Derby January 2018

Established 1994

Country

Derby Edition - January 2018

A friend dropping in

Derbyshire

Antiques & Collectibles

DINKY TOY AIRCRAFT

paestum and Agropoli The Lost Houses

of Derbyshire

STUFFYNWOOD HALL

Steve Orme interviews

John Lyons

An Alpine-style walk around Matlock Bath

Musical Madness The Country Images Annual Quiz

Travelling through history

Where Our Forebears Trod

Captured on camera Kim Beresford Ashover Brewery

www.countryimagesmagazine.co.uk • Your Complimentary Lifestyle Magazine

Award Winning Care Home Award Winning Care Home Award Home Nursing Care •Award Residential Care • Dementia Care • Long-term Care • Respite Care • Day Care Winning Care Home NursingCare Care••Residential Residential Care Care •• Dementia Care • Long-term Nursing Long-term Care Care •• Respite Respite Care Care••Day DayCare Care BOOK NOW: BOOK NOW: NOW: 55 5 NEW NEW LUXURY LUXURY ENSUITE ENSUITE ROOMS ROOMS AVAILABLE BOOK ROOMS AVAILABLE AVAILABLE BOOK 5 NEW Milford CareNOW: have just completed the LUXURY ENSUITE ROOMS AVAILABLE Milford Care have just completed the Nursing Care • Residential Care • Dementia Care • Long-term Care • Respite Care • Day Care

Milford Care have completed refurbishment of fivejust luxury ensuitethe refurbishment of fivejust luxury ensuite the Milford Care have completed refurbishment of five luxury ensuite bedrooms, each beautifully decorated bedrooms,each eachof beautifully decorated refurbishment luxury ensuite bedrooms, beautifully and equipped to afive very highdecorated standard. and equipped to a very high standard. bedrooms, each and equipped to beautifully a very highdecorated standard.

Rooms feature to state of the artstandard. and equipped a very high Roomsfeature feature stateof ofthe the art art Rooms technology forstate your comfort and technology for your comfort and Rooms feature state comfort of the artand technology forincluding; your convenience convenience including; technology for your comfort and convenience • In room including; WiFi and access to Skype convenience including; • In room WiFi and access access to to Skype Skype • In WiFistay and toroom help you connected to your to help you stay connected to your • to In room WiFi and access to to Skype help you stay connected your family and friends family and friends to helpand youfriends stay connected to your • family Smart TV with a wide choice of family andwith friends • Smart TV awide wide choice choice of of • Smart TV with a channels and catch-up service so you channels and catch-up service so you • channels Smart TVand with a favourite wide choice catch-up service so you won’t miss your TV of shows won’t miss your favourite TV shows channels and catch-up service so you your favourite shows • won’t Soundmiss activated nurse callTV system for your favourite shows • won’t Soundmiss activated nurse callTV system for added activated peace of mind • Sound nurse call system for added peace of mind • added Soundpeace activated nurse call system for of mind added peace of mind

01332 841753 01332 841753 Derby Road, Milford, DE56 0QW 01332 841753 01332 841753 Derby Road, Milford, DE56 0QW (between Duffield and Belper)

Derby Road, Milford, DE56 0QW (between and Belper) Derby Road,Duffield Milford, DE56 0QW (between (betweenDuffield Duffield and and Belper) Belper)

MH ad 340x265 Oct17.indd 1 MH ad 340x265 Oct17.indd 1

09/10/2017 19:14 09/10/2017 19:14

ALAN DOXEY Fireplace Specialist

Suppliers and fitters of gas and electric fires and gas stoves. Wide new range of marble and wooden mantles. Suppliers of all leading manufacturers.

JANUARY SALE NOW ON

OBEROI BROTHERS LIGHTING ESTABLISHED 1967

LEADING LIGHTING EXPERTS

DELAMERE PLUS. 70% NET EFFICIENCY. 4.4KW OUTPUT 5 YEAR GUARANTEE

NEW ELECTRIC 16” & 22” FIRES HOT ASH FUEL BED. 40 Hassock Lane North, Shipley, Nr Heanor DE75 7JB (A6007 Ilkeston-Heanor Road). Opposite Shipley Garden Centre.

Telephone 01773 717066

www.alandoxeyfireplaces.co.uk Normal opening hours Wednesday Through Saturday 10am - 4pm Other times by arrangement.

FITTING & DELIVERY SERVICE. Est 28 years

WWW.OBEROI-BROTHERS.CO.UK LIGHTING CONCIERGE INTERIOR & EXTERIOR LIGHTING DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL PROJECTS SHOWROOM HUMBLETON DRIVE, MACKWORTH ESTATE, DERBY DE22 4AU 01332 341 027 MON – SAT 9.30AM - 5.30PM, SUNDAY – CLOSED FREE SHOP FRONT PARKING CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 3

January 2018

Country

Welcome to the first edition of 2018 and once again it’s packed with things to read, buy and do! As we enter our 25th year of producing Country Images Magazine we will be bringing you new features by new writers and new features by old writers! - I say old with the greatest respect.

Editorial Features: Brian Spencer, Maxwell Craven Steve Orme, Manuel Delafor

We continue with our trip to the west coast of Italy.

Max has been busy looking at the ancient byways of Derbyshire in this months edition. Also he has been examining the history of model aeroplanes and the sadly lost Stuffynwood Hall.

Steve interviews Jack Frosts sidekick and famous actor John Lyons.

Brian rides the Ecclesbourne railway line and takes us on a walk around The Heights of Abraham.

In aid of

Advertisement Executives: Lisa O’Reilly, Carol Wilson, Alison Gent

This month we start by featuring a local businessman - Kim Beresford, who enjoyed brewing so much that he set up his own brewery.

www.countryimagesmagazine.co.uk 01773 830344

Unit 5 Keys Road, Alfreton, Derbyshire. DE55 7FQ Tel: 01773 830344 info@imagespublishing.co.uk www.countryimagesmagazine.co.uk

Country

Download the Country Images FREE APP from

Country

2018 Calendar Proceeds in aid of

A collection of Country Images stunning front covers

SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE Don’t miss your last chance to buy a Country Images Calendar Featuring a stunning collection of Country Images front covers.

Also, £3 from each sale goes to Derbyshire Air Ambulance.

A collection of Country Images stunning front covers

Proceeds in aid of

2018 Calendar

Country

Available now Country

£3.99

online by visiting

www.countryimagesmagazine.co.uk

www.countryimagesmagazine.co.uk 01773 830344 In aid of

“This product is printed on responsibly sourced paper and printed using only vegetable based inks” Images Publishing Limited is a totally independent publishing company and is not connected with any other newspaper group.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written consent is strictly prohibited. The publishers do not accept responsibility for any views expressed, or statements made, in signed contributions or in those reproduced from any other source. No responsibility is borne for any errors made in any advertisement, or for claims made by any advertiser which are incorrect. The publishers reserve the right to refuse advertising deemed unsuitable for any reason. All material submitted is done so at the owner’s own risk and no responsibility is accepted by the publishers for its return.

Copyright Images Publishing Limited, Unit 5, Keys Road, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7FQ. Origination by Images Publishing Limited 01773 830344

4 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Get your walking boots on Walk Derbyshire issues 1, 2 and 3 are proving very popular as we see more people taking the time to enjoy the area in which we live. These publications can be ordered by visiting our website www.walkderbyshire.co.uk or our main website www.countryimagesmagazine.co.uk

We hope that you enjoy this edition.

The Country Images Team

December’s Crossword Answer: Wormhill Winner: Ina Thompson

Discover the Difference in a new St. Modwen home in 2018

Help to Buy

A St. Modwen home gives you so much more.

We call it the St. Modwen difference:

Discover the St. Modwen difference at two exciting addresses and get 2018 off to a great start.

l Taller ceilings to give you a greater sense of space l Bigger windows to let in more light l A superior specification with high quality fittings l Striking designs with more appeal

Egstow Park, Off Derby Road, Clay Cross, Chesterfield, S45 9AG

Building 5 Star Satisfaction In an independent survey more than 9 out of 10 customers would recommend us to a friend

Showhomes & Marketing Suite open Thursday to Tuesday, 10am to 5:30pm

3 & 4 bedroom homes available Call: 03333 990 550

Hilton Valley, The Mease, Hilton, Derbyshire, DE65 5JD 4 & 5 bedroom homes from ÂŁ335,995 Call: 0844 243 4511*

www.stmodwenhomes.co.uk Subject to Terms and Conditions. The pictures shown are indicative images of St. Modwen homes. Help to Buy is a government-led scheme and availability is subject to qualification. Full terms and conditions can be found at www.helptobuy.org.uk. *Calls will be charged at seven pence per minute from a BT landline and may cost considerably more from mobile and other phones.

