Reflections Magazine February 2024

Reflections Derbyshire’s largest-circulation lifestyle magazine

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VOL. 33 ISSUE 381 FEBRUARY 2024 £1.00 WHERE PURCHASED

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WHAT’S ON ANTIQUES HISTORY FASHION WALK ARTS

Vol.33 Issue 381 February 2024 Vol.32

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‘HEAVEN FOR A CHEF’

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ADRIAN'S DELICIOUS RECIPE OF THE MONTH

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Derbyshire’s largest-circulation lifestyle magazine CHESTERFIELD–DRONFIELD–MATLOCK–BAKEWELL AND SURROUNDING AREAS

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CONTENTS

February 2024 82

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86 16 12,22,54,73,91 Countywide News All that’s been happening across Derbyshire in words and pictures 16 ‘The Golden Triangle’ was a fascinating experience Howard Borrell visited India recently – and shares some of his experiences with us 26 A half-century of support for some of our stately homes Three of Derbyshire’s historic houses are in an association that has just celebrated its 50th anniversary, as Barrie Farnsworth reports 28 Derbyshire’s Trusted Traders An in-depth look at the scheme and some trusted businesses 55 Independent Education Five pages of information about independent schools in the region 61 Crossword 64 Fashion Style guru Amy Norbury turns the spotlight on denim this month 4 Reflections February 2024

67 Spotlight on the Arts There are no less than four exhibitions open at present at Rowsley’s Level Centre, as Barrie Farnsworth reports 70 The Roundhouse renaissance continues…

Barrow Hill Roundhouse is about to become an innovation hub as well as a museum and events complex, as Steve Brown reports 74 Recipe of the Month We have a simply superb dish from the executive chef of Longbow Bars & Restaurants, Adrian Gagea 76 Focus on Food & Drink Did you know that Derbyshire had England’s first cheese factory? It did indeed, as Steve Brown discovers 80 Inseparable: Lower Brampton and Robinson & Sons In the first of two studies, Godfrey Holmes examines the firm that became the bedrock of Lower Brampton 82 Paragliders add to a gorgeous view!

There are paragliders galore in one of the pictures submitted to our 2024 ‘Lovely Landscapes’ competition To advertise call 01246 550488

CONTENTS

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86 Out & About This month, we have a walk which inspired a classic novel 88 Hedges are back – and you can learn to lay one Catherine Roth talks to a man who has been laying ‘traditional’ hedges for many years – and teaches others to do it

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92 Antiques: The value of ‘meaningful jewellery’ Our expert Vivienne Milburn looks at ‘REGARD’ brooches, the invention of the eternity ring – and the astonishing rise in the value of gold

94 What’s On Our comprehensive guide to forthcoming events across the county and beyond

REFLECTIONS MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 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.

Cover: Executive chef Adrian Gagea at The Maynard, Grindleford. Picture courtesy of Longbow Bars & Restaurants. Check out Adrian’s Recipe of the Month on P74.

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 / S42 - 5, 6, 7 / S43 - 1, 2, 3 / S45 0, S45 9. /ReflectionsMagazine

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All Rights Reserved: Reproduction in whole or in part without written consent is strictly prohibited. The publishers do not accept responsibility for any views expressed, or statements made, in signed contributions or in those reproduced from any other source. No responsibility is borne for any errors made in any advertisement, or for incorrect claims made by any advertiser. The publishers reserve the right to refuse any advertising deemed unsuitable for any reason.

All material submitted for publication is done so at the owner’s risk and no responsibility is accepted for its return.

Reflections Magazine, Bannister Publications Ltd.

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BRAVE MUM NEEDS URGENT TREATMENT

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BRAVE Dronfield mum is in urgent need of treatment to save her life.

Diagnosed with a spinal cord tumour in 2016, Amy Smith has undergone debulking, and several courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to cure the cancer.

Told by hospital staff in 2017 that she would never walk again, Amy defiantly said, “I will!” and she did it!

Her willpower and stoicism in the face of such a lifethreatening illness have been nothing short of heroic.

Amy’s husband, Jon, and their daughter, Isla, have been a constant

pillar of support and source of comfort to her.

Unfortunately, in 2021, Amy started getting weaker and the cancer returned with a vengeance.

As brilliant as they have been, the NHS can do no more with the treatments at their disposal.

However, there is a solution! Treatments are available in Germany, and, for the family to avail themselves of these, they need to raise £60,000.

The response so far has been staggering and humbling, but there is some way to go.

To help Amy and her lovely family, the donating details are adjacent.

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Countywide News Sheriff of Derbyshire, Theresa Peltier, and members of the Barnes family to the Big Bell Centenary Celebration service on December 10, alongside the chairman of North East Derbyshire District Council, Coun Martin Thacker, and Consort Jean Spencer. At the service the Bishop of Repton, the Rt Rev Malcolm Macnaughton, rededicated the bells and anointed ringers’ hands with oil.

Afterwards the schoolroom was packed for bell-themed refreshments. The bells were rung several times throughout the morning, and the Barnes family also chimed the bell inscribed with their family name. The following day children from nearby Wigley School climbed the tower to enjoy a go at bellringing, and decorated paper bells for a display in the church at Christmas.

The celebrations are not over yet, as the celebrations will continue until Bell Sunday on May 12. To try bellringing at Old Brampton or elsewhere, visit facebook.com/BellRingingDerbyshire or derbyda.org.uk/learn-to-ring.

Above: Elizabeth Fothergill with Ken Harrison after the presentation of his Nuclear Test Medal.

Surprise medal presentation ON January 14, Royal Engineers veteran Ken Harrison, (87), of Matlock, was presented with the Nuclear Test Medal

by Mrs Elizabeth Fothergill CBE, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire, at Shirland Golf & Country Club.

Over 80 people attended a surprise luncheon there, including family, friends and senior members of the Royal Engineers Association, to celebrate Ken’s incredible achievement.

A founding member of the golf club, Ken Harrison is a survivor of Operation Grapple, the testing of the British atomic and hydrogen bombs on Christmas Island in the late 1950s. Ken was a witness to all five of the tests conducted.

The survivors of those tests have now been recognised by the Government and awarded a Nuclear Test Medal.

The event was organised in collaboration with Javid Asghar, manager of The Hay Hotel in Shirland, Honor Hancock, managing director at Shirland Golf & Country Club, and Dave McDonnell, a retired WO2, Royal Engineers. When Ken received his medal by Royal Mail in a jiffy bag, the trio decided to host a surprise luncheon for Ken. Ken said: “I am filled with joy and want to express my sincerest thanks for this wonderful surprise.”

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Dave McDonnell said: “It was wonderful to have had the opportunity to have Ken’s medal awarded to him in a manner befitting his contribution to this nation’s security and I would encourage Service Associations to seek out those remaining veterans, both military and civilian, and consider doing the same.”

Old Brampton’s Big Bell Centenary Celebrations A BIG celebration took place at Old Brampton in December. The six bells in the parish church tower were 100 years old in 2023, so village had been celebrating with events throughout last year, including two fayres and the December special service, writes Susan Hall.

In 1923, the five old bells were recast at Loughborough Bell Foundry, and augmented into today’s heavier ring of six bells. This was paid for by Edwin Clay Barnes of Ashgate Lodge, who was, at that time, a churchwarden and High Sheriff of Derbyshire.

It was wonderful to welcome the then High

Above: The Old Brampton bellringers with, centre from left, Coun Martin Thacker, the Bishop of Repton and Theresa Peltier.

FANCY THAT A SURVEY by UKFitness.pro, the nation’s largest community of personal trainers (PTs), shows that Derbyshire is the county with the lowest-paid fitness professionals in all England.

To be precise, the survey only covered 18 counties – but It’s in Derbyshire, on average, that PTs charge only £29.50 per session, making it the county with the lowest rates among those analysed.

For comparison, PTs in the southern counties of Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hampshire charge significantly higher rates, averaging £51, £47.50, and £45.50 per session respectively.

The analysis also delved into gender disparities in PT rates.

In Derbyshire, male PTs charge an average of £28 per session, whereas female PTs charge an average of £31 per session.

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LOCAL BUSINESS

INSIDE...OUT I

F you’ve experienced the great British weather putting a dampener on those BBQ plans and summer gatherings, then you will understand why many homeowners are taking a different approach to maximise their outdoor living areas and create a space that can be used throughout the changing seasons.

The demand for carports, canopies, and verandas has surged recently, with homeowners recognizing their potential to enhance property value and functionality.

Polar Windows Ltd proudly offers the Simplicity range, a cutting-edge collection of modular aluminium living solutions.

These UK-manufactured systems, made from industry-standard aluminium, boast minimal maintenance and a plethora of design options, including LED lighting, infrared heaters, and customizable colour choices. This versatility ensures that outdoor living spaces are enjoyable throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions.

Offered in a wide range of sizes and configuration they can meet the demands of any outside space. Supply only or supply and install the Simplicity range from Polar Windows Ltd. provides the perfect shade and shelter solution.

Richard Crowe, the managing director, is enthusiastic about the company’s direction, stating, “At Polar Windows, we’re innovators dedicated to quality and excellence. We’re excited to soon be adding displays of our new products to our stateof-the-art showroom. Customers should keep an eye out for these exciting additions.

We continuously adapt to market trends, and we’re thrilled to be launching even more new products in the near future.”

The glass room structures add a new level of sophistication to homes, offering panoramic views, enhanced security with lockable sliding doors, and high UV protection. The integrated guttering system minimizes maintenance needs.

All installations by Polar Windows Ltd come with a ten-year insurance backed guarantee and boasts a life expectancy of 60 years, showcasing their commitment to durability and quality.

The outdoor living range is perfect for not only the homeowner but for commercial properties too, including schools, restaurants, and bars. Polar Windows Ltd operates across Derbyshire, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire, offering finance packages on all products. This longstanding business continues to thrive by adapting to market needs and maintaining a steadfast dedication to quality and customer satisfaction.

Polar Windows Ltd, Chesterfield Road, Duckmanton, Chesterfield, S44 5HT T: 01246 834659 www.polarwindows.co.uk

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FEATURE

‘The Golden Triangle’ was a fascinating experience Howard Borrell visited India’s ‘Golden Triangle’ recently – and shares some of his experiences with us.

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HAT an experience! We’d visited the south of India thirty years earlier and decided it was time to experience the north, focusing on ‘The Golden Triangle’ – which links Delhi, Jaipur and Agra.

A 2am arrival in Delhi and the smog created by industry and 33 million people was there to greet us; it immediately attacked the back of your throat and stayed there until you were indoors. It was to be a frequent companion for the rest of our visit, generally surrendering to the sun around lunchtime.

Delhi was a mad mix of poverty, elegance that comes from being the capital city, incessant and chaotic traffic, a never-ending array of verbal scams and a colourful vibrancy that hooked you after just a few hours in its company.

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Jaipur followed. Locally brewed Thornbridge beer doesn’t prepare you for the attack on the senses that 7-million people bring. Maybe it was that indefinable edginess they set out to achieve with their award-winning brew? Crossing the road was an act of bravery that deserved a medal, but both cities warranted the effort in seeking out their cultural highlights. Palaces and forts harked back to pre-British rule when it was the norm for invaders to take it in turns to burst through the Khyber Pass, sometimes they rushed back with their spoils, other times they lingered long enough to build alliances and add some influence to India’s fascinating past. Delhi’s impressive Red Fort became the main residence of Mogul emperor Shah Mahal when he moved the capital from Agra to Delhi in 1639 and began immediate construction.

Top left: Hawa Mahal (the Pink Palace) in Jaipur. All pictures courtesy of Howard Borrell.

Top: An elephant, a motor bike and a tuk-tuk share this Indian road.

Above: Howard’s visit to the Taj Mahal at 8am was almost smogfree and there were enough visitors even at that hour in the morning!

Pushkar – a hippy destination in the 60s and still so today – was a breathtaking surprise. We stayed overnight, on the way to Udapuir, in rooms straight from a Rudyard Kipling novel, overlooking the sacred lake that I’m sure has been the backdrop for several well-known movies. Surrounding the lake was an exciting blend of commercial activity that sold everything from spiritual happiness to a Royal Enfield motorcycle.

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Temples catered for every belief – including playing home to the most famous Brahma temple in India – and wedding celebrations ensured the decibels stayed high until the early hours (Hindu weddings are always held at night), with the accompanying bands often not finishing their wedding duties until after 10pm. Alcohol is officially not allowed in this base for so many religions but the occasional restaurant may discreetly offer you a beer, if you’re lucky.

Our next destination was Udapuir. On well connected by rail, which many more the map it looks an easy route, but getting visitors use to gain access to its treasures. from A to B in India is more an attack on Rajahstan seems so full of treasures that the senses than a journey. A distance that you rapidly become immune to the beauty would take two hours in the UK becomes of each new sight. We next moved on to anywhere from four to six in India. Tolls Bundi (a district and a city in the Hadoti are frequent (every 50km) but, unlike region but formerly a state in its own right) in Europe, do not guarantee anything. and were actually stunned at the beauty of Surfaces vary from potholed to pristine but the Taragarh Fort. The setting is dramatic invariably border an eclectic mix of debris and the condition of something built almost and wildlife that will choose to cross at will.

700 years ago is just unbelievable. It’s a long Honestly, we regularly uphill walk to get to the witnessed traffic jams entrance but worth the caused solely by sacred “Rajahstan seems so effort; sadly the heavens cows deciding to rest in a opened as we were about full of treasures that couple of lanes; deer and to leave and our entire wild boar get in on the party were saturated on you rapidly become act too but only the cows the return walk and with immune to the beauty no easy access to change are shown real respect.

Udapuir, now a facilities that meant of each new sight.” conurbation of over 3 a very uncomfortable million, is known as the onward journey. “city of lakes” – over twenty impressive Next, a relatively short drive as we went man-made lakes that draw huge numbers in search of tigers in the Ranthambore of visitors. The first, Lake Pichola, was National Park (one of the largest national created in 1362 by a Banjara tribesman, parks in north India that, in the early days of Pichhu Banjara, who used to transport grain British rule, was a leisure area for the local during the reign of Maharana Lakha. The maharajahs and the British of high rank who captivating lake so attracted Maharana Udai hunted the creatures almost to extinction) Singh that he established the city of Udaipur but, despite two lengthy forays into the on the banks of the lake; the second lake jungle, none came out to play. The official took another three hundred years to arrive line was that the rain the previous day had but triggered a burst of building that created deterred them but with just seventy tigers a linked network that eventually joined in an area the size of Derbyshire, the group up with the river system. Udapuir is also view was that the odds had never been in

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Top left: Crossing the road in cities like Delhi and Jaipur was, according to Howard, “an act of bravery deserving of a medal”!

Bottom left: So beautiful: Taragarh Fort in Bundi.

Above: A warm welcome to an Indian hotel. our favour. We saw plenty of deer, sloth and wild boar plus an interesting selection of bird life but the tigers had other plans that didn’t involve entertaining visitors.

We started to make our way to Agra but a stop at Fatehpur Sikri, just 25 miles before Agra, was an absolute must. The town was founded as the capital of the Mughal (also spelt as Moghul or Mogul) empire in 1571 by Emperor Akbar, in recognition of his successful military campaign in Gujarat. He remained emperor until 1585 but had previously abandoned the location due to the failure of the water supply and the difficulties associated with his campaign in Punjab.

If it hadn’t been for the East India Company, the location wouldn’t now be a World Heritage site; they first occupied Agra in 1803 and soon used Fatehpur Sikri as an administrative centre. Early in that period, the Marquess of Hastings ordered the repair of the all the monuments.

Agra is so much more than the Taj Mahal.

