www.reflections-magazine.com Reflections Derbyshire’s largest-circulation lifestyle magazine
VOL. 34 ISSUE 414 NOVEMBER 2026 £1.00 WHERE PURCHASED
Vol.34 Issue 414 November 2026 www.reflections-magazine.com
PEOPLE | PLACES | WHAT’S ON | CROSSWORD | FOOD
Derbyshire’s largest-circulation lifestyle magazine CHESTERFIELD–DRONFIELD–MATLOCK–BAKEWELL AND SURROUNDING AREAS
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November 2026 Welcome … The clocks have gone back, there’s a chill in the air and (dare I say it?) Christmas is just around the corner. For some, November offers the chance to rest, reflect and retreat into home comforts; for others it’s the start of a hectic hurtle towards the festive season. November is also, of course, the month when we pause to remember the men and women who have served in wars past and present. So, it was both poignant and a pleasure to meet Derbyshire author Shirley Mann who, through her series of novels, highlights lesser-known stories of female courage, resilience and adventure during the Second World War. We also hear from women whose careers have taken an unexpected new direction and from people whose voluntary work makes a difference to the lives of others. The Peak District can be both wild and wonderful in late autumn and Chris Drabble invites us to discover the enduring magic of Stanage Edge and nearby North Lees.
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This edition is also packed with homes and interiors inspiration – perfect for cosy season! So why not take a few minutes to curl up with a cuppa and enjoy this edition of Reflections? Until next time, Keep in touch with Reflections throughout the month by following us at:
/ReflectionsMagazine /ReflectionsMag/
28 Ordinary girls, extraordinary stories
58 Crossword
Fiona Stubbs learns how Derbyshire author Shirley Mann is preserving some of the lesser-known stories of women who served in the Second World War
60 Volunteering to make a difference
46 A new direction Cover: Blenheim
Tel. 01246 550 488 (3 lines). Bannister Publications Limited, Office 2A Market Hall, Market Pl, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. S40 1AR. Reflections is published monthly and delivered directly to homes which fall into tax bands D to H and the following postcode areas: DE4 - 2, 3, 4, 5 / DE45 1 / S18 5 / S30 1 / S40 - 1, 2, 3, 4 / S41 0, S41 7, 8, 9 / S42 - 5, 6, 7 / S43 - 1, 2, 3 / S45 0, S45 9. All Rights Reserved: Reproduction in whole or in part without written consent is strictly prohibited. The publishers do not accept responsibility for any views expressed, or statements made, in signed contributions or in those reproduced from any other source. No responsibility is borne for any errors made in any advertisement, or for incorrect claims made by any advertiser. The publishers reserve the right to refuse any advertising deemed unsuitable for any reason. All material submitted for publication is done so at the owner’s risk and no responsibility is accepted for its return. Reflections Magazine, Bannister Publications Ltd.
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REFLECTIONS MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2026
Editor: Fiona Stubbs E: editor@bannisterpublications.co.uk Advertising: Helen Wragg, M: 07973 672582 E: helen@bannisterpublications.co.uk Managing Director/Photographer: Robert Bannister, E: robert@bannisterpublications.com Art Editor: Ben Fletcher-Bates, E: design@reflections-magazine.com Social Media: E: hello@bannisterpublications.com Accounts: Amy Eaton, E: admin@bannisterpublications.co.uk Distribution: E: distribution@bannisterpublications.co.uk Published by: Bannister Publications Ltd.
News 12, 18, 22, 44, 55, 62
It’s never too late to discover a whole new career, as Fiona Stubbs discovers
50 Food Review The Peacock at Rowsley
56 Antiques Our antiques expert Vivienne Milburn reveals the “The Artist Who Turns Perspective Upside Down”
Nominations are open for the King’s Award, recognising the achievements of volunteers. Rebecca Erskine reports
66 Plant now for spring Give your garden something to look forward to by planting tulips this month, suggests Tracy Reid
68 The Enduring Magic of Stanage Edge From climbing legends to literary inspiration, Chris Drabble reveals his fascination with Stanage Edge To advertise call 01246 550488
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CONTENTS
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66 72 Photographic competition The final entries in our 2026 competition, Derbyshire Through the Seasons
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77 A World of Wonderful Stories Author Sue Wilkins reflects on her writing journey with Robert Bannister
80 What’s On Our guide to events in November Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com
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FEATURE
Your health, your future What if getting older could mean staying stronger, sharper and more energised for longer? Derbyshire doctors Lucy and Peter Scriven are offering a proactive approach to health – focusing not just on how long we live, but on how well we live You know your chronological age … but how old in biological terms, is your body?
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OU invest in your work or business, your home and your family, but what about the thing it all depends on … your own health? You want to stay healthy for longer … but how do you navigate the dizzying amount of information, the claims and counter-claims that you see online? Chesterfield-based doctors Lucy and Peter Scriven – who both have more than 25 years of medical experience - are helping people to safeguard their health across the decades, providing science-based, personalised care through their clinic LONGEVITY. Delivering a range of structured, medically-led programmes, LONGEVITY uses advanced diagnostics and real-time physiological data to re-shape how we age.
Proactive screening can highlight health risks and early signals of disease, allowing lifestyle changes or early intervention to prevent disease taking hold. The clinic currently sees patients online but Lucy and Peter plan to establish a physical base in Derbyshire. “Ageing does not have to mean inevitable decline,” explains Lucy. “It’s a biological process that can be measured, managed and reversed.” Peter adds: “Biological age can be measured in different ways – there isn’t one single magic number! Several of our clients are more than 10 or even 20 years younger than their chronological age on multiple ageing clocks.” Science shows that ageing doesn’t happen in a smooth, linear fashion. Instead, it accelerates at three key points in adult life – in our mid-30s, midNot and a real patient’Targeted 40s mid-60s. interventions around these ‘inflection points’ can reshape the trajectory of ageing and give people potentially another 25 years of good health. But intervention can help at any age – it is never too late to make changes that can have a big impact. Left: An example of a biomarker report showing how a person’s biological age can differ from their chronological age
*Not a real patient
Doctors Peter and Lucy Scriven Picture: Helen Rowan Photography “We want people to live their best life for as long as possible, maintaining optimum levels of energy, focus, strength and brain function well into their later decades,” says Peter. “An extended healthspan is the enabler for a long life well lived.” Lucy and Peter met as medical students at the University of Sheffield and have been married for 25 years. A medical doctor with NHS experience in general practice, women’s health and dermatology, Lucy has also lived with Type 1 diabetes for over 40 years, which has informed her insight into the value of precise self-care. “Living with a lifelong condition teaches you the value of continuity, good information and a team that notices change over time,” she says. Peter has a background in surgery for cancer, research into the processes which keep our cells healthy and more than a decade as a GP. He knows how simple health screening can miss early disease. “My dad had a massive heart attack weeks after running a half marathon
and having a normal NHS health check,” he reveals. “That experience drives me to make sure we detect things at a point we can do something about it.” The care LONGEVITY delivers is carefully considered and tailored to each individual patient. Lucy and Peter cut through the misinformation that can be found online, bringing clarity and trust to what can be a confusing place to navigate. They are joined at LONGEVITY by a team of experts covering nutrition, strength training, psychology, sleep and gut health. “Healthy ageing is shaped by many interacting aspects of our biology and lifestyle,” says Lucy. “Our role is to bring the right experts together around each individual, with medical oversight, to help people remain fully alive, for longer.”
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News across the county. The Derbyshire Open Arts 2027 event takes place over the Bank Holiday weekend of Saturday 29th to Monday 31st May. The closing date for applications is Wednesday 13th January. Applications are welcomed from artists and makers across Derbyshire and beyond, but the venue must be within the county. Venues could include an artist’s home or studio, a multi-artist venue, a church hall, pub, community centre or anywhere that can be accessed by visitors. To learn more or apply, visit: www.derbyshireopenarts.co.uk
A life in the wild
Pic caption: In the mood – recreating the Blitz in Bolsover
Blitz spirit HISTORY came to life in Bolsover as the town centre and castle grounds were transformed for the annual Bolsover Blitz. The popular 1940s-themed festival, organised by Old Bolsover Town Council, attracted big crowds with its mix of vintage vehicle displays, themed market stalls and authentic military re-enactors. Big-band music filled the air as people enjoyed period-inspired food and drink at the free event.
Students discover industry opportunities in university open day STUDENTS considering their next steps learned more about career-focused degrees and industry opportunities at an open day at the University of Derby’s St Helena site in Chesterfield. The event gave students the opportunity to find out more about programmes, meet academic experts and engage with industry experts. Hannah Wright, Associate Director of Student Recruitment at the University of Derby, said: “Our industry links are a really important part of the student experience, providing them with the opportunity to experience where their degree could take them, while making valuable connections for when they graduate. “Studying at the University of Derby is all about gaining practical skills, industry knowledge and professional experience informed by employers.” 12 Reflections November 2026
Above: Students visiting the open day at the University of Derby’s Chesterfield campus
Derbyshire Open Arts 2027 DERBYSHIRE Open Arts is calling for artists and makers to take part next year in its annual, open studio event, at venues
RIDING an elephant bareback through the jungle, sitting side-by-side with a gorilla and bottle-feeding a baby tiger … these have been among the career highlights for Derbyshire writer, photographer and conservationist Anna-Louise Pickering. And there will be more amazing stories told by Anna-Louise in her talk, Wonderful World: Travels with a Wildlife Artist, at the next meeting of the Chesterfield RSPB local group on Monday, 2nd November. For almost 30 years, Anna-Louise worked alongside her mother, the late wildlife artist Pollyanna Pickering, travelling the globe in sometimes unglamorous accommodation in shacks with no electricity and an en-suite hole in the ground. Illustrated with photos of wildlife encountered on her adventures with Pollyanna, Anna-Louise’s talk will be at 7.15pm at the St Thomas’ Centre, Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield. Admission is £5 for members and £6 non-members, including refreshments served in the interval.
Anna-Louise Pickering
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BUSINESS NEWS Picture caption: East Midlands Mayor, Claire Ward, will address the Chesterfield Investment Summit
a job’,” says Jonathan, now Bolsover District Council’s Outdoor Recreation Officer. “These young people are often labelled as ‘hard to reach’, but there was just nothing that interested them.” He adds: “We’ve worked for numerous Police and Crime Commissioners and Community Safety Partnerships, along with many more agencies, because they are seeing the hook of what we do.”
Sweet success in Great British Food Awards 2026
Chesterfield Investment Summit to spotlight £2bn regeneration and East Midlands Investment Zone BUSINESS owners and investors are invited to discover how Chesterfield’s regeneration projects are creating investment opportunities and driving growth across the region. The Chesterfield Investment Summit – bringing together investors, developers and civic leaders - will take place on Wednesday, 18th November at Chesterfield College. Organised by Destination Chesterfield, the summit will showcase wider growth and investment opportunities in the area, while celebrating recent local regeneration projects. Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, will share her vision for growth for the East Midlands, including the benefits of increased devolution for local people, business and investors. The summit will also provide updates on the latest East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) investments and the East Midlands Investment Zone (EMIZ). Julie Richards OBE, Principal and CEO of Chesterfield College Group and Destination Chesterfield Board Member will discuss skills advantages for attracting inward investment and provide an update on the new £10 million Advanced Manufacturing & Life Sciences Academy at Chesterfield College. Learn more / book online: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/ business/investment-summit/
A tire-less approach to youth engagement A roadshow which grew out of a council initiative to create a mobile skatepark for young people in north Derbyshire is 18 Reflections November 2026
celebrating its 25th anniversary. Jonathan Tipton was a parks and open spaces officer for Bolsover District Council in 2001, when a colleague requested funding for a mobile skate park, following a huge surge in young people taking up BMX-riding and skateboarding, with no other facilities to accommodate them. An initial investment of £500 for some ramps was followed by further government funding – leading to the birth of the Extreme Wheels Roadshow, which has gone on to work with over 250,000 young people locally and nationally. In 2024, a permanent skatepark was opened at Hornscroft Park, Bolsover and has been credited with contributing to a 60% drop in social nuisance and perceived anti-social behaviour in the town. Councils up and down the country have invited the team to showcase their activities – over 400 clients include most of the local authorities in the East Midlands. Over 40 young people have also gone on to gain employment with Extreme Wheels, with three progressing to management level. “We have engaged with young people who would not have engaged in other forms of physical activity or traditional services or may think ‘I can’t do this as Extreme Wheels at Bolsover’s Hornscroft Park
A partnership between Renishaw Hall & Gardens and Eckington-based Bear Cool Honey Company has been recognised in the Great British Food Awards 2026. Bronze awards went to Renishaw Hall & Gardens Pure Honeycomb, in association with Bear Cool Honey Company, and Derbyshire Bear Cool Honey.
