Derby Uncovered Issue 4

Family owned and operated for over 40 years

See Pages 2 & 3

Digging Deeper into Derby and Derbyshire

THE DERBY HIPPODROME

We look back at the history of a building that brought pleasure to a great deal of people – The Derby Hippodrome.

LAYERS OF HISTORY

We look back at some of the history of St. Peter’s Street in Derby with the help of some wonderful images from W.W. Winter.

I

We examine a time when the centre of Derby was filled with a rioting crowd during the Reform Bill Riots in October 1831.

PAGE6&7

PAGE26&27

CARE & COMPASSION FOR YOUR FAMILY, AS IF IT'S OUR FAMILY

Ashmere is a family run business providing the very best care across Derbyshire. Our ethos is that we are here for everyone, from our residents right through to the families too. When the time comes to find a care provider we know that there are many questions that need to be answered and our personal approach ensures you get the opportunity to speak with our care team directly and addresses all the questions you may have.

Ashmere is a family run business providing the very best care across Derbyshire. Our ethos is that we are here for everyone, from our residents right through to the families, too.

When the time comes to find a care provider we know that there are many questions that need to be answered and our personal approach ensures you get the opportunity to speak with our care team directly and address all the questions.

Ashmere currently has seven fantastic care homes to choose from, specialising in the following areas; residential care, nursing, dementia and daycare.

All of our care homes have friendly, professional and dedicated teams that work tirelessly to make sure each one of our residents are provided only the best care possible.

Derbyshire UN Derby

COVERED

CONTENTS

FEATURED ARTICLES

PAGES 6 & 7

THE DERBY HIPPODROME

We look back at the history of a building that brought pleasure to a great deal of people – The Derby Hippodrome.

PAGES 8 & 9

HUNTERS

Find out all about the history of Hunters – an iconic Derby furniture store with a history that dates back 90 years.

PAGE 10

ROYAL CROWN DERBY

Learn about the fascinating life and career of Mr. William Pegg – one of the most talented artists to have ever worked at Royal Crown Derby

PAGES 12 & 13

AT THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY

We speak to Graham Mulholland – the new owner of Darley Abbey Store - and learn about a shop that’s at the heart of its community.

PAGE 14

KALWINDER SINGH DHINDSA

Derby author, poet and creator Kalwinder Singh Dhindsa shares his work and thoughts with us.

PAGE 16

LOCAL STUDIES LIBRARY

Find out how to discover your history with the help and resources of Derby Local Studies and Family History Library.

PAGE 18

LOCAL HEROES

Read all about the first recipient of our Local Heroes Award which is dedicated to the unsung heroes of our community.

PAGE 21

DEATH OF THE STAR DIVER

In 1868 another daredevil arrived in Derby to perform a death-defying stunt – this time with fatal consequences.

PAGE 22

CELEBRATE SADLER GATE

Find out all about the return of the one-day street party – Celebrate Sadler Gate - on 1st July and just what you can expect.

PAGES 24

NATIONAL GARDEN SCHEME

Read about the local gardens open for charity in the upcoming weeks.

PAGE 26 & 27

LAYERS OF HISTORY

We examine the history of St. Peter’s Street with the help of W. W Winter of Derby.

PAGES 30

HADDON HALL

Keep yourself up to date with the very latest from Haddon Hall - ‘the most perfect house to survive from the middle ages’.

PAGE 32

DERBY AND BURTON HOSPITAL CHARITY

Find out more about how you can help the Derby and Burton Hospital Charity.

PAGE 33

DERBY DAYS OUT

Read the latest from Derby Days Out – the Number

1 What’s On website for all things Derby.

PAGE 34

CURRY ON COOKING

Take part in our fantastic competition to win a wonderful prize from Curry on Cooking.

PAGE 35, 36, 37 & 38

ARTISANS UNCOVERED

It’s almost time for our first physical event – read all about it here and see a floorplan of the event.

PAGES 40 & 41

DERBY IN PICTURES

Mark Miley from derbyinpictures.com looks at history of one of Derby’s most beautiful green spaces – The Arboretum.

PAGE 42

NUTRITION AND RETREAT

Time to reflect, re-energise and be inspired. Reflect on Nature. Re-energise from Nutrition. Be inspired by us.

PAGE 43

FISH IN WATER

Sarah Roach – our resident wellbeing and change coach - offers us more invaluable advice on how we can improve our mental and physical self.

PAGE 44 & 45

DERBY MUSEUMS

Come and see what’s happening and read the latest updates from the Derby Museums.

PAGE 46

THE DERBY GAME

Win a copy of The Derby Game - the turbulent story of Derby Shrovetide football and how it lent its name to Derbies around the world.

PAGE 47

BRILL-ME

Take a hold of your emotional health and wellbeing with the help of Claire Austin and Brill-Me.

PAGES 48 & 49

SHOPPING IN THE 60S AND 70S

Ian Griffiths recalls his memories of the shops and shopping experiences of Derby in the 1960s and 1970s.

PAGES 54 & 55

ERNEST TOWNSEND

Part One of our look at the life of one of Derby’s greatest artists - Ernest Townsend - is brought to us by one of his grandsons – Jim Townsend.

PAGE 56

NOAH’S ARK SPOTTED IN DERBY!

Read all about the time that Derby had its very own Noah who built his very own ark!

PAGE 58

FIRE AT THE GRAND THEATRE

Read an account of the night that Derby’s brandnew Grand Theatre perished in flames – only to rise again from the ashes.

PAGES 60 & 61

TUBO GIFT SHOP

With an upcoming move to Sadler Gate happening very soon, find out all about Tubo Gift Shop – one of Derby’s very best independent traders.

PAGES 64 & 65

FAMOUS FOOTPRINTS

Learn all about the life of John Lombe – a life that included the dark arts of industrial espionage and an alleged assassination.

PAGES 66, 67 & 68

I PREDICT A RIOT!

We examine a time when the centre of Derby was filled with a rioting crowd during the Reform Bill Riots in October 1831.

A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO PATRICK GRIFFIN WHO HAS OVERSEEN ALL THE EDITORIAL WORK WITHIN THIS ISSUE. HIS HELP, AS EVER, HAS BEEN INVALUABLE.

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The Derby Hippodrome

Back in 1982 I was nine years old and attended Firs Estate Juniors School. As far as school life goes I had a fairly pleasant time, but some memories stand out more than others. One memory that is particularly vivid happened on the morning of October 11, 1982.

At that time anything that involved taking us out of our classroom to the room where the TV set lived was exciting, but this time it was a little bit different. We weren’t being shown our usual weekly children’s daytime programmes such as ‘Watch’ or 'How We Used To Live’ – which was of course my favourite – but instead the view was of an awful lot of activity on an awful lot of water.

We had been watching the raising of the Mary Rose – a ship that had sunk all the way back in 1545 during the Battle of the Solent. The result of years of neglect.

‘‘

No thanks to those that have allowed this magnificent theatre to remain in its current disgraceful state – shame on you all ’’

I thought back to that day only recently when I happened to be browsing one of the many Facebook pages and groups dedicated to Bygone Derby and began to read a discussion on the Derby Hippodrome. The consensus amongst some seemed to be that with the building in such a state of disrepair, it was too late to save it and the many years of history that lay within it.

For me, that couldn’t be more wrong. I looked back to that day in 1982 at Firs Estate, and to me, the answer to whether the building can be saved and renovated is a resounding yes. If we can raise a ship that had sat on the bottom of the Solent for around four and a half centuries, then we can save and renovate a building that has lay in disrepair for a much shorter period.

The Hippodrome has a wonderful history that deserves to be protected and celebrated. Designed by architects Marshall and Tweedy of Newcastle

George Formby, Flanagan and Allen, Gracie Fields, Morecambe and Wise and Frankie Howerd all performed at the theatre.

The doors closed in 1959 when the management declared the theatre to be unviable and the building was left idle until 1962 when it was purchased by the entertainment company Mecca and repurposed as a Bingo Hall. Bingo ended in 2006 and in 2007 The Hippodrome was purchased by a developer.

After Derby City Council presented an Urgent Works Order to determine the construction of the roof, the developer brought down the roof and a side wall within the auditorium, as well as the roof and the walls of the stage house. The building has remained in a state of disrepair ever since, with the building being repeatedly targeted by arsonists over the years. An especially serious fire in 2015 caused even further extensive damage.

There exists though, a core of people who are still fighting hard to promote the possibilities of saving and renovating the Hippodrome. One of those people is John Taylor.

state of the building. He, quite rightly, doesn’t hold back during the introduction in his book where, after thanking various people, he wrote: “No thanks to those that have allowed this magnificent theatre to remain in it’s current disgraceful state –shame on you all”.

But John hasn’t given up hope. Nor has Kevin Speakman. Nor have many others. And nor have Derby Uncovered.

upon Tyne, the Hippodrome opened on July 20, 1914 when a full-to-capacity audience watched a performance of 'September Morn'.

The location on the corner of Green Lane and Macklin Street was chosen due to its ability to attract patrons from the nearby terraced houses in Macklin Street, Becket Well Lane and Colyear Street as well as the poorer residents of nearby Little City who would save their money and visit weekly as an escape from the humdrum of their lives.

Across two periods – 1914-1930 and 1950-1959 –the theatre produced 1,158 live programmes and operated as a cinema in between. Stars such as

I first managed to speak to John after being put in touch with him through a fellow lover of Derby’s history and heritage – Kevin Speakman – who himself is a keen advocate of the renovation of the Hippodrome and also a thoroughly nice and helpful gentleman.

John’s love of, and passion for, the Hippodrome shone through immediately. His family moved to Derby in 1928 and lived near the Hippodrome at 76 Green Lane. His grandfather, George, worked there rising from being a painter to being the front of house manager with John’s father, Tom, also a projectionist there who married usherette Elsie Hall – the both of them going on to be Mayor and Mayoress of Derby

John’s passion for the Hippodrome is so strong, and his knowledge so in depth, that he collated his knowledge and research into a wonderful manuscript entitled ‘A Palatial Building - A short history of the Derby Hippodrome by John M. Taylor’ – a manuscript so wonderful that Derby Uncovered immediately agreed to publish it later this year.

John, along with many others, shares a very similar sentiment for all those whose actions, or lack of, have contributed to the current

It is resoundingly possible to renovate and restore the Hippodrome, and what’s more it should happen. Over time, the footprint of the public walking around the city centre has become ever more centred around the Derbion, and the rest of the centre is crying out for some imaginative forethought and change.

Why not have it as a venue for live music? Something the city centre has needed ever since the fire at the Assembly Rooms rendered it obsolete.

If not that, why not have it as a venue full of the works of local artists and craftspeople? We’re lucky in Derby to have so many amazing artisans who could surely benefit from extra exposure.

I’m sure many of you would also have many viable ideas on how the venue and location could be used. With effort and imagination there’s no reason why the curtain can’t come up once more for a brandnew dawn at the Derby Hippodrome.

The Derby Hippodrome c.1915.

Looking north down Green Lane at the turn of the 20th century.

The Hippodrome was built on the site of Green Hill House - a privately ran "lunatic asylum".

The sign of quality

If you search through many of the old newspapers that were released in Derby over the years, you will see adverts and articles proclaiming the opening of a great deal of businesses in the centre of Derby. A consistent rule of thumb with these adverts is that the further back in time you go, the less likely you are to find any remnant of that business left in the modern day. The city centre – and the town centre as it was previously – is constantly evolving and the march of time ensures we see almost constant change.

If you were to go back to the newspapers of 1928 however – more specifically the Derby Daily Telegraph of April 25 of that year – you’d find an invitation from a business on page 4 stating that: “You are Invited to Call and Inspect Our Showrooms” upon their opening on the following day. That business was Hunters.

Babington Lane shortly before the arrival of Hunters.

Hunters on Babington Lane, Derby.

Hunters celebrate their 95th anniversary this year which is a wonderful achievement but let’s take a moment to put that milestone into perspective rather than just letting it be a large number.

When Hunters first opened in the town, they were in a town centre where iconic shops like the Midland Drapery, Thurman and Malin, Barlow Taylor and Ranby’s – all long-gone – once stood. Derby itself was still forty-nine years away from becoming a city and the Second World War was still over a decade away. Stanley Baldwin was the UK’s Prime Minister; King George V was on the throne and a loaf of white bread would have set you back 1.7p in today’s money.

In short, it wasn’t just a completely different Derby – It was a completely different world. It take a very special business indeed to survive for generations and Hunters is just that.

From that very first opening day back in 1928 to nowadays, Hunters – founded by the two ‘Hunter’ brothers - have traded from the very same premises on Babington Lane. Situated on a site that was once occupied by Abbots Hill House - Hunters itself is on the corner where the high garden wall of Abbott’s Hill House used to run - the beautiful art-deco style buildings that housed both Hunters in the largest unit and other business in the smaller units were designed by the architects Naylor and Sale and built using local stone from the Friar Gate-based Joseph Parker.

Hunters has a reputation for quality that not only exists today but also existed as soon as they opened. In 1931 a major selling point for a bungalow that was for sale in North Avenue, Darley Abbey, was that it has been furnished by Hunters and within only eighteen months of their opening Hunters were showing their innovative spirit by partaking in a Derby Daily Telegraph voucher scheme that entitled newspaper subscribers to a five shilling discount at participating businesses.