Contact your service provider for more details. Prices and offers correct at time of print.

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 5

Wonderful winter sale – up to 50% off!

AMAZING DEALS THROUGHOUT JANUARY!

Six ways we’re different to the big chains…

• We’re an independent local family business with 30 years’ experience • We offer expert service (no gimmicks, pressure-selling or sales commission) • We select the best sofas from leading brands (such as Parker Knoll, G-Plan, La-Z-Boy and Rom) • We offer our own FK range of handcrafted, custom-made sofas – so you buy direct from the manufacturer • We ensure competitive prices, better service and aftercare (not to mention free delivery) • We genuinely care that you’ll enjoy your perfect sofa for many years!

Discover the difference with Frank Knighton…

www.frankknighton.co.uk

6 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Ilkeston

FACTO RY OUTLE T

Wood Street, DE7 8GE. Tel: 0115 9329 590

Nottingham

Castle Boulevard, NG7 1FJ. Tel: 0115 9475 362

Derby

Ascot Drive, DE24 8GW. Tel: 01332 758 758

FREE power upgrade on La-Z-Boy recliners* * Dependent on purchase of four seats or more – terms and conditions apply

FREE PARKING OPEN SEVEN DAYS

0% interest-free credit and part exchange also available on request CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 7

Your local solicitors‌ Divorce, Family, Matrimonial, Children, Separation, no nonsense, clear, practical, solution, agreement, negotiation.

Let us help

Free Initial Consultation Take your next step with confidence Tel: 01332 600005

www.aandco.co.uk

Offices at 56 Friar Gate, Derby DE1 1DF and 2 Chapel Street, Spondon DE21 7JP 8 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Travelling through history

Where Our Forebears Trod A look at some of our most ancient thoroughfares

by Maxwell Craven

O

ne lesson archaeology has given us is that people have always moved around much more than we realise. Tales of ancient sages in deep rural England who had hardly ever been to the local market town and never to London were commonplace when I was young, but the astonishingly wide distribution of certain diagnostic types of artefact confirm that such static lives were by no means universal.

The proof also lies in the antiquity of our road network, for whilst some roads have long fallen into desuetude and become green lanes, hedgerows or crop marks, many ancient trackways are still in use.

When I first worked at Derby Museum I was always struck by the lack of a Roman road going due south from Derby’s Roman predecessor, Derventio (now Little Chester). There was Ryknield Street going from, NE to SW via Little Chester, Long Lane running due west, and a road running SE across Derby’s former racecourse towards Sawley and across the Trent to join the Fosse Way at Vernemetum (Willoughby-on-theWolds, Leicestershire).

But what if you wanted to go to London? It seemed to me absurd to go either via Letocetum (Lichfield) or Willoughby-on-the-Wolds. Looking through the finds records at the Museum (then held on index cards) during research we were doing jointly with the (now long defunct) County Museum Service on Swarkestone Bridge, it became apparent that this so-called Medieval causeway and 18th century bridge went back a lot further. Numerous finds of dropped low-value Roman coins had been noted along its course, for instance, along with Iron Age artefacts northwards along the road to Derby. Clearly the crossing at Swarkestrone had a much longer pedigree.

Swarkstone Bridge CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 9

Illustrations on these 2 pages clockwise from top left: St Peter’s Street, Derby looking towards the north.

The corner of Osmaston Road and Wilmot Street, Derby looking towards the Cathedral.

Queen Street looking north past the Cathedral. Photographed by Richard Keene 1867.

Iron Gate today looking south.

A map of the Roman roads and the trackway that passed through the City.

I risked publishing this idea in 1988, and notice it has entered archaeological orthodoxy now, thanks to a recent report of the archaeology of Derby’s western inner suburbs.

between groups to ply their trades. When the Romans came, they simply took the route over, probably made improvements and used it to connect Derventio to Ratae and thence the south and Londinium.

What we have is an Iron Age trackway which long pre-dated Derby to allow the inhabitants of the tribal area of the Corieltauvi (whose Roman period capital was Ratae (Leicester) to reach the Trent and follow the Derwent Valley north in the territory of the Brigantes. Iron Age it may have been, but artisans such as smiths and potters had to move around

The crossing at Swarkestone would have been on a substantial bed of brushwood and withies, just like the tracks of the same vintage exposed on the Somerset Levels in the 1980s, with a ford over the wide part of the Trent, then positioned further south than today. There after the road probably ran as today, east then north to Chellaston, avoiding the Bronze

10 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Age burial site at Swarkestone Lowes, which would probably have been recognised as sacred even in the Iron Age. This Iron Age or prehistoric trackway then entered Derby along the line of the Osmaston Road and ran right through the site of the present city long before anyone lived on its site, for the present city was only founded in around 921 as a Saxon burh or defended settlement, the only previous habitation being the seventh century minster church of St. Alkmund and the small enclave surrounding it.

If one climbs the 172 feet of the cathedral tower, and looks south one can see this ancient trackway quite clearly from the end of Queen Street to well beyond The Spot; it really is most impressive seen like that.

On the ground, one follows it down Osmaston Road (which has had some Victorian kinks put in along its course further out to accommodate a private estate and railway installations) to The Spot, where London Road, only instituted as a turnpike in the early 18th century, joins. Previous to its creation one reached London via CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 11

King Street, Derby 1914 Swarkestone Bridge as indeed Bonnie Prince Charlie planned to do in December 1745.

From The Spot (an 18th century name) one descends St. Peter’s Street on the alignment, which originally must have crossed the Markeaton Brook on a ford at the bottom, then along Corn Market (widened in the early Middle Ages to make room for the marketing of grains), up Rotten Row, the west edge of what later (c. 1100) became the Market Place, up Iron Gate and along Queen Street (part of King Street, renamed after 1760), King Street, Darley Lane and thence along Darley Grove. Its course across Darley Park (landscaped by William Emes 1777-78) shows up as a ridge or agger, beyond which it leaves the northern edge of Derby to follow the Derwent Valley. How much of it can be traced thence to the Peak is not really researched, but I am sure it will be done in time.

This route, being pre-Roman in origin, lacks the straightness of a course worked out by a Roman agrimensor (surveyor), but it does have directness, although even that was affected by later developments. When the minster church of St. Alkmund with its six canons was established, some time after the evangelisation of the Kingdom of Mercia which commenced after 655, the church and the canons’ houses and workshops which served it were placed on the line of the old trackway, which was without doubt in use then, for it was kinked around the tiny enclave to the west before regaining the old alignment and continuing northwards.

The section from Darley Lane fell out of use in the 1750s when the road to Manchester was a turnpike, and the modern Duffield Road was pitched as a result, hence Robert Holden was able to empark the land to the south of his seat at Darley Hall with impunity once the mood took him a couple of decades later.

Next time you wander down St. Peter’s Street, wondering at the sheer awfulness of Intu, or looking for post-Christmas bargains, remember that you are walking along a road that began life as a long-distance trackway more than two thousand years ago.

12 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Darley Grove photographed by Richard Keene

Winter Sale

Starts 27th December

Up To 70% OFF

E L SA OW N ON

DISCONTINUED LINES

& Up To 30% OFF R.R.P. ON ALL REGULAR LINES (Limited Period Only)

Our world is at your feet!

ALL OLD CARPET IS CAREFULLY UPLIFTED, FURNITURE METICULOUSLY MOVED AND RETURNED, AND NEW CARPET FITTED BY PROFESSIONALLY-TRAINED, EMPLOYED FITTERS

After Dark Lighting 19-21, Babington Lane, Derby DE1 1TA Tel: 01332 344424 www.afterdarklighting.co.uk

Visit our 4 large showrooms or ring for a free home selection service Centre

43-47 High Street, Clay Cross, Chesterfield S45 9DX TELEPHONE: 01246 863148 FREE CUSTOMER CAR PARK www.nutt.co.uk Opening Times: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fr: 9am - 5pm | Wed: 9am - 12.30pm Sat: 9am - 4pm | Sun: Closed.

(Offer Does Not Include Light Bulbs & Accessories)

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 13

BARBICAN TILES

BY FIRED EARTH This porcelain tile looks like polished concrete or cement and is perfect for interiors that rock a simple industrial or pared back vibe. Named after the residential estate in the city of London built in the 60’s and 70’s whose iconic architecture has influenced designers ever since.

For local stockists visit www.firedearth.com

NEW YEAR UPDATES

The start of the new year is a great time to have a good look around your home and see areas where you can change and improve.

We’ve put together some fresh ideas for updating and improving.