Above: Beekeeper Linda Garnett
Beekeeper Linda Garnett, from Bear Cool Honey Company, cares for apiaries, hives and bees on the historic Renishaw estate of the Sitwell family. Carrie-Anne Burton, manager at Renishaw Hall & Gardens, said: “We are absolutely delighted. Linda deserves so much credit for this achievement. She works incredibly hard and cares enormously about the bees, the honey and everything she produces.”
Parkins merges into SMH Group ACCOUNTANCY firm Parkins has joined SMH Group, which has offices across Derbyshire and Yorkshire. The firm will now operate as SMH Parkins, continuing to serve clients from its office in Wickersley, Rotherham. Jonathon Dickens, CEO of SMH Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome Parkins into the SMH Group. They have a strong local reputation and share our commitment to providing clear advice and dependable support.” To advertise call 01246 550488
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NEWS
Baroque Alchemy
appeared regularly as a performer and presenter on BBC Radio 3. Her programme for Peak Music ranges from the baroque of Corelli, through Debussy and Britten to jazz legends such as Thelonius Monk and George Gershwin. Learn more at: https:// peakmusicsociety.org.uk/
Hathersage Players perform Analogue
Matlock Music presents live music in the Dales MATLOCK Music hosts a concert by award-winning partnership Baroque Alchemy on Friday 13th November. Piers Adams (recorders) and Lyndy Mayle (keyboard) perform music which crosses centuries, styles and soundworlds. Since their debut in 2022, they have performed extensively throughout the UK, Germany and Spain. Piers Adams has enjoyed an international career spanning four decades, with ensemble work and as a soloist with orchestras around the world. Lyndy Mayle studied harpsichord at the Royal College of Music and became music director at the National Theatre before becoming established as a highly respected piano teacher. A wide range of composers will be featured in the concert, including Bach, Uccellini, Massenet, Debussy, Biber, Ibert, Couperin, Beeftink, Linde, and Monti. Matlock Music’s 2026/2027 season includes Ensemble 360 Horn Trio (4th December), Aquinas Piano Trio (29th January), pianist Qden Blaauw (26th February), young musicians from the Sheffield Music Academy (19th March) and an ensemble of opera singers from the RNCM (23rd April). Concerts are at Wheeldon Hall, Highfields School, Lumsdale, Matlock (7.30pm). Tickets (£18) and season tickets (£70) are available at the door. Learn more at: www.matlockmusic.org.uk or call George Wolfe on 01433 631308. 22 Reflections November 2026
Jess Gillam Trio at Peak Music
Above: Jess Gillam Trio. Picture: Robin Clewley
MUSICIAN and radio presenter Jess Gillam will be joined by pianist Zeynep Ozsuca and bassist Sam Becker in a performance for Peak Music at Cavendish Hall on 24th November. Saxophone virtuoso Jess - talented in classical and jazz genres - was the youngest ever soloist to appear at the Last Night of the Proms and has since
HATHERSAGE Players stage their homegrown play Analogue from Wednesday 18th to Saturday 21st November (7:30pm) at The Memorial Hall. Performed in the round, the immersive production takes audiences to 2084, where nothing - and noone - are quite what they seem. The play explores traditional themes of love, inequality and deceit, blended into topical themes of artificial intelligence and the advance of science. For tickets, visit https:// hathersageplayers.org/ or call the Box Office on 01433 764 064.
Peak Performance Christmas concerts PEAK Performance begins its season of fundraising events with concerts at Ringwood Hall on Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd December. The group of singers will perform a selection of carols, old and new, together with seasonal readings as part of its annual fundraising activity in support of Ashgate Hospice. Last December, members sang at various venues and raised almost £6,500. Peak Performance will be singing throughout December at venues including Einsteins, Chesterfield (every Sunday evening in December, 6pm to 7.30pm) and Matlock Farm Park (22nd and 23rd). They will also perform at Tesco Clay Cross and Whittington Moor, Lifestyle village and Wingerworth Community Carol sing. Tickets for the Ringwood concert are £10 and can be reserved by calling Mike Spriggs on 07484 169003 or email mikespriggs7a@gmail.com
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FEATURE
OR D IN ARY GI RL S … W I TH
extraordinary stories
As we pause this month to remember the men and women who fought in wars past and present, Derbyshire author Shirley Mann tells Fiona Stubbs about her own mission to share and preserve the lesser-known stories of female courage, resilience – and adventure – during the Second World War
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UST an ‘ordinary girl from Manchester’, Eileen Macdonald’s ambition was to marry, have children and ‘learn to make great gravy like her mum.’ But at just 19 years old, Eileen was a wireless operator with the RAF’s Bomber Command, communicating by Morse code with Lancaster crews on high-stakes WWII missions. Many years later, Eileen’s experiences in the Women’s Auxilliary Air Force (WAAF) would inspire her daughter, Shirley Mann, to write the first of a series of novels focusing on the largely untold stories of women who served during the war. “Mum often talked of her life in the WAAF – she was just an ordinary girl but it was an absolutely shining time in her life,” says Shirley, who lives in Wirksworth. “At this young age, she was working with Bomber Command – the only point of contact
Left: Shirley with her six novels about women at war Above: Shirley’s mum, Eileen Macdonald, served as a WAAF with Bomber Command. She married David Johnson married after the war Above right: Eileen’s dad, David Johnson, was a tank transporter driver during the Second World War
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FEATURE Shirley learns about a wartime Hurricane fighter aircraft during a visit to the Shuttleworth Collection in Bedfordshire
“After meeting these women, I was able to find all the little ‘gems’ that aren’t in the history books and I feel very passionate about the need to preserve their legacies.” once crews were out of telephone range.” Shirley’s imagination was also fired by her parents’ wartime romance. Eileen met cheeky young battery salesman David Johnson when he visited the company where she worked as a clerk. When the war started, David joined the 8th Army – nicknamed the ‘Desert Rats’. He was a tank transporter driver, serving in north Africa, Sicily, Italy, Arnhem and, ultimately, Berlin. “They were apart for six years, but kept in touch by writing to each other,” smiles Shirley, who enjoyed a successful career as a journalist before “wondering if I could write a novel” in her 60s. “My mum was getting elderly and I realised I hadn’t asked her enough questions,” she says. “But it was too late. I started travelling the country and meeting other women who had served in the war.” As one conversation led to another, Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com
Shirley Mann with wartime ATA pilot, Mary Ellis, the inspiration for her book, Bobby’s War
more stories of amazing women in different wartime roles emerged – resulting in Shirley’s series of standalone novels, published by Bonnier Books. The first, Lily’s War tells the story of a young couple from Manchester whose romance is interrupted by the Second World War. Lily joins Bomber Command as a WAAF, seeing war as an opportunity for adventure. “My mum, Eileen, struggled with rules, so Lily is a bit of a rebel,” Shirley reveals. Lily’s War took six years to write and, sadly, Eileen didn’t live to see her daughter’s debut novel published in 2019. Since then, Shirley has written
prolifically. Her second novel, Bobby’s War, telling the story of an Air Transport Auxilliary (ATA) pilot, was named the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) Romantic Saga of the Year in 2021. Hannah’s War features a land army girl working alongside German prisoners of war, while Bridget’s War, about a female police officer managing an internment camp on the Isle of Man, was nominated for the 2024 Popular Romantic Fiction Award. Maggie’s War focuses on the women who operated cargo narrowboats to keep vital wartime supplies moving across Britain’s canal network, while recently published 29 Reflections November 2026
FEATURE Faith’s War follows a nurse in Malta during the siege of 1940-42. Shirley will attend a launch event in Malta this month. Writing has always been close to Shirley’s heart. She began her career as a reporter on her local newspaper, the Cheshire Observer in Chester - “one of my jobs was to buy snuff for the sports editor” – before working for BBC outlets including BBC Radio 4, Radio 5 Live, World Service, Midlands Today and Countryfile. Yet she finds writing novels particularly challenging. “It’s hard work,” she says. “Lily’s War took so long to write. I kept putting it away, thinking ‘I can’t do this, I can’t do fiction.’ Give me facts and I have a conduit. That’s what I’ve done all my career. “I did a lot of courses, thinking there was an answer I was missing – and the only answer is that you just have to sit down and do it.” Shirley and her husband Kevin have
Wearing the essential hard hat for the low roofs at the Malta at War Museum, in Birgu, Shirley explores the tunnels that sheltered thousands of people during the siege of Malta from 1940 to 1942
“I want people to see the war years through the eyes of these young women who were there.” lived in Wirksworth for 20 years and find the creative community very supportive. “I’m not sure I could have done any of this without my Wirksworth superfans urging me on,” laughs Shirley. “When I’ve thought I couldn’t write any more books, people have said ‘yes you can!’ Everyone is so encouraging.” She adds: “I don’t plan my books in detail. I start with a general arc of a story and gradually the characters reveal themselves. They become their own people. “My novels are classed as romantic sagas but, while they do contain romance, it’s almost secondary to the history that people were actually living through. I want people to see the war years through the eyes of these young women who were there. “What became increasingly important to me was authenticity. I’ve had to do so much research. As a typical journalist, I’m not happy until I know that every detail is correct.” During research for Lily’s war, Shirley learned how women serving in the Air Transport Auxiliary piloted planes during the war – ferrying new, repaired or damaged military aircraft between factories, maintenance depots and RAF airfields. That led her to Mary Ellis, then aged 101 and the last surviving ATA pilot. Mary was living on the Isle of Wight where, post-war, she had gone on to run Sandown airport. “She was amazing,” recalls Shirley. “I spent an afternoon with Mary and her niece. She was a little bit like a head girl and I was slightly in awe. I asked if she went out with men [during the war] and 30 Reflections November 2026
she said ‘yes, of course’. I also asked if she drank or swore and she said ‘certainly not!’” Mary’s story became the inspiration for Bobby’s War – with a few tweaks. “I made Bobby very efficient at work but a mess in her social life,” grins Shirley. “During the war, Mary flew everything except Lancasters. The Spitfire was her favourite. She eventually married, but didn’t have children, so she was able to continue working. It’s important to see everything in the context of the time. What I find hard is that most of the women who did amazing jobs during the war were expected to go back into the kitchen afterwards.” While her research uncovered different wartime stories, Shirley also discovered many shared experiences among the women she spoke to. “I needed to understand how they dealt with the war,” she says. “They weren’t allowed to moan about things. “Don’t you know there’s a war on?” is what everyone would say. “And, somehow, they managed to have fun. They laughed and danced; went out for drinks and to the cinema.
“They had beetroot juice in place of lipstick, gravy browning for their legs and, because fabric was scarce, they weren’t allowed pleats or pockets in their clothes because they were a waste of cloth. “Drinking water was in short supply so all the WAAFs carried an old penny, which fitted perfectly in plug holes – as rubber plugs had gone to make aircraft tyres.” She adds: “After meeting these women, I was able to find all the little ‘gems’ that aren’t in the history books and I feel very passionate about the need to preserve their legacies. “I think, these days, that we’ve lost sight of what’s important in life. But I also think we still have resilience and we can find that strength if we need to. I’ve an ultimate belief in humanity. My wish is that young women – and young men – read these books. There’s so much legacy that needs to be preserved and passed onto future generations and, heaven help us, perhaps we could finally learn from history.” https://shirleymannauthor.home. blog/ Instagram: @shirleymannauthor Facebook: Shirley Mann Author To advertise call 01246 550488
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LOCAL BUSINESS
Winter Warmers: Make Your Home Cosier
WITH HOLYWELL CARPETS
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s the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, nothing beats coming home to a warm, comfortable, inviting space. From cosy evenings curled up on the sofa to chilly winter mornings, comfort at home matters more than ever. One of the simplest ways to transform your home for the colder months is to start from the floor up. A beautifully chosen carpet brings softness, warmth and texture to a room, creating that welcoming, snug feeling we all appreciate in winter. Holywell Carpets help homeowners across Chesterfield and the surrounding area find the perfect flooring for their homes, lifestyles and budgets.
