Reflections Magazine August 2024

August 2024

REFLECTIONS MAGAZINE AUGUST 2024

Editor: Barrie Farnsworth, E: barrief@bannisterpublications.co.uk

Advertising: Mike Snow, M: 07966 445452 E: mikes@bannisterpublications.co.uk

Advertising: Helen Wragg, M: 07973 672582 E: helen@bannisterpublications.co.uk

Managing Director/Photographer: Robert Bannister, E: robert@bannisterpublications.com

Art Editor: Ben Fletcher-Bates, E: design@reflections-magazine.com

Social Media: Rebecca Bloomfield, E: hello@bannisterpublications.com

Accounts: Helen Holgate, E: admin@bannisterpublications.co.uk

Distribution: E: distribution@bannisterpublications.co.uk

Published by: Bannister Publications Ltd. Tel. 01246 550 488 (3 lines). Bannister Publications Limited, Office 2A Market Hall, Market Pl, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. S40 1AR. Reflections is published monthly and delivered directly to homes which fall into tax bands D to H and the following postcode areas: DE4 - 2, 3, 4, 5 / DE45 1 / S18 5 / S30 1 / S40 - 1, 2, 3, 4 / S41 0, S41 7, 8, 9

16 By your side… from pregnancy to parenthood

Fiona Stubbs meets the local woman who empowers women to experience pregnancy and birth on their own terms

24,26,28,52,93,97 Countywide News

All that’s been happening across the county in words and pictures

32 The ‘best PM we never had’ – but not really one of us?

Godfrey Holmes re-examines Tony Benn’s 17 years as Chesterfield’s improbable MP

34 Our 2024 ‘Top Pet’ competition

We have been inundated with entries into the contest!

42 Magpie Mine: the perfect spot for summer photos!

Chris Drabble’s photographs show us exactly why – especially on a summer’s evening

54 Pitcherwits

55 Crossword

56 Food Review: Scotsman’s Pack, Hathersage

60 Focus on Food & Drink

Barrie Farnsworth has news about what basic food items have gone up the most in price in recent years

64 Fashion: Perfect pairings for summer

Make summer dressing a breeze with a stylish co-ord set or two, says Amy Norbury

68 Cricket in the dock: the Harold Rhodes story

John Stone takes a close look at what was not cricket’s finest hour – and how it ruined the test career of the fastest bowler in England

72 Gardens

Catherine Roth reports on a local council starting to replace annual with perennials in its parks

Cover: Magpie Mine at sunset by Chris Drabble. Check out more of his photographs on P42. More of his Peak District photographs can be found at photo4me.com

76 Antiques

Our expert Vivienne Milburn features two rings that provide dramatic proof that going to auction is best for you – and for the planet!

78 Where volunteers play a starring role… Buxton Opera House has attracted some iconic performers in its history. Yet its most remarkable cast is undoubtedly its volunteers, as Rebecca Erskine discovers

84 Out & About

A change this month as we feature a cycle ride to and from Parsley Hay

88 Captured on camera… a rare summer inversion!

One of our readers caught a rare event and entered it into our 2024 ‘Lovely Landscapes’ competition

92 Spotlight on the Arts Barrie Farnsworth reports on a local arts charity receiving a hefty sum of National Lottery funding

94 What’s On

Our comprehensive guide to forthcoming events across Derbyshire and beyond in August and early September

By your side… from pregnancy to parenthood

The birth of a baby is one of life’s most precious moments … yet it’s also when we are at our most vulnerable. Doula Hannah Poulter empowers women to experience pregnancy and birth on their own terms, as Fiona Stubbs discovers.

HANNAH Poulter and her year-old twin boys are all smiles as they snuggle and play together at home. As a mum to the boys and their two-and-a-half-year-old sister, Hannah enjoys a happy family life. But behind the smiles lurk memories of traumatic pregnancies which ultimately

led her to leave behind a corporate career and, in a bid to help others, to train as a doula. Taken from a Greek word, meaning helper or caregiver, the term doula now describes a non-medical professional who provides emotional and physical support to women in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum (after the birth).

Hannah’s change of career is a timely move, coinciding with calls for greater care and support for women during and after pregnancy. In May, an inquiry into traumatic childbirth recommended an overhaul of the UK’s maternity and postnatal care after finding poor care was “all too frequently tolerated as normal”.

The Birth Trauma Inquiry heard that an estimated 30,000 UK women each year suffered negative experiences during delivery of their babies – with one in 20 developing posttraumatic stress disorder. Women complained they were not listened to when they thought something was wrong and gave accounts of

Hannah and her twin sons.

Picture by Fiona Stubbs.

injuries – to themselves and their babies – during birth.

Hannah was unsurprised by the findings. “In the leadup to the birth of my daughter, seven close family and friends had traumatic births which ended in an emergency caesarean,” she says. “I wanted to eliminate as much risk to my own birth as possible but it felt as though I didn’t have any choices in how it went.

“I already thought the whole narrative around pregnancy and birth was quite disempowering and on other people’s terms rather than what the mother wants. I also noticed the distinct lack of education and support available to people going through this huge life transition.

“Antenatal education classes are available, however they only really tell expectant parents about hospital policies. They don’t really go into the ‘why’, which is a huge factor in making informed decisions.”

that might happen. We had weekly scans and were told one of the twins might not make it.

“I felt so alone and so unsupported through the whole thing as I had no one to really talk to. I was surrounded by well-meaning friends and family but they didn’t really understand what was going on and were saying the wrong things.”

Hannah adds: “Postpartum was so hard, too. After going through a traumatic experience, it felt as though I just had to carry on as my family needed me.

“I was surrounded by well-meaning friends and family but they didn’t really understand what was going on and were saying the wrong things.”

Hannah’s feelings intensified with her second pregnancy. “It was traumatic from the moment we found out they were twins,” she explains. “I was given a leaflet with all the awful things

There was no room to process anything or get any real help.

“Over a third of births are categorised as traumatic but I actually think it’s more. I speak to more parents who’ve had a negative experience than a positive one. I just think the horrible things that happen have become so normalised we don’t feel we can call it traumatic because it’s what we’ve come to expect.”

A turning point for Chesterfield-based Hannah came while she was pregnant with the twins – and she discovered the role of doula for the first time in an Instagram post by Radio One presenter and former Saturdays singer Mollie King.

Mollie’s dad, Stephen, was diagnosed with a brain tumour during her pregnancy and died days after baby Annabella –who she shares with fiancé, former England cricketer Stuart Broad – was born.

“I was scrolling through Instagram and saw Mollie’s post paying tribute to how her doula had supported her through the ‘highest of highs and lowest of lows’,” Hannah recalls. “I didn’t know the service existed but I started to research doulas and thought it was amazing. I was an account manager in the healthcare sector and had been looking to change careers but this was a truly awakening moment.

“I started training when the

Above: Waiting for the babies to arrive. Copyright lindseyjanephotography. co.uk. Lindsey Jane is a Derbyshire-based maternity, birth, newborn, family and wedding photographic artist and storyteller.

boys were three months old –and that was incredibly healing for me, too. Having a doula is not just for the rich and famous – it’s for everyone and, particularly in our modern, fast-paced lives, we need that support. The experiences you have during childbirth set you up for the rest of your parenting life.”

Hannah says the most important part of her role as doula is empowering women during this most vulnerable time. “Feeling heard, validated and like you’re the one in control is what transforms someone’s experience.

“I support my clients through pregnancy, birth and postpartum by providing a safe space to explore their options, giving them time to make decisions. I can provide information and emotional and practical support, enabling people to feel confident in their choices and focus on what’s important to them.

“It’s about being listened to and making sure you’re heard. A lot of birth trauma isn’t about what happened but how it happened. It’s about people feeling cared for and having all their options. Looking back, if

I’d had somebody to support me the way I support my clients, I think I would have been happier with my experience.”

Hannah is keen to point out the role of a doula is not to criticise maternity services but to complement them – adding extra care and support for women and their families.

She says: “Everybody signs up with the intention of caring for women and they want to make a difference, but services are so stretched and people have different needs during pregnancy and birth.

“Some want to go down the research route, others need more emotional support. Not everyone has friends and family to turn to and, for those who don’t, it’s important they have the right support. My approach is to listen, to ask the right questions and make sure that all the information is being given to them.

“For those who do have family and friends to turn to, is it the right support? Sometimes we think we are being helpful

by sharing our own stories or those of other people, but it’s important to give a woman space where she can feel listened to and understood. That’s the empowerment part. I offer impartial support, where women can explore their thoughts and feelings without judgement.

“During pregnancy we build a birth plan together, working out what’s important to the clients. Birth can be unpredictable, so we don’t just have a plan A, but plans B and C too. It’s about making sure they are okay if things change. My work is

completely dependent on their needs. I’m there whenever they feel they need me and I’m with them until the baby has arrived.”

One of the most special parts of her role is when she is in the delivery room as a new life enters the world. “I feel so privileged,” she says. “It’s amazing watching a family being formed.”

Following the birth, Hannah is still available for practical or emotional support. “Some people value a birth debrief and I think that’s important, especially if the birth didn’t go the way they’d expected,” she explains.

Left: Hannah researching her work as a doula. Picture by Fiona Stubbs.

“It’s important to talk about it and come to terms with it.

“The postnatal period is a very transformative time. I think we have to normalise that it isn’t always as easy as people make out. We have a ‘bounce back’ culture and praise women for being out at coffee shops with a buggy a week after delivery. If that’s what they want to do, then great. But we should also recognise that giving birth is a huge experience to go through … and recovery is needed, too.

“As a doula I facilitate whatever the new family needs in order to be able to focus on the baby and their own recovery. I don’t tell anybody how to do anything – there’s no right or wrong way. I support them to do whatever they feel is a good thing for them as a parent.”

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Hannah’s work as a doula at www.youdoulayou.co.uk

Countywide News

Above: Handing Millie Bright the freedom of the county certificate, Derbyshire County Council Civic Chair, Coun Tony Kemp, said: “Millie is an inspiration to aspiring footballers – especially girls and women – not only throughout Derbyshire but across the whole country. We wish her every success in the future.”

Millie gets first ‘freedom of county’ honour

ENGLAND footballer Millie Bright OBE has been bestowed with the Honorary Freedom of the County of Derbyshire.

Chesterfield-born Millie is the first person to receive the prestigious title following agreement by all Derbyshire County Council councillors in July.

The Honorary Freedom of the County of Derbyshire was given to Millie in recognition of her exceptional performance and achievements in women’s football.

As well as captaining Chelsea, Millie, who grew up in Killamarsh, played an integral part in the England women’s team which won the Women’s UEFA Euros in 2022. In 2023 the Lionesses enjoyed reached the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup with Millie as captain, but lost to Spain.

Following the World Cup, Millie was awarded an OBE for her services to football.

Following the ‘freedom’ presentation, Millie said: “I am very humbled and honoured to be the first person to receive this award. To be recognised for all my achievements and efforts doing something I love, but sacrifice my life for, is so dear to me.”

New role for Walton Hospital…

CONSTRUCTION work has now begun at Walton Hospital, so patients across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire will be able to utilise a ‘one-stop-shop’ Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) from spring 2025.

The £5.2m development at the Walton Hospital site is part of the wider £29.9m investment in CDCs across Derby and Derbyshire. The existing plant rooms have been demolished; paving the way for a state-of-the-art build, which will house the new CDC.

Expecting to care for thousands of patients per year, the CDC will enable diagnostic services like blood tests, ultrasounds, MRI scans, CT scans and point-of-care testing to be delivered closer

Below: A computer-generated image of how the new CDC will look at Walton Hospital.

to patients’ homes and offer patients the ability to have several tests at the same time. The Walton site is the second in North Derbyshire, with the first at Whitworth in Darley Dale.

Chesterfield u3a about to celebrate its 30th anniversary

CHESTERFIELD u3a celebrates its 30th Anniversary at a CAMEO event at the SMH (Chesterfield FC) Stadium on Wednesday, September 25, 2-4pm: see you there!

Chesterfield u3a is a successful organisation for people who are no longer in full-time employment. It has been growing significantly over the years and now have over 800 members and 70+ interest groups.

Apart from the connection with the football club, u3a has chosen the venue as it is modern, and inviting. There is a lift, ample free parking, and toilets suitable for both able-bodied and disabled people. Tea, coffee and cupcakes will be available free of charge.

The anniversary Open Day will concentrate on showing the range of u3a activities with stands and performances of music and singing. There will also be a large 30th Anniversary Birthday Cake to be cut and distributed to attendees on the day.

Chesterfield u3a is a charity that provides a range of opportunities to enjoy and learn new things while having fun along the way. Its interest groups cover a wide range of activities such as astronomy, badminton, board games, bowls, dancing, music, foreign trips, European languages, social and local history, walking groups and supper clubs. More information can be found on chesterfield.u3asite.uk.

The group actively encourages new members and offers Open Meetings and Coffee mornings as a chance to meet people: so come and see what u3a has to offer. If you want to know more, please contact Valerie Myers on 07928 327876 or email newmembersupport@ chesterfieldu3a.org.uk

Schools asked to help ‘Million Trees’ project

Archaeologist of the Year…

A WOMAN who works for the Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) has won the 2024 Community Archaeologist of the Year in the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) and Marsh Charitable Trust’s annual awards.

The awards recognise people who voluntarily or professionally go above and beyond to make a difference and showcase excellence in archaeology.

Dr Catherine Parker Heath is currently PDNPA community and conservation archaeologist. She said: “I love my work. Working with communities and volunteers is so fulfilling and brings me much happiness.

“Involving communities and as wide a variety of people as possible in the care and interpretation of the past is really important, listening to different points of view and trying different approaches.”

She has worked for the Peak District National Park since 2018, first as cultural heritage officer for the South West Peak Landscape Partnership, training and working alongside volunteers carrying out a range of archaeological fieldwork.

Previously, Catherine established her own business focusing on archaeological learning and outreach working with schools and community groups. She also worked for a time as an adult education tutor for Birmingham City Council and later Derbyshire County Council, teaching the Archaeology of Britain and the Peak District.

Catherine received her award, and a £1,000 prize, from the CBA’s Executive Director Neil Redfern and Marsh’s David Booker at Castleton Visitor Centre, during an Archaeology Activity Day in late July.

PRIMARY and secondary schools in Derbyshire are being offered a free tree in a mission to help plant at least a Million Trees across the county by 2030 to help tackle the effects of climate change. Derbyshire County Council is leading the Million Trees project which is already over halfway towards the total.

Now it is inviting local schools to claim their free tree so it can be added to the Million Trees online map and totaliser when it is planted. The map and totaliser can be found at www.milliontrees.co.uk

Schools are being invited to register their interest in receiving a free tree at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/treesforschools

The trees, which will be delivered in October/November, are being paid for by Vertas Derbyshire Limited, the county council’s cleaning and landscape maintenance contractor.

Last year, the county council got the go ahead to create Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest along the eastern fringe of the county and through southern Derbyshire to join the National Forest to the south.

Trustee vacancies for the charity Derbyshire Federation for Mental Health (DFMH)

ONE in four of us at some time will experience problems with mental wellbeing; and there is a charity based in Derbyshire Dales and High Peak that has been working successfully to support people with mental health problems for almost 40 years.

