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- 8TH AUG ‘25
Woohoo, well the lovely BBQ weather certainly continued didn’t it!
It is the British way to talk about the weather in whatever guise, be it too hot, too cold, too wet….Peter Kay made his living out of observing it and pointing it out to us in a comedic way! Personally, I’m with my friend Maggi, we get so few episodes of nice weather, we should take it graciously…..but it probably won’t stop me moaning about it when it’s too hot to sleep though…..I am British after all!
Speaking of nice weather, Wimbledon will put paid to all that, you mark my words!! I’ve played very little Tennis in my life but always fancied taking it up as a sport, especially after 2 weeks of it on the tellybox….not sure I have the time though and I’m getting to that point where I am considering my age and whether I can learn any new tricks?! Although, as I’m frequently reminded, age is just a number and a frame of mind….so maybe I will embrace the newness!
Anyway, in other news, Mr Emily and I went on our 5-years-ago planned bucket list trip to see Paddington in Peru, no not the movie, although we did watch that on the plane over there. It was a significant birthday dream destination until the
dreaded Cov!d hit.
Needless to say it was a fabulous trip but a lot of travelling and not one to be dramatic, but I’m sure I had a few close shaves with the grim reaper, not least an earthquake and passing out at high altitude but it’s all character building isn’t it!!
With school out for summer, where is everybody going this year? Or, with our friends over the pond being a bit trigger happy at the minute and our summer weather being so lovely, is everyone taking the opportunity to do a ‘staycation’?
In which case, my next bucket list in this country is to head South for the Eden project. I’ve always wanted to go and despite the fact that they don’t have gravy with their chips, I reckon I could stand a week or two sampling the different ways I could enjoy a cream tea….for research purposes of course!!
Have a lovely July everyone,
Happy Reading, Emily x
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WIMBLEDON 2025: WHERE TRADITION SERVES A NEW SPIN
Wimbledon - the home of strawberries, grass courts, and the world’s poshest grunts - is getting a high-tech facelift in 2025. That’s right: for the first time in 147 years, line judges have officially been sent for a permanent tea break. Enter Hawk-Eye Live, the all-seeing electronic oracle that now calls every ball in or out across all courts. While purists might mourn the absence of those eagle-eyed humans with crisp white trousers, let’s be honest - the drama now stays on the court, not on the line.
But that’s not the only thing bouncing in a new direction.
The 2025 Wimbledon Championships, running from 30 June to 13 July, promise both tradition and transformation. At the heart of it, defending champions Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) and Barbora Krejčíková (Czech Republic) are back to defend their crowns - with rackets blazing and millions watching to see if they can repeat their Centre Court heroics.
Speaking of millions watching - in a move designed to woo more fans from North and South America, finals weekend start times have shifted. No longer will players be warming up as Brits polish
off their Sunday roast. The Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Singles Finals will now begin at 4:00 PM, giving international fans more reason to tune in live - and giving UK fans a chance to digest before the tension starts.
Here’s the finals line-up to mark in your diary:
SATURDAY, 12 JULY 1:00 PM
Gentlemen’s Doubles Final 4:00 PM
Ladies’ Singles Final
SUNDAY, 13 JULY 1:00 PM
Ladies’ Doubles Final 4:00 PM
Gentlemen’s Singles Final
So, whether you’re cheering for a Spanish power shot or a Czech backhand ballet, Wimbledon 2025 is serving up change with its usual dollop of charm. Just don’t shout at the line judges - they’re probably watching from home now, too.
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A leading Hope Valley legal firm has sponsored Ashgate Hospice’s 2025 Dragonfly Appeal, which was recently launched in the stunning grounds of Chatsworth House
The appeal – which is backed by Hathersage-based Graysons Solicitors - offered people the opportunity to dedicate a handcrafted stainless-steel dragonfly in memory of the people closest to them. The sculptures were displayed in the gardens of Chatsworth House.
The Dragonfly Appeal sponsorship marks the continuation of a longstanding partnership between Graysons Solicitors and Ashgate Hospice. Since 2021, the firm has proudly supported the hospice’s Butterfly and Forget Me Not Appeals at Chatsworth House and Renishaw Hall.
In 2024, Graysons also sponsored Ashgate’s Big Thank You party, celebrating the dedication of the hospice’s staff and volunteers. They
Graysons Solicitors Continue Longstanding Support for Ashgate Hospice
have also fundraised for the charity via Free Wills Weeks and other initiatives for many years.
“As a firm deeply rooted in the local community, we are honoured to continue supporting Ashgate Hospice through the Dragonfly Appeal,” said Peter Clark, managing partner at Graysons Solicitors. “The hospice plays an invaluable role in so many people’s lives, and we are proud to assist with the creation of a lasting tribute to those no longer with us, while also supporting Ashgate’s vital work.”
