Voice Magazines - Swanwick, Riddings, Leabrooks and Somercotes Edition - November 2023

CHRISTMAS LIST ‘23

INGS, D ID R , K IC SWANW ERCOTES M O S & S K LEABROO

‘23

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From the Editor Howdi Readers, So, one of the fun things we get to do with the magazines and have done for a while is find out about the many National Days that we have in place.

This month, Laura has written about ‘British Pudding Day’ which fits in beautifully with the return of Noel, Prue, Blue Eyes Hollywood and now Hammond (Alison, not the Hamster for Top Gear!). I have to say, I’m fairly late to the ‘GBBO’ party, having only started watching it when it moved to Channel 4 but nothing symbolises winter better than ice-cream week during the summer heat wave (remember those heat waves and how we craved the cooler weather #carefulwhatyouwishfor!). I do wonder whether I’m drawn to that programme in particular because I have a bit of a sweet-tooth? It’s fair to say, I do lose interest a bit on bread week!

Anyways, I think everyone has their ‘go to’ winter TV programme don’t they? Whether it is ‘Dancing on Ice’, ‘Strictly’ or one of the talent shows but for me – Tuesday night is my guilty pleasure, vicariously eating all those wonderful, delicious calories through the screen!!

Whilst we’re talking about the swift move to winter, seeing as Autumn has been bypassed this year! And we’re into the year of the floods already. Some of our team have been hit and our heartfelt commiserations go out to everyone who has been affected.

Meanwhile, the man in the red suit is donning his boots as I type! It’s clearly Christmas!!! Well, not quite but it feels like it at Voice HQ as we have already been busily working on our Christmas editions for the last month or so. So, for us Christmas is already old (Santa’s) hat, but for the rest of you it’s last chance if you want to get something in the magazine in time for Christmas.

So if you have a fair, fayre, fete, festival, feast, fiesta, messages of good will to your customers or just a plain old party don’t forget to let us know.

Finally, for all those wondering, my much-feted finger is (I know it was the reason you picked up the magazine this month!), the good news is it’s just about healed (as much as it’s going to be!). So, I’m back, terrorising the pitches and courts of Hockey and Netball with renewed vigour! Well, at least for the first few games before my old bod gets a bit tired and achy and the deep heat/tiger balm and ibuprofen/paracetamol/ glucosamine ritual begins again – it’s not much fun getting older is it?

But like my dad says “it’s better than the alternative”!!!

Have a good month, Happy Reading!

x Emily

WITH 12 MAGAZINES COVERING NOTTINGHAMSHIRE & DERBYSHIRE, WHY NOT ADVERTISE IN ANOTH-

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Upcoming Submission Deadline for Advertisers & Contributors: December ‘23 Edition - 10th November ‘23 • January ‘24 Edition - 8th December ’23

To advertise email: info@voicemagazines.co.uk or call us on 01773 549 035 Printed by CPUKt Ltd and distributed to 5,200 homes in North Derbyshire. Disclaimer: No responsibility is accepted by Voice Magazines Limited for claims, errors or omissions made in advertisements appearing in this issue. All advertisers are accepted in good faith and we are not responsible for views expressed by contributor or other sources. Reproduction of the contents of this magazine is not permitted without the prior consent of the publisher.

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

BRITISH PUDDING DAY 9TH NOVEMBER I didn’t know there was a day set aside in celebration of the British pudding…so naturally I had to investigate.

I also didn’t know about “National Roast Dinner Day” on November 4th – what have I been doing to not be aware of special days set aside to celebrate two things I enjoy immensely? And, as a note to whoever sets the dates for these days, why didn’t you have Roast Dinner day and Pudding day at the same time? I mean, who wants to wait four days for pudding after the roast beef and yorkies?

Shall we have a brief look at the loveliness that is the British pudding?

Top of my list has to be sticky toffee pudding. Who can resist the sweet, sticky unctuousness of a traditional STP? There has to be lashings of toffee sauce – thick and gooey, never runny – and a wellplaced scoop of vanilla ice cream, which melts and blends with the fudgy deliciousness.

Steamed treacle sponge is another favourite. I like to add a tiny bit of lemon zest to my steamed sponge – trust me, it adds a bit of “je ne sais quoi”.

Smother your portion with custard – not crème anglaise – good old-fashioned custard (made with powder from a tin), and dive in. Heaven.

Veering off piste to cold puds, there are Sherry Trifles and Eton Messes to be consumed. I mean, what’s not to like about lashings of whipped cream accompanying fruit (and booze)?