We spent the remainder of the day (after

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FEATURE Sikri) visiting the stunning Agra Fort (two thirds of the site is unavailable to visit as it’s still used by the Indian military) and Akbar’s Mausoleum.

Everyone always says you must visit the Taj at dawn – the consensus, nowadays, is that around 8am provides a superb smog-free view without too many visitors. They were right!

Seriously, nothing prepares you for the Taj Mahal – it really is a special moment when your eyes feast on its beauty. Its setting creates the splendour but the building itself is such a masterpiece of craftmanship.

The 5th Moghul Emperor, Shah Jahan, commissioned the structure to commemorate his fifth wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth in 1631. They’d been inseparable since their marriage in 1612 and Jahan was later buried alongside her.

India is complicated. If the Taj Mahal is at one end of the scale; the slums that exist everywhere are at the other end.

The world’s biggest middle class spend like the wealthy would in the UK; but the poor are held back by the constraints that the wrong religion or caste imposes on their life prospects. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world!

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Above: Howard says they regularly witnessed traffic jams caused by sacred cows! Here, the town looks to be interested in renting a bike!

Right: A street scene in northern India.

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COUNTYWIDE NEWS £5,000 of the money Jen raised will go to the Foundation’s Connect Fund, enabling it to make small community grants to underserved communities accessing the park.

Roisin added: “We will be able to support groups including school pupils from low-income areas, refugees and ethnically diverse communities to access our stunning park.

“The remaining £5,000 will go to repairing one of the Park’s most popular routes, Long Causeway on the edge of the

The Wam Bam Band in action.

Above: Hamza picks the winning ticket with Anna-Louise Pickering, Pollyanna’s daughter.

Strictly winner draws winning ticket WILDLIFE cameraman and TV personality Hamza Yassin joined Anna-Louise Pickering, president of the Pollyanna Pickering Foundation, to draw the winning ticket in the Foundation’s winter prize draw.

Established in 2000 by the late Derbyshire wildlife artist Pollyanna Pickering, the Foundation is a nonprofit organisation which campaigns internationally to prevent the exploitation of wildlife and raises funds to support animal welfare and conservation projects worldwide.

Hamza – the winner of Strictly Come Dancing in 2022 – is now known for his role as Ranger Hamza on the children’s TV channel CBeebies and his work on popular shows such as Countryfile and Animal Park.

Hamza was born in Sudan and moved to Northampton at the age of eight after his parents – both doctors – were invited to work in the UK. At 21, he visited a friend in Ardnamurchan, a peninsula on the west coast of Scotland, in order to photograph stags. He loved it so much that he relocated there two weeks later. For the first nine months, he lived out of his car, showering at a local campsite and washing his clothes at a local community centre.

He progressed to staying in empty holiday homes while he built his photography business and guided tours, and eventually bought his own home. Ever 22 Reflections February 2024

since, he has loved to share his passion for wildlife, and was happy to support the Foundation by selecting the winning ticket.

Between the sales of prize draw tickets, donations and a percentage of sales from a recent exhibition of Pollyanna›s work, the Foundation has raised £5,000 to build a bat rehabilitation unit at the Harper Asprey Wildlife Hospital here in the UK. Mrs I. Clayton of Sutton in Ashfield is the lucky winner of a beautiful giclee picture.

A full list of winners can be found on the website www.pollyannapickering.co.uk

‘Walk in the Parks’ funds two projects DERBYSHIRE travel writer and chair of charity, the Peak District National Park Foundation, Jen Lowthrop – who recently hiked across England’s 10 national parks and was featured in Reflections last month – has revealed the two projects which will receive a share of the £10,000 she raised in her ‘Walk in the Parks’.

Jen (38), chose to raise money for the Peak District: “I feel so privileged to experience the joy of walking in a national park every week. I want everyone to be able to experience the benefits our national parks bring. From carbon sequestration to improving wellbeing, they bring benefits to communities across the UK, and our wider natural world.”

Director of the Peak District Foundation, Roisin Joyce, said: “We are so proud of all Jen has achieved. Her trek really was a fantastic fundraising effort and together we shall ensure every penny makes a difference.”

Above: Long Causeway after the storm damage.

North Lees and Stanage Estate, which has suffered so badly in the recent storms.

Further work on the path will help prevent a reoccurrence, with the ultimate aim of launching a Long Causeway ‘Miles without Stiles’ easy access route by summer 2024.

Outdoor clothing brand Alpkit match funded Jen’s efforts with an additional £10,000 for two £500 grants per national park she visited.

Rotary club raises over £1,500 DERBYSHIRE Dales Rotary (DDR), the newest Rotary club in the area, had a really successful Christmas, raising over £1,500. Santa’s Sleigh in Wirksworth, a Christmas Fayre and Santa collections at St Elphin’s Audley Court allowed the club to support local causes.

DDR is donating to Youlgreave Foodbank, Baslow Hall flood fund and Derbyshire Dales ‘Warm Spaces’.

Sincere thanks from the club to everyone who gave so generously.

Want to know more about DDR’s future plans? Contact Roz Adamson on 01629 733626 or email roflyn.adamson@sky.com To advertise call 01246 550488

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LEGAL SERVICES

DIVORCE, DISSOLUTION OF CIVIL PARTNERSHIP, SEPARATION AND YOUR WILL Did you know that your will remains valid even if you divorce or dissolve a civil partnership?

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LTHOUGH your ex-spouse or civil partner won’t inherit anything bequeathed to them as, for inheritance purposes, they are treated as if they had died when your divorce or dissolution becomes final, the rest of your estate will be distributed according to the will. Any bequests to your ex will pass to the next beneficiary, according to your will.

For example, you may have specified that if your ex had already died, their share of the estate passes to your children or members of your family. If you had left everything to your ex, not naming any alternative beneficiaries, your estate will be treated as if you have died intestate. In England and Wales, there is a strict set of statutory intestacy rules that dictate how your estate will be divided and in what order, in the absence of an effective will. Under these rules, beneficiaries can only be direct family and not unmarried partners or friends.

If your ex is named as an executor or trustee in your will, these appointments will be revoked. The same goes if your

ex is named as an attorney in a power of attorney. Another executor or trustee named can still act, but remember, they will be acting alone with no support.

Laura Cowan, head of Graysons’ private client team, says: “If you have a new partner, it is in your best interest to make a new will if you divorce or dissolve a civil partnership so that you can make provision for the partner, your children and any stepchildren, as you wish. Don’t forget – if you don’t make provision in your will for a partner to whom you are not married or in a civil partnership, they are not entitled to inherit any of your estate.

“Marriage revokes any will, so if you make one before you marry or enter into a civil partnership with your partner, that will is revoked unless there is a clause in the will preventing this. If you then don’t make or update a will, you will be treated as if you have died intestate.”

Stepchildren inherit in the same way as your own children – and will do if you die intestate. If you want to ensure that children

Laura Cowan, head of private client department. from a previous marriage inherit your estate, you should ensure that your will is up to date and reflects this. You may be able to set up a trust to allow your new spouse or civil partner to benefit from your estate, for example, live in your home, whilst they are alive, with the estate reverting to your children when your new spouse or civil partner dies.

If you were paying maintenance to an ex, they may be able to make a claim under the Inheritance Act if they can show that they were dependent upon you. Whilst no substitute for a will, a ‘clean break order’ in divorce proceedings could help to protect your estate against claims, unless there are any young children to support. Speak to our family law and private client experts who can ensure that any maintenance order and your will are structured in the most effective way possible.

Do remember that if you separate, your will is still valid and your spouse or civil partner will still inherit according to your will – or the rules of intestacy if you have not made a will. To avoid this, you need to update your will and exclude your spouse or civil partner. Please note, however, that your spouse or civil partner may still be able to make a claim under the Inheritance Act. It is always best to have an up-to-date will that specifies exactly what you want to happen to your estate. If you are separating or in the process of getting a divorce or dissolving a civil partnership, or you are planning to remarry, speak to our private client advisors now. They will be able to guide you through the process of updating or making a will that can ensure your family’s future is protected as you would wish. LC

Contact the Private Client Team: 01246 229393

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Unit 14F, The Glass Yard, Sheffield Road, Chesterfield S41 8JY Email: wills@graysons.co.uk Graysonslaw @Graysonslaw

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FEATURE

HALF-CENTURY OF SUPPORT FOR

HISTORIC HOUSES

Derbyshire has more than its share of historic houses – and three of them are in an association that has just celebrated its 50th anniversary. Barrie Farnsworth reports.

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HREE stately homes in Derbyshire – Renishaw, Haddon and Eyam Halls – are members of an association of around 1,400 stately home owners, called when it was set up just over 50 years ago as the Historic Houses Association.

People think of the Seventies as a period dominated, politically, by trades unions. Few recall that, late in 1973, the unlikeliest group imaginable – many of them titled aristocrats living in some of Britain’s grandest country seats – formed an industry body of their own.

Their aim was to share technical expertise and to campaign for a new settlement regarding the beloved but costly ‘white elephants’ of the UK’s mansions and manor houses, castles, and gardens.

For the previous forty years or so, an average of one historically important ‘great house’ every week had been lost to fire, neglect, or, sometimes, deliberate demolition by owners who could see no future use for these huge 26 Reflections February 2024

expressions of past glories and had no means to pay for their upkeep.

Some foresighted experts and owners, however, believed that a different future was possible. The Gowers Report on Houses of National Importance, published by a Labour government in 1950, concluded that the only way hundreds of endangered stately homes would ever see the next century was to use tax breaks to incentivise owners to continue living in them – and encouraging those owners to make them pay by opening them as tourist attractions.

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu was foremost among those making a go of that approach in practice. Almost a hundred houses were open to the public by 1952, so the idea wasn’t unheard of, but his creation of a motor museum to draw in larger crowds was novel. “I would rather keep my home and surrender my privacy than the other way around,” he said at the time.

In March 1952, invitations went out to stately home owners to establish

Above: The Great Chamber at Haddon Hall.

Top: The origins of Haddon Hall date from the 11th century, with additions between the 13th and 17th centuries. It is the home of Lord (brother of the Duke of Rutland) and Lady Edward Manners.

The hall and gardens are normally open from April until the end of October – check out haddonhall.co.uk for details. some of industry association. However, reported The Sunday Chronicle, ‘the Earl of Leicester declined with thanks; the 11th Duke of Devonshire wanted no To advertise call 01246 550488

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Right: Renishaw Hall, built in 1625, is a Grade I listed building. It has been the home of the Sitwell family for nearly 400 years. It has an award-winning Italianate garden. The hall and gardens are normally open from March to October.

There is also a cafe and a Sitwell Museum. Check out renishaw-hall.co.uk

part of it; Lord Salisbury thought it “not quite the thing”; and the Earl of Onslow simply “pooh-poohed” the idea.’

But owners of country houses could not ignore the seriousness of the threat, which worsened later in the Fifties and Sixties.

Death duties often forced the sale and breakup of landed estates, and many great houses were simply demolished to avoid the ongoing cost of maintenance. Soon, a ‘working party of country house owners’ had been formally convened by the British Travel Association – later the British Tourist Authority – which seized on the importance of historic houses in attracting overseas visitors.

Estate duty at the time was 80 per cent on amounts in excess of £750,000, with no heritage exemptions.

In 1973, that working party declared independence as the Historic Houses Association. The timing was fortuitous.

In 1974, the government issued proposals for a wealth tax which would have had catastrophic effects for historic house owners. The association campaigned vigorously for a recognition of the special status of heritage assets, which in 1974 had attracted almost 50-million visitors Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com

Right: Eyam Hall, a Jacobean Manor House, is a Grade II* listed building.

It was built in 1672, just six years after the plague devastated the village. It has been the home of the Wright family for eleven generations. It is now a wedding venue and is open to the public occasionally – check the website eyamhall.net for details. There are shops and a cafe in its courtyard. and were an increasingly important pillar of Britain’s tourist industry.

The clinching argument was that the public were on the side of the owners.

A petition against the proposed tax attracted 1,116,253 signatures and was presented to Parliament in December 1975.

The government changed course, and shortly after the regime of ‘conditional exemption’ – offering some inheritance tax breaks in exchange for public access to places of national historical importance – became the foundation of the subsequent recovery of historic houses and gardens.

In the half century since its early triumph,

the Association – which rebranded as Historic Houses in 2018 – has helped its 1,400 member’s country houses navigate the challenges of regulatory change, new technology and climate change.

The typical ‘country house business’ has changed beyond recognition since 1973, with new sources of income, such as weddings and filming, becoming essential to meeting – in part – the estimated £1.4-billion backlog of repairs and maintenance outstanding across the association’s membership.

These ‘historic houses’ now generate an estimated £1.3 billion of tourist income from 21-million annual visits.

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TRUSTED TRADER

MARKING 15 YEARS OF THE SUCCESSFUL TRUSTED TRADER SCHEME THE TRUSTED TRADER SCHEME which helps Derbyshire residents to find trustworthy tradespeople and services has recently marked its fifteenth anniversary.

Derbyshire traders have spoken about the benefits of being a member and how it gives their customers peace of mind as well as boosting their businesses.

A survey carried out with members reveals that 94% of Trusted Traders said they felt being a member gave their customers more confidence when using them,

Above: Customer Neil Mutch with trusted Trader Nick Davy and Councillor Carol Hart. and a total of 84% said that being a member benefited their business as a whole.

Around 1,000 traders and services, ranging from plumbers, electricians, gardeners, joiners and decorators to electric vehicle charger installers, accountants, dog walkers,

removal firms and will writers, have registered as Trusted Traders since the scheme was set up in November 2008.

It was launched to help local people find traders and businesses who agree to do a good job at a fair price and deliver good customer service.

It’s also aimed at protecting consumers by making it easier for them to find and use traders they can trust, rather than falling foul of rogue traders cold-calling; and using high pressure sales techniques.

Supporting good, honest and reliable traders and Continued on 32

To reach over 30,000 potential customers Derbyshire’s largest-circulation lifestyle magazine

contact Mike Snow on 07966 445452 or Helen Wragg on 07973 672582 Reflections has been established for over 30 years

28 Reflections February 2024

*All adverts have been financed by the individual traders

To advertise call 01246 550488

Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com

*All adverts have been financed by the individual traders

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*All adverts have been financed by the individual traders

To advertise call 01246 550488

Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com

*All adverts have been financed by the individual traders

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TRUSTED TRADER Continued from 28 businesses is also at the heart of the scheme, with registered traders able to use the Trusted Trader brand to show they are genuine members who have been checked by trading standards and agreed to all the terms and conditions.

Over the years the Trusted Trader scheme has gone from strength to strength, broadening its scope to include an even wider range of services and businesses.

Tom Watson of Watson Electrical in Chesterfield is one of nearly 1,000 registered Trusted Traders.

Tom, whose business includes undertaking all types of electrical work and installation of Solar PV, said: “Customers trust me to take care of their electrical work and fit solar panels. Knowing that the person they have chosen has been checked by the council’s trading standards gives customers ultimate peace of mind.”

Marina Tattersall, who is co-owner of Kitchen Lifestyle in Matlock, said: “The benefit of being a Derbyshire Trusted Trader is that my customers know they’re getting a reliable, honest person that they can trust visiting their home. They can feel confident when they use Kitchen Lifestyle and can read reviews. They know we’ve been vetted by the council and they’re not going to be exploited and ripped off.”

Trusted Trader users have also been keen to praise the scheme.

Neil Mutch, who lives in

Left to right: Keven Nutt (left) and Andrew Gregory of T Nutt & Sons in Clay Cross.

Coal Aston, used Derbyshire Trusted Trader to find plasterer Nick Davy from Dronfield.