Even when I turn to my own personal memories of Hunters as a young child, they all lead back to the sheer quality of their products. Hunters was, for me, a place where my parents would go if they wanted to buy something that was of the ‘best quality’. For my parents, as well as countless other citizens of Derby, Hunters was, and still is, a watchword for quality.

Hunters of today is owned by Matthew Sheard and his wife Nina. It was Matthew's parents - Robert and Heather - who had purchased the business from the Hunter brothers in 1988. Matthew and Nina themselves moved up from London to join the company in 2008 and took over when Matthew's parents retired in 2018, and quality and customer service remain just as important to them now as it did to the founders of the store in 1928. Spread over three floors, the store displays both beautiful and inspirational ideas with a wonderful coffee shop that offers breakfast snacks, light lunches and afternoon teas acting as a perfect rest-stop whilst your browse.

Later this year, with a date soon to be confirmed, Hunters will be celebrating the milestone of being 95 years old with a weekend of celebrations that will include bottles of champagne, celebratory homemade cakes and cookery demonstrations in their fitted kitchen department and it’s very much a well-deserved celebration. For all of those 95 years they have been a constant in Derby and have themselves evolved with the times without ever compromising on their levels of quality and service. Free at-home design consultations are available, the delivery service is white-glove and includes assembly and packaging removal, they offer an accredited recycling service and also a price match promise.

Fully in tune with the modern era, you can browse their excellent websitewww.huntersfurniture.co.uk - for ideas, inspirations and purchases, sign up to their newsletter to be kept up to date with offers, or alternatively follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter - @huntersofderby

As stated earlier – it takes very special business indeed to survive for generations – and Hunters isn’t just surviving but thriving as well.

A view of Babington Lane shortly after the arrival of Hunters.

Hunters c.1930.

An old photograph belonging to Hunters showing their delivery vans outside the store.

Matthew Sheard and his wife Ninathe owners of Hunters.

Mr William Pegg was one of the most talented artists to have ever worked at Royal Crown Derby. William was born in 1775 and he secured a position as a painter at Royal Crown Derby after showing one of his sketches to Thomas Soar, who was the overseer of painters at the factory. Soar gave William a blank plate and asked him to reproduce his sketch on it. The dish he made for Soar, with its beautiful painting of a thistle, can be seen at Derby Museum, but a plate very much like it which he made later belongs to the Royal Crown Derby Museum on the Osmaston Road.

William Pegg became a deeply committed Quaker and found it hard to reconcile his talent for making beautiful expensive things with his religious belief in the value of a simple unadorned life. Though he entered into a five-year contract with Duesbury II at Derby in 1796, by the end of that time he felt he couldn’t continue his work and burnt all his sketch books. He moved to Leicester and took up a position as a stocking maker, but even that work he found hard to justify. He wrote regularly in journals and letters often expressing his anxieties and bouts of depression very movingly.

Of his work as a stocking maker, he wrote: ‘I was employed at making neat silk stockings but I felt uneasy at that kind of work, because the stockings were more for show than use. I often blushed with guilt … considering that I was as much wrong in that kind of work as in painting china’. During one depressive episode he wrote to a friend “at times sorrow has taken a deep hold of me.”

A Very Melancholy Man

He was unable to sleep, unable to work, and stopped taking care of himself. In 1813, after much soulsearching and years of hardship and poverty, William felt able to return to china painting and once again took up a position at the Derby factory, by that time under the management of Robert Bloor. William studied his craft and as part of his efforts to perfect his skills began to build up a collection of personal sketches. We have one of his sketchbooks at the Royal Crown Derby Museum, it is dated 1813, so it seems to have been started at the same time as he returned to working in Derby. He seems to have made his sketches largely from life, and many of his drawings are of wildflowers and plants. Despite his struggles with depression William’s sketchbook shows just how outstanding he was as an observer of the natural world. His drawings and paintings vary in style from meticulously controlled, to looser more experimental pieces.

Sadly, by 1817 William had lost the sight in one eye and with the sight in his other eye deteriorating rapidly he found he couldn’t continue his work. After deciding that he could no longer paint William left the factory and set up a shop nearby with his wife. When he died his sketchbook passed to his friend Thomas Randall and was carefully cared for by successive members of the Randall family before it found its way to our museum thanks to a generous descendent of Mr. Randall, where it remains one of our most treasured items.

If you would like to visit the museum and explore more of our fascinating history, you can book here www.royalcrownderbymuseum.com

The Royal Crown Derby Museum plate with William's beautiful painting of a thistle.

A selection of the beautiful artwork contained in William's sketchbook.

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At the heart of the community

By David Turner

Although there are a lot of pleasures working for Derby Uncovered, one of the greatest must surely be the opportunities that we get to talk to business owners in Derby who are passionate, not just about their work or business, but also their place in their local community. As passionate supporters ourselves of Derby and the communities within it, we find it’s especially enjoyable to connect with like-minded people and this was very much the case with Graham Mulholland – the new owner of the Darley Abbey Store.

Regular readers of the newspaper may have seen the store advertise with us in the past, but back in March when we called them, we discovered that the ownership had changed hands and Graham was

now the man in charge. After just one conversation his story, and his plans for the store, became something we very much wanted to share.

Darley Abbey itself lies on the outskirts of Derby and can trace its origins back to the 1100s. At one point in the 1700s a paper mill, a corn mill, a fulling mill, and a leather mill were all based there. Today it’s a beautiful little haven between Derby’s outskirts and the Derbyshire Dales. It is also, of course, the location of the Darley Abbey Stores.

Graham took over the reins at the shop – which has been on Abbey Lane for many years – back at the end of February this year and has grand and exciting plans that he’s implementing for the store. Graham never foresaw himself as a shop owner – his background was as an owner/manager of an engineering business that, amongst other things, was tasked with ‘making the impossible possible’ by F1 teams and providing the huge video screens for U2’s World Tours – and it’s of great testament to him that even now he doesn’t see himself as the shops ‘owner’ but instead of its ‘custodian’. The shop was there before him, and it is hoped that it will be there long after him, but right now Graham is in charge and is taking his responsibility to the community very seriously and sees himself as someone who serves the village.

Describing being able to deliver food to less mobile people every Friday as ‘something that has given me immense pleasure and pride’, it shines through in every conversation that I’ve had with Graham that he’s a passionate and caring man who is on a mission to make sure the store is the very heartbeat of the village.

Every day is an early start for the Darley Abbey Store.

The interior of the store.

How one man is making it his mission to be the heartbeat of his community

Another thing the village can be sure of while Graham is the custodian, is that the shop will remain independent. In an era when many shops have become part of a much larger group such as Premier and Londis and bought with it a bland shopping experience, Graham has stated unequivocally that this won’t be the case with the Darley Abbey Stores. His plan instead is for the store to become a modern-day Arkwright’s - from the classic BBC sitcom Open All Hours – with the décor being reminiscent of stores from days gone by and a diverse range of stock and products to suit any and all tastes and desires.

When I was a child I remember a much bigger and better variety of local stores that all seemed to get swept away as people’s shopping habits changed and I think a great number of people are now beginning to realise what a terrible error that was. Not only is shopping locally better for both the local economy and the environment, but it also seems that another thing lost over the years has been the personal touch that a good local store can offer.

It is, therefore, wonderfully refreshing to know that, at least in one corner of our area, there is someone who is determined to make sure that the

Darley Abbey Store

residents who live near his store will have a shop that retains both its independence and its personal touch.

Darley Abbey is always worth a visit, especially with the nearby Darley Park, and if you are in the area at any point I’d urge you to pay the store a visit and support a man who is bringing back some good old fashioned retail values to the village.

Abbey Lane in the early 20th century.

Darley Abbey Store decorated for the Coronation of King Charles III.

Allow me to introduce myself…

My name is Kalwinder Singh Dhindsa. I am a writer, author, poet and creator. A proud Derby man. Born and raised in Pear Tree, Normanton.

I will be using my allocated space in the Derby Uncovered Newspaper to share my Derby related poetry and stories.

Every article will begin with a poem from my book Derby.

TownsEnd

Unfooled by Chamberlain's appeasement towards Hitler and Germany.

Ernest Townsend predicted that all out war was a certainty.

Commissioned by the Home Office to use his skills as an artist.

Camouflaging Rolls-Royce Merlin Engine factories the Nazis would target.

To make them appear to be no more than a village from the air. Keeping thousands of Derby workers safe from Luftwaffe bomber raids and despair.

An extremely patriotic man, who significantly helped confound Nazi evil. Townsend gave his life in the protection of his town and its people.

In this collection of poems each letter of the alphabet is dedicated to an iconic figure in the history of Derby.

In addition to this I will also include further poetry and information in relation to the iconic figure being shared.

In this issue I will share some of my poems in relation to Derby’s military contributions throughout its rich history, especially the significant role its residents played in manufacturing and the defence of our nation during times of war.

Letter D Letter E

The poem above is from my collection of poetry called Pear Tree Rampage, a rambling love letter of sorts and thoughts to the city of Derby and it’s wonderful folk. It is my second collection of poetry and prose, which follows the life of a Derby boy. Touching upon identity, community, culture and many other things that define and strengthen the man that he has become.

Sherwood Rec.

40802: Pilot Officer Aston Maurice Cooper-Key. 46 Royal Air Force Squadron — RAF Digby. During a wartime anti-aircraft training exercise – July 24th, 1940.

An engine cut failure struck a Hawker Hurricane fighter, flying near the Osmaston Rolls-Royce factory. Attempting a forced-landing on an open patch of grass he could see.

Aston suddenly spotted a group of boys playing football; waving skywards joyously.

An immediate change of course set a final destination trajectory.

As the Hurricane and pilot smashed into a railway embankment, tragically.

A 21-year old War hero who died close by Balfour Park in Derby. His life courageously sacrificed for the children of Pear Tree.

The poem above is from my collection of poetry called nor MAN ton, an introspective collection of poetry and prose.

Off a lane in Littleover, Blagreaves - Derby. Lived a Colonel and his wife at number 173. A sign at the gate that barely reveals.

A home to a legend of defiance it conceals. An engineer who oversaw the design of the floating Mulberry Harbour enhancements. During WWII to land troops, vehicles and supplies for military advancements.

Operation Neptune the code name for the Allied Invasion of Normandy.

Often referred to as D-Day the largest seaborne invasion in history.

The deputy director of experimental engineering. Who played a key role in the success of the Normandy landing.

Colonel Vassal Charles Steer-Webster of Derby; a toast.

At Blagreaves Hall we salute your eternal last post.

The poem above is from my collection of poetry called Portland Maverick, a follow up to nor MAN ton. Another introspective collection of poetry and prose.

I will finish off this piece with one last poem from my Pear Tree Rambler collection.

D-Day. Derby

Derby, England my home city. Rolls-Royce aero factory.

Merlin engines that won the war. "Produced in Osmaston" Hear us roar!

Derby folk in dignity. '46 abide with me.

Charlton beaten. Wembley. Rams victorious - D.C.F.C.

If you’d like to see more about the books mentioned they can be found at Amazon - and don’t forget to check out the following:

www.khalsir.com

www.twitter.com/KhalSir

www.facebook.com/PearTreeAuthor www.instagram.com/khalsir/

Reasons to choose Buffalo Driveways

DISCOVER YOUR HISTORY

Come and explore fabulous archival collections housed in one of Derby’s finest heritage buildings. Whatever your topic and level of interest, enjoy free access to a huge wealth of resources for the local or family historian!

Dig into old newspapers, books, and documents. Study maps, plans, and photographs. Our helpful and knowledgeable team are on hand to help you uncover the history of our city!

www.inderby.org.uk/libraries

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Derbyshire UN Derby

Running a newspaper is, without a doubt, an eventful ride but it most certainly brings with it a lot of pleasure. For this newspaper it is an incredible privilege to be able to bring our varied and fascinating history back to life and it’s also wonderful to offer a platform for other people to tell their stories.

With all of that being said, I don’t think anything gives us greater pleasure, nor is anything a greater privilege, than the opportunity it affords us to give thanks and acknowledge the unsung heroes in our community.

From this issue onwards, we will be showcasing a winner of our Local Hero Award. Each award recognises the ceaseless contributions and efforts made by individuals to better both the lives and the environment of those that surround them and also recognises that through the actions of this individual, the quality of life of others has been immeasurably improved.

Simply put, the winners of this award make the world around them a better place for others.

Our first winner of the award volunteers on behalf of a Derby charity – Children First Derby.

For those of you who don’t know, Children

First Derby work with vulnerable children, young people and families to make a positive impact on their lives and the local community. It was established in 1974 by local Derby resident Milly Wigley after she read about the death of a neglected child. The charity’s founding aim is to relieve the distress and suffering experienced by children and families in the local area.

Operating from its premises in Leopold Street, the charity is run by a dedicated team of staff and local volunteers. The work of both the staff and volunteers is

immeasurably important and in 2022 alone they supported 444 children and 140 adults. The results of their support have seen improved school attendance and attainment, a reduction in the levels of antisocial behaviour and better inter-family relationships for those they have helped.

