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…..And Breathe!!! All the kids are back at school this month, pumpkin spiced latte’s are back on the menu and big jumpers and boots are brought to the front of the wardrobe!! Gotta say, as much as I enjoy the light evenings and long days of Summer, Autumn has got to be my season – ask my friend Sarah, who thinks my spirit animal is the colour ‘Brown’ #eyeroll! A nice traditional Autumn is what I’m looking for though - crisp, colourful and snuggly – not some wet abomination that we endured last year all the way through to March (with small pockets of ‘freeze’ in and around the wet, if I remember rightly?). Anyway, that’s what me and the animals are hoping for!
Speaking of the animals, do you like our ‘Season Changeover’ edition this month? We’ve got some lovely articles including one about Hedgehog Healthcare submitted by one of our fabulous readers – Tracy – Thankyou for sending that in. As always, Lisa has worked hard on the front covers and I have to say, they are up there as one of my all-time faves.
On the theme of all time faves – this month me and Mr Emily partook in our friends hockey tournament last month. It was a fabulous day, as it always is and I have to give a massive shoutout to our friend Holly, who organises it each year to raise money for her charity. If you have a few minutes, have a look at the Facebook page for ’Leon’s Legacy’. This is all about Holly’s story
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and how she has committed to building up the charity to be able to provide first aid training and put defibrillators in local communities. At last count, she has put 75 defibs in local communities and plans to provide many more in the future, to spare others the tragedy which she and her family faced. So please check out her page and support in any way you can, even if it’s as simple as liking and sharing the page. Needless to say, lots of fun was had and as it was my first year playing in it with my team –Ilkeston Hockey Club – we had the best time….. you could even support by joining our hockey club and playing in the tournament next year –it’s worth it for the cakes and ice cream alone!!!
Anyway, see you all next month for the Halloween edition!
Happy Reading,
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As a child of the 60s and 70s, I was lucky enough to experience both the “proper” old fashioned puddings and the new “convenient” puddings which arrived with the advent of supermarkets.
These would include Arctic Rolls and bricks of ice cream kept in the ice box at the top of the fridge. Angel Delight or Instant Whip and a blob of Dream Topping made them especially luxurious. You can still get trifle in a box today I was amazed to find. Tinned fruit and evaporated milk were a staple of Sunday afternoon teatimes.
School puddings tended to come in two varieties: milk puddings and sponge based with thick custard. Chocolate concrete and pink custard, still popular today!
As the cooler nights draw in, I will always have a special place in my heart for puddings made with love and care. Apple and blackberry crumbles, pies and tarts. Fruit from the garden, the hedgerows, fresh and in season. Rice puddings baked for ages in an enamel dish covered with a thick skin. So comforting!
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If you’ve been appointed as an executor (where there is a will) or administrator (where there isn’t), you are legally known as a personal representative (PR). Your role is to administer the estate of the deceased, which can be a complex and timeconsuming process.
Your duties include notifying relevant organisations, collecting and valuing all assets, paying debts, and completing tax returns. One of the first steps is to assess the value of the estate and determine whether inheritance tax (IHT) is payable. If it is, the tax must be paid within six months of death, and an IHT return must usually be submitted before probate can be granted.
By Laura Cowan, Head of Graysons’ Private Client
You may also be responsible for dealing with life insurance policies, trusts, and any outstanding income or capital gains tax liabilities. Probate itself — known as a grant of representation — allows you to legally administer the estate. A fee of £300 applies for estates over £5,000.
Where estates include property or business interests, the work can be significantly more involved. Some assets may generate income during the administration period, triggering further tax obligations. For example, capital gains tax on property sales must be paid within 60 days of completion.
Debts such as mortgages, loans, and credit cards must also be settled in a legally prescribed order. If they are not dealt with correctly, personal representatives can be held personally liable — even for unknown creditors.
Only once all liabilities have been discharged and legal duties fulfilled can
the remaining assets be distributed to beneficiaries. If there is no will, strict intestacy rules apply.
Given the complexity and potential risks, many personal representatives seek help from experienced probate lawyers to ensure they meet their obligations.