Neil said: “I am a big fan of Trusted Trader as it’s reassuring to know that traders have gone through a process to ensure they are reliable and reputable.

The fact it‘s a county council initiative adds to that for me.

There are so many horror stories of ‘rogue traders’ and scam dealers that this scheme gives me a lot of peace of mind.

“When we’ve needed big jobs doing and not had any personal contacts, Trusted Trader is our go-to place. We’ve used the scheme several times and have always been very impressed and pleased with the work done. I

think we had a great job done at a very fair price and, equally as important, when we needed it doing. Nick was great!”

Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Carol Hart said: “Trusted Trader is Continued on 34

Below: John Commerford from New Divan Man.

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*All adverts have been financed by the individual traders

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LOCAL BUSINESS

LIFESTYLE CHANGES GUARANTEED! When it comes to buying a new kitchen or bedroom, affordability, quality, reliability, and integrity usually rank as the most important considerations.

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ASED on Matlock Green in the charming town of Matlock, Kitchen Lifestyle prides itself on meeting all these criteria perfectly. Owned and managed by husband-and-wife team, Chris and Marina Tattersall, Kitchen Lifestyle displays all the hallmarks of a long established and well trusted kitchen and bedroom company: uncompromising honesty, unrivalled personal service, and unparalleled craftsmanship.

Now in business for over 20 years, and blessed with in excess of 40 years’ experience in the kitchen industry, Kitchen Lifestyle covers all aspects of kitchen design, manufacture, and installation, “We understand that it’s more than just how visually pleasing a kitchen is, but also how it actually works for the customer,” said Marina.

“We listen to your ideas and work with you to create a kitchen that’s tailored specifically to your lifestyle.”

Whether customers are looking for a kitchen revamp or a totally new kitchen or bedroom, and want the reassurance of a local trusted service, excellence in design, and product quality, Kitchen Lifestyle can provide a free, no-obligation quotation. They also provide a free computer planning and design facility, giving customers the opportunity to see photo-realistic drawings in advance of fitting.

From modern minimalist to timeless traditional and everything in between, Kitchen Lifestyle provides a bespoke installation custom made to individual needs, preferences, and budgets.

Every single installation is project managed and overseen by Chris – from initial design to final fitting. Customers can therefore be reassured that their kitchen or bedroom will be designed and installed to the most exacting professional standards.

Offering further peace of mind and reassurance, is Kitchen Lifestyle’s membership of the Derbyshire Trusted Trader Scheme.

“We are proud to be members of the Derbyshire Trusted Trader Scheme,” said Chris. “Our excellent customer feedback reviews provide the launchpad for further enquiries from customers wanting a reputable and trustworthy local firm.”

Here are two such reviews from the Derbyshire Trusted Trader Scheme: “Amazing from start to finish, nothing was too much trouble and they kept me informed throughout the fitting of my new Kitchen. High quality product at a reasonable price. Expertly fitted

by James and team, we needed extra electrics and Doughy was brilliant in sorting them out. I would definitely recommend this company.

I absolutely love my new kitchen.”

Reviewed on 24/05/2023 “Highly satisfied, I have used Kitchen Lifestyle twice now. Once for a kitchen re-fit and for Bedroom wardrobes. Chris, Mark, and Marina offer a friendly and professional service. Nothing is too much trouble.”

Reviewed on 22/05/2023

Kitchen Lifestyle, 30a Matlock Green, Matlock DE4 3BT T: 01629 582111 kitchenlifestylematlock.co.uk Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com

*All adverts have been financed by the individual traders

33 33 Reflections Reflections February February 2024 2024

LOCAL BUSINESS

FlameCare adapts and modifies!

THE difference professionally installed wet rooms, levelaccess showers, walk-in baths, and handrails can make to people living with disabilities is immeasurable. This is why disabled bathroom adaptations

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are one of FlameCare’s most popular services.

With full design services and friendly, approachable staff, FlameCare works with customers and their families every step of the way to

transform their bathrooms into fully accessible and practical spaces.

With an exceptional knowledge of the specialist products available on the market, the team at FlameCare provides thorough and detailed advice about product selection and bathroom design tailored to the needs of each individual customer.

The range of care showers, wet rooms and adapted bathroom products is chosen with quality, comfort and safety in mind – making it really easy for those with limited mobility or disabilities to modify their bathroom to their needs.

Working in conjunction with

all the leading brands and manufacturers, FlameCare ensures that all the products are of the highest quality.

For total peace of mind, FlameCare provides complete project management, experienced installers, fully insured warranties, and service and repairs.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT FLAMECARE:

FlameCare

67-77 Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, S40 2AL T: 0800 0855 518 E: info@flamecare.co.uk www.flamecare.co.uk

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LOCAL BUSINESS

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37 Reflections February 2024

LOCAL BUSINESS

It’s all about Trust!

When it comes to choosing the right tradesmen and businesses for home improvement projects, it’s all down to trust and reputation.

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LANNING the next home improvement project is always an exciting, yet daunting, challenge. Mulling over the various options and configurations, looking at budgets, and dreaming about the end product raises so many questions, whilst at the same time stimulating the creative juices. That’s why selecting the right company to carry out the work is of paramount importance.

Never has it been more vital to use tradesmen who uphold the traditional virtues of honesty, integrity, reliability, and transparency. Old-fashioned values are very much in the ascendency as the mantra of trust is key.

Endorsing and promoting these values is Derbyshire Trading Standards, who set up the Derbyshire Trusted Trader scheme twelve years ago in November 2008.

The Derbyshire Trusted Trader scheme was established to help local people find traders and businesses who agree to do a first-rate job at a fair price and commit to providing good customer service. Its goal was, and still is, to protect consumers, and, in particular, older and more vulnerable adults, by making it easier for them to use Trusted Traders rather than rogue traders who typically cold-call and use high-pressure sales techniques.

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” The scheme provides customers with a reputable resource of tradesmen and women, in whom they can have total confidence and peace of mind.

A spokesperson from Derbyshire Trading Standards said, “The scheme helps to put consumers’ minds at ease and allows them to feel much more secure and protected when choosing a trader.

“We all hate the feeling of being taken for a ride - so the fact that traders are vetted beforehand, and you can see feedback from other customers who use the scheme, is priceless.”

One of the first home improvement companies to register for, and become validated as, genuine Trusted Trader members is Heatguard Windows. A

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long-established and well-respected company, Heatguard Windows embraces and embodies the principles of the scheme, by offering impeccable service, meticulous attention to detail, and a competitive and fair pricing structure. From initial visit and inception right through to final installation and after-sales service, Heatguard Windows prides itself on having the most exacting of standards.

For every home improvement project, customer satisfaction is everything. And Derbyshire Trading Standards recognises this fact by promoting customer feedback on the Derbyshire Trusted Trader site. All customers of Trusted Traders are encouraged to fill in feedback forms and return them to the scheme. This means that all members are accountable and must maintain good practice to ensure that the highest standards of craftsmanship are kept up.

With literally hundreds of positive and excellent reviews on their profile page on the Derbyshire Trusted Trader site, Heatguard Windows can call on a plethora of verifiable and bona-fide references - enough

to satisfy even the most discerning of customers. That’s why Heatguard Windows has gained, over the years, a portfolio of over 13,500 satisfied customers.

From vital window repairs to whole-house window and door installations and brandnew conservatories, Heatguard has got it covered. Using only top-quality products, such as triple glazing and Warmroof roofing, perfection comes as standard for the highly experienced fitting team.

A spokesperson from Heatguard Windows said, “We are proud to be part of, and promote, the Trusted Trader scheme in conjunction with Derbyshire Trading Standards. Being members of the scheme gives our customers total reassurance and complete peace of mind that they are dealing with a trustworthy and honest company.”

It’s not only Trusted Trader membership that sets Heatguard Windows above the rest. Failsafe warranties, accreditations, adherence to consumer protection legislation, and comprehensive indemnity insurance are also testimony to excellence in workmanship and integrity.

Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com

39 Reflections February 2024

LOCAL BUSINESS

HOLYWELL CARPETS Integrity: The key to lasting success

Chesterfield-based Holywell Carpets believe that honesty and trust are integral to meeting and exceeding customers’ expectations.

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S 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

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LOCAL BUSINESS

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.”

Premium quality carpets and flooring from all the leading manufacturers Whilst catering for a wide range of tastes, preferences, and budgets, Holywell Carpets uses most of the highest-quality suppliers of carpets and flooring.

When it comes to carpet displays in the showroom, Cavalier, Adam, Westex, Ulster, Abingdon, Penthouse, Cormar, Whitestone Weavers, Hugh Mackay, and Brockway are all well represented.

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Steve is keen to point out that there are quality ranges for each of these suppliers.

“I can show customers the difference in quality even within the Ulster range,” said Steve. “The key measurements they need to know to assess a carpet’s durability are its density, that is how closely knitted together its fibres are, and its pile height.

In general, short, dense, heavy carpets are more durable and hard-wearing than those with loose, shaggy fibres.

LVT flooring is ever more popular these days and Holywell Carpets has certainly got this covered. With premium brands like Camaro and Distinctive, backed up with vastly experienced and highly knowledgeable fitters, customers can rely on an immaculate finish to their superb new floor.

Holywell Carpets also stocks and fits quality ranges of vinyls, laminates, and carpet tiles.

11 widths of carpets - how to save money and avoid waste Measuring floor space and estimating the amount of flooring or carpet needed is a skill. “Customers should never really buy a carpet until a room has been professionally measured,” said Steve. “We can save customers hundreds of pounds by using carpets which come in smaller width sizes. With eleven widths of carpets now available, choosing the most cost-effective width option can make a whole load of difference. Selecting the optimum width of carpet available in a given carpet range can minimise waste and save a small fortune!”

Giving genuine, objective, and honest advice is at the heart of everything

they do at Holywell Carpets. “If we can save our customers some of their hardearned cash, we’ll do it,” said Steve.

“With our price quotations, we also include the often-hidden extras. With us, underlay, grippers, doorplates, and fitting is always included in the cost.”

If an honest, reliable, and courteous service is what you’re after, look no further than Holywell Carpets.

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 41 Reflections February 2024

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TRUSTED TRADER Continued from 32 a very well-established and respected scheme, and I am sure most Derbyshire residents recognise the logo with its reassuring tick on vans and advertising of businesses and services across the county.

“The fact it is going from strength to strength after 15 years shows how valuable it is to consumers and traders.

“Looking for someone to carry out work or provide a service can be a daunting prospect for many but using a Trusted Trader who you know has been checked out by our trading standards team helps to take that worry away, protect consumers, and give them peace of mind.

“It’s very heartening to see positive feedback from genuine customers, and also to hear from traders that they really notice the benefits of being a member.”

Trusted Traders pay an annual subscription as well as passing trading standards checks, and their customers

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Left to right: Paul Nanivell from Nankivells. give feedback on the website.

Feedback is verified as being genuine by a member of the trading standards team before being published online on the Trusted Trader database, helping customers to make a decision on the

trader who’s right for them.

Residents can find out more about the scheme and search the online directory of traders and services at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/tt Businesses wanting to sign up can find out about

*All adverts have been financed by the individual traders

the benefits of the scheme and information about how to apply at www.derbyshire. gov.uk/ttmembers People can read about more Trusted Traders and what they think of the scheme at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/tt

To advertise call 01246 550488

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*All adverts have been financed by the individual traders

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47 Reflections February 2024

LOCAL ATTRACTION

ART, CULTURE AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS AT CHATSWORTH THIS WINTER

Chatsworth offers a vibrant, year-round learning and cultural programme so there is always plenty to enjoy and experience, even while the house and garden are closed for winter conservation.

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LOCAL ATTRACTION WINTER WALKS, WITH FREE PARKING Parking at Chatsworth is free until 14 March, and its woodland and parkland are free to access all year round, so now is the perfect opportunity to spend more time outdoors and reap the many benefits of being close to nature.

There are a wide choice of walks across the estate, including several in Stand Wood that range from 1.5 miles to just over 4 miles and take in far-reaching views and historical landmarks, including the medieval Hunting Tower and Sir Joseph Paxton’s Aqueduct. Visit the website for a map of popular routes.

When you’re done, head back to the Stables courtyard for lunch in the Carriage House restaurant, or a well-earned cake and coffee in The Parlour. The Stables gift shop is also open throughout winter, with a range of homeware, gifts, food and drink sourced from the estate and local makers.

You’ll also find clothing and accessories from well-known outdoor brands, including Barbour and Sheffieldbased Buffalo Systems.

FEBRUARY HALF TERM Family explorer walks, staged over the half-term holidays (14 & 15, 22 & 23 February) combine nature hunts with creative craft activities. Collect twigs, moss, bark and other natural materials on a walk through Stand Wood before finding the perfect spot to make a woodland home for magical moss folk.

Chatsworth Farmyard reopens from 10-25 February. Budding young farmers can enjoy animal feeding, guinea pig cuddling and milking parlour demonstrations, and there’ll be craft activities and tractor and trailer rides. Part of the playground is being redeveloped ready for early summer, but children can still enjoy the sandpit, swings and water play (don’t forget the waterproofs!).

CREATIVE WORKSHOPS Chatsworth has long been known as a centre for creativity and a champion of contemporary designers and makers. It’s continuing this tradition by welcoming back Peak District Artisans for another ‘Showcase in the Shop’, free to visit until 3 March. Established in 1991, Peak District Artisans is an association of some of the finest professional artists, designer makers, and contemporary Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com

DATES FOR THE DIARY artisans from Derbyshire Peak District.

You can admire and buy original works from 24 members, including paintings in oils and watercolours, photography, textiles, ceramics and jewellery.

If you’re inspired to produce your own creations, Sheffield-based artist and teacher Kim Bevan will host a ‘Paper Wreaths and Posies’ workshop on 17 March, offering the chance to learn how to make delicate paper flowers using recycled paper, card and wire.

Learn quick observational sketching and drawing techniques in a ‘Tour and Draw’ workshop on 6 March. Staged in the historic glasshouses in the Chatsworth Garden, this dynamic session is led by an experienced tutor and is suitable for both beginners and experienced amateur artists.

THE YEAR AHEAD Chatsworth House Trust will reopen the house, garden and farmyard on 16 March for the start of a new season and the unveiling of its 2024 exhibition, Picturing Childhood: A New Perspective at Chatsworth.

Join Gill Hart, co-curator and Head of Learning and Engagement, on 1 March for an illustrated talk on the new exhibition, which celebrates childhood and examines how different experiences have been portrayed in art, dating from Tudors to the present day.

10-25 FEBRUARY Half term at Chatsworth 16 MARCH Chatsworth House, Garden and Farmyard reopen 15 APRIL Little pips gardening club starts (fortnightly, children aged 3 – 5 years)

17-19 MAY Chatsworth International Horse Trials 7-9 JUNE Garden and plant fair 13 JULY Classic Ibiza 30 AUGUST-1 SEPTEMBER Chatsworth Country Fair 1-2 NOVEMBER Bonfire and fireworks 9 NOVEMBER - 5 JANUARY Christmas at Chatsworth View a full list of events at Chatsworth.org/events

DO MORE IN 2024 Become a Friend and support the work of Chatsworth House Trust charity while enjoying unlimited visits to Chatsworth, free tickets to the most popular events, including Christmas and country fair, and discounts on shopping, dining and stays. Visit Chatsworth.org/friends 49 Reflections February 2024

To reach over

30,000

potential customers contact Derbyshire’s largestcirculation lifestyle magazine

contact Mike Snow on 07966 445452 or Helen Wragg on 07973 672582 Reflections has been established for over 30 years

50 Reflections February 2024

To advertise call 01246 550488

Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com

51 Reflections February 2024

FEATURE

Joe Quigley celebrates the opening goal against Watford in the FA Cup

ADDED TIME AGONY!