Cosy carpets for colder days Winter is the perfect time to embrace soft textures, warm colours and flooring that makes every room feel more inviting. Think luxurious carpets underfoot, calming neutral shades, rich earthy tones and subtle textures that add character and comfort. Carpet can also help reduce heat loss through the floor, making it a practical choice as well as an attractive one. For an extra layer of comfort, the right underlay is worth considering. A quality underlay can improve insulation and make your carpet 40 Reflections November 2026
feel softer underfoot. Carpet and underlay TOG ratings indicate thermal resistance, with higher ratings generally offering greater insulation. Holywell Carpets can help you choose a suitable combination for your home.
The right flooring for every room Living Rooms and Bedrooms Create the perfect setting for relaxing on winter evenings with a soft, welcoming carpet. In bedrooms, a luxurious finish underfoot makes those cold mornings a little more comfortable. Kitchens and Dining Areas For spaces where practicality matters, Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT), vinyl and laminate offer stylish, easy-to-maintain options. From natural oak-effect finishes to contemporary herringbone designs, there’s something to suit every home. Hallways and Stairs Wet shoes and muddy footprints are part of winter life. Durable flooring and hard-wearing carpets help busy areas withstand everyday family use while creating a welcoming first impression.
Why choose holywell carpets? As a Derbyshire Trusted Trader, Holywell Carpets has built a reputation for quality products, expert advice and outstanding customer service. Our knowledgeable team will guide you through every step, from choosing your flooring to arranging professional fitting. We offer an extensive range of carpets and flooring, LVT, vinyl and laminate, expert measuring, professional fitting, friendly advice and competitive pricing.
A warmer welcome starts from the floor up Whether you’re refreshing one room or transforming your home, the right flooring can make a remarkable difference to its appearance and comfort. This winter, create a space where you can relax, unwind and enjoy being at home. To advertise call 01246 550488
LOCAL BUSINESS
What Customers Say 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.”
A Company Built on Selected Customer Reviews Honesty, Quality and Care Claudia Paige “Amazing - from when we first went in the shop to finishing our stairs. Great customer service, great communication, and the best variety of carpets I’ve seen in a carpet shop.”
If you are looking for an honest, courteous and dependable service delivered by people who genuinely care about the finished result look no further than Holywell Carpets. Visit Holywell Carpets to explore hundreds of flooring options and discover the perfect finishing touch for your home.
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contact Helen Wragg on 07973 672582 Reflections has been established for over 30 years
LOCAL BUSINESS
1ST CLASS STYLE, DESIGN, AND CRAFTSMANSHIP Warm colours, British craftsmanship, and clever cooking technology come together at 1st Class Kitchens, where 22 years of experience underpin a personal approach to improving your home. The Chatsworth Road showroom offers an unrivalled choice of 40 quartz samples and 60 door samples, with an eclectic choice of colours, textures, and finishes to help you find the right combination for your kitchen.
1ST CLASS INNOVATION The Siemens studioLine Matt Edition induction venting hob combines flexible cooking zones with an integrated downdraft extractor, drawing cooking fumes away at source without an overhead hood. Its deep matt black surface makes fingerprints and scratches less visible than conventional glass ceramic. Meanwhile, fryingSensor maintains the selected pan
temperature, helping prevent overheating and giving you greater control. Flexible induction zones accommodate different cookware sizes for everyday meals, as well as more ambitious cooking.
1ST CLASS BRITISH DESIGN Reeded oak detailing brings warmth and character to doors, drawer fronts, and islands. Burbidge’s Brackenbury Reeded range is designed and manufactured in the UK using solid timber and timber veneers. Earthy greens, warm browns, and gentle neutrals create inviting combinations. As a Burbidge Premium Partner, 1st Class Kitchens can help you explore the colour matching possibilities.
1ST CLASS PERSONAL SERVICE Run by Dave and Helen Oxley, alongside daughter Charlotte, this independent family business offers in-house design and fitting, with friendly, personal service throughout. As a KBSA Approved Member, 1st Class Kitchens follows the Association’s Code of Conduct and is committed to high standards of design, supply, installation, and customer service.
1ST CLASS OFFERS BLACK FRIDAY: Receive a FREE NEFF/SIEMENS dishwasher, with kitchen orders placed in November 2026.* BOSCH, NEFF & SIEMENS CASHBACK: Claim up to £1,100 on qualifying purchases between 28th August and 30th November 2026. Packages must include a qualifying single oven and at least five kitchen cabinets, purchased from 1st Class Kitchens. Cashback varies by appliance quantity. ADDITIONAL CASHBACK: Includes £600 for a qualifying inductionAir hob or glassdraftAir hood, plus £250 for a qualifying XL or XXL fridge freezer.* EXISTING CUSTOMERS: Purchased a kitchen within the last two years? Receive 10% off your next project, including media walls, bedrooms, offices, outside kitchens, or utility rooms.* * T&Cs apply.
49-53 Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, S40 2AL, 01246 271727 info@1stclasskitchens.co.uk
www.1stclasskitchens.co.uk Opening Times
Monday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 4pm Wednesday - by appointment only Saturday 10am - 4pm Free accessible parking behind the showroom, off Chester Street
High quality, affordable British-made kitchens and bedrooms
NEWS Coun Ashley Orwin joins in printing activities at the LEVEL Centre. Picture: Erin Zeb
Announcing her award, the CNP said: “Yvonne is the heart, spirit and force behind Peak District Mosaic where, for almost two decades, she has worked tirelessly to improve access to nature for diverse communities, encouraging them to explore the outdoors, building belonging and inspiring environmental care.” Yvonne added: “It is a privilege to engage with and support communities, friends and families to visit national parks. So much of what I do is about encouraging people from different communities, whatever their age or ability, to connect with nature, learn about the environment and spend quality time outdoors to enhance their physical and mental wellbeing.”
Royal congratulations for blue sapphire anniversary
Matlock mayor raises £800 at first fundraiser MATLOCK mayor Coun Ashley Orwin raised £800 at the first event for his chosen charity, the LEVEL Centre. Over his year as mayor, Coun Orwin aims to raise £5000 for the Rowsley-based accessible contemporary arts centre. The fundraiser followed LEVEL’s Fun Palaces event, a day of creativity, community and inclusion. The fundraising event included music and DJ from Thrive PR and Events and catering from Charlotte’s of Baslow. LEVEL was chosen by Coun Orwin after a public consultation. Following a 15-year career in the performing arts including work with Matthew Bourne, Rambert and the Royal Ballet - LEVEL’s mission immediately resonated with him. Coun Orwin said: “Creativity and the arts have played such an important role in my life, particularly in building confidence, finding belonging and giving me opportunities I could never have imagined growing up. “After visiting LEVEL, meeting the team and seeing first-hand what they do, I completely fell in love with the place. Very simply, LEVEL believes in the transformative power of arts and creativity to enrich the lives of people with disabilities and additional learning needs - however that looks for each individual.” A major part of the fundraising total came from a raffle supported by businesses, including Aspire Creative, Longbow Venues, LumiOx, Bowl Matlock, Specsavers Matlock, Arbutus & Ivy, Lumsdale Tearooms, Robert Young Florist, All in Dance and Tansley Barn Garden Centre. 44 Reflections November 2026
Lifetime Achievement award for tireless Peak District champion PEAK District champion Yvonne Witter has been recognised with a Lifetime Achievement award by the Campaign for National Parks (CNP). Yvonne was honoured in the CNP’s National Park Protector awards, in recognition of her dedication to connecting people with the Peak District. She is chair of the charity Peak District Mosaic, which creates and sustains connections between the National Park and new audiences.
DERBYSHIRE couple Stephen and Anne Pearson received royal congratulations when they celebrated their blue sapphire wedding anniversary.
Above: Anne and Stephen Pearson
Stephen and Anne, who live in Wingerworth, received a card from King Charles and Queen Camilla to mark their 65 years of marriage. The couple married at St John the Baptist Church, Dronfield in October 1961. They moved from Dronfield to Wingerworth in 1963 and have lived there ever since, except for two years spent in Africa from 1970 to 1972. They celebrated their 65th anniversary with friends in the Cotswolds, followed by a celebratory meal with family and friends.
RSPCA winter appeal
Above: Yvonne Witter at the CNP awards ceremony
THE RSPCA Chesterfield has launched its Safe This Winter appeal, which aims to raise £10,000 between now and 1st January. The appeal is to help the charity’s centre at Spital to cover the additional costs associated with the winter months and to support members of the community facing decisions about pets they can no longer care for. Learn more at https:// chesterfield-rspca.org.uk/ To advertise call 01246 550488
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45 Reflections November 2026
FEATURE
A change of direction When Nicole Carter launched a new business in Derbyshire, she quickly realised other women were also discovering a different career direction. Fiona Stubbs meets the ladies doing business on their own terms
N
ICOLE Carter could never have imagined the life she now loves, leading high-quality carpet cleaning business, Mrs Carter’s Carpets – with clients throughout the Peak District. “At the age of 26, I was living the corporate life,” recalls Australian-born Nicole. “I was a project manager, had an apartment in Sydney and, with a group of girlfriends, would spend evenings drinking cocktails on rooftop bars. I remember fondly walking over the Sydney harbour bridge to and from work every day.” Life changed with marriage and the arrival of her three children. After a difficult first pregnancy and birth 15 years ago, Nicole’s priorities shifted. “I felt so grateful and lucky to be able to have kids and wanted to be there for them,” she says. The family moved to Matlock in 2021, with Nicole still enjoying life as a housewife until a disastrous stomach bug struck - creating the inspiration for a whole new business.
