Reflections Magazine June 2024

June 2024

REFLECTIONS MAGAZINE JUNE 2024

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

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

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Published by: Bannister Publications Ltd. Tel. 01246 550 488 (3 lines). Bannister Publications Limited, Office 2A Market Hall, Market Pl, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. S40 1AR. Reflections is published monthly and delivered directly to homes which fall into tax bands D to H and the following postcode areas: DE4 - 2, 3, 4, 5 / DE45 1 / S18 5 / S30 1 / S40 - 1, 2, 3, 4 / S41 0, S41 7, 8, 9 / S42 - 5, 6, 7

16 48 62

8,12,97 Countywide News

All that’s happening around the county in words and pictures

16 Chesterfield’s Chief Constable was a ‘fashion policeman’ Patrick Coleman looks at the remarkable legacy of the former head of Chesterfield police force

32 The ultimate award for a Derbyshire ‘sustainable development’ firm

Catherine Roth looks at a Wirksworth company that has won the most prestigious business award of them all

38 Antiques

Sell your gold sovereigns right now, says our antiques expert Vivienne Milburn

48 Will Chesterfield ever be connected again by canal to the River Trent?

With work having started on the latest phase of the canal’s restoration in Staveley, Rod Auton looks at the prospects

58

54 A century of choral singing in and around Chesterfield Liz Holloway reveals that choral singing locally is 100 years old this year

58 The remarkable effect of a ‘tigers in torment’ story on a Matlock artist

A Sunday newspaper story changed the life of wildlife artist an d conservationist Pollyanna Pickering, who has since died. Her daughter, Anna-Louise Pickering, takes up the remarkable story…

62 Fashion Stay on-trend with our style guru Amy Norbury

66 Pitcher Wits

67 Crossword

68 Gardens

A Derbyshire village Open Gardens attracts visitors from all over the country, Catherine Roth discovers

Cover: Delicious fare at Fischer’s of Baslow Hall. Read our Food Review on P78. Food photography by RobertBannister.

72 Crafts that are truly Derbyshire’s heritage

Mica Bale takes a look at some of the heritage crafts being kept alive in the county

76 Spotlight on the Arts

Jenny Tozer provides fulsome details of an exciting event at the end of June, the Bonsall Art Trail

78 Food Review: Fischer’s Baslow Hall

82 Recipe of the Month

We have a delicious signature dish from the executive chef of Baslow’s The Cavendish Hotel, Adam Harper

84 A Northern Lights treat!

A sensational image of the Northern Lights, seen in the sky above Matlock, is one of the entries into our ‘Lovely Landscapes’ competition

88 Out & About

Our walk this month takes in what is possibly the Peak District’s least-known dale, Coombs Dale

94 What’s On

Our comprehensive guide to forthcoming events across the county and beyond in June and early July

Countywide News

Coun Thacker and his consort, Jean Spencer, visited every bell tower; and Coun Thacker had a go at bell ringing at several churches.

Tapestry renewed at Hardwick – after 24 years!

HARDWICK Hall has been Highly Commended in the prestigious 2024 Museum and Heritage Awards for its Gideon Tapestry conservation project, the National Trust’s longest-running project at 24 years!

Visitors to the National Trust property can now see the Gideon Tapestries just as Bess of Hardwick, who bought them in London in 1582, would have viewed them in the late 16th century. Now completely renovated, the floor-to-ceiling tapestries are totally uncovered so that visitors can see their full beauty. The display is accompanied by a new soundscape.

Bell A-Peal raises

£1,400

for hospice

LOCAL bell ringers, with their Bell A-Peal, raised over £1,400 for Ashgate Hospice, to support the appeal led by Coun Martin Thacker MBE, chairman of North East Derbyshire District Council.

Ringers from as far as Kent, Northumberland and South Wales came to ring at 13 bell towers in North East Derbyshire for the Bell A-Peal on May 11.

Over 120 bell ringers and helpers enjoyed the day, plus numerous people from the local communities who came to support the event. Some church bell towers made the most of the lovely weather, turning it into a broader community event, with sales of plants, books and more.

The following day, May 12, was Bell Sunday. At Old Brampton Church, a special service marked the end of their Big Bells’ Centenary Year.

Peak District gift shop wins award

INDEPENDENT Derbyshire brand, Delightful Living, received a top award last month as customers voted them ‘Best Lifestyle Store’ in the coveted Muddy Stilettos regional awards.

Delightful Living have made The Courtyard Barn at Eyam Hall Courtyard home to their thoughtfully curated range of homewares, gifts and accessories.

Business owners Anne Hyde and Paul McGreevy opened the store in April 2023 after moving their 16-year-old online business to the village. Just twelve months later the store has been named as Best Lifestyle Store in the Nottingham and Derbyshire region.

“Winning this award will help spread the word about our store and really get us on the map,” Paul added.

Delightful Living is open Tuesday -Sunday, 10.30am-4.30pm, at The Courtyard Barn, Eyam Hall Courtyard, Eyam S32 5QW.  The firm’s website is www.delightfulliving.co.uk

Workshop back in action…

AFTER over 12 months of renovations to an empty unit, Bolsover Woodlands Enterprise held an Open Day last month; when

Alison Parente, from Welbeck, and Robert Parkin, president of Bolsover Woodlands Enterprise, jointly opened the workshop.

Guests, parents and carers joined in the celebration and watched demonstrations of the log splitter and bandsaw.

Cathy Cooke, chair of Bolsover Woodlands Enterprise, thanked all team members and staff for the amount of work they did to make the workshop useable.

Bolsover Woodlands Enterprise offer people with learning disabilities exciting opportunities to develop new skills and be part of an organisation which makes a positive contribution to the management and conservation of woodlands.

Wood, which is milled and air dried, is made into rustic products which are available for sale. Further information at www.bolsoverwoodlands.org

Open Day success at Walton Dam

THE bowling green at Walton Dam saw plenty of action when Robinson Bowls Club held its annual Open Day on May 12.

There were new recruits trying their hand at crown green bowls, and older hands participating in the club’s Linnets Cup competition for existing members. It proved a fruitful afternoon with several new members being signed-up.

The winner of the Linnets Cup was Philip Robinson. Runner-up was David Leary.

Chairman Geoff Mitchell said: “It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, nice weather, good bowls to watch, and new members. Anyone who couldn’t make the Open Day still has the chance to have a go at bowls. Just turn up at Walton Dam from 10am on a Thursday morning, where a warm welcome awaits.” For more details, email: robinsonbowls@outlook.com

Below: The Linnet Cup presentation to winner Philip Robinson (right) by Robinson Bowls chairman Geoff Mitchell.

Above: Working on the renovation of the Gideon Tapestry at Hardwick Hall at the National Trust’s Conservation Studio in Norfolk.

Chesterfield’s new Mayor

COUN Jenny Flood has begun her term of office as Chesterfield’s 383rd Mayor. She was sworn in at Chesterfield Borough Council’s annual council meeting on May 8, with a Civic Parade on May 11.

Coun Flood’s friend and community liaison officer Heather Hopkinson takes on the role of Mayoress.

Coun Barry Dyke has been appointed as Deputy Mayor, with his wife Marie serving as Deputy Mayoress.

The Mayor’s Appeal for this year will be raising funds for Derbyshire Law Centre; Chesterfield Royal Charity, supporting staff’s health and well being post-Covid; and Rural Action Derbyshire’s Feeding Chesterfield initiative.

Coun Flood was born in Lincolnshire. She started her career as a student nurse at University College Hospital, London, where she became a ward sister specialising in the care for the elderly.

Jenny later progressed to Nether Edge Hospital in Sheffield to open the Stroke Unit and manage the Acute Unit as Assistant Matron, resulting in her moving to Hasland, where she was closer to her sister.

Jenny made a career change when she married her late husband, Raymond. She became a full-time trade union official for COHSE in the Trent region, and following

a union merger was the UNISON Officer for health branches in the region.

Jenny has one son, Nathan and a daughter-in-law, Joanna, a grandson, Arthur, and a granddaughter on the way.

In 2011, after her retirement, Jenny stood for Rother Ward and has been reelected ever since. She was responsible for helping set up Gussies Kitchen, a not-forprofit café, which provided free food to

300 households weekly throughout the pandemic and is now providing a weekly food shop for those in food poverty.

Paul’s a ‘Master of the Marque’

PAUL Morris from Stanton Lees has scooped a Masters of the Marque award for his special classic car.

Paul, the owner of an 1934 Austin 10, won the ‘Most Venerable’ category at the Austin Extravaganza held at Derbyshire’s Great British Car Journey museum at Ambergate recently.

The 90-year-old calls the car ‘Wren’ in tribute to female sailors in the Royal Navy (WRNS). He explained: “The number plate is RN, which stands for Royal Navy, which I served in for 30 years.”

The Masters of the Marque awards are sponsored by Wera Tools UK and organised by the award-winning classic car museum, to honour people like Paul.

Museum founder Richard Usher said: “The awards follow the slightly quirky nature of the museum. I wanted to give classic car owners an incentive to visit us when we promote days celebrating specific British cars and I am delighted that Wera have decided to support the awards.”

The overall winner at each event receives a year’s membership of Great British Car Club, an engraved glass trophy and a selection of Wera tools.

All entrants to Masters of the Marque events receive a commemorative plaque, and entry is £10 per car, which gives the driver free entry to the museum and all facilities.

The next Masters of the Marque events scheduled at Great British Car Journey are a Morris Minor Day on June 9; a Reliant Regatta on June 23 and an MG Summer Festival on July 14.

Below: Paul Morris with ‘Wren’, his 1934 Austin 10.

Above: The new Mayor of Chesterfield, Coun Jenny Flood, with Mayoress Heather Hopkinson.

Chesterfield’s chief constable was a ‘fashion policeman’!

Patrick Coleman looks at the remarkable legacy of a former chief constable of Chesterfield Police force.

ACHEQUERBOARD of black and white squares – ‘dicing’ as the design is properly known – is an instantly recognisable symbol of British policing, known the world over. The pattern has adorned uniforms, police cars and stations, and been adopted by forces as far away as Chicago and New Zealand.

Even so, and despite its ubiquity, few people are aware of how or when the famous design originated, nor of its originator’s connection to Derbyshire.

But ‘Sillitoe Tartan’ – as the pattern is affectionately nicknamed – was the brainchild of one Sir Percy Sillitoe, a remarkable police officer, later Director General of MI5, whose first-ever posting as a UK officer had been as Chief Constable of Chesterfield Borough Police!

Born in London in 1888, Sillitoe had left Britain at the tender age of 20, heading to Africa to take up an opportunity in the colonial police forces of the then British Empire. He served in the British South Africa Police and then the Northern Rhodesia Police, in what is now Zambia. He was there when the First World War broke out in 1914, shaking the Empire.

The young Sillitoe was drawn into the East Africa campaign, where German colonial forces began attacking British interests, hoping to divert UK troops and

resources away from the war in Europe.

Although the campaign finally went Britain’s way, and Sillitoe escaped the conflict unscathed, he was still forced to step back from colonial duties in 1922 after contracting rheumatic fever, being forced to return to Britain.

It was back in England, and with no previous British policing experience that Sillitoe – to his surprise – was appointed to a Chief Constable position in a major force. His war service had been better reported that he had suspected, and though initially worried he would not find work back home, he found himself deployed to the senior role in north Derbyshire, leading Chesterfield Police. Although Sillitoe was only to be Chief Constable here for a short tenure of two years, he had a big impact on the town’s policing.

Not only did he instigate a full reorganisation of the force, but he convinced the local authorities to build the town a new Police and Fire Station. These were constructed on New Beetwell Street and opened in 1926, and extended in 1937.

Sillitoe moved over the county border next, first

Above: Sillitoe served first in colonial police forces, first in South Africa and then Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia).

Below: A painting of Sir Percy Sillitoe. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery.

Above: The baseball caps – still with the ‘Sillitoe Tartan’ – worn by today’s police officers.

to East Riding, then to Sheffield and finally heading to Glasgow. In these two cities, Sillitoe became famous for helping break the power of notorious criminal gangs. The Sheffield gangs may not be as well-known as Birmingham’s ‘Peaky Blinders’, but the city’s Gang Wars were just as dark and violent (giving rise to Sheffield’s nickname, ‘Little Chicago’).

Sillitoe set up a Special Duties Squad to crack the gangs. He was so successful that he was drafted to Glasgow to deal with the notorious ‘Razor Gangs’, which began to fracture in the years before the Second World War, thanks to Sillitoe’s ‘reasonable force’ approach.

“The peaked cap, which would become the main showpiece for Percy Sillitoe’s iconic design has, however, a more ‘chequered’ history.”

Instead of military attire, the new police wore civilian frock coats and ‘stovepipe’ top hats, while in place of military red, their clothing was made primarily blue. Until the Bobbies first appeared in 1829, the public had been used to informal law enforcement by local parish men who would volunteer their time for a year as a local constable or watchman.

The idea of a professional, organised ‘force’ was reminiscent to many of French-style secret police, and so Bobbies were at pains to appear less official.

Above: Sillitoe convinced the local authorities to build a new Police and Fire Station in Chesterfield. These were constructed on New Beetwell Street and opened in 1926, and extended in 1937, when this picture was taken.

Below inset: The badge of Chesterfield Borough Police force.

but was finally standardised in 1933.

It was in Glasgow that Sillitoe made his enduring – though little celebrated – contribution to policing. Oddly, it was a sartorial one (and a compulsory sartorial one at that, making Sillitoe something of a “fashion police” officer).

Police uniforms have undergone many changes through their history. The original ‘Bobbies’ of the Metropolitan Police had worn civilian-style dress. Sir Robert Peel, the founder of modern policing, wanted to distinguish his new officers from soldiers, so suspicious were the public of a centrally controlled, government-backed police force.

It wasn’t long, however, before the uniform began to take on a more military feel, mainly because most Chief Constables were former soldiers who liked the idea of glistening badges and regimental insignia.