Charlotte Butterworth, Head of Fundraising at Ashgate Hospice added: “We’d like to thank everyone at Graysons for their generosity and continued commitment in supporting the hospice.
“The Dragonfly Appeal is a special way for people to remember the people closest to them and will raise vital funds to help us continue providing our services throughout North Derbyshire.
“Because of the support of businesses like Graysons we can be there for the patients who need our care, love and support when it matters most.”
Graysons Solicitors specialise in wills, estates and trusts, elderly client services, lifetime planning, property, family law, personal injury, and clinical negligence.
Peter Clark (left), managing partner at Graysons with Barbara-Anne Walker, chief executive at Ashgate Hospice – photo by Tom Hodgson
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Slimming World Recipe
BBQ Pulled Pork
Method:
1. In a small bowl, mix the passata, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, mustard powder, garlic, sweetener and seasoning. Transfer to a small pan and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.
2. Meanwhile, heat a non-stick frying pan until hot, then sear the pork on all sides. Transfer to a slow cooker, coat with the sauce and cook for 8-12 hours on low.
Perfect for a bbq, a picnic, or an evening meal. Sweet, succulent and so tender it falls apart on your fork!
3. Remove the pork from the slow cooker and place on a cutting board. Allow the meat to cool for approximately 15 minutes, then shred into bite-sized pieces using two forks.
4. Remove the sauce from the pan and set aside to drizzle over the meat later.
• 500g passata
• 5 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 3 level tbsp sweetener
• 1.5-2kg pork shoulder, visible fat removed
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Sheffield Blitz Secrets Finally Uncovered After 15 Years of Research
Like many of her generation, Dorothy Glover never spoke about her experiences during the war.
But the chance discovery of an unpublished memoir following her death in 2009, at the age of 93, triggered a chain reaction that culminated in her grandson, former Chesterfield resident Neil Anderson, dedicating 15 years of his life to uncovering what actually happened in Sheffield 85 years ago.
Now, after a decade and a half of painstaking research, Neil’s work has resulted in the launch of ‘Sheffield Blitz – The Definitive Collection’ — a groundbreaking four-book set that reveals the untold war secrets Sheffield families believed had gone to the grave.
“I started this journey with one question: What really happened to my family during the Sheffield Blitz?” said Anderson. “Like so many people, my grandparents lived through the bombings but never spoke about them. I had to find the answers for myself — and for everyone else still wondering.”
The Sheffield Blitz wasn’t just two nights of bombing in December 1940 — it was the devastating culmination of years of fear, resilience, and survival. Anderson’s research included interviews with hundreds of survivors, weeks spent in archives in both the UK and Germany, and collaboration with the Imperial War Museum. The result is a vivid and unprecedented insight into the city’s wartime trauma.
Thousands of Derbyshire residents watched in horror as the nearby city burned – the flames lit up the skies for miles. Scores of fire crews were sent to help the stricken city from the region and then hundreds of builders and joiners helped the rebuild
project for years after – nearly a tenth of the Sheffield population were made homeless in the raids.
Neil Anderson officially unveiled the collection at a special event at Sheffield Central Library.
He shared the inside story of his 15-year quest — from why Sheffield had one of the lowest evacuation rates in the country, to why bombs were still falling four years after the Blitz, including a V1 rocket strike on Christmas Eve 1944.
Among the collection’s most remarkable discoveries is a set of original German bombing maps, smuggled out of Germany after the war. They reveal that the Luftwaffe’s objectives extended far beyond industry — with schools, hospitals, and densely populated suburbs clearly marked as primary targets in a campaign of psychological warfare.
The limited-edition collection includes:
• Four large-format, first edition coffee table books, all signed by the author
• Hundreds of rare and unseen photographs
• Copies of three original German bombing maps of Sheffield
• Full lists of every civilian casualty in WWII
• A detailed bomb map showing where every device landed
• Access to the Sheffield Blitz Walk App and Guided Memorial Walk
• A certificate of authenticity and luxury gift box
Neil Anderson added: “This isn’t just history. It’s a time machine into your family’s hidden past — and a record to ensure their stories are never forgotten.”
‘Sheffield Blitz – The Definitive Collection is available from www.dirtystopouts com and Amazon
The Moor in Sheffield after the blitz in 1940
Neil Anderson
The new Sheffield Blitz - The Definitive Collection
Dorothy Glover on her wedding day: Dorothy Glover on her wedding day on Christmas Eve, 1938.