OK, that’s enough of fridge puddings, it is November after all. What else is there in the lexicon of British puddings?

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How about a good old-fashioned crumble? Apple, apple and blackberry, or my favourite, rhubarb.

One of the quickest and easiest puddings to make, the biggest decision is what to serve with it, pouring cream, ice cream, or custard. Such a hard life!

Delving into the realm of “nursery room puds”, aka as still served to Jacob Rees Mogg by his nanny (probably)! We have spotted dick, jam roly poly, and Eve’s pudding. I accepted I was working class when I realised jam roly poly did not mean a slice from a shop bought jam roll cake covered in Bird’s custard. Delicious certainly, but not as served to Little Lord Fauntleroy’s around the land!

I suppose rice pudding falls into the category of nursery room food but, done properly, it can be a thing of joy. Forget the stuff that comes in cans (nice though that is) and make your own. Easy peasy, especially in a slow cooker – add the ingredients, stir and leave it alone. Beloved of school dinner cooks, who can forget tapioca (frogspawn) and semolina? Now, oddly, I used to really enjoy tinned semolina; I think because it tasted of evaporated milk. The stuff served at school though…urgh…it was often so thick you could slice it!

If I’ve overlooked some of your personal favourites, I apologise, but I hope I’ve given you the excuse to get cooking up some puds!

These articles are researched and written by Laura Billingham, a local content writer and author.

Laura moved to the Peak District several years ago to pursue her passion for writing. to www.word-witch.co.uk mention Voice Magazines when ToDon’t find outforget more visit or contact Laura on responding 07736 351 341 to the Ads

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Alfreton & District Heritage Trust NOVEMBER 2023

FRANK MILLER BINGHAM Cricket Club too. It seems to have been a family trait caring for miners, as Frank’s older brother, Sidney, and their father John, both treated miners in the Alfreton and Blackwell area.

Frank Miller Bingham

Last month we told the story of Dr. John Joseph Bingham of Alfreton and it seems appropriate that in the month we remember all those who gave their lives in the service of our Country we should talk about his son, Frank Miller Bingham, who was killed on 22nd May 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres.

Frank Miller Bingham was born in Alfreton on 17th September 1874. He was educated at St Peter’s, school in York. He did his medical training in London and whilst there, played Rugby for Middlesex. After he completed his medical training, Frank returned to Derbyshire to become a Doctor for the Blackwell Colliery Company.

He was in this role for four years and played cricket for the Blackwell Colliery Cricket Club, and in 1896 Derbyshire County

Frank subsequently left his role at a doctor for the Blackwell Colliery Company to become a partner in a doctor’s surgery in Lancashire. It was here that he decided to join the army as a medical officer in the Territorial Army. At the outbreak of the First World War, rather than deciding to join the Medical Corps, Frank chose to take a combatant role, despite being nearly 40 and served in Flanders. Captain Bingham arrived in France along with the rest of the battalion on 14th February 1915, he was killed in action on 22nd May 1915 having just returned to the front line from a period of leave in England.

Original grave in Sanctuary Wood

He was buried in Sanctuary Wood, his grave marked with a wooden cross and the plot fenced off. As the war ravaged the area the grave was lost and Captain F M Bingham is now recorded on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Frank Miller Bingham was killed in a very moving act of bravery and compassion. Frank, along with four other men, had just set off on a reconnaissance mission before daybreak one morning, only to find a man half buried by a collapsed trench. The doctor in Frank couldn’t leave the man to die and he began organising the rescue. They were undetected by the Germans until the light grew, and it was as the party left the trenches that they were detected.

Sadly Frank was shot through the heart and died instantly.

He left behind a wife and young family.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

MOBILE FOOT CLINIC

RASCALS SUCCESS IN EUROPEAN & COMMONWEALTH CHAMPIONSHIPS In August RASCALS saw three of their Lifesavers represent team GBR at the European youth lifesaving Championships in Poland. Heather Watson and Luke Waterfall gained their second GBR cap and Heather had the honour of being the GBR Vice-Captain for the championships. Freddie Postlethwaite received his first international cap and represented his country with pride.

and Luke Waterfall represented the England National Team. Heather achieved great success winning her first international medals including Gold in the dry SERC (Simulated Emergency Response Competition). Not to be outdone, Luke Waterfall also won Gold in the dry SERC and completed a set of international World, European and Commonwealth medals. Heather then captained the 4-person team, including Luke, that went on to win Gold in the pool SERC. Abi Kerr represented the Scottish National team achieving her first international cap. Abi won an individual bronze medal in the line throw and was Scotland’s top female performer.