The iconic ‘custodian helmet’, so familiar as a mark of British policing, appeared in 1863, a design thought to be based on Prussian military helmets. The ‘Brunswick Star’ badge on the front of the helmet was not adopted by all forces immediately,

The peaked cap, which would become the main showpiece for Percy Sillitoe’s iconic design has, however, a more ‘chequered’ history. Forms of it had been used by various forces throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. And today, they are a far more common sight than the custodian helmet. It was in 1932 that Sillitoe introduced the black-and-white dicing band to the peaked caps of the City of Glasgow Police. The accessory was in some ways a new form of the black-and-white striped armbands that Bobbies had worn to identify themselves to the public as members of the police. But it also owed much to the dicing patterns used by various Scottish military regiments on their Glengarry bonnets. Sillitoe Tartan was quickly adopted by Scotland’s forces, but only spread through

the rest of the UK from 1972 onwards. These days, all British police forces use Sillitoe Tartan on cap bands, women’s bowler hats and cravats, as well as on high-visibility jackets and, now, on baseball caps. (The blue-and-yellow ‘Battenburg Markings’ used on most police vehicles today are a 1990s adaptation of Sillitoe Tartan; versions are also used by other emergency services; red and yellow by the fire brigade, green and yellow by the ambulance service.)

Sir Percy – he was to be knighted in 1942 – was equally instrumental in more practical advances. His work to introduce wireless radio to police vehicles led to the gradual reduction and disappearance of police communication boxes, once a widespread sight on Britain’s streets. His pioneering spirit was probably what brought him to the attention of the nation’s spy agencies. In 1946, he was appointed Director General of the Security Service, better known as MI5.

Although successful in this post, his tenure was rocked by the defection of the British spies Guy Burgess and Donald Duart McClean to the Soviet Union. It became clear that MI5 had not been aware of the ‘Cambridge Five’ spy ring, a huge embarrassment for the service whose remit included the weeding out of double-agents.

Sillitoe retired as Director General in 1953 with his reputation somewhat tarnished. Nevertheless, Sillitoe was not one for a quiet retirement. He took on a private detective role, working to combat the trafficking of diamonds. In this endeavour he’d come full circle back to his formative years in Africa, his employer being the South African De Beers Diamond Corporation. This last act was a great success as Sillitoe managed to stop a diamond smuggling operation from Sierra Leone.

Percy Sillitoe died in Eastbourne in 1962. His Chesterfield station on New Beetwell

Above: The first policemen in 1829 – known as Bobbies or Peelers – wore civilian frock coats and ‘stovepipe’ top hats.

Street sadly no longer stands, though the street remains the site of the town’s police headquarters. However, Sillitoe’s most prevalent memorial can be seen adorning today’s Derbyshire police uniforms, and the badge itself of Derbyshire Constabulary. The successor force to Chesterfield Borough features the ‘Sillitoe Tartan’ named for the man who once led local policing in the county’s famous market town.

Food Hall/Deli

THE opening of the food hall/ deli at Dunston Hall Estate on 1st July will celebrate the fruition of another cathartic initiative at Dunston Hall Estate.

The food hall/deli will stock all manner of locally-sourced, fresh and seasonal produce – from vegetables and fruit to meats, fish, home-made pies, and cakes, as well as beers, wines, chutneys, pickles, and jams. Everything on display will be of premium quality and prime pedigree.

Visitors will be able to make their way along the food and delicatessen counter and order freshly-prepared food to eat outside within the stunning grounds of the arboretum. Sandwiches, light bites, lunches, breakfasts, afternoon teas, street foods, and themed specials will all be available on site – lovingly prepared and curated by the team of chefs working in the bespoke kitchens upstairs. All the food will be natural, healthy, and of prime quality. Spearheading the food hall/deli, is award-winning chef and baker, Steve Carroll, with operations director, Mark Lancashire, overseeing the whole estate.

Within the glorious arboretum sits a shepherd’s hut, waiting to be the serving place for teas, coffees, and cold drinks. Visitors can relax in the seating area provided and take in the summer sunshine – all within the most picturesque

backdrop imaginable – surrounded by beautiful trees and nature.

The centrepiece of the Dunston Hall Estate is the exquisite Grade II-listed Dunston Hall. Dating back to 1576, the Hall has been impassionedly restored by owners, David and Lynsey Harrison. Retaining the character and rustic charm of its original sixteenth century features, whilst adding the luxuries of highquality contemporary living, the Hall has been converted into an exclusive-use wedding and bespoke events venue.

The Garden Room for the wedding ceremony and The Stables for the reception have been gracefully and subtly renovated and refurbished to create idyllic and dedicated spaces for the special day. The Hall can accommodate 23 people in 10 ensuite bedrooms. Dining is exceptional; from the formal wedding breakfast to relaxed barbecues and street food in the surrounding grounds. The grounds overlook the beautiful deer park – all 17 acres of it, which Dunston Hall Estate has recently acquired from Chesterfield Borough Council.

Dunston Hall Estate also includes the long-established Dunston Hall Garden Centre, the ever-popular bistro, the children’s play area, the heritage centre, the courtyard, and the arboretum.

The garden centre, headed by Matt and his dedicated, hardworking team, is always

well stocked, housing probably the largest selection of plants in the area. The staff are knowledgeable and helpful. Every garden accessory imaginable can be found here –from log cabins to tools, gifts, and books. You name it, and you’re sure to find it here!

Is this the last stage in the Dunston Hall Estate journey? Not a chance! Plans are afoot to create a footpath through the deer park to the arboretum and garden centre to improve accessibility for the general public. The deer park is also set to be home to a further 1000 or so trees over the next couple of years and an educational centre area for local schoolchildren.

David and Lynsey are proud to provide a ‘destination’ centre for local people, where two or three hours can fly away in no time. They are also inspired and motivated to offer employment opportunities to local people – already having increased staff numbers from 24 to 67 within the short space of three years.

CHANGING A WILL AFTER DEATH –DEED OF VARIATION

You may think that the provisions made within a will are written in stone and cannot be amended once the testator has died, and that intestacy rules (where someone doesn’t have a will) cannot be overruled. However, that is not quite true. It is possible to make alterations relating to a deceased’s estate –whether there is a will or not – by entering into a deed of variation.

A deed of variation is a legal document that allows the beneficiaries to make changes to the way and to whom an estate is divided. Where there is no will, those entitled to inherit under the rules of intestacy, can also request these changes. A deed of variation must be entered into within two years of the death of the testator for it to be effective.

Single or multiple deeds relating to one estate can be entered into as long as an asset is only varied once. The deed or deeds don’t have to involve all beneficiaries: only those whose inheritance is to be amended, and they can only vary their own share of an estate.

A deed can be entered into by any beneficiary who is of sound mind and is over the age of 18. It cannot be used to divert funds away from a creditor or to stop a person on means-tested benefits from undergoing further means-testing after inheriting. It can be made during the

administration process or after it has been completed, including when assets have already been transferred to the beneficiaries.

Anyone who has a right to inherit from a will or intestacy rules can give away their inheritance to whomever they choose, should they wish to. There are several reasons why someone might want to do this, such as:

• To help people more vulnerable than themselves, for example, to provide for special needs assistance or care home fees.

• Providing for unmarried partners.

• Leaving assets to charity. Leaving 10% or more of the net estate to charity may allow the estate to qualify for a lower IHT rate of 36%.

• Diverting funds to grandchildren, children born after the death of the testator or children who have not been adopted.

• Dealing with a will that has been revoked by marriage and the rules of intestacy mean that those who would normally inherit no longer do so.

• Improving tax efficiencychanges can be ‘read back’ to the point of death, providing certain rules are adhered to, which can mitigate certain tax liabilities.

Making a gift under a deed of variation allows the gift to be treated as if it was made by the deceased.

For this reason, deeds of variation are regularly used to maximise tax efficiency. For example, assets can be redirected to utilise any inheritance tax (IHT) relief that is available. Trusts can also be used for future planning, where family circumstances may be different to the date the will was written.

Another advantage is if the named beneficiary is likely to have their own IHT liability upon their death, they may want their inheritance to be gifted to someone else immediately rather than making gifts after inheriting. If done under a deed of variation the requirement to survive the gift by seven years for it to be out of their estate for inheritance tax, no longer applies. Consideration also needs to be made with regard to

Contact the Private Client Team: 01246 229393

Unit 14F, The Glass Yard, Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, S41 8JY

Email: wills@graysons.co.uk

Graysonslaw @Graysonslaw

capital gains tax. It is possible to elect for this to be read back to the date of death as well, which could again be advantageous from a tax point of view.

Laura Cowan, head of Graysons’ private client department says: “A deed of trust is clearly an important document and as such it could be abused or ineffective if written incorrectly. Complex rules – particularly around signatories and witnesses – and tax implications mean that things can easily go wrong, so it is advisable to get legal advice.”

Laura has many years’ experience of drafting deeds of variation to help those who want to change a will after death. She is a member of STEP – an organisation whose members are experts in inheritance and succession planning. Contact Laura now for advice on how you can achieve your desired changes and what your next steps should be. LC

Laura Cowan, head of private client department.

THE ULTIMATE AWARD FOR A DERBYSHIRE ‘SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT’ FIRM

Catherine Roth looks at a Wirksworth company that has won the most prestigious business award of all.

ADERBYSHIRE company is celebrating after receiving a royal seal of approval. TDP was presented with the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development at a ceremony in May, acknowledging its commitment to the environment.

A small family-run business in Wirksworth, TDP designs and handcrafts stylish outdoor furniture made entirely from recycled UK plastic waste. What makes the products so remarkable is that they look just like wood, even down to the grain, yet require none of the time-consuming maintenance that timber involves.

The product range has grown steadily since Rob Barlow, managing director, designed and made the company’s very first bench in 2012. There is now an extensive

selection of benches, chairs, modular seating, tables, picnic benches, dining sets, planters and nature accessories. In that time, TDP has used over 4,500 tonnes of recycled UK plastic waste in its products, with every kilogram of recycled plastic using the equivalent of 630 bottle tops – all plastic waste that could otherwise have ended up in landfill.

TDP was awarded the prestigious royal honour last year, which included an invitation to a reception at Buckingham Palace where Rob was joined by the other winning companies. He was also given an audience with King Charles III. Rob says: “It was really exciting to tell my story in person. We spoke about the environment and plastic waste, and the King was intrigued about how our furniture was made and wanted to know the processes.”

However, the formal presentation of the award was postponed until the following year, due to the death of the late Queen and ensuing formalities.

May 15 was therefore a day of celebration in Derbyshire for TDP and its invited guests at Haarlem Mill, built by Sir Richard Arkwright in 1780, and sited just across the road from TDP’s factory and showroom.

His Majesty’s representative in Derbyshire, the Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire Elizabeth Fothergill CBE and

Top: The TDP team celebrate the King’s Award for Enterprise announcement last year.

Above: Anna and Rob Barlow on one of their ‘citizen science’ trips which have taken them to the Artic, Alaska and Antartica in recent years.

Left: The recycled plastic used by TDP to make loads of products, from benches to bird tables.

Peter Ellse DL, formally presented TDP with its award. This was followed by a music performance from renowned Derbyshire folk singer Lester Simpson, as well as a poetry reading from locally-based poet Rob Stamper whose Wirksworth

Plasticators was written especially for TDP in honour of its sustainability work.

Elizabeth Fothergill said: “It is my absolute honour and privilege to present on behalf of His Majesty, King Charles III, the King’s Award for Enterprise, Sustainable Development, to TDP Ltd.

“The King’s Awards for Enterprise are considered to be the highest accolade to be bestowed upon a UK business – the most prestigious award. Any business with a King’s Award is guaranteed to receive a warm welcome at home and abroad. It says so much about the calibre and the standing of the company, its dealings with its staff, its customers, its stakeholders and its community engagement.”

TDP has already seen numerous benefits from the award. Rob says: “The pride that the team have taken in winning the award is just one of the effects. We’re all really so proud. It has given everyone pride in what they do and working for TDP.”

It also made it more attractive as an employer by increasing the company’s environmental credentials and it was this commitment to sustainability that encouraged the latest new recruit, Leah Barratt, to join TDP for her apprenticeship.

Rob adds: “From a business perspective, we saw growth that we can attribute directly to winning the King’s Award. After the results were announced, The Times newspaper ran a two-page article on the company the following day. Our website also saw an increase in traffic – we had over 20,000 hits on the website on one day alone! It was a tremendous spike and website sales increased by 37%. The increase was incredible.”

Even one year on, TDP is still experiencing the sales boost as well as opening up opportunities in the export market, including a furniture order for a care home in the Falkland Islands.

Applying for the King’s Award was a rigorous process, and Rob said that the sustainability category was the most

difficult of all the four categories. He says: “There were just 15 in the country, and just two in the East Midlands, who won the sustainability award.” However, he very nearly didn’t apply – it was only thanks to Dr Denise Taylor, who runs sustainability consultancy Wylde Connections, that he did. “Denise pushed me to apply for the award. I’m glad we were encouraged to apply!”

All of TDP’s furniture is manufactured from recycled plastic profiles. At the recycling plant, molten recycled plastic is poured into moulds with a wood grain pattern effect. An hour after they have been left to set, they are pushed out and left to cool, forming plastic profiles that TDP orders in to its Wirksworth factory, where they are cut to the required size and made into furniture. Every piece of furniture is built to order so colours and measurements can be customised. Customers can opt for the black or brown of traditional timber – or create a splash of colour or something even bolder with a multitude of combinations. They are ideal for schools and sports clubs, too, where benches and other furniture can be built to team colours.

As well as reducing plastic waste, the products come with little required maintenance except for a quick hose down or wipe clean, ensuring no harsh chemicals or preservatives are required to keep them looking their best. In fact, the furniture can be left outside all year round, looking just as good many years later. It can withstand hot summers and freezing winters without splintering, cracking or rotting and, being heavier than its wooden counterparts, means it will not blow away.

Although the company has been producing

its furniture for well over 10 years, TDP’s story goes back much further to when Rob and his wife Anna founded “Trade and DIY Products” over 30 years ago, providing and manufacturing a range of products for the construction, building and landscaping market. However, increasing competition from cheaper imports meant growth was limited in the market, so Rob came up with the idea of branching out and making furniture from the recycled plastic planks that they already sold.

A graphic designer by trade, he begins each new design by sketching ideas before considering the limitations of the material he’s working with, such as the inability to carve the material or create dovetail joints. Once Rob is happy with the design he sets to work on building prototypes before creating the finished product. At first, Rob was making the furniture on his own; now there is a team of 16 to fulfil orders, although Rob still helps out on the factory floor, particularly at busy times.