Nicole Carter. Picture: Helen Rowan Photography
Right: Nicole and her children Theodore, Winter and Frederic
46 Reflections November 2026
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FEATURE Unable to find the carpet cleaning service she wanted for her own home, Nicole launched Mrs Carter’s Carpets – offering top tier treatments and equipment with exceptional service and attention to detail. “The remarkable thing about Mrs Carter’s Carpets is that I really, really love it,” says Nicole. “I enjoy working with people and never expected that being a carpet cleaner could be such meaningful work. “I’ve had a lot of projects required by people who are experiencing very difficult times, some among the older generation who are anxious about having strangers in their home. “It brings me a sense of happiness to leave a home, having made someone comfortable and gently, quietly helping them with something they are embarrassed of or just don’t want to face. I also have the pleasure of cleaning some absolutely gorgeous houses. “Carpet cleaning never occurred to me as a career until the little ones were poorly – everywhere - and I couldn’t find a female carpet cleaner. It has brought me so much satisfaction. My customers are a joy to work for.” She adds: “It’s also been an opportunity to see life differently. I want my daughter to know that, even if she does something for 20 years, she can still change direction. “As my working life took a new direction, I began to notice other women also making changes – forging meaningful, satisfying careers on their own terms.” www.mrscarterscarpets.co.uk
Helen Hunt’s journey through grief to helping others to heal has been recognised in national awards
Helen Hunt “I never set out to start a business – but the hardest chapters lead us to where we’re meant to be,” says Helen, who runs The Holistic Dragonfly in Matlock. Helen discovered complementary therapy Reiki – used to help reduce stress and anxiety and to encourage relaxation - when her mum was being treated for cancer. Helen explains: “During her chemotherapy, she received
Reiki and I saw first-hand the comfort and calm it brought her during one of the most difficult times of her life. It gave her a moment’s peace when everything else felt overwhelming and those moments stayed with me. “When my mum passed away, I completely lost myself. I wasn’t just grieving her loss; I was trying to figure out who I was without her. My
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mental health deteriorated, I left my job and I questioned everything. I felt as though the future I once knew had completely disappeared. “At a time when my mind was constantly racing and I was searching for something to hold on to, Reiki brought me a deep sense of calm. It helped me slow down, reconnect with myself and begin the gentle process of healing. It felt like the first step
toward finding myself again. “It inspired me to train in Reiki – and today I still have moments where I have to pinch myself. In my first year of business, I was recognised as one of the UK Top 10 Holistic Therapists of the Year and UK Top 10 Wellness Practitioners of the Year 2025. In my second year, I have been shortlisted as a finalist for Best New Business 2026, and I’ve written 47 Reflections November 2026
FEATURE two e-books on how Self-Reiki can support you at home.” Helen, who also offers crystal light therapy adds: “I meet the most incredible people and have the privilege of supporting clients through their own challenges, healing journeys and moments of change. My journey started with grief, but it has grown into something filled with purpose, connection, and love.” https://theholisticdragonfly. wixsite.com/reiki / @ the_holistic_dragonfly
Teresa and Suzanne Whittaker SISTERS Teresa and Suzanne grew up in Matlock, launching their boutique of hand-crafted, vintage-inspired women’s fashion, Bella Figura, in 2012 - just a couple of streets away from their childhood home. Creative director Teresa has a background in museum education and exhibitions
while fashion designer Suzanne previously worked in retail. Teresa says: “My career change was due to underinvestment in the arts at the time – I’d had a succession of temporary contracts that required relocating every few years and a sense of community and proximity to family and friends started to be more important than career ambition. I’d never had a permanent contract or job security so it felt like there was little to lose and much to gain in supporting my sister to create her dream business.” Suzanne adds: “I’ve always enjoyed retail, customer service and visual merchandising work - but also wanted to make full use of my practical design and making skills that I worked hard to hone through college and university. I’ve always had an ambition to have my own business and make my own carefully crafted garments – it’s much more satisfying to have control over your own direction, relationships with suppliers
Teresa and Suzanne Whittaker. Picture: Emma Croman 48 Reflections November 2026
and what products to sell. “Teresa and I have been playing shop and dressing each other up in eccentric clothing since we were kids and have always been friends and confidantes. We had trust in our partnership, our complementary skills and our tenacity to make things work. “We’re proud to be a slowfashion business, based on high-quality fabrics, bespoke design and micro-production.” Instagram: @bellafigurashop
Eileen Mills EILEEN and her husband moved from Hertfordshire six years ago, initially living in Tansley before buying and restoring their property in Holloway and lovingly converting the stables into The Coach House B&B. Eileen Mills welcomes guests with home-baked treats
Eileen says: “Opening a holiday let had long been on my bucket list, but we first had to find the right property while raising our family. My husband and I have six children between us and have always loved entertaining. “I previously worked for a specialist cookshop, first supporting its website and later its Amazon business, then worked in the office of a children’s centre before moving into a school administration role. When the pandemic began, I joined the medical records department at our local hospital.” Wanting to be closer to their grown-up children, the couple decided to move north – with Eileen finally realising her lifelong dream to run a holiday let. She
welcomes guests with a cream tea – including homemade scones and jams made from locally sourced ingredients. Eileen also volunteers with the British Heart Foundation. “Our lives have changed for the better - we are closer to our children and now have our first grandchild,” she adds. “Small acts of care and kindness can leave a lasting impression, and that is the experience I hope every guest takes away.” https://www.sykescottages. co.uk/cottage/Peak-DistrictPeak-District-DerbyshireDales-Holloway/The-CoachHouse-1161872.html
Gillian Blakeman GILLIAN ran her own florist business in Sheffield before relocating to Matlock in 2018 and getting married in 2019. She ran the business mainly online until February 2026 when she opened Lavender Garden Flowers and Creative Gifts based in The Ritz Centre, Steep Turnpike, with the help of her friend, Liz, who also owns Fickle Studio within the shop. They sell a selection of fresh flowers and plants, as well as creative gifts for all occasions. Gillian says: “I’m passionate about all aspects of the floristry industry; nothing is too big or small and I’m constantly learning. I believe Matlock has lots of independent shops with their own unique input to the town, creating a fabulous shopping experience.” https://www. lavendergardenflowers. co.uk/ Gillian Blakeman
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49 Reflections November 2026
FOOD REVIEW
– Fan-tastic!
F
OR those living in Derbyshire and the Peak District, The Peacock at Rowsley needs little introduction. Arguably one of the county’s most prestigious places to dine, its appeal extends well beyond the food. There is the beautiful Grade II listed Jacobean manor house, its fascinating history and, since January 2025, an exciting new chapter under Longbow Venues. We arrived on a glorious autumnal day, with the sun shining and the leaves only just beginning to turn. It felt like the perfect season to visit. With 15 boutique hotel rooms, continued recognition in the Michelin Guide and three AA Rosettes, this remains a serious dining destination. Yet there is nothing stuffy about it. You could arrive after a countryside walk, sit at the bar with a local ale and a hearty soup, or settle in for a hearty dinner or a tasting menu. The breadth of choice is one of this particular venue’s greatest strengths. We were warmly welcomed by Laura Ball, front-of-house operations, alongside Restuarant and Bar Manager Valantine Blain, and introduced to general manager Cat Koch. We also enjoyed a chat with head chef Simon Harrison, who has been leading the kitchen for almost a year. What struck me immediately was Simon’s genuine enthusiasm for the place. Hospitality can be an incredibly demanding industry, 50 Reflections November 2026
but he spoke about having the flexibility and freedom to develop his ideas while feeling genuinely supported by his team. His own background in AA Rosette kitchens means he already understood the level expected at The Peacock, but there is a clear sense that he is enjoying the opportunity to develop it further. Simon describes his approach simply as “classic flavours with a twist”, using modern techniques while retaining the familiarity and comfort that make a dish appealing. It is an approach that seems perfectly suited to The Peacock’s increasingly all-embracing identity, whether that means a tasting menu, a refined dining experience or a hearty bowl of soup for walkers arriving from the surrounding countryside. That ethos extends to the produce. The Peacock works closely with local suppliers including Gingers Butchers and RG Morris, maintaining strong relationships with its producers. Menus evolve with the seasons, and that commitment to freshness is quite literally on the doorstep. Wild garlic is picked from the bottom of the garden, while rosemary, thyme, fennel and tomatoes are grown just outside the kitchen window. Some of those herbs even find their way into the flavoured butters served with the opening bread - a lovely example of how the restaurant’s surroundings become part of the food. There is certainly plenty more to tempt
you, too, from the wild mushroom, Dovedale Blue cheese and spinach tagliatelle to the Peacock burger, made with prime beef, pulled barbecue brisket, smoked cheese, maple and tomato jam in a pretzel bun, Vegetarian and gluten-free diners are well catered for, while local beers and ales and an impressive dessert selection complete an appealingly all-embracing menu. And perhaps that is what makes The Peacock at Rowsley particularly interesting in this new chapter. The heritage remains, the standards remain and the sense of occasion remains, but there is a new warmth and accessibility running through it. Simon Harrison’s kitchen is taking classic flavours, giving them a modern twist and, importantly, doing so without losing the sense of comfort that makes food memorable. We began with bread and whipped flavoured butters. For me, bread is the handshake (or hug!) introduction to any meal. It is that first impression, and when a venue gets the bread right - fresh, warm and delicious - you know you are in safe hands. Here, it was quite an introduction. Made with Thornbridge stout and black treacle, the loaf was warm, fluffy, To advertise call 01246 550488
FOOD REVIEW and wonderfully rustic, with a satisfying snap as you broke through the crust and steam escaped. Proofed and baked fresh that day, it had a richness and earthiness beneath a light texture. Both butters were creamy, and bursting with fresh herbs (from the garden!), adding another layer of flavour, while the freshness of the bread made it almost impossible not to keep going back for another piece. Simple though bread and butter may be, this made a very welcome first impression and, more importantly, left you excited for what was coming next. The first starter was the smoked haddock fishcake with pickled fennel, watercress velouté and puffed capers. The breading was wonderfully light, giving way almost immediately to beautifully fresh, meaty and flaky smoked haddock. The pickled fennel brought earthiness and a gentle acidity, while the watercress velouté added a real cleanliness to the dish. The puffed capers provided little bursts of flavour and texture, creating a beautifully balanced starter. Then came the oven-baked rosemarystudded Camembert with red onion marmalade and house bread. Camembert can quickly become stodgy as it cools, but serving it in a hot skillet meant that it remained gloriously gooey throughout. The rosemary added a delicate herbal note, while the sweet, slightly sharp red onion marmalade cut beautifully through the richness. Add fresh bread for dipping and you have a dish that is almost impossible to resist! I suspect I’ll be having dreams about that Camembert for some time. For mains, I opted for the salt cod with tomato, chorizo and white bean cassoulet, charred tenderstem broccoli, which was beautifully presented and distinctly seasonal. The cod was fresh, silky, flaky and full of flavour, while the chorizo brought smokiness, warmth and just enough kick. The white beans added a wonderfully comforting texture, while sweet, fresh tomatoes brought brightness to the rich sauce, which
complemented the fish magnificently. Again, another dish that was perfectly seasoned, with no salt and pepper pots required! The charred tenderstem broccoli added an earthy freshness and was beautifully crisp, al dente without being tough. It was the kind of vegetable that still had a lovely bite to it, adding freshness and texture to what was otherwise a wonderfully comforting dish. Then came the pan-fried pork chop with creamed potato, seasonal greens and honey and mustard sauce. I have eaten a lot of pork over the years, and it has never been a meat that particularly excited me. This may well have changed that. The chop was plump and sumptuous and, for perhaps the first time in my life, I was able to cut through a piece of pork with nothing more than gentle sway of my fork. No knife, no table shaking, no wrestling match required. Just effortless tenderness - it truly was delicious. The honey and mustard sauce brought light spice, sweetness, warmth and gentle sharpness, while the creamed potato was smooth, rich and comforting with pure reasurring potato flavour. For me, this was autumn on a plate. Dessert began with a dark chocolate and banana ice cream sandwich with hazelnut and chocolate sorbet. Banana can be difficult to get right; done badly, it can have that synthetic taste that immediately takes you out of the dessert zone. Not here. This tasted of real, ripe banana. The sandwich was soft and spongy, while the dark chocolate added warmth and depth without becoming overly rich. It was
comforting, playful and beautifully balanced. The blackberry bavarois with apple parfait, crumble and vanilla ice cream was perhaps the most evocative of the season. Cutting through the delicate bavarois released a burst of ripe, plump blackberry -sweet, juicy and carrying just enough acidity without becoming overly tart. The vanilla ice cream was particularly memorable, sitting somewhere between ice cream and silky custard, while the apple parfait and oat crumble added warmth and texture. It was rustic, nostalgic and comforting, yet still refined. By the time we were ready to make our moves, we were, to put it mildly, incredibly full. I was probably moving a little slower than everyone else after that delicious Camembert. But hand on heart, The Peacock at Rowsley really is a special place. What makes this latest chapter particularly heartwarming, especially for someone who is passionate about championing everything that is great about Derbyshire, is the way the venue has been reimagined while retaining what makes it special. It has been given a new lease of life without losing its sense of place. You feel genuinely like a guest here. You feel catered for. And, perhaps most importantly, you can see how proud the people who work here are - proud of what they are serving, proud of what they are producing, proud of the venue and proud of the team around them. That came through in every interaction. So, in terms of places to dine, there is nothing to critique here in a negative sense. My advice is simple: go and experience it for yourself. I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed. The building has stood here since the 1600s, and long may it continue to do so, as it really is one of the jewels in the county’s crown. The Peacock at Rowsley, Bakewell Road, Rowsley, Derbyshire, DE4 2EB T: 01629 733 518 e: enjoymore@ thepeacockatrowsley.com www.thepeacockatrowsley.com
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51 Reflections November 2026
52 Reflections November 2026
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53 Reflections November 2026
54 Reflections November 2026
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NEWS cheering them on. For some families, the evening was a chance to remember someone important to them, with many taking part in memory of someone who had received care or support from Ashgate. Every child taking part received a superhero cape, glow-in-thedark mask and medal. The Superhero Night Walk will return to Queen’s Park on Saturday 16th October 2027
ExSpires pipped at the post
Chesterfield’s Christmas Lights SwitchOn will include live entertainment
Weekend of festive fun in Chesterfield CHESTERFIELD will start the festive season in style as the town centre hosts its annual Christmas Lights Switch-On alongside a brand-new Christmas Market. Running from 20th to 22nd November, the Christmas Market – organised in partnership with Dowse Events - promises three days of festive entertainment, artisan shopping, seasonal treats and family-friendly activities. It will be open from 10am to 6pm on Friday and Saturday and from 11am to 7pm on Sunday, with music and entertainment each day. The annual Christmas Lights SwitchOn will round off the weekend on Sunday 22nd November, with a packed programme of entertainment from 12pm - including performances from a brass band and roaming street entertainers, traditional fairground rides and the chance to meet The Grinch at intervals throughout the day. The traditional stage show will begin outside the Town Hall at 4.30pm, before the Christmas lights are officially switched on at 5.30pm.