Laura Cowan is head of Graysons’ private client department and leads an accomplished team. She is a chartered legal executive, with around 25 years’ experience in estate administration. She is a full member of STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) and is a member of Lifetime Lawyers (previously Solicitors for the Elderly).
Contact Laura or her team now for advice on 01433 520012. Graysons Solicitors: Brunel House, Heather Lane, Hathersage, Hope Valley S32 1DP.
This is a sudoku 1 square grid
81 cells
9 3x3 blocks
1 simple rule:
Use all the numbers
1-9, with no duplicates allowed, in any row, column, or block.
Chesterfield’s pivotal place in the story of the birth of the modern railway was officially celebrated at Holy Trinity Church – the final resting place of railway pioneer George Stephenson.
Stakeholders gathered to mark the launch of a major new heritage initiative.
The ambitious project, made possible by a £240,600 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, will see Newbold Road’s Holy Trinity Church transformed into a visitor destination and educational hub celebrating Stephenson’s legacy and Chesterfield’s rich industrial history.
Attendees at the event heard about plans to enhance visitor facilities, develop interpretation materials, and deliver an engaging programme of school activities, community events, and skills-based volunteering.
The project is further supported by EMR, Cross Country Rail, Raymond Ross Fund, Graysons Solicitors, and Holy Trinity Church.
Reverend Jilly Hancock of Holy Trinity Church said: “Today marks the start of something truly special for Chesterfield. This project will not only celebrate George Stephenson’s remarkable achievements but also reconnect our community with the wider industrial story that helped shape the town. We are so grateful to
The National Lottery Heritage Fund, our partners, and everyone who has backed the project.”
Alongside commemorating Stephenson’s contribution, the project will explore Chesterfield’s wider Victorian expansion, the growth of the Clay Cross Company, the region’s railway and coal mining heritage, and the 40th anniversary of the Miners’ Strike.
Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the project comes at a time of renewed interest in railway history, with 2025 marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway.
It was on 27 September 1825, that George Stephenson’s steampowered Locomotion No. 1 travelled 26 miles between Shildon, Darlington, and Stockton, carrying hundreds of passengers to great fanfare.
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Noel Coward once wrote that it’s extraordinary how potent cheap music is. And wow was he right. We’re talking about good, heart-on-their-sleeve songs that whisk you in a time machine to a different place or remind you instantly of someone and connect immediately with your emotions, so that just the opening bars make you want to get up and start dancing, or saying God I remember that, or have you reaching for a hankie to wipe away the tears.
Well these are the songs that music journalist and DJ Stuart Maconie has written about in The People’s Songs – The Story of Modern Britain in 50 Songs.
He’s not saying they’re the same for everyone. But you’d have to be pretty unusual not to have a reaction to a lot of them and he’s using them to tell stories from our shared history, starting with We’ll Meet Again and running through the likes of Another Brick in the Wall, Radio Ga Ga, Do they know it’s Christmas, Brimful of Asha, Can’t Get You Out of My Mind, Wannabe, Merry Xmas Everybody. You get the idea…
As Stuart Maconie says, they’re a soundtrack to our lives. He’s giving us a picture of what was going on at the time because these songs relate to a particular period in our lives and our country’s life.
It’s a great idea. The writing is sparky and intelligent and fun and very thoughtful without being in any way pretentious. There’s lots of good pictures and it’s very easy to read and dip in and out of. What’s not to love…? It’s our story.
Method:
1. Heat your oven to 190°C/fan 170°C/ gas 5.
2. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic, honey, lemon juice and soy sauce.
3. Put the chicken thighs in a shallow baking dish and pour over the sauce. Add the
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Now we’re back into the regular routine after summer, this quick and appetising meal is a must try if you want tasty, satisfying food without the fuss.
lemon slices and roast for 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
4. Remove from the oven, sprinkle over the lemon zest and parsley. Serve with your favourite Speed veg and roast potatoes.