Following last year’s success, TDP has launched it’s modular outdoor seating – the Derbyshire sofa, as well as its poseur table and chairs set, a flatpack raised bed, and its hedgehog house that came about almost by accident.

Above: Rob Barlow meets King Charles III.

Right: TDP’s four-seater outdoor dining table with chairs.

Bottom right: The Hedgehog House that Rob Barlow pledged to design and build out of recycled plastic.

Rob was giving a talk to a group of 14 to 18-year-olds at an event that was attended by other businesses including Severn Trent Water and Rolls Royce. It was an opportunity for young people gathered to listen to local companies explaining why being a sustainable business was important, together with the chance to interrogate them. Rob says: “At the end, each of the businesses there had to make a pledge – I was like a rabbit in the headlights when I was asked, ‘what will you do?’ I pledged to increase our nature range.”

TDP worked in collaboration with the Hedgehog Society and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to create a hedgehog house to add to TDP’s current offering of planters, bird tables and feeding stations. It underwent various tests for a year; then Rob could deliver on his pledge – the hedgehog house was ready. This story was just one that formed part of the award’s application process.

TDP also supports the local community and gives away a minimum of 10 per cent of its profits to charities. It is a corporate sponsor of Aquabox and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, as well as supporting Matlock & Cromford Cricket Club, Wirksworth Cricket Club, Wirksworth Heritage Centre, and various other local events.

Every product that is made ensures more plastic waste is kept out of landfill and

without the risk of it ending up in the oceans, the effects of which Rob and Anna have seen first hand. Since 2022, they have embarked on ‘citizen science’ trips that have taken them to the Arctic, Alaska and Antarctica to help undertake research into microplastics, and to the warmer climes of the Indian Ocean, where they helped to replant coral reefs.

Rob says: “When we went on a research vessel to the Antarctic, we had first hand experience of glacial retreat and global warming. The most exciting research was studying microplastics. At the time, it was cutting edge research to see how many microplastics were present in the waters – the research had only started two weeks before we arrived there. Antarctica is very pristine and there appears to be little evidence of any effects from pollution apart from glacial retreat. With no inhabitants and very few visitors, the presence of microplastics was a surprise. Plankton and krill think it’s food so eat it and it then goes up the food chain, ending up in the food we eat – microplastics have even been found in human embryos. Microplastics are so light that when the currents move the plastic to warmer areas like the coast of California, the plastic evaporates into the air and then later falls as rain.”

In September 2023, Rob and Anna headed to a marine biology centre in Alaska undertaking the same microplastics

Three local firms take a 2024 award

THREE Chesterfield firms have won the 2024 King’s Award for Enterprise, International Trade Award. They are Hereaus Electro-Nite (UK) Ltd, a global leader in the development and supply of measurement technology for the steel industry; Unite Cast Bar (UK), a global leader in the production of continuous cast iron bar; and Global Brands Ltd, based on the top floor of the Casa Hotel, a leading creator and producer of drinks.

trials as had taken place in the Antarctic. Rob says: “They are building a database to identify the type of plastic, the manufacturer and what it was made into. The database will inform governments and policy makers, so the worst culprits causing the pollution can be targeted.” Back in Derbyshire, TDP is determined not to rest on its laurels after winning the award. Instead it is busier than ever, manufacturing its furniture while ensuring sustainability is at the very heart of its business.

REDEFINING OUTDOOR LIVING

WELCOME to The Outdoor Living Hub, where we bring together a delightful selection of luxury outdoor buildings that beautifully marry function and style, all while embracing the tranquillity of nature.

Whether you are envisioning a cosy office space, a charming garden room, a bespoke studio, a kitchen/diner space or a lounge area, our thoughtfully designed buildings offer the perfect blend of elegance and practicality.

Our commitment to quality

and craftsmanship is evident with every outdoor building being a testament to the dedication and devotion of the incredibly knowledgeable and experienced staff, ensuring every single client receives a bespoke space that is not just functional but a visual delight.

Of course, garden rooms can be adapted for all manner of uses, including gyms, offices, spas, playrooms, music rooms, annexes, guest rooms, bars, the list is endless.

Our luxury outdoor buildings are exclusively available at Markovitz,

a family-run company that has built its reputation over 87 years of trade. We work in partnership with Morso and other marketleading suppliers, meaning you can trust in your investment.

Based at M Markovitz Ltd., on Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, just off the A61 and a short drive from M1 exit 29 or 29a, our stunning show site encompasses a diverse range of luxury outdoor buildings from fantastic local companies, Lush Lodge Studios and Sherwood Outdoor Living.

View our range of luxury outdoor buildings at our Open Weekend taking place over Friday 7th, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June.

Enjoy live cooking demonstrations, soak up the atmosphere and feel inspired to transform your outdoor space. For more information visit our website www.outdoorlivinghub.com

The Outdoor Living Hub, M Markovitz Ltd, Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, S41 9ED, Tel: 01246 381215 www.outdoorlivinghub.com

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FlameCare has a better plan!

WHEN it comes to boiler and central heating maintenance plans, FlameCare can justifiably claim to have put together a better plan.

In the unfortunate event that the boiler breaks down or there’s a leak, FlameCare’s service and maintenance plan means that customers are fully taken care of. With a superfast response, FlameCare’s team of highly-experienced engineers always get to customers on the same day that the issue is reported. This includes Christmas Day and all Bank Holidays!

FlameCare stocks a huge range of boiler parts for all appliances, so customers can rest assured that they won’t have to wait for parts to come through the post to get their heating back online. FlameCare’s engineers always

“FlameCare stocks a huge range of boiler parts for all appliances, so customers can rest assured that they won’t have to wait for parts to come through the post to get their heating back online.”

try to be as flexible as possible. FlameCare’s boiler care and maintenance plans are exceptional value for money, and all include the annual service, 24/7 call out, parts and labour guarantee, a free initial service worth £85,

unlimited call outs, no excess, no minimum contract, and a price guarantee for the first 12 months. And if all this wasn’t enough, FlameCare generously donates the first month’s payment of any new plan to Ashgate Hospice!

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT FLAME CARE:

FlameCare

67-77 Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, S40 2AL

T: 0800 0855 518

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

Sell your gold sovereigns right now!

By Vivienne Milburn FRICS Independent Antiques Auctioneer & Valuer

WHAT is better than finding a gold sovereign?

Finding a double gold sovereign, particularly as they can be worth as much as £4,000 in the current market!

Have you ever found any gold sovereigns in unlikely places? I have as, during a valuation, while searching through a box of mixed items, I discovered three sovereigns which the client had originally believed to be worthless copper. They were very pleased to hear from me that Victorian and later sovereigns make £300 to £500 in the current market.

The price of silver and gold has increased dramatically over recent months, which makes it

a particularly good time to sell gold coins and jewellery. Gold coins often appear mounted on charm bracelets or as watch fobs. Although most items of silver and gold that I value have an intrinsic value of their own, the scrap value does have a bearing on the price that pieces will make at auction.

There is a great danger when precious metal prices are very high that those with collections of silver and gold think they will get a higher price for them if they sell them for scrap. This is not the case; most items of silver and gold that I value have a real value of their own.

The double sovereign is a gold coin with a nominal value of £2. Rarely issued in the early

years since its debut in 1820; it is now a collectable coin and has been struck most years since 1980. It features the reigning monarch on its obverse and, most often, Benedettos Pictrucci’s depiction of St. George and the dragon on the reverse.

The double sovereign first minted in 1820, which depicted George III, never entered circulation. In the following years, it was most often issued to mark the beginning of a new reign, or the institution of a new coinage portrait of the reigning monarch. These were mostly proof coins and few examples that are worn from circulation use can be found.

In 1819, possibly because of the decline in the health of King George III (reigned 1760–1820), Wellesley-Pole instructed Pistrucci, who was then acting as chief engraver of the Royal Mint, to prepare dies for the double sovereign and the five-pound piece. It was considered to be a race against time to complete the dies before George III died. However, the king died before the new coins were ready. A total of sixty pieces are reported to have been struck.

In 1823, Pistrucci’s reverse was used again on the double sovereign, joined with an obverse bust of the new king, George IV (reigned 1820–1830) by Jean Baptiste Merlen, based on a bust by Sir Francis Chantrey, who was born at Jordanthorpe – then a Derbyshire village, now a suburb of Sheffield – where his family had a small farm.

Pistrucci, believing he should not be called upon to adapt the work of another artist and therefore refused to convert Chantrey’s bust to a coin. The double sovereign had the same inscription around the monarch’s head as in 1820 except IIII was substituted for III, and the date was moved to the reverse.

Above: When is a £2 piece worth up to £4,000 – when it’s a George IV (or, in this case, IIII) double sovereign! Dated 1823, it is expected to make between £2k and £4k in a forthcoming specialist auction.

Since 1980, the double sovereign has been sold as a collector’s coin by the Royal Mint. In some years it was not issued, and the Royal Mint instead placed gold versions of the commemorative £2 piece in the gold proof sets.

Charles III sovereigns currently make between £280 and £400 in an appropriate auction; and not to get too far ahead of ourselves, but we will eventually have a George VII sovereign – and who knows what they will be worth then?

Advice to my clients who are thinking of selling sovereigns is to do it now and optimise on the market whilst it is strong.

Editor’s Note: If you would like a valuation and advice, contact Vivienne Milburn FRICS on 01629 640210 or 07870 238788. Alternatively, go to vivienne@ viviennemilburn.co.uk or email www.viviennemilburn.co.uk

Sovereign Wealth – a holistic approach to financial planning

With Sovereign, every client’s lifestyle goals are top priority

Everyone’s financial and lifestyle objectives are unique to them. That’s why, at Sovereign Wealth, the focus is on helping people achieve their goals in the future and getting to where they want to be.

This is known as a holistic approach to financial planning as opposed to the traditional approach, which focuses on a specific area of a client’s finances, such as investments, pensions, tax or insurance.

THREE BENEFITS TO SOVEREIGN’S HOLISTIC APPROACH

Personalised and bespoke

The best financial advisors help clients answer big questions like, “Where am I going?” “What are my goals?” or “What am I doing?” rather than simply calculating optimal portfolio allocations. At Sovereign Wealth, advisors develop a deep relationship with each individual client. This involves spending time to fully understand the client’s current situation, future

opportunities and potential risks, their motivations and concerns, and their overall relationship with money. With the onus on understanding the client, then it becomes much easier to support them through their financial journey.

Adaptable to life’s changes

A holistic approach to finances and investments means that decisions are made with the client’s priorities and timelines in mind. With an annual review strategy for all clients, it’s possible to adapt the financial plan to take account of any major

changes or developments. By keeping the big picture in view at all times, clients can access the flexibility in their plan at any time.

Confidence that

the financial plan is always on track

Financial planning can seem daunting and complicated. But it doesn’t have to be. Here, you won’t be mesmerised by financial products or possible percentage returns, you’ll have a chat about your future and how you see it unfolding, and, most importantly, about what position you’d like

to see yourself in going forward. Locally based and employing experts who live in the local area, Sovereign is in tune with the area with all its ambitions, idiosyncrasies, history, and character.

SERVICES PROVIDED.

Whilst our focus is concentrated on our clients and their needs, it’s important to highlight the individual services we offer advice and planning on:

• Pensions

• Investments

• ISAs

• Inheritance Tax

• Long-term care planning

• Life insurances

• School fee planning

• Legacy

• Corporate services

• Business support and planning

As everyone in business knows, it’s hard enough ploughing through the day-to-day demands of running a business without moving on to what ultimately is more important – the global picture. Where is this business going? What’s the end goal?

This is where Dominic and his team at Sovereign can help. Rather than pitching products, the emphasis will be on looking at the structure of the business, retaining key staff, managing Corporation Tax, and, maybe, in the future, looking at the potential sale of the company.

“Whether your goal is to ramp up your start-up business, create an exit strategy, or create financial independence, I will work with you to help get you there,” said Dominic.

Sovereign Wealth Limited 3 Old Road, Chesterfield S40 2RE

www.sovereignchesterfield.co.uk

t: 01246 959977

Meet the Team

At Sovereign Wealth, the focus is on creating a career path for staff and promoting from within. Staff development and retention has been the hallmark of the ongoing success.

Dominic Fallon Principal

As a financial planner, Dominic is refreshing, getting clients to not focus on finance. Dominic is passionate about helping clients achieve their lifestyle wish and focusing on their end goals.

Sam Kay Paraplanner

Sam has worked in financial services for 12 years and enjoys researching what financial arrangements will help clients achieve their goals.

Louise Myers Administrator

Louise is an experienced administrator with many years’ experience in finance. She has high aspirations and great attention to detail.

Richard Reith Senior Partner

Richard has been involved with Financial Services for over 40 years.  Using expertise and communication skills has enabled him to develop an everexpanding practice which has now joined Sovereign Chesterfield.

Abigail Boatman Practice Manager

As Practice Manager, Abigail gets to put her organisation and communication skills to work to help deliver a seamless service for clients.

Jordan Timmons Administrator

Jordan is an aspiring advocate for all things finance, who wants to experience and explore every aspect of the business. A trainee advisor, he is on an advisory academy to develop his career path.

Liam Anderson Advisor

Liam is passionate about helping his clients achieve their financial goals and aspirations through a robust and realistic plan. He has a genuine desire to bring financial wellbeing and peace of mind to his clients.

Eve Sharman Trainee Paraplanner

Eve is completely at home with all aspects of the financial services industry. Her love for report writing and organisational skills help her play a key role in the business and she always enjoys helping clients.

Liv Hardwick Administrator

With a love of learning and great communication skills, Olivia is always at hand to assist clients at all touch points.

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.

PLANNING 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

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.

WILL CHESTERFIELD EVER BE CONNECTED BY CANAL TO THE RIVER TRENT ?

With work having started on the latest phase of the canal’s restoration in Staveley, Rod Auton looks at the prospect of Chesterfield ever being reconnected by canal to the River Trent.

A BIT OF HISTORY

The Chesterfield Canal was officially opened on June 4, 1777. The ensuing two-and-a-half centuries have seen many ups and downs in its fortunes. In its very first decade, income was hit by the recession caused by the loss of the American colonies, but it eventually settled down to be moderately prosperous.