14 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Car pet | Laminate | Wood | Kar ndean | Amtico

Unit 6, Derby Trading Estate Stores Road, Derby DE21 4BE Tel: 01332 986261 www.floor-factory.co.uk

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 15

HALO WASHBASIN

BY UTOPIA Halo 1010mm washbasin unit in Denim Blue finish with Coralux solid surface basin. Each Halo washbasin unit has an integrated handle, soft close deep drawer with an additional concealed accessory drawer within for the convenient storage of smaller items, and under-unit LED mood lighting.

For local stockists visit www.utopiagroup.com or call 01902 406402

CATH KIDSTON Bento Box in Winfield Flowers £12, Set of 3 Snack Boxes in Winfield Flowers £12, Fruit Water Bottle in Winfield Flowers £16.

For local stockists visit www.cathkidston.com

RAINBOW DOTS CANDLE BY EMMA BRIDGEWATER The Rainbow Dots flower-shaped candle makes a sweet statement in any room. Once the candle has finished, keep the hand-decorated vessel to house bits and bobs.

For local stockists visit www.emmabridgewater.co.uk

16 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Made to Measure Wardrobes Direct from the Manufacturer

we’re thinking for you MEASURING AND FITTING SERVICE AVAILABLE.

Typical Savings 40% less than high street made to measure outlets.

Wardrobe kits start from £404 to over £3000 Design your own wardrobe online using our easy to use design tool.

Typical delivery is 2 weeks for supply only kits and 2 - 3 weeks for our full design and install service.

Call 01773 600040 www.gliderobes.co.uk Showroom open hours: Weekdays 9am-5pm. Saturday 10am-4pm.

Unit 4, Hill Top Road, Amber Business Centre, Riddings, Derbyshire, DE55 4BR

SALE NOW ON

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 17

ELYSIUM

BY PRESTIGIOUS TEXTILES Elysium - Metallic and mineral hues emphasise the contemporary appeal of Elysium jacquards. Three semi-plains - a woven key continuum, a starburst dot and a tactile splintered eect - are imbued with a silky handle and beautiful drapability whilst an upholstery-weight printed velvet replicates the timeless fascination of marble.

For local stockists visit www.prestigious.co.uk or call 01274 688448

yl vin

e rb n ood ur pe tio dw an, eas r Su lec , ha rnde to m ds n s a Serpet g, K ade d bli ca rin , m an of floo ring ins o ta flo cur

COUNTRY TILES SPECIALISTS IN WALL & FLOOR TILES

40OFF %

up to

*

SALE NOW ON

*Up to a MASSIVE 40% off Selected Items The Barn, Ridgeway House, Ridgeway Lane, Nether Heage, Derbyshire DE56 2JT

T: (01773) 857 184 Email: info@countrytiles.co.uk

www.countrytiles.co.uk

Closed 22nd December, Re-open Tuesday 2nd January 2018

25

YEARS

of excellence in tile retailing

Free Home Selection Service Available

11-15 Chapel Side, Spondon Derby, DE21 7EE

Tel 01332 662450 www.lewis-interiors.co.uk

ARCHWAY INTERIORS ESTABLISHED IN 1982

SALE

NOW ON

Archway Interiors are a Derbyshire based company, who operate in the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire region. Established in 1982, we have more than 35 years’ experience in supplying and installing kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms. In that time we have built up our reputation for providing high quality products and services, and are committed to full customer service satisfaction.

sales@archwayinteriorsltd.co.uk • Tel: 01773 608365 • www.archwayinteriorsltd.co.uk CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 19

Frameless…

Look more…

Full Design and Project Management for any needs with the latest technology including the pioneering Lumi new glazing system.

Established since 1993 with over 41,000 installations across Derbyshire Visit our Refurbished Showroom and View our Extensive Product Ranges the largest in the Midlands.

Windows | Bi-Folds | Entrance Doors | Extensions & Conservatories Trade Windows, Navigation Retail Park 810 London Road, DE24 8ST www.tradewindows.com T: 01332 755551

Open: Mon - Friday 10am - 6pm Sat:10am-3pm Sun 10am-2pm

The Lost Houses

of Derbyshire

by Maxwell Craven

Stuff ynwood Hall from the SE, from a postcard sent in 1907

STUFFYNWOOD HALL One of my oldest friends is a great enthusiast for huge spiky Gothic Victorian country houses. He thinks Samuel Sander Teulon (‘the good ship Teulon’ as he always calls him) a genius who far outshines Wren or Adam and considers Damien Hurst deserving almost of deification for buying and restoring vast, inchoate and sprawling Toddington Manor in Gloucestershire, designed by Charles Hanbury-Tracy, 1st Lord Sudeley, for himself and built between 1819 and 1840.

Derbyshire is (in my view) blessedly free of houses like Toddington, or Somerleyton, or Mentmore. Most of our Jacobean is real Jacobean and Victorian prodigy houses have nearly all been demolished. Readers will recall an account of Snelston Hall last year – architecturally the best of them – of Osmaston Manor the year before, and you can still visit Eckington Hall (albeit seized by Sheffield City Council in 1936) in the NE of the County, which is a classic Hollywood ‘haunted house’ of a building. Locko Park although large, is largely Victorian, but harmoniously designed, spread around a fine early 18th century central block, tactfully incorporated.

One particularly lumpish example of eclectic Victorian on a fairly epic scale was Stuff ynwood Hall which stood just south of Shirebrook and a short distance NW of Mansfield Woodhouse. Built in 1857-58, it is in French Chateau style - French chateau on speed – with a huge, chunky tower behind and a lower wing to one side, like the main house, steep-roofed and prickling with skinny chimney stacks and pop-up dormers. The entire composition was wonderfully asymmetrical, largely over two lofty floors (plus attics), faced throughout in muscular rock-face ashlar of Permian Magnesian Limestone, and with a main block of three bays to the left and another three, wrapped round a vast canted bay with its own hipped roof, to the right.

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 21

The Lost Houses

of Derbyshire

by Maxwell Craven To the right was another two bays, the end one breaking forward with a loggia-like run of six ground oor windows to the right of the entrance, all much lower than the main block, with a service wing beyond again ending in a little pyramidally hipped roofed pavilion with a largish outshut behind beyond which was a large stable block arranged round a courtyard and a further service court to its east.

This extraordinarily top-heavy looking house stood in a modest stretch of parkland running to 51 acres, and the entire estate, despite the proximity of numerous coal mines, was well sequestered. The name of the architect has completely evaded my research, but one might expect the culprit to have been a Nottingham man, or even a Chesterfield one.

The estate itself was carved out of the manor of Shirebrook, held by a branch of the Meynell family who took the place as their surname, but sub-let most of it to Alan de Stuff yn around 1270, who was the park-keeper of the hunting park of Pleasley, where the Bec family then had a lodge, long vanished. Their park was stocked and Above: The plan of the house from the 1906 subsidence evaluation.

Right: Stuff ynwood Hall from a postcard, possibly from an earlier original by Richard Keene.

Below: Sir Arthur Markham Bt MP [Private collection]

22 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

emparkation granted by Edward I in 1288. The family were Bishops successively of St. Davids, Durham and (titular) Jerusalem.

This Alan is almost certainly to be identified with Alan son of Hugh de Glapwell and grandson of Simon de Pleasley, facts which we can be fairly sure of thanks to the survival of the charters of the Woolhouse family, later of Glapwell Hall. By the middle of the fourteenth century Robert Stuff yn, probably great grandson, was of Shirebrook, and before long his name had become attached to the landscape, when a portion of his estate was called Stuff ynwood.

are known to have made Talbotypes of several Derbyshire houses in the late 1840s early 1850s.

Abney also encouraged Derby’s pioneering Victorian topographical photographer Richard Keene (1825-1894). Would that we still had any photograph Joseph’s father-in-law might have made of Stuff ynwood!

Jacks notes that the house boasted ‘large and well-lit rooms, had a separate billiard room with an adjustable frosted glass roof (to let out the fragrant vapours of the contestants’ Havanas no doubt) and that the house was very early fitted with self-generated electricity, hence the billiard

players’ ability to utilise an electric scoreboard!

The electrical apparatus would have been supplied

by Cromptons of Derby and Chesterfield. His detailed inventory of the family’s furniture (a cabinet in the hall by Michael Angelo must be taken with salt) and paintings is something of a disappointment after the hype he gives the family: all ‘also rans’: not a single accepted ‘old master’ – even the Guido Reni turns out to have been a copy!

When Joseph Paget died in 1896, the house was let by his widow to Chesterfield grandee, Sir Arthur Markham 1st Bt., MP for Mansfield

John son of Hugh Stuff yn (1615-1695) was the first of the family to be styled ‘gent’ instead of ‘yeoman’. His eldest son, John died aged 55 a year after him without leaving issue and his widow married Gilbert Mundy of Allestree Old Hall.