On a day which would also commemorate the lives of arguably two of the best managers for their respective clubs, the scene was set for a David v Goliath giant killing act in the third round of the FA Cup. Photos are supplied courtesy of Tina Jenner

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N a day which would also with Dobra imperious in midfield, they commemorate the lives of arguably more than held their own for so long two of the best managers for against their mightier opponents. their respective clubs, the scene It was late when the home side levelled was set for a David v Goliath giant killing with a quality finish from Rajovic and the act in the third round of the FA Cup. live-wire Tom Dele-Bashiri clinched the It was Saturday 6th January 2024, win for Watford with a piece of magic in the venue was Vicarage Road, and the closing moments of added time. excitement was mounting to fever pitch as Defeat was hard to take, but Chesterfield The Spireites flying high in the National did the town and their noisy support League were set to play The Hornets, proud. They never changed their approach Watford FC, propelled into the golden throughout and looked to have done era by Elton John and Graham Taylor. enough to bring a talented Watford With Watford three side back to the SMH. leagues higher up the The match was played in a pyramid, they were, of fantastic spirit too. So much praise “The blue end course, firm favourites, was heaped on the way Chesterfield was awash with played, as well as on the conduct but every dog has its day, colour and a and Chesterfield had and passion of their supporters. already knocked out both To be present at such a pulsating cacophony of Portsmouth and Orient game was a privilege; to watch it noise erupted.” from the luxury of a hospitality box from League One! A touching tribute to the an added bonus! A classy lounge, late Graham Taylor and John delicious food, and an unbeatable Duncan preceded kick-off but once referee view of the game, spiced up with high Gavin Ward had got the game underway, spirited camaraderie, were generously offered both sides showed early determination.

by Watford kit suppliers, Kelme Teamwear.

The home side bossed the early Kelme Teamwear is an international exchanges, but Chesterfield grew in sportswear company which has provided confidence and took a deserved lead the team kits for most of the elite Spanish when Joe Quigley headed home Ryheem teams, including Real Madrid. Their Sheckleford’s fantastic cross from the right. business link to the local area is through The blue end was awash with colour their sole UK distributor, Kelme UK which and a cacophony of noise erupted. operates from Kick Off Sport, based on Could this be a repeat of 1997?

Holt Lane in Matlock, where much of the The Spireites played superbly, and printing and embroidery takes place.

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Top: A great day out for the whole family Above middle: Heartache as Watford score.

Above: Graham Taylor, arguably the best Watford manager of all time.

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In 2007, host-for-the-day, Robert Lowe, himself a lifelong Spireite, took over the small Kick Off Sport sports shop in lieu of doing a degree placement, He has steadily grown the business from its roots in retail sports equipment to being supplier of sports teamwear all over the country, as well as working closely with the local community.

Sports kit, teamwear, and equipment The Kick Off Sport premises in Matlock carry a selection of football, hockey, cricket, running, rugby, swimming, bowls, and exercise products.

Workwear, printing, and embroidery There is also a heightened focus on more personalised services such as school wear, teamwear, workwear, printing,

and embroidery. Instore, there’s an eclectic selection of workwear solutions designed for any sector, including trade and construction, healthcare, hospitality, retail, and more. Corporate wear is so much more than polos and hoodies. There are innovative products across the board for hospitality. Kick Off Sport has teamed up with Premier to supply the Artisan range.

Trades are also demanding ‘heavy duty’ workwear that will stand the rigours of work on site. Kick Off Sport is pleased to be the local distributer for the Scandinavian workwear manufacturer, Orn, who provide high quality workwear.

SCHOOL UNIFORMS AND SCHOOLWEAR Parade Schoolwear is a designated supplier of school uniforms for the following schools: Lady Manners, Highfields, St Mary’s, Anthony Gell, S. Anselm’s, and a large number of primary schools.

Parade Schoolwear offers both an online and helpful try-on/fitting service and supplies bespoke schoolwear, Banners, Trutex and other ‘made to last’ and ethically sourced brands.

Kick Off Sport/Parade Schoolwear, Holt Lane, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 3LY T: 01629 55685 E: sales@kickoffsport.co.uk www.Kickoffsport.co.uk | www.paradeschoolwear.co.uk

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53 Reflections February 2024

54 Reflections February 2024

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INDEPENDENT EDUCATION

Mylnhurst Preparatory School is exceptional Mylnhurst Preparatory School stands out for its excellence, offering a first-class primary education that begins with three-year-olds in our exceptional Nursery. Nestled in a picturesque setting with expansive grounds, our school boasts both sunlit Victorian and modern buildings, symbolising our commitment to traditional values while embracing the future.

Education at Mylnhurst is a blend of intellectual stimulation and enjoyment. Cutting-edge digital technology is seamlessly integrated into lessons, and our curriculum is enriched by the expertise and passion of subject specialists. Our impressive facilities include

a cookery room, outdoor classroom, swimming pool, multi-platform IT suite, music rooms, a dance studio, and a sports hall. Our dedicated team of teachers, with their diverse talents, provide abundant opportunities for children to

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explore their interests, uncover their talents, and nurture quiet self-confidence both in and beyond the classroom.

While we take pride in our track record of guiding children to their preferred secondary schools, we recognise that

results are just one aspect of the overall picture. At Mylnhurst, we firmly believe that happy children flourish. Our focus extends beyond academic achievements, emphasising exceptional pastoral care and fostering emotional well-being.

55 Reflections February 2024

56 Reflections February 2024

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INDEPENDENT EDUCATION

Discover Freedom at Mount St Mary’s College At the Mount, children have the freedom to explore their passions and expand their horizons. Our students, or Mountaineers, as they are affectionately known, gain the confidence to be themselves and are celebrated for their individuality. Children thrive at Mount St Mary’s College.

We are a Jesuit School, educating children of all faiths and none, focusing on the Jesuit ethos of caring for the whole person. We see your child as an individual, with unique interests and strengths.

With a broad curriculum of GCSE and A-Level courses, we help students achieve and exceed their academic goals.

Outside of the classroom, the co-curricular programme

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offers opportunities to discover new hobbies and talents.

Our Open Afternoon is on 6th May 2024. Meet our Headmaster, teachers, and students to find out what

makes the Mount such a special place to live, learn and work.

Call 01246 433388 or visit www.msmcollege. com to discover more.

57 Reflections February 2024

INDEPENDENT EDUCATION

BIRKDALE SCHOOL

From their earliest years, pupils at Birkdale acquire an appetite for knowledge, strong personal values, a sense of responsibility and the ambition to be the best they can be, all strong foundations for life.

58 Reflections February 2024

An exceptionally high level of pastoral care together with a strong Christian ethos underpins daily life, and in this caring and supportive environment pupils flourish as they explore all the opportunities open to them.

Excellence is evident throughout the school, not least in the resources and outstanding teaching. With such close guidance and support, pupils develop intellectual curiosity, enjoy their lessons, gain

excellent examination results and are well prepared for future study. Birkdale was awarded the highest grading of EXCELLENT in both academic achievement and personal development in a recent ISI report.

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INDEPENDENT EDUCATION

S. ANSELM’S SCHOOL Nestled in the heart of the stunning landscape of the Peak District S. Anselm’s Preparatory School is a home away from home and the perfect choice for children aged three to 13 to develop and reach their potential in a beautiful, happy environment.

The School was established in 1888 in Bakewell and offers flexi, weekly and full boarding options alongside day pupils – all tailored to the needs of individual families.

It has an enviable record with preparing children for future education at the very best public schools in the country whilst, at the same time, providing a wealth of opportunities and creating memories that last a lifetime.

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59 Reflections February 2024

Pitcherwits 1

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ACROSS

DOWN

1 Putting to print,

1 Ken has TV set

but sent it to Egypt, alas. (11)

in car to see sports day items (5,6)

8 PC type, and a

4 Vote to plug a

gentleman? (7)

PEP investment for a handy character? (5,6)

11 Susceptible

6 It’s an idea to

16 Illuminate

7 Take advantage

to be face down twice, say? (5,2)

an English-Thai alliance (5,1,5)

ACROSS 5 A bit of grand larceny on the Circle Line! (3) 7 Hot work from this pair! (3) 10 Busy version of ‘The Odd Crew’. (7) 14 Ropey-sounding negative (3) 15 Criticise back to sleep (3)

rope in/off the preconception carefully (7)

of a rodent in trouble (5,2)

DOWN 2 Ruffles the back, in return for an ego (4) 3 Powder used in antenatal clinics (4) 9 I own a strange version of US statesman (5) 12 Horrible gore from the monster! (4) 13 Peer, because you see it a little less clearly (4)

The solutions for the February 2024 Pitcherwits will appear in the March 2024 issue.

Pitcherwits 60 Reflections February 2024

For more free puzzles go to

www.pitcherwits.co.uk

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Prize Crossword 1

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ACROSS 1 Where better than to make Nescafé? (6) 4 Village to clear away at five (6) 8 Patriarch who rose to heights in a bath? (7) 10 Fire remains after cash, say, W of Bakewell (7) 12 Coerced two, falling out near the Staffs border (10) 14 Gerbil could be lost on the young lady (4) 15 Plant groups to play around the hothead (5) 16 Steriliser volume containing power assistance (5) 17 Snake back to front in the Psalmody (3) 18 Could you go and nudge the sucker? Fishy! (7) 20 Title taken back from aristocrat (3) 21 Distant from some smallarea farmers (4) 22 Do they make for a dark place above Cromford? (10) 24 As per live performance at the Castle (7) 25 South of Derby there’s an inn designed by Fred (7)

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26 Polka sort of line to sign on? (6) 27 Broken leg can demand at least a quick look (6) Down 2 Atmospheric melody? (3) 3 Meanly gone on a mad rave (2,7) 5 Electrode done to a turn (5) 6 NASA space traveller to go a very odd way (7) 7 Errors I’ve made after Linacre, say (9) 9 Ban the demon drink place! (3) 11 “Mayo!” chant causing havoc North of Ilkeston (9) 13 Route put on scales, say? (3) 15 Bonsall boozer once had its own ingot! (3,2,4) 16 Phil to slink off South of Killamarsh (9) 19 Local flower of the red newt variety (7) 20 Unfortunate co-respondent’s secret loss in Derby! (7) 22 Green cloth heard next to beaches (5) 23 Relativelyspeaking, a star! (3)

Name:............................................................ Address:................................................ ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... .................................................................. Telephone:................................................

We will give a prize of £25 to a randomly-drawn correctly completed crossword.

Cut out the completed puzzle and send by January 20th, 2024, to: Bannister Publications Limited, Office 2A Market Hall, Market Hall, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1AR. The solutions for the January 2024 crossword can be found on page 98 of this issue.

Crossword by Prof Rebus

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61 Reflections February 2024

62 Reflections February 2024

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63 Reflections February 2024

FASHION

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True

BLUE

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Timeless and universal, denim is a true wardrobe hero for us all, says Amy Norbury.

If you’re looking to add to your denim collection for 2024, here are some of the freshest takes on an old favourite.

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o matter who you are and what you do, chances are you’ve got some denim in your wardrobe.

Regardless of age or gender, shape or size, denim is just something which appeals to us all. And with good reason. Denim remains one of the most versatile, durable and highly sought after fabrics on the market - and most people own more pairs of jeans than there are days in the week.

Originally fashioned as workwear – in deep dyed indigo to better hide the dirt when work by labourers and miners – jeans became a fashion phenomenon in the 1950s thanks to Hollywood heavyweights like James Dean, Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe, who transformed the jeans’ image from workhorse to style icon.

Since then, every era has had its own denim signatures, from Seventies flares to the rise of designer denim 1. Lulu denim dress, £75, Monsoon. www.monsoon.co.uk 2. Sienna Square Patterned Jumper, £52, Carla Denim Midi Skirt, £49.50, and Imogen Beanie, £19.50, all FatFace. www.fatface.com 3. Rinse wash zip detail denim dress, £135, Scamp and Dude. www.scampanddude.com 4. Dark Indigo Denim Cargo Midi Skirt, £55, Sosandar. www.sosandar.com

Continued on 68 64 Reflections January 2024

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65 Reflections January 2024

FASHION Continued from 66

5 in the Eighties, Nineties grunge styles or the Noughties skinny jeans – while denim looks in recent years have seen the reimagining of every past style possible.

2024’s key denim looks are coming through pared back and refined. Take inspiration from the standout look of the AW23/24 couture show in Paris, where Kaia Gerber stunned the fashion set sashaying down the catwalk for Valentino in a white shirt and straight-leged, high-waisted dark blue jeans.

Now this being couture, those wearing just any jeans, rather than a wearable work of art fashioned from silk, hand embroidered with thousands of tiny glass beads and dyed to look like denim – but the message was clear; simple, classic style with a luxe twist is the height of couture for 2024.

When it comes to colour, this season’s denims are staying true to blue, with mid-washes offering a more casual vibe and deep indigo shades the ones to go for a more

66 Reflections January 2024

polished look. Elements of tailoring are coming into play too, for a smarter smart-casual feel. This is denim you can wear to the office with confidence.

A standout shape for 2024 is set to be the horseshoe – otherwise known as the barrel leg – which has slowly been gaining traction since Alaïa included it in its AW23 lineup.

With an unusual curved shape that juts out from the hip and tapers in at the ankle in a banana-like fashion, the horseshoe offers an almost sculptural silhouette – which certainly won’t be for everyone, but will give your denim a modern update, if you’re confident enough to give it a try!

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5. Per Una cargo jeans, £49.50, Marks and Spencer. www. marksandspencer.com 6. Mallie Stripe Shirt, £49.50, Eden Stripe Denim Worker Jacket, £69, and Salle Stripe Jean, £59, all FatFace. www.fatface.com

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All happening

SPOTLIGHT ON THE ARTS

AT THE LEVEL CENTRE!

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HERE are four exhibitions open to the public at the Level Centre, Rowsley, DE4 2EL, from now until April 12.

PlayLAND is a new exhibition

by Derby artist John Whall. PlayLAND brings the world of outdoor play inside the Level Centre building, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the fun, sensory world that John has created.

Large-scale projection brings the gallery to life with grass, trees and a beautiful blue sky, while calming music and the sound of birdsong fills the space.

Kites (which visitors get the chance to create), flutter in a gentle summer’s breeze.

And then the fun starts... interactive buttons bring the world to life with bouncing balls, chasing kites and games of hide and seek!

After experiencing PlayLAND, visitors have the chance to create a kite inspired by what they’ve seen. They then have the opportunity to display their creation within the gallery space as part of the installation, or take it home as a fun memento of their visit.

This exhibition is suitable for everyone, including school groups and families. There is no charge to visit, but advance booking is advisable

Above: There’s an exhibition called PlayLAND at the Level Centre, Rowsley, until April 12.

Left: A quilt made from pom poms depicts ‘Daisyland’ at the Level Centre. through the website levelcentre.com Grace Currie is the Level Centre’s Spotlight Award artist for 2024 and stages a visual art exhibition called I Got On The Bus In One Life, and Got Off In Another.

She feels that her social identity – as a disabled woman, reduces her in some people’s eyes to child status – an identity she resists but draws attention to in her childlike portraits of figures or faces.

A period survival quilt created from pom poms depicting ‘Daisyland’, a queer utopia that artist Corinne and their childhood imaginary friend named Daisy created.

Daisyland was the only place where

Corinne’s gender-fluid identity, sexual orientation and disabilities were embraced rather than discriminated against.

Daisyland is on display in the Corridor Gallery at Level Centre, which is open Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm.

No need to book, but please call 01629 734848 in advance. Entry is free.

