 Dior’s Self-Tanning Gel enhances the skin by giving it a luminous, natural glow. Its progressive self-tanning action drapes skin in a gradual and even sun-kissed and streak-free finish.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation, £38

An artistry essential for creating lit-from-within luminosity. This foundation immaculately evens out your skin tone for a perfected and polished look creating a glowy, fresh and flawless base.

Glow-giving beauty

ENSURE YOU REMAIN GLOWING THROUGHOUT THE WARMER MONTHS WITH OUR EDIT OF ESSENTIAL BEAUTY FROM HARVEY NICHOLS, LEEDS. FIND EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR SKIN, HAIR AND MAKEUP LOOKING LUMINOUS.

Tom Ford Eye Color Quad, £70

Achieve the ultimate summer glow no matter the occasion, from a bold, smoky eye, to a sexy splash of colour and everything between, with Tom Ford’s Eye Colour Quads in four luxurious finishes.

Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb

Universal Lip LuminizerFenty Glow, £18

Gloss Bomb delivers explosive shine in a perfect rose nude shade handpicked by Rihanna herself, leaving lips looking instantly fuller and smoother, with a nonsticky formula.

Carolina Herrera

Luckycharms Call Me Darling

Eau De Parfum, £135

Pucker up and embrace summer with this sensual fragrance, infused with notes of Orange Flower, Tonka Bean and Cherry Milk. Topped with a Lippy Lipstick charm for a flirty, feminine touch.

GHD Platinum+ Limited Edition Hair Straightener in Sun-Kissed Taupe, £239 Create head-turning styles with this professional smart styler, presented in sun-kissed taupe. Finished with an ultragloss coating, the floating plates glide smoothly through the hair for frizz-free results with 20% more shine.

Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick, £35

Create a unparalleled glow with this longwearing, innovative formula that adjusts to your body temperature for effortless blending while remaining weightless on the skin.

Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum, £100 Powered by advanced Vitamin C, this serum fights the look of dullness, dark spots, and discolorations leaving skin looking and feeling firmer and plumper, as youthful skin bounce and even-tone are restored.

Ouai Hair Oil, £26 A multitasking oil that smoothes frizz and seals split ends for a high gloss, super smooth finish. OUAI’s Hair Oil is packed with ingredients to keep colour from fading and protect hair from heat damage.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Bronzer, £27

The secret to effortless, sunkissed skin. The clever formula is infused with pearl blends that bring natural warmth along with hydration, leaving skin healthy,even and smooth.

Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance

Perfume Mist, £35

Beachy and nostalgic, Sol De Janeiro’s solar floral fragrance takes you back to the lingering memory of a carefree getaway. Bask in transportive notes of leite de coco, solar tuberose, and warm sand.

And something different...

Hair Rituel By Sisley Color Beautifying Hair Care Mask, £81

The Color Beautifying Hair Care Mask works within just three minutes to reveal hair that’s bursting with vitality and gorgeous colour, that lasts twice as long. All whilst ensuring your scalp health is maintained. Through key innovation: the protecting complex of active ingredients is wrapped within a gentle formula that’s free from tensioactives and sulphates, to protect the hair from discomfort caused by colouring.

Road of plenty

hatsworth Road, which runs from Queens Park in the centre and through Brampton before joining with Baslow Road, is often considered the gateway to the Peak District. Twenty minutes is all it takes by car to leave Chesterfield town centre and find yourself in such beautiful surroundings.

Chesterfield itself is a charming market town, famed for the crooked spire of the Church of St Mary and All Saints. Historically, the town received its market charter in 1204, which constituted it as a free borough and granting it the same privileges of those of Nottingham and Derby.

It has grown over the centuries, absorbing the areas of New Whittington and Newbold from 1920 Its current boundaries date from 1 April 1974, when the Borough of Chesterfield was formed under the Local Government Act by amalgamating the municipal borough of Chesterfield, the urban district of Staveley and the parish of Brimington.

Very much an extension to the town centre, along Chatsworth Road you’ll find lots of things to see and do as well as a wide range of independent shops supplying a diverse range of products, from hand crafted pottery and original art pieces to quality bikes and children’s wear.

It’s a property hot-spot too. According to Rightmove, properties in Chatsworth Road had an overall average price of £293,750 over the last year.

The majority of sales were flats, selling for an average price of £147,000. Detached properties sold for an average of £710,000, with semi-detached fetching £685,000. Overall, sold prices in Chatsworth Road over the last year were up 18 per cent on the previous year and 8 per cent down on the 2020 peak of £320,923.

Queens Park

Queen’s Park was opened in 1887 to

commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.

In its early days, the Park was a popular venue for rallies and demonstrations.

When the Derbyshire Miners’ Association held their rally here at the end of the 1890s it had a festive appeal with swingboats, roundabouts and coconut shies.

The Park has been restored, with a café, lake and miniature railway, as well as playing facilities for younger visitors. There is also a bandstand - sit and listen to a local brass band playing on some Sunday afternoons during the summer.

There’s also a cricket ground. The first County Cricket match held here was between Derbyshire and Surrey, in 1898the same year the Cricket Pavilion was opened. In 1904, the famous cricketer WG Grace played at Queen’s Park in a match between Derbyshire and London County, and Don Bradman, the man many consider to have been the best batsman of all time, played here when the Australians toured England in the 1930s. Queen’s Park still hosts County

Cricket matches today. John Hampshire, a former test batsman, called Queen’s Park ‘the loveliest ground in the country’.

Walton Dam/River Hipper

Walton Dam was built in the 18th century and provided controlled water power for Walton Manor Corn Mill. Enlarged to its current size in the early 19th century, the site and the mill were bought by Robinson’s in 1899. Not only was the Dam a useful source of water for their cotton wool production at Walton Works, but also provided an area for their employees to take part in sporting and leisure activities from swimming to cricket.

The area of Walton Dam and Somersall Park is a popular walk and part of the Hipper Valley Trail cycle route. The water is home to a range of wildlife and is a significant wintering ground for Mandarin ducks.

The River Hipper flows through Somersall Park and then past Walton Dam. The water from the river fills the dam.

Chatsworth House

Follow the road for long enough and it’ll take you all the way out through Holymoorside and Baslow to the estate of the Duke of Devonshire estate. Explore the gardens, marvel at the interior of the house or just wander the huge estate.