The coming of railways did not affect our canal as badly as some others, but the major collapse of the Norwood Tunnel in October 1907 meant that the Derbyshire section was cut off from the rest of the canal.

By the 1960s, the whole canal was in a dreadful state. The British Waterways Board was keen to close it, but a protest movement had grown up to oppose this threat. The 1968 Transport Act said that the Chesterfield

Canal should be a cruiseway from the River Trent to Worksop, and a remainder waterway to the Norwood Tunnel, but disregarded the Derbyshire section. Much of this was sold off, including land in Killamarsh, where 30 houses and garages were built on the line of the canal.

Although the canal had not been closed, it was in a very sorry state.

The section from Chesterfield to Staveley was just a tiny stream amongst weeds in most places, but it had to be kept open because a clause in the 1771 Act of Parliament that said that a water supply must be maintained to Staveley Forge. In 1987, Derbyshire County Council (DCC) bought this section from

British Waterways primarily because they wanted to build the Brimington/Staveley bypass on top of it.

PREVIOUS RESTORATION

Above: The current state of the Chesterfield Canal.

Top right: Chesterfield Canal Trust volunteers restored Tapton Lock, and it was opened in 1990.

Below: The first boat into Hartington Harbour in 2018.

In 1976, the Chesterfield Canal Society was formed, becoming the Chesterfield Canal Trust (CCT) in 1998. Volunteers from CCT decided to restore Tapton Lock, which opened to much fanfare in 1990. This was the first lock to be restored and subsequently the volunteers restored three more locks in Chesterfield and built two new ones. DCC lifted bridges at Station Road, Brimington and Bilby Lane and the canal was dug out, meaning that navigation from Tapton to Mill Green became possible in 2002. The DCC Countryside Service now manages this stretch of canal.

On the eastern end of the canal, British Waterways restored 30 locks between 1996 and 2003 and built a new one to compensate for subsidence.

On the 20 miles from Worksop to Chesterfield that were derelict, over 12 miles have been restored along with 34 locks plus three new locks and 11 bridges.

FUTURE RESTORATION

The cost of restoring the remaining eight miles between Staveley and Kiveton Park will run into many tens of millions of pounds. It has been splitt into seven sections (see below). Much of this land is currently in private hands and it is dependent upon the owners being willing to sell their land and funds becoming available to do the work.

SECTION 1: COLLIERY LINK

This joins the sites of the old Hartington Colliery and Renishaw Colliery. The next section is Staveley Puddlebank which has been ravaged by subsidence and was bulldozed in the 1970s. There will be a steel trough aqueduct over the river Doe Lea. The section through Renishaw will be restored by Chesterfield Canal Trust’s volunteers, hopefully starting later this year. It will include remodelling the unsuccessful restoration next to the new housing estate done in 2008.

SECTION 2: GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY MILE

SECTION 4: KILLAMARSH

The Trust expects this to be the last section to be delivered. In the 1970s, houses were built on part of the original canal line, so the new route goes into Rother Valley down a wide area of grassland left following the rebuilding of the Bungalows housing estate. Three pairs of double locks will take the canal down to Quarry Lane before going under Sheffield Road in a box culvert.

The canal will then go through Nethermoor Lake via a guillotine flood control gate which will be remotely controlled in conjunction with the Rother Valley flood defence system.

To get back up to the original level, the Moorhouse Flight will have six staircase locks. However, an alternative would be to build a boat lift which would be a major tourist attraction with a visitor centre, boat rides and a café. A new Gannow Lane

SECTION 5: THE CRADLE OF THE CANAL

The Norwood Flight of 13 locks lifts the canal 76 ft in just under threequarters-of-a-mile and is a wonder of the early canal age. They are arranged in three three-rise and one four-rise staircases. These are separated by three ponds and side-ponds which regulate flow and provide water storage.

SECTION 6: UP OR UNDER

This section runs from the western portal of the Norwood Tunnel to the western edge of Kiveton Country Park, passing under the M1. There are two plans – either to lock up to the motorway and use an existing culvert or to build a new tunnel of about 630m, avoiding the need for locks.

Above:

A map showing the seven sections of the proposals to restore the canal between Staveley and Kiveton Park. Top right: Kiveton Waters, with the proposed new line of the canal in the foreground.

Most of this had been done in the decade up to 2003, much of the work paid for by derelict land grants and European money. The assumption was that the remaining eight-and-a-half miles would soon follow. However, three major events conspired to stop that happening – the financial crisis of 2008 and subsequent recession led to huge cutbacks in all public spending; the announcement that HS2 was to cross the line of the canal in eight different places; and, finally, the Covid pandemic.

Some restoration was done, but on nothing like the scale of earlier. DCC built Staveley Town Basin with a European grant, and the CCT volunteers built the abutment walls for the new Constitution Hill bridge, a 600m retaining wall from Mill Green to Hall Lane, the brand-new Staveley Town Lock and the 300 metres of Hartington Harbour.

CURRENT RESTORATION WORK

In 2020, the levelling-up fund called the Staveley Town Deal was announced. The Chesterfield Canal Trust was awarded £5.8m of this Government money for restoration and Derbyshire County Council was awarded £2.2m to start developing Staveley Town Basin. After much preparation, the restoration

work at Staveley started in April. The first stage is the construction of a new Trans Pennine Trail bridge, which will be 38 metres long and nearly 10 metres above the canal. It will be lowered into position in late July or early August.

After that the canal itself will be restored from Eckington Road bridge through to Bellhouse Basin at the bottom of Bellhouse Lane. It is not certain how much further the canal will go – it depends upon how far the money will stretch. However, the towpath will be built all the way through to Renishaw, creating a new 3m wide multi-user trail.

There will be a new accommodation bridge at Bellhouse, a new lock and a pumping system to carry the water from Staveley Town Basin to the new section.

The new lock will be named Keith Ayling Lock as a permanent memorial to the former chair of the Chesterfield Canal Trust who is widely regarded as the most influential figure in the restoration of the canal.

Top: A work party of Chesterfield Canal Trust volunteers, who have done so much to restore the canal, especially around Staveley. Above: The Trans-Pennine Trail Bridge, which should be lowered into position in late July or early August this year.

The final part of the lock construction will be the fitting of the new gates, so the Chesterfield Canal Trust is running an appeal to raise money towards their cost. This work will be complete by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, Derbyshire County Council will shortly be undertaking the first stage of developing Staveley Town Basin, including a new building with a café.

A century of choral singing in and around CHEsterfield

Liz Holloway reveals that choral singing locally is 100 years old this year.

2024 marks a hundred years of choral singing locally, beginning with the establishment of the Grassmoor Musical Union in 1924. Concerts performed in those early days included a few choruses of Messiah sung at the Picture Palace, but the choir’s activities were short lived. There was little money for music in the Twenties and Thirties and it was not until near the end of the World

War Two, in 1944, that the Grassmoor Musical Union rose again, like a phoenix from the ashes. A membership fee of 2/6d was levied and members had to buy their own music. They were now called Grassmoor Choral Union and sang for the first time with an orchestra in 1949. Throughout the 1950s, they soldiered on with varying degrees of success at music festivals, winning the Rose Bowl trophy at Macclesfield

for the most artistic performance in the senior choral section.

Colin Wheatley, who had attended the choir with his parents since 1944, became conductor in 1959 and launched a new era in the choir’s history. They performed at Chesterfield Civic Theatre for the first time in 1961 and rehearsals moved from Grassmoor to Chesterfield; and the name was changed to Chesterfield and District Choral Union.

In September, 1963 the choir sang Mozart’s Requiem in Chesterfield Parish Church, (singing in Latin for the first time). But winter concerts in the church proved too cold for many, with some male members wearing pyjamas under their dress suits!

Numbers grew and in April 1967, the choir, together with

A

Below:

2023 performance by Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir.

“The Chesterfield group was extremely organised and forward thinking, but most of all enthusiastic.”

its new orchestra, took the present-day title of Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir.

1988 saw the appointment of Oxford music graduate Philip Hanwell as Deputy Musical Director. He was with the choir for many years, giving total commitment as accompanist and occasional rehearsal conductor; and in 1996 the choir appointed experienced musical director Steven Roberts.

Steven boasted a long list of choral achievements in Britain and overseas. He said: “The Chesterfield group was extremely organised and forward thinking, but most of all enthusiastic. I work

with hundreds of singers and know that the more I give, the more I get back. We’ve built a great relationship over the years, with everyone performing to the highest standard.”

Steven programmes innovative and exciting concerts. Since 1998, the choir has run an annual Choral Day, where rehearsal and performance are crammed into a single exhausting but exciting day.

2024 will see the 25th anniversary of these Choral Days. The evening performance is free, but donations are requested for a chosen charity. This year’s Choral Day is in support of Neurocare at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield.

The Choral Day Concert is on June 8 at 7pm at Central

Methodist Church, Saltergate, Chesterfield. It’s the popular Requiem by Mozart, and the choir is joined by Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra and professional soloists.

The last word should go to Gwen Hallam – the longest serving choir member – who joined in May 1962, followed by husband Tony later that

year. “We have spent our whole married life singing in the choir. We met singing at college in London and have continued with the Philharmonic. It’s a way of life really, with friends knowing not to arrange anything for Thursday evenings.”

Above: Grassmoor Musical Union in 1944.

CARPETS

Exceeding Customer Expectations

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

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

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

Traditional values

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

Carpet Foundation Membership

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

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

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

• Written quotations

• Deposit safeguards

• Written terms of business

• Impartial professional advice

• Free extended guarantees

• A free installation guarantee

• After-sales procedures

Better Prices through Associated Carpet Group Membership (ACG)

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

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

Derbyshire Trusted Trader Membership

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

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

Customer reviews and feedback speak volumes

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

Gordon Taylor a month ago

We are very pleased with the new floor in our conservatory. From getting the quote to the fitting everyone involved

was very professional. The fitter took great care with everything, and we are very pleased with the final result.

Ste Jay

7 months ago

I have recently used Holywell Carpets, Chesterfield, to replace my stairs/landing carpets. I visited their shop, where there is a huge range of carpets. Steve who runs the shop, is very helpful and knowledgeable of his trade. On the day the carpet was laid, the fitter arrived on time. He was polite and did an excellent job of fitting the new carpet and underlay. I am very happy with Holywell Carpets. I would most certainly recommend.

Jude O’Connor

4 months ago

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

Dawn Higgins

6 months ago

We recently received excellent advice, support and professional service from the team at Holywell Carpets. They give

honest opinions prior to purchase with no pressure selling. Everything that is promised is provided in a timely fashion. The carpet fitters were friendly, helpful, considerate and polite. Having purchased several carpets previously, I am confident I can go back to them if I need to, as they provide a service for the long term. I would definitely suggest that, if you’re looking for carpets, that you give them a try.

Kate Morris

8 months ago

I have used Holywell Carpets a few years ago and just had them fit a bedroom and living room carpet. To be honest, I wouldn’t go anywhere else. The service from start to finish is excellent, Steve is a lovely bloke – very helpful in advising the best carpets for certain rooms. Excellent job done by fitters. A very professional team. Would highly recommend to friends & family.

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

The remarkable effect of a ‘tigers in torment’ story on a Matlock artist

January 11, 1987, and a headline in the Mail on Sunday – ‘Tigers in torment’ – leaps out at wildlife artist and conservationist Pollyanna Pickering, who has since died. The following article told of the plight of six young circus tigers being kept in horrendous conditions. A reporter had investigated the story following a tip-off from a supporter of Born Free, a charity founded by the actress Virginia McKenna and her husband Bill Travers. Pollyanna’s daughter, Anna-Louise Pickering , takes up the remarkable story…

THOSE three words – Tigers in torment – also began Pollyanna’s association with the Born Free Foundation, which was to last the rest of her life. Thirtyseven years later, Born Free is marking its 40th anniversary – and Pollyanna’s paintings are continuing to help to raise funds for their work to stop the exploitation of animals, with an exhibition staged in her private gallery near Matlock from June 22-30 inclusive.

Three years following the arrival of the rescued tigers in India, Pollyanna was invited to travel to their home in the remarkable reserve of Bannerghatta. Although the five tigers lived within an enclosure, it covered 15 acres and, as in the open jungle, the jeep Pollyanna was driving had to stay on designated tracks. The tigers had plenty of room to hide from human visitors should they wish to.

Then, a marvellous moment: the jeep pulled into a clearing, and two of the tigers were lying close to the trail, their striped coats a rich golden orange under the heat of the Indian sun. Pollyanna was able to sketch for as long as she liked. Subsequently she staged an exhibition – An Indian Summer – full of studies and paintings

Above: Such good friends: Pollyanna Pickering and Virginia McKenna at the Oaker gallery.

Top A generous bequest from a collector of Pollyanna’s work has provided paintings which have not been on public display for many years. One of these paintings –Elsa’s Pride – has also been chosen as one of three limited-edition prints to launched at the June exhibition.

of these beautiful big cats which raised funds for the ongoing care of the tigers in the sanctuary. The signature painting of the exhibition featured a tiger named McKenna after Zoocheck’s founder.

During the expedition, Pollyanna’s daughter, Anna-Louise, was presented with probably the most unusual 21st birthday present ever received – an orphaned sloth bear cub! He had been found abandoned on the mountainside by local villagers, who knew it was a special birthday for her, they took it as a sign the cub should be presented to Anna-Louise. She named the cub ‘Bhima’ – which means ‘The Strong One’ after a character in Indian mythology and the duo ultimately paid for his transfer and care at the Bannerghatta reserve. His full story has since been written in the book The Eye of the Tiger, which includes the full account of their travels in Southern India, with a foreword written by Dame Virginia McKenna, the founder of The Born Free Foundation.

In 1966, Virginia McKenna, DBE, and her late husband Bill Travers, MBE, starred in the classic wildlife film Born Free. The film told the true story of conservationists Joy and George Adamson who rescued a lioness

cub called Elsa and successfully returned her to the wild. For most people, The Born Free Foundation is most closely associated with lions. But Pollyanna’s journey with Born Free began with the story of six tigers ….. and the creation of the charity was, in fact, inspired by an elephant named Pole Pole.

