16 Derbyshire’s finest: masterpieces of colour Patrick Coleman discovers what is probably the oldest stained glass window in the country – and lots of other fine examples too
28,30,32,48 Countywide News
All that’s been happening across the county in words and pictures
34 Fighting back against two centuries of pollution
Twenty years on, work to restore Derbyshire’s ‘blanket bogs’ is making a real difference, as Barrie Farnsworth discovers
38 From ‘Ashton’s Tree’ to the ‘Queen’s Oak’
There’s a new landmark feature on Matlock Bank
44 Fashion
It’s time to spring back into denim, says our style guru Amy Norbury
52 Our livestock farming heritage: Derbyshire’s rare breeds
Mica Bale takes a close look at some of the rare breeds in our beautiful slice of the world.
56 Gardens
There are lots of Derbyshire gardens to enjoy this month, as Tracy Reid reveals
62 Spotlight on the Arts
Steve Brown meets a Clay Cross landscape artist, plus news of a former policewoman staging a second solo painting exhibition
66 Crossword
68 Out & About
We reveal some of the highlights in next month’s Chesterfield Area Walking Festival
70 Antiques: musical influences on the ‘Queen of British pottery’
Our expert valuer Vivienne Milburn looks at the extraordinary designs of Clarice Cliff – and what some of them are worth at auction
72 It’s ‘Snowy’ with the stag gang!
One of this month’s entries into our photographic competition shows ‘Snowy’, a white fallow deer who the stags have taken in as one of their own on our Eastern Moors
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76 Focus on Food & Drink
A leading street market is heading to Chesterfield this summer, and we have a recipe of the month fit for a coronation!
78 What’s On
Our comprehensive guide to forthcoming events in the county and beyond
Local Trusted Trader Tom Watson is powering the way to a brighter tomorrow as part of the solar revolution!
A member of the respected Derbyshire Trusted Trader Scheme, qualified electrician, Tom Watson, has gained an enviable reputation for undertaking the entire range of electrical installation works, as well as expertly fitting solar PV systems.
Since starting in business in 2001, Tom has done every single electrical job imaginable – from a complete re-wire to a fuse board; from smoke detectors to security lighting. However, it’s in harnessing the power of the sun that his business has really come into its own. Since 2014, Tom has become one of the pioneers in promoting the path to cleaner energy through Solar PV panels.
With ever-increasing energy costs, more and more homeowners have turned to solar power, generated through roof integrated and on-roof solar PV, as a sustainable way of reducing their energy bills - whilst also having the opportunity to earn money by selling excess back to the grid. Furthermore, the new Octopus flux tariff offers an export tariff of 21.84p per kilowatt hour. With ever-improving payback periods on the initial investment, popularity in this form of energy has soared. With added advantages of zero VAT, battery storage, zero maintenance, and a mobile phone App for monitoring performance, this is certainly the way forward.
Tom offers a 10-year workmanship warranty, backed by HIES, through an insurance policy which also covers deposits. The batteries and inverters also come with a ten-year guarantee (when installing FoxEss).
Using software integrated with google maps to size systems for the initial price, Tom can give ‘same day’ free, no obligation quotations.
With expert installation, and a huge portfolio of positive reviews, customers can use Watson Electrical with trust, confidence, and peace of mind.
Solar PV: good for the planet, good for your pocket, good for you!
In pain and finding it difficult to get about?
Struggling at home, visiting shops, or with social activities? Worried about falling?
Recovering from surgery or a sports injury?
Prefer to be treated in the comfort of your own home or workplace?
If your answer to any of these questions is a yes, then home-visit physiotherapy may well be worth your serious consideration.
Envisage Physiotherapy offers a bespoke, client-focused service, providing remedial treatment in the comfort of your home, care home, or workplace. Highly qualified and vastly experienced physiotherapist, Matt Hall-Naylor, is registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is a graduate from Sheffield Hallam University.
With a good pedigree of professional experience in musculo-skeletal treatments, chronic pain relief and rehabilitation, alongside other aspects of physiotherapy, Matt’s thirteen-year career has seen him practice in the NHS in Hull and Sheffield alongside being the head physio with the Doncaster Belles and Harrogate Town Football Clubs.
Driven by the beliefs, philosophies,
and principles associated with high-level healthcare, Matt adopts a holistic approach with every single client. He believes that it’s not just physiotherapy alone that makes his service more effective. “I build a rapport with my clients.” said Matt, “Understanding their history and background allows me to tailor a specific programme of rehabilitation to clients’ goals, focussing on treating the cause not just the symptoms, which ultimately provides better results.”
“I have a uniquely convenient service - which benefits many people who may otherwise find it difficult to get treatment. Some people can’t drive and have limited access to public transport; others may have busy lives or work from home; and, for some, the level of pain or mobility may
preclude them from visiting a town-centre practice. Treating people in their own environment brings many advantages to help ensure that recovery is as successful and as quick as possible. Integrating treatment into a person’s own environment, enables me to show them simple things that can be done in everyday life using things at home. This has tremendous benefits on long term success rates in maintaining wellbeing alongside being cost effective.”
The ultimate aim for Matt is to encourage and empower each individual client to get the best out of what they want to achieve by saying goodbye to pain and hello to freedom!
“Today it hurts; tomorrow it works.”
IT’S a little-known fact that one of the oldest (maybe even THE oldest) examples of a complete stained glass window surviving in England is here in Derbyshire! A small, inconspicuous figure of the Archangel Michael sitting in the nave of All Saints, Dalbury, is one of a handful of Norman-era windows to remain intact. Dated to c. 110035, when William the Conqueror’s son was on the throne, and possibly originating before that, it is remarkably well preserved. Given that its main competitors for the ‘oldest’ title – four windows in Canterbury Cathedral – are attributed to c. 1150-60, the Dalbury window is almost certainly the earliest example of glazing ‘in-situ’ anywhere in England. Very few of us who enter a church or cathedral can fail to be impressed by the unique splendour of stained glass. For over a thousand years, the art form has delighted and inspired worshippers and visitors. Early on, windows became elaborate modes of visual storytelling, relating Biblical scriptures or the lives of saints in an age when few people could read. Derbyshire is home to many of these masterpieces of colour and light, of which the Dalbury window is only the first…
The Dalbury window shows St Michael (whose feast – Michaelmas – was once a major autumn festival) in suitably autumnal tints of red and yellow. Traditionally, stained glass windows were made using strips of lead to hold together pieces of coloured cut glass. The Dalbury window is made of ‘pot-metal’ glass, the usual medieval process whereby metal oxides were added to the mixing pot to colour the glass during production. Aluminium oxide would produce blue glass; iron oxide, red; magnesium oxide, purple; and copper oxide, green or yellow.
Forms of stained glass had been made for ornamental purposes long before, with ancient Egyptian jewellery and Roman vases among the small objects produced. Stained glass windows as we know them, however, emerged with the building of Christian churches in the early Middle Ages.
The Dalbury window may be the earliest to survive intact, but it’s unlikely to have been the first created in England. Before the Norman Conquest, the Saxon monk, the Venerable Bede (d. 735), wrote how an abbot had sent to France “to fetch glaziers, craftsmen who were at this time unknown in Britain, that they might glaze the windows of his church [and] from this caused the English to know and learn their handicraft”. Saxon stained glass has been found in fragments by archaeologists, most of it probably imported from the Middle East via France. But of complete windows, the earliest to survive date from after 1066. Norman architecture is typified by its rounded arches,
and the Dalbury window design is of this Romanesque shape. As the medieval age continued, however, rounded arches gave way to the pointed form of the Gothic style.
Described as “the best collection of medieval glass in Derbyshire”, these Gothic era windows at St Matthew’s Church in Morley have a history just as colourful as their design. They weren’t made for Morley originally, but were first installed in Dale Abbey, near Ilkeston, in the 1480s. The abbey, run by the White Canons since its foundation in 1208, fell victim to the Reformation, and was broken up by King Henry VIII. Now a ruin, it’s a small wonder that its windows survived.
The suppression of Dale Abbey began in 1536 – the year that Anne Boleyn was beheaded – when the canons were forced to pay a fine amid accusations of ‘grave
Patrick Coleman searches the county for the finest examples of stained glass – and discovers what is probably the nation’s oldest such window.
immorality’. Two years later, the king sent one of his courtiers, the Suffolk squire William Cavendish, to Derbyshire to oversee the total dissolution of Dale and of nearby Darley Abbey. (This, incidentally, was the first introduction of a Cavendish to Derbyshire; little did William know that his future wife, Bess of Hardwick – then aged around 11 – would one day bring him to the county permanently, and there found the dynasty that resides at Chatsworth.)
As auditor of the Court of Augmentations, Cavendish was responsible for seeing to it that Dale Abbey was not just closed, but had no opportunity to reopen. On 24th October, 1538, the abbey was surrendered to Sir William, who brought masons to begin the process of removing the roof. Much of the contents were sold and it was later stripped of lead, stone and glass. The buyer was one Francis Pole, who then took the cloister windows to Morley, where they remain to this day.
The abbey windows are an excellent example of medieval visual storytelling. They depict, among other things, the legend of St Robert of Knaresborough; the finding of the Holy Cross; and images of the four Gospel writers. At the base of one window, Francis Pole has added his coat of arms, recording his part in the windows’ history, a practice that became ubiquitous in stained glass.
At Norbury, five miles south of Ashbourne, lie some prime examples of heraldic glass. Coats of arms had begun to appear in stained glass in the 1200s, with King Henry III’s
commemorate comrades of Fitzherbert in Edward I’s wars with Scotland. They include the arms of Otto de Grandson, one of Edward’s Savoyard Knights, and a Crusader. Also included are the arms of the enemy, Robert the Bruce. Such windows act as historical sources in their own right, and much of the past has been gleaned through the designs of contemporary stained glass.
It’s no surprise that with the spread of heraldic glass, nobles would be tempted to include designs in their own homes as well as in ecclesiastical settings. Though many stately piles do include dedicated chapels, stained glass also appeared in the domestic quarters. A prime local example is at Haddon Hall, where the crests of the Vernon family (the original owners) and the Manners family (who own it today) can be found in the Long Gallery windows and elsewhere. Haddon is a medieval and Tudor manor. The Long Gallery was begun by Sir George
Above: At Haddon Hall, the crests of the Vernon family (the original owners) and the Manners family (who own it today) can be found in the Long Gallery windows. In our picture, the Manners peacock crest is on the left and Vernon boar’s head crest on the right. In the middle is an ‘achievement of arms’, a bit like a family tree in heraldic form with the shields of ancestral families displayed in a mosaic.
Vernon (c. 1514-65), a powerful magnate known as the ‘King of the Peak’. It was his daughter, Dorothy, who, legend has it, eloped with John Manners and brought the hall into the family of the Dukes of Rutland. Their genealogy is traced in the stained glass, not just with the boar’s head and peacock crests, but with quartered shields that display the many noble lines from which they descend.
Although it’s the medieval era that we most associate with stained glass, the Victorians
The Burne-Jones windows in Youlgrave Parish Church show Christ and the four Evangelists.
Above: At Norbury, Sir Henry Fitzherbert (died 1315), commissioned eight windows for the church of St Mary and St Barlock, which include 26 shields. They commemorate comrades of Fitzherbert in Edward I’s wars with Scotland.
work at Westminster Abbey forming one of the earliest examples. Doners and local lords would commemorate themselves and their families by inserting their shields and mottos into windows. Indeed, stained glass is one of the best sources of information we have on the history of heraldry.
At Norbury, the local squire, Sir Henry Fitzherbert (d. 1315), commissioned eight windows for the church of St Mary and St Barlock, which include 26 shields. They
led a great revival in the 19th Century as part of the wider Gothic-revival in architecture.
Designers and architects like Augustus Pugin – who helped design the medievalist Houses of Parliament in the 1850s – used stained glass in abundance. Pugin, and others, turned to like-minded artists to provide window designs for their buildings. These artists included the self-described ‘Pre-Raphaelites’, who promoted a return to the painting styles of earlier times. One such artist, Edward Burne-Jones (1833-98), was particularly well-known for his glass work. He once said that it was “a pity I was not born in the Middle Ages, people then would have known what to do with me”.
Burne-Jones worked closely with William Morris, another eminent designer and leader of the Arts and Crafts movement, which often used medieval styles to produce everything from wallpaper to furniture. This seminal pair were also commissioned to design the east windows of Youlgrave’s Church of All Saints. The Burne-Jones windows in Youlgrave show Christ and the four Evangelists –Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – on panels produced by the William Morris workshops.
Tideswell’s Church of St John the Baptist – the ‘Cathedral of the Peak’ – is resplendent with stained glass. And at the end of the Chancel, above the High Altar, is a superb Victorian window; an example of a ‘Jesse window’, a depiction of the Tree of Jesse, the family tree of Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament, Jesse was the father of David, King of Israel. St Joseph –the earthly father of Jesus – was of the House of David, thus the term ‘Tree of Jesse’ is used to describe the family lineage. It is mentioned in the Christmas Carol “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and became a popular subject in art. Indeed, it was the first ever depiction of a ‘family tree’ to illustrate ancestry.
Above: Tideswell’s Church of St John the Baptist – the ‘Cathedral of the Peak’ – is resplendent with stained glass, among them a ‘Jesse window’. Jesse was the father of David, King of Israel, who we see here in close-up.
EDWARD Burne-Jones and his circle of Victorian ‘medievalists’ decorated many churches across Derbyshire. Holy Trinity Church in Ashford-inthe-Water has a window designed by William Morris, leader of the Arts and Crafts movement, showing the Annunciation, the Archangel Gabriel appearing to Mary to announce that she would be mother to the Son of God.