> On the next page we look at some stand-out local businesses >

IT’S OFTEN CONSIDERED THE GATEWAY TO THE PEAK DISTRICT BUT THERE’S MUCH MORE TO DISCOVER ON CHATSWORTH ROAD.

Blanc & Blanc Occasions

Now in its 12th year of trading, Blanc and Blanc Occasions offers both casual wear and occasional wear all under one roof.

Stocking leading contemporary brands from Naya Desigual, Bariloche, and Up!, a Canadian fashion trouser brand that has taken the UK trouser market by storm.

They are specialists in occasional wear including ‘Mother of the Bride’ outfits, ‘Guest to a wedding’, ‘Race wear’ and ‘Prom’.

Stockists of award-winning brands exclusively available in Chesterfield by Veni Infantino for Ronald Joyce, Marfil Barcelona, John Charles and Carla Ruiz. Let their experienced team dress you from head to toe with turning hats and fascinators for hire or to purchase by Snoxell My Hat, Failsworth & Hosti Hat. Coordinating leather shoes and handbags by luxury brand Elegante are also available as well as bespoke fully dyeable shoes and handbags by Rainbowclub.

In order to offer a complete one to one service, styling appointments are required for all occasionalwear. A warm welcome is always guaranteed.

To find out more, call 01246 767220 or visit www.blancouture.co.uk

Dotique

Dotique epitomises the values which reflect the warm Derbyshire welcome that Chesterfield independents are renowned for and rightly proud of.

When Dorothy Robinson opened Dotique in 2017, she knew she had a hard act to follow. Four generations of Johnson’s was definitely the end of an era in Chesterfield and a ladies clothes boutique with their beauty salon above could not be further from its 139 years history as a hardware store. Dotique certainly brings the warm welcome that we feel the Johnson’s would approve of.

Dotique is an exquisite boutique where you can find beautifully made garments and personal customer service with traditional values. Whether you are looking to update your everyday wardrobe, searching for something unique for your holidays, a special event, Mother of the Bride or Groom, Dotique brings something for every occasion.

Dorothy extended the business, launching Brampton Beauty Retreat in 2019, with an ever-growing portfolio of highly satisfied customers, accolades and awards. Continuing the Dotique ethos, creating an inviting and relaxing environment where people love to come, be pampered and unwind.

Dotique continues to attract customers both locally and from further afield drawn by the boutique’s superb reputation at both Chatsworth Road and Peak Village, with dedicated customer car parks at both boutiques making popping in when you are passing even more convenient. With new and exciting developments coming in the near future, Dotique’s presence on Chatsworth Road is a delight to experience.

Call 01246 498536 to find out more.

Oliholpho

Oliholpho has been well established for many years with a wealth of experience in the fashion industry.

Currently they are stocking their summer range, which includes clothing from the likes of Soyaconcept, Sandwich, InWear, Yaya, Matinique, Farah Vintage, Gabicci Vintage, Carlos Cordoba, Intercosta Mani, My Essential Wardrobe, and Scott.

Oliholpho also have an assortment of beautiful and affordable ladies styles from Danish and Dutch designers plus jewellery, accessories and a selection of other brands.

For gents, there's the fabulous Maddox Street and Sunwill show-stopping shirts and jackets as well as shoes by Azor LA Mode.

Call 01246 229900 to find out more.

Perfect style and fit

If the thought of buying a successful business has crossed your mind, and you have an interest in fashion, the perfect opportunity may be waiting for you.

Tucked away in the charming market town of Bakewell, you’ll find one of the leading suppliers of exclusive lingerie, swimwear and nightwear from some of the world’s top designers.

Lace of Bakewell has a worldwide customer base and has been specialising in lingerie since 1991, offering a friendly and professional service to all who walk through their doors. Owner Sue Haywood has been the driving force behind the business but now has one eye on retirement and would love to sell the well-established business, which is based in Orme Court in the quaint market town. There are two years remaining on the lease for the current premises.

Sue has a wealth of experience when it comes to finding not only the perfect style for you, but also the perfect fit. To the ladies at Lace, a well-fitting bra is of the utmost importance. Bakewell’s very own ‘Bra Doctor’ Sue is on hand to

ensure you’re well taken care of and aren’t wasting your valuable time and money on ill-fitting garments. Reservations for fittings are not required, but can be arranged for your convenience.

New stock is arriving all the time and Lace are proud to offer a wide selection of items for women of all shapes and sizes, with band sizes from 32 to 48 and cups ranging from A to K. When you visit Lace, you’ll find a wide range of quality brands, with lingerie from Felina, Mey and Lise Charmel, Rosa Faia, Empreinte swimwear from Maryan, Anita, Lidea and Féraud and nightwear from Damella.

“Whenever we tricky trading periods, the designers always seem to come up with stunning designs and this year is no exception,” said Sue. “Our new stock really has the ‘wow’ factor.”

As well as the new arrivals, Sue is holding her basic lingerie ranges to last year’s prices until Easter and has plenty of bargains, including Robell trousers at half price. There are also three rails of items at stock clearance prices.

With holidays on the horizon swimwear has crept into our consciousness and Lace stocks some stunning ranges, including

those from Gottex.

When asked by customers about her plans for retirement, Sue said: “They always ask ‘what will you do?’. I could write a book or two I say!”

And it’s the customers she’ll miss the most.

“It’s a great pleasure to see someone leave with a bigger smile on their face than when they first came in,” she added.

To find the perfect style and fit for you, visit Lace of Bakewell today.

Lace of Bakewell

Orme Court, Granby Road, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1ES

Tel: 01629 814933

www.lacebakewell.co.uk

THE ‘BRA DOCTOR’ IS HANGING UP HER TAPE MEASURE... WE SPOKE TO SUE HEYWOOD ABOUT RETIREMENT, NEW STOCK AND SPECIAL OFFERS.

Empreinte

Lise Charmel

Antigel

Gottex

WESTSIDE & SOUTHSIDE RESTAURANT & BAR AWARDS 2023

Put yourself in the running

THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2023 WESTSIDE RESTAURANT & BAR AWARDS ARE NOW OPEN. READ ON TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE PART OF THIS YEAR’S EVENT.