Following the success of the film, Virginia and Bill went on to make several further wildlife films together, including in 1969 An Elephant Called Slowly, starring an elephant calf called Pole Pole (pronounced Poly Poly). When filming was over, Pole Pole was gifted to London Zoo by the Kenyan government. Virginia and Bill did everything they could to prevent this, but Pole Pole was sent to London. In 1982, Virginia and Bill went to visit Pole Pole at the zoo. Pole Pole, in clear distress, remembered Virginia and Bill and stretched out her trunk to reach them. Virginia and Bill launched a campaign to give Pole Pole a better life but in 1983, aged 16, Pole Pole died. Determined that her death would not be in vain, in 1984,

Virginia, Bill and their eldest son Will launched Born Free. They work tirelessly to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect.

From the outset Pollyanna realised that their aims and ethos were closely aligned to her own – in particular the fact that alongside their conservation work to ensure the survival of threatened species in the wild and protect natural habitats, they never forgot the individual animal, and were equally dedicated to alleviating individual pain and suffering through their rescue work.

Pollyanna created limited-edition prints and Christmas cards for the charity, and donated original work to their fund-raising auctions. She even went on to paint a lifesized lion sculpture for their Pride in the City event – which will also be on display at the exhibition in Matlock.

“they never forgot the individual animal, and were equally dedicated to alleviating individual pain and suffering through their rescue work.”

Following her visit to paint the tigers in India, Pollyanna would go on to visit Born Free projects in South Africa and Ethiopia, and stage fund-raising exhibitions of the artwork inspired by her visits. She became a close friend of their founder, Dame Virginia McKenna, bonding through their shared love of animals.

Pollyanna went on to become a patron of the Foundation.

Following her unexpected death in 2018, the charity named a rescued cheetah cub in her memory – a perfect tribute for an artist who had reached the pinnacle of success in her chosen field while achieving international respect for her commitment to environmental conservation.

Throughout her career, Pollyanna was always most pleased when her art could be used to help raise funds for causes close to her heart – her work has been commissioned and published by every major wildlife art charity in the UK, including WWF, The RSPB and many other international organisations.

In 2001, she established The Pollyanna

Above: Anna-Louise Pickering and Virginia McKenna co-sign prints for the June exhibition.

Pickering Foundation, which continues to raise funds for conservation and animal welfare worldwide However, the most enduring relationship she had with any outside organisation was with The Born Free Foundation.

Pollyanna had already started work on a collection of paintings with the idea of staging an exhibition to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the charity in 2019. Sadly, of course, this event did not go ahead as planned.

Her daughter Anna-Louise, president of The Pollyanna Pickering Foundation, has since kept this collection of artwork in storage and it is being shown exclusively for the first time in this exhibition.

Pollyanna returned to Joy Adamson’s original book for inspiration for new portraits of Elsa – several of which include text from Born Free within the artwork. There is a study of the African elephant in memory of Pole Pole – alongside previously unseen studies of lions, giraffes and meerkats. A very generous bequest from a collector of Pollyanna’s work has provided further paintings which have not been on public display for many years. One of these paintings – Elsa’s Pride – has also been chosen as one of three limitededition prints to launched exclusively at the event, co-signed by Dame Virginia McKenna.

Also on display will be Pollyanna’s ranges of greetings cards, fine art and limitededition prints, and a wide variety of giftware featuring her work -–including stationery, china mugs, cross-stitch kits, signed sets of her postage stamps issued in Africa, and first day covers for the Royal Mail. Paper crafting kits will also be available – as launched live on television! There will even be a sneak preview of next year’s charity Christmas cards and calendars for 2025. Visitors to the gallery will have the

Above: A painting by Pollyanna Pickering called ‘Lion Study’.

opportunity to purchase prize draw tickets to win a unique hand-retouched giclee print. Tea and coffee will be available throughout. Editor’s Note: The Born Free exhibition will be held at the Gallery, Brookvale House, Oaker, Matlock, DE4 2JJ on June 22-30 (10am-6pm each day, admission free). Full details and directions at www.pollyannapickering.co.uk

for a burst of bright, bold colour as juicy orange hues take centre stage for summer, says Amy Norbury.

S we head into the summer months, the fashion set are going for bold – and there’s no mistaking the hue of the season. It’s set to be a juicy one as orange takes over as the colour of choice for summer, injecting a beautifully bright sunshine vibe into our wardrobes.  The SS24 catwalks saw models resplendent in the zesty shade, dressed in orange hues from head to toe, with simple maxi dresses reimagined at Emilia Wickstead and Zimmermann taking it to the next level with orange ombre, while Fendi layered different shades for maximum impact. From eyewateringly bright neon tones through sunset shades

Expansion for award-winning Brampton Beauty Retreat

IDEALLY located on the first floor of the popular Dotique ladies’ fashion boutique on Chatsworth Road, Brampton Beauty Retreat, which welcomed its first clients around four years ago, has expanded – both in terms of space and treatments available.

Having taken over the whole of the first floor, the ever-popular salon now boasts three separate, well-appointed, and subtly decorated treatment rooms, as well as three manicure tables and two pedicure chairs.

The ethos here is to create an inviting and relaxing environment where people love to come, get pampered, and unwind.

The fully qualified and highly experienced therapists, headed by the manager and most experienced practitioner, Kirsti Pullen, offer a complete range of revitalising treatments and therapies, from a deeply relaxing massage that will be sure to melt away your stress, to invigorating facials that will leave your skin feeling perfectly nourished and toned.

Using the absolute best, luxury beauty brands, including ELEMIS and Beauty Lab, salon manager, Kirsti, believes that attention to detail and impeccable personal

service have been the hallmarks of the salon’s continued success.

With such an impeccable reputation, it’s a small wonder that this success has manifested itself in the highest possible national recognition. Awards and accolades have become commonplace and ever recurring.

In 2021, Brampton Beauty Retreat was awarded ‘Silver Winner’ in the ‘Best New Business’ category of the British Hair and Beauty Awards; the same year, they attained ‘Silver Winner’ in the ‘Excellence in Customer Service’ category; and the same year again ‘Silver Winner’ in the ‘Top Rated Salon of the Year’ category. In 2022, they progressed to ‘Gold Winner’ in ‘Excellence in Customer service’. This year, they have been nominated for no less than five awards, including ‘Beauty Salon of the Year’, ‘Excellence in Customer service’ and ‘Top Rated Salon of the Year’. Brampton Beauty Retreat is also amongst the elite in terms of ratings on the ‘Fresha’ booking software platform.

“Our extensive range of beauty treatments means we have something for everyone,” says Kirsti. “We offer all manner of therapies from manicures, pedicures, waxing and brows,

Clients can enjoy 25% discount off all treatments taken with Carla up to 30th June 2024

to more indulgent treatments such as facials, massages, and anti-ageing treatments. My fellow therapists, Camilla Staton and Jayde Sumner, are a tribute to the beauty profession and our salon. They uphold our enduring principles of offering the ultimate ‘royal treatment’, where customers can leave their worries at the door, and rebalance and recharge their body, mind, and spirit in total serenity. There is no rush here; we are completely guided by the needs and desires of our clients.”

With an ever-growing client portfolio, Kirsti has expanded the team, once again, by taking on additional beauty therapists, Daisy Mallender and Carla Brownlow, who will work alongside senior therapist, Jayde, and Camilla.

“The salon expansion means that we can accommodate hen

The first five people to book a Beauty Lab Glycolic Facial Course of six treatments will receive a Glycolic Skincare Discovery Kit worth £38

parties and group bookings much more easily now,” said Kirsti. “Although we already do quite a bit of pre-wedding pampering – for the bride, the mother-of-thebride, the mother-of-the-groom, and the like, this has enabled us to offer another dimension of beauty treatments – with the space available to make group bookings a whole lot easier.”

The salon is now embracing additional advanced skincare treatments. Beauty Lab glycolic facials have been added to the already comprehensive product and treatment offering.

Why not book an appointment and see for yourself?

Brampton Beauty Retreat, 296/8 Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, S40 2BY (above Dotique) t: 07309 747572

e: contact@bramptonbeautyretreat.co.uk www.bramptonbeautyretreat.co.uk

FASHION

and subtle pastel iterations, the catwalks were bursting with the dopamine-inducing hue.

And that, of course, is all part of the appeal. Orange is often associated with confidence, positivity, happiness and warmth, making it the perfect shade to add a touch of fun to our summer wardrobes. Add to that the fact that fashion can be a real mood-elevator and you have yourself a fashion trend that will no doubt put a smile on your face.

Embrace the trend wholeheartedly by going for a top-to-toe look; go down the colour block route and choose one hue to coordinate your entire outfit, or take inspiration from the ombre trend and opt for light-to-dark oranges to add depth and interest.

Or for a more easily wearable take, breakup the colour by mixing in orange separates with more neutral hues such as white and tan. And when going for that statement piece, let it do all the talking. Keep your accessories to a minimum and build around that one key piece.

5. Bright Orange Textured Long Sleeve Beach Shirt, £20.99, New Look. www.newlook.com

6. Orange Linear Stitch Crew Neck Jumper, £55, Oliver Bonas.

7. Lyla line blend waistcoat, £45, and trousers, £50, Joe Browns. www.joebrowns.co.uk

1 Spud you may like, booked at a tap-dance (5,6)

5 Likens ‘caught out’ to dime partners (7)

14 Beer firm using dewberry from the first of December (7)

15 Getting used to queries about tahini (11)

with nothing outside Kent. (5)

lies a strange ecclesiastical pathway! (5)

1 Lower jaw features in bet made over the motto (6,5)

4 Highly delighted, like the rhyming cow? (4,3,4)

6 Can cede a defeat? Beat that! (7)

7 Avenger’s plan to carve in script (7)

Out East, in a state of

(2,3)

Take Babe out for meat dish (5)

Record points to a storyline that Nero carefully omitted (5)

ACROSS

1 Panto, performed in a square in Chesterfield (6)

4 Craven folly to follow speed well, allegedly (6)

9 Three, to have it or spoil it (4)

10 Two ensigns flying for this big green village, E Derbys (10)

11 And 24d. Dickens tour round rolling moorland plateau (6)

12 Arable or not, it could be just like a tree! (8)

14 Leeks don’t grow crooked at Curzon’s place (9)

16 Water source we dress annually (4)

17 Reversibly dyed,currently in water? (4)

18 Well owner at Eyam mops round strange omens (9)

22 Twisted tubercular lute relocated near Calver (6)

23 Recklessly dive into the nest where you put money in (8)

25 Fool with a bit of a glassy stare (3)

26 Faulty, but put down on the ground, allegedly (6)

28 Torrid half of our hill? (3)

29 Just in the afternoon, lying around (4)

30 Fin could not be a bad loser (6)

31 Categorically denied loud tally (6)

Name:

Prize Crossword

1 Editor’s confused by Glossop reservoir (7)

2 Above being arrogant (5)

3 Continuing further above little forests, say (7)

5 Illegal embarkations (but not astern) with elbows out (6)

6 Sees a range of variations in zeal (9)

7 New, if one was taken as a prefix (3)

8 They’ll get out of anything, as ices melt in the goalposts (13)

13 Actually, everyone’s inside (3)

15 Artificial lake we broadly disagree with (9)

17 Like a little ostrich, it can cut the mustard (3)

19 Our castle, of your Peak, eh Sir Walter? (7)

20 Love the rya pattern, but you sleep too long here! (7)

21 Little Bradwell creating an ad. for the Bard? (6)

24 See 11a. (5)

27 To gladden the heart of youth! (3)

We will give a prize of £25 to a randomly-drawn correctly completed crossword. Cut out the completed puzzle and send by June 24th, 2024, to: Bannister Publications Limited, Office 2A Market Hall, Market Hall, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1AR. The solutions for the May 2024 crossword can be found on page 98 of this issue.

The village Open Gardens THAT ATTRACTS VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY

WCatherine Roth looks at one of the June highlights in Derbyshire, the Middleton Open Gardens.

ITH its hidden courtyards, surprise views, and reminders of the village’s industrial past, Middleton Open Gardens offers a weekend’s worth of gardens.

On June 15 and 16, Middleton-byWirksworth will be opening its gardens to the public, promising gardens of all sizes and types, from the traditional to the quirky.

A visit to Middleton Open Gardens provides an interesting ramble around a huge variety of gardens and in some offers a step back in time to when mining and quarrying, the big industries of the day in the area, dominated the landscape.

From the well-kept garden of The Vicarage, the village school’s living roof, a wildflower bank and garden, a wildflower quarry at Middleton Top, a

high-level rock garden, and a glimpse down an old mineshaft in the village, there is something for everyone.

Rob and Ann Stamper, together with other members of the Middleton Environment Group and other villagers, help to organise the event. The weekend offers the perfect opportunity to see parts of the village that might at first be overlooked or normally remain hidden from view. Rob says: “When driving through the main street in Middleton, it is a bit strange as there aren’t many front gardens due to the unusual nature of gable ends.”

There is a steep garden built up a cliff that also includes a collection of machines. There are gardens with views over much of Derbyshire, a Japanese style garden, a World War One memorial garden, a garden

Above: A lighthouse is this corner of a Middleton-by-Wirksworth garden.

consisting entirely of raised beds, and the Millennium Garden – a community garden which Ann suggests as a great place to enjoy a picnic under the bandstand.

Rob says: “Some are look-over-the-wall front gardens. One house has a frontage of just two to three feet. There are always aubretia growing there, lovely plants, whilst another has a collection of pot animals.”

Ann and Rob have opened their own woodland garden every year of Middleton Open Gardens. A one-acre plot, it is a wildlife garden where nature is able to thrive. Lawns are left unmown so the orchids can grow, there are various wildlife ponds dotted about, and as much as

Above: What’s a dinosaur doing in this Middleton-by-Wirksworth garden?

Top: A place to take a breather on Middleton Open Gardens weekend.

possible is reused or repurposed. However, it is the pirate ship, the two-storey treehouse from which refreshments will be served, and the tiny gnome house – all designed and built by Rob for their grandchildren to enjoy – that gives the garden its keen sense of fun and adventure. Ann says: “The inspiration for the pirate ship came when I visited Kew Gardens and sent Rob a picture of an aerial walkway. He built the pirate ship complete with anchor!”