mean for the future. The Dronfield screening will be followed by a community discussion of potential actions on a national, local and personal scale. Learn more and to book: https://tiny.cc/DronPEB2
FOOTBALLING veterans from Chesterfield narrowly missed out on a second successive national final. Chesterfield ExSpires FC over-65s finished second in their group in a 16-team tournament at the Isobel Bowler sports complex in Mosborough, Sheffield. Last year, they made it through to the final, losing to Grimsby Ancient Mariners. This time, ExSpires were runners-up to Sheffield Orange, who had the same goal difference but scored one more goal. Teams taking part came from as far away as Bristol, Gloucester, Kent and Northamptonshire. Two weeks earlier, the ExSpires over-70s finished sixth in a nine-team tournament, also held at the Mosborough venue. www.exspires.co.uk
Chesterfield’s little superheroes raise £52,000 for Ashgate Hospice ASHGATE Hospice’s annual Superhero Night Walk brought 673 children and their families to Queen’s Park, Chesterfield raising £52,000 for local hospice care. The walk, with one and three-mile routes, sponsored by Motan Colortronic Ltd, saw children take to the park in superhero costumes, colourful capes and glowing masks - with families and friends
Above Over-65s squad: Ian Kinniburgh, Rob Broad (captain), Mike Adamson, Keith Arrowsmith, Mark Griffiths, Steve Housley, Steve Illingworth, Steve Lawrence, John Longstaff, Derek Mitchell, John Quinn, Steve Rodd.
Dronfield hosts second National Emergency Briefing A second National Emergency Briefing event will be held in Dronfield on Thursday 19th November (7.45pm) at Gosforth Lodge, Cliffe Park. The film (https://www.nebriefing. org/the-film) highlights the climate and nature emergency and what it could Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com
Above Ready for action in the Superhero Night Walk. Picture: Nick Rhodes:
Above Over-70s squad: Mike Adamson, Keith Arrowsmith, Ian Edmundson, Terry Fletcher, Roger Green, John Hailey, Steve Housley, John Longstaff (captain), Steve Rodd, John Shannon. 55 Reflections November 2026
ANTIQUES
EYE BENDING PRINT MAKES £3,600
By Vivienne Milburn, FRICS Independent Antiques Auctioneer & Valuer
C
ONSIGNED from a Derbyshire private collector, this Patrick Hughes 3D print made £3,600 in the recent specialist auction – a solid price for what is fundamentally a print numbered 17 from an edition of 40. Famed for being “The Artist Who Turns Perspective Upside Down” his 3D pictures have such a strong perspective that the viewer hardly notices the river and trees beyond the arches. Patrick Hughes (born 1939) is one of Britain’s most distinctive contemporary artists, renowned for his extraordinary three-dimensional paintings that appear to move as the viewer walks past them. He has spent more than six decades challenging our understanding of space and perspective.
56 Reflections November 2026
His artistic career began to gain attention in 1961, when he held his first solo exhibition at the Portal Gallery in London. Influenced by Surrealism, Dada
and the playful experimentation of British Pop Art, he developed a fascination with the way the human eye interprets the world. His early experiments with perspective laid the foundations for the technique that would eventually define his career. Hughes’s signature technique is called reverspective, a term combining “reverse” and “perspective.” Unlike a conventional painting, which creates the illusion of depth on a flat surface, his works are constructed from shaped wooden panels, typically formed into projecting pyramids or wedges. These structures are painted with images that deliberately reverse the normal rules of perspective. The result is both playful and intellectually engaging. His subjects include libraries, architectural interiors, Venetian landscapes, books and everyday objects. Auction results demonstrate that his most sought-after works can achieve prices well above their estimates. His appeal lies in the combination of visual and technical ingenuity and the
Above: Front and side views of Patrick Hughes hand-painted 3D lithograph, ‘Outlook’, dated 2002. Number 17 from an edition of 40, it is 78cm wide overall in a perspex box and made £3,600 in the recent specialist auction
fascination of owning a work that challenges conventional ideas about painting. His pictures are immediately recognisable in a crowded contemporary art market. This combination of originality and intellectual playfulness helps explain why his threedimensional pictures continue to attract good prices at auction. If you require a valuation on your antiques and collectables, it is worth getting the advice of an Independent Antiques Valuer to assess your works of art. For information, please contact Vivienne Milburn on Mobile 07870 238788 or 01629 640210. www.viviennemilburn. co.uk email - vivienne@ viviennemilburn.co.uk To advertise call 01246 550488
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57 Reflections November 2026
Prize Crossword
ACROSS 1 Bawl, so upset as to be heard in the village (6) 5 Drab well-dressing in this town? (8) 8 Outrageously daring to embroil (4,4) 9 Hall of manners to do a handout? (6) 11 Talk of such atonement (4) 12 Climb out in suspended state (5) 14 Mail away mainline stone ladies (4) 16 Pity to make me cry! (5) 19 Dearly missed, The Bridge west of Matlock (6) 21 Motif seen in certain conditions (3) 22 Act out strange concordat near Ripley (6) 24 PM with more of a reputation? (5) 26 Sort out our hills (4) 29 Walks through water with an odd sae to a western duke (5) 30 Sugar, chemically separated into a curve (4) 31 Fox’s first steel brolly man from Bradwell (6) 32 Ham it up terribly in the alley of Wright’s Manor (4,4) 33 Allegedly embroider the fifth on the scale (3) 34 Address for a sheepish female, say? (3) 35 Is down in the dumps: cut from will? (6)
DOWN 2 Old faithful with heights here (7) 3 Illumination of little weight? (5) 4 Wesleyan (but not a reformed one) near Winster (7) 5 Disapproval of freebooters (3) 6 Near Bakewell you get a bit of mash for dinner! (7) 7 Edwin, attempting to make it broader (5) 10 Have maybe now? (3) 13 It’s mild, for an insert on the Derby road (7) 15 Time line cast into the cove (5) 17 More senior shrub? (5) 18 Bird talk coordinated to begin with (3) 20 Imitate pea soup (3) 23 Village where the shopping is at its peak? (7) 24 Owns acreage north of Grassmoor? (7) 25 Who needs bad luck at this gliding place? (7) 27 They’re exams contained in solar generation (5) 28 Hug so interpreted in a local drain (5) 30 Parishes to rip out a burnt bit of old cricket (5) 32 Sensitive music round the bird (3)
Name:............................................................ Address:................................................ ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................
Pitcherwits
ACROSS
DOWN
1 Lofty meeting
1 Mid-player
7 Crazy,
4 A paper
13 Old islands,
5 Joining up,
18 Now, the
9 Palest form
leader in a baby seat? (4,5)
emboldened mob, not irritated? (7)
of lah-di-dah disposition? (4-4)
audience, simply trying to ease her despair (10)
but not Skye (nor equivalent) (7)
answer is a serpent at play (2,7)
sailor, when agonies got worse (5,2,3)
of polygraph, say? (8)
ACROSS 5 ‘Tango Alpha’ (short for ‘Indian province’) (3) 6 Inalienable part of a deliberate falsehood (3) 10 Centre coming back from moribund state (3) 11 Getting less stormy, so no need to ban a game of tig (7) 12 It belongs to a man in Memphis (3) 16 Baudelaire’s final act of anger (3) 17 Drink, to get back from escapism (3)
DOWN 2 Ingle-nook, straight from a Scottish valley (4) 3 Oh deer, a bit of a shortish individual (4) 8 Attempt two ways before a way in is found (5) 14 Approach the line around the centre (4) 15 Location with a view, so it’s said (4)
Pitcherwits
The solutions for the October 2026 Pitcherwits are shown left. The answers to the November 2026 Pitcherwits are shown on page 82 of this magazine.
.................................................................. Telephone:................................................ We will give a prize of £25 to a randomly-drawn correctly completed crossword. Cut out the completed puzzle and send by November 13th, 2026, to: Bannister Publications Limited, Office 2A Market Hall, Market Hall, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1AR. The solutions for the October 2026 crossword Crossword by Prof Rebus can be found on page 82 of this issue.
58 Reflections November 2026
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59 Reflections November 2026
FEATURE
Left: Buxton Town Team receives its KAVS award from Vice Lord Lieutenant Andrew Cochrane
HOW VOLUNTEER EFFORTS ARE
MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO DERBYSHIRE PEOPLE
Often quietly and without the expectation of reward, local volunteers are giving up their free time to make a difference to the lives of others. If you know a volunteerled group deserving of recognition of the highest order, why not nominate them for the King’s Award for Voluntary Service? Rebecca Erskine finds out more Buxton Town Team members gathering to put up Christmas decorations on The Slopes
60 Reflections November 2026
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FEATURE
O
FTEN described as ‘the MBE for volunteer groups’, the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) is the highest award given to local volunteer groups in the UK. It was created in 2002 (as the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service) to celebrate the anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and to ensure the efforts of the nation’s volunteers were both recognised and celebrated. From community gardens, sports clubs and village shops to crisis support groups and first responders – all of which have featured as Award winners in Derbyshire – there are valuable services that simply would not exist without the energy and enthusiasm of volunteers. Nominations to KAVS are accepted from members of the public who have a sound understanding of the group’s work. They might be beneficiaries or long-term supporters, with the only restriction that they cannot be volunteers, employees or trustees of the nominated group. Qualifying groups must be made up of at least three people and have been in operation for at least three years. They need to demonstrate a direct local benefit and clear involvement of volunteers when it comes to leading, initiating and determining the group’s work and, of course, have the appropriate governance and safeguarding policies in place. The process takes time but is uncomplicated, as Deputy Lieutenant of Derbyshire, David Coleman, explains: “Nominations must be submitted by 1st December and are first evaluated for eligibility by DCMS (the Department for Culture, Media and Sport). Those assessed to be eligible are passed over to the Lord Lieutenancy’s Office who arrange for a local assessment to be carried out between 1 January and early April. “That’s a role that falls to me. Firstly, I’ll undertake some desktop research and due diligence. What’s being said about the group in the media and on social media, and is this coverage positive or negative? Can the group show proof of the work they undertake, for example via a website? Do they have appropriate governance in place, such as up-to-date records on The Charity Commission website plus appropriate records, finances and policy documents? Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com
Above: The MECA Board of Trustees with the LordLieutenant of Derbyshire Mrs. Elizabeth Fothergill, CBE DL (second right) and Deputy Lieutenant Professor Paula Holt MBE DL (second left) Left: Deputy Lieutenant David Coleman QPM DL “Secondly, I’ll arrange a visit or series of visits to meet with volunteers, trustees, and clients or service users, to explore how the organisation works, the services they provide, and the benefits they offer. It’s really important the organisation can demonstrate that volunteers, rather than paid staff, have a major role in steering the strategic and policy direction of the organisation. The more information the organisation can supply, the better – including evidence of hours worked by volunteers, clients served, and individual success stories which demonstrate the organisation’s significant local impact.” A total of 231 volunteer-led groups across the UK received the Award in 2025, including three in Derbyshire: Buxton Town Team, the Mackworth Estate Community Association and the me & dee charity in Melbourne which supports families and children facing life-changing and limiting circumstances. Buxton Town Team, set up in 2012 to advance the prosperity of Buxton and the wellbeing of its communities, is made up entirely of volunteers. “Buxton Town Team gets involved in a variety of projects
from litter picking, spring cleaning and decorating the town and its parks, to developing initiatives such as regenerating the outdoor market, setting up the annual Spring Fair and improving sustainable travel links to places throughout the area,” explains its chair, Lesley Caddy. “We all enjoy what we do to make Buxton a better place – but it was amazing when we heard that we’d been nominated for a KAVS award. Our volunteers don’t expect any reward for their work, but it meant so much to all of us to hear that our efforts were worthy of such prestigious recognition.” Mackworth Estate Community Association (fondly known as MECA to local residents) has been at the heart of its village community since 2003 but, as trustee Jo Hardy explains, the work they do is about much more than running events and programmes at the community hall, warm hub, food bank and charity shop. “We take pride in creating somewhere people feel welcome, supported and part of their community,” says Jo. “Our volunteers give their time because they genuinely care about their community and the people who live here – even if it’s simply being there for somebody who needs a friendly face. Whether they volunteer for an hour a year or an hour a week, each bit of time makes a difference and impact. To have the dedication of our volunteers recognised at such a high level through KAVS means the absolute world to us. The award has given us an enormous sense of pride and has helped show our volunteers just how valuable their contribution is!” Is there a volunteer-led group close to your heart? You have until 1st December to submit your nomination for the 2027 Awards. Further information on the Award is available at: www.kavs.dcms.gov.uk 61 Reflections November 2026
NEWS entering the bend and reducing the need to brake while negotiating it. PRIME was developed and first applied on trunk roads in Scotland as part of a motorcycle safety research programme funded by the Road Safety Trust. The approach has since been introduced at four locations in North and Mid Wales.