Dorothy Glover as a child: Dorothy Glover (right) with her father, Harold Glover, member of the Sheffield PALS Battalion in World War One
MUSEUM INSURRECTION IN BAKEWELL
After the first World War the country was suffering from economic decline. The government of the time wanted to address poverty and improve living standards. With that in mind, in 1909, they introduced what became known as the People’s Budget, suggesting various taxes, one of these being an increase in death duties. These measures had massive significance for the landed gentry and their vast estates. An increase in death duties meant such families could face ruin.
For centuries the Dukes of Rutland had been Lords of the Manor of Bakewell, but by the 1920s the town of Bakewell had an elected council and was self-governing. With worries over possible death duties the Duke now faced a financial crisis.
In 1920 between 11th and 19th March what was known as the ‘Rutland Sale’ was held in Bakewell Town Hall and Chesterfield Market Hall. The Duke sold land and property in Bakewell and the surrounding area. The sale included the Rutland Hotel, buildings in Baslow, Curbar, Rowsley and Froggatt, woodlands, fields, marble works, timber yards and farms, along with cottages as far afield as Totley and Brampton. Following the great sale, in 1921 the Duke deeded Haddon Hall to his son the Marquess of Granby in the hope of avoiding death duties.
share his home and he
encouraged visitors, hoping money from the ticket sales would help fund the repairs needed. But by 1924 he found the invasion of visitors overwhelming and longed for the peace and privacy he loved. He reduced opening hours then eventually, to keep trespassers away, he closed all the local footpaths that encroached on his house and garden.
Local ramblers were furious. Bakewell Urban District Council, with support from the Rural District Council, gave notice to the Marquess’s agent that they intended to break down all notices and barriers. Eight workmen armed with crowbars, shovels and wire cutters met at Bakewell Bridge one morning and they set off, followed by a band of 200 supporters, to cut through barbed wire, make gaps in fences and walls, and to break the locks from gates. The group returned to Bakewell three hours later. They had walked eight miles unopposed. The Marquess sued both Councils, and they in turn sought legal representation. The whole business ended up in the High Court where the case was eventually settled out of court, leaving only three paths still blocked to the public. Thankfully today visitors are welcomed back at Haddon and we can all enjoy the lovely house and garden at our leisure.
Hidden away behind All Saints Church in Bakewell, just 5 minutes down the road from Haddon Hall, is Bakewell Old House. Not as majestic as Haddon, but full of interesting things to discover and a fascinating place to visit.
Written By Joyce Janes
BAKEWELL OLD HOUSE MUSEUM 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.
John Manners loved Haddon and set to work on refurbishing the old building that had been abandoned for years. Initially he wanted to
Photos courtesy of Les Singleton
Photos courtesy of Les Singleton
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Policeman Tom Kettle is nine months into retirement. A widower, he has a new home and a plan for his new life – to be stationary, happy and useless.
A simple story you might think. But Old God’s Time by Sebastian Barry could not be further from a simple story. Nothing is what it seems.
Tom’s life takes another turn when two of his former colleagues turn up investigating a cold case concerning the murder of a priest and looking for a bit of help because Tom had been around at the time.
Tom Kettle is what might be called an unreliable narrator. Not that he means to be. It’s what he remembers. As a reader you’re fed disinformation, then just as you’re thinking you know where this line is going, you find out that you don’t.
Which might sound off-putting. Don’t be put off. It is a stunning book, delving into the bad old days of the Irish priesthood, but also describing with amazing understanding how unstable our memories are and at the same time pinpointing the amazing capacity of love to cut through the dark.
A very powerful book, compelling and beautifully written.
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All Around the Shire
APRONS FROM MY CHILDHOOD
One of the first things I made in school needlework class when I was about nine years old was a really useful gingham apron with an embroidered pocket and long ties for round my waist. That little apron saw me right through school and beyond. Nowadays, I wear a wrap-over pinny when presenting our social history sessions. From my childhood, they were worn by women of my granny’s age all day, every day. The only concessions were to put on a clean one for visitors.
They were much more than a humble, practical garment, they symbolised the personality of the person wearing them. The smell, the stains and the feel of the fabric was imprinted on every child’s mind as they hugged or tugged at the person wearing it. Tears were wiped away with it, a grazed knee might be dabbed with a corner, a child might hide in its folds. And the pockets were mysterious caverns, contents known only to the wearer. Possibly a handkerchief, a sweetie and perhaps a cigarette or a shopping list.
In our house, we have many aprons hanging on the back of the pantry door and wear them when cooking, cleaning, gardening and sometimes eating. My granddaughter loves to wear hers when baking or cooking with us.
Long live pinnies!
Janet and Paul Barrass are All Around the Shire. Find us on or email: oldfield512@btinternet.com for more
Guess the words and Fill in the crossword !