DFMH is governed by a small Board of Trustees and currently has two vacancies. We are looking for people who have the skills and experience to advise the officers and other Trustees at a strategic level; in particular we are looking for people with a financial background or experience in marketing or fundraising. People with experience of working in a charity at Board level or related fields would also be welcome.

DFMH works in partnership with other charities and statutory services to support people who have experienced mental health difficulties to live independently. This service primarily caters to adults, but it also offers support for young adults.

Our services are varied. We provide wellbeing and resilience workshops, one-to-one and peer support to help people to get back into work and living independently, specific therapeutic programmes and a number of leisure based projects including gardening. What is involved? So, do you have a few hours to spare each month? Are you interested in supporting the community and the development of this charity? Do you have skills and experience to contribute as a Trustee? If you answer “Yes” to these questions; then you may be who we are looking for.

Trustees meet in Darley Dale or online every three months for a Board meeting to discuss organisational performance and provide strategic direction. In between these they meet individually with the CEO and managers to work on specific areas e.g. finance, governance and marketing. We are an active bunch of people and include a good mixture of retired, semi-retired and still working folk; all of whom share a commitment to improving access to mental health services.

Get in touch: If this seems of interest to you, check out our website www.dfmh.co.uk or find us on Facebook. Then either call Sharon Williams CEO on 01629 733915 or email her at sharonwilliams@dfmh. co.uk to arrange an informal chat.

Above: Catherine Parker Heath working with volunteers at Dale Mine, near Warslow.

Above: Schools are being invited by Derbyshire County Council to plant a tree this autumn.

The ‘best PM we never had’ – but not really one of us?

Godfrey Holmes re-examines Tony Benn’s 17 years as Chesterfield’s improbable Member of Parliament.

‘The best Prime Minster we never had’ – Tony Benn, 17 years MP for Chesterfield.

VISCOUNT Anthony Neil WedgwoodBenn: forty years ago elected as MP for Chesterfield in a famous by-election; ten years ago dying at the grand old age of 88; national treasure – but a mass of contradictions. Here a non-mining MP for a traditionally mining seat. Here a fairly wealthy representative for an unfairly underprivileged town. Here a famous Labour Party figure hated by whole swathes of the Labour Party he courted and almost led. Here “the most dangerous man in Britain”: charming and collegiate. Here a devoted husband for over 50 years of a rich and talented USA educationist – yet avowedly anti-internationalist. Contradictions aplenty. Controversies innumerable. Past conventions, past interventions, nonsensical – yet making full sense in one of the largest archives ever bequeathed the nation by any Parliamentarian, ever. Right down to

the last mimeograph or audio-tape.

And whilever commentators lean lazily on those facile signposts – “Left” or “Right” – a latterly re-titled “Tony Benn” will go down in every history book as ambassador, champion of “The Left.” And in all that accounting, all that recounting: the

soubriquet: Christian Socialist would be far, far more accurate for Benn than Trotskyist. So how did this political giant, this erstwhile Postmaster General, this former Secretary of State for Industry, this charismatic broadcaster, this inventor of the Party Political Broadcast, from Filton

Right: The Benn family in 1966, from left, son Joshua, Tony, wife Caroline, and daughter Melissa. Courtesy of The Guardian.

– that area of Bristol dedicated to British Aerospace and the costly manufacture of supersonic Concorde – travel to a northof-England hub of manufacturing and extraction about to collapse under the same doctrine of “Thatcherism” that had already delivered two huge Conservative Party victories in 1979 and 1983?

Because it was in re-drawn Bristol East that Tony Benn was, under the surprise stewardship of Michael Foot, unsurprisingly defeated in the June 1983 election. Result: a talented man loosed into the wilderness; blamed additionally for standing against former Chancellor Denis Healey; also held indirectly responsible for the defection to Social Democracy of the “Gang of Four”: Shirley Williams, Roy Jenkins, David Owen and Bill Rodgers. By any measure, Benn’s gaining the nomination in Chesterfield – a “safe seat” vacant through its stalwart MP Eric Varley moving to Coalite – was a traumatic operation with reverberating birth pangs. Basically, the 127 working-class delegates responsible for voting for their candidate, gathered at Saltergate NUM headquarters one snowy evening in January 1984, and found the brilliant Benn too hot to handle. Moreover, he was the clean-shaven outsider up

against five safer insiders including the bearded Philip Whitehead, just exiled as longstanding Labour MP for nearby Derby North.

That fiery selection meeting heard some compelling speeches of self-advocacy; lasted just over four-and-a-half hours; and needed three ballots before the mercurial Tony Benn emerged triumphant. Ironically, the subsequent real-life contest on Thursday, March 1, was anti-climactic.

“127 working-class delegates responsible for voting for their candidate, gathered at Saltergate NUM headquarters one snowy evening in January 1984, and found the brilliant Benn too hot to handle.”

Yes, the by-election, Benn’s twelfth, attracted huge media attention. Yes, remaining party loyalists converged on Chesterfield to support Benn. Yes, a record 17 other candidates entered their names on the ballot-paper – still quite inexpensive to do: Heartbeat’s Claude Greengrass; Screaming Lord Sutch of the Monster Raving Loony Party; Sid Shaw, Elvis Presley; David Bentley, Four-Wheel Drive; Helen Anscombe, Keep Death off the Roads; Jitendra Bardwaj, Yoga & Meditation; Donald Butler, Buy Your Chesterfield; David Cahill, Reclassify the Sun Newspaper; John Connell, Peace; John Davey, Dental Charges; Christopher Hill, Prisoners; Thomas Layton, Spare the Earth; Paul Nicholls-Jones, Independent; also Joe Giancarlo Piccaro, Acne.

Tony Benn attracted half of all votes: 24,633, a majority of 6,264 above nearest

contender, the Conservative candidate Nick Bourne – and was immediately immersed in the violent and interminable Miner’s Strike, incidentally headed by personal friend Arthur Scargill. Fair to say, no future Parliamentary contest in Chesterfield was more than an academic footnote, until the Liberal Democrat triumphed in 2001 and 2005; reverted to Labour in 2010, and Toby Perkins has held it since. Tony Benn won comfortably in 1987, 1992, and 1997.

In fact, his Chesterfield tenure was noted for its peacefulness, literally: Benn spending a good portion of his well-earned retirement campaigning for peace in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, wherever. And that 17-year Chesterfield tenure is justifiably noted for its “new,” imported, MP’s conscientious attention to local matters: debt, housing, planning and, frustratingly, reviving the High Street.

In the event, and for all this Parliamentarian’s benign advocacy of workers’ rights, sit-ins, walk-outs, denationalization, re-nationalization, whatever, Tony Benn MP: never distracted again by Ministerial Office or the Deputy-Leadership was a statesmanlike spent force. Sad. But strangely predictable. A determinedly willing Commoner who became “The Best Prime Minister We Never Had.”

Right: Tony Benn in retirement, pictured with his second son Hilary, an MP for Leeds South for 25 years and the new Northern Ireland Minister. Courtesy of The Guardian.

Tony Benn pictured outside Parliament in 1961. Courtesy of The Guardian.

‘TOP PET’ PHOTO CONTEST

WOW, what a start! We only promoted our 2024 ‘Top Pet’ contest – in which the winning pet appears on the front cover of our January 2025 magazine! – for the first time in our July issue, and look at all the entries below! You will find details of how to submit an entry, and how to vote for your favourite, below the pictures.

1. Email the name and number of who you want to win to: hello@bannisterpublications.co.uk

3. Post to us the name and number of who you want to win to: ‘Top Pet’, Bannister Publications, Office 2A, Market Hall, Chesterfield, S40 1AR Send a good quality image of your pet to hello@ bannisterpublications.co.uk, along with your pet’s name, your name and address (you must live in Derbyshire) by noon on November 11, 2024.

2. Head over to the competitions page and place your vote online at: www.reflections-magazine.com

CRICH TRAMWAY VILLAGE

CRICH TRAMWAY

VILLAGE, home to the National Tramway Museum, offers one of Derbyshire’s great family days out and a step back in time.

Vintage trams run along a period street, climbing a mile and a half of track, providing breathtaking views of the surrounding Derbyshire countryside.

There is a programme of special events, with fun for all the family. August events include ‘Build It’, a LEGO® themed event on 5th and 6th August, Sounds of the 50s and 60s with live music on 10th and 11th August, Discovery Week 12th to 16th August, Models Weekend 17th and 18th August, Woodland Week 19th to 23rd August and Teddy Bears Picnic 25th and 26th August.

For more details and opening times Tel: 01773 854321, email: enquiry@tramway.co.uk or visit www.tramway.co.uk

HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR ENERGY BILLS

WITH AN IDEAL NEW BOILER!

Simon Fletcher, Managing Director of FlameCare, explains more…

NOWADAYS, heating up the home takes up a substantial proportion of energy bills, which means that having an efficient boiler is a must. The better the ERP (or Energy Related Products Directive) boiler rating, the cheaper energy bills will be in the long run.

“There has never been a more relevant time to get rid of an old inefficient boiler and replace it with a brand-new super-efficient one,” said Simon Fletcher, Managing Director of familyrun, independent and local

heating engineers, FlameCare.

“It’s important to consider the ERP rating of a boiler before purchasing or installing to ensure you’re doing your bit for the environment and lowering your heating bills. At FlameCare, we use Ideal Heating boilers, all of which achieve band A levels of efficiency. The good news is that all Ideal Heating boilers

“Currently,

we have some exceptional deals on new boilers.”

attain at least 93% ERP rating as standard and have a full range of controls to suit your needs. Boilers start with a 7-year warranty and go up to a 12year warranty.

“Currently, we have some exceptional deals on new boilers; simply contact the office to find out more. We are also offering a free maintenance and service plan for a year for all new boiler installations.”

An added accessory is the Ideal Halo Wi-Fi, which is an internet connected wireless programmable room thermostat, designed to work specifically with the Ideal Boiler.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT FLAME CARE:

FlameCare

67-77 Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, S40 2AL

T: 0800 0855 518

E: info@flamecare.co.uk www.flamecare.co.uk

Relate - not marriage guidance and not just for couples…

Marriage Guidance was a Charity that was initially established in 1938 by Dr. Herbert Gray to counteract the complex changes to individuals/ couples following WW1 and the recession.

TO respond to changing social needs – Marriage Guidance was rebranded in February 1988 as RELATE, thus conveying that it dealt with far more than couples and marriage, and certainly not an organisation that gave advice!

Accompanying the change of the RELATE brand due to a deeper understanding and new knowledge in relation to psychological and emotional wellbeing, RELATE created a new provision that supported a wide range of people to understand and manage their inner turmoil and conflict.

What is counselling?

A highly qualified counsellor can help you to gain a better understanding of your feelings and thought processes, find your own way of understanding and dealing with the difficulties individuals, couples and families face. This is achieved through exploration of thoughts and feelings giving insight into the issues causing concern. Counselling can take place either face to face, on-line or by phone.

Clients are given space to talk to a trained counsellor about their issues and concerns which can result in them making positive decisions about themselves and their relationships.

Why do people visit relate?

While our counsellors address many complex issues, the most common ones include anxiety, depression, anger, and low self-esteem which impact on their family, workplace and/or school colleagues. A client recently commented that ‘it’s good to speak to someone different outside of my usual support’ and that since working with a counsellor ‘I can understand and manage issues’.

Most clients report huge reductions in low moods and anxiety. Feedback tells us that, as a result of counselling, they have been able to do more, gain employment and increase their social circles. We have received many positive comments including this is a ‘really good service’ that has been ‘very beneficial’.

Our work

Young People – Especially since Covid and lock down have experienced social deprivation and loss of confidence. This has often been accelerated by cyber bullying both resulting in school refusal and social isolation.

Family Conflicts – Particularly in blended families, often results in family disharmony. Working with the whole family to support open communication and understanding of how each person is feeling, opens the door to strengthening family cohesion.

Workplace Stress

– Often a significant cause of sickness absence – characterised by depression and anxiety.  There are many complex factors that contribute to workplace stress. Working through the cause and how to manage situations giving individuals the personal strength to understand and cope in the workplace enables them to make choices in how they manage their issues.  Research shows that sickness absence is a significant factor in contributing to lower workplace outputs.

act on these to continuously improve our services. The average score our clients give our services is 9/10.

Recent feedback comments have included ‘I feel heard, understood and not alone’ ‘I don’t think I would be as well as I am now without Relate’ and ‘my counsellor could not have done more.’

Since June 2023 we have given vital support to 527 local residents and booked 3140 appointments. Of these, 121 were for children, 699 for young people, 1117 for adults, 637 for couples, and 203 for people with psychosexual problems.

We are also able to provide bespoke training to organisations and businesses on topics relating to mental health and wellbeing. The most popular courses are Counselling Skills for Non-Counsellors and Healthy Relationships.

“Since June 2023 we have given vital support to 527 local residents and booked 3140 appointments.”

Personal Identity – Unsure of their sexuality and peer pressure compounded by societal norms requires sensitivity and exploration to enable the individual be comfortable and confident with their life choices.

Sexual Difficulties – Intimate relationships are the cornerstone of strong couple relationships.  Understanding why sexual difficulties exist and how to work as a couple or individual to be confident in intimacy is a significant aspect of our work.

The range of services we provide –

The range of services reflect what clients tell us they need.

As well as Centre based provision, we also provide our services to GP surgeries, Chesterfield Football Club, Chesterfield College and a number of schools. We are keen to develop relationships with other businesses and organisations who would benefit from offering counselling to their staff and clients. The key benefit is that people take less time away from work/ school due to their mental health issues. We encourage and act on feedback, whether it’s a compliment or concern. We

Our highly qualified and experienced trainer can design and deliver courses and workshops that meet the needs of a business. We have worked with Chesterfield College, Chesterfield Football Club, Rhubarb Farm (which is a therapeutic organic farm that improves the health and wellbeing of its service users), and ‘Our Vision’, ‘Our Future’(who provide support for people with learning disabilities).

How can we guarantee a quality service

Our RELATE Counsellors are required to have achieved degree or master’s level in appropriate counselling and psychotherapy. In addition, they are required to undertake specialist training in specific areas of counselling expertise, this can include one to one counselling for adults, children aged 8 to 18 and families’ relationships counselling for couples and psychosexual counselling. All counsellors have to maintain continuous professional development on an annual basis and receive Counselling Supervision Monthly alongside attending Confidential case discussion groups. This ensures that the quality of the service we offer is maintained and clients can be confident that they are seeing counsellors qualified in the specific field of expertise required.

Where our services take place

Confidential counselling is offered in specifically designed calming, welcoming environments in the centre of Chesterfield.

We have a family counselling room with toys and aids to help children express themselves as well as a dedicated Young People’s area with an art space, table tennis and other activities to support the counselling process.

Financial survival

RELATE has served the people of Chesterfield and North Derbyshire for over 40 years. We are a business with charitable status that enables us to apply for contracts and grants to subsidise people who are less able to pay.