His brothers having predeceased him unmarried, the estate passed to John Hacker of Trowell and by various inheritances and sales to Robert Malkin of Chesterfield.

Having never seen an inventory for any of the Stuff yn family, I cannot really assess what sort of or size of house they lived in, but suffice it to say that when Charles Paget, a member of an old Ibstock family lately grown affluent through business, mainly in Nottinghamshire, bought the 300 acre estate from Malkin, there was a modest Georgian house on the site of the hall. The Pagets had intermarried with the Hollins family, who had acquired the Pleasley Mills from that supreme entrepreneur, Henry Thornhill (17081790), and thus Charles was keen that his son Joseph should live nearby with a view to taking a hands-on role at the mills.

The upshot was the building of Stuff ynwood Hall, which was to enjoy a short and really rather unhappy existence. Photographs of the interior have proved elusive, although some may exist in the family papers lodged at the LSE. Fortunately my copy of Leonard Jacks’s account of the country houses of Nottinghamshire (1881) strays over the border here so that he can continue to flatter the Pagets, who also owned Ruddington Grange. He tells us that the house was greatly extended by Joseph Paget from 1873-1880, adding the rear wing, the hulking great tower (complete with skied water tank to improve the domestic economy) and a domestic (Catholic) chapel.

Joseph married Helen, daughter of Revd. Edward Abney of The Firs, Derby. He was a great friend of W H Fox-Talbot, the photographic pioneer who was married to a Mundy of Markeaton. They CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 23

The Lost Houses

of Derbyshire

by Maxwell Craven

The house as it was between c.1970 and 1988: the main block only, photographed when awaiting conversion to a chimerical ‘leisure centre’ [Derbyshire County Council]

(1866-1916), whose stay there ended in 1907, when Joseph Paget’s brother-in-law and heir, Staffordshire lawyer Hubert C Hodgson, took it on, although even before Sir Arthur had moved out a report on mining subsidence had been prepared, the culprit being the newly opened (1895) Shirebrook Colliery. Other alleged disadvantages were cited as drunkenness and lawlessness among the miners, an outbreak of cholera and general pollution.

In 1913 the freehold was sold by the trustees of the Pagets and was bought by their company, William Hollins Ltd. as a home for director A R Hollins, who lived there until 1926 when it was again sold with 200 acres remaining for £4,300 most going to one H F Reddish who presumably lived there, although the house disappears from the directories from this period, and it may be that the colliery subsidence had made the house 24 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

uninhabitable. From Reddish it passed to B M Wright who is said to have removed the lead from the roof (or some of them) in the war. Being, as ever, charitable, I would imagine this was his contribution to the war effort.

In 1955 the empty house was sold to Richard Scales and Andrew Myers for £3,500 who not only took down the service wing and the tower, but made a good profit, despite inflation in re-selling it in 1972 for £10,000. The partdemolition was achieved on the grounds of subsidence, and the building was never statutorily listed, so there was little to protect it, or encourage the owners to seek compensation from the Coal Board.

Only five years later, local people were interested to learn that there was a proposal to use the remaining part of the house (the grandest, it has to be said) as a leisure centre, but the proposers

of the scheme, the purchasers (for £19,000) in 1977 seemed to have a hidden agenda, for they were Cast Developments, a quarrying firm, eyeing up the potential of the site! However, years of applications to the Bolsover District Council were to no avail, and the remaining wing of the house decayed quietly.

In 1988 it unceremoniously came down and in 1992 the site was finally sold for eventual redevelopment, one of the last true country houses in the County to suffer this fate.

Readers keen to know the saga in more detail should resort to Grant Pearcy’s commendably detailed website www.stuff ynwood.com – it helped me with the details, acting as a corrective to a couple of errors in the account of the house in 3rd edition of The Derbyshire Country House (Ashbourne 2001) Vol. II 311-312.

MGA

LTD

INDEPENDENT JAGUAR SERVICE CENTRE

01332 770054 www.mgajaguar.co.uk

Derby’s Premier Independent Jaguar Service Centre An alternative to servicing at a main dealership • Collection and delivery to suit you • Free courtesy car • X Type, S Type, XF and XJ fixed price menu

Unit 2, Victory Park, Victory Road, Derby DE24 8ZF

Five Lamps Kitchens & Bathrooms

JANUARY

SALE NOW ON! Beautiful Kitchens and Bathrooms Free planning and quotations Supply only or full fitting service

01332 298500

Five Lamps, 1 Duffield Road, Derby DE1 3BB

www.FiveLampsBathroomsAndKitchens.co.uk

Free Parking, CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 25

Affordable Beautiful Kitchens “Thousands of satisfied customers can confirm Holtams supply the best value for money kitchens and bedrooms in this area.”

HOLTAMS

£50,000

WE ARE GIVING AWAY AN AMAZING £50,000 OF

BEDROOM SALE NOW ON

www.holtams.co.uk *TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY, SEE IN STORE FOR DETAILS 26 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Kitchen & Bedroom specialists Established 1985

GIVEAWAY

*

YOUR DREAM KITCHEN CAN NOW BE A REALITY

Christmas & New Year opening times; W/C Dec 18th Normal opening times CLOSED: Saturday 23rd December OPEN: December 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 10-4pm January 2nd 9am-5pm

APPLIANCES The first 50 kitchen orders over £10,000 ordered in December17/January18 will receive, courtesy of Holtams, £1,000 worth of appliances*.

WHY CHOOSE HOLTAMS?…

“A trusted family business built on a solid reputation”

• Best value for money • Free design and planning service • Quality 18mm colour co-ordinated cabinets • Extensive door styles to choose from • Granite, solid surface and laminate worktops • Latest CAD 3D design software • No pressure selling • Large car park • Experienced friendly designers

www.holtams.co.uk

Random Ridge, Pickard Lane, Heage, Nr Ripley, Derbyshire, DE56 2BD

T: 01773 852683

Open: Monday to Friday - 9am - 5pm Saturday - 9am to 4pm, Sundays - Closed

Paestum and Agropoli Pirates of the Tyrrhenian Within a thirty minute car journey north from Castellabate, via the gateway to Cilento town is the larger town of Agropoli, just south of Salerno.

Agropoli sits prettily on a promentary looking out at the Tyrrhenian Sea, where African and Eurasian Plates meet.

Reading facts like this sent me straight to the atlas. There can be times, even after many years of travel where we just don’t piece the world together in relation to our current position. With Africa only a short distance away it made this area of Italy’s coast a target for raids from North Africa in the 16th and 17th century and, according to one historian, Turkish Pirates contributed to the diminishing population.

The large, as yet to erupt, underground volcano of Mount Marsili, standing at nearly 3,000 metres, sits just over 450 meters under the sea’s surface. We didn’t see it!

Agropoli is one of the liveliest towns in the area. A ‘must see’ and it will take you a good day to explore taking in sights such as Aragonese Castle, built as a watchtower and reconstructed by the Aragons in the 15th Century, although there have been other fortresses here since Byzantine times.

Whilst we didn’t have too much time to explore Agropili it is one of our ‘next time explore’ towns.

Driving on to the impressive ruins of Paestum which dates 28 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Above: The temple of Poseidon or the second temple of Hera, c. 460–450 BCE Below: The picturesque bay at Agropoli. from around 600BC (or if we follow the latest school curriculum BCE), these three well preserved Doric temples are surrounded by the ruins of the ancient town. Walking around the paved roads of this 2500 year old ancient city and examining the old structure of shops, semi circular amphitheatre, and gymnasium reveals so much about the rich history of this settlement. Just touching the 5th century BCE walls is a treat as we tread and feel the history.

There are steps to climb up, and look down into what was once someone’s home, communal baths and market squares. Floor mosaics that are cordoned off show signs of a settlement that had style and oozed craftmanship.

Above: The temple of Athena viewed across the historic site.

Below: 2500 year old mosaic floor.

Parking here is tricky and, as a word of caution, don’t believe the locals who say ‘yes it’s OK to park here’. We did this and ended up two months after our return finding that the car hire company had charged us all on our credit cards around 12 Euro’s each for parking in a restricted zone. The big question rattling in my brain: Was this a scam by the police/ the vendor/the car hire company? The jury is out on this one so beware if you do visit.

Under a blazing sun with hats, purchased from the friendly (er?) street vendor, umbrellas and bottles of water at the ready we embarked on our afternoons mission. It became clear after three hours that this is a trip that needs a different plan. It’s a good full days visit to get the best results and breaking for lunch or Peroni to get out of the noonday sun CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 29

The first temple of Hera, c. 500 BCE is a good plan. Buying the official guide brochure (5 Euros) which I’m still reading and finding how much I actually missed due to our short visit, is a must. Don’t rely on your mobile or tablet to get you round - you won’t see the screen in the blazing sun for a start!