Bakewell’s parish church of All Saints has a window designed in 1893 by Henry Holiday, a follower of Burne-Jones who studied in the great artist’s studios. All over Derbyshire you can find the pre-Raphaelite influence, even in tiny churches like Sheldon’s.
Many Jesse windows can be found across Britain and around the world. The Tideswell window, which dates from 1875, was the gift of Cecil Foljambe (later created Earl of Liverpool). It was given in memory of his first wife Louisa,
and their son Frederick, both of whom had died in 1871. Prominent portraits include that of King David, slayer of Goliath, with his harp (David being the composer of the Biblical Psalms) and his son, King Solomon.
Stained glass has never gone out of fashion, and there are also many fine examples of 20th Century windows in Derbyshire. One of the best can be found in Chesterfield’s iconic Church of St Mary and All Saints.
Created in
1984, the window features an image of the church’s famous crooked spire, and was installed to celebrate the 750th anniversary of the present church. The window tells the story of Chesterfield’s history from the 11th Century onwards. The Market Hall and Town Hall are among other local landmarks depicted.
A year after the Chesterfield window was installed, another new set of stained glass was made for St Lawrence’s Church in Eyam. This also tells a story in pictures, but in this case, the tragic and heroic history of the Eyam Plague of 1665. The story begins in bottom left corner with the delivery of the cloth that brought Plague fleas from London. Above it is a ring of roses, referencing the nursery rhyme, then the death of the tailor – the first villager to fall victim to the disease. In the central panel is the Rev William Mompesson, while to the right, Mompesson is shown meeting with the rector, Thomas Stanley, to decide upon the quarantine of Eyam, the selfless act of the villagers which prevented the further spread of plague. Below that is an image of Emmot Sydall and Rowland Torre, the famous lovers who found themselves parted by the quarantine.
The window was designed by Alfred Fisher, one of the greatest 20th Century practitioners of the craft. And with several artists still working in Derbyshire today, there’s no reason to think the 21st Century will not see more fine examples of this glittering tradition.
SCHOOL holiday planning for separated parents can be a logistical challenge.
As parents, not only do you need to arrange and agree care for your children out of term time, but you probably also want to take them away on holiday, and this can sometimes be a cause of friction and conflict between parents. Careful and early planning is often your only solution.
If you want to take your children away – either in the UK or abroad, early planning will help. Not only might you get one of the many free child places that travel companies offer to early bookers, but it will mean less discord as everyone knows what is happening and what plans need to be put in place. Do try to discuss your plans with your ex if you can, so that you don’t book the same weeks – or the same place! and you both agree what the children will be doing during the holiday.
You do need to ensure that you have the right to take your children out of the country. Unless you have a child arrangements order stating that the child should live with you, and you are going away for less than 28 days,
you could be committing a criminal offence in England if you take your child out of the country without the other parent’s, or the court’s, permission. If there is no order in place, you’ll need permission from all those who have parental responsibility. It’s also a good idea to have a letter with you showing the permission – especially if you have a different surname to your child.
If your relationship with your ex, or whoever has parental responsibility, is amicable, getting their permission shouldn’t be difficult. However, if your breakup was acrimonious, it may be more difficult. For instance, they might not agree, or you might not even be able to get hold of them. In this case, you may need to get a court order, known as a specific issue order. Ensuring that your children are cared for at all times will be a priority for you. Schoolchildren in the UK have around 13 weeks of holiday a year and planning care for this amount of time can be challenging, especially for working single parents. Early planning makes a lot of sense. If your relationship with the other
parent is strong enough, it makes sense to have an agreement in place that stipulates who is responsible for what, including which weeks are your responsibility and who will pay for any outside care. This might designate set weeks on which you each care for your child or there could be flexibility depending on what works best according to your circumstances.
Whatever you do agree, try to be flexible in your arrangements so that you can accommodate ad hoc issues, such as children’s parties or the surprise arrival of grandparents with the other parent when the children are in your care. Your children won’t thank you for denying their attendance at these events just because ‘it’s your turn to have them’.
Also, try to agree ground rules for your children, no matter which parent they are with. After all, children are children and will always try to get away with ‘well mum lets me!’ or ‘dad said I can have it!’.
Bradie Pell, partner and head of Graysons’ family department says:
“If you can come to an agreement on child care and holidays without a solicitor’s help, it will be beneficial to all. However, sometimes, even with your best efforts, you might not be able to agree your childcare arrangements and you might need help. Our family lawyers have vast experience in assisting parents with as little stress as possible. Contact us as soon as possible so that we can ensure we get the help you need, as, if you need a court order, that can take time to obtain.” BP
HAVING opened its doors for the first time on September 3rd, 1999, Fresh Ideas Florists has, over its 20-plus years in business, gained an enviable reputation for friendly personal service, uncompromising integrity, and an unrivalled depth of knowledgeable expertise, backed up by an eclectic and diverse selection of fresh flowers and plants of the highest quality. From those early days onwards, imagination, fun, vision, glamour, and creativity are words that have become synonymous with the Fresh Ideas Florists brand.
The recent relocation to 370 Chatsworth Road, the former home of Gingerz BBQ/ Blu Bistro, barely a hop, skip, and jump from Morrisons, marks the next step in the development of this ever-evolving successful floristry business. Sam Brailsford, the owner, and inspiration behind Fresh Ideas Florists, is always seeking out progress – in every aspect of the business – whether it be staff training and advancement,
range and quality of product offering, or initiatives for diversification. With wholehearted enthusiasm, relentless passion, and a work ethic like no other, Sam is always pushing the boundaries.
The new premises have been tastefully decorated and appointed with craftsmanship and flair to create a rustic, retro feel. Some of the joinery work is to marvel at, and the shelves, cupboards, and benches are masterpieces of the art of carpentry, thanks to Bozspoke furnishings. All this, complemented by unique and original artefacts, creates a homely, friendly, ‘olde-worlde’, and quaint feel – both welcoming and inviting.
Now on two floors, and with more space to play with, each different part of the business can command its own bespoke space. So, the whole of the downstairs is devoted to the 50-plus varieties of flowers, whilst upstairs there’s a separate room specially for the most beautiful selection of plants, and a further room for original quirky gifts and an enticing selection of locally sourced gins, handmade cards and our very own bespoke candle range.
The ground floor is awash with flowers, beautifully set out, and boasting many different varieties and every colour under the sun. Sam and her team have certainly put the ‘fun’ back into flowers. They clearly think ‘outside of the box’. The quality and diversity of the flowers are second to none, with modern, contemporary, and traditional bouquets all on display and readily available. Popular favourites, such as Roses, Dianthus, Gerbera, Lilies, Tulips, Agapanthus, Alstroemeria, Sunflowers, Thistles and Orchids are complemented by more unusual and exotic flower arrangements. Many of these flowers are sourced from the Netherlands, although some come from much further afield. No two weeks are ever the same, as the stock and choice are ever evolving. You can be sure that there will be something new to catch your fancy from one week to the next. “I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck,” said writer, Emma Goldman, and Sam Brailsford! And flowers can be used to say just about anything. “Flowers can often express feeling more than words,” says Sam. “They can convey love, care, thoughtfulness, congratulations, sympathy and just a simple ‘thank you’.”
For Sam, it is the level of personalisation that makes all the effort worthwhile. “From the everyday to the exotic, the choice is down to each individual customer’s taste,” says Sam, “Or we can help if they wish”. Our team will happily offer advice on the best balance of colour, texture, and form, using our experience, eye, and expertise. It is our vision to continue learning and being inspired to produce visually stunning creations! Through constant training for every single member of staff, we strive to offer our customers a bespoke, individual and helpful service, which is backed by a vast depth of knowledge and expertise. “
Upstairs, there is a plant room, which, with over fifty different varieties on offer, caters for every possible taste and budget. Again, the choice ranges from the well-known and popular to something that little bit different and original. From ‘Himalaya Highlands’ to Yucca’, and ‘Carol Breeze’ to ‘Senecio’, there’s sure to be something to excite the senses. As part of the package, Sam and her team freely offer advice about how to keep the plants, where to place
them, and how to look after them to optimum effect. She may also drop in how they are beneficial to health and well-being, taking carbon dioxide out of the air, the calming effect of plants, and all that jazz. Hanging plants are now in vogue – with a mix of the everyday and tropical. The good news is that you can get your plants for as little as £5, or, if you’re feeling a bit more luxurious in taste, you can push the boat out and spend £50. And there’s many offerings in between.
Quirky gifts alongside a tempting selection of different flavoured gins now have pride of place in a room of their own. Wherever possible, these are locally sourced. Unique and original, the gifts on offer range from vases and candles to ornaments and photo frames. Other gifts include recycled glassware, handmade chocolates, tasteful cards, Teddy bears, and plaques with idioms engraved on them. The gins are from Derbyshire Distillery at Markham Vale, Shining Cliff in Bakewell, and Shivering Mountain in Hathersage.
Sam and her team of dedicated florists, which includes Elizabeth Askem, Chloe Raines, Katie Haslam, and Kirsty Noble, have created a great reputation for their artistry and flair. “We take our creativity from the inspiration of our customers,” says Sam. “We produce everything from a ‘thank you’ bouquet, to a bespoke funeral tribute, to that unique wedding piece. Not only do we pride ourselves on our vision, but also our customer care. We like to speak with our customers so that we can produce something that suits their personal preferences and tastes. From minimalist to bold, from colourful to understated, from seasonal flowers to exotic blooms, customers can be assured of our personal service and objective advice. The floristry team are reliably backed up much respected drivers, Nigel Cartwright and Ian Sanderson.
“When it comes to weddings, our style is tailor-made for every single bride. We cater for every type of wedding from minimalist weddings with simple designs to classic designs for the more detailed style weddings. We also cater for the ever-popular country and antique look. We offer a bespoke service to create displays exclusive to each individual bride.” Another sensitive, yet rewarding, part of Sam’s job is taking on the flower arrangement needs for
funerals. In private, Sam and her team, provide a supportive, respectful, and caring approach and can arrange all manner of sympathy arrangements –designing anything from a playing card to a football emblem. “We take great pride in helping families give that last good-bye a special touch,” says Sam. “We work closely with the families to offer a personalised, bespoke service and we understand that funeral flowers are the last send off. We are here to make the farewell as beautiful as possible.”
To keep abreast of the ever-evolving world of floristry, Sam is always pushing herself and encouraging her team with a continuous training programme. Sam and Elizabeth have recently attained the accolade of ‘Master Florist’ – the only two in the area to have studied for, and passed, the stringent examinations to achieve this. Chloe, who started as an apprentice, and has blossomed ever since, has recently gained a Level 3 ICSF in Professional Floristry and the two additional team members, Katie and Kirsty, are currently studying towards Level 4 ICSF in Professional Floristry, and are on course to achieve this during the next 12 months.
A recent exciting initiative has been the introduction of a flower school in the cellar of the premises. This is both fun and educational at the same time. Customers can learn about table arrangements, wreath making, door hangings, bouquet presentation, Easter, Halloween, and Christmas presentations, and just about anything to do with flowers in a relaxed, pleasurable, and enjoyable atmosphere. And all this is washed down with a drink and a piece of scrumptious cake! Parties of up to 16 can be accommodated at any one time. The learning opportunities don’t end here! A new addition to the rich tapestry of classes on offer is ‘Still Life Drawing’
classes. On 12th April, the theme is ‘Origins of Still Life’; on 19th April – ‘Floral Abundance; on 26th April – ‘Symbolism and Story Telling’; on 3rd May – ‘Colour in Still Life’; on 10th May – ‘Abstraction in Still Life’; and on 17th May – ‘21st Century Still Life’. #notjustaflorist!
Customers can now order via our website and pay online using debit or credit card. A special floral arrangement, plant or gift can be sent anywhere in the UK by the simple click of a button with same-day local and national delivery.
Why not call in to this very special shop that’s still in blossom after 24 years and experience what Chesterfields best petal twiddlers have to offer for yourself? MS
“From the everyday to the exotic, the choice is down to each individual customer’s taste.”
and refurbished, opening again in the late 1980s as a conference and entertainment venue and later gained Grade II listed building status.
The Mayor of Chesterfield, Councillor Tony Rogers, said: “It was an honour to unveil this plaque and officially mark the start of the centenary year of the Winding Wheel Theatre.”
Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The Winding Wheel Theatre has a long and varied history in our town – a historic building that is a popular cultural venue. Thank you to Chesterfield Civic Society for recognising this building with the award of a blue plaque.”
Philip Riden, chairman of the Civic Society, added: “This is one of three plaques funded by a generous grant we received from the Borough Council in 2021. One of the others commemorates Chesterfield Girls High School and the third will be installed at the Stephenson Memorial Hall when the current refurbishment there is complete.
“We have recently received funding from East Midland Railway for two more plaques to mark the site of two of Chesterfield’s Victorian railway stations.”
ICONIC children’s BBC TV show Blue Peter welcomed its newest presenter in an adrenaline-fuelled challenge in the Peak District National Park.
Abby Cook, 20, put her fears aside as she abseiled off the famous ‘Bridge 75’ viaduct at Millers Dale on the Monsal Trail.
A wheelchair racer from Falkirk, Abby joins Mwaka Mudenda, Joel Mawhinney and Henry the dog as she made her debut on the longrunning CBBC show last month.