Experience world-class embroidery in Buxton
Pupils learn the power of language PUPILS at Walton Peak Flying High Primary & Nursery Academy in Chesterfield enjoyed a high-energy visit from former CBeebies stars Joe Chambers and Andrew Crawford, presenters of The Ridiculous Rhyme Show. The show brings rhyme and poetry to life through comedy and performance, helping children discover the fun, creativity and power of language. During the day, children were also given insights into the television and media industry. Headteacher, Mark Parkinson said: “The children were completely absorbed in the experience from start to finish. It was so inspiring and really demonstrated the power of rhyme. We are already seeing the impact back in class, and in children’s future aspirations.”
Derbyshire route revealed for 2027 for Tour de France Femmes SOME of Derbyshire’s most spectacular landscapes will take centre stage next summer when the world’s top female cyclists race through the county in the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. As an official host authority, Derbyshire County Council will welcome Stage 2 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift on Saturday 31 July when riders travel from Manchester to Sheffield through Derbyshire and the Peak District. The 154.4km stage will feature almost 3,000 metres of climbing, with Derbyshire hosting some of its most demanding sections. 62 Reflections November 2026
Above: Andrew Crawford and Joe Chambers with pupils of Walton Peak Flying High Primary & Nursery Academy
Riders will tackle two of the county’s best-known cycling challenges Winnats Pass, a 1.4km climb with an average gradient of 12.3% and the 5.4km ascent of Snake Pass. Hope and Ladybower Reservoir have also been confirmed as sprint locations.
BUXTON Crescent Heritage Trust has announced a new partnership with the Royal School of Needlework (RSN), bringing its internationally renowned expertise in hand embroidery to the town in March. Founded in 1872 and based at Hampton Court Palace, the RSN is a charity, inspiring people around the world to learn, create and explore embroidery. Through education, conservation, research and the teaching of both traditional and contemporary techniques, the RSN preserves and promotes the heritage of hand embroidery. The Buxton Crescent Hotel will host two exclusive RSN workshops inspired by the elegance and craftsmanship of the Regency period. A Regency Heart: Goldwork & Embellishment takes place on 22nd March, followed by a two-day workshop, Regency in Bloom: Silk Shading & Goldwork, on 23rd and 24th March. Learn more at: https:// buxtoncrescentexperience. com/tour/hand-lock/
New initiative to boost biker safety DERBYSHIRE has become the first county in England to introduce pioneering road markings and signs designed to help motorcyclists navigate bends more safely. The Department for Transport granted special authorisation to Derbyshire County Council to use the PRIME signs and road markings at approved locations across the county. The first markings have been installed on the B6015 Woodhead Road at Devil’s Elbow, near Glossop and the A6 between Buxton and Bakewell. Further locations across the county will follow as part of a phased programme. PRIME stands for Perceptual Rider Information for Maximising Expertise and Enjoyment. It uses specialist signs and a series of road markings, known as “gateways”, to provide visual guidance for motorcyclists approaching demanding bends. The markings encourage riders to travel through the gaps between them, helping them choose an appropriate speed and road position before
Above: Embroidery workshops in Buxton will be inspired by the elegance of the Regency period To advertise call 01246 550488
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63 Reflections November 2026
GARDENS
PLANT NOW,
ENJOY IN SPRING Give your garden something to look forward to by planting tulips this autumn. Whether you prefer bold, colourful pots or a more natural look, there’s a tulip to suit every garden, says Tracy Reid from the National Garden Scheme, Derbyshire
N
OVEMBER arrives and our gardens are winding down for their winter rest. However, no rest for the gardeners as now is the time to plant your tulips for your spring display! Don’t worry if you haven’t bought any yet, you can still plant in November and even December. For the price of a bunch of flowers you can create a pot display that will last for weeks in April and May. But what tulips to choose? There are hundreds to choose from. If you are looking for a high impact pot display then just choose the colours and ? styles that you love. Many retailers will offer suggestions of tulips that pair well
A combination of tulips Left: Tulips as part of a wider display
Tulips and forget-me-nots together, but if you want to pick your own colour scheme just bear in mind the height of the tulip and flowering time. Unfortunately, squirrels are attracted to tulip bulbs so if they are a problem for you then you can cover pots with chicken wire, or I have found that over planting with forget me nots or wall flowers seems to help. If you’re looking for a more permanent feature, then there are varieties of tulips which are more reliably perennial than others. Species tulips such as Tulipa Tarda and Clusiana will even naturalise and bulk up over time. If you do decide to try and keep some to flower again next year, then allow them to die back naturally and either leave them in position or lift and store somewhere cool and dry ready for replanting next Autumn. I hope I’ve inspired you to create a pot or two to bring some colour to your spring garden. And don’t forget – the National Garden Scheme will have plenty of beautiful spring gardens for you to visit from February onwards. 66 Reflections November 2026
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67 Reflections November 2026
FEATURE
The Enduring Magic of
Stanage Edge Stanage Edge sunset
Wild, weather-beaten and steeped in history, Stanage Edge is a place where climbing legends were made, Charlotte Brontë found inspiration and centuries of human endeavour remain etched into the stone. Peak District writer, mountaineer and photographer Chris Drabble shares his impressions of this iconic landscape
S
Ghosts of an industrial past
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TANAGE Edge rises from the eastern moors of the Dark Peak, slicing through the horizon like the spine of a remote and fiercely defiant defensive wall. Weathered by relentless winds, and defined by an endless sky, there is an unerring grandeur to it. The gritstone edges stand as if keeping watch over the rolling landscape below, isolated as if from time itself. The elevated air is fresh and wild and carries the cries of curlew and red grouse, while the echoes of the past drift upon the breezes that weave through the gritstone crags. Stanage Edge has been a climbing mecca for over a century. The sport began here in the late 1890s, with pioneers Jimmy Puttrell and H.M. Kelly among the first to establish rock climbing on the edge. In the early 20th century, Geoffrey Winthrop Young helped shape British climbing through route-grading standards To advertise call 01246 550488
FEATURE
Curiosities of
Stanage Edge The Buck Stone
North Lees Hall
and illustrated guidebooks. His work was influential in the foundation of the British Mountaineering Council. In a golden age during the 1950s and 1960s, climbers such as J.B. Barford, Don Whillans and Joe Brown cemented Stanage’s reputation as one of Britain’s premier climbing venues through a series of bold and influential ascents. Over time, Stanage became one of the world’s most extensively documented crags, with more than 2,000 recorded routes. In 1992, Ron Fawcett completed the remarkable 5,000-metre Girdle Traverse along Stanage Edge. He solo traversed each buttress without touching the ground or the top of any crag within a remarkable time of 6 hours 10 minutes. Today, Stanage Edge is owned and managed by the Peak District National Park Authority [part of the Stanage-North Lees Estate] and remains a world-renowned destination for traditional climbing and bouldering. It is regularly referred to as the most famous gritstone edge in Britain. Millstone production at Stanage Edge likely began in the medieval period, with records of quarrying in the Peak District dating back to the 13th century. The abandoned millstones beneath Stanage are remnants of this long quarrying tradition. Production expanded during the 18th and 19th centuries, when Peak District gritstone was prized for grinding grain and sharpening tools. By the late 19th century, advances in steam power and industrial technology reduced demand for millstones. This, combined with the competition of cheaper imported stones, led to the rapid decline of Derbyshire’s millstone industry. Sitting in a sheltered valley beneath the dramatic gritstone escarpment of Stanage Edge stands North Lees Hall, a Grade II* listed Elizabethan manor house widely believed to have been Charlotte Brontë’s Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com
This is a large, isolated, prominent boulder, located south of High Neb. As early as the 17th century, it was used as an overnight shelter, a watering place for packhorses and a moorland inn serving as an unofficial alehouse. The vertical faces of the boulder still feature large rectangular sockets and grooves cut into the gritstone that supported roof rafters and floor joists. Archaeologists and historians believe it acted as a focal point and reststop for packhorse drivers travelling along the 18th-century trail between Hathersage and Sheffield. There are various historical inscriptions and carvings on the rock including one dated 1666, as well as a crude “stickman” carving near the centre of the boulder’s “distinctive” flat top.
Grouse bowls There are over 100 circular water holes or “drinking bowls” carved strategically into the gritstone surfaces of boulders and ledges. They feature cut grooves (runnels) that catch and channel rainwater into a central basin to provide a water source for red grouse. The bowls were cut by gamekeepers and local stonemasons (most notably George Broomhead) at the turn of the 20th century. They were commissioned by the landowner William Wilson, a wealthy Sheffield snuff manufacturer who paid one old penny for the completion of each bowl. Wilson owned the Stanage and Hallam moors and used the estates for private grouse shooting.
Robin Hood’s Cave and Robin Hood’s Balcony Robin Hood’s Balcony is easily reached by descending a series of natural steps that traverse the cliff edge. However, visitors wishing to explore the balcony must first negotiate a small chamber with a narrow entrance, which often contains a shallow pool of water. This minor inconvenience, together with the possibility of a few scuffed knees, is well worth the effort, as the balcony provides a commanding viewpoint with stunning views across the Hope Valley and towards the hills beyond. Many people mistakenly refer to the entrance chamber of Robin Hood’s Balcony as Robin Hood’s Cave, which is a separate feature to the north of the balcony. Although the cave and the balcony lie in close proximity, and the temptation to visit both may be strong, the descent to the cave should not be undertaken lightly. 69 Reflections November 2026
FEATURE primary inspiration for Thornfield Hall in her classic novel, Jane Eyre. Brontë visited the hall in 1845 while staying at the vicarage in Hathersage, where the Reverend Carus Wilson served as curate. The hall was occupied by the Eyre family, whose surname Brontë later gave to her heroine, Jane Eyre. In an inspired act of poetic licence, Brontë transformed North Lees Hall into the fictional Thornfield Hall. She derived “Thorn” from an anagrammatic reworking of “North” and replaced “Lees” with “Field,” since “lees” is a traditional Derbyshire term for a field or open grazing land. The remote grandeur of Stanage Edge provided the backdrop for one of cinema’s most iconic scenes, where Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet, in the 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, stands alone upon the windswept ridge, framed against the vast moorland panorama. Looking to the future, in June this year,
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An eerie light on Stanage Edge
outdoor clothing company Rab, working alongside the British Mountaineering Council and the Peak District National Park Foundation, joined a major conservation effort at Stanage Edge. Volunteers and staff helped manually carry and wheelbarrow over 8 tonnes of aggregate to restore eroded climbing landings at bouldering sites along the edge. This collaboration across brands, conservation organisations and park
authorities is shaping a sustainable future and is a great example of how outdoor culture and conservation can go hand in hand in preserving the landscape for future generations. *With thanks to Vaughn Smith and Dean Roberts of Bassetlaw Hill and Mountain Club for inspiration and background information. See these and more images from Chris Drabble at: https://www. photo4me.com/profile/1907
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71 Reflections November 2026
PICTURE COMPETITION
Our year in pictures draws to a close
R.L
W
E can’t quite believe it, but this is the final month for our 2026 picture competition, Derbyshire Through the Seasons. The year has gone so quickly and we’ve been overwhelmed by the number of wonderful entries we’ve received from our amateur photographers. We’ll now review all the fabulous images featured on our competition pages throughout
2026 and draw up a shortlist to feature in December’s edition of Reflections. Readers will be invited to vote for their favourites – and the overall winner will be announced in our January edition. The winning photographer will receive a voucher for a meal at a top local restaurant and will have the chance to have a selection of their images published in Reflections. L.H
B.R I.M
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PICTURE COMPETITION
P.K
R.T
Our final submissions of the year capture some of autumn’s most special moments. Sunsets and sunrises can be particularly pretty at this time of year and Rachel Leah, of Dronfield Woodhouse, encountered this stunning sky near West Handley while Barry Regan photographed this sunrise over Hasland. Big skies caught the attention of both Ian Moorcroft, from Hollingwood, when he visited Stanton Moor in
early October, and Laura Henshaw, of Matlock, as she photographed Carl Wark from the Longshaw Estate. The changing colours of autumn caught the eye of Russ Teale, from Newbold, in this shot of Ashford-in-the-Water in the early morning autumn sunshine, while Peter Keeble, of Matlock Bath, paused among the autumnal ferns and shrubs during a walk along Beeley Edge. Out on the Peak District
O.M S.H
moors, Simon Hampton, from Walton, encountered a red deer stag at full bellow during the annual rut and Olivia Moreland, a student at the University of Derby, discovered Highland Cattle taking a rest.