The final piece of art at the Level Centre until April 12 – Metamorphic [Traces] – is a film by West Midlands-based artist Alex Billingham, tracing the feelings and emotions Alex and Rosanna Cook felt while considering dance, movement and their disabled bodies.

RUN NERS-UP PRIZES FOR CERAMICISTS A TRIO of potters have been recognised in the bi-annual Peak District Artisans Emerging Artist Award.

Becca Brown from Sheffield, Bel Holland from Hartington and Matt Whiting of Litton, who are all ceramicists, so impressed the judges, that although they didn’t scoop the top PDA Emerging Artist prize – the winner, Holly Clifford, was featured in Reflections last month – they were awarded subsidised membership of the PDA. A spokesperson for the PDA said: “We were so impressed by all our finalists that this year we are also awarding runnersup prizes of subsidised membership of PDA to those three ceramicists.”

For Becca, Bel and Matt, the invaluable

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support they will receive from the PDA is a mark of just how good they are.

Above: Colourful selection of the work of Matt Whiting. Right: Some of the crockery created by ceramicist Bel Holland.

67 Reflections January 2024

LOCAL BUSINESS

CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF RIVIERA TRAVEL! The world. Within reach.

CHESTERFIELD-BASED MARTINS WORLD TRAVEL, ESTABLISHED IN 1978, HAS TEAMED UP WITH RIVIERA TRAVEL, CELEBRATING ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY, TO BRING CUSTOMERS OLD AND NEW A WHOLE HOST OF EXCEPTIONAL TRAVEL OFFERS THIS YEAR.

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024 marks the 40th birthday of Riviera Travel. As a proven travel company, they’re extraordinarily proud of their heritage and unashamedly so. From humble beginnings with a handful of tents on a campsite in the south of France, four decades later, they’re now the UK’s leading operator of river cruises and tours across Europe and beyond.

They’ve had the privilege of taking many thousands of guests on adventures to more than 50 countries (and counting) but their ethos to provide an exceptional holiday experience remains the same.

68 Reflections February 2024

UNBEATABLE VALUE ​WHICH INCLUDES SO MUCH ​

A Riviera river cruise includes so much more than customers might normally expect! For example, there’s expertly crafted itineraries (by well-travelled explorers), fascinating tours and visits, imaginative full board fine-dining, and the most spacious cabins and suites. All river cruises fly directly from a wide selection of regional airports with no extra supplements – they also include all transfers, and there’s always the reassuring services of an experienced and knowledgeable Riviera

Cruise Director and Concierge, who’ll look after every single customer throughout. And, to celebrate their birthday, they are now including a FREE Superior drinks package on all 2024 and 2025 river cruises.

This includes a wide selection of unlimited drinks over lunch and from 6pm to midnight.

NEW TO RIVIERA!

In addition to their classic river cruises along Europe’s greatest waterways, there’s a whole lot of newness to look forward to. Customers are invited to take a look at the new 8-day cruise along the Douro in 2024

aboard the fabulous brand-new ship, the MS Porto Mirante.

Passengers will drift through the dramatic landscapes of this picturesque Portuguese valley, famed for its Port wine production, and explore some of the absolute best historic little towns and cities along the way.

Looking to cruise for a little longer? There are also three new 10-night river cruises setting sail in 2024 along the Rhine, Moselle, and Seine.

THEMED CRUISES

Starting from £1799pp for 7 nights, Riviera Travel has

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LOCAL BUSINESS

also launched 8 brand-new Themed Cruises too – providing the opportunity to delve a little deeper into every single favourite interest imaginable through the eyes of insightful speakers and expert guides.

From art, music, food and wine, gardens or history, travellers can enjoy these extra-special cruises featuring carefully selected experiences specifically tailored to individual passion – and perfectly designed for enthusiasts of every level.

RIVIERA’S £1 MILLION BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY!​ To celebrate its 40th birthday, Riviera Travel is giving away gifts worth over £1 million in this one-time only event! ​From Riviera vouchers, to all-expenses paid Riviera holidays across the world, there’s a guaranteed gift with every booking made before 29th February. ​

Don’t want your holiday to end? River cruises can be extended with the new 3-night Tour Extensions in Amsterdam, Porto, or Vienna.

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 ABTA bonded and ATOL protected.

69 Reflections February 2024

FEATURE

A drone picture of the Barrow Hill Roundhouse complex.

70 Reflections February 2024

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FEATURE

In 1989, Barrow Hill Engine Shed Action Group was formed with the intention of saving the roundhouse there – now the sole surviving working example of this type of 19th-century railway architecture – from demolition. Now, the site is about to embark on the latest chapter of its renaissance from historic ruin through working museum to technical centre and innovation hub, as Steve Brown reports.

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ARROW Hill Roundhouse was completed in 1870 to house the steam locomotives which worked in the Staveley iron and steelworks. A major contributor to the local economy, it was also the location where locomotive drivers and firemen reported for duty and where the locomotives themselves were repaired, fuelled and prepared for their duties. The design of the roundhouse allowed the maximum number of individual locomotives to be stabled ready for traffic in a fully-accessible position in the smallest ground area and featured a centre-mounted turntable. The depot continued to be extremely busy until the early 1960s, when the decline of the UK steel industry and of freight haulage by rail, plus the onset of diesel locomotives, saw a reduction in crews and locomotives based at Barrow Hill until its final closure by British Rail in February 1991.

The historic building was then scheduled for demolition and it was only through the last-minute intervention of the Action Group that the Roundhouse was given a preservation order which saved it from the bulldozers and was later granted Grade 2-listed status by Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com

One of Barrow Hill site tenants, Positive Traction, has developed this battery-powered shunting locomotive using a modified class 08 loco, which has been the standard shunting engine for many years. It should help the rail industry reduce its carbon emissions in future. the Department of the Environment.

A dedicated band of volunteers then commenced the long and onerous task of repairing the buildings and restoring the site to the status of a working railway museum, with the great assistance of Chesterfield Borough Council in raising the funds to carry this out.

By 1998, sufficient work had been completed that an open day could be organised with four hired-in steam locomotives, one of which was the Johnson “half-cab” shunting loco number 41708, which had spent most of its working life at Barrow Hill. This was the first of many events to be held at Barrow Hill as the site was further developed and the facilities improved.

In 2001 the first of the now annual Rail Ale Festivals was held; there have been several “gatherings” of famous steam locos and in 2014 there was an inaugural music event, a concert by Jools Holland and his Orchestra and featuring former Spice Girl Mel C, was held on the site. Nowadays Barrow Hill is open to the public at weekends from March 2 onwards with lots to see and do as befits a fully operational working railway museum. The excellent cafe on site is now

famous locally for its breakfasts and attracts passers-by as well as museum visitors.

The exhibits in the Roundhouse include several locomotives from the National Railway Museum collection, including the Midland Railway compound 4-4-0 number 1000 and the Great Central Railway “Director class” 4-6-0 Butler Henderson.

In addition, there are also several heritage diesel locomotives present, so the period of railway history at the end of the working life of the depot is also well represented.

In 2016, the Roundhouse was awarded £1.2 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the “Moving Forward” project, which financed essential repairs and a welcome extension to improve visitor access to the site and the collections therein.

However, preserving the past costs more money than grants can generate and a working site the size of Barrow Hill really needs to raise new income to secure its future.

Mervyn Allcock, MBE, now general manager of Barrow Hill Ltd and the man who had the drive and vision to lead the campaign to save the Roundhouse, has been instrumental in generating new business from various railway engineering companies 71 Reflections February 2024

FEATURE and in attracting locomotive owners to base their charges there. The central location of Barrow Hill in the UK’s railway network means it is well placed to attract such business and there are now several established engineering providers to the rail industry on site including Harry Needle, Sheaf Engineering and Schweerbau, the latter of whom base their rail milling machine here.

East Midlands Railway have used Barrow Hill to stable and service their trains and the prestigious Belmond British Pullman is a regular visitor on trips to Chatsworth them in terms of the control desk, thereby House via Chesterfield station. Very reducing training time. It is to be hoped recently, Barrow Hill Ltd were pleased to that their efforts are suitably embraced bring a technology-driven weedkilling train by the rail industry as it moves towards owned by Envu, which works for Network reducing its carbon emissions in the future.

Rail, to the site which will be with them The next exciting chapter in the for maintenance and systems upgrades: Roundhouse’s history is about to begin Envu and Schweerbau would be ideal with, subject to planning permission partners for the soon-to-be-built “Rail being granted: a £5 million rail research, Innovation Centre”, of which more shortly. development and innovation centre There is direct 24/7 access to the national to be built on the Barrow Hill site. rail network from the site and secure storage The regeneration of England’s former coal for rail vehicles is mining and heavy industrial available and has areas has been one of the been widely used by biggest social and economic various operators.

“DRIIVe represents challenges of the last few A short test track decades – and one of these Chesterfield is also available to initiatives is the Staveley companies, whereby Borough Council’s Town Deal. A theme of the locomotives and project is Innovation and ambition to become Enterprise, which is why other vehicles can be tested after repair or a prominent location the Derbyshire Rail Industry development before Innovation Vehicle (DRIIVe) for rail supply and at Barrow Hill is attracting being released onto the national network. funding from the Town Deal innovation.”

An excellent example and is being sponsored by of the innovative work Chesterfield Borough Council. being carried out at the DRIIVe will be a site by its tenants has been the development modern innovation and training centre

by Positive Traction of a battery powered providing nearly 1,500 sq metres of shunting locomotive using a modified floor space consisting of classroom and class 08 loco, which has been the standard workshop training areas, specialist shunting engine for freight operators, depots, research and development facilities ports and even heritage railways across the including a digital laboratory plus UK for many years. The loco has effectively commercial offices and a fully equipped been brought up to date for the 21st century undercover freight vehicle workshop. in terms of ease of maintenance, the cab It will serve as a base for rail-related environment, safety features and a lack of supply chain businesses which will harmful emissions while retaining a degree have access to the latest research and of familiarity to existing staff who drive innovation. It will create more than 20 full-time jobs and aims to create many more Below: Steam locomotives in the opportunities for local people to access Barrow Hill Roundhouse museum. highly-skilled careers in the rail industry.

72 Reflections February 2024

Above: The Rail Ale Festival has become so popular at the Roundhouse since the first one in 2001. Courtesy of Paul Bigland.

DRIIVe represents Chesterfield Borough Council’s ambition to become a prominent location for rail supply and innovation, being in close proximity to the existing railway industries in both Derby and Doncaster. The aim is to complete the centre by May 2025 with the first tenants moving in shortly afterwards.

What will distinguish DRIIVe from other research and innovation centres is its focus on the UK rail freight industry which has not been previously targeted for such support. Providing a “one-stop shop” for freight operators and wagon owners will mean that, for example, a company keen to introduce a new freight wagon on the national network will have all the expertise it needs to design, test and gain network acceptance for such a project.

The rail freight sector is also increasingly employing digital skills for the monitoring of freight vehicles, for tracking and tracing while in use and for preventative maintenance: DRIIVe will have the necessary IT and digital expertise to support this continuing initiative.

Working with Universities and Colleges, DRIIVe will identify priorities for rail freight research and the development of innovative product and components. Freight on rail has been one of the successes of privatisation of the railways in terms of innovation and responding to market demand and the appearance of DRIIVe will undoubtedly be welcomed by the industry as a result.

Barrow Hill Roundhouse has come a long way from those early days when its life was hanging by a thread and only saved by the efforts of a dedicated band of volunteers. In future, though, it might be at the cutting edge of future developments in the rail industry while still conserving and protecting the past, which will surely make it a unique location.

Editor’s Note: The Barrow Hill Roundhouse and Museum is open to members of the public between March and December on Saturdays and Sundays, from 10am to 4pm each day. Further details, including times of demonstrations, can be found on their website www.barrowhill.org.uk; Sat Nav code is S43 2PR. Any enquiries re DRIIVe should be directed to Mervyn Allcock at project_man@barrowhill.org.uk or to Bob Burgess at bob.burgess@barrowhill.org.uk.

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73 Reflections February 2024

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

A SUPERB DISH TO SAVOUR!

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OP CHEF Adrian Gagea, who trained under Raymond Blanc, and is now executive chef for Longbow Bars & Restaurants – based at The Maynard, Grindleford – offers a superb Recipe of the Month.

Adrian says: “One of the things I love so much about the Peak District is the fact that there is such an abundance of fresh, beautiful produce everywhere. I believe that we have some of the best farms and growers in the country. It is heaven on earth for a chef.”

• Adrian’s dish is a delicious spiced lamb dish with a potato terrine, broccoli puree and a fig sauce.

Longbow Bars & Restaurants

Ltd is an independent hospitality business operating two venues: The Maynard, an awardwinning wedding venue, bar, restaurant and hotel and The George at Hathersage, an historic bar, restaurant and boutique hotel. The Ashford Arms in Ashford-in-the-Water was acquired in August 2023 and is undergoing an estimated £1.6m refurbishment in collaboration with Heineken.

PISTACHIO DUKKA SPICED LAMB Served with goat’s cheese heritage potato terrine, fig sauce and broccoli puree (GF)

Above inset: Adrian Gagea at The Maynard in Grindleford.

SERVES

6

PISTACHIO DUKKA SPICE Ingredients

5g Maldon sea salt 3g chilli flakes 15g fresh coriander 15g cumin seeds 15g fennel seeds 50g pistachios

Method

Using a pestle and mortar, add all the ingredients and crush them until powder, the odd few bigger bits are okay.

Keep in a sealed jar, it will last you a while.

If you think you use this kind of mixed spices again, make a bigger batch!

FIG SAUCE Ingredients

100g dried figs 150g red onions 150ml red wine 50ml white wine vinegar 40g caster sugar

74 Reflections February 2024

Method

Peel and finely dice the red onions.

Dice the dried figs into halfa-centimetre cubes.

In a sauce pot, add all the ingredients and simmer until it is a glaze (20-30 min medium heat) If you want a smoother consistency, you can blend the sauce, or alternatively leave it chunky. Serve hot.

GOAT’S CHEESE HERITAGE POTATO TERRINE Ingredients

300g sweet potatoes 300g purple potatoes 300g Maris piper potatoes 250g goat’s cheese 2g sea salt 1g black cracked pepper 35g maple syrup 60g double cream

Method

Peel the potatoes then, using a mandolin, thin slice the potatoes, keep them separately.

In a large mixing bowl, add the goat’s cheese, double cream and maple syrup. Warm it up a bit in the microwave or on the stove in a little pot, as once warm it will make it easier to mix. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Using a tray with some oil and baking paper, arrange the purple potatoes in layers on the tray; then add the goat’s cheese mix every 3rd or 4th layer. Continue with the sweet potatoes, and then finish with the white potatoes. Bake in the oven at 170 C for 30-40 min until is cooked: use a skewer to check the potatoes are cooked Portion into 150g-170g per serving.

This can be prepared in advance and reheated (8-10 min at 180C in the oven)

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RECIPE OF THE MONTH LAMB I prefer to use lamb cannon, but you can use rump of lamb or chops. If the butcher does not prep your meat, you can do it easily.

Cannon: Using a sharp knife, remove all the fat and sinew from the lamb. Portion into 180g each. Rump: Using a sharp knife, remove all the sinew and X score the fat. Chops: Using a sharp knife, remove all the sinew and X score the fat

Cooking Cannon Add salt, pepper and a bit of oil.

On a medium heat in a nonstick pan, add the cannon and sear on each side until golden.

Roll the lamb in the dukka spice. Leave to rest for 4-5 min with a bit of butter.

Cooking Rump and Chops Add salt, pepper and a bit of oil.