Freddie Postlethwaite and Sally Carter were both selected to represent the England development team coming away with a combination of team and individual medals.

Heather, Luke, and Freddie pictured with Daniel Woodthorpe (RASCALS Head Coach & GBR Pool coach)

The first 2 days were in the pool with a busy schedule for our pool-based swimmers, competing across individual and team events. All 3 athletes were successful in attaining different B finals with Heather and Luke both attaining their first individual international A finals.

Day 3 was a transfer day travelling north to the coast for the beach and ocean events. Although our athletes are pool-based, they still contribute to some of the relay events on the beach and in the ocean. Luke won a silver medal in the beach relay.

Jacob Screeton represented the Welsh development team and won his first international individual and team medals.

When all the points were combined England finished 2nd behind the Australians, Wales were in 4th place and Scotland in 8th place.

To have 6 of RASCALS athletes be chosen by different selection committees, whether for GBR or the home countries is testament to the dedication of the athletes’ and the quality coaching they receive headed by Daniel Woodthorpe.

GBR finished 5th overall which is fantastic when you consider the countries placed 1 – 4 are all funded by government or business. We are immensely proud of all three athletes succeeding to be chosen as they accounted for 25% of the total GBR team.

Three weeks later RASCALS athletes were again representing the home nations at the RLSS Commonwealth Championships which this year were held in Windsor, Canada. Heather Watson

Abi Kerr, Sally Carter, Heather Watson, Luke Waterfall, Freddie Postlethwaite, & Jacob Screeton

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LTD

invited TURKISH KITCHEN & BBQ

to try there lovely food

The Voice Team recently had the pleasure of dining at ROKA, a Turkish restaurant that left a lasting impression with its delectable cuisine and exceptional service. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm and friendly welcome, setting the tone for what turned out to be a memorable dining experience.

Our culinary journey began with a selection of starters, which showcased the rich and diverse flavours of Turkish cuisine. The Aubergine Ezme was a revelation, blending smoky, roasted eggplant with spices to create a tantalizing dip. The Homemade Hummus was a creamy delight, and the Acili Esme, a spicy tomato salad, packed a flavourful punch. The Girit Esme, Saksuka, and Potato Salad each offered their own unique twist on freshness and taste. However, the real star of the appetizers was the Halloumi Fries – crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside, perfection.

For the main course, we were spoiled for choice, and the dishes that followed continued to exceed our expectations. The Mousakka, with layers of eggplant, minced meat, and a velvety béchamel sauce, baked to perfection. The Chicken and Lamb Shish Kebabs were tender and expertly seasoned.

The Lamb Shank, cooked to fall-offthe-bone tenderness, melted in the mouth. The Iskender Chicken and Chicken Sauté added a touch of diversity to our table, each bringing its own unique blend of spices and textures.

ROKA staff were attentive, friendly, and dedicated to ensuring that our dining experience was nothing short of perfect. They offered recommendations, accommodated our dietary preferences, and provided insightful explanations of each dish, adding a personal touch to the entire experience.

Overall, our visit to ROKA was second to none. The extensive variety of starters and main courses catered to a diverse range of palates, and the quality and presentation of the food were simply outstanding.

Coupled with the warm and welcoming service, it’s easy to see why ROKA is a top choice for those seeking an authentic Turkish dining experience. The Voice Team all left saying “we will definitely come back to ROKA again” thank you for having us ROKA.

What truly set this restaurant apart, apart from its exceptional cuisine, was the impeccable service. The

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Seville with its collection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and orange tree-ringed piazzas is next on the itinerary, and a cruise across the Guadalquivir River allows you to take in the sights from a different angle. A boat trip in a traditional barge to Doñana National Park, a birdwatchers’ paradise, is followed by a visit to ancient Cádiz, sailing in a catamaran to medieval Rota, and an optional excursion to Marbella’s world-famous marina, Puerto Banus, by water.

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25

FOOD & RETAIL

Slimming World Recipe Chicken Curry Noodles Method:

Partial to a pot of instant noodles?

Then grab your fork, because there’s no such thing as a guilty pleasure at Slimming World – especially when you can create this Free version, taken from the Air Fryers and Friends cookbook!

1. Break up the noodle 2. Add the peppers, garlic, nests so they fit into a curry powder, turmeric, 2.5-litre microwaveable stock, peas, sweetcorn and chicken to the bowl or container. Cover with boiling water and noodles and stir well. microwave on high for 3 Cover and cook on high for 6 minutes. Stir again, minutes or until almost scatter over the spring tender. Drain and put the noodles back in the onions, season to taste same bowl or container. and serve.