It is, therefore, our great pleasure to announce that the first winner of the Derby Uncovered Local Hero Award is a Children First Derby volunteer – James Partington.

James Partington is a family man and his employment at Rolls-Royce has taken him around the world and contributed to him living in several different countries.

He returned to the UK in 2020 after working in Singapore, and despite the demands and rigours of his job, felt it was time to support his local area through volunteering and joined the Children First Derby Mentoring Service.

James has quite simply been an inspiration in that role and through his commitment and dedication to the role, he has used his immense wealth of experience and variety of interests to enhance and enrich the experiences of his mentees.

Going regularly above and beyond what would be expected, James has positively influenced, guided and supported his mentees through their challenges time and time again.

James not only meets the criteria of our award – he supersedes them.

It’s a pleasure to say Congratulations James – you’re a truly worthy recipient.

James being presented his award by Frank JacquesChair of Children First Derby.

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Shocking affair at Derby

When a star diver died in the River Derwent.

Regular readers of Derby Uncovered will remember our article in Issue 3 involving a death-defying tightrope walker and a donkey, but that was far from the only time that extremely dangerous stunts formed the basis of entertainment for the watching crowds in the town. In 1868 Mr. Thomas Worthington – a renowned and famous ‘star diver’ – made his appearance at the Derby Gala for his advertised dive from 120 feet. Unlike the story in our last issue however, this stunt was to prove fatal.

Worthington captured the imagination of the public the year before when he dived from a height of 130 feet off the East Pier in Brighton. Witnessed by the King of Belgium, who in turn granted permission for the act to be performed in his home country, Worthington then proceeded to tour the United Kingdom and it was during that tour that he arrived in Derby, after extensive local promotions, to perform at the Derby Gala on May 7-9, 1868. The advertised highlight of his performance was to be a dive from 120ft.

A large crowd gathered in a field on the banks of the Derwent between Derby and Darley Grove and the entertainment began from 2.20pm on May 7. Worthington, who was aged around 23, arrived at his appointed time and, in the build up to his dive, he performed a series of underwater feats including drinking milk from a bottle, peeling and eating an orange and blowing a trumpet.

At about 4.15pm Worthington began his ascent up the scaffold that had been erected and once he reached the top, he waived his handkerchief at the crowd and jumped.

Contemporary newspaper reports stated that he had turned one somersault and was attempting to turn another when he hit the water hard and on his side. Though cries of ‘it’s killed him’ were heard from the crowd, minutes passed as people waited for him to reappear at the surface of the water. With a few people jumping into the river in an attempt to find and rescue Worthington, it was a Joseph Smith of Little Eaton, who, on his second attempt, found him and brought him to the surface. Worthington’s body was placed in a boat and taken to a tent where four local medical men, who had been visiting the Gala, attempted to resuscitate him but their efforts were in vain. The crowd were, of course, in shock and the death was made all the more tragic because his parents and two brothers were at the event and witnessed the fatal jump.

An inquest into the death was held where the coroner returned a verdict of accidentally drowned and lamented that ‘it was much to be regretted that there were persons ready to risk their lives in performances of this kind’.

All of the above was researched and created using the Digital Archive of the Derby Local Studies and Family History Library. The documents dedicated to the death of Thomas Worthington can be found herederby.gov.uk/derbyshistory

Thanks go to the Derby Local Studies and Family History Library for their permission to use an excerpt of the images contained in the archive.

Part of some contemporary promotional literature for the 120-feet dive being attempted.

An excerpt from a report in the Derby Mercury about the death of Thomas Worthington.

Cathedral Quarter celebrates Sadler Gate with return of its one-day street party

Hundreds of visitors are expected to attend a free, all-day party on Saturday 1st July, to celebrate the history of Sadler Gate.

Dance performances, live music and face painting, are just some of the activities people can enjoy at the Celebrate Sadler Gate event which starts at 11am.

Several free activities have been funded by the BID for the day, including historical walks hosted by former Most Haunted star and Derby ghost expert, Richard Felix, which will explore the background and history of Sadler Gate.

As a teaser to the BID-funded ‘A Jurassic Day Out in Cathedral Quarter’ event, which returns on Saturday July 22, there will also be an appearance by two baby dinosaurs for ‘meet and greets’ with children throughout the day.

Additionally, performances by ‘King Brasstards’ will bring funky New Orleans inspired sounds to the street throughout the day, and dance routines from Nadia Jane Performing Arts will animate the area, enhancing the party atmosphere.

Resident businesses in Sadler Gate will also contribute to the celebration and entertain shoppers with a range of activities. Last year, there were barbeques, live DJ sets, acoustic music, a kids disco and many more elements that continued on into the evening, as the street swapped its daytime retail focus into its vibrant night-time atmosphere.

Brad Worley, BID Manager for Cathedral Quarter, said: “This event is too good to miss. We encourage everyone to put it in their diary and enjoy this year’s Celebrate Sadler Gate event.

because it gives Sadler Gate the chance to showcase its shopping community – and shine a light on Derby’s hard-working and independent businesses. He said: “The BID wanted to celebrate the uniqueness of Sadler Gate and create an event that welcomes visitors to the area.

“We already know that a number of well-known and loved independents will be turning out to entertain shoppers with a host of activities. Each will bring something different to the day, making it an ideal event for people of all ages and interests.

“July’s free event celebrates ‘Everything Sadler Gate’ and will run throughout the day with celebrations stretching right into the evening. It is going to be so much fun, and we know it is probably going to be even busier than last year.”

a day

“Celebrate Sadler Gate is yet another free day out in the Cathedral Quarter, and we look forward to seeing everyone there.”

The Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) is working with many of Sadler Gate’s resident businesses to create

of fun to mark everything they have achieved on the historic city centre street.

Rotten Row and the entrance to the Shambles

BY ALFRED JOHN KEENE

FROM A PHOTOGRAPH FROM RICHARD KEENE C.1860

Gardens Open for Charity

As spring progresses into summer and we are hopefully enjoying some warmer weather, the garden visiting season is in full swing, with gardens open every weekend during the summer months. Most gardens opening for the National Garden Scheme charge less than £5 entry, and in most cases children go free. This means you can enjoy an inexpensive afternoon out, whilst helping raise funds for some of the U.K.s best loved nursing charities.

In June you will find a very family friendly garden, ‘Holmlea’ in Ambergate, open on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th of June from 12-5pm. It’s a large garden with lots to see, some unique garden features and a trail for younger visitors to follow. Admission is £4.00 for adults.

Also, on Sunday 18th of June, 13 Westfield

Road, Swadlincote will be open from 1 -5pm. It is a lovely country style garden including beautiful planting, herbaceous borders, roses, a kitchen garden, and ponds. There is lots of seating to enjoy the views and your tea and cake. Admission is just £3.50.

In Mickleover, 25 Melbourne Close will be open on Sunday the 25th of June from 1 – 5pm. It’s a suburban cottage style garden with mixed colour themed borders, a wildlife pond, and a gravel garden. Admission for the open day is £3.50. This garden is also open for group visits by arrangement during June and July.

On to July and 8 Curzon Lane, Alvaston is open on Sunday 6th and Sunday 23rd of July, (and again on Sunday 6th August), from 12 -5pm. As well as traditional planting you’ll also find tropical planting and a hot border as well as a vegetable plot and greenhouse. Admission is £3.50 and this garden is also open for group visits by arrangement during July and August.

More details of these gardens and more can be found on the website www.ngs.org.uk

Coming up in future articles we will be exploring the real ‘secret gardens’ that open for the National Garden Scheme and private gardens which are only open to the public on a handful of occasions each year – including picture postcard cottages, allotments, grand houses and inspirational suburban spaces.

8 Curzon Lane, Alvaston.

13 Westfield Road, Swadlincote.

'Holmlea' in Ambergate.

25 Melbourne Close, Mickleover.

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When you peel back the layers of history in the centre of Derby it doesn’t really matter where you stand – you’ll find an immense amount of it. St. Peter’s Street in Derby is no exception to this. In fact, there are various aspects of the history of St. Peter’s Street that are indeed worthy of an article all to themselves. For now, though – and accompanied by some wonderful images from W. W. Winter of Derby – we bring you a brief taster. Hopefully as a taster it leaves you wanting more.

Taking its name from St. Peter's Church which is Grade II* listed and dates from the 11th century, St. Peter's Street in Derby by and large follows the prehistoric north-south trackway that would have cut through the area many, many years ago.

The church itself was first recorded during the reign of Edward the Confessor and was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. With various alterations

made over the years, much of the church now dates back to Medieval times. During this period – in 1349 – the parish of St. Peter’s was hit hard during a pandemic of the bubonic plague. It is thought that around a third of the people in the parish lost their lives, including the vicar of St. Peter’s. Such was the death toll that people were buried vertically in the churchyard to save space.

St. Peter’s Churchyard was also home to the Old Grammar School which once later housed the Derby Heritage Centre. Erected in the 16th century on

A view looking up St. Peter's Street in the 1930s.

The above view was sadly lost in the development of the Audley Centre in 1970/71.

St. Peter’s Street Layers and layers of history

12th century foundations, the school received a Royal Charter in 1554 and occupied the site for 300 years before moving to St. Helen’s House. Notable alumni at the school include the world-famous artist Joseph Wright, John Flamsteed F.R.S – the first Astronomer Royal, and Rev. John Cotton who was one of the founders of Boston, Massachusetts.

St. Peter’s parish was also one of the sides in Shrovetide Football games that were played in the city. Though many people from Derbyshire associate Shrovetide Football solely with the beautiful town of Ashbourne, it was also played actively in Derby from the 18th century, with the large St. Peter’s parish taking on the combined might of the smaller parishes of All Saints, St Michael’s, St Alkmund’s and St Werburgh’s. It was in 1846 that Mayor William Eaton Mousley ultimately banned the playing of the game, bringing in specially sworn-in constables and a mounted body of the 5th Dragoon Guards to ensure that no game would be played. Opposite the church and on the corner of St. Peter’s Street and East Street is

one of the city centre’s iconic buildings – the ‘Old Boots Building’. Built in 1912 by the architects Percy Morely Horder and Albert Bromley for Boots the Chemists, the building was modelled on 17th century designs with decorative barge boards, pargeting and

tri-partite oak-windows. On the exterior of the building are four statues of notable figures from our local history - Jedediah Strutt, John Lombe, William Hutton and Florence Nightingale. Of course, for many people their own personal memories of St. Peter’s Street will indelibly be linked to the shops that once inhabited the street. Two iconic titans of bygone shopping in Derby were the Midland Drapery and Thurman and Malin. It’s almost impossible - and rightly so – to have a conversation about long-lost shops in Derby without either one or both of them soon cropping up. St. Peter’s Street was also home to Derby’s first Marks & Spencer store. The store opened in May 1933 at 7/9 St. Peter’s Streetprior to that, the site contained the buildings of Prudential Assurance. Just three years later, M&S acquired the property to the right of the store (Irish Linen & Hosiery Association Ltd), to expand the M&S store premises. In 1958, M&S acquired the Burton Store (to the right of the M&S store) for yet further expansion. In 2007, the store relocated to Westfield Derby shopping centre, previously known as the Eagle Centre, now known as the Derbion.

And it is here that our little taster comes to an end. There is far more history in St. Peter’s Street and we have barely scratched the surface in this article but hopefully this overview has given you a feel for just how much history can fit into one small area.

Now imagine just how much history Derby as a whole contains!

Big thanks go out to W. W. Winter for the images that accompany this article. As well as being the owners of one of the greatest single photographic records of bygone Derby they also offer many modern-day services including portraiture, the copy and restoration of old negatives, slides and prints, picture framing, and passport, visa and ID headshots.

Check them out at wwwinter.co.uk

The Midland Drapery - taken in the 1920's.

A busy window display in an early shot of the Midland Drapery.

The exterior of the former 'Boots Building'.

Dovedale by James Preston

The

by Peter Bainbridge

Sunset over Stanage by Phillip Dyke

Bunker Hill by Colin Halliday

Hot tickets selling fast

Tickets for Mickleover’s popular, family-friendly festival are selling fast. The annual Hot August Night event takes place on Sunday, 6th August with a fresh line-up of top tribute bands.

This year’s concert will feature The Jersey Boys, Katy Perry, Oasis, Pet Shop Boys, Take That and The Beach Boys. In support will be live bands, The Incredible Skank Brothers and Stolen Fridays, who return after last year’s acclaimed performances.

The 4,000-capacity festival will also have a variety of food stalls, beer tents, a prosecco bar, and a specialist gin bar. A funfair will keep the children happy and families are welcome to bring chairs and picnics.

Neil Hadfield, one of the main organisers of Hot August Night, said; “We hope that we can continue the positive community spirit that was evident during the recent Coronation weekend.

“As usual the event will offer something for everyone but don’t be disappointed, over half the tickets are already sold.”

Hot August Night is a ticket only event and will take place on Sunday, August 6th at Mickleover Sports Club in Station Road, from mid-afternoon until sundown.