Serves: 4 Syns per serving: 1 1/2
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 level tbsp honey
• Juice of 2 unwaxed lemons, zest of 1, plus lemon slices
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 8 skinless and boneless chicken thighs, visible fat removed
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Ready in: 40 mins
Measuring
As the long, golden days of summer start to shorten, nature quietly begins its transformation into autumn. The air turns crisper in the early mornings and evenings, and a subtle shift in light gives the landscape a softer, more golden hue. This gradual change signals a period of preparation, rest, and reflection across the natural world.
Trees are among the first to show signs of change. As daylight hours decrease, chlorophyll — the pigment responsible for summer’s lush green leaves — starts to break down. This reveals the vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows that have been hidden beneath, creating a breathtaking display of colour in woodlands and hedgerows. The falling leaves begin to carpet the ground, providing shelter and food for insects and fungi.
Animals also respond to the changing season. Birds such as swallows and swifts gather in flocks, preparing for their long migration to warmer climates. Meanwhile, squirrels can be seen busily collecting acorns and nuts, instinctively storing them to see them through the leaner months. Hedgehogs and other small mammals begin to fatten up, readying themselves for hibernation.
In the countryside, fields that once bustled with crops are harvested and begin to lie fallow. Grasses and wildflowers fade, making way for fungi like toadstools and mushrooms to flourish in the damp, leafstrewn undergrowth. The soundscape changes too—where once there was buzzing
and chirping, now the rustle of dry leaves and the distant call of migrating geese fill the air.
Despite the cooling temperatures and the fading light, autumn is far from a time of decay. Instead, it is a period of rich abundance and natural beauty. Nature pauses, slows, and prepares. It is a time of gratitude for the bounty of summer and anticipation for the peaceful slumber of winter.
Whether walking through a forest, tending a garden, or simply watching the sky, the transition from summer to autumn offers a chance to reconnect with the rhythms of the natural world—and to savour its quiet, graceful shift.
William Cavendish and his wife, Bess of Hardwick, bought the Chatsworth Estate in 1549. From 1551 to 1584 they set about building one of the grandest country houses in the north of England. Included in the vast estate they bought were villages in and around the area, one of them being Ashford in the Water.
This tiny village had become known for its Ashford Black Marble. It was said that this jet-black bituminous limestone could be polished until it shone ‘as bright as any mirror.’ Used to create monuments, fireplaces, vases, tables and other decorative items Ashford Black Marble was collected extensively to embellish William’s newly built Chatsworth House.
It’s clear Bess loved the effect as she also ordered Ashford Marble for her house at Hardwick. Successive Dukes of Devonshire continued to favour the marble using it in many of their other properties. Over the years Ashford Marble continued to be used on their estates and examples could be found in Ashford Hall, Devonshire House in London, Holker Hall, Chiswick House, Lismore Castle in Ireland and Bolton Abbey. Churches on the Dukes estates were also adorned with font’s, pulpits and flooring all made of the black marble.
Originally all work on the marble was done by hand, but as time passed inventive techniques were developed even a turning lathe for making vases. When Henry Watson was planning the fabulous black and white floor in Chatsworth Great Hall, he developed a machine which revolutionised the processes of sawing and polishing stone and marble. He installed this new machine at his marble works on the outskirts of Ashford village. By using waterpower from the river Wye, his invention became known as one of the modern ‘wonders of the Peak.’
A technique called pietra dura, became popular. This was a method of using thinly sliced slivers of different coloured semi-precious stones that were inset into the black marble to make delicate patterns. Pietra dura
was used to decorate tables, candlesticks, inkwells, paperweights and even jewellery.
Queen Victoria’s beloved husband, Prince Albert, wanted to hold an exhibition to celebrate British achievements in the arts, science, technology and architecture. With this in mind the magnificent Crystal Palace was built. Designed by Joseph Paxton, former Head Gardener at Chatsworth House, the Great Exhibition took place in 1851. The exhibition was a huge success drawing thousands of visitors to London. Proudly displayed there, was an Ashford Marble table inlaid with the finest pietra dura decoration.
Some examples of Ashford Black Marble can still be seen at Chatsworth House, but the place to get close enough to really see the intricate workmanship is, of course, at our own Bakewell Old House Museum. In the museum we have paperweights and decorative items and best of all our own beautiful pietra dura table.