Ingredients: • 2 dried egg noodle • 200ml hot chicken nests

• 100g frozen peas peppers, deseeded • 100g canned and finely chopped

• 1 garlic clove, crushed

To cook this on the hob: Spray a non-stick frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and cook the peppers, garlic and spices over a low heat for 2 minutes. Add the stock, peas, corn and chicken and cook for 10 minutes over a medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cook the noodles separately, drain and stir them through.

For more information visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk

stock

• 2 large red

• 2 heaped tsp

medium curry powder* • ½ tsp ground turmeric

Serves: 2 Ready in: 20 mins

sweetcorn kernels, drained • 2 cooked skinless and boneless chicken breasts, shredded • Sliced spring onions, to serve

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Pitcherwits

®

Pitcherwits® are crossword puzzles where some of the clues are in pictures.

Sound easy? It’s not called “Pit-your-wits” for nothing!

The mixture of cryptic and picture clues, combined with Professor Rebus’ unique sense of humour, will keep you entertained for hours.

Across 7 Spoil the force, and regretting it! (5) 11 Literati, biassed about bone (5) 13 Maintain a new section that’s mindless (5) 16 A pint construed as unsuitable! (5)

Down 2 Bit of normality in front of Baba (3) 4 Able to be changed first, brother (4) 10 Stew veg. kept in barn’s crook rafter (4) 12 Well rounded dance event? (4) 15 Work on soup recipe (4) 17 All Blacks’ vests beginning to show tipple strength (1,1,1)

Across

Down

1

Scan a cabal suspiciously in Morocco (10)

3

For Monsieur? This is so cheesy! (2,6)

8

Stock market to sail again? (7)

5

Respites, of a sort, for batsmen at tea (10)

6

It’s drawn out when trod on carpet pattern (10)

9

Social groups unfortunately in a misfile (8)

14 Military person said to be a bit of a nut? (7)

18 Visa issued is strangely unconvincing (10)

ANSWERS FOR LAST MONTHS PITHERWITS Across: 1 Giant Hyssop, 5 Nylon, 7 Arson, 9 Why is it, 11 Ear, 12 Tax, 13 Illegal, 16 Overt, 17 Forge, 18 Exasperates.

Down: 1 Gentle slope, 2 Tinny, 3 Yeats, 4 Pony Express, 6 Low rise, 8 Settler, 10 Ice, 14 Let-up, 15 Go for.

FOOD & RETAIL

and Guess the words rd! ! o w s s o r c Fill in the

28

This puzzles has been devised by the brilliant Professor Rebus. For more of his puzzles visit www.pitcherwits.co.uk

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29

FOOD & RETAIL

COACH TOUR HOLIDAYS

DO OR PIC TO D K U OO P! R

PET SERVICES

s ’ e k a l F s e t i r u o Fav

Re-walking Rafa’s Rambles

Flake continues his forays into the local countryside.

Re-walking some of Rafa’s best loved rambles. As you can see he has been working on posing for the photo’s.

This month’s walk we return to the Maun Valley Trail which runs alongside the river Maun. So, if your furry friend likes a swim then prepare for a soggy doggy! A couple of miles into the walk the trial takes you past some fishing ponds so please make sure your dog doesn’t disturb the fishermen.

After this the route diverts up a lane towards Clipstone and then around the edge of Forest Town providing some fantastic views before taking you back to the beginning along convenient lanes and byways.

7-MILE CIRCULAR WALK FROM MAUN VALLEY PARK

A mid-distance walk which should take you and your dog around 3 hours to complete. The walk is mostly on trails and paths but there are a few short stretches of road so please take care. Even with the improving weather there may be some uneven and muddy terrain, so please wear appropriate footwear and as always, please follow the countryside code!

START: MAUN VALLEY PARK, OLD MILL LANE, MANSFIELD WOODHOUSE. NOTTS. NEAR TO: NG19 9AL 1.

Pass through a metal swing gate that is opposite the car park entrance and then continue straight ahead on a well laid path. After some distance cross over stone bridge and then immediately after at a fork in the path take the right fork.

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2.

After a short distance at a T junction of paths turn right and continue straight ahead until reaching a metal swing gate. Pass through the gate, cross over a road and then carry on ahead to take the wider, right fork, signposted as a public bridleway.

Mon to Fri – 9am – 4.30pm

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Continue for a short distance and pass through a gap adjacent to a metal gate. After some distance ignore a lane/path to your left and then further on, ignore a lane bearing to the right and downhill.