Tickets and more information are available now at www.ticketsource.co.uk or in person from Hannells (All Shops), Mickleover Sports Club, Don Amott Leisure, John Fell Opticians and Premier Stores, both in Mickleover. Tickets also available via email: info@mickleoverfc.com or by calling Don Amott Leisure on 01283 732193

The Incredible Skank Brothers.

Spring and Summer at Haddon Hall

There is plenty to look forward to this spring and summer at Haddon Hall.

One of the country’s most elegant, historically important, and timeless stately homes, Haddon Hall invites visitors to immerse themselves in 900 years of history, marvel at Tudor and Elizabethan architecture and craftsmanship, and stroll around the hall’s Elizabethan walled gardens and magnificent Medieval Parkland, enjoying uninterrupted views of the Peak District.

Throughout the spring and summer, there is a whole host of activities for visitors to enjoy, including live music recitals on selected Sundays throughout June, July, August, and September.

Music at Haddon has always been of great importance. In its Medieval and Elizabethan existence, music would have been an integral part of daily life, creating ceremony and entertainment for its household and guests. The architecture and furniture of the hall reflects this activity with a magnificent minstrel’s gallery looming proudly over the Banqueting Hall, an 18th Century spinet

made by Thomas Hitchcock of London still positioned where it would have originally stood in the wonderful 110 ft. Long Gallery and manuscripts of music played and musicians paid in the family archives. Now a vital part of the hall’s events calendar, Music at Haddon is becoming increasingly recognised on a local and national level for its significance and the level of quality, with musicians now requesting the opportunity to perform.

Music at Haddon is an unusual experience for both the visitor and musician. Instead of formal ticketed performances, Haddon hosts informal recitals, included in the visitor admission fee. It is up to the musicians to select where they wish to play within the hall, and what they play. Designed for visitors to enjoy at their own leisure, wonderful music performed against the glorious backdrop of tapestries or panelled walls in this romantic hall makes for a deeply moving experience.

Recitals are held at 12pm and 2pm on selected days, allowing visitors

to make the most of the day with lunch or tea or both in the Haddon Restaurant, with the first performance taking place on Sunday, June 4th by the New Chamber Choir.

In addition to Haddon’s music schedule, visitors can also enjoy free Guided Tours every Monday, which run at intervals throughout the day, providing visitors with a brief introduction to the history of the hall. In the summer holidays, every Tuesday from July 11th to August 29th, there will be Children’s Free Guided Tours, with Archery classes available to buy on the day.

Haddon’s Medieval Park also has a packed and diverse events calendar, which includes its popular Parkland and Specialist Walks, alongside Photography Workshops, and for the first time this year, two Bat Watching evenings. Upcoming events include Parkland Walks on June 10th and July 15th, a Photography Workshop on July 22nd, and a Wildlife Walk on June 3rd. The full events calendar can be found on the website.

Residents of Derbyshire can continue to enjoy 30% off entry, including students, adults and concessions, in addition to free entry for children under the age of 16 years old.

Photo courtesy of Haddon Hall.

Photo courtesy of Laura-Rose Gee.

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CURRY ON COOKING

Win 8 curry kits and a Keep Korma and Curry On apron from Curry On Cooking!

A born and bred Derbyshire

No filling for me, it was just too hot for my childish tongue to entertain back then.

Lass

– find out all about Nilam Wright and Curry On Cooking

I lived on Reginald Street - opposite the Arboretum - and we went there daily on the way home from nursery school and that was one of the highlights of my childhood.

Dad worked at the post office whilst also giving driving lessons. He was a very tired man and was sending money back to India as well as supporting a family of three here. He was the first Indian to work in the Derby Post Office which he was very proud of. Being a teacher in the Punjab in India he was a very welleducated man - honestly his English was better than mine!

He stayed at the Post Office for 23 years. I used to look forward to the Post Office's magical Christmas parties (and presents) although I was never allowed to play with them. They would be stored in Dad’s wardrobe and be gifted to my friends when I got invited to their birthday parties. We didn’t have many toys, but I didn’t

need much, I used to hang on my mother’s apron strings and I think this is where I got my overeating behaviour from!

Anyway…

At the new house we moved to when I was a little older, the garage housed the biggest chest freezer money could buy, and it was full to the brim of homemade treats from sweets to starters.

Samosas are probably one of the most well recognised anytime treats, and these tasty triangular shaped treats are always something to look forward to at any function.

My first memory of eating samosas is my mum feeding them to me. We were at a wedding, and I was trying my hardest to please her. She was peeling away the skin of the samosa for me to eat and there was me - almost crying - jumping around as I tried to control the fire that had erupted in my mouth!

I remember drawing breath fast to try and cool my mouth, almost hyperventilating! I was given coke to drink to quench the heat…it didn’t work. Anyway, let’s fast forward to now as there’s a happy ending.

I didn’t know back then that I was in training and now Curry On Cooking’s strap line is KEEP KORMA & CURRY ON. Our competition will enable you to win our whole range of 8 curry kits and an apron.

Even if you don’t win then I’d urge you to try them - we’re offering a free kit to all new customers with the coupon code Freebie and Free Shipping is also available on a min spend of just £17. Our curries are quicker, healthier, and cheaper than ordering a take-away. So do share the Curry Love as they make perfect gifts to those who are still using jars.

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Which of the following curries usually has coconut as a main ingredient? A) Dhansak B) Methi C) Rogan Josh D) Korma

Meet two of the sponsors of ARTISANS UNCOVERED

It is no coincidence that Artisans Uncovered is free to visit and very low cost to exhibit…these things are possible because of the kindness of four local companies who have agreed to sponsor the event.

All of us at Derby Uncovered are genuinely grateful for the support of our four sponsors, Bee-Assisted, The Review Business, Spectrum Homecare and Solution Accounting.

In the last issue we heard from Harrison Stewart of The Review Business and Cath Harrison of Bee-Assisted and in this issue it’s the turn of Libby Duffield of Solution Accounting and Natalie Attwal of Spectrum Homecare.

NATALIE ATTWAL –SPECTRUM HOMECARE

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your business first of all?

My name is Libby Duffield and I’m the owner of Solution Accounting. With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, Solution Accounting are not your normal accountancy firm, where you see us once a year and we invoice you for our time. We are there for your business ALL year round and we get involved in the nitty-gritty, everyday essentials to keep your business finances on track. We work with all types and sizes of businesses but one of the things we love in particular is to work with new businesses and start-ups and I feel that one of our strengths is to help these businesses get themselves on a good, strong foundation and to avoid the main mistakes that cause so many to fail. You’ve very kindly agreed to sponsor an event dedicated to makers and creators from Derby and Derbyshire. How important do you think it is for people to support their local companies and economy in the modern age?

I think it’s incredibly important. I noticed that during COVID, people understandably began to use local companies more often and hoped that after we moved back to normality this might continue but I’m not sure it has. If people want to have a vibrant city and local economy, it’s incredibly important that local companies and local artisans are supported. On top of that the quality of the products of local providers tend to be of a very high standard but also competitively priced.

There will be some wonderfully creative people there – do you have any creative talents or skills yourself?

No, I’m afraid not. I’d love to be able to create something similar to the things our local creators and makers create, but I don’t share their talents. I have nothing but admiration for the skills that they have but also the patience that’s required to create such things.

Derby Uncovered, as you know, are very much about promoting our area and all the benefits of it. If there was one thing you could change about Derby to help it grow what would that be?

I’d change the decision-making processes that have led to the destruction and demolition of many of our older buildings. I totally understand that time moves on but strongly believe that a lot of these buildings could be incorporated into a modern usage. Places such as Manchester have managed to do this and I don’t see why we couldn’t. Despite what we have lost there is still a lot of historical beauty in and around Derby and I’d like to see it preserved.

Finally, where would you like to see both your business and Derby itself in ten years’ time?

From a business perspective I’d like to continue with the good work we have done so far and carry on treating all our clients as individuals with individual needs and offering them help all year around.

In regards to Derby if we’d been successful in my wish to stop the destruction of our historical buildings I’d be very happy indeed!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your business first of all?

Spectrum Homecare is a family run private homecare company. We provide a very personalised service in Derby and the surrounding areas. Michelle and I have grown up together and worked in care for over 25 years. Our work is always centred around each person as an individual with respect, dignity and compassion at the forefront of everything we do.

You’ve very kindly agreed to sponsor an event dedicated to makers and creators from Derby and Derbyshire. How important do you think it is for people to support their local companies and economy in the modern age?

We think this is massively important –especially since COVID. Michelle and I both love local produce. It’s always of a high quality and it’s good to know that anything local we buy is supporting not just another local business but the economy of the entire area. If we all made that little bit of extra effort to shop locally then the benefits to both the local economy and also the environment would be very measurable.

There will be some wonderfully creative people there – do you have any creative talents or skills yourself?

Not really if I’m honest but I’m a great believer in it’s never too late to learn. Derby and Derbyshire certainly have a lot of people with a wide variety of creative talents and skills though, and it will be great to have some of the very best of them all in one location for a couple of days.

Derby Uncovered, as you know, are very much about promoting our area and all the benefits of it. If there was one thing you could change about Derby to help it grow what would that be?

I’d like to see Sadler Gate thriving again. I remember brass brands playing there at Christmas and wheelbarrow races on Bank Holidays where not just the pubs, but the entire street was packed out.

Done correctly, I don’t see why it can’t get back to those times. A lot of people like a bit of an experience when they shop and if Sadler Gate was full of independent shops alongside the bars and cafés, I think it could a wonderful experience like it used to be.

Finally, where would you like to see both your business and Derby itself in ten years’ time?

We’re quite happy and content where we are and it’s fantastic to be able to help people in the ways that we do. If anything, I’d like to perhaps see a steady growth. Regarding Derby I’d like to see a bit more culture injected. It’s got all the potential it needs but it just needs the right decisions making. I’d also like to see Derby return to having the vibrant nightlife it once had with some new and fab bars.

UNCOVERED A DERBY UNCOVERED GROUP EVENT

3rd and 4th June 2023

Museum of Making, Derby

’’ My mum passed away suddenly so we needed to sort out care for my dad urgently as he has dementia. The ladies at Spectrum were amazing. They made suggestions about visits and a routine for Dad, which wasn’t about making money but what was best for Dad. They go above and beyond, keep us updated, review care plans, bring Dad treats, take him out and coaxing him to do what is needed whilst always being respectful and kind. It’s only a small team, the staff are consistent so, Dad has been able to build a rapport with them, and so have we. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them and frequently do to anyone I can. The role they have is invaluable to us, and they really supported us while we dealt with Mum’s death. If you’re looking for carers who treat your loved ones as if they were part of their own family, are experienced and competent and speak to you like human beings, this is the company for your care needs - and no, I’m not related to any of them, and they didn’t pay me!

’’ After a 4-month stay in the hospital, I was discharged home. I am still very weak and unsteady on my feet, so my family and myself decided to find carers to help me wash and dress in the morning and get me into bed at night. My daughter spoke to Spectrum, and straight away, she loved their happy, friendly and helpful demeanour. After a meeting with them, I decided to try them out. I am absolutely thrilled to bits with the service that I’m receiving. The girls who visit me are always on time and always have a happy smile on their faces; they treat me with dignity and compassion. Nothing is too much trouble for them. If I want anything done, I only have to ask. The girl's attention to detail is fantastic; they are trustworthy and thorough and are becoming good friends.

The

Arboretum Arboretum

As we move now into the lighter days and warmer months, Mark Miley, owner of Derby in Pictures –www.derbyinpictures.com takes a look in this issue at the history of one of the most beautiful outdoor spaces in the city of Derby.

Tucked away on the edge of the city centre is one of Derby's true gems, a small but beautiful park whose diminutive size belies its international significance.

The Entrance Lodge designed by Henry Duesbury in 1851.

In the middle years of the 19th century mill owner, former mayor, and renowned philanthropist Joseph Strutt embarked on a unique project to create a public park, widely considered to be the first of its kind in Britain, to express his gratitude to the people of Derby for helping his family to make their fortune.

Strutt had originally purchased the 11-acre plot on the southern edge of town in order to create for himself a summer retreat. However, this was a time of rapid urbanisation across the country and the Liberal Parliament of the day had made a plea for open spaces to be provided for hard pressed millworkers. Strutt responded quickly to this and commissioned the renowned John Claudius Loudon to interpret his vision of a botanical garden and pleasure ground designed to create a haven of peace and tranquillity for the local population which, when completed, he gifted to the people of the town.

Work commenced in 1839 with the finished design boasting a number of beautiful lodges, garden buildings, a fountain, one thousand trees and shrubs, and winding paths and undulated hillocks designed to make the park appear larger

than its 11 acres by ensuring that it was not possible to see the whole expanse. To this Strutt added sculptures from his own garden on St Peter's Street. This was further complimented in later years by an aviary and, most strikingly, a large

working classes free access and an escape from their homes and workplaces.

It is thought that the American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted took inspiration from the Arboretum for his design for Central Park in New York. In 1859 he had embarked on a research tour of the parks of Europe and one of those that he visited was the Derby Arboretum.