Her first daring challenge was undertaken a couple of weeks earlier in Derbyshire when she joined local experts to drop down between the imposing arches of the viaduct in a bid to collect her coveted first presenter’s badge.
Fiona Stubbs, from the National Park’s communications team, captured the scene as Abby first battled with the view but finally climbed over the edge.
Specialist facilities at the Millers
Dale site allow for those with mobility challenges to be able to undertake abseils above the River Wye.
Since studying applied biological science in her native Scotland, Abby has worked with Forth Valley Disability Sport.
THE Winding Wheel Theatre in Chesterfield has marked the start of its centenary year with the unveiling of a blue heritage plaque from Chesterfield Civic Society.
Coun Tony and Sharon Rogers, the Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield, officially unveiled the plaque at a small ceremony on March 1 with representatives from the Civic Society and Chesterfield Borough Council in attendance.
Originally opening in 1923 as the Picture House, the Winding Wheel Theatre has been an important cultural venue for the last one hundred years. In the late 1930s it was bought by the Odeon Cinema chain but it also housed a ballroom and a restaurant.
It closed in 1981 but was bought by Chesterfield Borough Council, restored
More centenary celebrations will take place at the Winding Wheel Theatre later in 2023. In September, there will be an exhibition about the history of the building. More details about these events will be released later this year.
THE award-winning Barn Farm Campsite (www.barnfarmcamping. co.uk) at Birchover is about to help two local charities to raise money.
Barn Farm – winner of the Best Campsite East Midlands award and runner-up in the Best UK Campsite competition last year (out of 800 sites) – will this summer be supported by the volunteers of local charities Ashgate Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust, who will be serving refreshments and hosting various stalls at the campsite to raise money.
A volunteer will also be on the campsite representing the Anthony Nolan Cancer Charity.
If you would like to become a volunteer to help the local charities at Barn Farm throughout the summer, or volunteer in general, your help would be greatly appreciated.
The contact details are: Ashgate Hospice: 01246 567250 or email communityfr@ ashgatehospicecare.org.uk; Helen’s Trust: call 01298 815388 and ask to speak to The Volunteer Department.
BACK by popular demand is the Memories of the 1940s event at Crich Tramway Village, home to the National Tramway Museum, on Sunday and Monday, April 9 and 10.
Step back in time to 1940s Britain on the Homefront to be immersed in the lives of those who lived through the Second World War.
There will be live 1940s entertainment from Kev Mack, Jayne Darling, Marina Mae, Johnny Victory, Bluebird Belles, Sparky and Sprite and Putting on the Blitz.
There will also be vintage stalls, civilian and military displays, and a morale boosting visit from ‘Winston Churchill’.
You can even learn dances from the era with The Swing Cats and children can make their own gas mask boxes in the craft activities.
For more information and opening times, visit https://www.tramway.co.uk/ whatson/memories-of-the-1940s or visit the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ crichtramwayvillage or call 01773 854321.
A project to restore the natural habitat of the River Ecclesbourne and support the recovery of Atlantic salmon has begun.
Working with partners at the Wild Trout Trust, Chatsworth Estate, and Nestlé Waters, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is managing a new project to improve water quality, enrich the
ecological status of the river and re-meander a section of the river back to its original channel. This will bypass a weir at the site of the former Postern Mill in Turnditch and create a route for fish migration.
The Ecclesbourne rises near Wirksworth and flows southeast to join the Derwent near Duffield. The ecological status of the river is classed as “moderate” against the Water Framework Directive by the Environment Agency, due to pollution and physical barriers preventing fish movement throughout the watercourse.
A Wild Trout Trust habitat assessment reports that the river has a large amount of potential spawning habitats for Atlantic salmon, a priority conservation species, and other fish species found in the Derwent Catchment, but their movement is prevented by the presence of manmade structures.
The new project will bypass the weir and restore the river to its original course before it was diverted for milling in the 18th century. The construction of the new channel, due to start in the autumn, will reinstate fish passage for many species, including salmon, classified as ‘vulnerable’
in Europe, and eel, classified as ‘critically endangered’ globally by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Other species to benefit include grayling, trout, lamprey, minnow, stone loach, and bullhead.
Jennifer Kril, Living Rivers Officer at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said: “We are incredibly excited to be starting this project to improve the River Ecclesbourne’s natural habitats and improve its overall health. It also offers great opportunities for local schools and communities to get involved.”
Tim Jacklin, Deputy Director of the Wild Trout Trust, said: “This is a great example of the type of project required to save our threatened migratory fish. Completion of the project at Postern Mill will open up the whole River Ecclesbourne, allowing salmon once again to return from the North Atlantic all the way to Wirksworth – and back again!”
AS the war in Ukraine is now sadly well over one year old, Derbyshire County Council is renewing its appeal for more households to host refugees.
New hosts are being sought for a range of reasons but mostly where households – which have supported Ukrainian guests for considerably longer than the six months they originally signed-up to – can no longer commit to hosting.
Hosts must be able to offer accommodation for a minimum of six months and be able to provide a basic level of support including welcoming their guests to the local area and helping with tasks such as registering with a GP, accessing local and public services and opening a bank account.
Each host household supporting a Ukrainian guest or guests receives a monthly £350 ‘thank you’ payment, with this monthly payment rising to £500 when guests have been in the UK for more than 12 months.
There are now a number of Ukrainian guests who are looking to move into independent accommodation, and private landlords with available accommodation to rent are being sought across the county and asked to get in touch.
Around 1,200 refugees arrived in Derbyshire from Ukraine and around 900 are still being hosted. While some have returned to Ukraine, or moved out of Derbyshire to elsewhere, there’s a growing number of guests who are now employed and living in the county.
Leader of Derbyshire County Council, Councillor Barry Lewis, said: “If you have room in your home and compassion in your heart then I’d urge you to come forward and email UkraineHosts@derbyshire.gov.uk”
Anyone who would like to offer support other than accommodation should email ukrainesupport@derbyshire.gov.uk
THE 2023 Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Awards culminated in a glittering awards ceremony attended by 180 people at Casa Hotel in Chesterfield last month.
Host Andy Miller compered the event as Gold, Silver and Bronze award winners were revealed. Gold winners were each presented with hand-crafted awards, designed and made by Derbyshire-based C W Sellors Fine Jewellery & Luxury Watches, whilst Silver and Bronze winners each received a certificate identifying them as one of the finest tourism businesses in the area.
Winners included:
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award:
Gold: Matlock Farm Park, Matlock; Silver: Croft Bungalow Accessible Holiday Let, Birchover; Bronze: Level Centre, Rowsley.
B&B and Guest House of the Year:
Gold: Grendon Bed & Breakfast, Buxton; Silver: Sheldon House, Monyash.
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year: Gold: Upper Hurst Farm, Hartington; Silver: Landal Darwin Forest, Matlock; Bronze: Rivendale Lodge Retreat, Ashbourne.
Hotel of the Year: Gold: Wildhive Callow Hall, near Ashbourne; Silver: Peak Edge Hotel, Stonedge; Bronze: The Maynard, Grindleford.
Pub of the Year: Gold: The Blind Bull, Little Hucklow; Silver: The Scotsman’s Pack Country Inn, Hathersage;
Bronze: The George, Hathersage.
Visitor Attraction of the Year: Gold: Matlock Farm Park; Silver: Heights of Abraham, Matlock Bath; Bronze: Thornbridge Estate, near Ashford-in-the-Water.
Taste of the Peak District & Derbyshire
Award: Gold: Red Lion Restaurant at Peak Edge Hotel, Chesterfield; Silver: The Maynard, Grindleford; Bronze: The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop, Bakewell.
New Tourism Business Award: Gold: Great British Car Journey, Ambergate; Silver: Buxton Crescent Heritage Experience, Buxton; Bronze: The George, Hathersage.
The gold winners of the above awards now have the opportunity to represent the region in the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2023 competition.
THE Chase is on for Chesterfield pantomime tickets as producer Paul Holman Associates announce The Chase star Anne Hegerty (pictured) is to headline in a spectacular production of Aladdin this Christmas.
Instantly recognisable as The Governess from ITV’s long-running teatime TV programme, Anne Hegerty is a firm favourite with millions of fans, both in the UK and Australia. She has also appeared in I’m a Celebrity, Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Take Away, Loose Women, This Morning and Celebrity Juice, to name just a few programmes.
This year, the quizzer and TV personality will be showing Aladdin who rules at the Winding Wheel Theatre in Chesterfield from December 1 to January 2, when she brings her governess greatness to the role of empress!
Panto producer Paul Holman said: “Anne is no stranger to pantomime and I’m thrilled she’s headlining this production at the Winding Wheel Theatre. Her presence on stage as the empress is certainly going to be imposing and I know audiences are in for a real treat!”
Tickets are on sale for Aladdin now by calling 01246 345 222 or going online at chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk
A FRIENDSHIP and Bereavement Group called Sunshine and Shade has been meeting in Clay Cross for over a year and now, due to demand, it launches a new group commencing in April, meeting in Grassmoor
One of the best things about attending a grief support group is the reminder that you are not alone. Grief can feel very isolating, especially when no one else around you seems to be grieving.
Although no two people experience
grief in the exact same way, by attending Sunshine and Shade you may find that other people have experiences and struggles similar to your own. Those who have been through experiences similar to your own may have great insight, direct advice, helpful suggestions, and understanding.
Humans have an inherent desire to belong. It feels good to be a part of a group and to feel accepted and validated. When you consider the idea that belonging can impact on your sense of happiness and wellbeing and then consider the reality that experiencing the death of a loved one can make you feel different, alone and isolated, you realise just how valuable the experience of belonging to a group can be.
Grief is not a club anyone wants to belong to; once you’re in it though, there is a great benefit in surrounding yourself with other members.
Rachel Snowball has been working as a multi-award winning Funeral Celebrant for the last ten years and established the group “Sunshine and Shade” which meets at The Hub, in the Gladstone Buildings, Broadleys, Clay Cross, S45 9JN and, from April, at Grassmoor Community Pavilion, Barnes Park, North Wingfield Road, S42 5ED. Please contact Rachel on 07561 197 972 or email enquiries@ rachels-eulogies.co.uk for further details.
FANCY a physical and mental workout while having fun – so why not give bell ringing a try?
You’ll get a great sense of achievement, make fantastic friends and have a great social life. It’s the perfect challenge for an individual, family or bunch of friends.
You may be surprised that bell ringers come from different faiths and backgrounds, and young people (9+) and adults ring together as equals.
Ringing lessons are usually free or inexpensive, and modern tech can help you train.
If you start soon, you could ring for the coronation!
Have a taster session at a tower near you: visit derbyda.org.uk/learn-to-ring or message via facebook.com/BellRingingDerbyshire
DERBYSHIRE’S moorlands have long been one of the country’s biggest areas of ‘blanket bog’ – which provide the biggest store of carbon in the UK – but air pollution since the advent of the industrial revolution over two centuries ago, wildfires and, more recently, increased
footfall and climate change have damaged this special landscape. When it is in good health, ‘blanket bog’ – the nation’s peat moorlands, with Derbyshire’s Eastern Moors one of the finest examples – store the equivalent of 20 years of the nation’s CO2 emissions; provide a unique habitat for wildlife; and a staggering 70
per cent of our drinking water comes for such landscapes.
Peat is a soil formed when plants, especially sphagnum mosses, decay slowly in waterlogged conditions. But pollution from the surrounding cities over the last 200 years or so has killed off much of the vegetation, leaving exposed peat at greater risk of erosion,
which can work its way into our reservoirs and mean drinking water needs more treatment. A lack of vegetation also slows down the production of peat, which is bad news in terms of its overall carbon-storage capacity.
So, in 2003, Moors for the Future Partnership was established to protect damaged blanket bog habitats across
Twenty years on, work to restore Derbyshire’s ‘blanket bogs’ is making a real difference, as Barrie Farnsworth discovers.Above: More and more schoolchildren are enjoying the Peak District. Here, a pupil from a Sheffield school is excited to have found a worm! Picture by Fiona Stubbs.
Severn Trent, United Utilities and Yorkshire Water.
And with the costs of protecting and conserving the Peak District on the rise, the national park authority created a new charity, the Peak District National Park Foundation, with the aim of raising money to fund projects right across the 555 sq mile park, from repairing stiles and footpaths to tackling that damage to our moorlands.
Fittingly, the Foundation was set up in 2019 on the 70th anniversary of the legislation that led to the creation of our national parks – The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act –with the Peak District becoming the UK’s first such park in 1951.
And the Foundation is making its mark on the landscape, with the charity receiving £159,000 in 2021/22 through legacies, individual donations, some grants and a corporate scheme called Peak Partners, in which companies – including Grumpy Mule Coffee and outdoor clothing and equipment
manufacturers RAB (owned by Equip Outdoors) – agree to donate and, sometimes, send their staff to volunteer on schemes like the planting of sphagnum moss on the moors.
“The number of projects we help to support is very varied, both in terms of conservation work, increasing biodiversity and making the park more accessible to everyone,” said Jen Lowthrop, chair of the Foundation. “We also have a Connect Fund, where local organisations can apply for grants of up to £500 for their own projects.”
An active ambassador for the Peak District National Park Foundation is Kelvin Fletcher, the former Emmerdale actor and Strictly Come Dancing winner, who now runs his own Peak District farm.
Jen said: “He champions the conservation and engagement work of the Foundation and helps to share its vision of a national park enjoyed by everyone.”
Some of the money raised through the Foundation goes on developing ‘Miles Without Stiles’ routes in the Peak Park for those with limited mobility, including wheelchair users, and for families with pushchairs and the visually impaired. There are also projects
which the charity supports that increase biodiversity.