4.

Continue ahead for some distance. Pass a pond on your left, and then after some distance cross straight over a crossroads of footpaths. Pass over another crossroads of footpaths with a yellow marker post on your right.

5.

After the path narrows, with trees on your left and a hedge on your right, continue ahead for quite some distance until reaching a T-junction with a lane. At the T-junction turn right going downhill. Pass through a gap adjacent to a metal gate. Continue to the bottom of the hill and follow the lane around to the left to keep a pond on your left and a river on your right.

9.

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3.

Continue straight ahead for some distance and then pass a yellow marker post and a lane on your right.

After further distance pass a yellow marker post on your right and a footpath on your left. Continue to pass a lane on your right and a little further on a signed footpath on your left.

10. After a short distance pass through a gap adjacent to a metal gate and then continue straight ahead along the lane. Eventually the lane turns into a road.

Continue along the road for some distance until reaching a T junction with a main road.

11. At the T junction turn right and then turn immediately right again along another main road going downhill.

Continue along the road for some distance and then turn right onto a signposted public footpath to cross an open field going downhill.

6.

Continue for some distance to pass by a breezeblock built pump house on your left and then continue with the river on your right. After some distance pass a yellow marker post and a concrete bridge on your right and continue with a river on your right.

12. At the bottom of the hill, standing in the middle of the open field, ignore the path straight ahead and bear left to go uphill. At the top of the hill pass through a gap adjacent to a metal gate and now cross a field with a hedge on your right.

7.

Continue until reaching a T junction of lanes with a yellow marker post on your right. Turn right to pass over a river bridge and along the lane going uphill.

After some distance at a fork in the lane take the right fork passing a yellow marker post on your left and continue uphill.

13. Continue along the edge of the field going downhill.

At the bottom of the hill pass a yellow marker post on your right and then, ignoring the path and swing gate straight ahead, turn left to continue along the edge of the same field, going uphill with a hedge on your right.

8.

At the top of the hill bear around to the right passing a yellow marker post on your left. After a short distance bear to the right again passing another yellow marker post on your left.

14. At the top of the hill, continue straight ahead out of the field and onto a lane. Continue straight ahead along the lane for quite some distance until reaching a main road. Turn right along the main road for a short distance and then turn left onto a signposted byway.

15. Continue along the byway going uphill for some distance and then continue down the other side until reaching a main road. Turn right along the main road and continue for some distance until reaching the car park and starting point of your walk on your right.

This walk is for illustrative purposes Maun only. Voice Magazines Ltd takes Valley Park no responsibility for anyone who chooses to follow this route and MansfIe encourages all walkers to obey all Woodho ld use byelaws and signs and to respect the e on area they are walking in, ensuring st p i Cl they pick up all dog mess and obey the countryside code at all times.

Forest Town Riv Ma er un

Call us on 01773 602 466

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31

FOOD & RETAIL

D.M. FURNISHINGS

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FREE SERVICE We will happily visit you in the comfort of your home to discuss your individual needs and requirements to help you choose your fabrics.

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VISIT OUR BRAND NEW SHOWROOM TO CHECK OUT OUR LIMITED TIME NEW OPENING OFFERS

WE CURRENTLY HAVE OVER 150 PIECES OF FURNITURE ON DISPLAY

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Full range of mattresses including orthopaedic, memory foam, latex & pocket sprung.

Single, ¾, Double, Kingsize and Superking all available Over 150 fabric choices for all divans & headboards.

Electric adjustable beds available in all sizes.

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Tel: 01623 440448 • www.dmfurnishings.co.uk sales@dmfurnishings.co.uk 32

Find on to Facebook & Twitter: @DMFurnishings Don’t us forget mention Voice Magazines when responding to the Ads

KIDS & FAMILIES

WOMEN’S ROYAL AIR FORCE (WRAF) 1918 – 1920 By 1920 over 50 trades were open to women including tailoring, Female fitter working on the Liberty engine of a De Havilland D.H.9A photography, catering, pigeon keeping and driving. The work of these women released men for combat and proved that women could equal men in the workplace.

During the First World War, members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) and the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) worked on air stations belonging to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). WRNS and WRAFs at Warsash Air Station, 1918 when the decision was taken to merge the RFC and RNAS to form the Royal Air Force (RAF), concerns were raised about the loss of their specialised female workforce. This need for a separate women’s air service led to the formation of the WRAF on 1 April 1918.

Personnel of the WAAC and WRNS were given the choice of transferring to the new service and over 9,000 decided to join. Member Alexandra Moxey, circa 1918 Civilian enrolment swelled WRAF numbers. They were dispatched to RAF bases, initially in Britain and then later in 1919 to France and Germany.