The Westside & Southside Bar & Restaurant Awards has settled comfortably into its new location at the OEC – Owlerton Events & Conferencing. This year’s event, which takes place on Monday 30 October, will be the third year running we have held the event here and if the previous two years are anything to go by, 2023’s ceremony is going to be another fantastic affair.

Rewinding back to last year, over 250 people packed out the Hillsborough venue, which opened in late 2019 and hosts a range of impressive multipurpose suites with catering for up to 500 guests, a perfect setting for weddings, dinners, balls, conferences, live events and more. It was the perfect fit for our event; extremely well organised, the service was faultless throughout the evening ensuring that the awards ran smoothly and without a hitch.

The kitchen served a wonderful four-course meal which consisted of cod and prawn bake, lightly spiced sweet potato and coconut soup, pot daube of beef and white chocolate and raspberry creme brulée.

When it came to the 2022 Westside & Southside Restaurant & Bar Awards, sponsored by I Grunwerg Ltd, competition was keen. The top prize went to Rafters, a small but stunning

restaurant on Oakbrook Road that just seems to get better and better. The 3 AA rosette restaurant, owned by Alistair Myers and Tom Lawson, flies the flag for fine dining in the city and we loved everything about it - the food, the wine, the service and the overall attention to detail. It’s just a lovely experience and well deserving of our flagship award.

Judging by the huge round of applause that greeted the announcement - made by our compere Chris Wilson, the former managing editor of RMC Media – it was a popular choice and welldeserved.

One of our most popular awards on the night is the Readers’ Choice Award, voted for by yourselves of course. We had a flurry of entries and after a close call between The Maynard, Beju and The Wortley Arms, it was the north Sheffield venue that scooped the prize, winning by a narrow margin of less than 100 votes. It couldn’t have been closer.

Each of our 18 winners received an engraved plaque, presented on the night by publishing managers Sam Warsop, Mandy Ogle and Sally-Anne Sharp.

Here’s a reminder to all restaurant, hotel, café and pub owners: to make sure your establishment is under consideration for the 2023 Westside Restaurant & Bar Awards, contact publishing manager Sam Warsop at sam.warsop@rmcmedia.co.uk

Young Chef of the Year 2023

Calling all head chefs and restaurateurs... do you have a bright spark working in your kitchen who is shaping up to be an outstanding chef of the future? If you do, now’s the time to shout about it, because Westside is staging a fantastic competition to find the Young Chef of the Year 2023.

The competition is open to all restaurants in the Sheffield and North Derbyshire region and all entries must be under the age of 25 on 1 August 2023.

All entrants will be invited to join us for a MasterChef-style cooking competition at a date to be arranged later this year. Last year we hosted the competition at Sheffield College’s renowned catering department and were wowed by some first rate, inventive virtuoso cooking. Our winner was Chris Parker from The George, Hathersage… so who’ll be named as our next rising star?

The Westside Young Chef of the Year competition is a great opportunity to shine a light on the next generation of kitchen superstars. We’re looking forward to seeing what the best young talent out there has to offer, and giving all four finalists, a boost by placing them in the spotlight.

The results will be announced at the 2023 Westside Restaurant and Bar Awards at The OEC – Owlerton Events & Conferencing – on Monday 30 October.

We’ll be contacting restaurants across the region in the next few months, reminding head chefs and restaurateurs to get involved.

But don’t wait to be invited. If you employ a bright young chef with the talent and drive to reach the top, let us know.

Ben Grunwerg (centre), of I Grunwerg Ltd, and John Murphy (right of centre), managing director of RMC Media, present the ‘Restaurant of the Year’ award to Rafters

2022 Young Chef of the Year Chris Parker

DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF STEAM AND EXPERIENCE A GREAT DAY OUT FOR ALL THE FAMILY

Whether it’s simply a nostalgic journey back to a bygone age or a discovery of the sights and sounds for very first time of a steam or diesel locomotive Peak Rail welcomes you to experience the thrill of our preserved railway whilst travelling through the delightful Derbyshire countryside.

The line forms part of the old Midland Railway line between Manchester Central and London St Pancras which was closed in 1968. We currently operate on approximately 4 miles between Rowsley South Station and Matlock Platform 2.

As well as our normal train journeys, there is something for everyone to enjoy, luxury dining is available on our Palatine Restaurant Car which offers Afternoon or Cream Teas and operates on various days during the year.

A whole host of various special events take place throughout the year perfect for all the family or enthusiast.

Why not treat yourself or a family member to one of our very popular Steam Experience driving courses.

FEATURE

made in derbyshire

WHETHER IT’S SIMPLY A NOSTALGIC JOURNEY BACK TO A BYGONE AGE OR A DISCOVERY OF THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FOR VERY FIRST TIME OF A STEAM OR DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE, PEAK RAIL WELCOMES YOU TO EXPERIENCE THE THRILL OF A PRESERVED RAILWAY WHILST TRAVELLING THROUGH THE DELIGHTFUL DERBYSHIRE COUNTRYSIDE.

trom long walks filled with spectacular scenery to quaint country houses just waiting to be discovered, Derbyshire is packed with everything you need for a fulfilling family day out.

To that list of things to do you can also add Peak Rail, a glorious throwback to the steam engines of old and a great way to experience rail travel as it once was – think steam-filled platforms, Pullman-style coaches and sharp whistles as the engine pulls away from the station.

Peak Rail was set up in the early 1980s and runs on what was the old Midland Railway route linking Derby and Manchester across the Peak District. Trains depart from Rowsley South to Matlock, via Darley Dale, and back.

The Midland Railway route must rate as one of the most spectacular lines ever to have existed in the country. Whatever the merits and claims of other lines, the railway, which carved through Derbyshire’s great limestone hills, has been described as the most scenic line in Britain. Because of the terrain, numerous tunnels and other impressive civil engineering features including the magnificent viaducts at Millers Dale and Monsal Dale had to be constructed.

The railway was not conceived as a single entity by one company but was in fact the result of the ambitions of several separate companies who for their own individual reasons, built the line at different times over a period of some 20 years. Nevertheless, the eventual result of these ventures was a mainline providing a direct route between Derby and Manchester.