Over the years the Arboretum has had a chequered story. In 1878 a plan was devised and approved to drive a road through the middle in order to improve access to the town from the rapidly urbanising area surrounding the park. Fortunately, a compromise was reached when admission charges were scrapped completely and a path was created instead.

iron and glass conservatory known as the Crystal Palace. Sadly, these last only lasted until the early years of the 20th century.

The Arboretum finally opened in 1840 with a huge celebration and a parade from the Market Place. Although an admission fee was charged to enter the park this was waived on Wednesday afternoons and Sundays allowing the

Later in the 20th century the 'dig for victory' campaign during the WW2, along with years of industrial pollution had resulted in the loss of many trees and subsequent vandalism and neglect over the years left the park in a poor state. Fortunately, an inspired programme of restoration between 2002 and 2005 has once again made this a haven for the people of the area, just as Joseph Strutt intended.

View down the avenue towards the fountain.

Looking towards the rear of the entrance lodge and showing some of the beautiful planting carried out by the city Parks Department

Nutrition And Retreat

Time to reflect, re-energise and be inspired…

How to eat like a king… Quality

Coronation Bank Holiday weekend is now behind us. After the partying and perhaps a little overindulgence, we return to our daily routines including our usual eating patterns. With the cost-of-living crisis, our purse strings may be a little tighter than usual, and prices of food, especially foods deemed to be healthy may simply seem unaffordable. Fresh produce, not to mention organic, feels as if it is reserved for the well-off dignitaries and royalty. However, this does not necessarily need to be the case. In my last Derby Uncovered article I introduced the three T’s of nutrition: time, type and total. In this article, I focus on the second T of the three. The type of food we choose can have long term health and wellbeing effects, and can surprisingly also be affordable. Looking at our overall diet, the starting point is to reflect on what kind of meals we eat. Are you always having the same breakfast each day? Even if you are conscious of what you eat, are you repeating the same daily lunch or dinner, for example a tuna pasta or a chicken salad. There is nothing wrong with these dishes, but we may be missing some nutrients by not including a wide variety of ingredients.

The more diverse the diet, the wider spectrum of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and other elements we supply to our bodies. Why not add more vegetables to the lunchbox creating a rainbow or inject various herbs and spices to your dinner. It will add colour, texture and flavour to your meals, but also ensure the complex systems within our body that keep us alive can function better.

by Marta Zaremba-Marsden ANutr

produce has less toxic heavy metals, pesticides and provides us with more micronutrients and antioxidants (Baranski, M. et al., 2014). Switching to organic fruit and vegetables could help lower the risk of some chronic disease in the long run. There is more research needed in this area, but certainly organic farming means less artificial fertilisers, better soil, happier animals, and ultimately tastier quality food.

How can we afford to make some of these changes?

The internet is a great source of new recipes to master. Pick one or a few ingredients and type them into an internet search tool to look up recipe ideas. These recipes also often come with an average cost to help you budget. Once you are ready to shop for your ingredients, be conscious of what you choose in the supermarket. Foods that are nonmanufactured are best, but if you are picking tins or jars, try to familiarise yourself with food labels. These can sometimes be hard to understand, but if you read through the ingredients and are able to recognise what they are, it is usually better than a long list of unrecognisable additives. Using tinned beans in water is a perfectly affordable way to diversify your meal, but ensure you choose those with no added salt for extra health benefits. Look for substitutes to your usual sweet snacks. A packet of mixed dried fruit can be stored for a long time and a handful a day can help keep sweet cravings away. Should you go for organic or non-organic products? One systematic review demonstrated that organic

My top tips include eating seasonal or frozen, looking for bargains, and growing your own. When you are shopping, look for vegetables and fruit that are in season. Grocers, market stall sellers and supermarket assistants can help you with this. Local seasonal produce should have a lower price tag, and be tastier. If you fancy something that is not in season or you will need later in the week, month or year, why not try frozen or tinned foods. Frozen fruit and vegetables are a much cheaper option and often have little difference in nutritional value against the fresh versions. You could even freeze or preserve some yourself for the winter months. Berries are brilliant antioxidants, but can be pricy so I opt for a frozen berry mix, which not only benefits my diet by combining different berry types, but is also gentle to my wallet.

As for organic foods, these are more expensive, but I still like to treat us to the quality so I always look for bargains. Doing your shopping in the evenings means many products are discounted and at this point even organic can be affordable. Look for the yellow labels in supermarkets!

Growing your own can be extremely good for the budget and provides ease of access to ingredients. You could start small by growing your own herbs instead of plants. These look just as good as flowers on the windowsill, but also bring you benefits. You could even extend it to items such as watercress or spinach. Give it a try!

How often do you audit yourself?

In my last column to you all, I was talking about the value of a morning routine; I eventually succumbed to Covid over Easter, and for a few weeks, my ability to maintain that morning routine was severely impeded. And I missed it. As part of that morning routine, I mentioned ‘a mini audit’ and I said I would tell you more of that later.

It’s a simple concept and requires, a pen, a piece of paper and the ability to draw something resembling a circle - now add on key areas of your life as labels. I have seen many different versions of this, but this is the one I was taught.

The job now is to score yourself along these axes for each area of your life – where 10 occurs you’ve got this cracked and there is currently no room for improvement, and 1 means this aspect couldn’t be further from what you want.

So, you may well get a strange shape like in the 2nd image.

A little about me

Now it’ action time – where your scores are not where you want them to be, agree today to do one thing that will improve that score; it does not have to be big. For example, my score for health is nearly always on the low side of what I think it should be; my goal for today may be to walk to the chemist instead of taking the car or researching those salsa classes I promised myself. And the latter will also help me improve my hobbies score at the same time –DOUBLE WHAMMY!

And remember – it’s all about progress, not perfection! Change can be brilliant.

I call myself a change coach and consultant – and any kind of change, personal or work related. I’ve worked across the public and private sectors, in various roles, but most recently worked in big change projects, often where IT systems are being changed, supporting programme directors keeping everything on track. And over that time, I saw that people beats process every single time. But quite often people are an afterthought. I work hard to remind people involved in, and leading big change projects, that if you don’t involve and take people with you, your project won’t achieve the benefits you need it to. On an individual basis, change can often be hard – get yourself change fit with me. I work with individuals and organisations to make sure change is prepared, planned, and managed to ensure the right outcomes for all.

I’m 53, live with my partner Mick, in our new build home with our two pugs Harvey and Lewie. One of my offerings is one to one coaching (I’m soon to be qualified as an advanced hypnotherapist); and I currently have space for one new client – reach out!

E: sarahroach@fishinwater.org | m: 07894 961095

Sarah Roach, our resident wellbeing and change coach, who believes that change can be brilliant, talks about the value of giving yourself a frequent audit – because change is constant!

THE DERBY GAME

A History of Local Rivalries

THE DERBY GAME WIN

A History of Local Rivalries

The Derby Game: A History of Local Rivalries sets out the turbulent story of Derby Shrovetide football and traces how it lent the town’s name to scores of local derbies both in Britain and across the world.

Derby Is often described as a football town, but the roots of this reputation go back to the early 19th century, when Derby Shrovetide Football was the biggest and most notorious football game in Britain. The All Saints of north Derby played against the Peterites of south Derby in a true people’s game which turned friends and workmates into the fiercest of rivals. Supporters and spectators trekked into Derby from surrounding villages as thousands enjoyed two days of mayhem over Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, while the two sides used both the town and the countryside to get to their respective goals.

In The Derby Game, Ian Collis tells the story of how Derby Shrovetide Football became infamous and how repeated attempts were made to ban the game, from 1731 onwards. The passion, guile and strength of the town’s footballers held sway until Shrove Tuesday 1846 when police, hundreds of volunteer constables and two troops of mounted dragoon guards battled for several hours with a mob of footballers intent

You can be in with a chance to win a copy of this wonderful book by answering the following question: Derby County Football Club’s fiercest rivals in the East Midland Derby are?

Pop your answer in an email with the subject header of THE DERBY GAME and send it to: info@derbyuncovered.com

on retaining their identity as Peterite or All Saint. Making extensive use of newspaper archives, The Derby Game traces how the term ‘derby’ came to be used to describe football matches between rival local teams, as football fever took over the country in the late 19th century. It looks at the roots and nature of some of Britain’s most notorious local rivalries, from the Victorian football hotbeds of Sheffield and Blackburn to big cities like London, Liverpool and Glasgow. Finally, it charts how the ‘derby’ name spread across the world to celebrate games like the Derby della Madonnina in Milan and the Paulista Derby in Brazil.

As The Derby Game author Ian Collis remarks: “Many Derby people have never heard of Derby Shrovetide Football and are unaware of how important the game was to local people. It is an important part of the City’s heritage, and many Derbeians today must have ancestors who played in this riotous and notorious game.’

Inside you’ll find out about:

■ The crazy Shrovetide game where players smashed down walls, crawled through sewers and swam in icy rivers in order to reach their goal

■ When Derby Council tried to bribe footballers with plum pudding and treacle

■ What happened when the stark-naked leader of a Derby football mob confronted Sir Henry Wilmot

■ The policeman sent in to put a stop to the Shrovetide football game he loved

■ The names and stories of the Derby men who played the game from Henry Allen, who defied police and dragoons alike, to William Williamson (aka the legendary Tunchy Shelton) who headbutted his way through the opposition.

The winner will be drawn at random on

and notified via email. The winner will also be announced on our social media.

Joseph Strutt was an ardent supporter of the game, he is reputed to have played in a specially made suit of buckskin.

The mural commemorating the silk trades lockout of 1834 on the wall of the Silk Mill Public House features a football. Derby Shrovetide Football was played during the lockout despite pressure from unions. The unions later claimed that only agricultural labourers or those of ‘weak mind’ had taken part.

Here’s what we’ve done in Nottingham

Small Steps Big Changes (SSBC) realised that building a Trauma Informed workforce was pivotal to understand the negative impact of trauma. As this, not only affected families and children whom we work with, but also our workforce, it required a more systematic and bi-directional approach to mitigate those effects.

In March 2023, we therefore held a Trauma Informed Practice conference, attended by 250 delegates. We shared expertise, values and a vision to inspire a more Trauma Informed workforce.

The keynote speakers were:

■ Donna Stenton-Groves, Clinical Lead of Trauma Informed Practice and Honorary Assistant Professor (University of Nottingham)

■ Dr Suzanne Zeedyk, Developmental Psychologist and Research Scientist (University of Dundee).

The conference concluded that Trauma Informed care needed to be looked at across all systems and not in isolation. This was based on the nine principles of a Trauma Informed Approach, encompassing all other models to bring together a shared ideology, language and framework.

To read the whole article, please visit Brill-me.com/resources.

Watch out for the next edition for more support and resources/ signposting.

Derby and Derbyshire Emotional Health and Wellbeing website:

This emotional health and wellbeing signposting website for Derby and Derbyshire contains local and national links and resources updated regularly.

Small Steps Big Changes: Local Family & Parents Support, Family & Group Activities, Nottingham - smallstepsbigchanges.org.uk

Derby’s Splendid Emporia

Ian Griffiths looks at the shopping experience of a bygone age.

As a child growing up in the Derby of the 1960s and early 1970s, I experienced some of the town’s thriving retail institutions - survivors of the Victorian age sadly nearing the end of their days.

A shopping trip to Derby generally only happened during the school holidays, usually prompted by the need for new clothing, school uniform or at Christmas for gifts and the like.

By Ian Griffiths

We rarely shopped for food in the town, my mother preferring to shop for this in our village. However I do remember visits to Sainsbury’s which was then situated in a beautiful Edwardian shop in the Cornmarket. Polished mahogany counters with marble tops lined two sides of this long space with a wood panelled cashiers office at the back. The cream tiled walls were decorated with colourful Edwardian painted tiles in green and terracotta depicting dragons and exotic foliage. At closing time huge rolling shutters were brought down to protect the immaculately kept marble and mahogany facade. I still recall the delicious dairy smell of fresh butter and cheese mingling with bacon, smoked meats, tea, and coffee. It was customary to stand in a queue at each section of the counter and be personally served by a member of staff. I think it was remarkable that self-service was not introduced until 1975 when Sainsburys moved to its modern supermarket in the newly built Eagle Centre.

It was a sad day when the shutters came down on the old shop for the last time. Some months later I passed by with my mother and builders were ripping out the interior that had survived almost a century. The lovely facade had already gone and from a pile of rubble I picked up one of the decorative tiles that had graced the walls. It was still intact, and I have it to this day.

A post-war shot of a very busy Derby taken at The Spot. The Midland Drapery and Thurman and Malin would be further down St. Peter's Street as we look down the view.

A view of East Street with the Midland Drapery on the left and the Boots building on the right.

The interior of Sainsbury's in the Corn Market c.1975. © The Sainsbury Archive

Department stores were our usual calling places on our shopping trips and the most famous of these was the Midland Drapery. It’s full history is recounted in issue one of this newspaper. Situated on the corner of St Peter’s Street and East Street, it was founded by Sir Edwin Ann in 1882 and by the early 20th century had become the largest department store in Derby. A huge magnet above the corner entrance bore the motto “The Magnet that draws the people”.