In April 1920, the WRAF, a wartime force, was disbanded.

In only two years, 32,000 WRAFs had proved a major asset to the WRAF Motor Transport drivers hosing down a tender, Gullane, 1919 RAF and paved the way for all future air service women.

The work of the WRAF was divided into four basic trades: Clerks and Store women, Household, Technical and NonTechnical. Initially little training was given with wages based on existing experience and skills.

The majority of women were employed as clerks, Members of the Household Section at work in the WRAF hostel kitchen, RAF Turnhouse, April 1919, with shorthand typists the most highly paid of all airwomen. Women allocated to the Household section worked the longest hours, doing back breaking work for the lowest pay.

The Technical section covered a wide range of trades, most highly skilled, including tinsmiths, fitters and welders.

The minimum age for joining the WRAF was 18 and the selection process complex. Stringent health checks often excluded many poor candidates from polluted cities.

Those from educated, upper class families were enrolled as officers, whilst the majority were known as ‘Members’ and became the backbone of the service.

WRAFs fell into two categories.’Immobiles’ lived at home and were attached to their local station. ‘Mobiles’ lived in quarters on or near their workplace and could be transferred elsewhere if required.

Behaviour was strictly monitored with the WRAF constitution and rules laid-out in an official booklet. The published Standing Orders included a ban on smoking on duty and in the street, as well as uniform requirements and the procedure for complaints. The high standards achieved by the WRAF led them to being viewed as the most professional and disciplined of all the women’s services.

On 24 March 1919, the first group of WRAFs arrived in France to begin their overseas service. Later in the year a decision was made to send a contingent to Germany.

Their purpose was to assist the army of occupation and to replace men demobilised from the forces. Based in Cologne, they were employed as domestics, clerks, telephonists, nurses and drivers and became known as the ‘Ladies of the Rhine’. Dedicated and diligent, they also helped raise RAF morale by staging sports days and dances.

When the order came to finally close down the WRAF contingent on the Rhine in August 1919, RAF sections, unwilling to lose their airwomen delayed the disbandment until the last possible moment. Once again WRAFs had shown themselves to be an invaluable asset to the RAF.

Please get in touch if you have additional information about the early RNAS (Royal Naval Air Service), RFC (Royal Flying Corps) or early RAF (Royal Air Force)

To advertise pleaseGodley call the on Voice Team646 on 01773 33 Contact Richard 07854 742 •549 E: 035 eastpeakcic@gmail.com

KIDS & FAMILIES

34

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KIDS & FAMILIES

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The true story of the Magdalene laundries is not new. Each one a convent, a training school and a laundry where young women lived and worked.

They were unmarried girls, the subject of much gossip, hidden away after giving birth.

It’s estimated that 30,000 Irish women were treated to this form of “training” and servitude between the 18th and 20th centuries, in a fiercely Catholic Ireland. The fate of many of their babies has never been known.

In Claire Keegan’s beautifully written short novel Small Things Like These, coal and timber merchant Bill Furlong lives a simple

40

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compassionate life of hard work providing for his wife and five daughters. He delivers coal to one of the laundries and during one of these deliveries a young girl asks him to drive her to the river where she intends to drown herself. He doesn’t, but the experience starts a train of events which explores how communities across Ireland dealt with what they knew about the laundries.

It’s a nuanced story, no unnecessary words but plenty of human frailty and it doesn’t give pat answers – just the idea that this is the way it was.

It may be short but it packs in a powerful tale and is long enough to say what needs to be said.

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HOME IMPROVEMENTS

SUDOKU #40

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7 1 3 6 3 www.first4fascias.co.uk www.first4fa 2 4 3 8 7 9 1 6 2 9 4 8 5 Fascias 5 - Soffits - Bargeboards 4 2- Claddin Fascias - Soffits - Bargeboards - Claddin 4 1 3 2 9 8 9 5 3

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Mike’us sings M

Our resident muser has the mike...

Mike is always glad to hear from you at :

mike.musings@outlook.com

Well, I never!

Isn’t it strange that the older you get, the more likely it is that you can recall something from the dim and distant past but can’t remember what you were doing at the weekend.

I got to thinking about this the other week when I had a visit from an old schoolmate. We got talking about some of our secondary school teachers, one in particular ‘Pa’ Good, who took us for geography, wore one of those flowing black gowns that were de rigueur in most schools when I werralad. He was strict, but well respected and had the habit of entertaining us by always finishing off a lesson with an interesting fact.