Each of the three Greek temples at Paestum has its own story, the oldest being Hera (9x18 columns) followed by Athena (6x13 columns) or Ceres (whichever book you read), and Poseidon or Hera 2 (6x14 columns) again depending on who you listen to. They are a mixed bag of sizes with all the fronts facing the sun and mighty impressive.

Originally founded by the Greeks as Poseidonia and later occupied by the Romans who named it Paestum, this is a flat area and easy to get around with views in each direction for miles. The temples aren’t the only points of interest as the area around Paestum features outstandingly long, sandy beaches, which were used for the US army 36th Batallion landings in WW2. It’s a far cry from the swampy, malaria infested area of the 4th/5th century AD when some of the population moving south to Agropoli to escape disease. The temples and surrounding area became ‘lost’ only to be ‘rediscovered’ around the time that Pompeii and Herculaneum were excavated. They are still working on excavations on this huge site.

Numerous hotels and camp sites are close by with some of the best only a 2km walk away.

This is an area rich in history indeed which was emphasised during our visit by one family member exclaiming, ‘They filmed Jason and The Argonauts here’ and, with mobile in hand, proved it. Education is a wonderful thing!

Returning to our villa in the evening it was time to fire up the outdoor pizza oven. Dragging a fallen old branch from the wood opposite (causing amusement to all) we soon got the temperature up and, while the rest were busy preparing dough bases, toppings and salad (again!), we enjoyed keeping the fire burning, playing table tennis with the children, enjoying a glass of red wine, listening to the distant dog barking and watching the sun go slowly down over the hill.

30 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Paved street; signs of Roman occupation.

“Worth a Closer Look” See, feel, touch and smell the comfort

Definitely the most stylish handmade English chair

Certainly the most famous classical Wing Chair

Only

£695 Also in soft cover only £595 Undoubtedly the best quality bespoke Queen Anne chair We believe, the most comfortable high back chair.

Try for yourself

Haydn Stanley Furnishing Comfort • Quality • Style 16-18 Bank Road, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 3NF Tel: 01629 583584

VR

V I C TO R I A RO B E RT - Kitchen Specialists -

Opening Offer:

FREE Dishwasher

with any kitchen purchased in January over £6,000 • • • • • • • • •

All kitchen styles available Neff appliances Family run business Latest 3D CAD drawings Experienced friendly designers 18mm fully rigid colour coordinated cabinets German soft-close hinges and drawers which are fully extendable Free no obligation design and quotation service Free parking outside the showroom

VR

NOW OPEN sales@victoriarobert.co.uk 07731 370653 10 Blenheim Parade, Allestree DE22 2QP victoriarobertkitchens @victoriarobert

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 31

Local Stockists

No VAT on Fitting Costs Plumbing or Electrical Costs

Still beating our competitors quotations!

Even during their January sales!

Keeping prices low all year Here at Kitchen Solutions we are looking forward to our 12th year of trading.

Over that time we have fitted and supplied 1000’s of kitchens to properties in the local area and gained an excellent reputation along the way. As a result of that we have become proud members of CheckaTrade and are Nottinghamshire County Council and Trading Standards Approved.

All our kitchens are fantastic quality as we don’t use flat pack furniture and only use talented and experienced tradesmen.

Call in at our showroom where we can discuss your kitchen project.

WWW.KITCHEN-SOLUTIONS.NET

32 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

* fitted kitchens only

Individually designed kitchens at affordable prices

Over 100 genuine reviews on Checkatrade

Our modern showroom offers a wide selection of high quality kitchens and appliances to suit a small budget through to state-of-the-art appliances and superior bespoke kitchens.

A610

• Free no-obligation design and quotation service • We only use fully trained, experienced tradesmen • Fully colour co-ordinated rigid units 18mm solid backs and enclosed wall fixings • Blum soft-closing doors and drawers as standard • Clever storage ideas available to look at in the showroom • Proud members of Checktrade.com • Fully project-managed installation service or ASDA supply only!

To Heanor To Eastwood • Solid Granite, Quartz Stone, Timber, St Andrews Laminates Church • Family run business WE ARE HERE

Kitchen Solutions (Langley Mill) Ltd

St Andrews Court, 96 Station Road Langley Mill, Nottingham NG16 4BP Open: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm and Sat 10am-4pm. Closed: Sunday & Wednesday

www.checkatrade.com/KitchenSolutions

Telephone 01773 716465

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 33

Derbyshire

Antiques & Collectibles

by Maxwell Craven

DINKY TOY AIRCRAFT

Last month I penned a few lines about the enduring and collectible die cast model motor vehicles produced by Meccano Limited under the Dinky imprimatur. This I threatened to follow up with an article about the die cast model aircraft the firm also made from the 1930s.

I was given my first example as a Christmas present from an aunt - of which in those days I had Bertie Woosterish quantities – in the shape of a model 73c Vickers Viking, a rather portly looking twin engined medium airliner.

I had just been taken to see (and had been enthralled by) a film called The Night my Number Came up, about an aircraft or similar size, (actually a Douglas DC3) getting lost and crashing onto a Himalayan mountain valley, so the dear old Viking had to go through a good few re-enactments with its nine year old owner.

The other attraction, as I got older, was that before the war, Dinky produced models of types that were virtually extinct, even in the 1950s, and which I deemed much more worthy of acquisition than a modern (then!) boxed 734 Supermarine Swift (about £20/25 with box) or 70a Avro York (about £15-20 unboxed). My interest was quickened when, in 1954 we moved to a house not so very far from Croydon airport, then used exclusively for club flying and where numerous pre-war types could be spotted pottering across the sky from our garden. My first pre-war acquisition was a nice blue 62k Airspeed Envoy - modelled on the King’s personal transport (about £350 retail in box, but £40-50 unboxed and played with, like mine), and things continued, via pocket money and visits to junk shops, until I was sent away to school at ten and finally nose-dived (if you will forgive the pun) when I transferred schools at thirteen.

My most prized possession was a Dinky model 63a/b Mayo Composite – essentially an Empire flying boat called Maia which carried a small mail carrying floatplane called Mercury on its back, and which in real life took off from its host when the latter had to stop for re-fuelling. Being long deleted

by Dinky, I found the bottom part second hand but had to wait eighteen months before a rather strange general store in Tain, in the far North of Scotland (where we were staying with friends), astoundingly happened to have Mercury, new, and left unbought on an obscure shelf for twenty years! I have no idea how it became parted from its other half, as both came together in a blue box.

The whole thing boxed would set you back £350-450 today, and even without box, like mine, £80-120. Yet one autumn day a year or so later I couldn’t find it, and hunted high and low for this prized possession, including every inch of our fairly large garden; my mother thought I’d developed an unhealthy interest in horticulture! Some years later it emerged that mama, who each year sent toys to the local orphanage, had found it in 34 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

an unlikely place, assumed whilst I was away at school, that I had tired of it, and consigned it to the orphans. One I particularly loved was the DH 91 Albatross, a pre-war wooden four-engined airliner of great beauty which I had never seen in the flesh (none survived the war) and managed to acquire in blue, along with a DH88 Comet racer in silver.

The series began in 1934 and ran through the war to some extent, some of the military types being dubbed ‘two seat fighter’ and ‘heavy bomber’ to confuse enemy spies. A Messerschmitt 110, masquerading as ‘twin engine fighter’ with props missing went through a general sale at Bamfords for £10 recently. My model 62a Spitfire was boxed and sold specially to raise money for the wartime Spitfire fund – not to be confused with a much more authentic looking Spitfire which was issued as a revival in the later 1970s. By the time I got mine (having been born a little too late) there was no box - not that I’d have kept it! The last models were issued around 1973 with no. 731, a Jaguar fighter with – unheard of in a Dinky – a retractable undercarriage (mint in box about £40).

The most expensive examples which I have come across include an Avro Vulcan estimated at £500-700 and a pre-war model 60e Dewoitine D.500 open cockpit fighter (one of the range only sold in France) good condition but no box, a snip at £600. Coming closer to our times, even a 1960s Sud Caravelle in Air France livery is likely to set you back £120.

Buying in auction would be the best bet for anyone intending to collect

DINKY TOY AIRCRAFT these miniature masterpieces in decent condition. For instance, a second issue Dinky 60 set of six was sold for £800 against an estimate of £1,000 to 1,300, for which you got, in pristine condition, a 60a Armstrong Whitworth Argosy (coyly called ‘Imperial Airways airliner’), 60b DH 85 Leopard Moth, 60c Percival Gull, 60d ‘Low wing Monoplane’ (a Boeing P-26?), 60e General Aircraft Monospar and 60f Cierva C.30 autogiro – all rare and early examples, and no metal fatigue, no knocks, about £130 per plane, which is actually not bad for any of these.