In preparation for opening their garden, Ann and Rob will cut pathways through the lawns, and, if very muddy, put down woodchip on the paths. Rob says: “It’s nice when people tell you they like the garden and it’s a pleasure to see kids running around. We like to share our good fortune and we meet lovely people.”

Planning for the event begins in March with an invitation to villagers in Middleton’s local monthly newsletter to open their gardens. The organisers also go round and ask all those who have taken part previously if they would like to take part again. Once they have a list of names, they begin to advertise. Then the day before the event they can be seen putting up windmills and signs with numbers at the entrance to gardens so that visitors will be able to identify them from the map. Rob says: “We keep the event simple and the price the same, with the funds going to support the village.”

The event raises, on average, between £1,000 to £1,500 over the weekend. In previous years, some of the funds have helped fund the village telephone box,

supported local groups such as the choir, bought recycled plastic benches, paid for football nets, provided a panorama view board on Middleton Moor so that walkers can enjoy views of the village and beyond whilst enjoying a rest, and reprinted books of local walks published by the Environment Group. Rob says: “Here in Middleton, it’s more about community and making people proud of where they live.”

It is the word “proud” that is the only stipulation for opening gardens. Ann says: “Anyone who is proud of their garden can take part in Open Gardens. It’s more about sharing what can be done with a space rather than showing off the garden. Even a pond in a bucket can be a garden plot and can inspire visitors to think, ‘hey, we could do that’. However big or small the outside space, we want to show visitors that something can be done with it and people are guaranteed to take away ideas to incorporate into their garden.” She adds: “Some people are quite surprised when we ask them if they

This dovecote looks popular in a Middletonby-Wirksworth garden.

want to take part in the Open Gardens but if they’re proud of their garden, then that’s fine. People will say ‘My garden’s not ready… but a garden is never ready!’”

Rob says: “The village used to be a different, more industrial, place. In the past, when you walked through the village it would be covered in rocks and grinding dust from the quarries. All Middletonians are proud of their village and it’s not just newcomers opening their gardens.”

The event is run as much for the villagers as it is for the visitors it attracts. For those wanting to share their gardens with others they have the opportunity to show people around. Some sell refreshments, plants and crafts – raising money either for the village or their own charities. Indeed, around half of those who opened their gardens for the very first Middleton Open Gardens are still taking part – although some will have a rest some years, so they can go round and visit the other gardens during the weekend!

Over the years, the Middleton Open Gardens has attracted visitors from all over

the country. Rob says: “There was a bus trip from Lincolnshire as well as visitors from Liverpool and Manchester. There are lots of walkers too – people come from all over.”

Tickets are valid for the weekend and, with around 33 gardens opening, many choose to view the gardens over the two days. Rob says: “We sell most tickets on the Saturday. Very few people do the whole village in one day. Some will settle down in a garden and say, ‘this is very nice’, and then don’t bother with the rest! Other people – when it gets to near five o’clock when the event finishes – will be dashing round and saying ‘we’ve still got to go over the road!’” The event is well catered for visitors with various pay points, refreshment stops and toilets along the way.

Middleton Open Gardens started in 2014 and was originally the idea of Hildegard Wiesehofer who, along with other members

of the Middleton Environment Group, took on the organising of the event. The group meets once a month and was initially set up with a focus on environmental recycling issues. Rob says: “As these are now covered by other processes, we’re focusing on the environment we’re living in rather than the traditional environment, so we’re getting people engaged with gardens and the wider environment. We’ve written two walking books, have bought plastic benches, a display board and started a monthly walk from the village green. Our current idea is to have a growing Christmas tree in the village rather than a cut one each year.”

He adds, “We’re always looking out for environmentally-friendly concepts –one idea is electric charging points for the village. We’re looking for people to join our group and bring new ideas.”

Middleton residents are certainly proud

MORE ‘GROUP GARDEN’ HIGHLIGHTS THIS MONTH…

THIS year sees a new group opening under the National Garden Scheme NGS) in Derbyshire – ‘Gorsey Bank Gardens’, writes Tracy Reid. This charming hamlet on the edge of Wirksworth has four diverse gardens open on Sunday, June 9, from 11am until 4pm.

The design of 2 Brooklands Avenue garden, inspired by a passion for unusual plants and the naturalistic planting style of Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf. Much of the planting is through landscaping fabric, to suppress weeds and reduce watering.

Mill Cottage’s immaculate cottagestyle garden is crammed with interesting plants, alongside a historic mill stream and architectural features. The planting uses the areas of cool shade as well as the sunnier spots to maximum benefit, with seating areas to enjoy the different aspects.

Fern Bank is set in a former small gritstone quarry, surrounded by woodland and hillside grazing farmland. The garden features extensive areas of terracing, with winding pathways, overlooked by a magnificent gingko tree. This is a wildlife-friendly, cottage-style garden in a unique setting with great views.

Watts House has a secluded cottage garden accessed by steps down to a patio, a rockery, and lawned area surrounded by herbaceous borders. Other features include a historic pinfold and stone walls, mature trees, ferns and a small wildlife pond. Garden sculptures created by the owner are on display.

Admission is £7 for all the gardens, and children are admitted free.

The following weekend, an old favourite – ‘Elmton Gardens’ – returns on June 15 and 16, from 1pm until 5pm each day.

‘Pinfold’ is a peaceful, pretty garden that encourages wildlife, containing themed borders with lots of roses and perennials. Enjoy the traditional cottage gardens at Pear Tree Cottage, Elm Tree Cottage, and ‘The Cottage’ as you explore the village. Rose Cottage has large areas laid to lawn surrounded

of their village gardens. In 2019 it won a Gold in the prestigious East Midlands in Bloom competition. There is also a gardening club with a host of speakers throughout the year, as well as a fun produce show and auction in September at the village hall.

Middleton may be a small village but it more than makes up for it with its varied range of gardens in a weekend that promises surprises and inspiration!

Editor’s note: Entry is £3 each. Maps are available from the car parks at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and The Nelson Arms.

Above: Lots of colour in the Open Gardens of Elmton on June 15 and 16.

Below left: Mill Cottage is one of the ‘Gorsey Bank Gardens’ open on June 9.

by mixed shrub and rose borders and a number of trees. Small areas provide a garden vegetable plot and poultry run.

Elm Tree Farm has an extensive three-acre garden comprising herbaceous borders, a kitchen garden and a woodland wildlife garden.The Barn Chalico Farm is a new garden with the distinct Arts & Crafts style.

The Elms is a new home with a country cottage garden theme given a modern twist. The front garden has mature trees, shrubs and perennials. A courtyard with planted beds and sunny aspect. The rear garden has hard and soft landscaping areas, mature fruit trees and flower beds.

There’ll be cream teas on offer at the Old Schoolroom next to the church and food is available all day at the Elm Tree Inn. Do allow the full afternoon to appreciate all that’s on offer there. Admission to all gardens is £6, with children admitted free and dogs on leads welcome.

Full details of all the gardens open this month, raising funds for the NGS, can be found at www.ngs.org.uk

Crafts that are truly Derbyshire’s heritage

Never mind the days of mobile phones, fast fashion, speedy travel and supermarkets, Derbyshire provides a wonderful insight into a world all but left behind. Yes, the county today boasts all the modern conveniences along with all the olde-worlde charm of yesterday. Mica Bale takes a look at some of the heritage crafts being kept alive in our beautiful slice of the world.

IF you were to take a stroll down any high street in one of 18th century Derbyshire’s many beautiful towns or villages, the scene would be bustling with activity. The clang of the blacksmith shaping iron, a wainwright resetting a carriage, the noisy banter of tradesmen and women plying their wares.

History books well document how the introduction of machinery streamlined the workforce and how many trades and industries were all but swallowed up and yet, despite the modern conveniences we see today, there are still many heritage crafts still observed through the county.

Blacksmithing

Often confused with shoeing horses for riding or pulling waggons or carriers, a blacksmith’s repertoire expanded much further than creating iron shoes for equines, although a good blacksmith certainly could boast his handful of creating the best footwear for the horses in their village. Blacksmiths were in hot demand from as far back as mediaeval times when their

abilities to bend hot metal into useful and practical shapes from cooking pots to building material was hailed by the local community. Everyone loved the blacksmith, especially in winter when his furnace provided a warm welcome for passers-by.

Throughout the ages, Derbyshire always had a thriving community of blacksmiths including one Martha Strutt, who took over from her husband for a time at Chatsworth House when he died. With four young children to support, Martha continued her late husband’s legacy and was paid the sum of £27 for her work in 1839. Martha would go on to not only continue as a blacksmith but also take on apprentices and labourers before ultimately handing her tools to her son to continue the family business!

Today there are still a handful of blacksmiths who produce high-quality ironwork throughout the county, including Mather of Tibshelf, who have more than 70 years of experience combined and operate – ironically – from a 17th century cottage in Alfreton. If you are interested in trying your own hand at smithying, why not seek out Mountain King Forge, in Ashbourne, which offers blacksmith training.

Stained Glass

No church or impressive country house would be complete without a colourful array of stained glass depicting a Biblical scene or casting an enchanting light display on a grand room. In fact, Derbyshire can boast the rare distinction of being home to what is generally believed to be the very oldest complete stained glass window in the county and among one of the oldest in England. Dalbury’s All Saints Church boasts a beautiful stained glass window thought to date back to the late 11th or early 12th century and depicts the so-called St. Michael. For context, this Derbyshire gem was being completed around the same time that Canterbury Cathedral was having its stained glass windows installed.

Although demand for creating new stained glass is not as apparent as in the heyday of building churches, there is still an appetite for seeing these ‘art windows’ in all their glory and there are several tradespeople who maintain the county’s listed buildings and churches and the stained glass windows glistening within.

One such company is Classic Glass who have been established since 1989. A member of its team said: “Stained glass window restoration is a four-step

process that involves the removal, disassemble, reassemble, and installation of the window. During this process the stone mullions are checked for possible damage or need for repair.” Over the last few decades, Classic Glass has repaired more than 1,000 pieces of stained glass windows – a cracking statistic!

Weaving

Did you know that Derbyshire has its very own dedicated weaving guild? Yes, the Derbyshire branch of the Weavers, Dyers and Spinners is a strong authority in the county. Based in Hazlewood, the local branch of the guild ensures that the heritage craft of weaving is kept alive.

In an era when next day delivery, factory floors and off-the-peg clothing is the norm, it is hard to remember that clothing and textiles – from curtains to bedsheets and carpets to coats – all once needed an expert hand to create them, even with the introduction of the sewing machine in later centuries.

Penny Marsden, of the Derbyshire Weavers, Spinners and Dyers Guild, said: “Once, every community created their own cloth, and in doing so their identity was literally woven into the

fabric. So many occupations that were once a common industry, have become categorised as artisanal.

“As modernisation transformed the manufacturing process of yarn and cloth, traditional methods of production slowly faded with each new generation. The National Association of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, and our Derbyshire Guild, not only works to learn, apply, and maintain skills but also to promote a more sustainable alternative. We support and encourage a viable future for textiles production. While ‘fast fashion’ drives mass production and unethical practices, and our capacity for consumerism is pushing the environment to the brink, we highlight the benefits of quality over quantity..

“We don’t exist simply as museum exhibits or quaint antiquities: we don’t see ourselves as ‘the guardians of a bygone century’. The guild is a lively organisation, with a diverse membership, offering so much more than demonstrations and preservation. We are here to educate, provide access to resources and offer support and encouragement.”

Of course, Derbyshire is home to many more expert craftspeople from thatchers to rocking horse makers. The county is a leading light in keeping these important crafts alive, not just so an important slice of history is not allowed be forgotten, but highlighting these trades as a real and sustainable option for young people and their future careers.

The Museum of Making, at Derby, tells the story of the area’s rich crafting history while also serving as a creative space to use these age-old skills.

BIGGER AND BETTER: BONSALL ARTS TRAIL!

Jenny Tozer provides fulsome details of an exciting event at the end of June, the Bonsall Arts Trail.

AFTER a successful first Bonsall Arts Trail in 2022, this year’s event is gearing up to be even bigger and better.

Over the weekend of 29th and 30th June, more than 120 artists are gathering to showcase their work in up to 30 venues around this beautiful, historic village.

As well as painters, sculptors, printmakers and many other creatives, the trail promises a fun-packed day out for all the family. At just £5 a ticket – under-18s admitted free – it offers fantastic value for money.

Along with workshops for all ages and drop-in, hands-on sessions for children, there will be live music and an exciting range of

street food and drink. Music will be provided by the Derby-based group Heron Brothers and Uke Words, a ukulele group from Matlock.

Hundreds of visitors are expected to attend the weekend-long trail which will be housed in large marquees, the church, school and in the homes of Bonsall residents.

To make getting there easy, there’s a free park-and-ride option with a ‘hop-on, hop-off’ minibus service from Via Gellia with two buses circulating around the village throughout the event as well as extra parking at the top of the trail.

Bonsall Art Trail Chair Julie Leggett said: “We’ve been amazed at the quality of the artists that are joining in with this year’s trail. The event is proving more popular than ever with local artists and some from further afield.

“Together they will display a vibrant

Above: Fiona Drake was the winner of the Longcliffe Award 2022 at the last Bonsall Art Trail with this painting.

Left: Liz Wellby is holding a wire fish workshop on Saturday, June 29.

collection of work including fine art, ceramics, jewellery, metalwork, wood turning, sculpture, mixed media and photography.

“We have tried hard to include something for everyone, from hands-on experiences at our workshops to a full range of food, drink and entertainment around the village.”

Longcliffe Group managing director Paul Boustead added: “We are proud to sponsor the Bonsall Arts Trail for a second time. This year’s trail is set to be an even bigger success story and a cultural highlight for people of the Derbyshire Dales.”

The best display by an artist over the weekend, as voted for by visitors, will be awarded a £100 voucher by Turners. Bonsall Primary School pupils will also be competing for £50 and £25 Turners’ vouchers.

To find out more or book your tickets in advance, visit: www.bonsallartstrail.org

Among the creative workshops are Susie Botting workshops for children and adults – make your own tiles – both days 10.30am-1pm; Liz Wellby workshops – wire fish on Saturday 29, 10am-12.30pm; metal embossing on Saturday 29, 1.30-4pm; create with a gel plate – Sunday 30, 10am-12.30pm. To book, email enquiries@lizwellby.co.uk.