• A gallon of nectar is sufficient for a bee, travelling at an average speed of four mph., to fully circumnavigate the earth.

Amazingly, over a glass or two of Scotland’s favourite drink, and no, we’re not talking about Irn Bru here, we surprised ourselves with how many of these we were able to recall.

• Dreamt is the only word in the English language to end with the letters ‘mt’.

Accepting that with the passage of time, some of these may no longer be 100% accurate, I reckon they’re still worth repeating.

• Kangaroos are unable to walk backwards.

• One quarter of all your bones are located in your feet.

• Although it’s a bit impractical, there is enough room on the Isle of Wight to accommodate the population of China. NB – they’d have to all be standing up of course.

• On a similar topic, if the entire population of China was to stand on a bench one metre high, and at a given signal all were asked to jump, the impact of their combined landing weight would be enough to split the earth’s crust. Who needs nuclear weapons?

This is surely the ultimate threat to civilisation!

• An octopus has three hearts.

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• Creatures that lay eggs do not have belly buttons.

• The average driver will spend six months of his/ her life waiting for traffic lights to change from red to green.

• Babies do not have kneecaps.

• William Shakespeare was the first to use Jessica as a girl’s name. NB – we had an attractive girl called Jessica McIntosh in our class and this probably helped us to remember.

• It is only when a person reaches 106 years of age that the chances of them reaching their next birthday become less than 50/50. I can sense your disbelief, but just take some time to think that through.

• Schoolmaster is an anagram of ‘The Classroom’.

There would have been many more, but with my wife (that’s Mrs Musings to you) shouting “Your tea is ready!” this nostalgic conversation had to end.

If you have any little known that facts deserve a wider audience, you know how to contact me.

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father & son team

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All Around the Shire MEMORIES OF A SIMPLER TIME

GREEN SHIELD STAMPS stamps: Fine Fares were pink.

A strong memory I have from my childhood is sticking the green shield stamps we obtained from our shopping into the little orange books provided. 40 stamps on each page. I remember the gum getting on my fingers and face.

But then there was the excitement of choosing which item to send away for. In our house, it was usually glass tumblers or cutlery. However, if you had a spare 81 and a half books, a twin tub washing machine could be yours!

The stamps were introduced into the UK in 1958 from America and were given to shoppers by retailers who participated in the scheme to encourage shoppers to spend money in their filling station, supermarket, or corner shop. The first loyalty scheme in this country had been the Co-op Dividend. Can you remember your or your mum’s divvi number?

Green shield stamps were the first scheme involving stamps. Seeing its success, other retailers followed suit using different coloured

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Larger stamps were also introduced, for example a stamp worth 40 small stamps.

After a period when customers were allowed to use a mixture of cash and stamps to purchase catalogue goods, the company eventually became Argos stores in 1973 and cash only was required.

I came across a woman during one of our reminiscence sessions who told me that she still uses a casserole dish her mother bought using stamps. Do you have any green shield memories or items you still use from its catalogue?

Janet and Paul Barrass are All Around the Shire.

Find us on or email: oldfield512@btinternet.com for more information.

Janet

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GROWING TO EAT FRESH ALL YEAR ROUND

PA RT 2

Eating fresh all year is as much about planning and preparation as it is planting and harvesting. At the time of writing this it’s summer, but we are already working towards next year’s produce.

As space comes free from the likes of garlic, broad beans, peas, early spuds and summer brassicas, decisions about what to do next with the land need to be made. Many have heard of crop rotation, but rotating the after care is also important. Mulching, fertilising, manureing, covering, or just leaving open (to weeds!) all have their pros and cons and to some extent depend on what time you have available, what your soil type is, what it needs, and for many what your tolerance of weeds is. But most importantly are the needs of what’s going in next.

Leabrooks allotments have a relatively thin layer of soil on clay. In areas of my plot that’s as low as 30cm (10”).

This also effects drainage and plant choice, some plants don’t like having wet feet. Clay needs fibrous matter to

break it up, the stable litter regularly delivered to the site is good for that, but it will acidify the soil, so check and add lime it if necessary. How old any animal manure is matters, new has to be left for months. Most of this work happens in late autumn and winter.