Likewise, a box of mixed period (including ‘revival’ (post 1973) ones, all well played with, sold at Bamfords recently for £22. Indeed, Spitfires and Hurricanes in silver rather than camouflage and small post war fighters like Gloster Meteor IIIs and P-33 Shooting Stars (which lacked the fragile red tin propellors of the former pair) can be had almost for pence if you look around. And the attraction is that you get some completely forgotten aircraft types, like the Bristol 173 twin rotor helicopter of 1952 (£30-40), which never really got into serious production, perhaps because on its initial flight on 3 January 1952, it was found it tended to fly backwards!

After 1973 the firm, taken over as described last month, made more modern types with glazed cockpits/windows, retractable undercarriages and other refinements. They also produced Thunderbirds craft and other TV spin-offs.

To me, they are less interesting but, with their (often elaborate) boxes, they can still set you back a few bob, nevertheless!

Pictures; Opposite page: Airspeed Envoy, King’s Flight This page: From the top, left to right: Dinky 749 Avro Vulcan.

Dewoitine D.500. Mayo Composite with box. My Vickers Viking.

DH91 Albatross Imperial Airways airliner. Me 110 (with propellors – these tended to become permanently detached rather easily!).

Supermarine Swift. Bristol 173 helicopter. WW2 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bomber (as flown by Leonard Cheshire VC) with box, £150.

No. 60 set, mint in box [Vectis Auctions]

TRADITIONAL FURNITURE RESTORERS AND FRENCH POLISHERS Tel: 01335 360 114 Mob: 07990 583 326 The Cedars, Main Street, Hollington, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 3AG

www.heldreich.com CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 35

www.derwentwindows.co.uk

Enhance t beauty of

20

%

OFF

ALL TIMBER WINDOWS & DOORS

SALE

UNTIL 31 ST JANUARY 2018

T

the value & f your home

THE REASSURANCE OF DEALING WITH A

OF RIPLEY

www.timberwindows.com

local SPECIALIST

Whether your home is a country cottage, a Victorian semi, a modern townhouse or a converted barn, enjoy a 20% discount off all our timber windows and doors, in our winter sale until the end of January 2018.

Please visit us to explore our range of beautifully crafted engineered timber doors and windows, and get expert advice on enhancing the value and beauty of your home.

TEL: 01773 747456

Email: info@derwentsashwindows.co.uk www.derwentwindows.co.uk www.derwentsashwindows.co.uk

Visit Our Showroom The Old Church, 31 Nottingham Road, Ripley, Derbyshire, DE5 3AS stunning ripley showroom

fantastic displays

Opening Times: Monday – Saturday 9:30am – 4:30pm

MASSIVE JANUARY

SALE CDA PC70 American Fridge Freezer WAS £1,155

NOW £245 LIMITED NUMBER REMAINING

CDA Instant Hot Water tap WAS £599

NOW £99 LIMITED NUMBER REMAINING

Black Mirror Quartz Worktops 2 lengths

ONLY £495 3 lengths

ONLY £695

“Thank you for designing our dream kitchen, it has transformed our house. I have recommended Premier Interiors to our friends and family” Mrs Bennett, Belper

Telephone: 01773 252090

Showroom: 227 Station Road, Langley Mill, Notts, NG16 4AD Mon - Wed - 9am - 6pm | Thur - 9am - 7pm | Fri - 9am - 6pm Sat - 9am - 5.30pm | Sun - 10am - 4pm

T: 01773 252090 | W: premierinteriorsnottingham.co.uk

UP TO

75% OFF

S SALE STAMRBTER 26th DECE

AT 10AM

6 W E N D N A R B KITCHEN DISPLAYS

FREINEG

FitIhTthTis advert w

PREMIER INTERIORS Quality Fitted Kitchens

• OUR KITCHENS HAVE FULL SOFT CLOSING 18 MM UNITS • SOLID FULL HEIGHT BACKS • COLOUR CO-ORDINATED • 200 DIFFERENT STYLES AND DESIGNS TO CHOOSE FROM *Terms and conditions apply. *Not in conjunction with any other offer. *All offers only available with purchase of fitted kitchen * Not in conjunction with other offers Fully Fitted within 3 months of order, Hot tap Only 5 hot taps available at £99, Fridge/Freezers Only 5 available, Quartz worktops 20 lengths available, maximum 3 lengths per customer

THE

ECCLESBOURNE VALLEY RAILWAY

By Brian Spencer

We are fortunate in having three preserved railways in our part of the North Midlands. Peak Rail, the Midland Railway, Butterley and the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, follow routes through attractive countryside, but arguably the Ecclesbourne line is through some of the best unspoilt farming countryside in Derbyshire. Part of its route is almost as though it is running through woodland, and there cannot be many places where trains have to slow down behind bouquets of cackling kamikaze pheasants.

R

unning between Wirksworth and the Midland Main Line at Duffield, the Ecclesbourne Railway was originally the idea of a group of coal mine owners in the Erewash Valley. Around 1856 they wanted a quicker route to take their coal to the textile mills around Manchester, but as the Midland line only went as far as Rowsley, the alternative was to link up with the Cromford and High Peak Railway. This line already ran across the high limestone moors of the Peak District and the intension was to build a line along the Ecclesbourne Valley. The new line would join the Cromford and High Peak, connecting with it at Ravenstor above Wirksworth and its rapidly growing quarries. The only problem was that the last part of the route, via Ravenstor, meant a steep climb up a 1:27 gradient. No doubt this would be possible (and still is), for lightly laden passenger trains to climb up from Wirksworth, but it would create problems for trains loaded with tons of coal. This was soon proved to be impractical and coal continued to move by canal to be off-loaded at High Peak Junction until road traffic took over.

Work began on the 9 miles (14.5km) of track of the Ecclesbourne Valley line from Wirksworth to Duffield with the ceremonial cutting of a sod at Duffield. The line was opened on 1st October 1865, much to the delight of the local businessmen who had thrown their weight behind the Erewash coal owners.

Planning the line was not without its problems, which in turn led to the building of what became known as ‘Travis’ folly’. Up and until 1933 if you had travelled along the line you would have seen a much grassed-over 19 40 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

arch viaduct crossing the line. Simply linking fields on either side of the line, it was known officially as Hazelwood Viaduct, but more commonly as ‘Travis’ Folly’. It was built, so folk lore suggests in order for Thomas ‘Canny’ Travis’ cattle to get from one side of the track to the other. The ideal and much cheaper solution would have been to install a level crossing, but the railway company was forced to spend £10,000 building the bridge.

Like all folk tales, the story linking the bridge to ‘Canny’ Travis is not exactly true. As the land over which the line ran was owned by the then 7th Duke of Devonshire, it was his agent who insisted on this expense. The argument was that it was necessary in order to allow Travis’ and a neighbouring tenant’s cattle to reach fields on the opposite side of the line from their farms. By 1933 and with a new duke (the 9th) at the helm, arrangements were made to demolish the hardly used bridge. Much to the delight of the huge crowd that had gathered, a detachment of Royal Engineers blew up the 19arch bridge. It was replaced by the more practical level crossing. Travis, whatever his involvement in this crazy scheme, for the rest of his life took advantage of the railway every day to send his milk to the dairy.

Very much a rural line throughout its existence, it cannot have paid its way purely from the number of passengers it carried. Most, if not all would join the train at Wirksworth in order to go shopping in Derby, or work. What would be profitable was the amount of tonnage carried from the quarries surrounding the end of the line at Wirksworth. As practically all the quarries were separated from the railway by the Wirksworth to Middleton road, all were connected, either by narrow gauge lines, or even, as in the case

Duffield Station

The Terminus Duffield Station

of Dale Quarry, the massive hole that blighted the town from its situation a matter of less than a quarter of a mile from the town centre; this one was linked to Wirksworth Station’s goods yard through a tunnel by standard gauge. Baileycroft, even closer to the town had a narrow gauge track through another short tunnel. Stonecroft Quarry further up the road had both standard and narrow gauge tracks. The top half of Middlepeak didn’t use the valley line and was joined to the Cromford and High Peak line by standard gauge; however its lower twin did run stone by narrow gauge into the station yard, along with a conveyor built in 1954. Coleshill Quarry half way up the incline sent its stone by trucks on a narrow gauge track.