The first section of the route between Derby and Ambergate was opened to traffic on 11 May 1840 as part of the “North Midland Railway” line to Rotherham via Chesterfield. The northwestward section, from Ambergate to Rowsley, opened on 4 June 1849 and was constructed by a company with the lengthy title of the “Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midland Junction Railway” (M.B.M. & M.J.R.). This company was later absorbed into the Midland Railway system in 1871.

Before this date the Midland had already constructed a line from Rowsley to Manchester, although this did not follow the route intended by the M.B.M. & M.J.R. owing to the opposition of the Duke of Devonshire to the idea of a railway through Chatsworth Park. In its efforts to gain a through route to Manchester, the Midland Railway had surveyed several possible routes to

achieve this end. A line from Duffield to Rowsley was commenced but was terminated at Wirksworth. One outrageous proposal, however, was the upgrading of the Cromford and High Peak Railway to main line status which would have resulted in DerbyManchester expresses going over gradients as steep as 1:8.

The section of the RowsleyManchester line was commenced in September 1860. Heading north from the new Rowsley station was Haddon Hall, ancestral home of the Duke of Rutland. The Duke was unwilling to allow the railway to cross his estate on the surface, so the company was forced to go underground. Haddon Tunnel at 1058 yards is the longest between Matlock and Buxton; it is in fact a covered way being on average only 12 feet deep. A cutting would have sufficed to preserve the view from Haddon Hall, but the Duke did not want to see smoke

trains never again ran at night over this section.

When in 1968 the last of the direct St. Pancras-Manchester express service was transferred away from the Peak Line and the track quickly lifted, it seemed like the days of rail access to the Peak District had gone forever. Rail enthusiasts on their own initiative got together to form the “Peak Railway Society”. After an initial meeting, membership quickly grew to over a thousand people and then later a commercial operating company “Peak Rail Operations” was formed with the aim of restoring the Peak Line for recreational and community use.

In 1981 the former Buxton Midland site was purchased and turned from what was derelict ground into a thriving Steam Centre. In 1986 P.R.S. and P.R.O. merged to form Peak Rail Limited to provide a more co-ordinated approach with a tighter management structure.

and steam rising above his stately gardens.

The first major change in the administration of the railways in the Peak District came on 1 January 1923 when the railways of England were grouped into four companies. As far as the Peak District was concerned, the lion’s share went to the L.M.S.

In 1962 came the publication of “The Reshaping of Britain’s Railways”, more commonly called the “Beeching Report”. The recommendations of this weighty volume included the closure of two-thirds of the unprofitable lines, to leave the remaining system to pay its way. The first implementation of the report’s proposals was to be the closure of both Buxton branches to passengers. The protests of the local inhabitants deferred these closures. The closure of the Ambergate-Chinley section began in 1954 when Dove Holes tunnel was found to be unsafe. The line was closed at night in order to carry out repairs and

“Whatever the merits and claims of other lines, the railway, which carved through Derbyshire’s great limestone hills, has been described as the most scenic line in Britain.”

Eventually in 1987 a special local authorities joint working party agreed to recommend to their respective constituent authorities’ acceptance of Peak Rails “Fifteen year Financial and Operating Plan”. This comprehensive document detailed the phased plan for reconstruction and operation of the railway identifying sources of finance, method reconstruction, analysis of potential business markets and the pattern of services, with due regard to environmental protection. October 1988 saw the successful launch of the first major share issue converting P.R.L. into “Peak Rail plc”.

The proceeds of this issue were used to fund the rebuilding of the railway from Darley Dale to Matlock (Riverside), which opened to public services in 1992. A second share issue provided the funding required to reach Rowsley (South) in 1997 and allowed the redevelopment of the former

Rowsley engine shed site.

Following some years of consolidation

Peak Rail has prospered and completed its southern objectives in 2011, when the major redevelopment of the former Cawdor Quarry in Matlock allowed the railway to extend its services into Matlock Station giving Peak Rail a town centre terminus and a cross platform link with the national rail service.

Peak Rail now operates services from Rowsley South to Matlock on weekends and bank holidays as well as Wednesdays in the summer. Led by general manager, Mark Sealy, who has been in position since March 2022, and a team of volunteers, they also run a series events throughout the year, including the popular Santa Steam Specials which operate throughout December. Peak Rail recently won ‘Team of the Year’ at the Heritage Railway Awards, something Mark is particularly proud of.

“We need on average 13-14 volunteers

for every train we run and that’s not taking into account the catering staff,” he said. “They do such fantastic work and I’m proud of all of them.”

Coming up this summer is a Rail and Road Steam and Vintage Gala on 3 and 4 June, a Father’s Day Whisky Steam Train on 18 June and a 1940s Weekend on 1 and 2 July.

One recent addition that has proved really popular is their afternoon teas. These run on the Palatine restaurant train on Saturdays, last up to two hours, and consist of a selection of sandwiches followed by a homemade scone with clotted cream, butter and strawberry preserve, strawberries and a selection of mini cakes/desserts all served with a choice of either Yorkshire/Earl Grey Tea or Coffee. All catering is done in-house using a variety of local suppliers.

And those who have always wanted to drive a steam train can fulfil their childhood dreams at Peak Rail. Their Steam Driver Experiences allow you to drive a steam locomotive, be a fireman and find out how it all works all under the instruction and watchful eye of a qualified footplate crew.

With so much to do, now is the perfect time to relive the golden age of steam.

To find out more, visit www.peakrail.co.uk

Fairytale ending

DAN WADDINGTON’S DREAMS OF BECOMING A PUBLISHED AUTHOR HAVE REACHED A COLOURFUL CONCLUSION.

As any parent will tell you, the bedtime story is a ritual and one that cannot be broken, whatever the circumstances. All children will have their favourite books but what happens when you’ve gone through all the Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler ones and they want something different to Superworm, The Gruffalo and The Smartest Giant in Town?

Father of two, Dan Waddington, was faced with a similar dilemma when his girls asked for him to come up with something completely new. Eager to please, he created his own characters - the bubble-breathing Dragonesseswhich in turn has led to him writing his own illustrated children’s book.

“The inspiration came in lockdown, I was furloughed so was able to spend more time with my daughters,” Dan said. “Both of the girls loved they had a dragon each that breathed bubbles and that made them fun. I decided to try and write the story down and it changed into the rhyming verses.”