Last year due to securing contracts and grants we were able to provide 75% of our clients with subsidised counselling. However, due to the lack of availability in 2024, we can only provide a few subsidised appointments. To support our drive to maintain services in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, we will continue to seek grants and contracts. However, we are seeking alternative ways to maintain income via local business and fund raising.

The impact counselling can have have upon reducing sickness absence and maintaining cohesion in the family and the workplace is significant it also reduces the demands of GP services and health services significantly. Importantly, we know we can offer quick appointments to those experiencing difficulty thus reducing the impact on society and home and family life.

If you feel you could help our organisation to survive or offer support to fundraise or donations or would like an appointment, please contact: Admin@relatechesterfield.org.uk or Elizabeth Wilson Quality and Training Manager. Elizabeth@relatechesterfield. org.uk Tracy Marsh, Operations Manager – Manager@relatechesterfield.org. uk or telephone 01247 382772

CARPETS

Exceeding Customer Expectations

Chesterfield-based Holywell Carpets believes that achieving the ultimate in customer satisfaction is the key to longevity in business.

AS can usually be expected from a long-established family business, Holywell Carpets has stood the test of time through displaying the hallmarks of unparalleled customer service, uncompromising integrity, and unswerving reliability. Brothers Reg and Steve Hinde took over Holywell Carpets in 1989. Steve now manages the business in conjunction with long-standing and loyal employee, Martin Howroyd. Together, Steve and Martin have been working together at this highly reputable carpet company for 33 years. Previously, Steve had worked elsewhere in the carpet trade in a fitting capacity for ten years. Martin was at the company three years before Steve’s arrival. It’s fair to say that they know the business inside out. And they have done the hard yards! Both are

trained fitters and have many years fitting experience between them, Steve was ‘on the tools’ for 20 years and Martin 25 years.

Traditional values

Steve is proud of the old-fashioned values which have underpinned the success of Holywell Carpets. “If I wouldn’t have a particular carpet in my home, I won’t put it in yours,” said Steve. “Martin and I always tell customers the truth. Our business is based on a high moral code and honesty and truthfulness are at the very core of this.”

Carpet Foundation Membership

The Carpet Foundation is the UK carpet industry’s lead body. As a member of the

Carpet Foundation, Holywell Carpets is bound by a Code of Practice approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. The Code gives customers peace of mind that they are dealing with people they can trust. Carpet Foundation retailers are audited annually by the TSI to ensure compliance.

These are the benefits of buying from a Carpet Foundation retail member:

• Written quotations

• Deposit safeguards

• Written terms of business

• Impartial professional advice

• Free extended guarantees

• A free installation guarantee

• After-sales procedures

Better Prices through Associated Carpet Group Membership (ACG)

With over 320 members, ACG is a national buying group dedicated to supporting independent flooring retailers. With a massively increased buying power, the ACG can secure the best trading terms with the best selection of flooring suppliers. This means that carpet retailers like Holywell

Carpets can pass on the savings to customers, making their prices much more competitive. ACG membership has a good number of benefits for Holywell Carpets, including enabling them to trade on equal or better terms than members of other groups or multiple outlets.

Derbyshire Trusted Trader Membership

Being a Derbyshire Trusted Trader tells customers that they are dealing with a fair and reliable business, which follows a code of practice. The scheme also establishes a vetting procedure and a framework for stringent quality standards. Here is a recent Derbyshire Trusted Trader review:

“Very efficient from purchase to fitting. Very courteous and they did everything they said they would. I highly recommend them and will not look anywhere else when I replace the next carpet. Excellent carpets.”

Customer reviews and feedback speak volumes

A whole host of outstanding reviews from customers are what underpin the continued success of Holywell Carpets:

Anne Ross

5 days ago

Great service from Steve, who gave lots of advice on which carpet & underlay - very knowledgeable. Stairs, hall, landing &

lounge look great; the fitters were brilliant with taking up the old carpet & moving furniture for me. A first-class service and would highly recommend them

Julie Jones 2 weeks ago

Great service: all the staff are friendly and knowledgeable...first time we’ve used them but definitely won’t be the last. Keep it up guys.

Jacqueline Roberts a month ago

Great service from Steve at Holywell Carpets. Friendly & helpful from coming out to measure, ordering and keeping us informed of progress. Fitted at a date and time to suit us by a very efficient and friendly fitter. Highly recommend to all and would definitely use again.

Denise Lovegrove a month ago

Our house has been carpeted throughout by Holywell Carpets. We can highly recommend them for friendly, efficient service from all the staff at reasonable prices.

Gordon Taylor 3 months ago

We are very pleased with the new floor

in our conservatory. From getting the quote to the fitting, everyone involved was very professional. The fitter took great care with everything, and we are very pleased with the final result.

David Horner 5 months ago

Fantastic service. Martin and Dale were excellent. Huge choice of carpets. Highly recommended.

Jude O’Connor 6 months ago

I have had carpets exclusively from Holywell Carpets for years, recommending them to others too. The staff in the shop are always friendly and helpful & the price is always good. I have today had a bedroom carpet fitted having been provided with a quick fitting date from date of order. Excellent fitting as always by friendly fitters. I highly recommend this company.

Holywell Carpets, 40 St Mary’s Gate, Chesterfield, S41 7TH T: 01246 272 835  M: 07733 889430 E: enquiry@holywellcarpets.co.uk www.holywellcarpets.co.uk

MAGPIE MINE: the perfect spot for summer photos

Chris Drabble explores the impressive remains of Magpie Mine to find that its atmospheric ruins and vivid outline provide a fabulously compelling subject for landscape photography especially on a summer’s evening when silhouetted against a dramatic sky.

DURING the summer months, my attention inherently turns to the latter part of the day when the setting sun casts long, evening shadows across the landscape.

At this time of year, skies become a more prominent feature in my landscape photography and I find myself looking for subjects that can be incorporated into an expansive sky.

A focal point on the ground helps to give sunset photographs a sense of scale and a visual reference. Manoeuvring your viewpoint to a position where the

light strikes the subject at an oblique angle also helps to enhance the three dimensional aspect of trees and buildings. These simple compositional techniques help to create a sense of depth and structure in the photograph.

The Magpie Mine (Above) Clouds are essential. Clouds can create a sense of drama or provide layers of light and shade that emphasise the recession and contours of the land.

At sunset, clouds reflect the dappled golden tones of the sun which in contrast

to the natural cool blue of the sky creates a captivating and vivid contrast between these primary and complimentary colours. A kaleidoscope of pink, yellow, red, magenta and amber tones are also often blended into the mix of colours.

Magpie Mine is a fabulous place to explore for photographic compositions. The most impressive features are its Cornish style Engine House and the adjacent circular chimney. These two towering features puncture the sky and make wonderfully defined silhouettes when photographed directly into sun.

The Magpie Mine in silhouette (Below left)

I have found that there are occasionally young cattle wondering the site. I can’t say that I’ve never encountered a problem with them and they don’t seem to be particularly unnerved by visitors. However, they can be a little inquisitive and so I would always advise that visitors are mindful of their whereabouts.

The Magpie Mine at sunset (Above) Magpie Mine is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This

lack of any time restriction makes it perfect for taking photographs of night skies and summer sunsets.

Magpie Mine was the last working lead mine in Derbyshire and it is also one of the oldest lead mines in the Peak District dating from 1740 until its closure due to the price of cheaper imported lead in the 1950’s.

The best place to gain access to the site is probably the road side spaces at the crest of the Grin Low on the Bakewell to Flagg Road. Visitors are asked to take care not to block the gateway and I would advise that you always try to tuck your car in as close to the verge as possible in case a farm vehicle needs to get by.

Magpie Mine was listed as a Scheduled Monument in 1974.

An excellent resource for information about the history of Magpie Mine can be found on the website of the Peak District Mines Historical Society.

I have returned to Magpie Mine many times over the years and I have always found it to be superbly reliable in terms of its photographic potential and perfectly adept at complimenting stormy skies.

Magpie Mine under storm clouds (Left)

Editor’s Note: Chris Drabble is a writer and photographer. He is also a member of Bassetlaw Hill and Mountain Club (BHMC) and the Over the Hill Photographers Club. More of his Peak District photographs can be found at photo4me.com, Alamy and 500PX

Country Kitsch Festival

16th-25th August 2024

WHILE all the summer music festivals have just started happening in the last couple of months, Highlight Crafts Academy have been in the festival mood all year long! Starting with their Spring Festival in February, then their Garden Party festival in April and the ‘By The Sea’ Festival in June, the Academy is currently finalising all details for their fourth festival of the year, Country Kitsch which will run from the 16th-25th August.

Each Highlight Crafts Festival aims to bring crafters a new and different craft to try at each one. This year, crafters have been able to try their hand at many crafts including sewing, painting, flower making, digital card making, pottery painting, glass painting, resin, card making and shell and pebble decorating. And the Country Kitsch Festival introduces some new classes to the Academy with handmade paper, glass engraving and leather book making just a few of the classes on the schedule.

The Country Kitsch Festival will run for 10 days, with 4 classes a day for you to come and try your hand at a new craft or just have fun doing something you’ve done before! With 8 different classes

over the course of 2 days (which are then repeated for the rest of the festival) pick either just 1 day or 2 days. Tickets are just £55 per day which includes all 4 classes, plus your lunch. They also have an onsite shop for you to stock up on those crafting essentials between classes too!

Can’t make the festival? They have classes running weekly from 1-day and 2-day courses to weekend retreats. The Academy houses four classrooms which can host up to 40 people at once. From each class, you can expect to create at least one project to take home, receive expert tuition, all tools and equipment are provided and lunch and refreshments throughout the day are included. They are fully wheelchair accessible and can cater to all dietary needs from their in-house catering team.

And not forgetting the weekly craft club! Highlight Crafts open the doors to the Academy every Thursday afternoon for anyone wanting to come along and join in for a few hours. Craft Club. It costs just £6 and runs from 1pm-4pm hosted by Creative

Assistant, Amanda, who enjoys teaching something new to the crafters each week. New classes and courses are being added to the schedule constantly. There is a range of Christmas wreath making and decoration classes online now, as well as two Christmas Festivals, so head to the website to book your place and get crafting! !

Visit highlightcrafts.com or call 03300 889338.

Highlight Crafts at Unit 1C, Wingfield Court, Clay Cross, Derbyshire, S45 9JA.

Embrace the Elegance and... LET THE LIGHT FLOOD IN!

New State-of-the-Art Glass Conservatory Roofs by HeatGuard

THE charm of a glass conservatory roof is not simply aesthetic – it’s also about the sense of openness it brings to your living space. The sprawling canvas of the sky above, viewable in all its glory, can be a priceless addition to your home.  Beyond the visual appeal, there are many other advantages of glass conservatory roofs. including year-round comfort, self-cleaning properties, reduction in energy bills and beautiful visual options to suit any property style.

Energy Efficient Solar Control Glass Conservatory Roofs

Recent significant technological advancements and improvements in the quality of glass conservatory roofs has resulted in a vast increase in energy efficiency. Modern thermally efficient glass significantly reduces heat loss during cooler months while deflecting the sun’s heat in the summer. Consequently, this provides an evenly tempered space throughout the year, lower energy bills due to reduced need for artificial heating and cooling, and a greener, more sustainable living solution.

Self-cleaning Properties

The self-cleaning products have been certified to EN 1096-5, the new European Standard for self-cleaning glass. Maintaining the pristine appearance of your roof has never been easier. Longevity and easy maintenance Despite their ethereal appearance, glass conservatory roofs are remarkably resilient. They are built to withstand harsh weather conditions, from heavy rain to snowstorms.

Maximising Light and Space

An integral benefit of a glass conservatory roof is the unparalleled influx of natural light it provides. Not only does this brighten up your space, but studies have also shown that exposure to natural light can improve mood and productivity. More so, the illusion of space that these roofs provide can drastically enhance the ambiance of your interior.

Glare Reduction

The Sunshade Blue is the best performing blue, solar controlled glass to date with fantastic solar and heat reflection properties of up to 82%. It also provides increased glare reduction.

Unrestricted Views and Stargazing Opportunities

One of the unique pleasures of a glass conservatory roof is the opportunity to stargaze without braving the elements. Similarly, during the day, you can enjoy panoramic views of your garden or the passing clouds.

Diverse and Dynamic DUNSTON HALL ESTATE

IIt would be hard to find a venue anywhere that encapsulates such a wide variety of experiences and opportunities as Dunston Hall. From fairytale weddings to bespoke events, from a delicious deli and food hall to a magnificent bistro, and, to cap it all, one of the best stocked and meticulously kept garden centres in the area, Dunston Hall has the lot!

TRANSFORM

DUNSTON HALL INTO YOUR FAIRYTALE WEDDING VENUE

With uninterrupted privacy and exclusive access to the Hall and grounds, Dunston Hall is an idyllic venue for creating a fairytale wedding.

The Hall retains the character and rustic charm of its original sixteenth century features, whilst adding the

luxuries of high-quality contemporary living, the Hall has been converted into an exclusive-use wedding and bespoke events venue.

A beautiful place to be together, Dunston Hall is like borrowing a close friend’s stately home for the entire weekend. The parents of the bride and groom can be Lord and Lady of the Manor, welcoming their guests the night before with a barbecue, street food in the grounds, or a cordon bleu meal – whatever takes their fancy!

Here, weddings can be whatever you want them to be. Whether you envision an entirely indoor celebration, a sprawling outdoor event, or a harmonious blend of both, your dreams really can come true. From a cosy haven for more intimate gatherings, more formal ceremonies, or unique thematic experiences, nothing is out of bounds.

Nestled at the core of this captivating venue lie the exquisitely furnished Garden Room for the wedding ceremony and The Stables for the reception seating up to 120 people. The Hall can accommodate 23 people in 10 stunning ensuite bedrooms.

DUNSTON HALL GARDEN CENTRE –QUINTESSENTIAL, ENCHANTING, AND VIBRANT

Imagine wandering through aisles brimming with plants and lush foliage, your senses enveloped by the earthy

scent of fresh soil and the vibrant colours of blooming flowers. Imagine Dunston Hall Garden Centre.

Enshrined with quintessential charm and a stunning backdrop of rolling Derbyshire countryside, Dunston Hall Garden Centre offers a unique experience, whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting to dip your toes into the world of horticulture.

Here, you’ll find an enchanting display of horticultural plants – probably the largest selection you’ll find anywhere locally. And it is what it says on the tin.

First and foremost, it’s about all things gardening. Beyond horticultural plants of every description imaginable, there’s vegetable plants and seeds, trees, compost, pots, tools, furniture, and garden accessories of all types known to mankind.

Help and advice is always on tap here and the staff are only too willing to share their expertise to enhance every gardening experience. With long-serving members of staff boasting a vast depth of knowledge at their fingertips, help and advice always at hand.

The heritage centre, the courtyard, and the arboretum provide the finishing touches to this destination garden centre.

THE DELIGHTFUL BISTRO

Whilst moseying around the garden centre, let’s not forget the joy of stumbling upon the magnificent bistro nestled amidst the greenery, perfect for a relaxing break with a cuppa and maybe a slice of cake. But the bistro offers so much more than that. From breakfasts to lite bites, from sandwiches, salads, and paninis to full-blown meals, and from afternoon teas to a scrummy piece of cake with cream, every level of appetite and preference can be catered for.