On a medium to low heat in a non-stick pan, add the lamb fat side down and cook until it is golden; flip over and cook until it is golden, turn back on the fat side and cook in the oven for 8-9 min at 180C for lamb rump, and 5-6 min for the chops at 180C. Roll the lamb in the dukka spice. Leave them to rest for 4-5 min, then ready to serve.

BROCCOLI PUREE Ingredients

800g broccoli 2g salt. 50g butter

Method

Cut the broccoli into florets. Add the broccoli to a pot with boiling

water and boil until it's soft (4-6 min). Have a large bowl with ice water and cool down the broccoli.

Using a blender, blend the broccoli with the melted butter, add a bit more butter if needed.

Taste and correct the seasoning.

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75 Reflections February 2024

FOCUS ON FOOD & DRINK

DERBYSHIRE

– HOME TO ENGLAND’S FIRST CHEESE FACTORY!

There’s a lot for foodies to enjoy in February. It’s the Chinese New Year on February 10 this year and, of course, it is Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) on the 13th and Valentine’s Day on the 14th. But that’s not all: on February 4, it is Yorkshire Pudding Day and on the 13th, it is National Cheddar Day as well as Shrove Tuesday. Not only that, it is World Nutella Day on the 5th – and Nutella, made by the Italian company Ferrero, is 50 years old this year! It may be National Cheddar Day this month, but Steve Brown reports on the fact that Derbyshire had the first cheese factory in England.

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ERBY and Hartington are two of a select few places in England which gives its own name to a cheese. Indeed, many might never have heard of Sage Derby, which is a green-veined marbled cheese normally 76 Reflections February 2024

found and consumed on special occasions such as at Christmas or harvest festivals.

It is perhaps even more surprising to learn that, until quite recently, Derby cheese was not made at all within the county, despite Derbyshire having a particular

association with the cheesemaking art in that the first-ever factory to manufacture cheese in England was located within the county’s boundaries.

However, a recent development has seen the welcome return of the making To advertise call 01246 550488

FOCUS ON FOOD & DRINK

Sage Derby cheese.

Top left: A postcard of England’s first cheese factory, the timberframed building that still exists at Longford in Derbyshire.

of Derby cheese to its county of origin after an absence of over 125 years.

For hundreds of years, cheesemaking was part of the working life on individual farms.

Usually performed by wives, daughters and dairy maids, it was a skilled but strenuous activity and while on some smaller farms it was customary for only enough cheese to be produced for home consumption; on others, with larger milking herds, cheese could be another valuable source of income to the farmer – and as such, it could be regularly found at markets in places such as Derby, Ashbourne, Bakewell and Chesterfield.

Derby cheese itself was, and still is, not unlike Cheddar but has a softer body and a slightly higher moisture content. When young, it is a springy and mild cheese but Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com

as it matures, its texture becomes firmer It was then that a man from Dovedale, and it tastes a little sweeter. The cheese was William Gilman, began to introduce early usually made with a sweet yellow curd, but mass manufacturing processes for cheese some farmers would add sage for special which he derived from his studies of occasions such as the harvest festival due cheesemaking abroad in such countries as to the herb’s reputation for good health.

Russia, the USA and the Netherlands. In It required a very careful balancing 1870, Gilman is credited with opening the act between ingredients, so that the sage first purpose-built cheesemaking factory flavour did not overpower the mild, sweet in England at Longford in Derbyshire; taste of the cheese but the under what was at the subsequent green veined time a novel co-operative product proved to be the scheme headed by the origin of the famous Sage American cheesemaker “When all the other Derby cheese. The curd Cornelius Schermanhorn. cheese factories closed was produced by adding It quickly became rennet to the milk but down, only the one at successful and continued as the latter was not yet in production until Hartington was left produced commercially overseas competition as an additive; in those and easier transport to to keep Derbyshire early days the farmer urban areas for farmcheese on the map.” produced milk saw it had to achieve this by soaking a piece of salted and many other English and dried calf’s stomach cheese factories close skin overnight in water down. Happily, the former with the resultant liquid added to the milk! factory building was given Grade 2-listed The curd was then laboriously lifted out status, because of its historical significance, into muslin-lined sieves and covered over/ and can still be seen today. Many farmers weighed down to drain for a while before in those early years of factory cheese being broken into finer grains, adding salt production were highly dependant on the and then tied up even more firmly to give factories to take their milk, so the making the cheese a final shape while the last drops of cheese on farms began to die out. of whey were slowly squeezed out. The When all the other cheese factories final act was to place each nascent cheese closed down, only the one at Hartington was into a heavy stone press where each cheese left to keep Derbyshire cheese on the map. would be allowed to mature but they all had The original creamery there was built by the to be turned at least weekly by the dairy Duke of Devonshire in 1870 and produced maid, as if she didn’t have enough to do! a white crumbly Derbyshire cheese until By the end of the 18th century, farmhouse 1894, when a fire partially destroyed the cheese was being quite widely produced building and production was halted. within Derbyshire: a record of 1796 refers After standing empty between to 12 cwt delivered from Bakewell to 1894-1900, the factory was taken over Longstone and then sent on to Sheffield!

by Thomas Nuttall, a prize-winning 77 Reflections February 2024

FOCUS ON FOOD & DRINK Stilton cheese maker from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. He began producing Stilton cheese at Hartington in April 1900 and the business was later expanded by his son John M. Nuttall.

In the Twenties and Thirties, Hartington cheese was supplied to King George V by Royal Warrant. During the 1930s, a farsighted regulation (a Certification Trade Mark) confined the legal production of Blue Stilton to the neighbouring counties of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire; thereby protecting the cheese from inferior copies made elsewhere.

This was further reinforced when Stilton was granted protected designation of origin (PDO) status by the EU in line with other exclusive specialities such as Parma Ham, Roquefort cheese and Champagne. Hartington Blue Stilton established an enviable reputation throughout the gastronomic world and it therefore was something of a blow when the creamery closed in 2009.

The oldest cheesemaking family in the UK are reputed to be the Fowlers, who can trace their family heritage back to 1650 in the Staffordshire/Derbyshire border area on farms around Alstonefield. In 1876 they left their native Peakland and moved to Hanbury in Worcestershire, but carried on making a Little Derby cow milk cheese.

Prior to 1840, Little Derby cheese was being made from sheep’s milk but by 1898 following their move; milk, cheese and butter from Fowler farms at Hanbury were being retailed by horse cart in Birmingham.

In 1918, cheese making was transferred from Hanbury to Earlswood, in Warwickshire, and from a single large herd of pedigree cows, the Fowlers continued to produce their range of award-winning cheeses, including Sage Derby, which was made to a traditional recipe handed down through the generations. Thus it was that a former Peak District family continued to produce Derby cheese, albeit in Warwickshire, until the present day. In 2015 their Sage Derby cheese was awarded the best traditional non-Cheddar at the British Cheese Awards together with a

Gold Medal in recognition of the quality of the Derby cheese being produced.

Back in Derbyshire, the cheesemaking tradition there was revived in October 2012 when the new Hartington Creamery Limited made its first cheese at the historic Pikehall Farm. The first products were new cheeses exclusive to the creamery – Peakland Blue and Peakland White – but in 2014 the then owners were successful in regaining a PDO licence to produce the legendary Hartington Blue Stilton, the cheese so synonymous with the area. In 2018 Dovedale Blue, a cheese originally pioneered at Dairy Crest Hartington and recreated at Pikehall, also achieved PDO status.

However, the most recent development has seen the Fowlers of Warwickshire handing over the reins and the recipes for Sage Derby cheese to Hartington Creamery

Above: Half moons of Hartington Blue Stilton.

Ltd, which has enabled Derby cheese to be made in its county of origin for the first time in over 125 years. After acquiring the rights to make the old cheese, Robert Gosling, farmer and current managing director of Hartington Creamery, has confirmed that the cheese will continue be made strictly to tradition, just as it was 350 years ago.

Thanks to this developments – and the appearance of new cheese producers such as Cow Close Farm, near Hathersage, featured recently in this magazine – the future of cheesemaking in Derbyshire looks to have an exciting future.

JAIPUR beer still winning awards THE best beers and lagers in the Midlands were revealed late last year in the Society of Independent Brewers’ (SIBA) Awards 2023 – and Bakewell’s Thornbridge Brewery had two of them.

It’s lager, Lukas, won gold as it scored more than 90 out of 100 by SIBA’s judging panel; as did its now-famous IPA beer, Jaipur, which won Thornbridge Brewery

78 Reflections February 2024

two ‘Beer of the Festival’ awards in its first year in 2005 – at CAMRA events in Sheffield and Dudley – as well as being voted the Overall Champion Beer of the Midlands by SIBA in its first year.

Over the years, it has become Thornbridge’s flagship beer – and also got a Double Gold medal in the 2023 European Beer Challenge.

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79 Reflections February 2024

FEATURE

PART ONE

INSEPARABLE:

Lower Brampton and Robinson & Sons In the first of two studies, Godfrey Holmes examines the firm that became the bedrock of Lower Brampton.

F

OR 150 years after 1839, Lower Brampton, Chesterfield’s immediate western suburb became inseparable from the amazing and multifaceted enterprise established by local chemist John Bradbury Robinson, just after he had purchased a tiny factory in Middleton-by-Youlgreave.

What started with 25 people in Wheatbridge House making square pill-boxes, round ointment boxes and willow cigar boxes grew,

by Centenary Year 1939, to become 3,700 “hands” all along the River Hipper, making everything from folding cardboard boxes to patent spiral-tube boxes;

from bandages to sanitary towels; and from bleached cotton wool to antiseptics.

1884 saw the acquisition of the Holme Brook Works; 1885, the enlarged Wheatbridge Mills; 1896, the multi-storey Walton Works; 1899, Walton Corn Mills and the Walton Dam; 1921, the Portland Works; 1928, Field House, 80 Reflections February 2024

soon transformed to become Bradbury Hall, the catering and social hub of what had become Robinson & Sons Ltd. And cometh the company, cometh the company magazine: in this case, the quarterly LINK, price tuppence, despatched in a large brown envelope, sixpenny postage prepaid, to retired employees both in Chesterfield and far afield. It is the chance To advertise call 01246 550488

FEATURE

discovery of six copies of LINK dated 1967-68, addressed to the late Alfred Walker of Barker Lane, Lower Brampton (where else?) that leads me to look, this month, at Robinson PLACES; next month: Robinson PEOPLE. LINK follows, or alludes to, lots of Robinson discoveries or rights: not only the amazing Rowntree Smarties’ tube and Quaker Oats’ box; but also Lint and the Gamgee tissue; surgical dressings first trialed in the Crimean War; lidded drums; Mene for menstruation; Paddi-pad nappies; Soft & Pure toilet paper; and all sorts of production machinery – plus the “Loch Ness Monster” robot sweeper. And as, post-war, the company rapidly expanded into unrelated areas such as J.J.Blow dairy filters, stainless steel buckets and farm equipment, LINK was there too.

A first glance at any edition of LINK might find the Robinsons curiously familial: each factory dependent on its neighbour and their performance. So it was that the contemporaneous QR – Quality & Reliability – initiative led to a big exhibition; also the then Duke of Edinburgh’s personal imprimatur. One annual Robinson trip out was to Chorley in Lancashire – another Griffin packaging

plant; after tea and biscuits onward to Blackpool for a little unwinding! Months later: another busman’s holiday to the renowned Smith & Nephew, Kingston-upon-Hull.

Back in Brampton, there are references to the world’s thenonly Preparatory School: 1918, soon copied by Lady Mayoress Violet Markham’s training for her very junior nurses; and to initially unfamiliar Robinson outliers: Towels; the Guillotine Department; Round Boxes; the Folding Cotton Department; Cellulose; Pressuresealed Plastics; Carding; Apprenticeship; Estimating; Weaving; Small Orders; Gumming, Warehousing; and – memories of the 2020 Covid Pandemic – the Disposable Face-Mask Section.

Nor does LINK overlook the great August Bank Holiday flood of 1922: the flood that destroyed nearly the entire Robinson Archive – so many irretrievable documents.

The same River Hipper overtopping repeated in the 1930s, 1980s and lately – and destructively – in both July 2007 and October 2023.

And so each paster, bottomer, lidder and shorthand typist: let’s off to the Dam for the Annual Robinson Swimming Contest!

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Above: This piece of Robinson & Son’s machinery was dubbed ‘The Loch Ness Monster’.

Below: A 1967 issue of LINK included images of the great August Bank Holiday flood of 1922 in Brampton, including this one. The flood destroyed the entire Robinson Archive.

81 Reflections February 2024

PICTURE COMPETITION

Paragliders add to a gorgeous view!

J.P

P

ARAGLIDERS galore in this entry into our 2024 ‘Lovely Landscapes’ photographic competition. It was taken, of course, from Mam Tor looking towards Castleton on January 7 by James Peck, of Tansley.

Next, David Thorburn, of Wirksworth, thinks he was lucky to get this picture of Cromford Canal, just past the Wharf Shed, on January 16. He says: “The image is part of my ‘A Year on Cromford Canal’ project – and

one of the benefits of living close by is that you can react to changing conditions. The sun was just starting to light the tree canopy with spectacular colour – all I had to do was point and shoot.” Glad you did, David!

Here’s ‘skating seagulls’ on a pond at Wingerworth, taken on January 13 by Russ Teale, of Newbold.

A wintry sunset over the Longshaw Estate on January 9, taken by Brian Smith, of Upper Newbold.

D.T

R.T 82 Reflections February 2024

B.S To advertise call 01246 550488

PICTURE COMPETITION

S.H

R.T

Simon Hampton, of Walton, took the photo on January 10. It is looking down towards Edensor from Chatsworth park, with some fallow deer in the foreground.

S.S

Derwent Dam must have overflowed a few times in the last few months, and Russ Teale, of Newbold, was on hand to capture it on January 5.

Next, Stuart Slinn, of

B.S Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com

Wingerworth, took this view of Ashover on January 9 on a cold but sunny morning.

The ‘twisted trees’ mean this could only be Padley Gorge. The image was taken on January 9 by

Brian Smith, of Upper Newbold.

A guide stoop on Beeley Moor, marking the way to Chesterfield, is in the picture, taken on January 6 by Peter Wigglesworth, of Matlock.

P.W 83 Reflections February 2024

PICTURE COMPETITION

A.H

S.H

The photo is looking down towards Ladybower reservoir from Bamford Edge, by Simon Hampton, Walton.

On New Year’s Day, Andy Hanna, of Great Longstone, was on Mam Tor, taking this view along The Great Ridge.

Taken on January 20 by Stuart Slinn, of Wingerworth, is the Stonedge Cupola on a cold, windy day.

The picture(s) you send in for the ‘Lovely Landscapes’ competition must be taken in 2024 and must be in

84 Reflections February 2024

Derbyshire. You can enter as many times as you like. We want entries from amateur snappers and not commercial photographers; and drone images will not be accepted.

Please email your entries to barrief@bannisterpublications. co.uk, giving your full name and address, a contact telephone number and a description (including the date it was taken) of the image, which should be attached as a high-res jpeg.

The winner will receive

S.S

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.

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85 Reflections February 2024

OUT & ABOUT An unusual view of Chatsworth House, from the Hunting Tower.

Picture by Elizabeth Haynes.

A WALK WHICH INSPIRED A CLASSIC NOVEL J

ANE AUSTEN declared that there was no finer county in England than Derbyshire.

No surprise then that she chose Chatsworth House as the inspiration for her most famous – and unlikely – love match.

Austen first visited Chatsworth while staying in nearby Bakewell in 1811. At the time she was working on the novel which later became known as Pride and

Prejudice. Her impressions are not recorded. But in a famous passage from the novel she describes how Elizabeth Bennet came upon Pemberley, home of the wealthy and hitherto disagreeable Mr Darcy: ‘They gradually ascended for half a mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught

by Pemberley House situated on the opposite side of the valley, into which the road with some abruptness wound.’