Dan, who is from Unstone, is currently the advertising manager at Leeds Bradford Airport and has previously spent time working at The Derbyshire Times and with a PR media company so was comfortable writing the words but not confident when it comes to the illustrations. But he had someone in mind.

“The Dragonesses is about princess dragons who do not breathe fire, they breath bubbles instead,” Dan added. “A good friend of mine was able to do the illustrations. He is professionally known as Arty Bianco and he has done Sheffield United programme illustrations along with Sheffield prints and individual commissions - he can now add dragon

princesses to that list.”

When it came to getting the book published, Dan scoured the internet and looked at publishers accepting submissions for children‘s picture books. Having gained good feedback, he had two offers to publish from different companies, both on a contributory basis. He decided to go with Olympia, an independent publishing house. Olympia work under the hybrid model of publishing, where all initial work submitted is considered for a ‘traditional publishing contract’ where no costs are incurred by the author. If they are unable to offer a traditional contract, but feel the work has potential an alternative offer may be made. This offer is known as a ‘Hybrid contract’ and is based on a contribution, to be paid by the author, to cover the initial production and printing cost of the book. Dan’s offer fell under this category and he was able to secure funding to ensure the book could be published.

The Dragonesses is available now, priced £9.99, and Dan is not resting on his laurels. He’s already almost written a

Christmas-themed book and is planning an Easter one too.

“Although aimed at children I think adults will enjoy reading it to the younger ones,” said Dan. “It is a fun story with great illustrations and lots to look out for.

“It sounds a strange thing to say that I am an author and I’m sure my English teachers might not have picked me out to be the one!”

You can buy The Dragonesses through Olympia Publishers: https://olympiapublishers.com/bo ok/the-dragonesses or through Amazon.

Vibrant & invigorating

AS A MORE MUTED CORAL SHADE, SERANDITE IS A COLOUR THAT NOURISHES THE MIND, BODY AND SOUL, PAIRING WELL WITH NEUTRALS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO EASE THIS HUE INTO THEIR HOME BUT ALSO WORKING WELL AS A STATEMENT COLOUR FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO TAKE THE LEAP.

Get a fresh and contemporary look with the Caro bed. Upholstered in stylish linen weave fabric with modern stitch detailing, £329.99. www.furniturechoice.co.uk

1 Cult Furniture Sofia accent chair, burnt orange velvet £249. www.cultfurniture.com

2 Orange fox wallpaper by Abigail Borg, £120 per 10m roll, abigailborg.com 3 Zuiver cute desk clock in pink £25. cuckooland.com 4 TK Maxx burnt orange side table £27.99. www.tkmaxx.com 5 HomeSense coral fringe cushion £12.99. www.homesense.com 6 TK Maxx coral reef vase £16.99. www.tkmaxx.com

7 With hypnotic intertwining corals and sea shells, Coral Odyssey is a vibrant scenescape that will take you on a visual adventure across a psychedelic palette of ocean tones, £125. www.thecuriousdepartment.com

8 Coral frosted glass classic candle holder £26. www.roseandgrey.co.uk

9 This luxurious picnic set contains a Lollypop Orange pure new wool picnic blanket, two outdoor cushions and a playful portable Champagne bucket with a matching leather strap, £299. www.heating-and-plumbing.com

10 Made from 100 per cent organic natural materials the new Growing Green Baby Bouncer by Nobodinoz is perfect for newborns, £185. www.ellajames.co.uk 11 Stoneware coral decoration, £28. nataliawillmott.co.uk 12 Cult Furniture Heather kitchen stool, burnt orange velvet and brass £129. www.cultfurniture.com 13 Dobbies Garden Centres Willow tray large coral £24.99. www.dobbies.com 14 Rise And Shine orange juice vase, £26. fiveanddime-interiors.com 15 Add some humour to your home decor with this print from Maarten Leon on your wall, £10.95. desenio.com 16 In a tranquil shade of orange, this glass bud vase will add a calming touch to any indoor or outdoor space, £10. www.thewisteriatree.co.uk 17 “Happy Go Sparkly” Champagne bucket, £88.50. www.heating-and-plumbing.com 18 HomeSense orange elephant ornament £9.99. www.homesense.com

19 KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer in coral, £629. www.kitchenaid.co.uk 20 Coralina No. 65 is a stunning coral paint, perfect for those who embrace colour. £41.95. www.victorycolours.co.uk 21 Bring a cool retro vibe and a real pop of colour to your space with this great value retro geometric rug in vibrant orange colourway, £69. www.limelace.co.uk 22 Souk Cotto porcelain tiles, £60. porcelainsuperstore.co.uk 23 Five And Dime side table in orange, £195. fiveanddime-interiors.com 24 Antique gold giraffe lamp with burnt orange velvet shade, £121. www.cotterellandco.com 25 Cath Kidston Printmaker two-seater sofa in coral chalky velvet, £1,249, available exclusively at DFS. www.dfs.co.uk 26 B&M terracotta candle £5. www.bmstores.co.uk 27 Vitra DSW Eames plastic side chair with golden maple base £425. nest.co.uk 28 Orange record player turntable glass chopping board, £24.99. yililo.com

PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD WITH THE LATEST STYLES FOR THE NEW SEASON.

Office Veja Campo trainers - white California £140. www.office.co.uk

TK Maxx blue satin slippers £12.99. www.tkmaxx.com

John Lewis UGG Tasman slipper £95. www.johnlewis.com

New Look green leather-look strappy stiletto heel court shoes £35.99. www.newlook.com

ABOVE: Deichmann Catwalk green diamante ankle strap heel £29.99. www.deichmann.com

RIGHT: Primark canvas trainers £6. www.primark.com

Office Heritage multistrap block heel sandalsorange £54.99. www.office.co.uk

Dune London mens Trilogy shoes £100. www.dunelondon.com

Dune London mens Bradlay shoe in stone £95. www.dunelondon.com

Office high rise heel sandals - black £54.99 and Office Million Dollar strappy sandals - off white £54.99. www.office.co.uk

Oliver Bonas Gola Raven coral pink and purple trainers £95. www.oliverbonas.com

Monsoon pastel rainbow bow sliders multi colours £16. www.monsoon.co.uk

TK Maxx pink and gold loafers £20. www.tkmaxx.com

Dronfield & South Sheffield’s leading independent flooring specialist

Celebrating 10 Years on Sheffield Road, Dronfield Carpets & Floors would like to thank all their customers for their continued support.