Gluten-free options, as well as a good array of vegetarian and vegan options feature

prominently on the menu.

There’s also opportunity to book The Bistro for business meetings, birthdays, and events.

There’s extensive outside seating, plenty of which directly overlooks the play area so it’s a perfect family friendly destination The play equipment is brand new and housed on lovely soft bark.

DUNSTON HALL FOOD HALL/DELI

JUST GOOD, FRESH FOOD!

Set within the magnificent Dunston Hall Estate on the outskirts of Chesterfield is the newest initiative from owners, David and Lynsey Harrison.

The Food Hall/Deli, which opens its doors for the first time on 1st August 2024, offers a ‘one-of-a-kind’ experience. This is where the highest quality produce, passion for great food, and retail come together in spectacular style.

The Food Hall/Deli stocks all manner of locally sourced, fresh and seasonal produce – from vegetables and fruit to meats, fish, home-made pies, cheese, charcuterie, antipasti, salads, patisserie and cakes, as well as beers, wines, chutneys, pickles, and jams. Everything on display is of premium quality and prime pedigree.

Visitors will be able to make their way along the food and

delicatessen counter and order freshly prepared food to eat outside within the stunning grounds of the arboretum or take it away to enjoy at home. Sandwiches, light bites, lunches, pastas, breakfasts, afternoon teas, street foods, and themed specials will all be available on site – lovingly prepared and curated by the team of chefs working in the bespoke kitchens upstairs. All the food will be natural, healthy, and of prime quality.

MAKE A BEELINE FOR TROWAY HALL!

Troway Hall, already renowned for its millions of bees, delicious honey, exceptional Beestro, and attractive Christmas trees, looks like soon becoming just as famous for its superior quality olive oil.

OVER 300 Picual olive trees, cultivated on the family’s family farm in Majorca, some as old as 200 years, are responsible for the high quality deep green

Scrumptious food and stunning views over the

fruits. The olives are supplied with natural spring mineral water – completely free from fluoride or chlorine. The pique at the end of the olive is ideal for water and oil retention.

In fact, the whole process of cultivation, manufacture, and supply is not subjected to any refinement processes and the end product does not contain any additives.

Grown in natural olive groves based around the Serra de Tramuntana UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE Site, in the northern mountains, the beautiful olives are harvested by hand and then milled at the end of each working day

before being taken to the time-honoured and classic oil press. The resulting Extra Virgin Olive Oil is as natural as the bee to the flower!

Watered by hand twice a day with waters from a 150m well, the special attention these olive trees received has resulted in the award of the quality mark ‘Protected Designation of Origin –Oil from Majorca’. This guarantees that these olives were cultivated in Majorca, that the oil was extracted in Majorca and that strict quality controls have been passed.

Also, being in control of the export/import procedure means that bottles of this divine

olive oil cannot be found anywhere else in the UK. Troway Hall is the only outlet nationwide for this unrivalled product.

An appetising and aromatic oil, Picual Extra Virgin Olive Oil is most suitable to be used in the kitchen to cook at high temperatures, as it keeps and maintains its chemical properties. It is also ideal for salads, fish, or meat. As nature intended, from the olive groves to the table!

Giles, Gloria’s son, gently and meticulously tends to every olive fruit

Moss Valley

Troway Hall dates back to 1642

The Beestro – a honey pot for old and new diners alike

With a backdrop that’s the bee’s knees, The Beestro, has visitors swarming to it throughout the balmy summer months. Delicious, home-cooked food complemented by amazing views of the Moss Valley provides the ideal recipe for a unique and idyllic culinary experience. Serving food between 10,30am and 4pm on Tuesdays to Saturdays throughout the summer, the Beestro chefs carefully prepare the enticing menus, which, of course, comprise a generous dose of the incredibly special Medibee antibacterial honey wherever possible.

The Crème de la crème is undoubtedly the afternoon high tea served on Haddon Hall fine china. This treat includes a selection of mouth-watering sandwiches, savouries, tempting cakes, fruits, and scones – all this for only £12.50 per person.

An outstanding selection of natural products

The bees, which are Gloria’s love and passion, create the powerful natural propolis, Potential benefits of propolis may include anti-allergy healing and virucidal properties in the body. Medibee Bee Pollen has also shown positive outcomes for hay fever and other allergies. “Troway Hall is unique in providing BioActive honey, which has been professionally

analysed and tested by Professor Wainwright, microbiologist, for antibacterial properties,” said Gloria. “The invitro tests have been undertaken against MRSA, E. coli, and many other bacteria.”

Visitors will discover a range of 70 honey products for sale at the Beestro, including the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ - Bio-Active honey, propolis cream for skin problems, honey soaps, shampoos, hand, foot and gardeners’ creams and skin pampering pots.

Gats-Bees –the perfect venue for a get-together

Now at Troway Hall, the fabulous new GatsBees building is the

The Beestro, Troway Hall, Troway, S21 5RU T: 01246 413809 or 01246 292425 www.medibee.co.uk

Food is served Tuesday to Saturday from 10.30am to 4pm.

perfect venue for anyone staging a small family party, a wake, a business get-together, or just an afternoon of relaxation with a few friends, away from the hustle and bustle, soaking up one of the best views in Derbyshire.

Ideal for a get-together - Gat’s-Bees

Superior quality Olive Oil

High tea for one - only £12.50

Fundraising for the Cascade…

Hospice to open charity store in Matlock

BLYTHE House Hospice – previously known as Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust – is opening a new charity store at 5 Bank Road, Matlock, on Saturday, August 3.

Offering high-quality goods such as ladieswear, menswear and homewares, donated by the local community, the new retail outlet will be open seven days a week.

Hospice Retail Manager Marie Brown says: “We are delighted to be able to expand our retail offer into the Matlock area. By shopping with us, customers will help raise vital funds for services that Blythe House Hospice provide free of charge to people affected by life-limiting illness across north Derbyshire.’

Blythe House Hospice provides care for those with life-limiting illnesses in the comfort of their own home through their Hospice at Home and Roaming Car services.

The new shop will also serve as a base for Blythe House Hospice’s Roaming Car service nurses and healthcare assistants in the Matlock area, to help support reaching more patients who have an urgent need overnight.

The new shop is being supported by a fantastic team of volunteers, and more help would be very welcome. If you are someone who has time to support Blythe House Hospice, find out more by visiting: www.blythehousehospice. org.uk/volunteer-opportunities or ask in store at any of our shops.

CHATSWORTH House Trust, a registered charity, has announced the launch of a major fundraising campaign to restore the much-loved Cascade.

As part of the fundraising campaign, the Trust is asking for support from the many people who love the Cascade to help raise a small portion of the vital funds needed to restore it to full working glory. Supporters are invited to ‘sponsor a stone’ for themselves, their family or a friend, in return for a certificate that will identify the location of the stone they have sponsored.

Built over 325 years ago, the Cascade is a feat of engineering, nature-inspired design and sustainability. It forms part of a complex system of waterworks that use the natural incline of the landscape to channel water from the moors to the river, feeding the garden water features and, since 1893, powering a turbine that provides electricity for the house before flowing into the River Derwent.

The Grade I-listed monument includes a temple housing 13 spouts and fountains from which water normally runs down over 23 giant stone steps, each formed of over 100 individual stones.

The Cascade has now been turned off due to

severe deterioration. To find out more about the project and to sponsor a stone, visit: https://cascade.chatsworth.org.

Host families for Ukrainains still needed

HOST families still need to be found to house Ukrainian families in Derbyshire, two-and-a-half years on from Russia’s invasion of that country.

Derbyshire County Council report that the county has nearly 300 host households, but up to 20 refugees arrive each month who need homes.

The council in July approved an increase in “thank you” payments from its share of the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme to residents and landlords who are hosting, to £700 a month.

A free bus pass scheme for Ukrainian guests in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire was also extended to March 2025.

Anyone wanting to host a Ukrainian family needs to guarantee at least six months of accommodation. If you think you could commit to hosting, contact UkraineHosts@derbyshire.gov.uk

Anyone who would like to offer support other than accommodation should email ukrainesupport@derbyshire.gov.uk

New book about Derby…

DERBY has been variously described as the ‘crossroads of history’, the ‘birthplace of the Industrial Revolution’, the ‘real ale capital of the world’, ‘Jubilee City’ and the ‘most haunted place in the country’. It is all of this and much more.

A new book called ‘Celebrating Derby’ chronicles the proud heritage of this dynamic city. The author, Michael Smith, is Derby born and bred and is a successful author with over a dozen books and numerous magazine articles.

Illustrated throughout, this fascinating book offers a marvellous view into Derby’s rich heritage.

Published by Amberley, its online price through the publisher’s website is £14.99.

Above: Volunteers and staff in hospice charity shop in Matlock.

Above: The Cascade has been turned off as it needs repairing – and Chatsworth House Trust has launched a fundraising campaign.

1 Illegal sales pitch by an elk sitting at the back of a tram? (5,6)

1 Pry ‘Hegel’ tab off, down the wire in the past (2,9)

9 Rubbing out virtual lift? (7)

13 Maul, rip and ruin the flower (7)

18 Hear the Ark whir without a prayer, say? (7,4)

4 Lord Chancellor’s parking has the coolest hawk flying! (3,8)

6 Get up late when lip seen to be battered (5,2)

8 How it all started (in theory) (3,4)

5 The magnetic density of tales of woe? (5) 7 Clips off semi-public efforts to have a soak (5)

The look of a donkey expression! (3) 12 Hiss precursor heard from baboons (3) 16 Wend, in a way that’s bristling? (5) 17 One could go mad trying to set beliefs (5)

2 Ozzie Bear that actually isn’t! (5)

3 Worked out the calibration of a carton, as an excuse (5) 10 The monetary level of assumptions here! (3) 14 Get rid, in a way, of the lemur (5) 15 Nature’s milk bar seen in a shuddering frame (5)

7 Laconic hunters having a bit of a whittle here (7)

8 East of Kelstedge hovers a strange craft (7)

10 At last, he admits the thing’s there! (3)

11 Distortion, in clear reservoir (7)

12 Gliding place? How your luck can change! (7)

13 Nick, planning to get on in NE town (9)

16 See 27d and 31d (5)

17 Personally ‘park’ nicely for Edith’s family? (7)

21 Intermingle bystanders in village S of Derby (7)

22 John’s village, in reduced genteel tones (5)

23 Unruly team to barge in to A6 town (9)

26 Duo fell out: so sorry! (7)

29 Leaf tip waved around in local cinema (7)

32 To a fault he’s a bit of a slob (3)

33 Engineered part of a maiden name (3)

34 Diva not sitting in the goods vehicle (3)

35 With a capstan, tons can be lifted out of the village (7)

Prize Crossword

1 Mum’s gin found at Peveril castle? (4)

2 Noticed in a part of the ear (4)

3 Rip set out to find religious one (6)

4 Crashing’s a bit foolish (4)

5 It’s stylish to pick off such icons (4)

6 Assess a late development of the uvea (8)

7 Smart Aleck’s Abbey? (5)

9 Wore sly expression in the village (7)

14 Click, with a hair product? (3)

15 Win by default in Norwich airport, briefly (1,1,1)

16 Cat is no real threat on paper (5)

17 Near Bakewell, the school head maintained his grip (7)

18 Added up, but wrecked the motor? (8)

19 One hangs about for an age (3)

20 Village that has pasture? (3)

24 Shines like the experts (5)

25 See 28d. (5)

27 and 31d and 16a. Disposed of filter tips via walk way (4,4,5)

28 And 25d. No tangelo horticulture in this village!

30 James Brindley, a man from a well-dressed village? (4)

31 See 27d and 16a (4)

THE COUNTRY INN THAT REALLY PACKS A PUNCH!

The 300-year-old Scotsman’s Pack, situated in the picturesque village of Hathersage, is a firm favourite with locals, walkers, fine diners, and tourists alike.

PRIOR to the 18th century there were few roads in Derbyshire. The Scotsman’s Pack in Hathersage stands on one of the old tracks leading to Sheffield and the Sheffield Manor Castle. Back in the day it was a regular watering hole for the ‘packmen’ who sold their wares to all the surrounding farms and villages, particularly those who brought tweeds from Scotland. It has long been popular with the locals too – including Nick and Jemma Beagrie, who bought it 22 years or so ago. Nick grew up just down the valley and had his first pint there. Nick and Jemma also own The Bull’s Head Inn at Foolow, The Robin Hood in Baslow, The Wheatsheaf in Bakewell, and The Prince of Wales at Baslow.

These days The Scotsman’s Pack gleams with all the love and attention you’d expect in a good country pub. There are shelves of copper plates and horse brasses; pewter mugs hang from the bar; the magnificent Stag antlers hang above the fireplace; and the multitude of canvasses depict all manner of animals and birds. The traditional character remains, including polished oak wall panelling

and good hand-pulled ales. The interior still has checked carpets and upholstery to its banquette seating in a nod to the ‘packmen’ from ‘over the border’. There are five stunning ensuite bedrooms, which offer a perfect base for tourists and walkers alike.

Head chef, Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Uwis has been spearheading the culinary experience here for the past three years, having previously plied her trade in dining establishments ‘down South’. Charlie and her team of chefs, comprising Elliot, Owen, and Richard, aim to keep the menus interesting and innovative, adding a delightful twist to pub classics. The ethos is on providing wholesome food, well balanced, and cooked well. All the food is locally sourced and seasonal wherever possible and cooked fresh to order.

The traditional listed pub building features a welcoming bar area, two seated dining rooms and a bar-side room, where four-legged friends are welcome. Inside, there’s room to serve 72 covers.

In the winter months guests can indulge in the warmth of a crackling fire, whilst

the balmy summer months offer opportunity to soak up the sunshine on the terrace beside the bubbling trout stream. The day of our visit was warm and sunny, so we opted for al fresco - sitting next to the trickling stream on the terrace and experiencing the magic and soothing melodies of nature’s soundscape.

The outside terrace area can

seat up to 75 people and is an idyllic setting for summertime dining. The ambience is relaxed and tranquil. Whether it’s the joy of hearing birdsong or the sense of peace brought by the babbling brook, these sounds set the mood for a delightful dining experience. Fortunate enough to sample the food, we were soon presented with our chosen

starters –Bridlington Crab Éclair with choux pastry, Ponzu crème fraiche, wasabi, coconut glaze, and pickled vegetables, and salt baked beetroot with baby beetroots, black garlic ketchup and charred leeks.

Both dishes were nicely presented, with colour certainly being the order of the day; and why not, it was summer after all! The Crab Éclair offered a rainbow of flavours and tastes with the fresh warmth of the crab balancing nicely with the sweetness of the choux pastry and the spiciness of the wasabi. The salt baked beetroot was a light and fresh palate cleanser with saltiness, sweetness, and smoothness working perfectly in harmony.

The main courses, which arrived after a short break, were Katsu curry with sweet potato croquette, roasted red pepper, pak choi, and pineapple salsa, and pan-fried fish of the day, which just happened to be cod, with ratte potatoes, courgette, broad beans, peas, and split herb sauce.