Across
9 Endless line of polo players (4)
10 Shower, with love from judo teacher (4)
11 Scope of the cooker? (5)
12 A tin, opened, of steak, say (4)
13 Link yesterday with murky outcome (4)
Down
2 Brother going up to the ball (3)
3 The passage of time (3)
7 Posher than a big piano? (7)
14 Bird would do better with late following (3)
15 Sloppy sound is missing (3)
Across
1 Old, cross, shielded cat (or an implant come adrift) (4,7)
5 Lions and tigers, once seen on giant chess board (3,4)
14 Lent an ear to plan that’s timeless (7)
16 Austin to relax and unwind, where there’s no stress? (7,4)
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 devised by
Down
1 Egg, all on jar, adopted for ‘barristerspeak’ (5,6)
4 Any deserter, running away from early youth (6,5)
6 Mark on impertinent teen, just walking off (7) 8 Mid-area cultivation on Atlantic island (7)
1 Bad example, 5 A capella, 9 Limb, 10 Spit, 11 Endow, 12 Odds, 14 Ammo, 15 Fanlight, 18 Cyclotrons.
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BABY BIRDS ARRIVE IN NUMBERS ON THE GARDEN FEEDERS…..
All of a sudden, the baby birds arrive at the garden feeders. The first ones were juvenile starlings recently fledged and desperately demanding food from their anxious parents. These young starlings do cause confusion because their pale gey and buff markings look so different from the adult birds that some readers think they are a different species. At first, they simply sit next to the fat-balls or the mealworm dispensers and loudly demand feeding. However, they soon get the hang of feeding for themselves and still cadging some food off their weary parents. Young blackbirds, robins, and song thrushes soon join the growing throng in queuing for the various feeders. A noisy addition is the local jackdaws which boss the feeders and head back to nearby chimney-stacks where they have nested to supply their own ever-hungry youngsters. These are soon followed by very young greenfinches and goldfinches which quickly discover the sunflower hearts and the peanuts and are joined by adult and young bullfinches too. I hear the chaffinches calling and singing but so far didn’t see any youngsters.
A major change is when the fledged blue tits and great tits appear en masse and seem to favour the hanging fat-ball holders where they crowd in
to peck at fat-balls and especially the soft suetballs. I have noticed this year that these recentlyfledged babies are exceptionally approachable and wonder whether this behaviour will carry on into adulthood. Both of the adults of my pair of robins will come when called if I offer up mealworms or dried calci worms whilst making a chirping noise with my lips. Hopefully, the young robins will learn to do the same. I will have to see if this approach works with the blue tits as well. The great spotted woodpecker is coming to the fat-balls or the peanuts very regularly, but it is only the male at present. It appears to grasp a beak-full of food and then head back across to the woodland close-by. I guess the female and youngsters are still in the nest.
A treat in the local wood was a family party, or possibly two of treecreepers. The young birds are similar to the adults, but their brown and white plumage is more softly marked and less clearly defined. Also known as the ‘tree-mouse’ the brood creeps almost invisibly up and around the trunks of mature trees. Once you spot them, they tend to move around the back of the tree and pretend you aren’t there or at least cannot see them.
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 www.ukeconet.org, blog www.ianswalkonthewildside.wordpress.com/ & Twitter @IanThewildside Bluesky @ianthewildside.bsky.social
JUVENILE STARLING
JUVENILE SONG THRUSH
JUVENILE BLACKBIRD
JUVENILE STARLING
BABY ROBIN
BABY BLUE TITS
BABY BLUE TITS
JUVENILE ROBIN
JUVENILE STARLING
JUVENILE STARLING
GARDENERS CALENDAR
July – height of the growing season – and time when many of our best loved perennials reach their tallest growth.
Which can be a bit of a problem if we get more of the high winds which swept the country early last month. Props, to avoid plants being damaged, can come in a number of forms; but garden centre supports are mostly not very helpful at this stage as they require plants to grow up through them. Home-made canes-and-string versions threaded in or around work pretty well and will soon vanish in new growth.
If you’ve gone for courgettes this year don’t panic if you haven’t got female flowers which produce the fruit yet. A cold early spring and growing period can slow these down, but they do tend to develop more frequently as the summer goes on. Fruit swell behind female flowers, in case you’re wondering. Water the plant at the base, otherwise you may get powdery mildew. If you do, remove the affected leaves. Feed every 10 days with a tomato feed, keep compost moist – they may need watering every day in hot weather - and harvest when the fruit are relatively small, up to about six inches max as this means the plant will produce for longer.
With all veggie crops it’s worth remembering that pollinators such as linaria, which are great self-seeders and fast growers and calendula are great to plant nearby as they will attract the insects you need.
Cut back salvia spikes once they have gone over and trim the plant back by a third. The plant should then reward you with a second flowering. And cut sweet peas before they go to seed to keep the plant flowering.