The local privately-owned business specialise in the supply and installation of quality carpets, Karndean, LVT, wood and parquet flooring as well as artificial grass. They offer a wide range of floor coverings to suit all projects and budgets.

With a team of experienced sales staff and installers, Dronfield Carpets & Floors pride themselves on exemplary service from start to finish. This includes Free Design, Advice, Sampling, Measuring and no obligation quotations. They also offer a free @HOME service, bringing friendly, professional advice and sampling directly to your door.

Dronfield Carpets & Floors are stockists of Abingdon, Cormar, Victoria, Brockway, Ulster, Karndean, Distinctive, V4 & Ted Todd wood flooring, Leoline vinyls and much more….

120 Sheffield Road • Dronfield • S18 2GE • Tel: 01246 292391

www.dronfieldcarpetsandfloors.co.uk

Open: Monday - Friday 9am-5.30pm & Saturday 10am-5pm

As I’m sure any parent will tell you, you can always rely on your children to be disappointed. You try your best to broaden their horizons, take them to places they’ve never been before but can almost always predict that they’ll be underwhelmed by wherever or whatever you’ve taken them to see.

Take our recent maiden trip to Oxford for example. We’d headed down as a family for a couple of days to explore the many colleges and museums, only to find out that my two, aged ten and 12, were more interested in the shops, when we were going for something to eat or whether there was any wifi. Sound familiar?

With over nine million visitors each year, there are plenty of reasons why Oxford is such a popular tourist destination. Principal among these is the university colleges which dominate this

Dreaming of city spires

DON’T LET THE KIDS FOOL YOU, THERE’S LOTS TO LOVE ABOUT OXFORD, WRITES RICHARD ABBEY.

old and most celebrated of cities.

Oxford University is the oldest higher education institution in the Englishspeaking world and to date one of the best and most prestigious in the world. It is made up of 39 independent colleges, the most famous being Christ Church, Trinity and Balliol, which intermingle with shops, museums, restaurants and gardens throughout the centre.

Highlights for tourers include the Radcliffe Camera, an iconic landmark and a working library which is part of the Bodleian complex, and the Hertford Bridge. Often called the Bridge of Sighs, this distinctive skyway nestled amongst Oxford’s quaint honey-coloured streets joins two parts of Hertford College.

It was at this latter attraction that my children showed their true colours.

“Is that it?” they said in harmony.

“I thought it would be bigger.”

“Doesn’t it go over a river?”

Ignoring their negative comments, we joined a throng of tourists and a walking tour posing for pictures and thoroughly enjoyed exploring the many narrow streets and quads. It was anything but underwhelming.

Whilst you’re working your way around the many colleges, don’t forget to stop off at the Ashmolean, the University of Oxford’s museum of art and technology and Britain’s first public museum. This free-to-visit space houses

Bridge of Sighs

the world’s greatest collection of Raphael drawings, Egyptian pre-dynastic sculpture and ceramics, the only great Minoan collection in Britain, outstanding Anglo-Saxon treasures, and the foremost collection of modern Chinese paintings.

The History of Science Museum, opposite Trinity College, is also worth a stop-off (entry is free) and is home to an unrivalled collection of scientific inventions, devices, and instruments from different cultures, places, and times in human history.

Cornmarket Street is just a short walk from here and marks the start of Oxford’s main shopping area. Head down and to the left and you’ll find the Covered Market, which dates back to the 18th century and is a hub of independent retailers selling everything from books to clothing.

Head in the opposite direction and you’ll happen upon Westgate, a brand new retail quarter featuring the best of British high street names as well as prestigious global brands. A stunning roof terrace offers panoramic views over the city and is also home to a good number of restaurants as well as a cinema.

If you’re planning more than a day trip to the ‘City of Dreaming Spires’, as we did, the Holiday Inn Oxford offers the perfect base from which to explore the city as well as the surrounding area. Located just off the A34 at the Peartree Roundabout it is sited next to a park and ride which offers easy access to the city – parking is free and a family ticket cost us just £5 return for the ten-minute bus ride into the centre.

The Holiday Inn has just undergone a £1million refurbishment to transform its public spaces and showcase a brand new ‘open lobby’ concept on the ground floor. This has seen the traditionally separate zones of a reception, lobby, bar, lounge, restaurant and business centre merged into one cohesive space where guests can eat, meet, relax and socialise as they choose.

Key features of the open lobby include

free high-speed wifi, a ‘To Go’ café where food and drinks are available around the clock, a versatile dining space with a range of seating from booths to high and low tables, a living room-style media lounge with comfy seating, games, magazines and TV, and an E-bar where guests can plug in with lots of power points, a wireless printer and more.

“There are so many options and areas to plug in or switch off, that our business and travel guests will love what we’ve done,” said general manager Gavin Webster. “Customer satisfaction is a top priority for me and my team and this refurbishment allows us to deliver our best-ever service with no barriers between us and the guests.”

This high-level of customer service was evident throughout our stay at the

hotel; staff were eager to please and engage you in conversation making you feel very welcome. The vibrant décor really added to the ‘open lobby’ concept and created a bright and bubbly atmosphere in areas that can often be soulless. It made for a refreshing change.

The restaurant operates an extensive all-day menu and we tucked into dishes of king prawn skewers (£8.25), sirloin steak (£25.95) and chicken makhana curry (£17.25). Children are well catered for too with a ‘build your own menu’ and eat for free with paying adults.

Breakfast is served buffet style and featured a range of cereals and pastries, fruit and cold cuts as well as your traditional hot favourites, including eggs cooked to order.

The refurbishments at the Holiday Inn Oxford haven’t been limited to the lobby but have been extended to the bedrooms too. Our King Room with pull-out sofa bed was both spacious and comfortable.

The location of the hotel is not just convenient for the centre of Oxford but also offers easy access to the Cotswolds, nearby Blenheim Palace and the Bicester Village designer shopping outlet is just a ten-minute drive away.

Our children (and ourselves) were seriously impressed with the hotel, for once being overwhelmed. We’ll enjoy it while it lasts.