To me as a child the place seemed vast with endless departments stocking virtually everything imaginable. Different parts of the store had been developed or modernised during different periods and so the interior was a charming eclectic mix of styles and we seemed to walk for miles up and down to the various floors and mezzanine levelsso many staircases, large and small. (I don’t recall any escalators or lifts but as I was afraid of them, we perhaps avoided them).

Milky Way. We seemed to travel for miles and miles until we came to a halt and exiting the vehicle at the other end, we’d find ourselves outside Santa’s toy filled grotto. There we’d sit on the great man’s knee and after telling him we’d been good all year he’d dispense a small, wrapped gift to take home. These magical visits will stay with me always. Little did I know that the various vehicles we travelled in was the same wooden box on rollers painted differently each year, or that the scenery passing outside was a vast piece of canvas on a huge drum turned manually to give the illusion of movement. There were undeniably some very talented people who worked behind the scenes at the Midland Drapery to create this magic and ensure that the seasonal displays and window dressings were the most stylish in Derby.

Sadly, the store closed in 1970 and two years later I watched the demolition men destroy this magnificent wedding cake of a building and saw the ugly Audley Centre take its place.

My school uniform was always purchased at the Derby Cooperative Society, a vast organisation whose premises occupied several adjacent sites over several acres along Albert Street, Exchange Street, Albion Street and East Street. Again, the buildings were from several periods from Edwardian Baroque to Art Deco. School Uniforms and Mens Tailoring were situated in a delightfully old-fashioned building on Albert Street. Right up until it’s demolition in 1976 it retained its Victorian interior of glass display counters and cabinets. A rather scary cage style lift rattled it’s way to each floor and every service or type of merchandise imaginable seemed to be obtainable under the Cooperative banner.

with couture-wear, millinery, and hosiery. There always seemed to be big displays of hats there and the atmosphere inside always reminded me of the television sitcom “Are you being served?”

Ranby’s on Victoria Street was altogether a more down to earth establishment and catered for everyone’s needs. It became Debenhams which itself is now unfortunately a name of the past.

My mother seemed to spend hours looking for an outfit or trying on dresses or hats and looking for clothing for me and my sister. So boring! I did liven up if we had lunch in the restaurant and I felt very grown up with my plate of chicken sandwiches and glass of lemonade. I wasn’t so impressed though with the fashion parades that passed through periodically. The store employed models to sashay between the tables wearing the latest fashions and hoped to persuade the ladies lunching there to spend more money.

It was only really the toy department that excited me, and a visit there usually meant it was my birthday or Christmas. Christmas is my abiding memory at the Midland Drapery and the obligatory visit to the now legendary Santa’s Grotto in the basement.

Arriving here we’d be ushered into a festively decorated vehicle - a different one each year. One year it was a train, another year a sleigh, another year a rocket and so on. The vehicle would bump along rocking and rolling, and outside scenery would whizz by. Again, the scenery changed each year according to what type of vehicle we were in, so it might be snow-covered countryside, mountains even or perhaps outer space and the

Another memory I do have is of the pneumatic tube payment system used here and in other department stores. Money for an item purchased was handed to the sales assistant at the counter. The cash was placed in a Bakelite cylindrical container with a sales invoice which would then be put into a metal tube, at which point the container shot upwards along the tube, through the ceiling to some far distant cashiers office, propelled by a compressed air vacuum method. Minutes later the container would arrive back with a loud thud and your change and receipt would be handed back to you.

Here again the toy and sports departments were my favourite. I remember once being fully kitted out here in the complete Derby County Football club strip. Christmas here again was unforgettable, and the Cooperative’s Santa’s Grotto rivalled that of the Midland Drapery. Here we’d walk through what were essentially corridors and stairs, but they’d been transformed into wonderful snow tunnels, twinkling forests, and magical kingdoms. Interspersed were mechanical moving animals and puppets depicting fairy tales. Again, the artistic effort that went into these displays was astonishing and is perhaps only seen today in prestige stores such as London’s Fortum & Mason.

Every department store in Derby had its own character and specialism. Barlow Taylor on the corner of the Market Place and Iron Gate seemed very sedate and refined, catering mainly for women

Thurman & Malin closed in 1970 and being a hosiery specialist, I don’t have any memory of it although it’s history is in issue two of this newspaper. Happily, it’s Victorian buildings survive on St Peter’s Street and Churchyard. Perhaps the smallest department store in Derby was Brindley’s on Babington Lane. Although small it was extremely elegant and sold mainly expensive gifts, accessories, leather goods and cosmetics. My Mother always bought her silk scarves there.

Derby’s last department store - Bennett’s of Irongate - claimed to be the oldest department store in the world having been founded in the late 18th century. In the 1960s I only recall it being the place to go for ironmongery but over the years it expanded and became a destination departmental store selling all manner of luxury goods. It’s huge Christmas tree and festive displays were something never to be missed and put me in mind of my childhood visits to Derby’s now vanished splendid emporia.

Bennett’s too is now gone and the shopping experience in today’s Derby is altogether a very different one indeed.

Sainsbury's in the Corn Market c.1975. © The Sainsbury Archive

Ranby's is on the right-hand side of this view looking up Victoria Street.

Brindley's can be seen on the left-hand side of this view looking up Babington Lane around 1930.

Kip McGrath – catering for the educational needs of your children

Primary and Secondary Tuition

English Maths

Spelling

Reading

Comprehension

Primary – Secondary

A Level English

A Level Maths

11+

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It’s perhaps stating the obvious to declare that we are all different – but sometimes the obvious needs stating. Each of us, as we grow, find our own paths in life and our own way of doing things. Sometimes – as it was in my case – our own way of doings things might not fit ideally with the rigid structure of how, when we are younger, we are supposed to learn things during our educational journey.

I’d consider myself to have a reasonable degree of intelligence but at school, particularly in core subjects like English, maths and science. I underachieved. For me it was too easy to get lost, both accidentally and sometimes on purpose, amongst the other children, and the grades I achieved in those subjects don’t, I would like to think, reflect what I perhaps could have achieved.

Many of today’s children don’t just have that to consider either. A whole generation of children also face the unique challenges brought on by the disruption to their education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully for those children, and for us as

parents, there’s a solution to this problem when it comes to the core subjects of English, maths and science.

Kip McGrath and their Education Centres were founded all the way back in 1976 in New South Wales, Australia by Kip and Dugnea McGrath. Their ideology was very simple - ‘every child can learn; they just need to be taught properly’. Treating each child individually, Kip himself developed a remediation learning system, based on assessing the child to identify the gaps in their learning. Once each assessment is completed every child then has their own individual and tailored learning programme. The system works so well that with a combination of computer and written tasks, Kip’s methodology can bring a non-reader to functional literacy within 100 lessons.

Over the years this system has helped millions of children worldwide to catch up and keep up in the core subjects. With tutoring available both online and in their Ofsted Registered Education Centres, Kip McGrath’s qualified and experienced teachers

can ensure that your child receives the individual attention that they both need and deserve. Kip McGrath Derby West centre is based in The Square in Mickleover and is owned by former Principal and Ofsted Inspector, Malcolm Ferguson.

Each child is given a FREE educational assessment which tells their teachers exactly what level your child is working to and whether any gaps in learning have developed. Clear and personalised goals are then set which, when reached, are an immeasurable help to your child’s ability and self-esteem.

As we all know from our own experiences, a good start in life can stand you in good stead for the many years that follow – Kip McGrath enables you to make sure your child has that good start. Interested parents can contact Malcolm on 01332 517666.

Tutoring Times

Tuesday 4.00pm - 7.30pm

Wednesday 4.00pm - 7.30pm

Thursday 4.15pm - 7.30pm

Friday 4.15pm - 7.30pm

Saturday 9.20am - 12.30pm

Since going to Kip, he’s had a big boost in his confidence and has caught up with his school work.

Melissa, Mum of Mitchell

We also publish books. Our first release is now available in Paperback and Hardcover on Amazon. If you have a story about Derby or Derbyshire that you’d like to be told, then we are actively looking for local people who would like to have their stories published. You don’t have to be a professional writer – all you need to have is an interesting story. If that’s you, then get in touch. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C1J9F9H8

ERNEST TOWNSEND THE DERBY ARTIST

1890-1944

Derby has enjoyed a wealth of artists over the years with Joseph Wright, George Turner, the Gresleys, Frank Beresford, Louise Raynor of Matlock and Dame Laura Knight of Long Eaton amongst many others. Ernest Townsend worked in the town of Derby as a professional portrait artist for most of his life. He was a Royal Academy multiple prize winner, an Olympian, a portraitist who painted Sir Winston S. Churchill, Sir Ernest Shackleton and Wild Bill Cody, and was a prominent figure in Derby; rallying against the threat of Nazi invasion. Around 60 of his works were purchased for, or donated to, Derby Museum and Art Gallery, County Hall, or other government bodies. In this serialised article, Jim Townsend who is the grandson of Ernest, shares with us the story of Ernest’s life, gives some insight into life working amongst the great and the good of Derby and the harsh realities of being an artist in the first of half of the Twentieth Century.

Ernest Townsend was born at 150 Parliament Street, Derby in 1880. His father, James, was a coachmaker at Holmes of Derby. James’ father, William, also a coachmaker, had previously migrated from Oldland Common near Bristol in the 1840s. His mother, Sarah Townsend, was the daughter of a framework knitter from Hucknall Torkard, Nottingham. Ernest’s mother died when he was just three years old and he was consequently raised by his father, his sister Florence and brother William. William who was

13 years his elder, was a keen artist and Ernest’s early interest in art was undoubtedly nurtured by him. William initially worked (likely apprenticed) at the Derby Crown Porcelain Company (now Royal Crown Derby), studying at Derby School of Art in Green Lane, before moving on to the Royal College of Art. William went onto write several books on arts and crafts designs, needlework and furniture. More information on Ernest elder brother can be found at en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/William_ George_Paulson_ Townsend

A self-portrait of Ernest

Ernest’s early education was at Abbey Street School, and at the age of twelve he was apprenticed as an architect to Wright and Thorpe. Thomas Thorpe, then a junior partner, initially sponsored his education in architecture, however it became apparent where Ernest’s talents lay, and Thorpe supported his transfer to study Art at the same school. Thorpe later became a prominent architect in Derby and the closest of friends with Ernest.

It would be great to hear any stories you have regarding Ernest Townsend and his family, or if you have one of his paintings. Contact us at info@derbyuncovered.com

Ernest's brother was an influential figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, amongst numerous other roles, William was the founder and editor of the Art Workers Quarterly.

Townsend, 1929.

T H Thorpe, the Derby Architect.

DERBY SKETCHING CLUB

Ernest had joined Derby Sketching Club in 1898, this introduced him to many local artists and in-turn, the great and the good of Derby. The Victorians had a great interest in art, Derby Sketching Club founded 11-years earlier was part of the country’s thriving art scene; filled with talent across the ages, philanthropists, professional artists and highly competent amateurs. Here, as an eighteen-yearold young man, he rubbed shoulders with Alfred E. Goodey, A. J. Keene, S. H. Parkin, Frank Gresley and Sir Thomas Roe. His future father-in-law, Peter Campbell was later to become the Chairman of the Sketching Club. Peter worked as a commercial artist for Bemrose’s in Derby, working with, amongst others, fellow artist S. H. Parkins, designing advertisements for the Midland Railway and others. These newly formed social connections were to be central to Ernest’s future network and income as an artist. Today, Derby Sketching Club continues to thrive.

ROYAL ACADEMY

Ernest left Derby to study at Heatherley's School of Fine Art in Chelsea, living with his brother William, who by this time was now an Art’s Master at the Royal College of Needlework. From here he gained a place at the Royal Academy School in 1902.

Ernest enjoyed great success at the Royal Academy being the recipient of multiple awards including, in 1904, the leading Academy schools prize of the Landseer scholarship for figure painting, and in 1905 he won the Creswick prize for landscape with 'Willows and Weeds' - this is now within the Derby Art Gallery collection. His tutors included Sir George Clausen, John Singer Sargent and AlmaTadema. His friends included the artists Aubrey Beardsley, Alfred Munnings

Augustus John and Laura Knight. Ernest finished his studies in 1907, his awards then afforded him the opportunity to travel, study and work in France and the Low Countries. Ernest kept his connections with the Royal Academy and over the years exhibited 15 paintings at their prestigious Summer Exhibitions.

RETURN TO DERBY

On return to England, Ernest briefly lived in London before returning to Derby. What brought him back to Derby is not entirely clear. His father, James was still alive, but by this time much of his family had moved away from Derby; William to London, Florence to Sheffield, Ethel emigrating to California to set-up a fruit farm with her husband, and Frederick took a military posting in British Columbia. Of his other brothers, Charles was an upholsterer and Harry had a second-hand furniture business; both remaining in Derby. Charles’ daughter Norah married R. F. Potts –the founder of the electronics supply store that is still on Babington Lane in Derby. An artist with Ernest’s academic achievement and the then contemporary nature of his work, would probably have fared more favourably in London. Perhaps he was buoyed by his social and business connections in Derby, and he returned to set-up his own studio and took lodgings with a Mrs. Husband at Granville House on the corner of Friar Gate and Bridge Street.