If that description sounds familiar to lovers of the real-life Chatsworth, so too is Elizabeth’s reaction: ‘She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste.’

The magnificent pile works its magic on our heroine and the visit to Darcy’s country home with her aunt and uncle proves to be the turning point in the book’s central relationship. From that point on and against all expectations, Elizabeth Left: This walk follows the River Derwent past Chatsworth House – and you may be lucky enough to spot some deer.

Picture by Simon Hampton.

86 Reflections February 2024

is destined to become Mrs Darcy, mistress of Pemberley.

Chatsworth House (which is mentioned by name in the book) is, of course, the home of the 12th Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and has been in the Cavendish family since Bess of Hardwick settled there in 1549.

Setting off from Calton Lees, our walk takes in a stroll through the estate along the River Derwent and up through Edensor village, before ascending to admire the view described by Austen in Pride and Prejudice.

ROUTE S F rom Calton Lees car park return to and cross the main road at the cattle grid, following the path alongside the River Derwent past Chatsworth House until you reach a bridge.

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OUT & ABOUT

FACT FILE

START: Calton Lees car park (Grid ref: SK 258685) DISTANCE: 5miles (8km) TIME: Allow 2-2.5 hours MAP: OS Explorer OL24: The White Peak

2 C ross the road at the bridge and follow the footpath bearing left towards Edensor (ignoring the entrance to the grounds of Chatsworth House). At Edensor village, cross the road and pass through blue gates, following the path through the centre of the village past the Church of St Peter and a number of picturesque cottages.

3 As you pass the cottages look out for a blue handpainted sign on the left marked Footpath to Calton Lees and Rowsley. Here follow the steep stone steps up to a footpath and a small iron gate.

NOTE: If you continue to see a field to your left and woodland ahead, you have gone too far. Retrace your footsteps and look out for the signpost and stone steps amongst the cottages.

4 Go through the iron gate

and follow the public footpath as it crosses diagonally across the field (clearly signposted by markers). Continue uphill until you reach a stone wall around woodland.

There are a number of wooden benches here allowing you to look back and enjoy the view of Chatsworth House as described by Austen.

5 Pass through the gate in

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© Crown copyright, 11/2022, Ordnance Survey 200314.

TAKEN FROM: Walking the Literary Landscape

by Ian Hamilton & Diane Roberts, published by Vertebrate Publishing (on their website – adventurebooks.com – at £12.95). It features 20 circular walks in northern England that explore the settings that inspired some of our great literature.

the wall and follow the footpath through two wooden gates. The path crosses through the middle of the field before sloping to the right, descending to meet a third wooden gate.

6 Follow the footpath through the gate, passing Calton House and Barn as it winds down.

7 After passing Grafton and Jasmine Cottages, continue along the footpath which

Top: This walk takes you through Edensor, one of the prettiest villages in Derbyshire.

Picture by Russ Teale.

will take you back to your starting point at Calton Lees car park.

87 Reflections February 2024

FEATURE

Hedges are back

– AND YOU CAN LEARN TO LAY ONE Catherine Roth talks to a man who has been laying ‘traditional’ hedges for many years – and now teaches others to do it.

T

RADITIONALLY-LAID hedges draw on age-old techniques to ensure the provision of effective barriers for livestock – and they can last for hundreds of years.

It is a craft well known to Iain Thistlethwaite, who works as a Trails Ranger for the Peak District National Park and has been laying hedges for the various conservation organisations he’s worked for over the past 25 years.

He also enjoys passing on his skills to others by teaching countryside courses – including hedge laying, woodland management, tree felling, bird and tree 88 Reflections February 2024

identification and woodland ecology – at the Eco Centre at Middleton-by-Wirksworth.

Hedges not only mark boundaries and provide barriers but are wildlife corridors for a wide variety of species including small mammals, birds, insects and plants.

A well-laid hedge provides a stock-proof barrier which will last far longer than other alternatives. For example, fence posts may need replacing after 10 years whilst hurdles can last just five to six years.

Once a hedge has been established it will last for hundreds of years if properly maintained. This is far longer than if it was left to grow into individual trees. Species such as hazel, blackthorn and hawthorn will likely only last for just over a hundred years if grown as stand-alone trees.

Iain says: “There is higher conservation

Above: A newly-laid hedge at Carsington.

Left: Iain Thistlethwaite, who has been laying hedges over the past 25 years.

Below: Blackthorn – one of the most effective trees to use on Derbyshire hedges.

FEATURE Left: Some of the tools a hedge layer uses.

Right: Hawthorn – also known as ‘quick thorn’ – is also widely used on Derbyshire hedges.

value if the hedge is allowed to grow into a row of trees, but because they are shortlived species, they will die at a similar time, leaving no mature tree cover.”

Whilst a mechanically-cut hedge is flailed – often every year – a laid hedge is left to grow for a few years before being relaid every seven to 10 years when most of the stems should be between five to 10cm thick and at least two-and-a-half metres in height. Relaying a hedge also ensures that not only does it have less chance of becoming diseased, but it won’t become a row of trees, putting part of the field in shade and adversely affecting the growing conditions of crops.

Iain says: “We have lost thousands of miles of hedges since World War Two because of agricultural intensification and wanting bigger fields, as well as urban development and expansion of the road network. Across Great Britain, 140,000 miles of hedges between 19451970 were lost; with a further 78,000 miles lost between 1984 and 1990.”

Since then, there has been a continued loss of hedgerows, either as a result of them being removed or not having been managed, resulting in them simply becoming a row of mature trees.

The history of hedge laying goes a long way back to when early farmers wanted to control the landscape by containing livestock and indicating ownership.

Iain says: “When they were clearing a forest, they chose trees to form barriers around fields, as stock will wander if there’s no boundary. The people in Derbyshire found hawthorn, blackthorn and hazel to be the most effective, and was also what grew best there.”

Iain adds: “Hazel has a lovely straight stem and grows in pretty much any soil.

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Hawthorn and blackthorn are quite spiny with lots of thorns and are effective at keeping stock from pushing through.

Blackthorn also produces sloes, which are used in the gin making process.” They are quick growing too. Hazel will put on up to a metre-and-a-half of growth in a year, whilst hawthorn, also known as “quick thorn”, will put on between 70cm to one metre in a year.

Other trees can be laid in hedges, including ash, field maple and willow.

However, some are unsuitable for forming hedges and are to be avoided. Iain explains that, whilst rose is very thorny, it is not

particularly thick. He would also avoid elder. “It’s a woodland tree and inhibits the growth of other trees. In a hedge setting, elder forms gaps that will mean the hedge isn’t stock proof any more.”

Often, one or more of the trees in a hedge – for example, an oak – would be left to grow tall. This ‘standard’ tree might be used for a specific job on the farm, such as a future beam for the house or one of the barns, or it might be pollarded – cutting branches back to the main trunk above head height so that it can grow again – to provide timber for posts or firewood. Other 89 Reflections February 2024

FEATURE standard trees might include fruit trees so that an annual crop can be harvested.

While a newly-laid hedge has little wildlife value, the new growth makes it a welcome habitat for numerous species.

Iain says: “After a hedge has been laid, it will reset itself in the first two to three years and then more species will use it than they would a flailed hedge. If hedges are cut every year, they won’t flower and fruit.”

Instead, laid hedges are allowed time to grow, which means the trees can flower and provide pollen for bees and butterflies as well as producing berries for the birds. It also encourages other plant species including bluebells, dog’s mercury and wood anemones.

Hedges also offer an important habitat for insects, birds and small mammals such as hares, rabbits, hedgehogs and mice. They help to form wildlife corridors that link one woodland with another and provide shelter for species, act as a wind break and can also help to prevent soil erosion, particularly in large fields.

Iain says: “Leaving a strip of land that’s Above: Hazel, used on many Derbyshire hedges, grows up to a metre-and-a-half a year. not cut or ploughed means it is left quite undisturbed. You wouldn’t necessarily find a lot of insects in the middle of a field, but small mammals and birds will nonetheless have a chainsaw on site for speeding lay a hedge.” He recommends a rotation find a large food source in the hedgerows.” up and finishing jobs. It means you period of 10-12 years for this particular At the Derbyshire Eco Centre, part of don’t have to put so much effort into style of hedge, re-laying one section at Derbyshire’s Adult Community Education, some of the cuts – it’s really hard a time until it’s time to begin again. hedge laying courses run in February and work if you’re doing it all day.”

When laying a hedge, Iain explains November, timed for the winter months While the basic principles remain the that work should always be carried out when the trees are dormant and the sap isn’t same, there are many variations in the on the ditch side but the path side is rising. However, the courses are still very style of hedges, which differ from county used at Carsington as there is a fence much weather dependent. The courses don’t to county and are also dependent on what and stock on the other side. Hedges are take place in heavy rain or really strong trees are already growing in the area. traditionally laid uphill and if on the road winds. Frosty days are to Iain explains: “If you side with the flow of traffic. He says: “We be avoided, too, as the have one line of trees cut any branches sticking out towards moisture in the trees will then you can’t lay a us then take the hedge back to the main “There is a hedge laying be frozen, making the double-edged hedge.” trunk. If, for example, a hedge tree has branches brittle, leading Some of the died, then this provides a natural gap. course at the Eco Centre to a greater chance differences include the We then lay the first hedge stem.” starting on February 10; and a length of the rotation of them snapping.

After that, it’s time to make the pleacher.

Safety boots and period, the spacing Iain says: “We cut down three quarters woodland management course glasses, a hard hat between stakes, and of the diameter of the tree trunk and take starting on February 17.” and thick gloves are whether heatherings out three quarters of the stem. This is essential when laying are used, flexible stems then laid at 35 degrees. The new growth a hedge and a variety which literally bind from the cut pleacher will thicken up the of tools are used. The the top of the hedge hedge and give new life.” This continues main one is a bilhook. Iain says: “This together until it becomes established. for the length of the hedge and afterwards has a wooden shaft with a curved edge Before one of the hedges at Carsington stakes are put in every 50-70cm. on one side and a straight edge on the Water was laid in 2013 – where the Eco After many years of hedgerows being other side. It’s a handy tool for coppicing, Centre’s hedge laying courses take place, removed, new hedgerows are now being pointing stakes and chopping sticks. visitors walking along the trail were laid and old hedges restored through this Most people who attend the courses unable to see across the water. Ten years ancient craft. It is a skill that not only want to go and buy one after using it!” on and it is getting ready to be laid again provides effective stock proofing but is Other tools used in hedge laying as the trees are at the right height and also helping to increase biodiversity. include a hand or felling axe, loppers, thickness. It’s a combination of Midland Editor’s Note: For details of courses, visit: bow and pruning saws, a metal bar and Derbyshire style because there is a https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/education/ and a mel for knocking in posts, a fence behind it. Iain says: “If the hedge adult-education/centres/derbyshire-ecorake, as well as a sharpening stone for is mechanically cut at a certain height centre/derbyshire-eco-centre.aspx tools. Chainsaws may also be used as – for example, eight feet – then it will There is a hedge laying course at some of the trunks can be quite big. send out shoots from there and those will the Eco Centre starting on February Iain says: “We use traditional then send out another seven to eight new 10; and a woodland management bilhooks and axes on our courses but shoots. It then becomes really difficult to course starting on February 17.

90 Reflections February 2024

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91 Reflections February 2024

ANTIQUES

THE VALUE OF GOLD – AND OF

‘MEANINGFUL JEWELLERY’

By Vivienne Milburn FRICS Independent Antiques Auctioneer & Valuer

Vivienne looks at ‘REGARD’ brooches, the invention of the eternity ring – and the astonishing rise in the value of gold.

I

IN the Victorian and Edwardian era, acrostic jewellery was very popular; acrostic meaning a motto or verse in which the first letters of each word are spelt out symbolically.

One type of coded memento are known as ‘REGARD’ brooches. These are pieces usually set with a (R)uby, an (E)merald, a (G)arnet, an (A) methyst, another (R)uby and a (D)iamond – the initial letters of which spell out the word.

These pieces were very popular during the 19th Century and sell well in auctions today.

Other versions have the message disguised by scattering the stones instead of lining them up, for example (D)iamond, (E) merald, (A)methyst, (R)uby, (E)merald, (S)apphire, and (T) opaz – to spell out DEAREST. Mottos on gold and silver jewellery include MIZPAH, which signifies an emotional bond between people who are separated either physically or by death and it means “The Lord watch between me and thee when we are absent from one another”. An average price for a MIZPAH brooch is in the region of £100-200 in today’s market.

Another type of meaningful jewellery is the eternity ring.

The concept of a diamond 92 Reflections February 2024

eternity ring was created in the 1960s by diamond merchant De Beers. American investigative journalist Edward Jay Epstein stated that at the time the company had a secret agreement with the Soviet Union which, in return for the creation of a “single channel” controlling the world’s supply of diamonds, required the purchase of 90-95 per cent of the uncut gem diamonds produced by Russia.

The prevailing fashion at the time, particularly for

engagement rings, was for them to be set with a single, large diamond. The Soviet gems were, however, small, often less than 0.25 carats. To avoid stockpiling, De Beers embarked on a promotion campaign of jewellery containing a number of small diamonds, culminating in the eternity ring, which was aimed at married women. One campaign slogan aimed at husbands was: “She married you for richer or poorer. Let her know how it’s going.” Yes, really!

Above: A Regency acrostic – a verse or motto in which certain letters in each line form a word – heart-shaped locket as a pendant. Set with a trefoil cluster of turquoise cabochon and six varicoloured gemstones – ruby, emerald, garnet, amethyst and a diamond chip – to spell REGARD. It encloses a glazed panel with a lock of hair. Tested as gold, it is to be sold in a forthcoming specialist jewellery auction with an estimate of £200-400.

Eternity rings or half eternity rings are also known as infinity rings, comprising a band of To advertise call 01246 550488

ANTIQUES

A GOLD INVESTMENT THAT PAID OFF HANDSOMELY! A 50-YEAR gold investment certainly exceeded the expectations of one vendor.

A collection of fifteen Krugerrands in mint condition were bought to celebrate the vendor’s 21st birthday in 1974. They were bought for approximately £25 each and the collection sold recently for £1,755 each!

The Krugerrand is a South African coin, it is one ounce (33 grams) of fine gold. First minted in July 1967 to help market South African gold, they were produced by Rand Refinery and the South African Mint. The name is a compound

precious metal (usually gold) set with a continuous line of identically cut gemstones (usually diamonds) to symbolise never-ending love.

Nowadays, this type of diamond ring is generally given to women as a gift on a special occasion or anniversary.

While the popularity of eternity rings continues, the origin can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians, who used them as symbols of eternal love. Some original designs also feature a snake, eating its own tail as a symbol of the circle of life – perhaps a bit weird in today’s society!

Editor’s Note: Perhaps you also have jewellery, antiques

of Paul Kruger, the former President of the South African Republic (his profile is depicted on the obverse), and rand, the South African unit of currency. On the reverse side of the Krugerrand is a prancing springbok, South Africa’s national animal.

By 1980, the Krugerrand accounted for more than 90 per cent of the global gold coin market and was the number one choice for investors buying gold.

However, during the 1980s and 1990s, Krugerrands fell out of favour as some Western

countries barred import of the coins because of its association with the apartheid government of South Africa.

However, overall the Krugerrand has had remarkable success, assisted by favourable factors including the liberalisation of the gold market in many countries; a tumultuous global economy with high inflation and stock market

volatility; and a rapidly-rising gold price, which grew from approximately £25 in 1974 to £1,755: the price achieved for each of the coins in the collection we have highlighted.