One of those projects planned is on the Stanage-North Lees estate near Hathersage, which attracts more than half-a-million visitors each year. Such a heavy footfall is not without pressures, and preserving the future existence of rare bird species including the Ring Ouzel is one of the Foundation’s key priorities.
The Foundation is looking
for donations to help them plant new trees and provide better feeding and breeding opportunities to the Ring Ouzel and other rare birds that call that area home.
A mother’s love of the Peak District led to a generous legacy of more than £20,000 to the Foundation. This money was partly used to help the Moors for the Future Partnership carry out its annual monitoring campaign. Many of our local peatlands used to be much wetter, with water stored in the peat to a level (known as the water table) at or very near the surface. A high water table is critical for blanket bog to become active (growing peat rather than losing it). This winter, 23 hardy volunteers and 12 staff have carried out weekly measurements, and these results will be crucial in understanding how conservation projects are having an effect on raising the water table.
The family whose generosity led to this legacy said: “Our mum grew up in Manchester. She developed a love of the Peak District plants and scenery which she passed on to her family. For us, it’s important to preserve the Peak District and
ensure that communities around it can access it so that many more people get to enjoy it.”
Since 2003, the Partnership has delivered restoration to over 35 square kilometres of bare and eroding peat. Twenty years on, these landscapes have been transformed with green carpets of moorland plants and sphagnum moss. Restored moorlands improve the habitat for a range of unique wildlife, including mountain hare, curlew and even lizards. Healthy peatlands are also valuable to humans. They are the UK’s largest terrestrial store of carbon, and their preservation aids the fight against climate change. They help to soak up water when it rains, meaning there is less chance of flooding in local communities. A tiny bog moss called sphagnum improves the quality of our tap water because it filters rainwater before it flows to the reservoirs.
Among the biggest individual donations since the Foundation was set up is one of £16,000 by Stuart Pomeroy, which funded the planting of 20,000 sphagnum plugs over 20 hectares of moorland. After making the donation, Stuart further
TO raise funds for the Foundation, Strictly Come Dancing winner Kelvin Fletcher is hosting a Spring Easter Trail on his farm, near Macclesfield, where visitors can learn about nature as they collect hidden eggs. The bookable trips, which also include the chance to meet Alice in Wonderland and the Easter Bunny, are from April 1-16 inclusive.
Kelvin said: “We’ve always done Easter egg hunts as a family, so the next logical step was to open up our land and allow
OVER the last six months, National Trust staff, volunteers, and Moors for the Future Partnership staff have planted over 195,000 sphagnum moss plugs across almost 170 hectares of moorland in the Peak District.
The National Trust cares for 10,000 hectares of moorland in the Peak Park, land which is classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest by Natural England.
The National Trust has already done a significant amount of restoration work there over 40 years and, since 2003, as a Moors for the Future partner.
For now though, the sphagnum moss planting and peatland restoration season is at an end. It pauses at the end of March, resuming again in September, to avoid disturbing moorland birds during their nesting season.
extended his support last year by helping to plant the moss plugs! He was joined by friends and family – including his daughters Hannah Dyson-Sutton and Krysy Pomeroy – to plant sphagnum on the slopes of Bleaklow.
Chris Dean, head of the Moors for the Future Partnership, said: “Stuart’s generous donation has contributed to our essential work. These moors should be covered in sphagnum moss, as they once were, but industrial pollution has left them almost
completely devoid of this fabulous bog-building plant.
“Planting sphagnum has a great success rate, so Stuart and his daughters should be able to come here in a few years’ time and see the tremendous difference their work has made.” Editor’s Note: Find our more about the Foundation on its website, www. peakdistrictfoundation.org.uk and more about the Moors for the Future Partnership at www. moorsforthefuture.org.uk
visitors to enjoy it with us.
“I’ll be there – from checking people in to getting pictures with the Easter Bunny. We’re involving all the family and local people – we want it to feel like an extension of our little community.”
Kelvin and Liz have four children: Marnie, Milo and twins Maximus and Mateusz. Their 120-acre farm has sheep – and lots of lambs now –pigs, horses and alpacas.
To book a place on the Spring Easter Trail, go to www.eventbrite. com/e/557246066987
Above: National Trust volunteer Megan holding a sphagnum moss plug before she planted it.“It’s important to preserve the Peak District and ensure that communities around it can access it so that many more people get to enjoy it.”Above: Kelvin and Liz Fletcher with children Marnie and Milo meet Alice in Wonderland and the Easter Bunny.
ANEW landmark feature on Matlock Bank was celebrated at a simple ceremony organised by local residents last month. This was their thank-you for all the work that had gone into making the project happen.
The Mayor of Matlock, Paul Cruise, and representatives of the organisations involved celebrated the planting of an oak tree commemorating the 70year reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
The new tree was planted in a new grass triangle at the junction of Smedley
Street and Dimple Road. This new landmark replaces the old stump of ‘Ashton’s Tree’ which had rotted away and was an increasingly incongruous feature at a prominent road junction.
The large horse chestnut at this junction had been a much-loved feature on Matlock Bank. It took its name of ‘Ashton’s Tree’
from Ashton’s Bakery, which had been at the junction until its demolition in 1968 as part of a road-widening scheme, but the tree continued to stand in the middle of the junction until it became diseased. It was cut down in 2009.
To make the Queen’s Oak project happen, various organisations had to collaborate: Matlock Civic Association had promoted the scheme and worked on the design ideas, which were subsequently refined by Derbyshire County Council. The work was implemented by Jackson’s Civil Engineers and Matlock Town Council agreed to accept a licence for routine grass maintenance, which will be carried out by local resident Ian Grant.
The oak tree was chosen because of its long life expectancy and the associations with Matlock (the name of the town means ‘meeting place by the oak tree’).
Right
Right:
The March 14 ceremony was effectively a rearrangement of a larger formal ceremony that was to have been held the previous week – but had to be cancelled because of the snow. An ‘electronic unveiling’ was held instead and the participants explained their own roles in the project through an email exchange…
Tony Symes (chairman of Matlock Civic Association) said: “I welcome the completion of this project and the collaboration that has enabled the association’s ideas to be converted to reality. This tree should outlive us all.”
Paul Cruise (Mayor of Matlock) said: “The creation of the new landmark is another example of the longstanding partnership between the Town Council and the Civic Association.”
Gareth Baugh (site manager for Jackson’s Civil Engineers) said: “This has been an
unusual project for us and one we have enjoyed doing. Local companies were used for supplying various elements of the project, including Birchover Stone (for the plinth) and Leander Architectural (for the plaque)”.
Sue Burfoot (county councillor for Matlock) said: “It’s taken many years
and many meetings to get to this day. Thanks to all who have made it happen – but special thanks must go to the Civic Association and to Ken Parker, whose persistence has resulted in the project being achieved. It’s been a long road to get here and it looks great!”
DENIM: a de facto wardrobe superhero, and one which can be worn by everyone, regardless of age, gender, style or season. A real workhorse of the fashion world, there’s truly a denim number out there for all. Which means it’s not a question ‘if’ you should wear denim, rather ‘how’.
And for SS23, there are myriad ways to incorporate the fabric into your dayto-day attire. Denim lovers rejoice; the time to embrace your inner true blue is now.
And it’s not just the high streets that are awash with denim; for SS23 the catwalks were overrun with denim in a multitude of styles and shades. From relaxed cuts at Burberry to Y2K style at Dion Lee and double denim delights at Givenchy, designers have embraced the fabric, offering a more accessible entry into luxury fashion with an emphasis on quality over quantity.
The jeans debate has raged for several seasons, with skinny jeans firmly knocked off their perch in
From jeans and jackets to skirts and dresses, denim is the fabric to be seen in this season, says Amy Norbury
TUCKED away on the first floor of the popular Dotique ladies’ fashion boutique on Chatsworth Road, Brampton Beauty Retreat, which welcomed its first clients around three years ago, is a tranquil oasis of serenity and calm.
With separate, wellappointed, and subtly decorated rooms, the salon offers an elegant and indulgent ambiance. The ethos here is to create an inviting and relaxing environment where people love to come, get pampered, and unwind.
The fully qualified and highly experienced therapists, headed by the manager and most experienced practitioner, Kirsti Pullen, offer a complete range of revitalising treatments and therapies, from a deeply relaxing massage that will be sure to melt away your stress, to invigorating facials that will leave your skin feeling perfectly nourished and toned.
Using the very best, luxury beauty brands, including ELEMIS skincare and CND Shellac nails, salon manager, Kirsti, believes that attention to detail and impeccable personal service have been the hallmarks of the salon’s success.
“Our extensive range of beauty treatments means we have something for everyone,”
says Kirsti. “We offer all manner of therapies from manicures, pedicures, waxing and brows, to more indulgent treatments such as facials, massages, and anti-ageing treatments. We now have over 700 5-star reviews on our generic booking system and many other 5-star reviews on Google and Facebook. My fellow therapists, Camilla Staton and Jayde Sumner are a tribute to the beauty profession and our salon. They uphold our enduring principles of offering the ultimate ‘royal treatment’, where customers can leave their worries at the door, and rebalance and recharge their body, mind, and spirit in total serenity. There is no rush here; we are completely guided by the needs and desires of our clients.”
From the humble beginnings of a handful of clients and just one therapist, Brampton Beauty Retreat has expanded to having a far-reaching and ever-growing portfolio of highly satisfied customers, who return time and time again. Of course, there are also now three therapists, who are always kept busy looking after their much-loved customers. And, on the horizon, is the exciting prospect of having significant extra room space. In the next couple of months or so, Brampton Beauty Retreat will acquire the whole of the top floor
space above Dotique, meaning they will have an additional treatment room and extra space for Manicures and Pedicures.
“The expansion will mean that we can accommodate hen parties and group bookings much more easily,” said Kirsti. “Although we already do quite a bit of pre-wedding pampering – for the bride, the mother-of-thebride, the mother-of-the-groom, and the like, this will enable us to offer another dimension of beauty treatments – with the space available to make group bookings a whole lot easier.”
Jayde has been nominated and is a finalist for ‘Beauty Therapist of the Year’ in the UK Hair and Beauty Awards 2023.
Camilla’s signature treatment, hot stone massage, has become a firm favourite with the loyal client base, as
have the Elemis Biotec antiageing treatments. These nextgeneration Biotec treatments are non-invasive and use advanced micro-current pulses to stimulate the facial muscles. The high potency activated ingredients help products penetrate deeply into the skin. The Elemis Biotec facials are unique because they are the only technology that physically tones the skin, whilst reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Courses of these treatments are available and are most popular pre-wedding for brides and mother of the bride or groom-to-be as they visibly lift, sculpt and plump the skin for a natural, youthful glow. Brampton Beauty Retreat has become established as a tranquil oasis and sanctuary, where every client receives an individual experience that is unique to them.
Why not book an appointment and see for yourself?
Brampton Beauty Retreat, 296/8 Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, S40 2BY
favour of more louche and lounge-worthy styles. And SS23 continues that trend.
Wide-legged jeans are still the ones to invest in, although for spring they’re leaning more towards 90s style baggy jeans rather than 70s flares. Team with fitted tops – a well-fitted plain white T-shirt is the perfect foil here – and look out for pretty colour washes for a real spring vibe.
Utility trousers have also been having a fashion moment this season, so combine the two trends with a denim version. Opt for a light wash and as many pockets as feasibly
possible for the trendiest take. But it’s not just jeans; denim is getting in on the act throughout our wardrobes.
A denim maxi skirt promises to be a spring style hero; this Noughties favourite is decidedly less bohoinspired this time around, so pair with a simple cami or crisp shirt, or even a light cropped knit for effortless style all season long. For day-to-evening dressing, a denim dress or jumpsuit should be top of your list. Look for stylish details such as puff sleeves, tie waists and full-length zips to elevate your choice. Outerwear, too, has had a denim makeover, from light wash jackets to stylish trenches. Double denim is back with a vengeance, so team your denim outfit with a denim jacket for maximum impact.
4. Papaya spring denim shacket, £27, Matalan. www.matalan.co.uk
5. Nautical denim knee length dress, £75, Monsoon. www.monsoon.co.uk
6. Somerland casual trenc Barbour Denim. www.barbour.com
7. Lindsey denim overalls, £180, Damsons. www.damsons.co.uk
8. Denim jacket and jeans, from a selection at Marks and Spencer. www. marksandspencer. com
REVOLUTION House museum in Old Whittington will reopen on Sunday, May 2 – and will host special events on the second Sunday of every month until September.
Coun Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “Revolution House is truly one of our borough’s hidden gems and a great free attraction for anyone interested in our heritage. It tells the story of the role our small town played in the Revolution of 1688 and boasts an impressive collection of 17th Century furniture.
“We’ve also lined up some great free events this summer that will take you on a tour of our history.”
On Sunday, May 2, visitors can enjoy talks about the history of the house provided by the museum team and see a variety of commemorative objects not usually on display, including a commemorative model of the Revolution House made at Pearson’s Pottery by Nina Watson in 1938.
A potter will be hosting talks about the 17th century witch hunts, with visitors able to have a go at making their very own witch pot, on Sunday June 11. The pots were used to protect a family and their house from an attack by a witch’s curse and can be a counter curse.
On Saturday, June 24, Chesterfield Beekeepers Association will be setting up observation hives and helping visitors learn about how these pollinators protect the environment. This event coincides with Old Whittington Gala.