There is also a Treasure Hunt on Saturday, June 29: find the ’T’owd men’ loaded close to the artists’ venues to make up a well-known

PEAK DISTRICT

ARTISANS’

EVENTS

PEAK District Artisans (PDA) are showcasing an exciting exhibition of their contemporary artwork.   Art the Crescent is to be held for the third year running at the Assembly Rooms in Buxton’s iconic Crescent Hotel. This diverse exhibition features paintings, prints, ceramics, jewellery, photography and textiles.

The show runs from Friday, 5th to Sunday, 7th July and is open 10am to 5pm daily.

quotation from a famous artist. First correct answer out of the bag wins £10.

Editor’s Note: Artists taking part in the trail can enter can enter the Longcliffe Award and win £200 (sponsored by Longcliffe Quarries), with artwork that references the environment.

The PDA’s premier event of the year – the Great Dome Art & Design Fair – is on the weekend of July 20 (10am-5pm, admission £3) and 21 (10am-4.30pm, also admission £3).

Nearly 50 professional artists, including several new members, will be at The Great Devonshire Dome in Buxton.

Above: Sue Botting is holding a ‘make your own tiles’ workshop on both days during the Bonsall Arts Trail.

– the ultimate fine dining experience

Imagine, if you will, dining alongside an iconic 100-year-old Grade II-listed manor house.. Visualise sweeping lawns and elegant façades, where the air smells of basil; the sun dances on your skin; and the Hall behind whispers secrets of times gone by. This is the magic of the dining experience at Fischer’s at Baslow Hall.

The serenity of such an intoxicating backdrop sets the scene perfectly for quintessential alfresco dining – the all-new Champagne terrace adding another delightful dimension to the stunning ambience.

A meal at Fischer’s is the

ultimate fine dining experience.

Head Chef Adam Thackeray and his team have crafted a menu that pairs beautifully with the hand-picked selection of wines on offer. They have perfected the art of wine and food harmony, heightening flavours, and making each and every ingredient sing. Guests can expect a focus on homegrown, and sustainably produced ingredients, carefully selected from local producers and handpicked from the kitchen gardens.

The lovingly tended kitchen gardens provide a constant source of fresh and seasonal ingredients. Herbs plucked

just a matter of a few hours ago form part of the culinary masterpiece before you. Honey from the beehives may be part of the dance of ingredients that capture the essence of summer.

The delightfully warm brioche loaf married with garden honey, Lincolnshire poached butter, and toasted oats sets the scene nicely for the culinary journey. The sweetness from the honey harmonises nicely with the crunchiness and warmth from the oats. Light but comforting.

The next stop on this amazing journey is oysters. With three to try – naked, mignonette, and jalapeno, there are subtle flavour twists, with each one, allowing

you to savour the sea’s gifts in every bite. Fresh and plump, salty, spicy, and sweet flavours come to the fore as each one is deliciously sampled. Our diaries mean we have to succumb to a fresh water accompaniment, whilst our imaginations cut loose on how these oysters might have gone down with a cool glass of Gusbourne, Castelnau, or Moët Hennessy! At lunchtime, there’s a set menu and a tapas menu. We are fortunate to try a bit of both! The ‘Tear and Share’ Tapioca cracker is from the tapas menu. A rainbow of colours and flavours, the mango chutney, coriander emulsion, avocado

purée, caraway seeds, and spiced beetroot emulsion sit cheerfully alongside each other. The combination explodes on the tongue into a kaleidoscope of dancing flavours.

All the dishes are intelligently crafted to ensure the perfect balance of contrasting tastes. The truffled bread and butter pudding with sage emulsion and parmesan cheese on top presents a symphony of flavours, from sweet to salty and everything in between. The Orkney scallops with Tigers Milk, avocado, sweet potato purée, puffed wild rice, and edible flowers is a colourful masterpiece of art. The ingredients harmonise perfectly to provide a nuanced and enjoyable overall flavour. The art of flavour and presentation come together perfectly in this culinary masterpiece. It’s more than just a meal; it’s an exploration of taste and a visual feast.

The Cod Brandade with potato, Salsa Verde, lemon peel, and crispy skin is a culinary marvel. Every bite is a

harmonious blend of tenderness, freshness, saltiness, acidity, spiciness, and a crunchy exterior that is a delight for the senses. The lemon yields, the salty skin sings, and the cod whispers of the seaside.

The next dish is truly exquisite. The Derbyshire lamb rump with shoulder of lamb to the side. With a barbecued aubergine purée base, anchovy emulsion, chickpeas, orange and chilli, peppers, and feta cheese, not forgetting the lamb sauce over the top, this dish is succulent and divine. Close your eyes; take a bite; and heaven awaits. Every ingredient sings with freshness and vitality. Tender, tasty, and textured. On another level!

The pork belly with potato crumbling on top, passion fruit gel, and squash purée down the centre of the plate ignites the senses and leaves a lasting impression on the palate. The pork is so tender it falls apart on the fork and the clean and fruity flavour from the passion fruit is the ideal complement to the saltiness from the pork. Do we have room for a dessert? You bet we do!

The 70% Guanaja Marquise with peanut butter ice cream on top and coffee is velvety and delicate, yet not too heavy for a summer’s day. The warmth and smokiness from the coffee bean gels well with the hints of nut and spice from the other ingredients. The sponge adds a bounce, balance and texture as well as a saltiness to this dessert, which is the perfect balance of indulgence and delicacy.

The Choux Bun with a rhubarb base and tonka bean mousse offers simple, yet elevated flavours complemented by mellow tones. The sweetness and light bitterness of the rhubarb beautifully complements the fresh warmth of the tonkainfused custard. Light, sharp, sweet and full of flavour. The light and crispy choux pasty adds an extra dimension of flavour and texture to this dessert.

Max’s lemon tart is the perfect summer treat. Fresh, sweet strawberries sit cheerfully alongside a light tartness of the lemon tart. This scrumptious dish is a harmonic blend of

lemon with strawberry, sweet and citrus – a nostalgic light taste, with a light and crispy base. This particular dessert goes down particularly well with a tantalising glass of chilled Gusbourne Rosé.

The word “seasonal” is used frequently in the culinary world, but few follow through with the statement. Fischer’s really take the word and run with it, and they run fast!

The knowledge and passion for food at the level that Fischer’s is producing travels right through the veins of the owners, Max and Sue Fischer, managing director, Neil Fischer, through to the kitchen team, headed by chefs Adam Thackeray and John Shuttleworth, and the serving staff, spearheaded by the ever-popular Otto and Michael Sterland.

All the staff are equally passionate and knowledgeable and share the same overwhelming desire to create the ultimate fine dining experience. This joy of food and celebration of fresh, local produce is evident in every

mouthful. The presentation only reinforces just how much care goes into every single dish. Here, they clearly understand food isn’t just about produce and flavour or filling a hungry void; it should be an experience, and an experience you’ll want to relive. It’s a culinary journey, and it’s a journey that stops at every corner of the palette.

Fischer’s offers a delightful mixture of beautiful surroundings, delicious and beautifully presented food that’s lovingly created with fresh ingredients and invigorating flavours. The question is, “What’s not to love?” The answer. “Nothing.” We’ll be back!

Fischer’s runs a programme of upcoming events and hosts intimate weddings for up to 35 people.

FOR MORE DETAILS:

Fischer’s Baslow Hall Calver Road, Baslow, Derbyshire, DE45 1RR T: 01246 583 259 reservations@fischersbaslowhall.co.uk www.fischers-baslowhall.co.uk

Mackerel, garden green sauce, cucumber, pickled grapes

WE have another signature dish for you from one of the top chefs in Derbyshire.

It’s executive chef Adam Harper of The Cavendish Hotel, Baslow, who offers a lovely mackerel dish. Adam went to The Cavendish in 2018, and has elevated The Gallery Restaurant to three AA rosettes.

Ingredients

Mackerel, filleted and deboned Mackerel bellies (500g)

500g butter

5 eggs

4 cucumbers

Mackerel stock

Bones from 10 fish

Bonito flakes (20g)

3 litres water

Garden green sauce

85g cucumber skin and seed mix

50g parsley

120g apple juice

10g fresh Jalapeño (deseeded and fresh only)

6g lime juice, 100g mackerel stock, 2g MSG, 20g soy sauce (preferably Shiho Shibanuma)

Pickled grapes

1 bunch of grapes (500g)

200g white wine vinegar, 100g sugar

Method

Curing the Mackerel

Cure the top fillet in 50/50 salt and sugar, then wash and vacuum.

Mackerel Stock

Roast the bones of 10 fish; then add the bonito flakes (made from tuna) and simmer in the water for three hours, to reduce by half.

Put the mackerel bellies in a vac pac bag with the butter, all five eggs, and some salt; then leave to come to room temperature. Then steam for five minutes, then place into the thermo mixer as soon as it hits 65degC, then blitz for two minutes, then turn heat off and blitz on full for one minute; then chill.

Preparing the cucumbers

Peel all four cucumbers (save peelings), then deseed (save them too). Then season in sea salt for 4 hours. Wash off the salt then freeze. Defrost after 24 hours, then they are ready to use.

Garden Green sauce

Blitz all the ingredients together, then weigh the liquid.

Add 2% of the total weight of ultra tex (a modified starch used for thickening liquids); then vac in a bag.

Pickled grapes

Boil vinegar and sugar, then chill and add to grapes.

Vac pac for 24 hours until use.

Above: The Cavendish Hotel offers a choice of places to dine: the Gallery Restaurant or The Garden Room Restaurant shown here.

Above: Adam joined The Devonshire Hotel & Restaurant Group in October 2018 after honing his craft at the Michelin-starred Fischer’s at Baslow Hall and leading the team at Rowley’s of Baslow.

A Northern Lights treat!

OUR snappers were out early morning on two nights in May when the Northern Lights were supposed to be visible, looking for entries into our ‘Lovely Landscapes’ competition.

The best of them was taken at 3.35am on the morning of May 11 at Lumsdale by Stuart Else, of Matlock. Well done, Stuart!

It’s up, up and away in the sky near Bakewell, taken by Pauline Chapman, of  Bakewell, on May 7.

Next, the remains of an old windmill close to a massive new wind turbine on Carsington Pasture, taken in April by David Ayres, of Holymoorside, who says: “I thought the contrast between the two was

interesting.” Certainly is, David! A lovely shot in late April by Chris Waddington, of Great Longstone, looking towards Oaker Hill. Chris says: “Lots of wonderful shades of green on a rare sunny day.”

A classic view of Chesterfield from Linacre Woods on a late April day, taken by Brian Smith, of Upper Newbold.

An early morning shot taken from from Chelmorton Low by Lorraine Baker, of Matlock, with  wonderful views over Derbyshire.

A visit to Lea Garden to see the rhododendrons is a springtime must for many, including Janice Dyson, of Wingerworth, who

took this picture in late April.

Taken on a lovely spring morning by Stuart Slinn, of Wingerworth, looking towards Crich Stand, with the spire of St Mary’s Church above the village.

A view over Bradbourne on April 11 by Ian Moorcroft, of Hollingwood, who says: “I think they need a roofer!”

Bradford Dale at Youlgrave on a sunny April day, taken by Russ Teale, of Newbold.

J.D

B.S

L.B

S.S

PICTURE COMPETITION

Often cited as the best view in Derbyshire – from Monsal Head – is this image taken on May 5 by James Peck, of Tansley. The signs say it all! Next, looking towards Aqueduct Cottage and Leawood Pumping House on Cromford Canal, taken by Alastair Newton, of Matlock. Bakewell Square in blossom, taken from the bowling green on a late April day by Idris Jones, of Baslow.

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

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

The winner will receive a meal for two at a top local restaurant, plus the chance to have a selection of their images published in Reflections. The closing deadline for entries is noon on October 16, 2024.

Enjoy the lovelyCoombs Dale

A LOVELY walk taking in Longstone Edge, Black Harry Gate and what is possibly the Peak District’s least-known dale, Coombs Dale.

ROUTE

1 With the White Lion pub behind you, turn left and walk down Main Street until there’s a gap between the houses on the right. Walk up the lane, and take the public footpath on the right to cross the churchyard and squeeze through the gap in the wall to reach the road. Turn left onto Beggarway Lane and follow the road away from the church and with the extra graveyard on the right. After a driveway on the left, turn left and head down the track to the gate at the end. Enter the field and follow the clear path diagonally to the right to the far corner. Climb the stile and head for the lone tree. Climb another stile and follow the line of the bottom of the dale around to the right. After the trees on the left, turn left and follow the line on the ground to the far hedgerow. A clearly-marked path climbs to the top of Longstone Edge, keeping the second wood directly on your right and eventually reaching a dirt-track byway. Take the footpath directly across –the gates inside the stone wall – and follow the wall all the way until you reach a track at Black Harry Gate.

2 Follow this path all the way through Coombs Dale. After leaving a wood on both sides, and with the A623 in sight and within earshot, take a footpath to the right to re-enter the wood. Don’t take the next right path but leave the wood to rise to a junction.

3 Turn right to follow a tree- and walllined track until it enters a field. Follow the line on the ground as the path turns to the left, eventually running alongside another stone wall. The path becomes a track again as you make your way to the farm buildings. Take the footpath opposite the buildings to reach Bramley Lane. The footpath continues across the lane and turns into a track.

4 This track follows the line of a wood to the right, and ignore the track off to the right and a later footpath, also to the right. The track drops steadily, going past a footpath and a byway on the right and a covered

reservoir. Looking more like a proper road now, the track goes through a settlement of houses and farms before eventually reaching a footpath on the right after a wall corner.

5 Go through the small gap in the wall and follow the path across two fields to reach a track. Cross over and continue on the same heading on the footpath to follow a wall on your left to the entrance to a field. The path heads to the bottom left corner of the second field, between two trees. Turn left and follow the wall-lined track to reach Beggarway Lane on a corner. Turn right and after the 30mph sign on the road, turn left down Barn Furlong. Just after the road turns to the right, find the wall-lined footpath on the left after a house. Take this path to eventually meet Main Street in Great Longstone.

Above: Great Longstone viewed from Longstone Edge.