The Holiday Inn Oxford is an IHG Hotel. To find out more, visit www.ihg.com. For information on the Peartree Park & Ride, visit www.oxford.gov.uk For Oxford visitor information, head to oxfordcity.co.uk

The new open lobby at Holiday Inn Oxford

Spacious rooms

Unseen treasures

TWO NEW EXHIBITIONS AT WELBECK’S GALLERY AND MUSEUM REVEAL MORE ABOUT THE 5TH DUKE OF PORTLAND’S UNUSUAL NICKNAME AND NEVER-BEFORESEEN WORKS OF ART.

Welbeck is one of the great traditional landed estates, nestled within Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. It extends to some 15,000 acres and sits within an area known as the Dukeries. It gets its name from the four historic neighbouring ducal seats - Welbeck, Clumber, Thoresby, and Worksop Manor.

At their height, these ducals together covered 88,000 acres which gave the Dukeries at the time the qualities of a selfcontained world.

During its long history, the Welbeck estate has welcomed politicians, dignitaries and royalty and has played a role in major milestones in the country’s history.

Welbeck Abbey, within the heart of the estate, was initially founded as a monastery in 1153. After the dissolution of the monasteries, the Abbey was bought by Bess of Hardwick’s youngest son, Sir Charles Cavendish. It has since passed through the family and became the country seat to a succession of Dukes of Portland. Family members included the 3rd Duke of Portland, who was twice Prime Minister.

Each generation has made its mark on the estate. None more so than the 5th Duke of Portland - most famously known as the ‘Burrowing Duke’. He was responsible for commissioning an extraordinary range of buildings as well as a network of tunnels below the estate.

He was also the man behind the creation of the estate’s kitchen gardens – the biggest in Britain – and the development of one of the largest riding schools in the world, second only to one in Moscow.

Today, Welbeck continues to be a working estate. It contains a Grade II-registered historic park designed in 1748, ancient woodlands and forestry, lakes, farmland and grazing and a deer park. It also has some of the country’s most important rural heritage buildings.

While the estate looks much as it did in the 19th century, behind the doors of its extraordinary heritage buildings are a community of artisan food producers, artists, makers and businesses. The former fire stables, for example, are now home to The School of Artisan Food and Welbeck Bakehouse and the former Gas Works were transformed into The Harley Gallery.

“There are many myths and legends surrounding the 5th Duke’s memory. These including wearing three pairs of socks, only eating roast chicken and communicating exclusively by letter through his bedroom door.”

Unseen Treasures of The Portland Collection Images courtesy Alex Wilkinson Media

Located in The Courtyard at Welbeck, the award-winning Harley Gallery shows contemporary exhibitions by leading visual artists and makers, which change quarterly. Just next door is The Portland Collection museum, which displays works of art from Welbeck’s internationally significant historic collection.

At present you can dig deeper into the estate’s history with The Harley Gallery’s new exhibition, Tunnel Vision, which goes some way to explaining why the 5th Duke of Portland got his unusual sobriquet.

The 5th Duke was an unusual figure in high society and many myths and legends have grown around his memory. These including wearing three pairs of socks, only eating roast chicken and communicating exclusively by letter through his bedroom door.

The actual truth behind these stories is uncertain but it seems that the famously private Duke lead a fascinating life.

He is best known for his building projects, which include one of the world’s largest riding schools, two and three-quarter miles of tunnels, a subterranean ballroom and an underground donkey stable.

This new exhibition illustrates his life beyond the tunnels - including stories of lost love, amazing art collecting and the creation of the landscape we see today at Welbeck.

As a young man the 5th Duke fell in love with the opera singer Adelaide Kemble. He proposed to her, only to discover she was secretly married. The Duke never married. This exhibition includes portraits of the singer, including a gold-framed miniature portrait and a selection of drawings from a series of 34 sketches.

You can also discover works from the 5th Duke‘s extensive art collection - he bought more than 50 paintings, including works by Reynolds and Mytens, over 70 miniatures and an extraordinary array of ceramics. A particular is a full-length, glamorous portrait of Madame de la Valliére, who was a mistress of Louis XIV.

Lisa Gee, director of The Harley Gallery, said: “We wanted to illustrate that the 5th Duke was more than a tunnel builder. He was a true man of his

times; a great art collector, prolific correspondent, philanthropist, and innovator using the latest technology and design.”

You can now also see the Unseen Treasures of the Portland Collection,

which unveils a collection built up over 400 years by a single aristocratic family. There is silver and tapestry, paintings and jewels; art that has come home after a long loan to a prestigious national gallery, and stunning star items that visitors know and love - such as Michaelangelo’s Madonna of Silence or the pearl earring worn by Charles I at his execution.

A highlight of the display is a Picture Gallery stacked with Tudor and Jacobean portraits - many of which have never been seen publicly before.

Lisa added: “It is said that a picture paints a thousand words, so what do these portraits tell us? Historic portraits were almost always flattering, filtered images which are like the social media of their day. But behind the gleaming fabrics and jewels were fully rounded individuals. Despite their starched clothing they were as human as we are.”

Entry to both exhibitions is free. To find out more, visit www.harleygallery.co.uk

ABOVE: The 5th Duke of Portland - Richard Dighton

MAIN PICTURE: Madame de la Valliere, around 1665 Casper Netscher © Harley Foundation, Portland Collection

Horse, Francesco Fanelli, around 1640 The Portland Collection

DACIA HAS QUICKLY EARNED A REPUTATION FOR DELIVERING ALL THE BENEFITS OF AN SUV AT CITY CAR PRICE, WRITES RICHARD ABBEY.

Value for money 4x4

The Dacia Duster, priced from just £14,845 on the road, offers fantastic value-for-money. The latest model features refreshed design elements, up-to-date features, and technology all while continuing to offer the same robustness and comfort it is famed for.

Launched in the UK in 2013, the Duster quickly earned a reputation for delivering all the benefits of an SUV at city car price. The Duster has shaken-up the SUV segment, having broken the rules to become a unique offering for consumers. With more than two million vehicles sold, the Duster has been the number one car for retail sales in its class in Europe’s SUV market since 2019.

Following on from earlier generations, the New Duster is aimed both at customers who are looking for a comfortable, attractive SUV and those who want a robust, versatile 4x4.