The spicy Katsu curry tingled the taste buds confidently, its ardour tempered skilfully by the sweetness of the sweet potato, the crunch of the croquette, and the tang of the pak choi and pineapple. With all the varying flavours, this was a total taste-fest, make no mistake!

Everything in this cod dish was beautifully tender and flavoursome, the tastes all mingling harmoniously on the palate. Chef had perfectly crisped up the skin on the cod for a hint of crunch but had preserved the fish’s moistness perfectly. There was no mistaking the herby burst from the sauce and the firmness of the vegetables added textural interest. This was a hearty-yetlight dish cooked to perfection.

To round the meal off perfectly were the two preferred desserts - sticky ginger pudding with candied orange, and vanilla ice cream, and whipped cheesecake with elderflower, raspberry sorbet, and lemon curd. The ginger pudding was scrumptiously sweet and sticky

but wonderfully moist softened by the creaminess of the ice cream and enhanced by the cut of the ginger. The cheesecake was gorgeously light in texture, its pale body enhanced by pearls of raspberry and tangy lemon.

The service at The Scotsman’s Pack was attentive, yet unobtrusive. General Manager, Dan Tett, and Assistant Manager, Sophie Speed, epitomise the passion and enthusiasm which reverberate throughout the entire operation. Jack Beagrie was part of the immaculate

service team on the day and can always be seen on duty at one or other of the dining establishments under the Beagrie family umbrella.

Definitely one for the diary!

FOR MORE DETAILS:

The Scotsman’s Pack Country Inn, School Lane, Hathersage, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S32 1BZ T: 01433 650 253

E: scotsmans.pack@ btinternet.com www.scotsmanspackcountryinn. co.uk

Chocolate orange shortbread SERVES 12

ONE of the cakes in your afternoon tea should be Chocolate Orange Shortbread, according to Jamie Oliver, so that is the recipe this month.

Ingredients

150 g unsalted butter, at room temperature

200 g plain flour

50 g golden caster sugar, plus extra to sprinkle

1 orange

50 g quality dark chocolate, (70%)

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 190degC/375degF/Gas5.

2. Grease a 20cm square baking tin and line with greaseproof paper.

3. In a bowl, mix together the butter, flour, sugar and the finely grated zest of half the orange by rubbing the mixture between your thumbs and fingertips.

4. Squash and pat into dough – don’t knead it – then push into the lined tin in a 1cmthick layer. Prick all over with a fork, then bake for 20 minutes, or until lightly golden.

5. Remove, sprinkle over a little extra sugar while it’s still warm, then leave to cool. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of gently simmering water, then remove.

6. Cut the shortbread into 12 finger portions, then transfer to a wire cooling rack.

7. Drizzle with the chocolate, then finely grate over the remaining orange zest. Cut up the orange, and serve on the side!

OLIVE OIL HAS INCREASED IN PRICE THE MOST

SAVINGS experts from BravoVoucher analysed data from the Office for National Statistics comparing the prices of basic food items between 2019 and 2024.

The food item that saw the biggest price change was olive oil, which increased by a staggering 113.8 per cent. Its price soared from £3.76 for a 500ml-1l bottle in March 2019 to £8.04 in March 2024.

Second was baked beans, which have increased by 70.5 per cent since 2019.

In third place was granulated white sugar, another item that has been subject to a dramatic price increase. From 2019 to 2024, it has risen by 67.6%.

With a 66.6% price increase over the past five years, plain biscuits were next on the list.

The survey also checked bottles of still mineral water, which increased by 67.7% in price in those five years. In 2019, 1.5-2l bottles were priced at £0.62 on average, whereas they cost £1.04 in 2024.

Afternoon tea is a Victorian invention

IT seems to have taken over the nation – taking afternoon tea – so August 12-18 is this year’s Afternoon Tea week in the UK, so we had better all have one that week!

Afternoon tea was introduced in England by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840. The Duchess would become hungry around four o’clock in the afternoon. The evening meal in her household was served fashionably late at eight o’clock, thus leaving a long period of time between lunch and dinner.

The Duchess asked that a tray of tea, bread and butter (some time earlier, the Earl of Sandwich had had the idea of putting a filling between two slices of bread) and cake be brought to her room

during the late afternoon. This became a habit of hers and she began inviting friends to join her – and it soon became a fashionable social event. During the 1880s, upper-class women would change into long gowns, gloves and hats for their afternoon tea which was usually served in the drawing room between four and five o’clock.

It involved tea, sandwiches, scones and cakes. Finger sandwiches were usually filled with cucumber, egg salad, smoked salmon or cream cheese. Scones, served warm with clotted cream and jam; and a selection of cakes were served with a pot of freshly-brewed tea. Nowadays, so many eating houses serve variations of afternoon tea, we are spoilt for choice in Derbyshire!

Make summer dressing a breeze by updating your wardrobe with an effortlessly stylish co-ord set or two, says Amy Norbury.

AH, summer, old friend – it’s been a while. The warmer weather has finally arrived here in the UK and as the mercury rises, keeping cool while looking hot is the name of the game for summer dressing.

The simplest of solutions? The co-ord set. Effortlessly elegant and seriously stylish, there’s a good reason why coords are a firm favourite among the fashionista crowd. Matching two-pieces are the answer to creating a pulled together look with minimal hassle, whatever the occasion – a wardrobe hack all of their own, if you will.

For those days when you

struggle to decide what to wear and how to pair the items languishing in your wardrobe, co-ords take the hard work out of getting ready,

For hot summer days, linen short and co-ord shirts are your Printed shirt, £39.50, and printed wide leg trousers, £39.50, M&S x Sienna Miller. www.marksandspencer.com Papaya Dobby top, £15, and midi

skirt, £21, Matalan. Eleanor embroidered tie shirt, £55; Eleanor embroidered trousers, £65; Monsoon. www.monsoon.co.uk

answer to creating chic; the perfect option for casual cool. Need something a little more dressy? Opt for a linen waistcoat paired with shorts or wide-legged trousers for a outfit which packs a serious style punch.

With a variety of co-ord options to suit your individual style, from skirt suits to wrap tops and wide-legged trousers via super-casual shirt-andshorts sets, you’re guaranteed to find something for every occasion.

While neutrals and pastel shades capture the effortlessness of co-ords to a T, opting for bold colours and funky prints will add a playful element to your look. Co-ords can also be the cornerstone of a wider capsule summer wardrobe. Add in a few basic pieces in neutral hues to pair with the individual pieces of your co-ords for a quick way to create a plethora of pulled together looks in an instant. Summer dressing has never been so easy.

4. Carolin tropical floral shirt, £49.50, and Falon tropical floral trousers, £59, FatFace. www.fatface.com

5. Jacquard detail shirt, £19, and shorts, £16, Matalan. www.matalan.co.uk

6. Edru demin waistcoat, £52, and Ecru stitch shorts, £55, Oliver Bonas. www.oliverbonas.com

CRICKET IN THE DOCK: Harold Rhodes Story THE

John Stone takes a close look at what was not cricket’s finest hour –and how it ruined the test career of the fastest bowler in England.

CARDS on the table. I am a Derbyshire supporter of a certain age and as I was growing up the county’s quick bowler, Harold Rhodes, was a sporting hero of mine. What was there not to like? By the mid-1960s, he was comfortably the fastest bowler in England. Rhodes was among the wickets and opposition batsmen were jumping around a bit. Watching Derbyshire was suddenly exciting –especially when they were in the field. During my teenage years, I longed to see Rhodes opening the bowling for England and, as the 1965 season unfolded, I was very confident that I wouldn’t have long to wait. I would be disappointed. Around that time, the prevalence of suspect bowling actions was threatening to destroy the good name of the cricket. The ‘throwing’ controversy was at its peak

– not just in England, but in Australia, South Africa and the West Indies. Illegal bowling actions were infecting the game. The Australians had taken very decisive action in 1963 when the leftarm ‘chucker’, Ian Meckiff, had been summarily thrown out of the sport.

In England the then governing body, the MCC, were under increasing pressure to take a similar stand. Harold Rhodes was the man they chose to make an example of. What followed was not only cruel, it turned out to be just plain wrong. Several years later, his best years and his international prospects now behind him, the MCC finally ruled that Rhodes’s bowling action had been fair all along. Suffice to say: this was not cricket’s finest hour.

It all began promisingly enough for Rhodes. England had been thumped four-nil down under in the 1958/59 Ashes

series and, in the immediate aftermath, the selectors were looking for new faces. The 22-year-old Derbyshire fast bowler, Harold Rhodes, had impressed with his classical sideways on action and his agreeable tendency to get close to the stumps in his delivery stride. He was duly chosen for the third and fourth tests in the 1959 home series against India and made a favourable impression. Injury saw him omitted from the final match of the series and he spent that winter toughening up his physique by chopping wood on the Duke of Devonshire’s estate at Chatsworth. When the South African tourists turned up at Derby in May 1960 all eyes were on their opening bowler, Geoff Griffin, who had already fallen foul of umpires back home. Griffin would be no-balled out of cricket later that summer but at Derby he sent down 29 overs without incident.

Harold Rhodes in action for Derbyshire.

Harold takes another wicket for Derbyshire.

Instead it was Harold Rhodes who came under the spotlight when he was noballed by square leg umpire Paul Gibb. Mr Gibb was at pains to point out that he was not absolutely certain that Rhodes threw but that there was ‘something different’ about his bowling action and that, consequently, he was entitled to ‘call’ him for no-balling. It was true, there WAS something different about his action. Rhodes would be filmed umpteen times over the next few years – on one famous occasion, wearing a splint on his arm. Fairly early on in the saga, a surgeon from the Derby Royal Infirmary, George Cochrane, arranged for Rhodes’s bowling arm to be X-rayed. This indicated that his elbow hyperextended beyond 180 degrees. Film taken would ultimately prove that the hyper extension did not straighten at the point of delivery – but at high speed there was an illusion of straightening and consequently there was the illusion of a throw – nothing

Left: The South African tourists played Derbyshire at Derby in May 1960 – and all eyes were on their opening bowler, Geoff Griffin, who had already fallen foul of umpires back home. Griffin would be no-balled out of cricket later that summer but at Derby he sent down 29 overs without incident. Instead it was Harold Rhodes who came under the spotlight when he was no-balled by square leg umpire Paul Gibb.

more than that. Unfortunately it would take eight years of scrutiny by umpires, photos, films, X-rays and medical evidence as well as never-ending trips to Lords by Rhodes before the penny finally dropped and his action was passed as fair. 1960 was just the start of the nightmare. Rhodes enjoyed a successful season in 1961 with in excess of 100 county wickets to his name. But after being no-balled again by Paul Gibb that summer, he was confined to the wilderness as far as test selection was concerned. Rhodes would miss half of the 1962 season through injury and his form fell away somewhat during 1963 and 1964. But as the 1965 season got underway, Rhodes hit the ground running, content now that he had passed muster with every single umpire he had encountered for almost four years. He suddenly hit top form and would ultimately top the national bowling averages for the 1965 season with 119 wickets at 11.04 runs each. Meanwhile Derbyshire met Middlesex in a Gillette Cup encounter at Lords and, perhaps as a consequence of the increasing clamour for his inclusion in the England squad, yet another film was made of Rhodes’s bowling. When he was shown this

Above: Harold Rhodes bowled at more than 90mph in the Sixties.

Left: The cover of the book that Harold Rhodes wrote, published in the Eighties, with a foreward by Fred Truman.

particular footage, Rhodes had to agree that his action appeared suspect. Quite by chance, however, Rhodes recalled seeing film of the great Harold Larwood taken from the same angle and from that particular vantage point Larwood’s bowling action, which was generally agreed to be beyond

reproach, appeared similarly questionable. With this in mind Rhodes suggested that a film be taken of Fred Trueman from the same angle. And despite having what most people considered to be a perfect bowling action, from the viewpoint chosen ‘Fred looked even worse than I did’, Rhodes commented. But it was too late. It was not clear whether umpire Syd Buller was shown the footage of Rhodes bowling at Lords or whether he was told about its existence. Either way the damage was done. Buller no-balled Rhodes from square leg in Derbyshire’s match against South Africa at Queens Park, Chesterfield, in June 1965. Mr Buller had never taken issue with Rhodes’s bowling on previous occasions but, almost unbelievably, he now advised the Derbyshire captain that, in his opinion, Rhodes was throwing every ball. Rhodes’s high hopes of imminent test selection were in tatters. The Queens Park crowd were far from happy with the proceedings and Mr Buller famously required a police escort as he left the field that afternoon. Harold Rhodes himself and many others in Derbyshire believe that Syd Buller was recruited specifically to ‘call’ him that day in order to demonstrate that the MCC, like their counterparts in Australia, were determined to take decisive action against the scourge

of throwing. Jack Crapp, Buller’s umpiring colleague at Chesterfield for that match, had indicated earlier in the day that he didn’t want any part of what was about to happen.

Some years later, Syd Buller’s widow told Rhodes: “Syd was led to believe that what he did at Chesterfield was in the best interests of cricket. He later realised that what he had done was a tragic mistake and he regretted the hurt he had inflicted on you and your family.”

At one point, Rhodes’s wife wrote in desperation to the MCC describing the anguish of a mother of two young children who sees her husband’s chosen profession turning its back on him and the family’s security under threat as a result. But Lords would not be rushed into a final decision and the nightmare would continue for three further years.

To his eternal credit, Harold Rhodes continued to run in hard and take wickets for Derbyshire – still dreaming that one day he might be recalled to the England test team. How cruel then that by the time his bowling action was finally declared fair in 1968, his peak playing days were behind him. They drank champagne at Rhodes’s home to celebrate the good news that evening but it was left to his father, himself a former first class player and

Above: Harold Rhodes pictured in his umpiring days.

umpire, to introduce a touch of reality into the proceedings: “I hate to say this, Harold. They’ll never pick you again. They’re not big enough, lad”. He was right.

Harold Rhodes was on trial for fully eight years. But in the final analysis it was the game of cricket in the dock. His playing days over, Rhodes could have been forgiven for turning his back on the game which had treated him so badly. Quite the reverse, he continued to give back to the game he loved – umpiring and coaching as opportunities arose. I believe Harold Rhodes, who at the time of writing is still going strong at the age of 88, deserves our admiration. He certainly has mine.

A classic view of Riber Castle from Hall Leys Park in Matlock.

DERBYSHIRE Dales District Council’s (DDDC) parks and open spaces offer residents and visitors a place for recreation, to enjoy nature and to find inspiration for their own gardens, writes Catherine Roth.

DDDC owns 28 parks, of which five are its main parks and gardens – Ashbourne Park, Bath Gardens and Rutland Recreation Ground in Bakewell, Derwent Gardens in Matlock Bath, and Hall Leys Park in Matlock. Together they offer outdoor destinations for all ages with play areas, a boating lake, mini train, skate park, tennis courts, football pitches, pleasant walks, places to sit and relax, as well as planting schemes ranging from more formal traditional flower beds to natural landscaping including areas of woodland, wildflowers and the River Wye in Bakewell and the River Derwent in Matlock and Henmore Brook in Ashbourne.