THANK YOU for supporting our Derbyshire Through the Seasons competition throughout 2026. There’ll be a new contest in 2027 … but we’re not yet sure of a theme! Would you like a different Derbyshire subject or to continue with the seasonal theme which has inspired so many incredible images this year? Please email your thoughts and ideas to: editor@ bannisterpublications.co.uk
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73 Reflections November 2026
OUR TEAM’S
FAVOURITE GREEK HOLIDAY
Memories
TWO ISLANDS, TWO DIFFERENT HOLIDAYS, ONE LOVE OF GREECE
THERE is something about Greece that keeps drawing people back year after year. Perhaps it is the warm hospitality, the leisurely lunches that stretch into the afternoon, the scent of olive trees in the summer sunshine or the simple pleasure of discovering a beautiful beach and wishing you could stay there all day. We asked two members of our team to share their experiences of recent holidays in Greece. Paula returned to Crete after several years away, while Bridget chose to explore a quieter side of Zakynthos.
PAULA: REDISCOVERING CRETE Having visited several Greek islands over the years, Paula was delighted to return to Crete after a long absence. Her stay in Malia brought back happy memories and reminded her why she had fallen in love with Greece in the first place. Malia is well known for its sandy beaches, restaurants, bars and
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nightlife. However, those who venture closer to the old town will discover a more relaxed side of the destination, with winding streets, traditional tavernas and small local shops. For Paula, some of the most enjoyable moments came from simply spending time at her hotel. Sitting on the balcony with a drink and looking out across the bay allowed her to appreciate the beauty of the Cretan landscape without feeling the need to plan every day. It was a reminder that a memorable holiday does not always depend on a packed itinerary.
EXPLORING MORE OF CRETE Paula was also keen to discover more of the island, so she hired a quad bike and set off to explore the surrounding area. One of her favourite discoveries was Sissi, a peaceful harbour village that offered a welcome contrast to the busier resort. After a day of exploring, sitting beside the harbour and watching the boats come and go became a particularly memorable part of her holiday. Another highlight was Stalis,
which impressed Paula with its long sandy beach, calm waters and relaxed seafront. The resort has an inviting atmosphere, with plenty of cafés, tavernas and small shops to explore. Its accessible setting and easy going character make it an appealing choice for visitors looking for a beach holiday with everything close at hand. Paula enjoyed Stalis so much that she could easily imagine choosing it for a future visit to Crete.
BRIDGET: DISCOVERING A QUIETER SIDE OF ZAKYNTHOS Bridget approached her holiday in Zakynthos with a different experience in mind. Although the island is widely associated with the lively nightlife of Laganas, she wanted somewhere peaceful, with traditional surroundings and the opportunity to enjoy a slower pace of life. She found exactly what she was looking for in Vassilikos, an area known for its olive groves, green countryside and beautiful coastline. Other parts of the island, including Limni Keri, Alykanas and Tragaki, also offer opportunities to discover a more relaxed side of Zakynthos. Her accommodation was small and family run, creating a personal and welcoming experience throughout her stay. Friendly staff, home cooked food and beautiful views across the Ionian Sea helped make the holiday special. Staying in such peaceful
surroundings also meant experiencing the simple details of local life. The sound of cockerels in the morning became a familiar part of the day. For her, the appeal was having the freedom to spend each day as she pleased.
ENJOYING THE COASTLINE AND EVENING SUNSETS Kamina Beach was the nearest beach to Bridget’s accommodation. Although the walk back uphill could be challenging in the heat, she found that visiting later in the day made the experience more comfortable and rewarding. As the afternoon moved into evening, Bridget enjoyed sitting at a waterside bar, listening to the waves and watching the sun disappear into the sky. These quiet moments became some of the highlights of her holiday. Gerakas Beach provided another memorable experience. Known for its beautiful coastline, it is also
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an important nesting site for the endangered loggerhead sea turtle. For Bridget, exploring beyond the island’s better known resorts revealed a gentler side of Zakynthos.
TWO DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES, ONE LOVE OF GREECE Although Paula and Bridget chose very different holidays, their experiences shared many of the qualities that make Greece so popular. Their stories highlight the variety available to anyone planning a Greek holiday.
Greece offers the opportunity to fill your days with sightseeing and adventure or simply spend time enjoying the sunshine, local food and beautiful views. You might return to an island that already holds special memories or choose somewhere new and discover a destination that surprises you. With a wide selection of islands, resorts and accommodation available through Jet2holidays and TUI Holidays, there are plenty of options for travellers looking to discover Greece. Whether you prefer the lively atmosphere of Malia, the relaxed beaches of Stalis or the peaceful surroundings of Vassilikos, both holiday providers offer opportunities to find a Greek holiday to suit your preferences. Paula’s return to Crete reminded her why she continues to love Greece, while Bridget’s stay in Zakynthos showed her the rewards of exploring beyond the island’s livelier resorts. Their experiences may have been different, but both discovered the same appeal of Greece, from its beautiful scenery and welcoming hospitality to the freedom to enjoy each destination at their own pace.
CALL AND DISCUSS YOUR TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS WITH OUR FRIENDLY AND EXPERT TEAM ON: 01246 220020 or 01246 823763 Martins World Travel, 46 Knifesmithgate, Chesterfield, S40 1RQ T: 01246 220020 Martins World Travel, 25 Market Place, Bolsover, S44 6PN T: 01246 823763 martins-world-travel.co.uk www.1st4Cruises.co.uk ABTA BONDED.
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Pollyanna Pickering - Inspired by Nature
THE work of the late wildlife artist Pollyanna Pickering will be celebrated in an exhibition at her private gallery at Brookvale House, Oaker, Matlock from 7th to 15th November. (10am – 6pm, free admission).
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The exhibition will celebrate the launch of a new book, Inspired by Nature – a celebration of Pollyanna’s artwork, matched with inspirational quotations. Throughout her life Pollyanna loved to collect inspirational and beautiful quotes and many related to her lifelong love of wildlife and the natural world. Her daughter, Anna-Louise, felt they would speak to others with a love of art and the written word and compiled a selection of phrases, paired with over 50 of Pollyanna’s paintings. Visitors will be able to view original paintings at the exhibition and Anna-Louise will be available to chat about the artwork and the wildlife which inspired her mother. www.pollyannapickering. co.uk
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BOOKS
A World of Wonderful Stories For twelve years, Derbyshire author Sue Wilkins has delighted young readers with her charming tales of animal adventures. Now, with a new book featuring one of her best-loved characters, Robert Bannister talks with Sue as she reflects on the unexpected beginnings of her writing journey.
“Is there a new book this year, Sue?”
F
OR children’s author Sue Wilkins, these are familiar questions. Ever since a black stray cat called Alfie wandered into her garden and inspired her first book, she has been delighting young readers with stories that bring the animal world to life. This October sees the arrival of a new adventure, as Sue returns to one of her best-loved characters, Arkwright the Duck. It is the latest chapter in a writing journey that began with a little encouragement from friends and a story about a cat she knew very well. When I visited Sue at her home near Darley Dale, I was keen to discover how it all began. Before becoming a published author, Sue had written short rhymes for friends’ birthdays and retirement celebrations, but the suggestion that she might write a children’s book initially seemed rather daunting. For a couple of years, she resisted the idea, until eventually deciding to give it a go. Alfie, her own black cat, provided the inspiration. Encouraged by friends who enjoyed the story, Sue spent a year or more searching for a publisher or literary agent before discovering the possibilities of selfpublishing with Bannister Publications. There was just one important piece of the puzzle missing: an illustrator. After several years of making enquiries, Sue heard from a work colleague that a local artist was exhibiting in a Bakewell gallery. She went along and met Liz Furness, handing her the manuscript to read. Sue had to explain that she had no money to pay for the illustrations. Liz would have to work without payment, receiving her fee only if Sue eventually sold enough books. Remarkably, Liz agreed. Her university tutor had told her, as she left Lincoln University’s art department with a first-class honours degree, that what she needed was for someone to come to her with a story. “And here you are!” Liz told Sue. It was an extraordinary coincidence, and the beginning of a creative partnership that has since produced eight books. Working around her full-time job, Liz took another year to complete the 32 illustrations for Visit our website at www.reflections-magazine.com
“When’s your next book coming out?”
Alfie’s Story. Published in September 2014, the book sold well enough for Sue to pay her illustrator by Christmas. The book has since been reprinted three times, and its tenth anniversary in 2024 was marked with a new set of illustrations by Liz. Sue’s growing collection now includes stories about mice, ducks, owls, three kittens, a dog called Bobby and even a bat. She is modest about her achievements, but the messages she has received from parents tell their own story. One reader explained that her daughter, now eleven, had grown up with Sue’s books and loved them. Others describe children demanding the same story night after night, with some parents resorting to hiding favourite books, only for them to be discovered again! Perhaps that is the real measure of a successful children’s book: the place it occupies in family life, becoming part of bedtime rituals and treasured childhood memories. Now it is Arkwright the Duck’s turn to return to the page! In Out and About with Arkwright the Duck, Arkwright leaves the familiar surroundings of the Cromford Mill yard to explore the local area. His adventures include a cable-car journey, a ride on a heritage steam train and a brief spell in charge of the engine.
“Which animal will it be about this time?” In his earlier travels (probably with business men and women, rather than with children!), Arkwright ventured much further afield, visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Table Mountain in South Africa, Sugarloaf Mountain in Brazil and Ayers Rock in Australia. For this latest book, however, Sue wanted adventures closer to home for her young readership of children aged between two and seven. A camping trip and a visit to the allotment provide plenty of opportunities for discovery. It is an approach that captures the spirit of Sue’s writing. Adventure need not take place on the other side of the world; sometimes, it is waiting just around the corner, in the familiar places we might otherwise overlook. Twelve years after Alfie first appeared in her garden, Sue continues to find new characters and stories to share. What began as a tentative step into the world of children’s books has grown into a collection families across generations enjoy. And as Arkwright prepares to set off once more, Sue’s own adventure continues to bring a little more magic into the lives of young readers. Because sometimes, all it takes to open up a world of wonder is a little imagination and a story worth telling. Out and About with Arkwright the Duck, published by Bannister Publications is available now from www.suewilkins.co.uk
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LOCAL EVENTS
IT’S BEGINNING TO SWING A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS! -
T
An Afternoon of Swing & Festive Favourites
HE world-famous Foden’s Band returns to Bakewell on Saturday 28th November for a spectacular afternoon of swing and festive favourites. Foden’s are the current British Open Champions after winning the title at Symphony Hall, Birmingham on September 12th. They managed to fend off strong competition from the likes of Brighouse & Rastrick and Black Dyke. They will be joined by one of the UK’s finest big band singers, Matt Ford. Widely regarded as the UK’s leading big band vocalist, Matt regularly performs with the BBC, Hallé, RTÉ and Ulster Orchestras and has appeared at the BBC Proms, performing with both the John Wilson Orchestra and Syd Lawrence Orchestra. Together, Matt and Foden’s will bring the sound of the big band era to Bakewell with classics including Sway, Mack the
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Knife, I Left My Heart in San Francisco and New York, New York, alongside festive favourites Let It Snow, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and Winter Wonderland. With sensational brass, a worldclass vocalist and plenty of Christmas sparkle, it promises to be a wonderfully entertaining afternoon and the perfect way to start the festive season. We hope you can join us.