MARRIAGE TO DORIS CAMPBELL AND THE ARTISTIC CAMPBELLS

Ernest regularly visited the Campbells on Havelock Road in Normanton, he was a baritone singer and cornetist. Peter played the violin and Doris, his daughter, was a fine pianist; entertaining themselves with song and music in the evenings. Doris had one brother; Percy Campbell, he was also a professional artist, working briefly at Bemrose’s before relocating to London after he’d married Edith Cholerton. There are numerous watercolours and pastels of Derby during the period 1890-1915 by both Peter and Percy

Campbell. In 1912, Ernest married Doris Campbell. Ernest captures his feelings for Doris in a poem he penned in 1907.

TO DORIS VII.VI.07

In the sleepy town of Derby dear –There dwells a maid who’s heart doeth bear. The stamp of purity and grace –Reflected through a girlish face, To that sweet maid my heart has flownShe says ‘tis exchanged for her own. So I sing gaily all the day –And gallop on in life’s mad fray.

For loves a treasure rich and rare Unknown to a tottering millionaire His hoards of gold are thin are poor Compared with such a goodly store. So here’s to Doris sweet and fair –With eyes so bright and bonny hair. And merry smile with lips so true She touched my heart and out it flew. The time round at eventide –When palate and brushes are pushed aside. And I step forth to fondly kiss –This fascinating little miss. So drink to love ye merry men –And drink to again to Doris then. I’ll off to kiss the lassie bright –And tender last good

In our next part of this fascinating series, we look at Ernest the Olympian, his relationship with Winston S. Churchill and hear the memories and recollections of David Townsend – of one

Ernest’s sons.

An Evening's Entertainment, featuring Peter Campbell.

Students of the Royal Academy Schools c1906. Ernest is seen in the second row from the back, second on the left. Another Derby artist, Frank Beresford is on the same row, far right.

(Courtesy: RA Collection)

The Little Dutch Girl/The Dutch Knitter, Volendam, Netherlands 1907

Doris in Cream, 1908. The soon to be wife of Ernest Townsend.

Ernest and Doris during a 'working' holiday in Runswick Bay, where they would ‘holiday’ with Laura Knight and other notable artists. Willow and Weeds, winner of the Creswick Prize 1905.

Noah’s Ark found in Derby

When Derby’s very own Noah built his very own ark.

With two thousand years of history to draw on, it is perhaps inevitable that the annals of Derby and its surrounds contains some quirky little curiosities. Out of everything I’ve ever learned about our history however, surely nothing could be quirkier than the idea that Derby had its very own Noah, and he built his very own ark!

Quirky or not though it’s also true – though our Noah had slightly different motives for building an ark.

Our Noah went by the name of Noah Bullock who – in the 1600s - was a citizen of Derby. Married to woman named Anna Clarke, the couple had four sons and the first three of these shared the names of the biblical Noah’s sons –Shem, Ham and Japheth – and as if sharing the same name as the biblical Noah and naming his first three sons after No-ah’s sons wasn’t enough, our Noah also built on ark.

Of course, when Noah Bullock began to build his ark on the Derwent, interest and curi-osity was naturally piqued in the townsfolk. Many at the time assumed – falsely as it would turn out – that Noah’s motive was either to avoid the plague which had hit Derby with a vengeance in 1665 or that he had been overcome by some sort of religious fer-vour.

The truth itself was much simpler than that – Noah was a counterfeiter and a clipper and needed a base where prying eyes couldn’t see the illegal work he was undertaking.

Counterfeiting is of course self-explanatory, but for those wondering just what a clipper did, it involved taking a small amount of metal off the edge of hand-struck coins. Over time, the precious metal clippings could be saved up and melted into bullion to be sold or used to make new coins.

Both crimes were punishable by death –hence the need for a secure base.

Though, over time, the interest in Noah died down amongst the townsfolk, the authorities remained keenly interested in just what might be happening inside the ark and in 1676 the ark was raided and Noah’s nefarious crimes were exposed.

The Recorder of Derby at the time was Sir Simon Degge and it must have been

expected by most that Noah would be facing the hangman’s rope when he was hauled in front of him.

Sir Simon wasn’t a stranger to controversy and he had even had problems with the law himself. He had been arrested as a Royalist during the Long Parliament, and after he was knighted, was twice fined by the courts for failing to do his duties.

Crucially, it seemed that Sir Simon and Noah also knew each other. Some versions of events state that Sir Simon was curious as to just how good Noah’s counterfeiting skills were and asked him for evidence. After being reassured that no harm would come to him if he con-fessed fully, Noah presented a counterfeit sixpence that was – in a very illegal sense – quite an impressive specimen.

A 16th or 17th century hoard of coin clippings discovered in Derbyshire and recorded in the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

The Portable Antiquities Scheme/ The Trustees of the British Museum, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Sir Simon was as good as his word and Noah was spared his visit with the executioner on the understanding that his ark was to be dismantled which it duly was. He died naturally some years later.

The ark itself had been moored on the Derwent close to where the Morledge is now and it is thought that the Noah’s Ark pub –which was established in the 1700s – was named after our very own Noah.

So, the next time you’re in that part of the city centre, take a look around and think about the fact that just a few hundred years ago, if you’d been looking around the same location, you’d have seen Noah Bullock of Derby’s very own ark.

We all know the story of the biblical Noah - but have you heard that Derby had its very own?

The Noah's Ark pub in the Morledge, Derby.

Support your local creators, makers and artists

Derby and Derbyshire both have a wonderful and eclectic mix of creators, makers and artists and Derby Uncovered are proud to work alongside them.

Supporting your local creators, makers and artists is incredibly important for various reasons. It is of course of benefit to the local economy and also the environment, but it means that you –the customers – get a higher quality of both products and customer service. By shopping local with these wonderful artisanal businesses, you are not only getting a lovingly crafted product, but also helping to ensure that local businesses – such as the ones that you see on this page – not only survive, but also thrive.

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How a fixture of Derby night life for years almost ceased to exist after six weeks.

If you take a stroll down Babington Lane these days, then on your right-hand side as you near the bottom you will come to House of Holes – an adults only crazy golf venue. For many residents of Derby, depending on their age, the building itself houses lots of memories.

Before it was home to crazy golf it was the May Sum restaurant, but it was its life before that as an entertainment venue that will bring back memories for many people. If you’re around my age, you might remember it as McCluskey’s, Eclipse, Ritzy, Confettis, or Tiffany’s. If you’re a little bit older than that, then it’s memories of the Locarno ballroom that will come flooding back.

Of course, before all of these the building was home to the Grand Theatre, and this can still be clearly read on the building façade. What some of you might not know about the building, however, is that a huge fire almost made sure that none of those memories of the building would even exist.

The theatre was designed by architect Oliver Essex for Andrew Melville and opened its doors on March 25, 1886. Described by the local press as a theatre ‘of which any town might be proud’, it was immediately a very popular location. The Derby Mercury stated in an article about its opening night that ‘if the public continue to roll up as they did it will be found that the building is, if anything, too small’. Sadly the excitement and promise of the theatre was soon to be hit by a disastrous and tragic event less than six weeks after its opening.

On the evening of Thursday May 6, and only forty minutes before the evening performance was due to begin, a fringe overhanging a wooden scene caught fire. Alfred Whyatt, the scenic artist at the theatre, called out at once and alerted Andrew Melville who was standing in the wings. The audience at the time was thankfully quite small as the only people admitted were those who had paid for early admission – around thirty to forty people all told.

Melville initially called for the audience to stay in their seats as around ten people on the stage attempted to put out the fire. Their attempts at this proved unsuccessful with the rest of the scenery catching fire before the flames – in the words of the Derby Daily Telegraph – ‘spread like lightning’. Whilst those behind the curtains made their escape the audience cleared out of the building,

and though one man suffered a head injury while overcome by a fit, it was initially thought that fatalities had been avoided. This was sadly incorrect as it was later found that the blaze had ultimately claimed the lives of the actor John Adams and James Locksley, a carpenter who worked at the theatre.

As the fire consumed the building, word of what was happening spread throughout the town and a crowd of around 20,000 to 30,000 thronged to the surrounding area, inevitably hampering the efforts of the fire brigade and police. In an effort to keep the immediate area clear, around two hundred members of the 1st Derbyshire Militia – who were undergoing their annual training at the Normanton Barracks – were drafted in and the men ‘rendered admirable cooperation in keeping clear the immediate vicinity of the theatre’.

By the time the blaze was finally brought under control all that remained of the theatre was its façade and side walls.

During and after the fire, much was made of the efficiency of the fire extinguishing apparatus with the Derby Daily Telegraph exonerating the Derby Brigade of all blame but noting that the water pressure itself was far too low to fight a large fire. But what of the theatre itself? How did so many of you make so many fond memories in it under its various guises if it was destroyed by fire?

The answer, of course, is that a determined Andrew Melville had the building rebuilt even bigger and better and it reopened in November of that very same year.

Fire at the Grand Theatre

The Grand Theatre on Babington Lane c.1912.

An excerpt from a report on the fire in the Derby Mercury - May 12, 1886.

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Gift Shop

Handcrafted delights in a historical hotspot

Derby – as we know – is full of history, and certain streets have a history that dates back hundreds of years. Sadler Gate is one of those streets.

Like other ‘Gates’ in the city, the word originates from Derby’s Viking past and the Norse word ‘geata’, which meant street. Sadler Gate itself was the area where all the leather workers plied their trade in the past and was first recorded in 1248–61, although it was there long before. Those leather workers, however, were not merely saddlers but would also make many other items from leather such as shoes, bags and boots. Each one of these items would be painstakingly handcrafted and made to a wonderfully high standard.

It's very apt then that a Derby-based business, known for selling a wide and diverse range of handcrafted goods of all types, will soon be joining an illustrious list of businesses that have plied their trade on Sadler Gate over hundreds of years – that business is Tubo Gift Shop.

Tubo Gift Shop’s origins go back to December 2020 and a pop-up shop in Kegworth. They are a family business ran by Danny and Kay with affectionate assistance from Buddy the miniature labradoodle. Before the advent of the gift shop Danny worked in retail for over twenty years,

for amongst others, Pets at Home and Disney in Derby, whilst Kay had a diverse background in gymnastics coaching and as a P.A.

As with many businesses at the time, their successful pop-up in December 2020 was shortly curtailed by the Covid pandemic but undeterred, and as the country over time reached a level of normality, they pursued their vision which in turn led to a move to The Stand Arcade in Derby’s historical Cathedral Quarter in with the doors opening in December 2021.

To describe Tubo’s range of gifts is no easy task – it’s 100% worth a visit to see for yourself - as the range is so brilliantly eclectic and diverse. One thing that they all have in common, however, is they are all so wonderfully beautiful and artisanal and the shop is a big supporter of UK makers and fair-trade artisans. Complementing that is the fact that Danny and Kay are as nice and helpful as you could ever wish to come across and its therefore no surprise that the shop has built up such a loyal clientele.

Being forward thinkers however, it wasn’t long before Tubo were plotting their next move. Though the Stand Arcade is undoubtedly beautiful and historical – it opened in November 1882 – it suffers from a lack of footfall. Post-COVID, many people made the false assumption that there was little to see in the arcade and the city planners’ frustrating obsession with the incredibly bland and soulless shopping centre at the opposite side of the city centre undoubtedly contributed to the lack of footfall.

In short, it was time for another move and that move culminates on May 27 this year.

That day will be the opening day of Tubo’s new –and larger – store at 50 Sadler Gate. It’s also the opening day of Mr. Shaw’s House at 49 Sadler Gate too, so it will be quite the day. They will be joining other businesses such as The Fig and The Herb & Spice Emporium who have recently relocated to one

of Derby’s most historic streets in what is becoming a welcomed renaissance of the area.

As with other independent businesses the support of the people of the city is key. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the range of beautiful gifts stocked by Tubo is leagues above what you might find elsewhere and I’d urge you to pay them a visit. Whatever the occasion Tubo can provide the perfect present or gift for it and everything you buy there helps support not just one local independent business but also the various UK makers and artisans whose products are stocked there.

We’ve all fallen victim to the temptation of using internet giants such as Amazon to service our retail needs in the past but the next time you need a present of gift for someone, or maybe even want to treat yourself, then stop and ask yourself the following question.

Wouldn’t it surely be better to make a more considered purchase and to support local and shop small?

If the answer is yes, then get yourself down to the city centre and visit Tubo Gift Shop. I guarantee you’ll be happy you did so.

@tubogiftshop @TUBOGIFTSHOP

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Famous

For Issue Four’s Famous Footprints

look at a man who, although born in Norwich, left a footprint not only in Derby but in world history. Alongside his brother he was responsible for the creation of world’s first factory in Derby, was an early pioneer of industrial espionage and may well have been assassinated for his troubles.

Born in 1693, John Lombe was the son of a family of wool and silk weavers from Norfolk, and from a young age showed particular skills in understanding and making machinery.