Legendary Tudor Minstrel Dante Ferrara will be visiting the house on Sunday, July 9. Dante has been a professional minstrel for almost 40 years and has performed all over the world. He will be dressed in traditional costume and will explain entertainment in the Tudor period through the demonstration of instruments including the lute, cittern, hurdy-gurdy, colascione and English bagpipes.
A traditional herbalist will visit the house on Sunday, August 13 where they will be giving talks about the traditional
and modern uses of herbs and how they can help with common ailments. There will be plenty of freshly gathered medicinal wildflowers and leaves for participants to identify and ask questions about as well as a variety of herbal teas to taste.
Rounding off the summer, Revolution House will again participate in Heritage Open Days on Sunday, September 10 with the theme this year being ‘creativity unwrapped’. To complement this the museum team will be focusing on artist Joseph Syddall, who was born in Whittington and then rose to prominence, becoming a member of the Royal Academy for his pencil drawings. This display will include a selection of the museum’s collection of his drawings and oil paintings.
Revolution House, then the Cock and Pynot Inn, was the meeting place of the 4th Earl of Devonshire, John D’Arcy, and the Earl of Danby as they plotted to overthrow King James II in 1688.
Find out more about Revolution House and the events which will be hosted throughout the summer, by visiting: www. chesterfield.gov.uk/revolutionhouse
RESIDENTS in Chesterfield are set to benefit from a £1.32 million investment in the borough’s parks, green spaces and play spaces as part of new five-year plan to further improve facilities.
The Parks, Open Spaces and Play Delivery Plan sets out Chesterfield Borough Council’s commitment to making sure people have access to modern, wellmaintained spaces for leisure and play.
Projects to be delivered over the coming year include:
Improvements to play areas at Stand Road Park, Highfield Park, Ringwood Park, Cottage Close, Devonshire Avenue North, Thirlmere Road and Tapton Park.
The full renovation of the circular footpath at Poolsbrook Country Park which, at 165 acres, is Chesterfield’s largest park with miles of trails, extensive woodland plantations, meadows, lakes, children’s play areas and wildlife habits.
As the plan progresses over the next five years, there will also be improvements to Hartington Recreational Ground, Wickins Place, Stanford Way, Barnes Road, Heathervale Road, Manor Road (youth), Somersall Park (youth), West Crescent, Damon Drive and Canal Wharf.
JASON Rotherham, (50), from Eckington was the first Ultrasound patient to use the new ultrasound service, which
opened on March 17 at Whitworth Hospital, Darley Dale – as part of the new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC).
CDCs allow patients to receive care closer to home, in a one-stop style approach, which includes having direct sameday access to tests such as ultrasound, X-ray and phlebotomy (blood tests).
The ultrasound department is staffed by Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust colleagues.
Jason started his patient journey when he visited his GP with shoulder pain. He was given exercises and pain relief. However, after a few weeks, he found the pain was not improving. Following a physiotherapy appointment in Eckington, and an X-ray at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, Jason was offered an ultrasound at the North Derbyshire Community Diagnostic Centre in Darley Dale. The aim was to investigate the pain and provide an accurate diagnosis.
Jason said: “Although Chesterfield Royal Hospital is technically nearer to me, I chose to attend Whitworth Hospital because they offered me an appointment much quicker – in fact, it was the next day!
“It is fantastic to be able to now get a quicker diagnosis for my shoulder, meaning I can now get on with my day. The quick turnaround also means that my physiotherapist can take a look at my ultrasound instantly and get me booked in for another appointment quickly.”
Nic Sowden, Ultrasonographer, performed the first ultrasound at the new Community Diagnostic Centre. He said: “The new ultrasound CDC service at Whitworth Hospital means more patients can be seen faster, supporting a quicker diagnosis and treatment.
“We’ve seen an increase of around 20 per cent for the number of ultrasounds taking place across our region, so this extra service will support the demand across our North Derbyshire community.”
Patients still have the option to attend appointments at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. However, you may receive an appointment quicker if you are able to attend the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitworth Hospital.
MANY include becoming an author on their bucket lists, but their hopes get squashed by how difficult it seems. Researching, telling a story, and conveying ideas seem like a challenge in its own right. But, once the book is written, how and where do you find a publisher.
Self-publishing can be hugely rewarding. The author retains ultimate control of every step of the publishing process in a way that couldn’t be achieved with a traditional publisher. Choosing a trusted and experienced publishing house presents the perfect opportunity to combine autonomy as an author with publisher expertise. North Derbyshire-based, Bannister Publications, is a highly regarded regional publishing institution. There are many reasons why they’ve become the publishing partner of choice for local authors:
Local network: 30-year experience of publishing has enabled strong and longstanding local connections to be built
Reputation: as the publishers of Derbyshire’s largest circulation
lifestyle magazine Reflections, Bannister Publications offers a well-established platform that can help to promote the book.
Breadth of experience: a comprehensive portfolio of writers, authors, photographers, artists, and others, all with varying levels of experience, have been supported in getting their work published in a professional manner, in a variety of finished book forms.
Personal service: displaying all the hallmarks of a highly reputable familyrun business, Bannister Publications prides itself on offering a friendly and attentive service. From initial discussions to the final printing of the book, Robert Bannister, guides authors along their journey every step of the way.
Quality: the editing and design services are unrivalled locally, and the printers, who are used, serve the UK’s major publishing houses.
Value for money: Runs of small books at comparatively low prices are easily attainable – as are longer run bigger and more intricate publications.
The first step to publishing a book starts here…
Bannister Publications Limited
118 Saltergate Chesterfield
Derbyshire
S40 1NG
hello@bannisterpublications.com
T: 01246 550488
THERE is nothing more quintessentially England than overlooking a stunning vista and seeing rolling fields full of sheep or cattle and their young happily grazing. Certainly, if you were to travel back to a time when farming was in its pastoral heyday, then one of the most likely breeds you would have spotted would have been the Derbyshire Gritstone Sheep.
As one of the oldest hill breeds in the UK, the Derbyshire Gritstone has certainly shown true grit. Originally known as the Dale O’Goyt Sheep, owing to its early locations in and around the Goyt Valley, this breed is as old as the hills that forged it. By the mid-19th century, the breed was well established.
As with most livestock, the endeavour was to refine the breed into a hardy sheep with a good constitution and saleable qualities in terms of both wool and meat. Even today, the Gritstone is known for
its slightly finer wool and lean meat and is still valued for its qualities. By 1906, the Gritstone Sheep Society was formed. Unlike many of the heritage breeds, the Derbyshire Gritstone is still prized today; however, it is listed as ‘at risk’ according to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST).
Another rare breed whose story has been entwined with the county for generations is the Albion or Bakewell Blue Cattle
Aside from their rarity, what makes this breed’s story even more special is the fact that the Bakewell Blue was officially extinct following the horrendous Foot and Mouth outbreak of 1967. However, the Bakewell Blues were not committed to the pages of dusty farming books, rather, the breed was able to be recreated – but how?
Well, Bakewell Blues were developed from a range of other bloodlines including Welsh Blacks, White Dairy Shorthorn and Friesian, to name just a few. Following its
official extinction, the breed was recreated following the same methods employed by 19th-Century farmers, although there is some evidence to suggest that some of the breed’s bloodlines did survive, despite the disease outbreak. Today, the Albions, as they are now known in recognition of the fact that the blue roan colouring is not a reliable characteristic, are recognised by the Rare Breeds Trust as one of, if not the, rarest cattle breed and has listed its survival as a ‘priority’.
Truly a local success story, Chatsworth House has been a champion of rare breed rearing. In fact, recent times have seen the birth of two Albions: Bronte and Queenie. Numbers are still at a critical stage, but there is more hope now that the breed will survive.
As senior conservation adviser Tom Blunt, of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, explains: “An effective population size of 50 is seen as the threshold, with breeds below this figure being a cause for concern. While the Albion
The rearing of rare breeds is key to holding firm to the county’s own livestock farming heritage. Mica Bale takes a close look at some of the rare breeds in our beautiful slice of the world.Above: The Derbyshire Gritstone sheep, one of the oldest hill breeds in the UK. Picture by Jane Cooper Orkney. Above: Eugenie is the Suffolk Punch mare at Chatsworth Farmyard.
remains one of our rarest cattle breeds and features as a priority breed in our watchlist, there is progress being made compared to the population figure as recently as 2012/2014. We can say with some confidence that the breed is moving in a positive direction.”
Chatsworth Estate farmyard manager Melissa Underwood said: “We are delighted to welcome our two beautiful Albion calves. They’re incredibly rare and I have always wanted to have some of these wonderful cows here. Given their local heritage, it feels like the perfect fit at Chatsworth Farmyard.”
The Chatsworth Estate is also responsible for rearing the critically important Suffolk Punch Horses, which are in desperate need of improving numbers. Happily, in recent years, there have been foals born on the farm. According to Melissa: “The RBST considers the Suffolk Punch to be critically endangered, with fewer than 500 pure-bred horses registered in the UK. Our broodmare Eugenie is
one of only 72 female Suffolk Punches, making them more endangered than the Giant Panda.”
Farming Minister Victoria Prentis said: “We are very lucky to have native breeds in this country that have adapted to the UK’s landscapes and climate. As well as being an important part of our cultural heritage, they are a valuable genetic resource and provide options for the sustainable development of the livestock sector.
“Native breeds can be kept in a wide variety of production environments, including in areas where crops cannot be grown. Here, they convert available feed resources into high-quality human food, and provide other products and services, such as wool, fur, leather, draught power and other livestock products. In addition, farm animals contribute to numerous other important agro-ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling, seed dispersal, habitat maintenance and rural development.”
Another heritage breed to hail from the county is the majestic Derbyshire Redcap Chicken. Beautifully adorned with rich hues of russets and reds, the Derbyshire Redcap saw a decline in the 20th Century.
They are known for being hardy and a rather pure breed, with little to no crossing of the bloodlines, likely owing to the fact that the breed was not intensively farmed for its produce, although they are prized for producing large white eggs. Locally, there are several smallholders and breeders keeping the Derbyshire Redcap alive.
Certainly Derbyshire has done much to contribute to the livestock of the nation and today is making that same contribution to keeping our local and national heritage breeds alive for the preservation of the future generations and bloodlines of our sheep, cattle and other farmyard animals. Indeed, our special rare breeds are in safe hands for the future.
• Most tours also include a choice of dining options, where lunch and dinner are included, in your hotel or at selected restaurants. They offer plenty of opportunity to sample local cuisine. Each individual itinerary clearly details what meals are included.
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Itinerary includes: legendary Zulu battlefields of Isandlwana and Rourkes Drift with specialist guide, and a full-day guided safari in the Kruga National Park, one of the World’s outstanding game reserves, as well as the opportunity to:
• Stay in the heart of the Western Capes Winelands and enjoy a cellar tour and tasting at a 300 year-old wine estate.
Enjoy 3 nights in Cape Town, one of the world’s naturally most beautiful cities dominated by the instantly recognised Table Mountain.
Gaze at the awe-inspiring Blyde River Canyon, the third largest in the world. Guests can also follow the enchanted Garden Route, one of South Africa’s greatest drives. Guests have the
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New Zealand. Land of the Long White Cloud, 22 days from £4799 pp. The superb itinerary offers breath-taking mountains, fjords, rivers and glaciers, magnificent National Parks, charming towns and pristine landscapes. There’s also a trip on the TansAlpine train, which is a ‘must do’ - in addition to a helicopter flight over the Franz Josef Glacier plus a visit to Mount Cook.
Japan. Land of the Rising Sun. 13 days from £3699 pp. Another incredible itinerary, which includes rich ancient culture of emperors, shoguns and samurais. There’s also a place of gentle geishas, colourful kimonos, Zen Temples, and exquisite gardens. Guests will discover fast-paced cities, stunning temples, outstanding natural beauty. and incredible cuisine.
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Ecuador and the Galapagos. 16 days from £3799 pp. Certainly an itinerary with the ‘wow’ factor which embodies an immersive island-hopping tour that has it all – intriguing history, Spanish colonial architecture, beautiful and varied scenery, plus some of the world’s most unique wildlife viewing. Guests can explore the UNESCO listed Quito and colonial Cuenca, the Mindeo Cloud Forest ‘s birdlife, and stunning views of snowcapped Cotopaxi. Then, there’s the jewel in the crown – the Galapagos Islands, an islandhopping tour of unique discovery. See Martins World Travel’s next feature for Riviera’s exceptional River Cruises on the Douro in Portugal, the majestic Danube and Rivers Seine and Rhone in Europe. Luxurious ships, attentive crew, exciting excursions, and superb cuisine are all part of these wonderful cruise experiences. There is also a huge range of tailor-made holidays for solo travellers - again providing high standards of comfort and value.
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AS April arrives, gardens across the county are opening for the National Garden Scheme, raising funds for the some of the UK’s best-loved nursing and health charities, writes Tracy Reid.
As well as seeing lovely gardens, there is nearly always home-made cake for sale, and very often plants for sale at bargain prices. A lovely way to spend an afternoon without breaking the bank!
On Wednesday, 12th April, 334 Belper Road, Stanley Common, will be open from 11.30am until 4.30pm. A beautiful country garden with lots of features plus you can take a stroll through the woodland and meadow featuring cowslips in April to the large lake. A very family-friendly
garden to visit, with plenty of activities to keep children entertained.
On Sunday, April 16, Yew Tree Bungalow, Thatchers Lane, Tansley is open from 11am until 4.30pm. A half-acre, cottagestyle garden packed with plants, with some unusual trees and shrubs. A great choice for the keen plants person!