Bath Gardens has perhaps the most formal planting schemes of all the parks. Emma Mortimer, Community Development Officer for DDDC, says: “Bath Gardens in Bakewell

is the smallest of our main parks, but is the horticultural jewel in the crown, with its long borders, rose garden and arbours supporting climbing roses and clematis, set within the backdrop of historic buildings. It provides the setting for many Bakewell events, including the Bakewell Day of Dance, Well Dressings and features in the

Top left: The Fanny Shaw Grounds at Wirksworth, looking over the play area towards the skate park.

Above: Roses in bloom at Bath Gardens, Bakewell.

Below: Planting at Knowleston Gardens in Matlock.

photographs of many newly-wed couples.”

The formal planting in Bath Gardens and other parks is a mixture of annual bedding plants, shrubs and perennials. Emma says: “The annuals we use in the parks’ bedding schemes are derived from years of experience to produce high impact of colour and longevity. The mix of plants differ slightly in each park, with the different conditions each park has but includes marigolds, geraniums, begonias, petunias, salvias, lobelias and cineraria amongst others.” Shrubs add year-round interest, whilst perennials such as lavender, salvias, rudbeckias, echinacea, aster, phlox, bergenia, geranium, pulmonaria and hylotelephium flower each year.

For environmental reasons, DDDC has launched a three-year programme to reduce the number of annual bedding plants in its parks by two thirds – although they will still feature, particularly in planters and the formal flower beds in Bath Gardens and Hall Leys Park.

Visitors will instead see a notable increase in the number of perennials. Emma says:

“The annuals are being replaced with perennials, chosen for their benefits to pollinating insects. Once perennials are established, they don’t have to be watered as there is time for the roots to grow, unlike annuals that are planted at one of the warmest times of the year. Perennials also don’t need to be replaced each year and are better suited to changes in our climate.”

In some of its open spaces, including Knowleston Gardens, watering isn’t an option. Emma says: “At some sites we can’t necessarily get the water bowsers up there, so the plants need to get on with it themselves. We have to choose the right plants for the right place.”

Climate change is presenting challenges for the team. Extremes of weather can bring hot, dry conditions or wet, cooler weather. It is the latter that has made mowing problematic this year. Earlier in the year, in particular, the ground was very wet and it was difficult to get vehicles onto the sites without damaging the soil and grass – made an ever greater challenge as the grass grew quickly in all the rain.

There are also much longer-term challenges with the need to plan ahead, not just for the next few decades but beyond. Emma says: “We carried out a tree-planting scheme in Ashbourne Park a year ago and we deliberately planted a range of trees.

Trees will be here in 100 or 200 years but it’s difficult to predict how the climate will change and how trees will react – at least this way some will be able to survive and thrive.” Varieties of trees planted include oak, silver birch, alder, rowan, bird cherry, field maple, hawthorn and guelder rose shrubs.

DDDC’s parks and open spaces are managed by a team of 14, together with a small team that works with communities to develop the parks and another team that deals with the structures within the parks such as buildings, bridges, bandstands and footpaths. The large parks have a dedicated staff member who works there, whilst other staff will look after a number of smaller parks in different areas, enabling them to get to know the sites well. However, when it is time for planting, everyone joins together, as it is all hands on deck to carry out these larger tasks.

Growing annuals requires a lot of maintenance from when they are planted out at the beginning of June to when they are removed after flowering has finished in October, with plenty of dead heading and weeding in between. Emma says: “A lot of the beds are bordered by grass so we need to cut round those to keep the edging nice and neat so that the grass doesn’t fall into the plants.” There is also the pruning of shrubs, trimming hedges, mowing grass,

The history of DDDC’S PARKS

ASHBOURNE PARK

Once part of the landscape gardens of Ashbourne Hall. Both King Charles I and Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed at Ashbourne Hall and visited the gardens. The estate was sold off in 1922 to be developed for housing, with the remainder taken on by the council as parkland. The war memorial gates were unveiled in the same year.

BATH GARDENS

Its history goes back to Roman times when they created a thermal bath, fed by the warm mineral spring. In 1697, a bath house was erected and attracted many visitors, hoping to rival Buxton as a spa town. Later the gardens were planted for visitors to promenade. In 1922 the Duke of Rutland sold the bath house and gardens to the council.

DERWENT GARDENS

The southern section was an amusement park in 1889 and the landing stages by the River Derwent have been in use since the 18th century. It was requisitioned by the army during World War II and, in 1951, the council took on the site.

HALL LEYS PARK

The park started as a promenade along the riverside, the Broadwalk, in 1898. The council then purchased adjoining fields to create Hall Leys Park, which opened in 1911 as part of King George V’s Coronation celebrations.

RUTLAND RECREATION GROUND

Provided for the people of Bakewell by the Duke of Rutland in 1884. Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee and the coronation of King Edward VII were celebrated here. The Rutland estate was sold in 1920 and the council took over the grounds.

and generally keeping the parks looking their best. Emma says: “We don’t use any chemicals – no herbicides or pesticides –so all of the weeding is done by hand.”

With so much to do, DDDC is grateful to its volunteers. Emma says: “We have really welltrained staff but they are limited to how many hours there are in a day. Having volunteers can really help.” Ashbourne Park, with its formal garden of remembrance, recreation ground of sports pitches and play area, and the more natural area of Fishpond Meadow, is one example of how the community is getting involved – from the Friends of Ashbourne Park working with DDDC on the development of the park to the u3a gardening group offering its horticultural skills. Emma says, “At Ashbourne Park, the u3a gardening group came to us as they wanted to have a bed they could garden. We created one for them and they’ve done an amazing job – it’s really beautiful, and when the bedding plants come out in October, they’ll take on another.”

At Bath Gardens and Knowleston Gardens, the EM Care Group provides volunteering opportunities. Emma says: “EM Care Group provides support and guidance for adults with learning difficulties. Their volunteers help us keep the park looking good and like the interaction with the public who say that it looks great.”

Others will volunteer only for specific projects, such as the community group that formed to fundraise when people wanted a new skate park in Hall Leys Park, and they will be involved in the opening event that will take place in the autumn. Local cubs help out by doing weeding or litter picking as part of their badge.

Emma works with local groups enabling them to enjoy the different parks and develop the sites so there is more to offer communities and visitors. As well as a space for individuals to enjoy the outdoors, the parks

Above: The trees avenue at Rutland Recreation Ground, Bakewell.

also provide venues for events including food festivals, live music and summer concerts, funfairs and picnics. Perhaps the most well-known of all the events is the popular Matlock Bath Illuminations in the autumn, which takes place in Derwent Gardens.

Emma says: “Thermal springs emerge in the park, creating the water gardens and along with grottos and alcoves provide unique features within these beautiful gardens.”

Keen to understand more about people’s opinions, the major parks are, at present, carrying out a survey to see what improvements visitors would like to see. DDDC will look to repeat this every five years and will also look at how public opinion and the use of parks changes over time.

A notable change was evident during lockdown. Emma says: “Our parks really showed benefits during lockdown as they became really important for people. Children could play in the play areas, people could enjoy peace and quiet walking through trees and flowers. They were places for picnics and where kids could run around. Parks are really important to physical and mental health – they provide a green open space and a place for fresh air and exercise and being in nature. Parks are often taken for granted but they’re certainly important and missed if they’re not there.”

SMALL GARDENS CAN BE DELIGHTFUL!

INCREASINGLY, new houses are being built with smaller gardens, and while we may enjoy visiting larger gardens and grand estates; inspiration can still be found for smaller spaces by visiting gardens open for the National Garden Scheme this month, writes Tracy Reid.

9 Hawkins Drive, Ambergate, is opening for the first time in 2024 on Sunday, August 11, from 11am until 4pm.

The garden, whilst small, is packed with shrubs, evergreens, perennials and annuals. Containers brighten up the terraced patio and two small wildlife ponds are home to toads and frogs.

The garden has views over to Crich Chase, and lovely walks can be found locally, including the quieter end of the Cromford Canal or Shining Cliff Woods.

Admission is just £3.50, children admitted free and dogs on leads welcome.

The pocket-sized garden at 72 Burnside Avenue, Shirland, is another delight. As well as traditional plants, there’s a selection of tropical plants. Every inch of

Above: The garden at 9 Hawkins Drive, Ambergate.

space is utilised, including a sedum roof.

The garden is open on Sunday, August 25 and Bank Holiday Monday, the 26th.

The owners are happy to chat to you about how they have achieved all this in a small space – ask them about ‘hot composting’! Pre-booking is essential at www.ngs.org.uk

Admission is just £3 and refreshments will be served in aid of Ashgate Hospice.

Two rings provide dramatic proof that going to auction is best!

By Vivienne Milburn FRICS Independent Antiques Auctioneer & Valuer

TWO fabulous results for two quite different gold rings – dramatic proof why going to auction is the best bet!

There are two bits of good news regarding these rings: as they made six times the value of the gold content at £1,800 and £1,700 respectively. The value of the gold content for each ring is approximately £320, proving that the antique value is so much greater.

Also, from the ecologically perspective, the saleroom has very obligingly calculated the amount of carbon CO2 emissions the buyer has saved by buying an antique ring compared to buying a new ring. The saving is 0.42 tonnes of CO2e, for each ring and if you want to visualise this, it is roughly the size of a double decker bus (a tonne of CO2e is about the size of a hot air balloon).

The Victorian 18ct gold snake ring is modelled as a coiled snake and set with an old pearshaped light-yellow diamond to the head and with ruby eyes. Hallmarked for London 1875, it weighs 7.59g and made £1,800 in a recent specialist auction. Serpent rings have been popular throughout our history, the Ancient Egyptians used serpents as symbols of eternal love. Some original designs feature a snake, eating

Left:

A Victorian 18ct gold diamond set snake ring, it made £1,800 in the recent specialist auction. Weighing 7.59g it is interesting to note that buying this antique ring at auction the buyer saved up to 0.42 tonnes of CO2e compared to buying a new ring.

its own tail as a symbol of the eternal circle of life.

The 350-year-old mourning ring for Antony Lybbe, dated 1674, is an insight into life in the 17th Century. Discovered in Derbyshire, it is unusual to have a background story connected to jewellery that is so old. Antony Lybbe was born in 1607 as the second son to Richard Lybbe, High Sheriff of Oxon. In 1637, he married Mary Keate, the daughter and heir of Leonard Keate of Checkendon. She bore him 13 children and lived until 1692. In 1646, the Committee of the County of Berkshire sequestered the estate of Antony Lybbe, after receiving information that he was suspected of being in ‘Armes against the Parliament’. 1646 is the last year of the English Civil War, fought between Roundheads (Parliamentarians) and Cavaliers (Royalists –supporters of Charles I). He was finally discharged in 1652 upon motion of Mr Blagrave, at Haberdashers’ Hall, London. He died in 1674 and left no will, so his widow took out Letters of Administration to inherit his estate. The ring made £1,700 in the recent specialist auction. Antony Lybbe lived through the era of the English Civil War when conspiracies abounded. It is fortuitous that nowadays we don’t execute people for

Below:

A 17th Century antique mourning ring with skull detailing, engraved ‘Anth. Lybbe Ar: Obijt 24th Sept 1674’. Antony Lybbe lived through the era of the English Civil War. The ring made £1,700 in the recent specialist auction.

supporting the other side. Editor’s Note: Perhaps you have items of value? If so, it is always worth getting the advice of an Independent Antiques Valuer to assess your art and antiques.

Please contact Vivienne on 01629 640210 or 0114 2830292 or 07870 238788. Alternatively, go to www.viviennemilburn. co.uk or email vivienne@ viviennemilburn.co.uk

VOLUNTEERS PLAY A STARRING ROLE AT BUXTON OPERA HOUSE

From Anna Pavlova to Alec Guinness, Buxton Opera House has attracted some of the world’s most revered performers over its 120-year history. Yet its most remarkable cast is undoubtedly its volunteers, as Rebecca Erskine discovers.

LOOK beneath its ornate surface and you will find there is plenty going on at Buxton Opera House. It is not so much a venue, rather the beating heart of a proud but isolated High Peak town. From choirs to reading clubs, schools outreach and environmental initiatives, its breadth of reach is vast. Most impressively, perhaps, is that the extent of such work is made possible only because of its volunteers.

As Head of Operations and Deputy CEO, Jonathan Thompson, explains:

“The 119 volunteers on our books equate to more than three for every member

of duty management staff. We are very much a volunteer-led charity. Many of our volunteers are those who have known and loved the venue from childhood, who experienced their first panto here and have since attended with their children and grandchildren. They are joined by those who have retired to Buxton or relocated to the town and are looking to build new friendship groups. They fulfil most of the roles needed, from front of house to assistant duty manager; and it is their amazing stories which add so much to the customer experience”.

“Without their

unfailing support, we would be unable to keep our building open nor fulfil what we see as our wider commitments to the local community.”

Volunteer time and energy is vital to the Opera House which, in turn, is vital to Buxton’s wider visitor economy. Many of the town’s bars and restaurants base their opening hours on the programme of performances. There are strong working relationships, too, with Travel Buxton, both on public transport timetabling and the encouragement of car shares.

Buxton Opera House. All pictures by Dave King.

The council’s commitment to free parking after 6pm plays an important role too.

As well as from the High Peak and Derbyshire in general, the venue proudly attracts audiences from as far afield as Stoke, Leek, Sheffield, and Manchester. “Not everyone wants to visit the big cities,” explains Jonathan. “Many audiences who travel some distance to come to us like to add to their experience by spending the day here or staying over.”

Jonathan adds: “When we look at our future audiences, it is important that we speak to everyone. Serving the community in all its forms and attracting new champions, whether they be audiences or volunteers, sits very much at the heart of our organisation’s three-year plans.”

A firm commitment to community outreach has been part of the Opera House for over twenty years and, in 2021, a chorus of support led to the establishment of a dedicated Learning and Engagement department. Allie Spencer, who leads the team as Head of Creative Learning and Engagement, explains why the Opera House’s blend of youth theatre, schools outreach, summer schools and a work experience programme is so important: “It really opens young people’s minds when it comes to what a career in the arts might look like. We’ve always had a youth theatre but we now also have a Technical

Youth Theatre where young people can learn from scratch how to be a techie.”

The Opera House’s Summer School, for ages eight to 18, shines a light on the world of theatre in the most exciting yet practical way. Some 30 young people make up the cast with a further ten working on lights, sound, projection and costumes.

“It really opens young people’s minds when it comes to what a career in the arts might look like.’

The Work Experience programme is just as popular. Allie explains: “For a very magical fortnight, we take up to 30 young people, aged 14 to 18, and turn them into a proper touring company made up of actors, set and costume designers, and technicians. Week 1 is made up of rehearsals. By Week 2, we’re ready for the fringe and perform two shows each day in local church halls and schools.”

The chosen performances provide a useful lens through which to focus on important themes. Last year, which was the 500-year anniversary of Shakespeare’s first folio, it was Hamlet that provided the backdrop to explore the themes of knife crime, mental health and bereavement. This year, the tale of Red Riding Hood provides useful context for online safety.

Allie adds: “Being selected for the

work experience programme is a highly competitive process but we offer the opportunity to those who we think will benefit the most. When the students arrive, I tell them ‘Welcome to your twoweek bubble where you’ll get to find people like you.’ I’m proud to say ours is a place where everybody can fit in.”