The sleepy branch line was never going to be a commercial success, passenger use was never going to pay its way. Gradually road transport was taking over from rail, especially affecting the morning milk train. No longer was milk laboriously moved in pails from farm to station, to train, to dairy, but simply pumped into a tanker. Stone was easier to send by road and in any case, many of the quarries around Wirksworth were running out of space; the last stone train left the station in December 1969. Passenger services ended in June 1947 – the excuse being to save coal. From some reason the then owners of the line, LMS, possibly thinking forwards to nationalisation a year later, did not officially withdraw passenger services. They continued to publish a time table, but added the word ‘suspended’, and effectively stopped running passenger trains without the need for a public inquiry. Following nationalisation, British Rail saw no need to alter the status quo, and so the line slowly sank into oblivion.

Shottle Station

Level crossing at Idridgehay CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 41

The goods yard at Wirksworth

Wirksworth Gradually the nine miles of track disappeared beneath brambles and sycamore saplings. This was the state of affairs when Wyvern Rail, the eventual owners of the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway took over the running of the line in 2005. Using mostly volunteer labour who hacked their way through jungles of brambles and overgrown trees; ripping up and restoring rotted sleepers and laying new track, had the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway up and running in 2011. At the end of those six years, the railway was ready to give passengers a nostalgic trip back into the way trains ran fifty years ago.

After wandering round the station yard at Wirksworth admiring the collection of rolling stock, some of it undergoing restoration, we found a lovely little miniature railway layout in one of the cabins just off the platform. With time in hand we could enjoy a cup of tea and a piece of cake before joining the diesel run Railcar. Then with a toot and a slight spinning of wheels we were off into the countryside. Over Gorsey Bank level crossing where all the safety procedure held up the one car on its way into town. Fields dotted with ruminating cows flashed by and as we entered a stretch of trees, a covey of pheasants flew up, almost beneath the wheels of our carriage. Not the best of fliers, they tried to commit suicide by flying 42 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

One of the tunnels linking the railway to the quarries directly in front of the slowly moving train. Idridgehay was the first station stop as they say on Midland main Line. We could have taken a stroll from this idyllic setting, but stayed on to the next stop at Shottle, where, if we had wanted we could have popped next door to the Railway Inn. Trains no longer stop at Hazelwood after passing the site of Travis’ Folly, but continue as far as Duffield. A stroll along the EVR platform to watch a Virgin train thunder by and then off back to Wirksworth with the added attraction of taking in the 1:27 incline.

Regrettably it is no longer possible to join a train at Wirksworth and get off at Derby. In its wisdom, Railtrack have very firmly closed off the end of the Ecclesbourne line at Duffield. You can see where the points join the branch to the main line, but that is a far as it gets.

Winter reductions

starts January 2nd

Ascot Drive, Derby, DE24 8GZ Tel: 01332 361966 www.martinandparker.co.uk

Bringing the family back around the fire!

We have hand picked the finest range of Fireplaces, Stoves, and Accessories from some of the best suppliers in the country.

In our warm, inviting showroom you can come and have a chat in a relaxed environment and we will make sure you find yourself the perfect fireplace, whatever your style is.

The Fireplace & Stove Shop 121 Queens Road, Beeston Nottingham NG9 2FE info@fireplaceandstoveshop.co.uk

Call us on: 0115 849 9909

44 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

JANUARY SALE NOW ON SERIOUS REDUCTIONS

THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE RANGE OF

BRANDED FURNITURE UPHOLSTERY, CABINETS, BEDS, BEDROOMS, NURSERY AND PRAM DEPARTMENTS

FREE LOCAL DELIVERY* FREE PARKING PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE MEET THE BOSS AND DO A DEAL *EXCLUSIONS APPLY

Furniture & Accessories for Every Room…

Made to Measure Bespoke Service British Made Furniture

Open 7 Days A Week Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm Sunday 11am – 4pm Old Trinity School, 6 Hawkins Lane, Burton on Trent DE14 1PT

Tel: 01283 509369 www.furnituremonkey.co.uk CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 45

M������ D��������� F����� L�������� I�…

‘Quality Bespoke Custom Made Furniture, Bedrooms and Home Studies Designed to Your Requirements’

Kitchens & Interiors

t 10 The Firs oked s Bo Kitchen Further ea Receiv count % 5 Dis

Worktops

Three easy steps to enjoy over £20,000 worth of beautiful, handcrafted custom-made solid wood kitchens of the highest quality for less than £3,950, direct from us to you…

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

FREE FREE FREE

PHONE 0800 7317351 No Obligation Quotation/ Design/ Home Visit From Expensive Retailers, Middlemen and Overheads

www.allwood-kitchens.co.uk Kitchens | Bedrooms | Home Study | Custom Made Furniture

Fireplaces

Flooring

Opening Times: Monday-Friday 8.30-5.00 Saturday 8.30-12.00

www.mandalelimestone.com

Email: info@mandalelimestone.com Old Station Yard, Rowsley, Derbyshire, DE4 2EJ

Telephone: 01629 735 507

• RF&O are a family run independent agent.

• We pride ourselves on offering a reliable and efficient service to all of our clients, always recognising the importance of customer care.

• We deal with a wide variety of properties in all price ranges, with specifically tailored services to suit your needs in both our Sales and Lettings departments.

• For Landlords we offer our fully managed service at (subject to a minimum charge of £35)

7%

...all your property needs, under ONE roof!

Landline: 01773 609 446 Mobile: 07530 298 948 Email: enquiries@rfoproperties.co.uk

www.rfoproperties.co.uk 46 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Flooring by

Ian Wilson Carpets

Derby’s No. 1 for Lighting

Free Estimates and Quotes Mob: 07971 437901 10 Openwoodgate, Belper DE56 0SD Tel: 01773 880398 www.ianwilsoncarpetsbelper.co.uk

14c Town Street, Duffield DE56 4EH Tel: 01332 843989

“We’re not satisfied until you are”

To advertise in the February 2018 edition of Country Images please call us on 01773 830344

The

Lamp Shed Canal Street, Derby T: 01332 294650

P a ul F idde s Fires & Fireplaces, Stoves & Chimney Sweeping

NO PERFECT FIT BLINDS Drilling Complete conservatories supplied and fitted for…

Sweep!

Your Local Chimney eplaces Fitted Gas & Solid Fuel Fir • COMPETITIVE PRICES • FRIENDLY & RELIABLE SERVICE

Call: 07912 749 910 w w w.p aul fid d e s.c o.uk

Up to 6 blinds £500, 8 blinds £660, 10 blinds £810 or 12 blinds £960!

NO Holes

NO

Screws

Pleated blinds for double glazed UPVC windows, doors & conservatories 9 Flood Street, Ockbrook, Derby, DE72 3RF Tel: 01332 665703 / 07983 152030

www.kjblinds.com CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 47

Keep warm and cosy… tres of 3 Cubic Me ogs £310 rch L i B d e i r D n l Ki delivecarl earead- se*e website for details.

The current cold weather has only emphasised the need to have energy efficient homes. From cosy fires to draught proof windows and the need to monitor our utilities bills effectively our homes can be a haven of efficiency during even the coldest of winter days.

tside lo

ery charge ou *small deliv

KEDLESTON HEATING

Monday-Friday 9.00 - 5.00, Saturday 9.30 - 4.30

Tel: 01332 200303

kedfires@btconnect.com • www.kedlestonheating.co.uk

34 Duffield Road, Five Lamps, Derby, DE1 3BH 48 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

SALE NOW ON! W

Bring back the into your life

embers heating studio

ith up to 8 5% reduction s on ex display items

802 Osmaston Road, Spider Island, Allenton, Derby DE24 9AA www.embersheatingstudio.co.uk Tel: 01332 242299 Please check website for opening hours

Save money on your energy bills with A-rated windows – from Bowfield Attractive, high security, energy efficient window system helps keep your home warm and comfortable all year round – which will save you £££s in the long-run!

Established for 20 years, we operate with long serving, mature employees, capable of consistently producing quality domestic windows, doors, porches and conservatories along with large scale commercial installations.

Unit 1, Yew Tree Farm, Deep Lane, Hardstoft, Derbyshire S45 8AE

For more information, or to request a quote, call:

01246 855 960

Members of FENSA and have a 10 year insurance backed guarantee on all installations

f: 01246 856 248 e: bowfield@googlemail.com www.bowfieldwindows.com CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 49

Gardening January 2018 with Mark Smith

I always give this little nugget of popular advice, at the beginning of January start a “Gardening Diary” to record everything that you are planting, what varieties you have chosen, what the weather was like on that day etc. etc. It`s a really helpful tool for next year and beyond.