In the early 18th century - and when the epicentre for producing silk stockings by framework knitting had moved to the Midlands from London - the demand for spun silk was outstripping supply within the textile industry. John himself had obtained employment at an ultimately unsuccessful mill in Derby owned by Thomas Cotchett and built by George Sorocold. Meanwhile, over in Piedmont, north-west Italy, the Italians had developed their own secret technologies and practices in this field. This exclusive knowledge in the art of silk throwing gave them a monopoly on this growing and lucrative market. As the historian William Hutton said: "The wear of silks was the taste of the ladies; and the British merchant was obliged to apply to the Italian, with ready money, for the article at an exorbitant price.”

John was determined to find out the secrets of the Italians and financed by his half-brother

Thomas, he visited Piedmont in the Kingdom of Sardinia in around 1716. He visited various silk mills and paid bribes to get a job as a machine operator so that he could secretly record the process of twisting silk into thread. Though the penalty for being caught for stealing industry secrets in Sardinia was death, John managed to successfully draw plans of the machinery and brought them safely back to England along with two Italians who had helped him in Piedmont. On his return, the brothers obtained a 14-year British patent for 'A New Invention of Three Sorts of Engines never before made or used in Great Britaine, One to Wind the Finest Raw Silk, Another to Spin, and the Other to Twist the Finest Italian Raw Slik into Organzine in great Perfection, which was never before done in this Kingdom’. Choosing Derby as the location for their mill, due to fast flow of the river and ready number of able hands to work there, the brothers Lombe commissioned the building of the

Derby Silk Mill – the world’s first factory. The mill was built by George Sorocold and based on an Italian design with five storeys and twenty-six Italian winding engines that spun the raw silk.

The mill, which employed around 300 people, was an unqualified success and produced far more silk thread than the traditional English hand spinners.

John himself though would not live much longer to enjoy that success.

In 1722 – aged only 29 – John died and William Hutton is unequivocal in his belief that he was assassinated. In William’s words, “he (John) had not pursued this lucrative commerce more than three or four years, when the Italians, who felt the effects of the theft from their want of trade, determined his destruction, and hoped that of his works would follow.”

According to William, a woman who had arrived from Italy, spent time ingratiating

we

John Lombe

Born: 1693. Died: November 20, 1722.

A statue of John Lombe on the former Boots building in Derby.

Footprints

herself with John and the business before, with the help of one of the Italians who had come over with John but had now been turned against him. She administered a ‘slow poison’ over a period of time and, after a couple of years spent in agony, John died. His funeral was said to be so well attended that when the coffin reached All Saints’ Church – now Derby Cathedral – the procession behind it that was marching in pairs extended back down Iron

Gate, across the Market Place and into Full Street.

Is the story of the assassination indisputably true? No, not indisputably. Though we have accounts such as the one of William Hutton, there is no definitive proof. Is it indisputably believable? Yes, very much so. The secrets that John stole were of immeasurable value and the accompanying patent ensured that the Lombe family fortune flourished. When Thomas Lombe died in 1739 at the age of 54, he was a rich man with a knighthood.

When the patent expired in 1732, the silk industry expanded in several places in England, especially, at Stockport and Macclesfield in Cheshire. The beginning of the story however, of the world’s first factory, of industrial espionage, and of the supposed assassination of John Lombe has its Famous Footprints planted firmly in Derby.

The Museum of Making now stands on the site of the Derby Silk Mill. It’s a fantastic museum that is well worth a visit.

Find out more here:

www.derbymuseums.org/

Derby Silk Mill by Moses Griffiths (1747-1809).

Derby Silk Mill c.1908.

A dramatised illustration of John Lombe being attacked by Italians while on a visit to Italy to investigate spinning machines by Godfrey C Hindley.

“Violent outrages in Derby and the neighbourhood”

By the time this article is printed, it will have only been a matter of a few short days since votes were cast in local elections across the UK. Back in the 1830s however, a powder keg was developing over just who had the right to vote in the UK.

Although back then the House of Commons was populated by Members of Parliament (MPs) elected to represent constituencies as it is now, the areas covered by the constituencies had not been amended to reflect population change. This resulted in many ‘rotten boroughs’ which had a very small electorate that could be used by a patron to gain unrepresentative

influence within the unreformed House of Commons. At the same time some new urban centres such as Manchester had no MPs at all, and only 5% of the British population was able to cast a vote at the general election. The Reform Bill was an attempt to address this system and when the first Reform Bill and subsequent second Reform Bill both

failed to become law, the powder keg exploded with civil disturbances in many areas and all-out riots in Derby, Nottingham and Bristol.

In Derby on the evening of Saturday October 8, 1831, a crowd gathered in the Market Place eager to hear whether the second Reform Bill had been successful. At around 7pm news filtered thorough to the crowds that it had been defeated in the House of Lords.

As the numbers in the crowd slowly but substantially increased, one individual proposed that a mourning peal – traditionally sounded in the event of a death or funeral – should be rung with the bells of All Saints’ Church – now the Derby Cathedral. Unable to gain admittance to the church itself, the crowd advanced to the house of the Rev. C. S. Hope and demanded the keys which were duly delivered to them. Shortly after the bells of not just All Saints’, but also St. Alkmund’s and St. Peter’s, commenced ringing mourning peals.

By around 10pm the number of people in the Market Place had risen alarmingly and their anger began to focus on the Market Place house and shop of William Bemrose, founder of Bemrose and Sons Ltd. William had been against the Reform Bill and had gone so far as to have a petition on display at his premises and so it was that the crowd – in the words of the Derby Mercury ‘commenced an attack on the house and shop’. Missiles were thrown until every window at the front of his house

A mid-19th century illustration of Derby Market Place.

had been destroyed and a Mr. Lakin – one of the constables on duty at the time – suffered a severe head injury in the melee.

With anger now at a fever pitch, various locations both in the town centre and further

afield, found themselves under attack. The Rev. C. S. Hope’s house in St. Alkmund’s Churchyard was one of the objects of the crowd vengeance where, ‘not only the windows, but the doors, shutters and palisades were also

entirely demolished’ with Markeaton Hall and Chaddesden Hall also attacked.

Overnight the crowd slowly dispersed, possibly to avoid detection as the dawn arose, but if the authorities thought that the worst of the protests were over, they were very much mistaken.

The Derby Mercury reported that by Sunday morning ‘groups of persons were to be seen in every part of the town consulting upon the probability of further outrage, or witnessing the extensive injuries already sustained’. A meeting was convened at the Town Hall for 9am where the Mayor, Magistrates and ‘respectable Inhabitants’ met to discuss plans to restore order to the town. With the general populace then admitted, demands were made to the Mayor to release three prisoners who had been arrested the previous night during the protests. When their demands were refused, they vowed to free the prisoners themselves.

Marching from the Town Hall en masse, the protesters then walked along Friar Gate to what was now Derby’s Borough Gaol – it had previously been the County Gaol but this was now located around the corner at the end of Vernon Street. Using a cast-iron lamppost as a battering ram, they broke open the door and liberated not just the three prisoners in question but a further twenty prisoners on top of that.

The Borough Gaol on Friar Gate.

The facade of the gaol at Vernon Street still remains today.

Photo © Malcolm Neal (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Derby UNCOVERED

Emboldened by their success, the protestors then stated their intent to pull down the nearby County Gaol. The governor of the gaol was aware of what had happened around the corner and had positioned several armed men on the parapet walls in readiness for a potential attack. As the crowd of around 1,500 people advanced towards the gaol, they were warned that continuing on this course of action would result in them being fired upon, but the warnings went unheeded. Stones began to be thrown at the armed men on the parapets, and with the crowd loudly proclaiming their desire to tear the gaol down, the order was given to fire shots into the crowd. With several people also suffering from minor injuries from the volley of shots, the protest suffered its first fatality when 17-year-old John Garner was fatally wounded and died that evening of his injuries.

Though the town became ‘comparatively tranquil’ after this for a short period, by the time the evening came around a crowd once again started to gather in the Market Place and when the throng had again reached around 1,500 people, it moved towards the County Gaol.

By this point in the proceedings, part of a Troop of the 15th Hussars which had been stationed at Nottingham, had been summoned by the authorities and ‘doubtless an influence on them’, the crowd swung around suddenly to the right where they headed to Little Chester. On their arrival they unleashed their fury on

the villa of a Mr. John Harrison and reduced it to a ‘mass of ruins’.

Up until this point, the crowds had largely confined their rage to the property of people they believed to be inimical to the reform bill, their behaviour now became indiscriminate and few houses at the top of Iron Gate, Queen Street and King Street escaped their rage. A large number of palisades were uprooted from the outside of All Saints’ Church to be used as weapons of destruction, resulting in the Hussars patrolling the streets during the night in an attempt to prevent further disorder. During one confrontation between the rioters and the soldiers, a trooper who had been struck on the chest by a stone, discharged his rifle after pursuing the man who had thrown the missile and shot his target in the thigh.

By the time Monday came around, the authorities had hoped that the levels of anger would have died down, but this was not the case as large numbers of people began to assemble once more.

The Mayor - in a conciliatory attempt to placate the crowd – distributed handbills proposing that an address should be sent to the King and set up stalls in the Market Place for people to sign it. However the crowd was unimpressed by what was considered to be such a mild response and the stalls were soon smashed to pieces. With the Mayor fearful of another outbreak, the

Riot Act was read and the calvary charged the crowd. At this point a carbine was discharged fatally wounding John Hicking – a resident of the town.

Once the crowd had been dispersed, strong measures were taken to ensure there would be no further outbreaks of violence. Special Constables patrolled the town and at midnight on Tuesday two troops of Yeomanry arrived from Leicestershire and the danger of further outbreaks disappeared.

The following March, a number of people were tried at the Assizes for their part in the riot. Eleven of them, including one woman, were charged with breaking into the Borough Gaol. Most of them were found not guilty although two of them were sentenced to seven years' transportation for housebreaking and robbery –one of them was only 17 years old.

The Reform Bill Riots in Derby are commemorated on Friar Gate near the site of the old Borough Gaol with a series of sculpted heads. The heads represent prisoners emerging from underground cells into the light.

After a period of severe social and political unrest in May 1832 – known as the Days of May - the Third Reform Bill received Royal Assent on June 7, 1832, thereby becoming law. It is thought by many that this period was one of the closest times that the United Kingdom has come to a revolution.

The Friar Gate heads - commemorating the prisoners that were released by the crowds from the Borough Gaol.

cc-by-sa/2.0 - © J147 - geograph.org.uk/p/584714

Issue 4

Charity Background

The charity was established in 1974 by local Derby resident Milly Wigley after reading about the death of a neglected child. Originally called “Concern Association Derby”, it acted as a meeting place for parents to attend and discuss any issues they may have been facing.

The charity opened its Family Support Centre at 13 Leopold Street, Derby, in 1987. The centre provided the charity with offices, a day nursery for children, and facilities for parents.

The charity continues to operate from its premises on Leopold Street, and currently provides three bespoke services; Supervised Contact, Family Support and Mentoring services.

Our Mission

Our founding aim is to relieve the distress and suffering experienced by families and children. Our charity works to benefit vulnerable children, young people and families, making life improvements by:

■ Responding to the needs of children where stress within the home may adversely affect their welfare or development

■ Providing support for children who are regarded as vulnerable and who may be at risk of social exclusion

■ Delivering community services designed to foster the general wellbeing of families with children

■ Providing services for parents which will enable them to better respond to the personal needs and financial support of their children

13 Leopold Street, Derby DE1 2HE

Tel: 01332 341516

How

£20

A donation of £20 would cover the average cost of one for one of the positive activities that a Children First Derby mentor might engage in with their mentee. This could include a visit to a climbing wall, a museum, the cinema, a sporting event or taking part in an arts activity.

£5 £10

We provide our family support, mentoring and supervised contact coordinators with dedicated mobile phones so that our service users and volunteers can contact them easily. A donation of £5 would cover the monthly charge to Children First Derby for one of these essential phones.

To donate visit www.childrenfirstderby.co.uk

Whitecross Nursery School

A maintained Nursery School providing the highest quality Teacher led education exclusively to 3 and 4 Year olds.

Whitecross is a thriving and inclusive Nursery School recognised for its excellence in delivering outstanding Early Years education and creating a happy and safe community of lifelong learners

Our Whitecross School Values

■ The happiness of all children, families and staff.

■ A caring and supportive staff who know and respect everyone they meet.

■ The development of self-confidence, self-motivation and independence.

■ Consistently developing cooperation, collaboration and teamwork.

■ Providing indoor and outdoor spaces that are stimulating and exciting, where children can explore, discover, be challenged, experiment and take risks in a safe and secure environment.

■ A stimulating and diverse play based curriculum, suited to children’s needs, enabling all children to reach their full potential in an enabling environment.

■ Praise and celebration of the resilience, effort and perseverance of each child.

■ Raising aspirations and a commitment to lifelong learning.

■ The natural environment, our local community and the wider world.

■ Working in partnership with children and families to embrace the needs of everyone.

A calm and inspiring indoor space with an exceptional outdoor learning environment and forest school sessions

Watson Street, Derby DE1 3PJ

Telephone: 01332 371876

Email: admin@whitecross.derby.sch.uk

www.whitecross.derby.sch.uk