Emily Jeeves, Head of Marketing & Communications, says: “We take our social responsibilities very seriously. It’s not all about getting into drama school. Connection to the arts sparks a very positive energy and, beyond the importance of career progression, it really does contribute to a sense of wellbeing and place, and can really impact someone’s life.”

Allie is in firm agreement: “Our book club offers so much to so many, whether it’s an isolated person in their eighties looking for a reason to get up on a Tuesday or a young parent new to the UK seeking to improve their English. Our (Affected by Cancer) singing club in Chesterfield offers a person living with, or affected by cancer, the opportunity to sing alongside their family and friends and the reassurance that a lasting network of friendship will support their loved ones when it’s most needed.”

There is much more to celebrate: The ‘Leave No Trace’ pilot project, funded by the Arts Council and Buxton Civic Association champions environmental responsibility.

Above: A scene from the community theatre production of Evita, which received national acclaim.

Right: Some of the volunteers at Buxton Opera House at a volunteer awards night.

It cumulated in a guided promenade performance through Grin Low Woods and performance at Poole’s Cavern, both of which were free to attend. Free after-school clubs across High Peak are helping children

as young as seven to experience the magic of arts participation and, for young adults looking for a less-conventional but lifeaffirming career path, an apprenticeship with the Opera House fits the bill.

Reflecting on the lasting impact of the Opera House, Jonathan says: “Many of our young performers came to the realisation that ‘Life is bigger than London!’ I think that’s testament to the fact that everything we do here has local people in mind. Our performance of Evita, a product of our community theatre, was packed to the brim in May and received national acclaim when it was reviewed as ‘West End production level’. That is an incredible achievement and all thanks to the community talent that makes up our wonderful town.”

Buxton Opera House is clearly a place that inspires and enriches audiences, volunteers and the wider community deserves a standing ovation for many more years to come.

Editor’s note: Further details on the ABC Singing Club (held at The Parish Centre Stonegravels), Adult Readers Group (Dress Circle Bar of the Opera House) and how to become a volunteer can all be found here: www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk

Left: Buxton Opera House’s Summer School is not just for budding actors, it’s for young people who want experience in backstage roles controlling lights, sound, projection or costumes.

EXPLORE MORE WITH RIVIERA AND MARTINS WORLD TRAVEL toursAward-winning and cruises

MARTINS WORLD TRAVEL, in partnership with Riviera travel, offers carefully crafted itineraries providing bespoke holidays to the best of Europe and worldwide. There’s a wide range of European river cruises and worldwide inclusive tours, where attention to detail is of paramount importance. An eclectic selection of itineraries for solo travellers is also available. There is limited availability for 2024 and bookings are now being taken for 2025.

RIVER CRUISES

From the Douro Valley to the majestic Danube, or the Nile to the mighty Mekong Delta, there’s a good reason that river cruising is known as the most relaxing way to travel.

THE DOURO, PORTO AND SALAMANCA

The age-old banks of the Douro remain as enchanting as ever, covered as they are with peaceful terraces where olives, almonds and grapes are cultivated. How can such a

picturesque river valley, with its dramatic cliffs, lush hillsides, medieval walled villages and fine vineyards remain so relatively undiscovered?

There are plenty of varieties of wine to sample, alongside the delicious tapas, sardines and custard tarts.

BURGUNDY, RIVER RHONE AND PROVENCE

From the slopes of the scenic wine lands, and the beauty of the French landscape to the medieval splendour of Avignon, guests can enjoy a fascinating cruise to one of the most picturesque corners of France.

The journey through France explores the beautiful Saône and Rhone rivers. Everywhere there are reminders of eras of historical importance, including the Roman Empire. Recommended on the itinerary are guided tours to Lyon, historic Vienne and Beaune.

The engineering genius of the amphitheatre at Arles and the huge aqueduct at the Pont du Gard are sights to behold! Avignon is renowned for its absorbing Papal Palace and renaissance art collection.

Van Gogh created his greatest works in Provence, and all this is set in some of France’s stunning natural beauty.

EUROPEAN TOURS

POMPEII, CAPRI AND THE BAY OF NAPLES

The Sorrento peninsula and the Bay of Naples is simply one of the most beautiful corners of Europe with outstanding scenery, tranquillity and some of the most wondrous historical sights.

Sorrento came to real fame during the late 18th century when sumptuous houses and grandiose hotels were built along the cliff tops. Today,

Sorrento is home to tiny, cobbled streets and quaint squares with flowers decorating almost every building. Limestone mountains covered with pine forests plunge dramatically into the calm blue Mediterranean. Next it is Capri - a veritable Garden of Eden. The Bay of Naples skyline is dominated by the majestic and still active volcano Vesuvius, rising loftily to over 4000 feet.

SWITZERLAND, THE MATTERHORN AND THE GLACIER EXPRESS

Spectacular mountain scenery, chair lifts and cable cars, awe-inspiring views of glaciers

and summits, gentle valley slopes and lush meadowsthis is Switzerland at its most wonderful. Switzerland is world famous for its cleanliness, its clockwork efficiency and its welcoming, friendly people, and of course for its astonishingly beautiful Alpine landscapes.

This Swiss tour also includes Lake Maggiore and the charming Italian lakeside resort of Stresa.

The mighty Matterhorn, the ultimate Alpine peak and Swiss national symbol, is simply majestic. You can admire it by taking the dramatic cog railway to the Gornergrat at over 10,000 feet. The legendary ‘Glacier Express’ transports you 120 kilometres past stunning mountain scenery, waterfalls, ravines and rivers. There’s also opportunity to relax in the world famous Klosters, the ski playground of royalty.

FAR EAST - JAPAN: A SPECIAL ITINERARY FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS

Solo travellers can explore ancient architecture and cityscapes straight out of sci-fi on a visit to Japan. They can discover ultra-modern cities filled with skyscrapers, hi-tech industry and futuristic technology alongside ancient architecture and beautifully preserved tradition, from golden

temples and Shinto shrines to zen gardens and feudal castles. Opportunity is available to escape the cities and find a natural wonderland of snow-capped mountains, glistening lakes and verdant gardens and parkland.

Highlights:

• The famous sights of Tokyo including the Imperial Palace, Shibuya Crossing and Sensoji

• Astonishing views of Mount Fuji from Lake Yamanaka and Lake Kawaguchi

• Travelling at 200mph on the high-speed bullet train

• Exploring Kyoto on a guided tour including Kinkakuji, an incredible golden temple, Honmaru Gardens and the famous rock garden of Ryoan-ji

• The charming coastal town of Kamakura - home to a great Buddhist statue, temple and gardens

Discover more with Riviera Travel at Martins World Travel. Contact the expert staff for further details.

CALL AND DISCUSS YOUR TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS WITH OUR FRIENDLY AND EXPERT TEAM ON: 01246 220020 or 01246 823763

Martins World Travel, 46 Knifesmithgate, Chesterfield, S40 1RQ T: 01246 220020

Martins World Travel, 25 Market Place, Bolsover, S44 6PN T: 01246 823763

martins-world-travel.co.uk www.1st4Cruises.co.uk

Cycle Ride ENJOY A THIS MONTH

WE have been asked by readers many times if we would consider doing a cycle ride in the Out & About column. Well, this month we have devoted the column to such a ride – and one that starts where you can hire a cycle or even an e-bike. This ride circumnavigates Chrome and Parkhouse Hills. The route starts on the High Peak Trail, leaving it at the end of the trail to follow tracks and quiet lanes to Earl Sterndale. The route also takes in Hollinsclough,

ROUTE

1 From the café and cycle hire at Parsley Hay, turn right along the High Peak Trail, go for 5.5 kilometres to the end of the trail. Turn left to climb a stony track, then descend down to a lane. Turn right on the lane to climb and then drop down to High Wheeldon. You will see the pyramidal shape of Wheeldon Hill in front of you, topped with a trig point.

2 At the T-junction in front of Wheeldon Hill, turn right to follow the lane, as it gently descends. About 1.2 kilometres from the T-junction, as the road bends to the left around a farmhouse, take the rough track that goes straight ahead. Ignore another rough track to the right, instead keep straight on towards the houses, continuing to a T-junction by the church and primary

where there are great views of Chrome and Parkhouse Hills, which are limestone apron reefs deposited about 330 million years ago when the area was covered in tropical seas and was quite close to the Equator! Finally, we’re back on to the High Peak Trail for the return to Parsley Hay. Parsley Hay was once one of the highest railway stations in England. It was on the High Peak Railway which used to connect the canals at Whaley Bridge and Cromford.

Above: Descending the track from Booth Farm (point 6).

school. Turn right here, climbing slightly, then bend left, passing more houses before reaching the road to Longnor and the A515.

3 At the T-Junction with the road, turn right and climb steadily to the top of the hill. This road is not busy but traffic can travel fast. Pull over to the left at the brow, looking down towards the quarries.

4 Turn left here, through the metal gate, signposted ‘Bridleway’ on a wooden finger post and climb gently up the track, through a field often filled with cows. The gate at the top is usually closed; pass through this and bear leftwards, cutting across the left-hand corner of the field to reach a wall. Follow the wall on your left until a gate blocks your way. Go

through this gate and follow the track as it bends gently around to the right, to another gate. Go through this next gate, descending gently towards the lane and two gates in the corner of the field.

5 Ignore the gate straight ahead which goes onto the lane, instead go through the gate on the right and follow the wall on your left, to a small wooden gate onto the lane about 1 kilometre further on. Go through the gate here, to join the lane and follow it to the right, over a cattle grid, to Buxton Raceway (a banger circuit). Turn left here, almost behind you, before another cattle grid; towards Booth Farm. You can cut the corner here at the Raceway, following the fence line across the small grass triangle on the left, to the other lane.

FACT FILE

Start and Finish: Parsley Hay car park (pay and display), SK17 ODG. There is a café and toilets, along with cycle hire

Distance: 17miles (28km)

Terrain: This route is a varied ride on mixed terrain. There are a number of climbs and gentle descents. The terrain is good but does contain some grass and stone tracks. There is a very short section (about 50 metres), where the route drops away from the track to the River Dove (point 7). This can be walked if necessary. This ride will suit those on e-bikes or those with a reasonable level of fitness

Taken from: Scenic Cycling in the Peak District (£12.99), by Carina Humberstone, published by Spiral Books (spiral-books.com). Featured are 19 circular rides of varying difficulty, with options for all abilities and different types of bicycles, including e-bikes.

The ford, with Parkhouse Hill in the distance (point 9).

6 As you approach the crest of the hill, take the road on the right, immediately before another cattle grid. The descent winds down steeply, with a hair-pin bend, to Booth Farm. As you approach the farm but before reaching the buildings, bear left (essentially keeping straight on) over a cattle grid, onto a stony track. Follow this track with the sandstone edge on your left and a drop to lower ground on your right.

7 Keep left at the lonely house, leaving the building on your right. Immediately past the house, keep right on the lower track, continuing mainly downhill. This can be muddy and slippery in wet conditions. Soon after passing through a gate, there is a sign ‘Private Land, No Access or Shooting’. Turn right at the finger post here onto a narrow, rutted bridleway which can be tricky to ride. Watch out for the bridleway sign, turning abruptly right into the woodland. This zig-zags down to

the stream and a ford, however, an easier alternative is to keep straight ahead, walking your bike along the footpath through the gate and across the bridge.

8 Once across the stream, there is a gentle but challenging, short ride (or push) up to the road. This section from the track, across the river and up to the road can get very muddy in wet conditions. If you end up walking from the fingerpost in point 7, to the road, it is only about 200 metres.

9 Turn left on the lane and descend into Hollinsclough. Take the first left at the little, grassy traffic island, before the telephone box, to follow the road past the school. As you leave the village, the views open up towards Chrome and Parkhouse Hills once again. About 250 metres from the school, take the track on the left, past a solitary house. Follow this track as it bends to the right at a

OUT & ABOUT

junction, passes through a gate and then down to a ford. (You can push your bike across the footbridge here).

10 If you tackle the ford, be prepared for the climb out of the river on the other side. Follow the track

between the gate posts, to a lane. Bear right on the lane and follow it to a T-junction at Glutton Bridge.

11 Turn left at the T-junction, then immediately right opposite a yard and MOT centre. This lane is generally flat

with a number of gates on it. After the last gate at the farm, the lane bends around to the left and comes to a T-junction. Turn left at the T-junction, passing the old quarry (and popular climbing spot) of Aldery Cliff, as you climb up towards Earl Sterndale.

12 As you come out of the tree cover and the road levels out a little, look for a track almost behind you, on the right, immediately before a house. Climb this gently up to another lane. Turn right on the lane and continue climbing past Wheeldon Trees. Soon the road descends to a crossroads at High Needham.

13 Go straight across at the crossroads, looking out for the next crossroads in about 1.7 kilometres. Turn left and cycle easily towards the bridge where the High Peak Trail crosses the road. Immediately before the bridge, take the steep path on the left, up to the High Peak Trail. Turn right on the trail, to return to Parsley Hay.

Left: The gated farm tracks heading towards Aldery

Cliff (point 11).

Captured: a rare summer inversion

CLOUD inversions are very unusual in summer in this country, but Russ Teale, of Newbold, managed to capture one on July 15 in the Derwent Valley, taken from Surprise View, overlooking Hathersage, as his latest entry into our ‘Lovely Landscapes’ competition.

Tony Holmes, of Wirksworth, says of the next picture: “On June 26, I was waiting at Chesterfield bus station and

before me was this beautiful vista of poppies and cornflowers. Vivid nature in a townscape.” Indeed, Tony!

A photo next of the gardens at Chatsworth, taken on June 5 by Andy Hanna, of Great Longstone.

Peter Wigglesworth, of Matlock, says of this picture: “The view from Curbar Edge on a rare, fine summer’s evening on June 23.”

A.H

T.H

Upperdale taken from Monsal Head early evening on July 7 by Brian Smith, of Upper Newbold.

The John Varley II trip boat on the Chesterfield Canal between Tapton and Brimington, pictured by Ian Moorcroft, of Hollingwood.

A lovely picture next of Ladybower Reservoir, taken by Lisa Hands, of Sheffield.

Off to the High Peak next, and the view 200m down the incline from Middleton Top heading towards Lea Bottom. It was taken by Stuart Else, of Matlock, on his iPhone12 on July 18.

Here’s an image of Curbar Edge on the way down to the village on July 4, taken by Peter Keeble, of Matlock Bath.

B.S

L.H

S.E

Russ Teale, of Newbold, says of this view from Bamford Edge overlooking Ladybower Reservoir on a July day: “It was well worth the climb.”

A threatening sky next, taken by Ian Moorcroft, of Hollingwood, in early July just outside Bradbourne.

Taken in June at Hall Leys Park, Matlock, with Riber Castle in the distance by Lisa Hands, of Sheffield.

The picture(s) you send in for the ‘Lovely Landscapes’ competition must be taken in 2024 and must be in Derbyshire. You can enter as many times as you like. We do not want entries from

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 closing deadline for entries is noon on October 16, 2024.