‘The Paddock’, Whittington Moor, Chesterfield is open on Sunday, April 23 from 11am-5pm. A true hidden gem, this half-acre garden features a koi filled pond, stream, bridges and gorgeous display of tulips. The home-made cakes here are also highly recommended!
A completely different, but equally beautiful, garden is ‘Greenacres’ at
Holbrook, near Belper, which is open under the National Garden Scheme for the first time on Wednesday, April 26 from 2-5.30pm. Set in one-and-a-half acres and with beautiful countryside views, a superb camellia collection and beautiful borders, it promises to be a fantastic midweek afternoon out.
On Sunday, April 30, the ‘Barlborough Gardens’ will be open from 11.30am until 4.30pm. An opportunity to see two gardens for a combined admission price of just £5 (children free). As well as the gardens, there is always a large selection of tempting cakes and bakes on sale at ‘The Hollies’.
Further details on all these gardens and more can be found at www.ngs.org.uk
WE all know that we British love our lawns – but they are certainly not great for wildlife. However, by relaxing the mowing, even the most tired or unloved lawn can be brought to life, according to the RHS.
The RHS says you can easily create a flower-rich lawn to bring new habitat opportunities for creatures such as pollinators, grasshoppers and moth caterpillars.
Bumblebees forage for nectar on lawns where clover and other ‘weeds’ are allowed to flower; and longer grass creates a ‘mini-jungle’ for grasshoppers and many other invertebrates.
Lawn weedkillers and fertilisers are designed to eliminate any plant that is not a grass and to boost the growth and greenness of the grasses. Stopping using them won’t mean your lawn becomes immediately brown
or unsightly, but it will at least give the flowering plants a chance, meaning they can provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects.
Dandelions, for example, are an excellent early source of pollen for flies, bumblebees and solitary bees, flowering even in the winter months.
Just setting the mower on a higher cut might be sufficient to allow a few low-growing daisies and dandelions to flower. Leaving the grass a little longer also provides extra protection from the sun and so helps make the lawn more resilient during a drought.
Or step it up a notch by reducing the mowing frequency. Experiment with mowing on a 3, 4 or 6-week cycle to give lawn flowers such as speedwell, selfheal and buttercup time to bloom. Another approach
is to simply stop mowing altogether between March and the end of August.
Many grasses are food plants for a wide range of invertebrates including the caterpillars of butterflies and moths so this will give them chance to lay eggs and complete their life cycle. Butterflies
you might attract include the skippers, meadow brown, speckled wood, gatekeeper, ringlet and small heath.
If the grass growth is very lush, you may need to mow once or twice in the summer but try to keep at least one patch unmown to avoid disturbing any hungry caterpillars.
MANY artists I have met over the years have made art their vocation after years in a totally different career; sometimes accompanied by a profound change in life circumstances or location. Hazel Money has trodden a different path: she has been lucky enough to make a vocation out of landscape painting in her beloved Peak District for a good part of her adult life; and now teaches other painters in the skills that she has honed and developed, both as a fine art student and
as an artist with her own distinctive style.
From her home in Clay Cross, Hazel travels across the Peak District to meet her students and art clubs/classes as well as to visit her family in Castleton; and these journeys provide inspiration for her paintings throughout the seasons.
Though born in Beighton, near Sheffield, Hazel spent all of her formative years in Hope and Castleton. She attended the local schools and, upon leaving, took up an office job in Castleton itself. However,
she had always been drawn to art, both at school and further education, and eventually raised enough money to take a degree in fine arts at the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth as a mature student, at the age of 28.
She believes that this allowed her to focus more on her studies rather than over-indulge in the more usual recreational pursuits of younger students! Despite not being Welsh, she was made very welcome in the little town on Cardigan Bay and had good friends there, one of whom she often went out with to paint in the Welsh landscape. Close to the sea, and also to the unspoilt mid-Wales countryside, Hazel loved her time there, despite university terms meaning that she was more often in Aberystwyth in the grey, sombre landscape of the shorter months than the vibrant greens of summer. Hazel believes that this influence can still be traced in her subsequent works
where reds, browns and oranges taken from the palette are often prominent.
She chose trees as the subject of her finals exhibition in Aberystwyth and was amazed to find that she sold four of her paintings there, two of which were sold before they had even reached the exhibition walls! This was a great boost to Hazel’s self esteem and made her realise that there could be some sense in becoming a career artist.
So she was sad to be leaving her course but decided not to take a masters degree on offer, preferring to return to Derbyshire to raise money in her office job and build up a body of paintings that would allow her to exhibit and become better known as a landscape artist.
From 2010 to 2013, Hazel rented a unit at the Eyam Craft Centre and says that opening the gallery in this tourist village was a real high point for her as an artist, seeing a ready source of visitors pass through her door on a regular basis. Hazel found – to her surprise – that total strangers were quite prepared to part with their hard-earned cash to own one of her pictures, and being able to talk to them was extremely interesting. She learned what would sell, and so she would produce
lots of smaller pictures along those lines, but confesses that she probably wasn’t then, and still isn’t now, a “gallery person”. She much prefers to be out and about painting in the Derbyshire landscape creating what personally inspires her in the moment rather than being cooped up indoors and painting pictures just for the ‘art market’ alone.
With her reputation well established, Hazel moved on from the gallery to exhibiting and selling online, through social media; but then another opportunity to further change course was to present itself.
Hazel is often to be found in Castleton, staying with her mother who still lives there, and it was through her contacts in the village that she was approached by a local entrepreneur who asked if she would like to buy her business. This was Field Breaks, a small company dealing in specialist art and craft workshops, offering residential botanical painting retreats at Losehill Hall, and day workshops at club meeting rooms or a rented art studio. Hazel took this on with enthusiasm in late 2020, rising to the challenge of tuition and workshops, adding a series of on-line workshops which have proved very popular since the pandemic.
She teaches in a multitude of painting, drawing and printmaking disciplines and never tires of sharing her knowledge with others. It also gets her out and about even more and on those journeys that she can often spot a composition that stops her in her tracks, which is her preferred method of discovery of unusual views.
Working outdoors, painting en plain air, is Hazel’s first love but she admits that you have to be quick as the subtleties of changing light and the vagaries of the fleeting Derbyshire weather are forces to be reckoned with! As such she might have to paint at a rapid pace, supported by a few photographs to capture those moments that can be transferred to the finished work in the calm and dry of the studio. Hazel prefers using acrylics in the outdoors as these dry rapidly and the canvas can then be easily transported back to the car.
Maybe it’s because she knows Derbyshire so well that she can distil the essence of a scene and display such a fresh approach to familiar subjects. Hazel is fully aware that if you are going to paint a well-known tourist spot, you have to find a different angle and perspective that allows you to stand out from the crowd. Her paintings of wintry grey Derbyshire skies and the rich muted red and brown hues of the trees, bracken and grasses that are so characteristic of the quiet times of year in the Peakland landscape perhaps still hark back to those Welsh winter days! She also paints quiet, unassuming places she has found, which people like and want to buy paintings of.
She admits to being inspired by a long list of well-known landscape artists as well as her own painting friends. Perhaps a couple stand out for me: Sir Kyffin Williams, a Welsh painter best known for his depictions of the countryside whose paintings are primarily made with palette knife marks and few brushstrokes, using a limited palette of grey
and subtle greens found in the rocks and foliage of Wales; and Charles Oppenheimer, a landscape painter born whose portraits of the Galloway landscape near his home in Scotland are (in Hazel’s words) ‘simply sublime’ – she notes that he used the same ‘underpainting technique’ that she does which she finds totally compelling.
In the future, Hazel is excited at the prospect of producing another book. Her first venture into this field was a result of finding herself stranded in Castleton during the first
Covid-19 lockdown in 2021 and, in her own words, “taking the opportunity to blunder around the village with a sketchbook”. It was an ideal opportunity to explore tone, texture and contrast using just a graphite pencil and paper. She then worked the results of two months of extensive drawing of scenes into a book which Hazel then sold via her website, with a portion of the proceeds going to charity: which seems to illustrate perfectly Hazel’s philosophy that, as an artist, you have to be prepared for whatever life throws at you! Her new project will be a book featuring her paintings of the Hope Valley, an area that she knows so well.
Hazel admits to still being surprised by the warm reactions to her work, but it is this which keeps her painting. It is always a real thrill for her when people see one of her paintings for the first time and know that they must take it home with them. Her work is often on a small scale and depicts subtle corners and intimate details of the landscape which Hazel believes reach out to people in a way that a larger, more commercial work might not do.
She is now enjoying the challenge of exploring the countryside around her home in Clay Cross, and looking forward to finding new landscapes to paint in the future.
a few years ago, suffering both depressive episodes and distinct ‘highs’. She said: “I have had continued support from my bipolar group, and they have encouraged me to carry on with my art.”
policewoman is staging her second solo exhibition at West Studios in Chesterfield this month.
Sue Dickins, who featured in Reflections just before her last exhibition in August 2022, is staging ‘Women United’, a collection of her oil paintings depicting women from around the world, wearing traditional dress or jewellery.
Sue, who lives at Calow, says: “Many of these women are friends who I have met here in the UK. I have returned to West Studios for this exhibition as it is such a warm, welcoming place with such lovely staff. It is also my home town, so it feels right to share my work with local residents.
“I discovered while preparing for my first exhibition, This Woman’s Work, that I enjoyed painting different fabrics, the texture and colours I found fascinating. As I also have a passion for figurative work, I decided to combine the two and came up with the idea of women wearing traditional dress.”
The centrepiece for Women United is a large portrait of Sue’s friend Alex. The portrait shows her gazing through a window in The Star Chamber at Bolsover Castle.
“I met Alex when she visited my first exhibition and I soon became aware that she had been very ill but had pulled through and was showing real strength. I knew that she had to be my ‘English representative’ in the exhibition!”
Sue was diagnosed as bipolar
The exhibition launches with an Open Evening on Saturday, April 15, 6pm-9pm, at West Studios, where Sue will be waiting to welcome guests. The event is free and there are limited car parking spaces available. There is also disabled access.
The exhibition will then run for a further two weeks, from Monday, April 17 until Friday, April 28 (weekdays only), from 10am-4pm daily.
A painting about a metre high of Sue’s Ukrainian friend, Anna, will feature in the West Studios hallway before people enter the exhibition room.
Sue says: “Alongside most of the paintings will be a written piece describing the clothing or jewellery worn. The paintings of women from different cultures will be displayed side by side. My message is that we should all be treated equally, no matter what our differences are.”
The exhibition will feature around 15 new works, a few of which will be available to buy as the original or giclee print.
Across
6 Exclude all barristers! (Or some, at least?) (3)
7 Unruly team to barge in to A6 town (9)
9 Egg sort said to have an urge (6)
10 All he may contrive to be top spot in plague village (4,4)
11 How to look smart in lower temperatures? (4)
12 Aghast here perhaps at this town? (10)
15 Seed distributors said to be good at embroidery? (6)
16 Little Bradwell designing an ad. for the Bard? (6)
18 Hamlet to work on hearsay involving ply (7,3)
21 Get a kick out of dangerous tactics (4)
22 Crag's leader to sell to crew-members (8)
26 Said to have worn a hall of manners? (6)
27 Crossly took account, roughly South of Chesterfield (4,5)
28 Hill that could just rot away? (3)
Name:
Down
1 Barlow or bust! Where stones are rounded? (5,3)
2 NE of Swadlincote, it's not harsher than it might be (10)
3 Butts, say, into things (7)
4 Actuarial part of the song? (4)
5 Potash compound induces pity quality (6)
6 'Snob tax' up ridiculously in Watertown (6,3)
8 Old length of cellophane (3)
13 A lyre, well tuned, is in good time (5)
14 Roars about smog blowing round village S of Chesterfield (9)
17 Near Bakewell, old Bob maintained his grip! (7)
19 Cruel to use just a bit of this herb (3)
20 Base sort of cow sound? (3)
21 It may be a peculiarity, but do tidy the mess! (6)
23 They'll turn your car around and fix it! (1,1,1)
24 Pans, all stacked up, can break (4)
25 Sketch out mark on the surface (4)
26 Socks to water garden with? (4)
Address:
Telephone:
We will give a prize of £25 to a randomly-drawn correctly completed crossword. Cut out the completed puzzle and send to: Bannister Publications, 118 Saltergate, Chesterfield S40 1NG by the 21st April 2023. The solutions for the March 2023 crossword can be found on page 81 of this issue.
More free puzzles at pitcherwits.co.uk
Crossword by Prof Rebus
THE popular Chesterfield Area Walking Festival is this year between May 13-21 and it includes gentle strolls, family walks and big days out for seasoned hikers. We have highlighted some of the walks below. To book any of these walks, or to find out what other walks are on offer, go to www.visitchesterfield. info/walking-festival
Saturday, May 13, 9.50am-4pm
There is a 20-mile Beast of Bolsover walk but, as the title suggests, this is a shorter, 10-mile walk taking in some of the fantastic countryside around Bolsover, led by the Hairy Hikers walking group. It starts from Town End Car Park, Bolsover, S44 6DT, and you will need to take a packed lunch. The walk is free of charge, but booking is essential.
Monday, May 15, 10am-2.30pm
This is a 4.5-mile circular walk themed on George Stephenson, the ‘father of the railways’ and Chesterfield’s own ‘rocket man’.
On a mix of urban and countryside paths, the walk takes in landmarks relevant to this great engineer, including the Stephenson Memorial Hall, the remaining building forming part of the 1840 railway station and Tapton House (the perfect spot for a lunch stop!) and finally Holy Trinity Church. It starts from outside Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre, S40 1SB. The walk is free but booking (and a packed lunch) are essential.