FACT FILE

START: Main Street, Great Longstone

DISTANCE: 7.3miles (11.7km)

HEIGHT GAIN: 1,382ft (421m)

TERRAIN: Country lanes, paths and tracks

TIME: Allow 4/4.5 hours

TAKEN FROM: The Peak District Pack is the ultimate walker’s companion. combining 20 routes together with professional mapping on handy weatherproof cards, which can be taken on walks in a map case provided. You can save £4 on the RRP of £14.95 if ordered direct from the publisher – at walking-books. com There is also a flat rate of £2 postage on all orders up to £19.99.

© walking-books.com

OKAVANGO DELTA – BOTSWANA… The Ultimate Wilderness Safari

WITH MARTINS WORLD TRAVEL AND TRAVEL PARTNERS AUDLEY TRAVEL

MARTIN Founds, founder of Martins World Travel, with a small group of staff and clients recently embarked on the ultimate wilderness safari.

In conjunction with travel partners, Audley Travel, Martins World Travel is renowned for meticulous attention to detail, high quality, and excellent value.

BOTSWANA

Botswana is accessed via Johannesburg on an overnight direct flight with either Virgin or British Airways. There follows a connecting flight to Botswana’s gateway to the Okavango Delta, Maun, and then a small light aircraft trip to

the first lodge, Xugana Island Lodge, for the first leg of the 4-night stay. Guests are met by Audley Travel representatives at each arrival airport.

Botswana has a population of 1.5 million citizens, covers an area of 600,350 square kilometres and is recognised as one of the safest and friendliest countries in Africa. Corruption, which bedevils much of Africa, is virtually nonexistent. For a refreshing change,

it appears to me that citizens and Government in Botswana work very well together.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT BOTSWANA

Prior to its independence in 1966 Botswana was known as the British protectorate of Bechuanaland. The official language of the country is English. 80% of the land is desert

(The Kalahari). The Okavango River pours vast amounts of water south from Angola and creates an extremely rare ecosystem.

The climate is generally subtropical, with a hot, rainy season from November to March and a dry season from April to October, within which there is a cool period from May to August. The rains are not abundant, so much so that the climate is arid or semi-arid depending on the area.

Botswana is occupied by a plateau that has an average altitude of around 1,000 metres.

THE OKAVANGO DELTA

The Okavango Delta is a pristine and rich wilderness – one of Africa’s last great natural sanctuaries, and home to vast concentrations of wildlife. It relies almost totally on seasonal rains to the north in the Angola Highlands.

It is the “jewel of Africa” and a unique phenomenon of nature. The heavy rains in the Angola Highlands to the north flow south into Botswana creating a vast watershed of around 37,00 square kilometres.

Water begins to flow down in January and peaks in June/ July. Then the vast marshlands gradually shrink back; then the cycle begins over again. Wildlife cleverly adapts throughout an ever-changing landscape.

BREATHTAKING SCENERY AND WILDLIFE

The stunning scenery and wildlife include a wide variety of birds and mammals.

Xugana Island Lodge, as its name implies, is perfectly located in an exclusive area (concession) of this vast natural wilderness region. Right on the water’s edge, travellers are surrounded by hippos, the occasional crocodile, elephants, and a huge variety of colourful birdlife. The many reedfringed channels interlinking large pools and small lakes literally teem with wildlife.

Comfortable and fast boats provide the perfect transport to explore such a vast area and the guides are friendly and highly knowledgeable. Even with safety as the top priority, opportunity is available to get up very close to a wide range of animals.

Meandering around a corner on waterways, it’s not uncommon to see pods of hippos feeding and lazing around in the water.

Elephants patrol the lush marshes and can often be seen in the channels feeding constantly. Huge males and groups of females with calves are ubiquitous. Elephants have been known to cover hundreds of miles as they wander in and out of the vast Delta Region sometimes visiting the neighbouring countries of Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. In the Okavango Delta, they are protected, and many have no need to explore out of this vast region.

There are numerous areas of land that do not fully flood and those

areas suit large herds of zebra, wildebeest, many varieties of antelope, giraffes, and warthogs.

EXPERTLY GUIDED VIEWING TRIPS

Guests enjoy at least two expertly arranged guided viewing trips each day and into the evenings. April is an ideal time to visit as temperatures are warm to hot, up to 30c in the heat of the day, cooled a little as the sun sets around early evening. At this time of year, the temperatures are perfect for wildlife viewing.

Daily excursions exclusive to each small group are tailor made to suit individual requirements and expectations. Such detailed and careful organisation by an expert team of guides ensure every hour of every day is maximised.

Even on the water-based location, travellers can experience guided walks on slightly elevated land and take amazing pictures and film wildlife at close quarters. It’s always wonderful to see

the interactions of animals in their wild environment. There was a huge food source for the prey and the predators of the Okavango and nature can be most brutal. The antelope in particular has a tough life in such a stunning environment.

EXPERT GUIDES

Highly professional expert guides are key to making the wilderness experience work. They instil a sense of confidence and care both for travellers and the wildlife. In Botswana, local guides attend a serious and detailed university education course continued with 3 years of field study before they graduate.

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

BAKEWELL’S DAY OF DANCE THIS MONTH…

BAKEWELL’S 20th International Day of Dance will be held on Saturday, June 29, marking the start of Bakewell Carnival Week and with the town’s Well Dressings also on show.

Over 30 groups will be displaying dance styles from around the world at six outdoor venues from 11am to 4.30pm.

The colourful Indian Beats will perform classical and folk dances; and Jose Oliva is back with his Feel it and Dance group, who are performing Bollywood fusion dances this year. Ballroom and On Broadway will be on offer along with a taste of Salsa from the Rueda Academy. Rock and Roll will be provided by the Hopfrogs Dance School; and old favourites such as Black Pig Border Morris are performing. New for this year are Sheffield Steel Rappers; a young female team who will impress you with their acrobatic style and

precision footwork; Derby Tappers; and The Silver Swans, who are an adult ballet group from Matlock.

Dance workshops will be running in the Town Hall during the day. These one-hour workshops cost £5.

If it rains, there will be an alternative wet weather programme in Bakewell Town Hall from 12noon. For more information, visit www.bakewelldayofdance.co.uk

The day will be rounded off in style with a Ceilidh

at Bakewell Town Hall, with music provided by the Well Dressed Band. Proceeds of the evening will go to Goboka Rwanda Trust, a Bakewell-based charity supporting projects in Rwanda. Tickets cost £11 for adults and £9 for students, under-18s and the unwaged. These are available from Mike on 07903734869; or email mike@peakdance.org.uk

SHEFFIELD LYCEUM

BUXTON OPERA HOUSE

WINDING WHEEL

Above: Morris Dancing will be part of the Bakewell Day of Dance.

EDENSOR VILLAGE FETE & OPEN GARDENS DAY

EDENSOR will be welcoming visitors for a traditional village fete on June 15 in a tradition going back many decades; and many of the residents will be opening their gardens for public viewing.

Last year’s event, being the first following the pandemic’s forced closure, was one of the best attended ever – well over 1,000 people visited, with proceeds donated to several worthy charities.

Annually, there used to be a Village Day held in Edensor on St Peter’s Day, where there was a fete and a display of local crafts held in the church. In the 1920s, a long wooden table would be set up on the village green and everyone joined together in afternoon tea. Afterwards there would be races at the bottom of the Crobbs, since there was very little traffic on the road.

When Her Grace, the Dowager Duchess, moved into the village in 2005 she took over the day as primarily a church event, with all the stalls in her garden and an open house where visitors were charged £5 to go round. Guides from Chatsworth House were used to monitor the visitors. The stalls were manned by the congregation.

Nowadays the event is organised by a committee comprising Edensor resident volunteers. Still run on traditional village fete lines, with entertainment and catering, craft stalls, bric-a- brac, vintage motor cars and bikes, there is a wide audience appeal. Combine that with an opportunity to walk around many of the residents’ gardens, what better way to while away a summer’s day!

Proceeds from the event this year will support these charities: Helen’s Trust (in memory of Dr Louise Jordan); Air Ambulance (in memory of Jasper

St Peter’s Churchyard Maintenance Fund. The event is open from 11am-4pm; with an official opening at 12noon by Lord & Lady Burlington. Entry is £5 per adult, accompanied children aged 12 and under admitted free.

speaking about the collections and recent acquisitions of the Derbyshire Record Office, Matlock, both online and at St Thomas’ Centre, Brampton at 7.30pm. Visitors welcome. For more details and to register, contact secretary@cadfhs.org

5 Holymoorside Horticultural Society. ‘South African plants’, a talk by Trish and Peter Kohn at 7.45pm, URC meeting room, Cotton Mill Hill, Holymoorside. Call 01246 568000

7 Fashion Show, Medway Centre, Bakewell. Presented by Bakewell Oxfam, in association with SOS Charity Fashion Shows, with clothes carefully selected to represent all age groups, sizes and for all occasions. Local models will strut the catwalk, showcasing High Street brands at up to 70% off RRP, including M&S, Wallis, Monsoon, Planet, Next and River Island. There will also be clothing from exquisite boutiques in France and

Oliver);

Above: Vintage cars will be on display at Edensor Village Fete on June 15.

Italy! There will also be refreshments and a raffle. Tickets are £5, available by calling either 01629 813638 or 01629 813591; or pay at the door. All proceeds support Oxfam’s work. 7-10 Rosa Festival. Located in the most idyllic locations the Peak District has to offer, Rosa Festival is a gathering of like-minded creatives aiming to bring people of all backgrounds together to produce an intimate community feel. Energy that will resonate from the Rosa community as it grows for years to come. This is an 18+ only event, ID must be presented on entry. For tickets, visit: www.rosafestival.co.uk/tickets

9 Open Garden. In support of Holymoorside Horticultural Society. From 2pm at 144a Holymoor Road, Holymoorside. Plants for sale, refreshments available. Admission £5, children admitted free. Call 01246 568000

13,14,15 Matlock G & S Singers will perform a fully-staged production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘Patience’ on these three nights at The Medway Centre, Bakewell at 7.30pm. Tickets are £15 from ticketsource.co.uk (under Bakewell/ Medway Centre), on the door or from members of the Singers. New members are always welcome, visit http:// matlockgilbertandsullivan.org.uk

15 Bakewell Choral Society: Summer Concert. Conducted by Alan Eost and accompanied by Andrew Cummings. Also featuring the current BBC Senior Young Chorister of the Year, Natalie Fooks. From 7.30-10pm. To book and for more information visit: www.bakewellchoral.co.uk

16 Whisky Tasting with Peak Rail. 2pm3.25pm. A special Whisky Train is being offered for Fathers Day, in association with The Wee Dram in Bakewell. Treat Dad to a lovely experience on our vintage carriages steam-hauled through the Derwent Valley. The Whisky Train consists of 6 whisky tastings, with expert guidance, and nibbles on a journey to Matlock and back. Held at last year’s price of £45 per head. For tickets, visit: www.peakrail.digitickets.co.uk

19 Meet the Maker at Fischer’s. We are excited to welcome Gusbourne to Fischer’s for our next ‘Meet the Maker’ event, which is celebrating English Wine Week. A boutique winery in Kent, Gusbourne produces awardwinning English sparkling wines. In 2023, Gusbourne was bestowed with the title of WineGB Estate Winery

LEARN MORE ABOUT GEORGE STEPHENSON

A GEORGE Stephenson re-enactor will be taking centre stage at an event to celebrate the famous engineer and his connections with Chesterfield. Chesterfield Museum and Holy Trinity Church will be hosting the free event on Saturday, June 8, from 10am to 4pm.

As well as being able to answer questions and pose for pictures, the re-enactor will also be hosting two talks: at 11am, he’ll be speaking about the life of George Stephenson; and then at 2.30pm he’ll be explaining more about George’s life in Chesterfield. Refreshments and other activities will also be available.

Holy Trinity Church is George Stephenson’s final resting place and features a stunning stainedglass window commissioned by his son Robert.

Rev Jill Hancock of Holy Trinity Church said: “It’s a great privilege to host George Stephenson Day each year with Chesterfield Museum. It’s exciting to share our church’s history and the story of the railways with everyone. We look forward in welcoming everyone to join us for a day of learning and fun and, of course, a sticky bun!”

The event is free to enter, with donations being given to the charities Hope House and Worth.

The Stephenson Memorial Hall, the home of Chesterfield Museum and Pomegranate Theatre, is currently being refurbished with funding provided through the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

of the Year for the third consecutive year. Booking is essential, please call reservations on 01246 583259 or book online at: /www.fischersbaslowhall.co.uk/book-online.

21-23

Cromford Mills Beer Festival. The Mills’ second annual Beer Festival brings you the biggest selection of cask ales and craft beers. Fantastic live music, entertainment, and tasty street food – what’s not to like! Look out for our new Cider and Gin Bars! Free entry and dog friendly. For more information, visit: www.cromfordmills.org.uk

21-July 7 Ashbourne Festival. Over the last two decades, Ashbourne Festival has hosted some of the best street theatre musicians, comedians, artists and writers nationally and internationally.

23 Derbyshire County Show at The Showground, Elvaston, near Derby, DE72 3ENIt’s certainly a day out to remember! For tickets, visit: www.derbyshirecountyshow. ticketsrv.co.uk/tickets/

27 ‘The John Smedley Archive and Museum and latest finds’. Jane Middleton-Smith, archivist at John Smedley’s historic mill, will talk about

her work and plans for a museum. At No. 28, Market Place, Belper 27-30 Derbyshire Sausage and Cider Festival. The UK’s Biggest Tribute Festival celebrates its 10th year! An amazing weekend of music and alternative entertainment for all the family at Catton Park! For tickets and more information, visit: www.visitderby.co.uk/events/

JULY

2 Chesterfield and District Family History Society. Stephen Flinders speaking on ‘The Life and Adventures of Henry Walker, RN.’ both online and live at St Thomas’ Centre, Brampton, at 7.30pm. Visitors welcome. For more details and to register, contact secretary@cadfhs.org

SUBMIT YOUR LISTING OR EVENT

Please email your information including dates to whatson@reflections-magazine.com before June 24th, 2024, to appear in the July 2024 issue.

Above: The bronze sculpture of George Stephenson‘father’ of the railways who built the North Midland Railway between Derby and Leeds - was unveiled at the front of Chesterfield Railway Station on October 28, 2005.