L.H

HEFTY SUM FOR LOCAL ARTS CHARITY

Barrie Farnsworth has news that a local arts charity has received a hefty sum of National Lottery funding; and Hardwick Hall hosts outdoor cinema experiences this month.

THE Level Centre at Rowsley (DE4 2EL), which specialises in creative projects for and by learning disabled people, disabled creatives, young autistic and neurodivergent people, has received over £250,000 of National Lottery funding to help increase its reach and engagement.

The arts charity will use the money to develop their ‘LEVEL - Next Steps’ project, including an outdoor programme within a new Biodiverse Sensory Garden, to run across the next three years.

Alongside their current work with disabled and learning disabled participants, the project will engage with the local community to improve mental health and social engagement, and broaden research around the benefits of working outdoors.

The centre currently employs four members of staff, with only two full time; but the funding means that they will be able to grow its team, increasing capacity and offering more to the local community.

Outdoor films at Hardwick Hall

HARDWICK Hall will be the backdrop for a series of outdoor Adventure Cinema experiences this month.

The evening programme includes Grease Sing-A-Long on August 8 (gates open 6pm, show starts 7.30pm);

Kerry Andrews, executive and artistic director at Level Centre, says: “We are thrilled and deeply grateful for this generous funding! Over the next three years it will help us to expand our community workshop programme, develop and maintain our biodiverse sensory garden, and support our capacity.

“We’re also excited to establish a dedicated volunteer programme, enhancing social connection and supporting wellbeing, and giving opportunities to learn about and care for our environment.”

Meanwhile, the Level Centre has two exhibitions, which opened in July and will run until September 4. They are  ‘No Sleep Just Clouds’ by Babeworld and a Public Open Exhibition.

Taking visual inspiration from gaming and pop culture, No Sleep Just Clouds is an immersive storytelling experience following a neurodivergent artist, and their mission to create the ultimate, perfect piece of work. It’s a deep-dive into the obsession

Top Gun on August 9 (gates open 6pm, show starts 8pm); Mamma Mia on August 10 (gates open 5pm, show starts 6.30pm); and Jurassic Park on August 11 (gates open 6pm, show starts 7.30pm).

Day time Adventure Cinema experiences includes Finding Nemo on August 9 (gates open 1.30pm, show starts 3pm); Frozen Sing-A-Long

Above: Poster promoting the ‘No Sleep Just Clouds’ exhibition by Babeworld, on at the Level Centre at present.

of providing a distraction – in this case, clouds! A luscious ambient soundtrack accompanies the installation. No Sleep Just Clouds is an enlightening take on how people experience creative spaces, reflecting Babeworld’s research into sensory spaces for neurodivergent people. It’s an Unlimited UK Partner Award 2023 commission with Level Centre and The Art House, Wakefield. Entry is free. For more

on August 10 (gates open 12pm, show starts 1.30pm); and The Gruffalo/Stick Man on August 11 (gates open 10am, show starts 11am).

Hot food and snacks are available and there is a bar (plastic and paper cups only). Picnics are welcome. For details, please visit www. nationaltrust.org.uk/hardwick or adventurecinema.co.uk

information about the exhibition visit: www.levelcentre.com/ no-sleep-just-clouds

Now in its fourth year, the Public Open Exhibition features work from contemporary visual artists from across the UK. It showcases work produced by and for learning disabled, neurodivergent and disabled artists.

You can vote for which artist wins the People’s Choice Award, either by visiting the exhibition for free and voting there, or online by checking out all the entries at the website levelcentre. com The winning artist will receive a bundle of art from the sponsor, Turners Art Supplies. More info here: www. levelcentre.com/publicopen-exhibition-2024

The Level Centre at Rowsley.

Above: Jim Brown has words with Spireites manager Paul Cook after his walkabout during the testimonial home game against the Blades in July. Picture by Tina Jenner. Courtesy of www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk

Other Events

For more information: email countrysideservice@ derbyshire.gov.uk or call 01629 533870

as a house party in 2005, the

SHEFFIELD

HALL

SHEFFIELD ARENA

BUXTON OPERA HOUSE

3-4

party spilt over into a festival. Some 14 years on, the same ethos applies: enjoy amazing music, great food and carefree fun. Visit: www.ynotfestival.com/tickets

Cromford Steam Rally. Derbyshire’s premier steam heritage and vintage rally at Highacres Farm, DE55 6DB. From steam traction engines, showmans’ engines, road rollers to vintage cars, motorcycles and lorries. You will also find a great selection of farming heritage on display including vintage tractors, stationary engines and bygones. Also a fairground with old and new rides for all the family to enjoy.10am-5pm. To book, visit: www.cromfordsteamrally.co.uk

6 Chesterfield and District Family History Society. Family Historian Ian Waller speaking about the social history and traditions of funerals in “Mending Bodies, Saving Souls”, both online and at St Thomas’ Centre, Brampton at 7.30pm. Visitors welcome. For more details and to register contact secretary@cadfhs.org.

8-11 Bloodstock Festival. Bloodstock Open Air (B-O-A) is the UK’s biggest independent METAL festival. Held at the picturesque location of Walton on Trent, B-O-A has won fans of heavy rock and metal by consistently showcasing the strongest metal line-up on UK soil. You can expect some 20,000 folk descending on Derbyshire for four days of full-on heavy metal!

10 P.B.F.A. Bakewell Book Fair. At the Agricultural Business Centre, Bakewell DE45 1AH. The largest organised fair of its kind within the Peak District National Park will have up to 30 dealers attending displaying a wide variety of books, both second-hand and antiquarian, with maps, prints, ephemera, and lots of unusual items on display. 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 https://www.pbfa.org. Further details can be obtained by contacting the PBFA organiser, Peter Allen, on 07526 606908 or 01298 77786. 10am to 4pm.

10-11 Eat in the Park- Chesterfield Music & Food Festival. A weekend in Queens Park with amazing tribute artists, brilliant local bands, kids entertainment, food & drink and more.

10-11 Tissington Craft Fair. Independently run and carefully curated to focus on the core values of a traditional artisan market. A variety of talented designers, makers and artists and their unique range of products. 10.30am-4.30pm. For more information, visit: www.tissingtoncraftfairs.com/events

11 Ilkeston Heritage & Classic Vehicle Show. Gathering of pre-1998 classic cars, bikes,

SPECTACULAR SEASON AHEAD FOR PEAK MUSIC

ENTERTAINMENT

PEAK Music’s 2024/25 season will starting in stunning fashion in September with a concert by a duo who are wowing audiences with their virtuosity and astounding innovation.

Baroque Alchemy, comprising the world’s leading recorder player, Piers Adams, and electronic keyboard wizard Lyndy Mayle are bringing baroque music into the 21st Century with a completely new take on works by famous composers. They are totally unafraid of merging apparently diverse musical styles.

The audience at the Cavendish Hall on September 24 can expect Handel with a rock/synth basssline, Telemann in a cool jazz version and Bach with a dash of reggae.

A 75-year-old regular concert-goer recently commented after the duo’s performance at the Swaledale Festival: “The most stunning live concert I think I’ve ever been to. Blown away and speechless.”

The society’s programme continues in October with the more conventional, but equally talented, Villiers Quartet. The group have presented masterclasses at home and in the USA and have featured on BBC Radio 3 and BBC TV. Their programme will include quartets by Haydn, Fung and Beethoven.

The November concert features an unusual combination of flute, viola and harp in the talented hands of the Pelleas Ensemble. Regularly praised for their compelling performance and immediate connection with audiences, they have performed extensively across the UK and have won a variety of prestigious awards. They will be performing works by a wide variety of composers, including Debussy, Prokofiev and Richard Rodney Bennett.

In the spirit of Peak Music’s mission of bringing world-class performers to local audiences, the afternoon concert on March 29th features pianist

buses and commercials at the town’s historic market place and surrounding area. Buses and commercials by invitation only. The show is organised by the Erewash Partnership Events (on a not-for-profit basis) and a dedicated team of volunteers. So please support the show, which is free to attend. Classics must pre-book.

14 Ashover Show. 9am-6pm. Known locally as the ‘friendly show’, it’s an event the whole family can enjoy. Cattle, Shire horses and sheep compete in the livestock rings and the Light Horse Section attracts a great turnout of talent. There’s a poultry section, the popular Dog Show and Dog Agility, with vintage tractors and cars on show. Relax in

Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, fresh from her recent debut at the BBC Proms. Jeneba is much in demand for performances and recordings and has recently signed exclusively with Sony Classical for her first recital album for release in 2025. At the Cavendish Hall she will perform works by Scarlatti, Chopin, Scriabin and Prokofiev.

The season’s final concert, again in the afternoon features star violinist Lizzie Ball, who will be well known to local music lovers, on this occasion teamed with Serbian accordionist Milos Milivojevic, described in The Times as “a hurricane of imaginative invention”. He is continuously in demand internationally and has even managed an appearance on Strictly Come Dancing. The pair will perform what is bound to be a popular programme , including excerpts from Stravinsky’s The Firebird, Copland’s El Salon Mexico and the Piaf favourite, La Vie En Rose. For more information, including tickets and membership of the Peak Music Society, go to www.peakmusicsociety.org.uk.

the Village Green area while the children are having fun on the rides and slides. The Horticultural Marquee is a riot of colour, the best local food producers can be found in the Appetising Ashover Marquee and the Craft Marquee showcases talented local people. Find our more at www.ashovershow.co.uk

Above: Baroque Alchemy – at Cavendish Hall, Edensor, on September 24.

14-18 Barlow Carnival. On the Wednesday is ‘Bless the Wells’. The highlight of the Carnival celebrations is the parade on the Saturday, but before that make sure you visit the Well Dressings and the wonderful flower festival in St Lawrence Church. On your way look out for those famous scarecrows and see how many you can find! See the parade of floats, fancy dress and village royalty along with bands and entertainment which makes its way through the village at 1pm before finishing on the Carnival Field for more entertainment. Join us for a night under the stars at our Open Air Cinema on the Friday, Rock the night away with live music on the Carnival Field on Saturday night or help us raise money for local charities at our Family Fun Day (including our very own Old Skool Sports Day) on the Sunday. Whatever the weather, have fun.

17 Ashbourne Show. Ashbourne Show is a traditional country and agricultural show, providing entertainment, in a friendly atmosphere, making a great day out for all the family. High entries once again in Shire, cattle, sheep, goat and light horse classes. With around 150 quality trade stands, there is also an excellent Crafts Tent and Food Hall. The main ring will be busy all day with entertainment. The Grand Parade of prize-winning Cattle, Sheep and Shire and Heavy horses should be truly spectacular. Finally, relax with a bite and a cuppa, at the food mall or in the bar. At the Polo Ground, Osmaston DE6 1LW. Find out more at ashbourneshow.co.uk

19 Chesterfield & District Local History Society. Meeting in the Lecture Room, St Thomas’ Church, Bramton. 7pm for a 7.30 start. Rod Auton talk on ‘The History and Future of Chesterfield Canal’. Parking behind the church.

20-21 Dovedale Sheepdog Trials. Come and enjoy two days of local, novice and open trials finishing with The Championship of the Dales on Wednesday afternoon. The annual sheep dog trials, staged at Blore, near Ashbourne, each year, appeal to all who are interested not only in dog trialling but also those who enjoy the magnificent scenery. It attracts dog handlers from across the UK and also Europe.

25 Peak District Highland Games at Matlock Farm Park. We strongly advise pre-booking tickets for this popular event! Please book a time-slot for your arrival – please note, the competition begins at 11am. Come and see the country’s leading strongmen and strongwomen compete in this hugely popular annual event! Enjoy a unique day out with the super events of The Eight Tonne Tractor Pull, The Peak District Dinnie Stone Challenge, The Tossing of the Caber, The

PUNCH AND JUDY SHOWTIME…

IT’S Summer Showtime at The Heights of Abraham at Matlock Bath, with the return of Richard Coombs’ Punch and Judy Show. Now, incredibly in its 19th year, the much-loved puppet show brings hilarity to children of all ages.

Traditional family fun at its best, the cast welcome some new characters this year. Three daily shows run from now until September 1 (11.30, 1.30 and 3.30) a freebie ‘extra’ for the summer holidays.

On August 26, there will be a day of live music, celebrating the best of popular music from the 1950s right up to modern times, as a six-piece live band from Sheffield will bring a festival vibe to the Bank Holiday Monday. Find out more at www.heightsofabraham.com

GIANT Stone Throw, The 120kg Log Press and The Stone of Destiny Carry! For more information visit: www.matlockfarmpark.co.uk

26 Hope Show. 9am-12pm at the Showground S33 8RZ. It is held every August Bank Holiday Monday, with the Sheep Dog trials lasting into Tuesday. The show includes a wide range of displays, classes and competitions including the Sheepdog trials, Show Jumping, Heavy and Light Horses Showing, Cattle and Sheep, Gun dogs, Vintage Cars, Tractors and Engines, Horticulture, Crafts and lots more.

26 Dog Olympics at Vicar Lane, Chesterfield. 11am-4pm. Dog lovers will be in for a treat, as the Pup Up Café will be hosting Vicar Lane’s very own dog Olympics. Visitors can bring their pooch along for agility fun, professional photographs, puppuccinos and lots more!

30-Sep 1 Chatsworth Country Fair. One of England’s most spectacular annual outdoor events. Tens of thousands of visitors from all over the country come for a family-friendly day out. Enjoy three action-packed days of thrilling Grand Ring entertainment, inspirational cooking masterclasses, food, shopping and plenty of have-a-go activities, including a vintage fun fair, children’s climbing wall, bungee trampoline and much more. For more information, visit: www.chatsworth.org

3

Chesterfield and District Family History Society. Tuesday 3rd September. Andy Miles speaking about Spital Cemetery ‘From Gray’s Elegy to Churchill’s Hysteria’, both online and live at St Thomas’ Centre, Brampton, at 7.30pm. Visitors welcome. For more details and to register contact secretary@cadfhs.org.

4 Holymoorside Horticultural Society. ‘Derbyshire’s Historic Gardens’, a talk by Jeff Bates. 7.45pm, URC meeting room, Cotton Mill Hill, Holymoorside. All welcome. Call 01246 568000 to find out more

7 Holymoorside Horticultural Society. Open Autumn Show at Holymoorside Village Hall. 2.30-4.30pm (staging 10am-1pm). Dahlias, chyrsanths, vegetables, etc. Refreshments available. For information/ schedules Tel 01246 569059 or 568000

7 Dethick, Lea & Holloway Horticultural Society Gardening and Home Produce Celebration. At Florence Nightingale Memorial Hall, Yew Tree Hill, Holloway, DE4 5BD. Starts at 2pm, and some of the produce will be auctioned off to the public at 3.15pm. Schedules are available at Maycock the Butchers, Holloway; Smedley’s Factory Shop in Lea Bridge; Scarthin Books in Cromford; on the website www. dlhgardening.com or from gardeningdlh@ gmail.com Members of the Society will be on hand to discuss gardening topics. There will also be light refreshments. For further information, go to www.dlhgardening. com or ring the chair on 07713 643 701

SUBMIT YOUR LISTING OR EVENT

Please email your information including dates to whatson@reflections-magazine.com before August 23rd, 2024, to appear in the September 2024 issue.