Tuesday, May 16, 10am-1pm
Join Derbyshire Wildlife Trust for a 4-mile walk around the Avenue Country Park and learn about the impressive industrial history of the site and how it has grown into an important nature reserve for local wildlife. It starts from The Avenue Country Park Car Park, Hornbeam Drive, Wingerworth, S42 6FY, where parking is free. There is no charge for the walk, but booking
and a packed lunch are essential.
Wednesday, May 17, 10am-4pm
A 10-mile circular walk from Ogston Reservoir, which is great for bird watching, via Brackenfield, then south to Crich and on through Wessington, returning via South Wingfield using a combination of footpaths and roads. The walk starts from Ogston Reservoir West Car Park, Woolley Moor, DE55 6FN, where parking is free. Booking and a packed lunch are essential.
Above: You can learn about the history of the Avenue Country Park on a May 16 walk.The walk is free to attend but donations to the Air Ambulance service gratefully accepted.
Holmebrook Valley Park
Walk With Us:
Thursday, May 18, 10.30-11.30am
Come and stroll with the Holmebrook Valley Park Walk with Us group. The two-mile walk will explore Chesterfield’s largest park that includes open water, woodlands and hay meadows, before returning to the café for a welcome cuppa and a chat. Covering 41 acres, the park was transformed from its former industrial heritage and now provides a habitat to a range of wildlife from water voles to moorhens. The walk starts from outside the Pavilion Café, Holmebrook Valley Park, Water
Meadow Lane, Chesterfield, S41 8XP, where there is free parking. The walk is free of charge but booking is essential.
Explore Hardwick’s Wider Estate:
Friday, May 19, 10am-1.30pm
This 5-mile circular walk explores parts of the Hardwick estate that are often missed, and offers fabulous views of both Hardwick Hall and Hardwick Old Hall from the far side of the valley. Learn more about the estate from one of the Hardwick rangers. The walk starts from Hardwick Hall Stableyard, S44 5QJ, where parking is free. The walk is free of charge, but booking and a packed lunch are essential.
Grassmoor and the Five Pits:
Saturday May 20 10am-3.30pm
A 10-mile circular walk starting at Grassmoor Country Park using defunct railbeds, visiting two delightful farming hamlets, one of which boasts an excellent view of Hardwick Hall, then through Clay Cross to the northern entrance to the mile-long Clay Cross railway tunnel before returning to Grassmoor using a section of the Chesterfield Round Walk. It starts from Grassmoor Country Park South Car Park, Birkin Lane, Temple Normanton, S42 5DA, where there is free parking. Booking and a packed lunch are essential. Donations to the Mountain Rescue and Air Ambulance services
Above: There’s a five-mile walk around the Hardwick Hall estate on May 19.
Below: Go ‘Forest Bathing’ in Linacre Woods on May 21.
will be gratefully accepted.
Sunday, May 21, 9.30-11.30am
The final day of the walking festival draws to a very relaxing close with the Forest Bathing Walk, which teaches you the art of Shinrin Yoku. The Japanese practice of ‘forest bathing’ uses all of your senses to experience the forest around you. Forest bathing has been shown to lower stress hormones and boost the immune system for up to a month!. Join Holly on this short 2-mile stroll for a sensory experience around Linacre woods. The walk is suitable for adults and older children and will taken at a very leisurely pace. The main focus is on relaxing and really getting to know the environment around you. Some parts of the walk go off the main trails, so it may be muddy and uneven underfoot and there will be some gentle up and downhill sections. Please dress sensibly for the weather. The walk starts from the Toilet Block near the Lower Reservoir, S42 7JW. Parking charge is £3 per day. The walk cost is £6 per ticket, and a packed lunch and booking are essential.
CLARICE Cliff’s extraordinary zany designs make quite an impression. The impact of her designs are still relevant today, as her work can make significant amounts when they are sold at auction. The dynamic Jazz range is the most highly valued in today’s market, with a top price of around £15,000 for authentic pieces.
At the age of 13, Clarice Cliff started working in the potteries as a freehand painter and, in 1916, she moved to the A J Wilkinson factory at Newport, Burslem, to improve her career opportunities. She was ambitious and acquired skills in modelling hand-painted ware and keeping pattern books.
In the early 1920s her boss, Jack Walker, brought her to the attention of one of the two factory owners, Colley Shorter. He was 17 years older than Clarice, and as well as playing a major role in nurturing her skills and ideas, he was later to be her husband.
In 1924, Wilkinson’s were producing conservative, Victorian-style ware but eventually Clarice Cliff’s wide range of skills were recognised and in 1927 she was given her own studio and allowed to decorate some of the defective white ware, or “seconds”, in her own freehand patterns. She used on-glaze enamel colours, which enabled a brighter palette and she
covered the imperfections in simple patterns of triangles, in a style that she called ‘Bizarre’. To the surprise of the company’s senior salesman when he took a car load of her work to a major stockist, it proved immediately popular.
Some of the top prices attained at auction now are for her 1929-1935 pieces, as the shapes from then onwards took
Above: Clarice Cliff Bizarre
‘Inspiration Lily’ pattern coffee set, made in the 1930’s in the popular conical shape, made the above average price of £7,900.
Left: Rare Clarice Cliff Bizarre ‘Age of Jazz’ table centrepiece, as a Jazz piano player and a banjo player, 13.5cm. high, it made £12,000 despite having some restoration.
DOES our headline strike a chord with anyone? Well, tapes of Sir Rod Stewart’s first studio recording, which helped secure a record deal, was sold at a recent auction by his former manager from Bakewell.
The 15ips analogue tape was sent to Decca Records as an audition recording in 1964, and the result was Stewart’s first recording contract. The tapes made £4,300 in the specialist auction.
The recording was made on June 18, 1964 in the basement studio of the engineer Pepe Rush in Berwick Street in Soho. Tracks include “Just Like I Treat You; Mopper’s Blues and Ain’t That Lovin’.”
On the tape you can even hear Rod saying “there is somebody knocking on the
on a more ‘Moderne’ influence.
In 1928, Clarice produced a simple, hand-painted pattern of crocus flowers in orange, blue and purple, which started the Crocus pattern range. The vibrant colours instantly attracted large sales, and it was produced in large numbers and is the ware most regularly seen at auction. It is not, however, as valuable as some of her other designs.
Through the Depression in the 1930s, her wares continued to sell in volume at what were high prices for the time and many top London stores sold it, including Harrods. Clarice Cliff’s fame in the 1930s is hard to fully appreciate now, but at that time there was no such thing as a ‘career women’. It is a tribute to her that Wedgwood – who now own the Clarice Cliff brand – produce a range of reproductions of the highly-sought 1930s pieces.
The collecting market for Clarice Cliff pottery is complex; it is still possible to find examples of Crocus pattern, her longest produced pattern (1928–1964) for as
door trying to get in!”
Rod had asked a certain Reg Dwight (later to become known as Elton John) to come and play piano. Unfortunately, he had a cold that day and couldn’t make it. However, the musicians used were from Long John Baldry’s Hoochie Coochie Men band, led by the pianist Ian Armit, who Rod normally sang with. The tape led to Rod’s first recording contract. Rod Stewart was about 18 at the time and it was clear to the manager he was something special. He had that star quality which has allowed him to stay popular.
These tapes were a unique opportunity to acquire a bit of pop music history, which is why they made £4,300, despite not been able to be played in their present condition.
little as £30-50. However, rare combinations of shape and pattern attract very high prices at auction. The world record price for a piece of Clarice Cliff is for a wall plaque which made £39,500. The current trend for modern design items means that her designs of post-war ware has also become increasingly sought after at auction.
In a recent specialist auction, a 1930’s coffee set decorated in the “Inspiration Lily” pattern and of conical shape made £7,900. It is interesting to think that she was working at a time when working class women didn’t really have careers – and it was even before they had the vote.
Editor’s Note: If you have antiques and collectable items, it is always worth getting the advice of an Independent Antiques Valuer to assess them. For further information, please contact Vivienne on 01629 640210 or 07870 238788. Alternatively, go to www.viviennemilburn. co.uk or email vivienne@ viviennemilburn.co.uk
WE start this month’s selection of entries into our 2023 ‘Derbyshire’s Wonderful Flora and Fauna’ photographic competition with a very rare shot of ‘Snowy’, a lone fallow deer who the stags have taken in as ‘one of their gang’ on our Eastern Moors, which is where reader Peter Wigglesworth, of Matlock, took the picture on March 12.
And below is another picture of deer, taken one day earlier. It’s by Simon Hampton, of Walton, and the the fallow deer are under a tree to the left as snow covers Chatsworth park.
Next, a February picture taken by Russ Teale, of Newbold, who says: “This stunning kestrel decided to have her breakfast on the ground right in front of me near Clodhall Lane.”
A bit of creative thinking, next, from Janice Dyson, of Wingerworth, who says: “It’s flora and fauna together on this fabulous postbox topper in Ashover.” Can’t argue with that, Janice!
An almost ‘other-worldly scene’ here, as Brian Smith, of Upper Newbold, took this picture of moss-covered stones and tree roots in Padley Gorge on March 14.
Next, we have what Ian Moorcroft, of Hollingwood, describes as “a little duckrobics along the Chesterfield Canal”!
On to Sheldon Moor now on a crisp, frosty morning in March with Lorraine Baker, of Matlock, who says: “Spotted these gorgeous trees when I was making my way over to Magpie Mine.”
“The only adder I’ve seen so far this year,” says Peter Wigglesworth, of Matlock, about this picture taken on the Eastern Moors on February 15.
Here’s a shot of a nosy sheep, taken by Julie Potton, of Belper, who says: “I was pleased when I got the picture in the snow, framed by the bullrushes down on the shore at Carsington in January. I’d seen the potential for a shot, but had to wait for the sheep to oblige.” We’re glad it did, Julie!
Here’s a lovely shot of woodland Snowdrops at Hopton Hall, taken on February 25 by Jasmine Banks, of Elton.
Next, an image of a beautiful wren in Bradford Dale, taken on March 14 by Russ Teale, of Newbold. A swan at Ashford-in-the-Water next, on a bright morning after a snowfall on March 12, taken by Lorraine Baker, of Matlock.
The walk from Holy Trinity Church, Chesterfield, in late February saw a carpet of crocuses looking stunning in the sunshine. It was taken by Janice Dyson, of Wingerworth.
Here’s a reader’s version of the “Three Stags’ Heads”, taken in February near Longshaw by Peter Wigglesworth, of Matlock.
Next, a lovely bird, the tree creeper, photographed in February in Holmebrook Valley Park by Brian Smith, of Upper Newbold. A heron takes off from the river at Chatsworth. The picture was taken on March 5 by Simon Hampton, of Walton.
Here’s a wintry day in Alport captured by Ian Moorcroft, of Hollingwood.
In this year’s competition, you can take stunning images of plant life or wildlife or both – it’s up to you. The picture(s) you send must be taken in 2023 and must be in Derbyshire and you can enter as many times as you like. We want entries from amateur snappers and not commercial photographers; and drone images will not be accepted. Please email your entries to barrief@bannisterpublications. co.uk, giving your full name and address, a contact telephone number and a description (including the date it was taken) of the image, which should be attached as a high-res jpeg. The winner will receive a meal for two at a top local restaurant, plus the chance to have a selection of their images published in Reflections The deadline for entries is Monday, October 16, 2023.
ONE of the country’s leading street food markets is coming to Chesterfield this summer. Chesterfield Borough Council has partnered with Peddler Events, which has operated an extremely successful street food market from its base in Kelham Island, Sheffield.
Peddler Events champions local creators and artisans and, over the last eight years, they have become known for delivering award-winning cuisine, craft drinks, live music, bespoke products, art and excellent entertainment.
The first two-day event is scheduled to take place in Chesterfield town centre on Friday and Saturday, June 23 and 24, with more planned for later in 2023.
Coun Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We’re really excited to welcome Peddler to Chesterfield. We know this is the kind of memorable experience that our residents want to be able to enjoy on their doorstep, as well as attracting new visitors to our town centre.
“We look forward to working closely with the team at Peddler, together with our local businesses in Chesterfield, and
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
I hope that lots of people will come along and support these events.”
Peddler Market attracts around 8,000 visitors to its monthly street market event and has helped cement Sheffield’s place on the culinary map whilst also supporting the regeneration of the former industrial area it operates in.
Ben Smith, director at Peddler Events, said: “Over the past eight years, Peddler Market has played a pivotal role in helping transform Sheffield into one of the country’s leading culinary destinations.
“Our aim is to bring the leading lights of the street food world to this wonderful market town and see them shine alongside the wealth of talent that Chesterfield has to offer.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing Peddler Market at such an exciting time in Chesterfield’s regeneration.”
Funding to help bring the event to Chesterfield has been provided through the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Chesterfield Borough Council
MAKES 24
IT’S the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday, May 6 – and for those who might be hosting a street party, here’s a recipe that might help from Del Monte. It is rumoured that the new King, when he was Duke of Cornwall, turned his hand to making a pasty or two, so this pasty recipe could be an ideal dish for celebrations during the coronation weekend. Preparation time is only 40 minutes, and cooking time is 20 minutes.
300g small Maris Piper potatoes
1 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 can (220g) Del Monte® pineapple slices in juice, finely chopped
100g cheddar, grated
2 x 320g packs ready rolled puff pastry
1 egg, lightly beaten
Salt and pepper
1. Peel the potatoes and place in a pan of cold water, bring to the boil, add 1 tsp of salt and simmer for 15 minutes, drain well and leave to cool.