IS NOW OPEN EVERY DAY FROM 11AM TO 4PM FOR THE 2025 SEASON. ALONG WITH OUR OWN WONDERFUL COLLECTIONS WE HAVE EXHIBITIONS BY CHESTERFIELD EMBROIDERERS AND THE LEVEL CENTRE.
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Before the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Winnie was living in the shadow of the great cathedral in the service of Canon Carnegie, Dean of Westminster. The Canon’s wife being a sister to Neville Chamberlain of the Munich agreement fame; indeed, Winnie came into contact with many politicians and hierarchy of the period.
A further position secured by Winnie was in the Hyde Park household of the Honourable Mrs. Beckett, Auntie to Sir Anthony Eden and the eccentric racehorse owner, Dorothy Paget. This must surely have been the ultimate in London’s high society at this time.
In 1937 Winnie was recommended, at a wage of £45.00 per annum, to a position at Clarence House with the Queen Mum’s brother, the Duke of Connaught, but for whatever reason the position was not accepted.
Wartime Britain interrupted Winnie’s high society service, and despite the advice to come back home, she volunteered for war work being sent to the College of Domestic Subjects. Undaunted by Herr Hitler’s attempts to blow her up, Winnie continued her efforts in hospitals at Camberwell and Bethnal Green. Both of these institutions were destroyed by German bombs resulting in a horrific number of casualties. There was an occasion once where Winnie became fascinated by a passing rocket and had to be hustled into a nearby shelter at Victoria Station. On returning home once, Winnie was to say, “Bombs are one thing, you hear them coming, but doodlebugs are something else.”
Sometime after the cessation of hostilities, Winnie returned to her first love, London. Her final working years, and indeed some of her happiest come from the mid 1950’s until her retirement in1972. She became a Housekeeper
in luxury flats overlooking the Cenotaph were occupants included, Irene Handel, Barbara Cartland and Wilfred Hyde-White (good with tips apparently) plus many high-ranking military gentlemen including Group Captain Peter Townsend and General Broomhall, the latter becoming famous for his impersonation of a German General when he attempted walk out of a POW camp.
Mistakenly, in Winnie’s mind, she returned back to Sutton-in-Ashfield and the inevitable Council flat existing on her many memories. Her latter years sadly became fraught with ill-health, blindness, deafness and increasingly frail needing much medical attention. Never giving up or changing her life-style Winnie never wanted to be considered a burden. Eventually terminally ill, a nasty fall saw her into hospital with no strength to fight her final battle, sadly she succumbed into rest on November 17th, 2001. Her ashes placed in the form of a cross at the site of her brother Jim who was laid to rest in 1968.
Malcolm Bryan ended his article by saying, “Remembering Auntie Winnie brings to mind the number of times she allowed me to stay with her in London on my nefarious escapades, always a hot meal to hand. “Her love of any get togethers, and parties at Christmas where she was an enthusiastic card player and of her generosity to all her family.”
The following words from a card sent by sister Marion seem appropriate. No matter where our paths may wind. Those days left behind are with us. In our hearts and minds We remember you. The End.
1 Disapprove (apparently!) of a broken cook’s ankle (4,7)
8 Taking away morale that’s ruined in opposition (7)
11 Mine, in no way is a candidate (7)
16 Difficulties can intersperse with undertakings (11)
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. These puzzles are
Across
5 Blow a fuse at end of exercise! (3)
7 Dr.s’ club sitting on back of Lambretta? (3)
10 Spread it carefully, me dears! (7)
14 Badger sett, say in anagram form (3)
15 At heart, truth can be a groovy thing (3) Down
2 Lily’s from a rum joint! (4)
3 Invoke no loss around Ukrainian city (4)
9 Took a piece from a shorty giraffe! (5)
12 Moreover, it’s ever away from the heath (4)
13 Film is of iron construction (4)
1 Louse, in quiz fiddle, becomes ruler in France (5,6)
Freeze! allegedly, and put on spaceman tie (11)
Rubbing out virtual lift? (7)
to
conclusion
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Hedgehogs need our help, these charming little creatures are vanishing from our neighbourhoods, but we still have time to reverse the trend and together we can make a big difference!