Above: A 1974 gold Krugerrand and the pictures show both obverse and reverse. Fifteen were bought for £25 each in 1974 – and they made a staggering £1,755 each in a recent specialist auction.

Above: A diamond set full eternity ring, with marquise cut and graduated brilliant cut diamonds, claw set in a spray and scattered formation, with an estimated total diamond weight of approximately 3.70ct.

It’s expected to make £800-1,200 in a forthcoming auction.

and collectables that might be valuable? If so, it is worth getting the advice of an Independent Antiques Valuer to assess your items. For further information, please contact Vivienne on 01629 640210 or 07870 238788; alternatively, to go www.viviennemilburn. co.uk or email vivienne@ viviennemilburn.co.uk

Have you discovered something valuable?

To have your find valued and sold in a suitable auction, contact Vivienne on 01629 640210.

Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com

93 Reflections February 2024

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024

WINDING WHEEL

BUXTON OPERA HOUSE

SHEFFIELD ARENA

Feb 16 Professor Brian Cox: Horizons

Feb 8 Sarah Millican: Late Bloomer

Feb 23 Peter Kay

ICON KEY  Film

 Music

 Kids

 Live

  Dance Comedy

 Talk BOX OFFICE: 01298 72190 www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk

FEB BOX OFFICE: 01246 345 222 www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk

FEB

3

An Audience with Harry Redknapp

4

EPW Wrestling

5

My Fair Lady (U) 

6

Jimeoin – The Craic 

7

Exhibition on Screen: Klimt & the Kiss (12A) 

8

Gareth Gates in The Best of Frankie Valli 

9

The Adult Panto: Beauty & The Big Beast! 

10

NT Live: Dear England (15) 

11

An Evening with Sky Sports Jeff Stelling 

4

The Bon Jovi Experience 

5

Tish  (15) (Pavilion Arts Centre)

5

Wet Wet Wet 

6

Miles Jupp 

7

Transatlanic Sessions 

8

Sarah Millican: Late Bloomer 

9

Steve Steinman’s Vampires Rock 

10

An Evening with Johns’ Boys 

10-15

The End We Start From  (15) (Pavilion Arts Centre)

11

The Holdovers  (15) (Pavilion Arts Centre)

11

Women in Rock 

12

The Big Chris Barber Band 

12

Totem  (12) (Pavilion Arts Centre)

14

The James Brown Story

15

Fastlove: Tribute to George Michael 

16

That’ll Be The Day 

15

Sounds of the Rat Pack Era 

16

Professor Brian Cox: Horizons 

17

Shark in the Park 

16

You’re Bard!  (Pavilion Arts Centre)

23

The WestEnders Are Back

16

Dance Through The Decades 

25

NT Live: Vanya (15) 

17

Pete Whittaker 

17

Northern Soul Night  (The Octagon)

1

The Upbeat Beatles 

18

Chinese New Year Extravaganza 

2

Fascinating Aida: The 40th Anniversary Show

19-22

Wonka  (PG)

20

Tortoise and the Hare 

3

An Audience with Sir Bradley Wiggins 

20

Priscilla (PG) (Pavilion Arts Centre)

6

Bon Fogle: Wild 

21

Garth Marenghi: Incarcerat 

22

Killer Queen 

MARCH

94 Reflections February 2024

23

Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show

23

Stewart Lee 

24

Seth Lakeman 

25

Madama Butterfly 

26

The Story & Sound of Northern Soul 

27

I’m Sorry I Haven’t Got A Clue 

28

Banff Mountain Festival – Blue Programme 

29

Ed Byrne 

MARCH

1

The Dazzling Diamonds Comedy Drag Show 

2

Samantha Wood Theatre Academy

3

Lady Colin Campbell  BOX OFFICE: 0114 249 6000 www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

MOVIE NIGHT AT LOUNDSLEY GREEN THE trustees of Loundsley Green Community Centre were thrilled with the positive local response to the first cinema screening held last November that they’ve arranged a second that should have appeal to all ages.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is a fun, feel-good movie that will be screened on Thursday, 29 February 29 at the centre. Doors open at 6.30pm, movie starts at 7pm.

Tickets are just £4 and include refreshments.

For tickets, contact Cathy: 07419 336062, manager@lgct.org.uk; or Howard: 07904 152743, events@yahoo.co.uk; or Paul: 07753 605272, secretary@lgct.org.uk

To advertise call 01246 550488

ENTERTAINMENT FEB

7

26th MOBO Awards 

5

The MOBOs Fringe Sheffield Showcase (Crucible) 

10

Steelers v Manchester Storm

14

Steelers v Guildford Flames

7-9

Tea Dance  (Upper Foyer)

17

Steelers v Nottingham Panthers

6-10

Drop the Dead Donkey: The Reawakening!  (Lyceum)

23

Peter Kay

6

Howerd’s End  (Playhouse)

25

Steelers v Coventry Blaze

7

Can Bears Ski?  (Playhouse)

27

Bill Bailey 

9

Exploring The Reed Trio  (Upper Chapel)

13-17

2:22 A Ghost Story (Lyceum)

15

Old and New World Masterpieces  (Playhouse)

17

Luna Loves Library Day The Musical  (Playhouse)

19-24

Peter Pan Goes Wrong  (Lyceum)

19-20

A Family Business (Playhouse)

28 – 9 Mar Lines (Playhouse) MARCH

1

Sounds of Now: Drunk on Dreams  (Channing Hall)

2-30

The Crucible by Arthur Miller (Crucible)

5-9

The Boy at The Back of The Class (Lyceum)

MARCH

2

Steelers v Manchester Storm

8

James Arthur 

Other Events 7

Holymoorside Horticultural Society.

‘Gardening Through the Year’ presented

by Peter Forrow, 7.45pm. Holymoorside URC meeting room. All welcome

10

Sketching in the sculpture gallery at Chatsworth. Capture the beauty of figurative sculpture through this observational drawing workshop. It also gives you exclusive access to our historic sculpture collection during the closed season. Our experienced tutor will provide an overall structure to the session, helping you to develop your own drawing abilities and interests. You will be guided through initial sketches, measuring techniques and developing aspects of line and tone using dry media.

We will emphasise how to capture the three-dimensional form, using sculptures

by Albacini, Bartolini and Monti as our inspiration. For tickets and more information, visit www.chatsworth.org

10-18

Celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Heights of Abraham. Celebrate the Lunar New Year with a spectacular event. A Chinese Dancing Lion performance will kick the celebrations off on February 10; while all through the week the Rutland Cavern and Garden Pergola will be decorated with vibrant lantern displays. As it is the Year of the Dragon, many intricate paper dragons will be hung around the estate – but how many can you count? Cable car riders will be offered a fortune cookie that holds a message of good luck for the year ahead. For more details, visit www.heightsofabraham.com

13-14

Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football.

This exciting and dramatic game is thought to be one of the oldest forms of football in the world. Shrovetide Football is much longer than a regular football match and is played over two eight-hour periods. The goals are three miles apart and there are very few rules. The ball is rarely kicked but instead moves through a giant ‘hug’.

There is no set pitch: the game is played throughout the entire town, so shops and businesses board up their windows in preparation! 12noon to 10pm.

BOX OFFICE: 0114 2 789 789 www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

FEB

3

The ELO Experience 

4

Bowie Experience 

7

Legend: The Music of Bob Marley 

8

ABC: The Lexicon of Love  

9,10,16,17,23,24

Last Laugh Comedy Club 

10

Sheffield Powerlifting Championships 2024

14

Circus of Horrors

16

Daniel Sloss 

17

Diversity 

18

Cian Ducrot (O2 Academy) 

20

The World According to Kaleb 

22

Madama Butterfly 

24

The Halle 

28

Ross Noble 

MARCH

1-2

Jonathan Pie: Heroes & Villains 

7

Richard Herring 

7

Murder Trial Tonight 2 BOX OFFICE: 01142565656 www.sheffieldarena.co.uk

FEB

3

Steelers v Glasgow Clan

Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com

MINERS’ STRIKE EXHIBITION IT will be 40 years in March since the year-long miners’ strike started – and there’s an exhibition marking that year in the Market Hall Assembly Rooms, Chesterfield, from March 4-27, and then going ‘on tour’ around north Derbyshire.

The exhibition, organised by Derbyshire Unemployed Workers’ Centres (DUWC), gives the perspective of those men and women who took action in defence of their jobs and communities.

It will also include film shows, talks and lectures as well as music and song from the strike.

DUWC will be offering help and support to all attending, making sure that they are maximising their incomes during the present cost-of-living crisis. “We expect many former miners, their partners and widows will come along to have a look at the photos, banners and reflections,” said Colin Hampton, coordinator of DUWC, who took up the job during that year.

“Many are not getting all the help that they now need in old age. We can help them get through these hard times with dignity. Benefits like Attendance Allowance are not means tested but are still massively under claimed.”

The exhibition will also show what many local women did during the strike. Colin said: “Women across North Derbyshire set up 24 strike centres, but they didn’t just feed the families, they joined picket lines, they demonstrated, and travelled the length and breadth of the country, raising money and addressing meetings. This exhibition is a tribute to all who took part.”

He added: “Outside of the Second World War and the Covid pandemic, the miners’ strike is possibly the biggest single event involving so many local people. It is for that reason that the 40th anniversary is important for all in our community.”

During the exhibition, people will be asked to pin up photos of loved ones and family members involved; as well as the recording their reminiscences if they wish.

• Look out for a special feature on the strike in next month’s Reflections.

17

Get drawing in winter at Chatsworth.

Explore the garden and create a series of observational drawings of seasonal plants, trees and landscapes under expert tuition. Create new compositions inspired by winter colours and landscapes in the Chatsworth Garden. For tickets and more information, visit www.chatsworth.org

17-25

Half-Term Fun at The Heights of Abraham. All our attractions and guided tours are open every day during the school holidays. Explore underground illuminated caverns, Continued on 96 95 Reflections February 2024

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 Continued from 95 hear the legends and real stories of life beneath Masson Hill, or head for the film theatre to learn more about how these ancient hills and caverns were formed. For more information, visit www.heightsofabraham.com 22

MARCH

9-14

Crescent Crafts at Buxton Crescent Experience. Craft, build, play and explore in the glorious Assembly Rooms.

Join us for night-time themed crafts as we make some shadow torches and explore the world of night-time creatures with Nature Tots. We’ll also have a Regency doll’s house available, as well as a dressing-up wardrobe, tea set and the ever-popular LEGO. Or, just come along for a chat, and simply enjoy the opportunity to be in this wonderful room. No need to book – just drop in and enjoy the fun!

Free, but donations are welcome.

Celebrate Mother’s Day at Cromford Mills. A heart-warming Mother’s Day weekend at Cromford Mills.

Enjoy our delectable Cream Tea at HALF PRICE. For more information, visit www.cromfordmills.org.uk

96 Reflections February 2024

HEARTWARMING CHILDREN’S BALLET

BEN FOGLE HEADS FOR CHESTERFIELD

NORTHERN Ballet’s heart-warming children’s ballet Tortoise & the Hare will tour to venues across the UK, including Buxton, in the coming months.

Running for approximately 40 minutes, the colourful production has been created especially for children aged three and above and their families. It is designed as a way for them to experience live dance, music and theatre together at an affordable price.

There are three performances at Buxton Opera House on February 20, at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm. For tickets or to find out more, go to buxtonoperahouse. org.uk (box office 01298 720500.

Blair Dunlop.

BROADCASTER and adventurer Ben Fogle will be bringing out his wild side once more as his latest tour heads to Chesterfield.

Sharing inspiring and uplifting stories from a life of amazing encounters, the popular presenter will hit the road with live tour BEN FOGLE – WILD visiting the Winding Wheel Theatre on Wednesday March 6.

In BEN FOGLE – WILD, Ben will relive the uplifting tales he has encountered along the way – in environments as diverse as the wilderness of northern Sweden, the jungles of Honduras, the hostility of Chernobyl and the mountains of Nepal.

Ben Fogle has also scaled Mouth Everest, rowed the Atlantic and raced across Antarctica and the Sahara. He is also a Sunday Times bestselling author who has written more than 15 books and also a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and patron of The Red Cross.

SUBMIT YOUR LISTING OR EVENT

Please email your information including dates to whatson@reflections-magazine.com before February 16th, 2024, to appear in the March 2024 issue.

To advertise call 01246 550488

BOOK REVIEW

Be Wild about Cooking!

“Cooking Wild” is a captivating and inspirational book about delicious recipes prepared in the ‘great outdoors’ on a limited budget and with limited resources.

A

UTHOR Mark Roberts, a Derbyshire firefighter by trade, was inspired to write the book for two reasons: firstly, as a ‘thank you’ to his dad, John, for guiding him on his path in the hospitality industry, and secondly to show how creative meals can be produced in ‘wild’ locations using natural, healthy, organic, sustainable, and fresh ingredients.

Not only can you read it at home or out on your walks and adventures, but you can watch Mark cook these dishes in the wild via the YouTube links provided in the book, like making tasty puddings whilst rock climbing in the Peak District or barbecuing a trout by a Scottish loch. Plants, seafood, meat, and poultry are all covered in a whole host of scrumptious recipes.

To prove his point about being able to produce these dishes without unlimited budgets and resources, Mark has cooked every one of these recipes in a different “wild” location – often as part of, or at the end of, a nice healthy walk.

So, whether it’s perched on a rocky coastal shoreline, a nature filled woodland, the summit of a Scottish mountain, a white sandy beach, the barren moorlands of a National Park, right through to the bottom of the garden, Mark shows how to create visually appealing, delicious, and nutritious food no matter how wild the location!

Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com

“Cooking Wild” explores the connection between food, fire, and nature. Fire is the most powerful element and nature is the kitchen. Preparing food in the wild and eating it round a campfire is a joyous experience. Taking care to stress the importance of protecting the environment, and paying strict heed to fire safety, Mark illustrates beautifully how wonderful, mouth-watering recipes can be conjured up in a safe, yet adventurous way. As confidence grows, foraging for foods comes to the fore – with tips and pointers on how to do this to best effect.

The book is perfect for a family on a day’s mini adventure to an epic expedition. Mark says that he’s written the book for a wide audience from foodies, chefs, foragers, bushcrafters, adventurers, Scouting groups, forest schools, walkers, families, individuals, farmers, outdoor enthusiasts, and everyone in between! He wants “Cooking Wild” to create and inspire adventures not only in cooking but in getting outdoors to explore, dream and discover!

Fuelled by experiences in earlier life, Mark uses “Cooking Wild” as a tool to pushing the boundaries even further. It touches on the mental health benefits of being outdoors and feeling ‘at one’ with nature. Is there a better way to get back to your roots and set your mind in a better place than in beautiful nature, by the fire and with lots of amazing food? Cooking over an open fire, doing the prep work with the blue sky above, and feasting outside a tent can work wonders for the mindset.

“In part, this is a lovely book designed to help you get creative and enjoy the outdoors, and, in another, it is an encouragement to get involved with a wild larder” Tim Maddams, Private Chef, Writer, Cookery Teacher, and Presenter.

“It’s extremely refreshing to see that food can be created in any wild environment, without the need to stay at home and be in the kitchen.”

Chaz Powell, Explorer of the Year 2021, Expedition Leader, Ranger, Survivalist, FRGS.

“Cooking Wild” is available to purchase at just £9.99 through bannisterpublications.com 97 Reflections February 2024

Prize Crossword

Congratulations to Ann Parker of Walton, Chesterfield, who won the January 2024 crossword.

She won £25 Why not have a go at the February 2024 crossword on page 61?

98 Reflections February 2024

To advertise call 01246 550488