I mulch heavily in summer, on rotation, with stable litter which both helps weed control, water retention and then digging in. I’ll also improve and cover areas needed for early planting next season. I’ve found this also helps prevent any cover becoming slug hotels.

by Pete Whitesmith

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GARDENS

NATURE NOTES FROM THE PEAK DISTRICT

OWLS ACROSS THE PEAK I think the most exciting of our owls is the ghostly barn owl or ‘screech owl’ so named because of how they hiss, yap, and snore. In summer they will often hunt well before nightfall along riversides, field edges and the like. Once almost extinct in the Peak this species has recovered thanks to conservation action by wildlife groups and importantly by individuals too. Nationally we now have around 5,000 breeding pairs and up to 25,000 birds overwintering. I know quite a few people who have put barn owl boxes in old trees, in large out-buildings, and even in their garages. Since the 1990s, these actions have been hugely successful in bringing this bird back from the brink and it is now doing really well.

In Derbyshire alone, there are now over 150 breeding pairs of these gorgeous birds. It really is marvellous to once again have the almost spectral apparition of nearwhite barn owls gracing farmland, moorland edge, and around our Peak District villages.

BARN OWL

Our most familiar and common owl is the tawny which is seen wherever there are trees such as in parks, gardens, woods etc. They also hunt over the Peak District moorlands where they scour the evening landscape for small mammals. In car headlights they can appear very pale and may cause confusion with barn owls but they are much larger. In fact there are five main species of owls which you might see or hear across the Peak District. These are the familiar little owl, tawny owl, and barn owl, and the less obvious short-eared owls and long-eared owls. These latter two are more localised as breeding birds and also as winter visitors. Their numbers fluctuate dramatically from year to year because they follow peaks and

troughs in small mammal populations. Short-tailed voles are one of their main prey items and have ‘boom – bust’ populations with large numbers crashing to very few and when this happens, the owls move out to pastures new.

Of the more noticeable species, the little owl is an exotic (or non-native) bird and long-known to countrymen as the ‘Frenchie’; introduced to England from France in the early 1900s. You can look out for them on telegraph poles, near tumble-down buildings, and around rocky areas on the moorland edge.

However, being tiny, they are easy to miss. The first time I saw one was on the Peak’s moorland fringe west of Sheffield near Bradfield. I spotted this whilst chatting to an elderly ‘countryman’ (complete with deerstalker hat). He was the one that introduced me to the name ‘Frenchie’. Little owls are busy little birds which, feeding on large insects, small mammals, and the like are ever active. Introduced in the late 1800s by ‘acclimatization societies’ of enthusiasts for releasing exotic species into the countryside ‘Frenchies’ were not always popular with farmers and landowners. They worried about possible impacts on baby game-birds.

However, in the 1930s, there was a national enquiry established by gamekeepers, the shooting fraternity, and ornithologists. This showed the owls to be innocent of the charges and today we just enjoy them as a delightful addition to local avifauna. There is one other species I have heard of in the Peak and this was undoubtedly an escapee from a collection and which was reported to me by a local farmer, an eagle owl.

Sadly this flew into an overhead cable and ended its time in a local taxidermist’s!

LITTLE OWL

EAGLE OWL TAWNY OWL

Professor Ian D. Rotherham, researcher, writer, broadcaster on wildlife and environmental issues in the Peak District and elsewhere, is contactable on ianonthewildside@ukeconet.org. Follow his website 56 www.ukeconet.org, Don’t blog forget to mention Voice Magazines when responding to the Ads www.ianswalkonthewildside.wordpress.com, & Twitter @IanThewildside

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This is a great time for taking stock – what has worked?

Have your salvias flourished in that slightly shaded corner of the garden, has the abundant rain proved too much for your salad leaves which have been continually eaten by slugs? How can you work out a way to stop that happening again?

Keeping a diary of these thoughts can be invaluable next season so you can adjust your plans. You might imagine you’ll remember the changes you want to make; but an aide memoire doesn’t harm.

If you haven’t used all your spring bulbs, or maybe haven’t got round to starting to plant them with the amount of rain and then warm weather we’ve been having, don’t despair. Most bulbs will survive fine so long as you get them in before the ground is really frosted. And if you have any spares you can always make a container bulb lasagne – (garden not oven!) and to be honest the more variety you can get into the container the better as they’ll probably flower at different times and you get a constant show of colour.

Top Tip:

The general rule for bulbs is plant at a depth three times their height. Tulips like to be deep so they go bottom then daffs and narcissus then dwarf iris, snowdrops and crocus and if you have any, add ranunculus or fritillaries. It’s always worth experimenting. A layer of compost of soil goes between each layer topped with compost and grit to stop the rodents or birds digging up what you’ve just planted!

Raise containers off patio level so they don’t get waterlogged and frosted.

Terracotta pots if you have them are vulnerable to frost cracking and they are expensive to keep replacing.

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