Feeding our little hogs is a great place to start but it’s vital we provide them with the right food sources, see the infographic below for the Wildlife Trusts top tips on Hedgehog hunger.
Small actions like leaving a hole in your fence for hogs to roam, ditching harmful slug pellets, adding a hedgehog house to your garden and come November, checking unlit bonfires before lighting will all hugely help our prickly pals.
So, rally your neighbours, share this message, and let’s turn our community into a sanctuary for hedgehogs. Their future depends on us - let’s give them a fighting chance!
This article was supplied by Tracy, one of our local readers who regularly helps Hedgehogs in her local community.
As summer drifts into Autumn, nature gradually changes and the long, hot summer months slip away. Bird song has long since ended and the young birds are morphing into adult plumage, and small birds gather in groups and then flocks to forage through the countryside. Insects especially follow the autumnal trend and prepare to overwinter as hibernating adults, as nymphs, as pupae, or even as eggs depending on the species. Damselflies have largely gone now, at least as adults, since these are creatures of the spring and summer months. Of course, the aquatic larvae or nymphs are still there, if out of sight, in ponds, streams and lakes. Their larger cousins the dragonflies, may still be around later in the season as they roam the wider landscape in search of prey on the wing. Voracious hunters with hearty appetites, several of the bigger species will still be active until the first heavy frosts. Brown Hawkers, Common, Migrant, and Southern Hawkers and Emperors, along with Chasers, Darters, and Skimmers will all have been seen during the summertime and are frequent visitors to garden ponds and similar places. Many of these persist into at least September and the Hawkers and Emperors may be around into October, weather depending. One of our most spectacular species is the very distinctive Golden-ringed Dragonfly, a creature
of moorland bogs and rivulets. This is very much a summer insect and the adults will have gone before the end of August.
At first sight many of these quick-flying insects are difficult to identify, but rather like bird species , with practice they can be easily sorted. Birdwatchers describe the appearance and behaviour of different species as ‘jizz’ and with a little effort and experience this gives away their identity. The same applies to dragonflies though perhaps less so to the damsels. Handbooks will have ‘helpful’ guidance and notes such as ‘did the third abdominal segment have two blue dots or a single blue stripe?’, and this is for an insect that won’t land, stay still, or otherwise cooperate! Having reliably identified the different species so you can observe their behaviour, makes identification so much easier – eventually. Digital photographs of the insects at rest can help enormously and then you can look in detail and if necessary, zoom in to the key features. Behaviour also helps separate the different species based on their flight, their territorial use of things like perches, and their hawking along the water’s edge of maybe a hedgerow and the like. Sheer size and colour of the wings or body are often the giveaways.
September. Okay… autumn. Although given our eccentric summer, who knows? But that doesn’t mean the show’s over.
First, even if things are starting to look a big shell-shocked after a freezing spring followed by drought, heatwave and storms, you can keep the colour going with a bit of judicious planting. Dahlias are a winner this time of year and will keep flowering easily through till the first frosts. Anemones are particularly good growers for autumn and are easy, showy and perennial. To keep the bees and other pollinators productive as long as possible, sedums and echinacea are excellent and also very colourful.
Prune roses lightly now to get them ready for winter and help prevent problems such as wind rock which can weaken them. Deadhead as always and bring down the height if possible – don’t prune back to base - you can leave that for the spring. Cut out diseased or dead wood and cross branches and if mulch applied earlier in the season has worn away, add some more. Don’t fertilise or feed. It will encourage new growth and weaken the plant going into winter,
Keep on watering new plants. They’ll still be very vulnerable to drought as the roots are less established. You can use grey water – i.e. from the sink or bath – if you’re being eco conscious. Household washing cleansers won’t harm plants.
Bare root wallflowers should start to become available either by post or in garden centres. They’re far cheaper to plant now than fully grown plants in spring. Soak the roots for at least an hour before planting. The promised scent of wallflowers makes getting through winter possible.
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