2. Meanwhile heat the oil in a large frying pan and cook the onion for 10 minutes over a medium heat until softened but not coloured, remove from the heat.
3. Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle cut into 1cm cubes and add to the onion along with the pineapple pieces and cheddar, stir gently to combine and season to taste with salt and pepper.
4. Preheat the oven to 200°C, Fan 180°C, gas mark 6.
5. Unroll the pastry sheets onto a lightly floured surface and ensure each one measures 24cm x 32cm –roll out slightly or trim if need be. Cut each sheet into 12 x 8cm squares.
6. Take one square of pastry, lightly brush the edges with a little beaten egg,
received £2.69m of UKSPF funding which will be invested across the borough over the next three years. A portion of this will be invested into promoting the borough as a place to visit, and providing support for arts, culture, and heritage activities.
Another new event, announced earlier this year, is Eat in the Park – a two-day live music event in Queen’s Park. The event, which will include entertainment for all the family and food vendors selling food from around the globe, will take place on the weekend of August 5 and 6, with tickets on sale now.
The Chesterfield Food and Drink Festival is on July 22 and 23 this year, and is at Queen’s Park for the first time. Find out more about these events at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/home/latestnews/council-welcomes-a-packedevents-programme-this-summer.
then place a spoonful of the potato and pineapple mix into the centre of the square, fold in half to form a triangle and press the edges together to seal, repeat with the remaining squares, ensure the pasties are as full as possible.
7. Using the end of a fork, press around the edges of the pasties to create a pattern and ensure they are fully sealed. Brush each pasty with beaten egg and place on baking sheets lined with baking parchment. With the tip of a small knife, cut two small slits in the top of each pasty to allow the steam to escape as they cook, then bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until puffed up and golden.
8. Serve warm or at room temperature.
ICON
April 17 James Ketchell: It’s All Mental
April 20 Carl Hutchinson
BOX OFFICE: 01298 72190 www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk
APRIL
2 Dave Gorman
BOX OFFICE:01246 345 222 www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk
APRIL
2 The Cavern Beatles
4 Easter Panto: Rapunzel
5 NT Live: Life of Pi (PG)
6 Roald Dahl’s Matilda Musical (PG)
8 The Diana Ross Story
11 Living (12A)
12 Psychic Sally
13 The Fisherman’s Friends
14 Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (12A)
15 Dr Feelgood
16 Country Superstars
17 James Ketchell: It’s All Mental
20 In Conversation: Before They Were Famous
20 NT Live: Good (15)
21 Marti Pellow: Pellow Talk
22 Francis Rossi: Tunes & Chat
23 ABBA Forever
25 Empire of Light (15)
28 Songs from the Shows
29 Hello Again: The Neil Diamond Songbook
30 The New York Bee Gees
2 Coronation Tea Dance
2 St John Passion (St John’s
April 13 Marcus Brigstocke: Absolute Shower
20 Carl Hutchinson
21 NT Live: GOOD (15)
21 Russell Kane: The Essex Variant
22 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour (12A)
23 What’s Love Got To Do With It?
24 Close (12A) (Pavilion Arts Centre)
25 Tim Vine
27 The Searchers
27 Maddy Prior & The Carnival Band (Pavilion Arts Centre)
28 Mike & The Mechanics
28 The Fureys (Pavilion Arts Centre)
29 That’ll Be The Day (Music)
30 Twistin’ The Night Away with Si Cranstoun (Pavilion Arts Centre)
MAY
4-5 Cirque The Greatest Show
RESIDENTS and visitors are invited to a special tea dance to help celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.
The Ashby “Little” Big Band with six musicians and a singer will be on hand play a mix of ballroom and sequence at the special event that will be held in the auditorium at the Winding Wheel Theatre on Tuesday, May 2.
Hosted by Chesterfield Borough Council, the event will help to mark the first Coronation of a UK monarch for nearly 70 years.
Tickets cost £7.50 and can be purchased at www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk or by calling the box office on 01246 345222. The dance will take place from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.
Afternoon tea refreshments will also
be available to purchase on the day.
Coun Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The Coronation of King Charles III will be a huge event in our history, and we know that many local residents will be looking for different ways to mark this special occasion.
“We held a tea dance for the Platinum Jubilee last year which proved to be really popular, so we’re hoping to see as plenty of people joining us again this time.”
5 Buxton Buzz Comedy Club
BOX OFFICE: 0114 249 6000 www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
APRIL
4-15 Sister Act
13 The String Quartets of Anna Meredith (The Leadmill)
18-22 Home, I’m Darling (Lyceum)
25-29 Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers (Lyceum)
MAY
2-6 An Inspector Calls (Lyceum)
3-7 World Seniors Snooker Championship 2023 (Crucible)
BOX OFFICE: 0114 2 789 789 www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk
HADDON Hall, one of the country’s most elegant stately homes, has confirmed the opening dates for its 2023 season. From April 1 to September 24, visitors can once again immerse themselves in 900 years of history, marvel at Tudor and Elizabethan architecture and stroll around the hall’s walled gardens and magnificent medieval parkland.
There will be free guided tours every Monday, starting from April 3, which run at intervals throughout the day, providing visitors with an introduction to the history of the hall.
In the summer holidays, every Tuesday from July 11 to August 29, there will be children’s free guided tours, with archery classes available to buy on the day. Guests can also experience live music in the hall on selected Sundays from June 4 to September 17. Taking place at 12pm and 2pm, these recitals are included within the admission ticket.
Haddon will once again stage its popular parkland and specialist walks, alongside photography workshops and, for the first time, a ‘Forest Bathing morning’ and ‘Bat Watching evenings’.
Haddon’s Gatehouse Gift Shop reopens to the public on April 3, and will see different artisans in situ each week.
There’s also the opportunity to enjoy
speaking both online and at St Thomas’ Centre, Brampton at 7.30pm on ‘The Life of the Early Victorian Deaf and Dumb’. Visitors welcome. For further details and to register, contact the secretary@cadfhs.org
a delicious breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea at Haddon’s restaurant.
Following the overwhelming success of its Derbyshire Discount last year, Lord and Lady Edward Manners have decided to extend the discount into the 2023 season, offering 30 per cent off the admission price for county residents, including students, adults and concessions, in addition to free entry for children under the age of 16.
Admission prices: adults £23.90 (£16.70 with Derbyshire Discount); concessions £21.90 (£15.30 with Derbyshire Discount); students (with valid ID) £20 (£14 with Derbyshire Discount). Parking £3.80
Opening times: From April 1, hall and gardens: 10.30am4.30pm (last entry at 3.30pm); restaurant: 10am-5pm. For more information, or to book, visit www.haddonhall.co.uk
6
MAY
APRIL
8 Bakewell P.B.F.A. Book Fair at the Agricultural Business Centre, Bakewell, DE45 1AH, 10am to 4pm. This book fair – the largest currently being organised within the Peak District National Park – will have up to 30 dealers displaying a wide variety of books, both second hand and antiquarian, with maps, prints, ephemera, and lots of unusual items. All visitors will be most welcome, including pets. Admission is £1 but a free entry ticket can be found and printed off by visiting the PBFA website. Further details can be obtained by contacting the PBFA organiser, Peter Allen, on either 07526 606908 or 01298 77786.
11 Easter Holiday Club at Mount Cook Adventure Centre. Learn new skills and develop confidence with activities such as high ropes, zip wire, archery, bushcraft, and low ropes. This event is only for children – parents just need to pick up and drop off! Each Holiday Club has its own theme, your children will learn something new every time, including learning about the countryside around them. The centre is at Middleton-byWirksworth, DE4 4LS. £30 per child per day; and bring your own lunch. Suitable for ages 8-12. Drop off from 08.309am, pick up at 4.30pm. For more information visit www.mountcook.uk
Continued on 80
BUXTON International Festival (BIF) offers a knockout line-up of opera, jazz, music and books between July 6 and 23. The programme features more than 120 events, and highlights include three new opera productions, Vincenzo Bellini’s La sonnambula, Handel’s Orlando and Mozart’s Il re pastore.
BIF and Norwich Theatre launch a brandnew musical based on the early life of Buxton’s Vera Brittain, with music by Ivor Novello, entitled The Land Of Might-Have-Been.
The jazz line-up includes the iconic trumpeter Wynton Marsalis plus pianist/ vocalist Tom Seals and The Super Big Tramp Band. The festival also offers a new Jazz Café at the Pavilion Gardens Restaurant, a late-night venue with concerts starting at 10pm, open for three nights (13, 14 and 21 July) starring the Julie Edwards Quintet, Steve Williams, The Most Wanted and the Graham Clark Quartet.
The concerts’ programme features Nicola Benedetti and The English Concert, The King’s Singers, Sarah Connolly, Lucy Crowe, Joanna MacGregor and Gwilym Simcock.
The book guests include playwright Sir David Hare, Turner Prize winner Jeremy Deller, BBC correspondent Jeremy Bowen, MP Jesse Norman, vaccine queen Dame Kate Bingham, writer Alastair Campbell and journalist Polly Toynbee.
Commenting Adrian Kelly, BIF’s artistic director said: “It’s an unapologetically ambitious and accessible festival that takes risks and entertains. 2023 will be no different – bold, brave and back in full technicolour.”
For further information, and to book, visit: www.buxtonfestival.co.uk
Continued from 79
21-22 The Wirksworth Festival BookFest. There will be the Big Book Sale on the Saturday, selling second-hand books; and authors like Isy Suttie, Stephen Booth, Clare Hartwell (Pevsners) will be giving talks. There will also be a Book Quiz on the Sunday night. To book a team for the quiz, email naomi.feldman9CH@yahoo. com. More details at www.facebook. com/wirksworthbookfestival or email admin@wirksworthfestival.co.uk.
30-May 1 Belper Arts Trail. Well over 100 artists in more than 50 venues around the centre of Belper. Captain Dan and the pirates will return for the children at the Ritz Cinema and there will be food, drink, activities and a full programme of music in the Memorial Gardens, with hidden gems elsewhere.
THE High Tor Players of Matlock will be celebrating one of the 20th century’s most successful playwrights – Noel Coward –just 50 years since the year of his death in 1973. In April, the players will perform the classic Noel Coward comedy ‘Hay Fever’
‘Hay Fever’ is a frothy comedy of bad manners and social embarrassment, and it’s a perennial favourite with audiences. It’s set in the 1920s, full of the witticisms for which Noel Coward is known and loved, as well as period costumes, jazz music and general high spirits.
The entire play takes place over a weekend in a country house owned by the Blisses, a family of what, these days, we would probably call narcissists – all attention-seeking, dramatic and entirely self-absorbed – all of whom have invited a friend to stay for the weekend.
The play will be performed at Ashover Village Hall on Wednesday, April 26; and Thursday April 27 at Ashover Parish Hall; and on Friday and Saturday, April 28 and 29 at Matlock’s Imperial Rooms, all at 7.30pm. Tickets are just £12 and can be obtained via the website. www.hightorplayers.co.uk
PEAK Music Society’s season finishes on April 27 when the Sacconi Quartet performs at the Cavendish Hall, Edensor.
The quartet was formed in 2001 by four graduates of London’s Royal College of Music and has since gained great acclaim, performing across the UK and Europe.
2 Chesterfield and District Family History Society. Dennis Hill on ‘Victorian Housing Condition’
4 Chesterfield and District Family History Society. Stephen Flinders on ‘The Life and Travels of Robert Bruce Napoleon Walker’
13 Dethick, Lea & Holloway Horticultural Society Spring Plant Sale at the Florence Nightingale Memorial Hall, Holloway, DE4 5BD. A good selection of plants for sale: bedding, hardy perennials, tender perennials, salad, herb and vegetable plants, and plants suitable for wildlife. There will also be cakes and preserves for sale. Entry is free, open 10am-12noon.
26 Chesterfield G&S Society. 7.30pm at Holy Trinity Church, Newbold Rd, Chesterfield. The society sing ‘Songs from Stage and Screen’. Tickets: £12 on the door or from chesterfieldgs.co.uk.
Their programme will include pieces by Haydn and Schubert as well as contemporary composers Caroline Shaw and Jessie Montgomery. Tickets for this event cost £25 for non-members and can be booked via the website, peakmusicsociety.org.uk
The next Peak Music season begins in the autumn featuring concerts by the Bones Apart trombone quartet, the Jervaulx Singers, the Katona Twins guitar duo, James Pearson Jazz Trio and the Maxwell String Quartet. Membership details can also be found on the website.
TWENTY years have passed since the discovery of the world famous Ice Age rock art at Creswell Crags.
To celebrate, Creswell Crags is hosting a range of events for everyone to take part in.
It was on April 14, 2003 that Paul Bahn who, alongside Sergio Ripoll and Paul Pettitt, found the Ice Age rock art inside Church Hole Cave – the first discovery of Ice Age art in Britain.
So, on Friday, April 14 this year, Paul Bahn will be back at Creswell Crags to relive the moment the team discovered the art. Paul will take visitors on a ‘Tour of Church Hole Cave’ and tell of the significance of what was revealed on the walls.
Visitors are also invited to a series of talks on ‘Rock Art and Archaeology at Creswell Crags and Beyond’ on Saturday, April 15. There is also a family talk about what children did in the Ice Age.
Over the weekend of April 15 and 16, the ‘Church Hole Cave Open Days’ will invite visitors to take a look inside to see some of the most striking engravings, all for free.