JEPSON FUNERALS Jepson Funerals are a fifth-generation independent family funeral directors with offices in Bakewell, Bamford, Belper, Buxton, Dove Holes, Matlock and Wirksworth. This concert is sponsored by their Bakewell office - J W & J Mettam and are pleased that the sponsorship will help support Ashgate Hospice.
SUPPORTING ASHGATE HOSPICE Ashgate Hospice provides palliative endof-life care, free of charge to people aged eighteen and over in North Derbyshire. They care for people with a lifelimiting illness including cancer, neurological diseases and end-stage heart, kidney and lung diseases. Their aim is to ensure that patients and their families are well informed and supported. Ashgate Hospice is under-funded by the NHS, receiving less than a third of their budget from them. This leaves a huge shortfall to raise by themselves. Events like this help in a small way to support the wonderful work of Ashgate Hospice.
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79 Reflections November 2026
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2026 4
Nov 11-14 We Will Rock You
Nov 12 Steve Steinman’s Anything for Love
ICON KEY
Film
Music Kids
Live
Dance
Comedy Talk
Theatre
BOX OFFICE: 01246 345 222 www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk
6 11-14 17-19
Luke Combs UK We Will Rock You (Queen Tribute) Were I Wanna Be (Kickers Dance Studio)
16 17 18 19-20 19 21 22 30
Mistura (12A) (Pavilion Arts Centre) Step Into Christmas The Elvis Years Jane Eyre (Pavilion Arts Centre) Boyzlife A Christmas Carol (Pavilion Arts Centre) The Houghton Weavers (Pavilion Arts Centre) Fatherland (Pavilion Arts Centre) BOX OFFICE: 0114 249 6000 www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
BOX OFFICE: 01246 345 222 www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk
Dec 4 – 3 Jan Beauty and the Beast (Kids)
BOX OFFICE: 01298 72190 www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk
1 2 3-8 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15
The Illegal Eagles Bad Apples (15) (Pavilion Arts Centre) Readers Group (Pavilion Arts Centre) The Stylistics Golden Boy (15) (Pavilion Arts Centre) Dylan Moran Paul Merton and Suki Webster’s Improv Show Danny Hart: Won’t Sit Down (Pavilion Arts Centre) Better Go Mad in the Wild (15) (Pavilion Arts Centre) Fred Dinenage’s Ronnie, Reggie and Me Flo & Joan Steve Steinman’s Anything for Love The Sensational 60s Experience Gracie: The Gracie Fields Story (Pavilion Arts Centre)
80 Reflections November 2026
The Mousetrap (Lyceum) The Yacht Rock Experience (Montgomery Theatre) 9-14 Mean Girls (Lyceum) 10-12 Selected Works: Table Top Shakespeare (Playhouse) 14 Chopin Nocturnes (Playhouse) 14 The Lady In The Bay Window (Montgomery Theatre) 17-21 Nativity! The Musical (Lyceum) 20 Let The Music Play: The Legend of Barry White (Montgomery) 21 Jack and The Beanstalk (Sort Of) (Playhouse) 25 Dyke Systems Ltd (Playhouse) 26 – 16 Jan Singin’ In the Rain (Crucible) 27 Roy Orbison & Buddy Holly at 90 (Montgomery) 28 – 3 Jan Cinderella (Lyceum)
Jonathan Pie: The End Of The World According to Jonathan Pie 5 Jack Savoretti 6 Adam Rowe: Fashionism 7 DAY FEVER 7 The Australian Pink Floyd 8 Russell Howard: Don’t Tell The Algorithm 8 Gareth Malone: Sing-A-Long-AGareth: At the Movies 9 Harry Redknapp:My Life in Football and Beyond 12 Funny Business 13 Simon Brodkin: Unleached 15 The Night Sky Show 17 Del Amitri: Past and Present 18 Jules Holland and His Rhyhm and Blues Orchestra 18-19 Dlyan Moran 20 Troy Hawke: Never Stop, Never Change! 21 Bellowhead 22 An Evening with Yvette Fielding 24 Harry Enfield and No Chums 26 Tom Stade Rules 26 Waterloo: A Tribute to ABBA 27 London Symphonic Rock Orchestra 28 Fin Taylor: A Pre-emptive Comeback Special 29 The Big Christmas Assembly with James Partridge BOX OFFICE: 01142565656 www.sheffieldarena.co.uk
3-7 7
BOX OFFICE: 0114 2 789 789 www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk
1 4
The Magic of Motown Macy Gray: The Trouble with The Truth Tour
2 6 7 14 15 21 22 27 28 29
Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour Paul Heaton Steelers v Storm The Script Steelers v Blaze Sheffield Powerlifting Championships Steelers v Devils Bob Dylan Bloc Party and Interpol Co-Headline Tour Steelers v Giants
Other Events 2-3
Chesterfield Fireworks Extravaganza. Price: Adult £7.50, kids £4, family tickets (two adults, two children) £20. £5 car parking (first come, first served). Enjoy a spectacular firework display that lights up the sky with incredible bursts of colour. You can visit the glow stall for fun light-up accessories, warm up with hot food and drinks, and unwind in the fully stocked licensed bars which are open until late. With gates opening from 5:30pm and the display beginning at 7:45pm, there’s
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ENTERTAINMENT plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy an evening of sparkling entertainment. Bars remain open until late, making it a great night out for all ages. 5
7
Winter Ball at Chatsworth. Chatsworth Friends and Patrons benefit from 10% off tickets. The evening begins with fizz and canapés in the Painted Hall, followed by a self-guided tour to see the North Wing of the house decorated for Christmas, a dinner with wine and live entertainment. Carriages at 12am. The dress code is black tie and evening dress. For tickets and more inofmration please visit: www.chatsworth.org
12-15
Derby Book Festival Autumn Edition. The Autumn Festival takes place across from Thursday 12 November to Sunday 15 November with 28 events in venues across the city, including QUAD, Derby Theatre, St Peter’s Church, Museum of Making, the Market Hall and local libraries. We will be joined by incredible authors on a wide range of genres and topics from history, politics, fiction and so much more.
12
Darley Dale Film Society is showing ‘Hamnet’. In the early 1960s, 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. Forming his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement, making a controversial choice that reverberates world wide. Join us at the Methodist Church Hall, Dale Road, Darley Dale DE4 2FS. 7.00pm for 7.30pm, refreshments (proceeds to Ashgate Hospice) Buy tickets on-line: www.darleydalefilm.co.uk or on the door.
13
Matlock Antiques and Collectables Society. Talk by Jonathan Abbott on "Lumsdale Glass" to be held at Imperial Rooms, Imperial Road, Matlock, DE4 3NL at 2.30 pm. Visitors are welcome, £3.00. For further information contact our Chairman on 07566225126
Matlock RFC’s Bonfire & Fireworks. Matlock RFC’s Bonfire & Fireworks returns to Cromford Meadows with a spectacular bonfire, children’s fireworks and a main firework and light show. There will also be live music, fairground rides, food and drink, and other entertainment.
7 - 13 Dec Chatsworth Christmas Market. The market will return in November 2026, offering more than 100 themed stalls selling gifts, food, and drink. Entry to the market is free. Parking charges apply to all vehicles wishing to park at Chatsworth. All tickets must be booked in advance, including friends and pass holders. Further details will be added here later in the year. For more information visit: www.chatsworth.org 7-8
Tramlight at the National Tramway Museum. 2pm - 7pm. Join us for the season finale! The Tramway Village turns magical by Tramlight as the darkness falls. Entertainment and characters bring the museum to life. See our Woodland Lantern Trail for an enchanted experience for the whole family. For more information please visit: www.tramway.co.uk
7
Wadshelf Village Hall is holding a Maker’s Market on Sat 7th November from 10am until 3pm. Refreshments available throughout the day.
7 - 20 Dec Christmas House Tours at Thornbridge Hall. Step into the magic of Christmas with our “Never Ordinary” House Tours at Thornbridge Hall! From 7th November to 20th December, join us for a 1 hour guided tour through our festively adorned halls. Marvel at our 15ft Christmas trees, explore the music room, family sitting room, and the family kitchen. For more information please visit: www.thornbridge-estate.co.uk 11-20 Mercatum Christmas Artisan Markets at Haddon Hall. Experience the true magic of Christmas at Haddon Hall’s renowned Mercatum—the enchanting artisan market that deserves a spot on your festive bucket list. Following the huge success of last year, which saw Mercatum named in the UK press as one of the top ten Christmas markets in the country, this year’s event promises to be bigger, better and more captivating than ever. For more information please visit: www.haddonhall.co.uk
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14-28 A Festival of Christmas Trees at the Crooked Spire Church. 12pm - 4:30pm. Head to the famous ‘Crooked Spire’ Church for a Festival of Christmas Trees! The Spire is the largest church in Derbyshire and will be filled with more than 100 Christmas trees. The trees are decorated by local people, groups and shops, from WIs to scout and guide groups, from schools to high street stores, from accountants to Chesterfield Museum and many more besides. Admission is free but donations will be gratefully accepted. 14-15
Bakewell Christmas Market. 9am to 5pm. Join us at our Bakewell Christmas Market Weekend and browse through our incredible selection of festive stalls, delicious food and drink and not forgetting the vast selection of entertainment we have planned over the weekend. There will be over 100 stalls, gazebos and trailers in our beautiful historic market town.
20-22 Chesterfield Christmas Market. The market will take place in the heart of our town centre, including Market Place and New Square. Combined with festive lighting and seasonal decorations, helping to create a welcoming Christmas atmosphere. Look forward to browsing stalls from local independent traders, artisan makers, craft producers and food and drink vendors. Expect to find artisan gifts, handmade crafts, festive treats, seasonal food and drink, family-friendly attractions and live entertainment. You can even have a tipple in the Après Ski-style bar area. Enjoy live
Nov 27 Bob Dylan entertainment on Friday 20th November and Saturday 21st November. On Sunday 22nd November, the Christmas Market will coincide with our annual Christmas Lights Switch On, bringing together two events to kick off the festive season. 20-30 Lights of Abraham. 4:30pm to 9pm. This winter, experience the Heights of Abraham in a brand new light as we present our stunning light trail. Make your way down the festoonlit riverside walkway before arriving at the base station to board your gondola and take a moonlit cable car flight across the river and above an avenue of colour. Once you arrive at the summit set off on the trail that winds through illuminated gardens, across boardwalks and along woodland paths. You'll encounter many interesting and unusual scenes along the way. Look out for the neon forest, the giant swans, interactive stepping stones, ice garden & colourful surprises around every corner. For more information please visit: www.heightsofabraham.com 27-29 Christmas Market at Thornbridge Estate. 10am to 4pm. Over 40 festive stalls each weekend featuring local makers, bakers, creatives, and traders - the perfect place to find those unique gifts (and maybe a treat or two for yourself) Join us for 3 magical weekends filled with festive cheer, live entertainment, mulled wine, and shopping galore!
SUBMIT YOUR LISTING OR EVENT Please email your information including date to whatson@reflections-magazine.com before November 13th, 2026, to appear in the December 2026 issue.
81 Reflections November 2026
THE DIRECTORY
Crosswords Answers
Pitcherwits Answers
Congratulations to J. Ward of Dronfield who won the October 2026 crossword. They won £25 Why not try the November 2026 crossword on page 58?
82 Reflections November 2026
Here are the answers to this month’s puzzle on page 58
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