All engines are Euro 6D with one of the most popular being the diesel dCi 115, which is available in either twowheel or four-wheel drive. The range-topping 4x4 Extreme SE Blue dCi edition is priced at £21,995 and features 17inch black alloy wheels, grey quartz door mirrors with orange detailing, chrome front grille with orange detailing and grey quartz roof bars with orange lettering.

Economy levels out at 53.8 mpg on the combined cycle.

The heat is on

Renault has enhanced the all new Megane E-Tech 100% electric with the introduction of the new top-of-the-range Iconic trim.

The new model features the extensive specification of the limited version Launch Edition, but with the added benefits of an innovative new heat pump and an extended choice of colour palette.

A unique benefit of the patented heat pump developed by thermal management Renault engineers, is that the system recovers heat generated by the battery and the electric motor twice as efficiently to ensure optimal temperature for the cabin, whilst simultaneously minimising the impact on range. In use, when the outside temperature drops below 10°C, the range of the all new Megane E-Tech can increase by up to nine per cent on motorways, while maintaining a comfortable temperature inside.

With an electric driving range of up to 280 miles (WLTP), the all new Megane E-Tech 100% electric also features a class-leading digital experience with a 12.3-inch dashboard display, 9-inch multimedia display, and Android Automotive OS with integrated Google services from the Techno trim.

New paradigm

In the marque’s 60th anniversary year, Lamborghini has unveiled the Revuelto, the first super sports V12 hybrid plug-in HPEV (High Performance Electrified Vehicle).

Revuelto defines a new paradigm in terms of performance, sportiness and driving pleasure from its unprecedented new architecture; innovative design; maximum-efficiency aerodynamics; and a new carbon frame concept. An output of 1015 CV is delivered from the combined power of an entirely new combustion engine together with three electric motors, alongside a double-clutch gearbox that makes its debut on a 12-cylinder Lamborghini for the first time.

“The new Revuelto is a milestone in the history of Lamborghini, and an important pillar in our Direzione Cor Tauri electrification strategy,” said Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini Chairman and CEO. “It is a unique and innovative car but at the same time faithful to our DNA: the V12 is an iconic symbol of our super sports heritage and history. Revuelto was born to break the mould, combining a new 12-cylinder engine with hybrid technology, creating the perfect balance between delivering the emotion that our clients want with the necessity to reduce emissions.”

Could the contents of your wardrobe bag you an auction windfall?

Designer clothing and accessories are flying high at auction and a woman who can unleash their potential is hosting a special event in Derbyshire.

Notty Hornblower, owner of Hope House Museum in Alstonefield, near Ashbourne, will be offering her expertise at a free valuation and consignment event in the county.

Notty, together with general antiques valuer Katy Beardmore, will be Cavendish Hall, Edensor, on Wednesday 14 June, 10am-1pm.

Notty said: “I can value anything from period costume and textiles to designer wares from the likes of Derbyshire’s own Vivienne Westwood, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Prada or Hermes. Delve into your wardrobes and see what you can find.

“Clothing, handbags, scarves and accessories from high-end makes are in demand at auction. That’s because they provide a way for people to buy or swap quality items at a reasonable prices in a world which values recycling. It’s seen an an ethical way to buy goods, and the trend is growing.”

As well as clothing and accessories, Hansons can assess all types of general antiques and collectables including ceramics, militaria and medals, coins and banknotes, books, toys, railwayana, jewellery, watches, silver and memorabilia relating to sport, music and films.

Hansons will be at Cavendish Hall, Edensor, Derbyshire DE45 1PJ, on 14 June, 10am-1pm.

For other dates visit www.hansonsauctioneers.co.uk. To find out more, email service@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk or call 01283 733988.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant will restore some of North-East Derbyshire’s finest medieval stained glass

A £179,541 restoration project is set to see Dronfield Parish Church’s breathtaking medieval stained glass windows and surrounding stonework restored to their former glory.

The windows in the Grade 1 listed building were partly conserved in the 1970s and 1980s but the intervening years has seen them suffer major pigment loss with their true colour being further masked by Perspex which was installed at the same time to provide protection.

The project will allow the three windows containing medieval glass to be professionally conserved and the Perspex removed.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant will also fund research into the church’s history and the development of interpretation material to open up the building’s fascinating past to a far wider audience.

Volunteers will be recruited and trained to give guided tours to visitors as part of the project. In addition to tours, open days and special events, the project will include the creation of interpretation material to help people learn about the windows and why they are such a valuable cultural and historical asset.

The church also contains a number of benefactors boards and recording bequests - the oldest of which goes back over 800 years – which will also be studied.

Celebrating a design icon

It's been 70 years since designer-silversmith David Mellor created his iconic Pride cutlery. To mark the occasion, a special limitededition version has been created of this beloved cutlery range.

No design has embodied Britain’s own brand of understated modernism better than David Mellor’s Pride cutlery. Forged in the fires of post-war optimism, Pride is as emblematic of British design as the Mini, the Anglepoise lamp or the Tube map.

Pride cutlery has won numerous design awards and is found in many museum collections around the world.

To celebrate the 70th anniversary, Corin Mellor has created 20 special limited-edition sets with Rosewood handles and mirror polished blades. Packaged in specially created Walnut canteen boxes with moulded dark red interiors - a nod to Pride’s impeccable mid-century credentials. These luxurious limited-edition sets are completed by a celebratory edition-marked plaque.

From all David Mellor shops or online: www.davidmellordesign.co.uk

95th annual Charter event

Members of the Soroptimists of Sheffield an International Women’s group held their 95th Annual event. They were joined by the Master Cutler Dame Julie Kenny DBE DL, the Mistress Cutler Rachel Abbott, and the Lord Mayor Councillor SD Richards, the Lady Mayor Councillor J Satur and the Yorkshire President Jane Glendinning as well as members from other clubs and family and friends.

Dame Julie spoke about her year as Master Cutler and her ongoing work at Wentworth Woodhouse. The Lord Mayor and Yorkshire President applauded all the good work that SI Sheffield members are doing for various charities including Mums In Need and Winn Gardens this year.

Christian Dior Lady Dior handbag in black lambskin leather. Estimate £500-£700

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