Looking forward to the year ahead, there are lots of new varieties of plants that will be coming out including summer bedding, shrubs, climbers and trees to look out for in your local plant nursery or garden centre. From a personal point of view, I can’t wait for the gardening season to kick off again because now I have an allotment that I can share with Lewis my son, so I know where I’m going to spend most of my weekends.

General Garden Maintenance • Spread a thick layer of home made or nursery bought multi-purpose compost around newly planted trees, shrubs or hedges as this will keep out frost that will kill young roots.

• Check evergreen shrubs for damage from winter weather.

• Clear away old leaves in borders before spring bulbs start to appear.

• Dig over gaps in borders and remove old flower spikes from herbaceous borders.

• Top up bird baths with fresh water and de-frost with warm water on frosty days.

• Check on bird feeders to see if they are getting empty.

• Last chance to plant bare root hedging i.e. Hawthorn, Beech and Privet.

In the Allotment or Vegetable Patch • Keep harvesting root vegetables including parsnips and leeks.

• Prepare ground ready for onion and shallot sets and seed potatoes.

• Cover rhubarb clumps with a bucket or special ‘forcer’ for early stems.

• Prune red and white currant, shortening side shoots to a single bud.

• Put newly potted strawberry plants under the protection of cloches or in a greenhouse for early crops.

• Prune apple and pear trees for congested, badly damaged or diseased branches, seal cuts with a suitable pruning compound.

• Cut down autumn-fruiting raspberry canes to soil level.

In the Greenhouse • Sterilise staging and frames with a garden disinfectant – don’t do it when there’s a chance of frost.

• Many varieties of herbs can be sown now – check in garden centres and plant nurseries for available varieties.

• Check any tender over-wintering plants stored in the greenhouse for greenfly and other pests.

• Start to water sparingly tender fuchsias (weather permitting).

Some of the best winter interest plants at the moment are: Skimmia Japonica Rubella : This plant starts looking good around the end of September and still looks amazing now. An excellent evergreen shrub that looks its best when the flowers are in bud. The deep crimson flower buds start from late autumn to late winter when they open to creamy white flowers. This versatile shrub likes a part shade to full shade position in the garden and well drained to heavy clay, slightly acidic soil.

Compact growing and suitable for containers or borders this is a must for every garden. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it a prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

50 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Local professionals for your ornamental & amenity trees

ABBEY TREE CARE Specialists in pruning, planting & maintenance, felling, conifer reduction, hedge cutting, emergency service for dangerous trees Hort/Arb qualified & trained.

Est. over 25 years

Above: Sprayed in Farrow and Ball ‘Bone’

Call today 01335 370491 or 07850 028212

Designers, makers and installers of quality hardwood gates

Amber Valley Garden Services

TREE SURGERY AND HEDGE SPECIALIST

WINTER DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE • TREE FELLING • HEDGE CUTTING • TREE PRUNING & TOPPING • LANDSCAPING WORK • CONIFERS REDUCED OR TAKEN OUT • FENCING WORK • GUTTERING CLEARED

Quality Service & High Standard Assured

Fully Insured For a Free No Obligation Quote

Electrically operated, automated gates

T: 01773 570577 The Unit, Mount Pleasant, Derby Road, Ripley

Call Rob on 07841 422 310 or 01773 607409

www.mitechjoinery.co.uk Mitech Joinery Ltd reg no.

7968761

QUALITY NATURAL STONE SUPPLIES

Transform the Outside

with our driveway solutions • Driveways • Forecourts • Paths • Car Parks • Slabbing and Block Paving • Dropped Kerbs • Patio • Fencing • Concreting

Huge Stocks of Reclaimed and New Stone

Bespoke Stoneware Carving

Joe Brown Contractors Ltd Domestic and Commercial Tarmac and Paving Specialists

01773 834455

info@joebrowncontractors.co.uk www.joebrowncontractors.co.uk

All our work is guaranteed for 2 years

Don’t forget to bring your boots!!!

Newhaven, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 0DU Call Liam on 01298 84173

www.penninepaving.co.uk | sales@penninepaving.co.uk

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 51

Helleborus Niger : There are too many sorts of this variety to list but Helleborus Niger or “Christmas Rose” is the one you will easily find in nurseries or garden centres. The pure white flowers appear from December to late February, buy them when they are in flower as they are guaranteed to flower at this time of year. They like a part shade to full shade position in the garden and well drained to heavy clay, slightly acidic soil. The Royal

Horticultural Society has given it a prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM). Two varieties you should consider is Helleborus “Walburton`s Rosemary” (rose pink flowers and the longest flowering period of any Hellebores) and Helleborus “Ivory Prince” (cream flowers and attractive leathery, silvery leaves).

Cornus Sanguinea Midwinter Fire : There are many Cornus’ or “Dogwoods” but this is a favourite of mine and one I recommended in my Radio Derby feature with Andy Potter in December last year. This shrub looks best during winter when it has lost all of its leaves to expose brightly coloured stems of yellow, orange and red followed in spring by lush light green leaves. Unlike other “Dogwood” this compact growing shrub is ideal for a container or border, it likes a light shade to full shade, position in light to heavy soils. Please note, some times this variety is labelled as Cornus Winter Flame.

10% DISCOUNT FOR ALL REPAIRS AND SERVICING WHEN MENTIONING THIS ADVERT

WINTER SERVICING WORK AND ONGOING MACHINERY REPAIRS

AT COMPETITIVE PRICES WITH A PERSONAL SERVICE

A GOOD SELECTION OF NEW MACHINES FOR DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL USE SPECIAL WINTER DEALS ON STIGA MACHINES       

SPECIAL WINTER SERVICING PRICES COLLECTION AND DELIVERY AVAILABLE ALL MAKES AND MODELS OF PETROL AND DIESEL MACHINERY SERVICE AND REPAIRS QUOTATION UPON REQUEST 30 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE IN ALL DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL GROUNDCARE MACHINERY LARGE RANGE OF SPARES, LUBRICANTS AND PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

COUNTRYWIDE DEPOT, OFF COMMON LANE, STANLEY COMMON, NEAR ILKESTON DE7 6NZ OPEN WEEKDAYS 8am - 4pm

TEL: 01159 305515 EMAIL: sales_cwderby@btconnect.com www.cgm.sx

52 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Please keep contacting me with your gardening problems. If you can, please include a photo or as much detail as you can think of. garden.guru@virginmedia.com or Markeaton Garden Centre 01332 292554

GATES UNBELIEVABLE LOW PRICES

Free Measuring Service.

Fitting Service Available.

Various designs and weights available

ORNAMENTAL ENGINEERING www.ornamentalengineering.com

Tel 01773 533393

Wrought Iron Gates – Railings – Fencing – Security Grills

Uni1 1a, Taylor Lane Industrial Estate, Loscoe, Derbyshire DE75 7TA

Let Total Home Improvements make your house a better home by providing the kind of service that you deserve

T: 01773 714 970 T: 0115 930 5858 info@totalhomeimp.co.uk | www.totalhomeimp.co.uk

We supply and install a large range of products WINDOWS & DOORS IN: - UPVC - ALUMINIUM - TIMBER TRIPLE GLAZING UPGRADE NOW AVAILABLE

VERANDAS

COMPOSITE WOOD GARDEN ROOMS, FENCING, DECKING, BALUSTRADES & RAILINGS

FASCIA, SOFFITS, GUTTERS

CONSERVATORY UPGRADES

CONSERVATORIES

CANOPIES & CARPORTS

THE ALL NEW FLUSH CASEMENT WINDOW

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 53

! g at rin s nts ea em cl y It ou ow la isc N p s i D -d ex

Hu

ge

SALE Up to 70% OFF

Internet prices available in store

Fully Refurbish ed Showroom Bathroom Traders Ltd, (formerly Supaplumb) 4 Canal Street, Derby DE1 2RJ Tel: 0800 772 0773 Derbyshire’s Premier Bathroom Showroom

01332 202500

www.bathroomtraders.co.uk Open: Monday to Saturday 8.30am - 5.00pm

Images Leisure time

Celebrity Interview Walk Diary Gallery Food & Drink

Steve Orme interviews

John Lyons

At the beginning I thought ‘this is rubbish – I don’t want to be an actor’.

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 55

F

or more than 17 years he was Sir David Jason’s moustachioed sidekick on the immensely popular television series A Touch Of Frost.

It proved to be a doubleedged sword for John Lyons – he is often recognised as Detective Sergeant George Toolan and it has limited his subsequent TV appearances.

But the small screen’s loss is the East Midlands’ gain. In the past two years John has appeared in three plays which have been seen here and he is currently rehearsing a farce to be performed in Chesterfield which will show another side to this indisputably talented actor.

He took the lead role in Father Brown – The Curse Of The Invisible Man, an adaptation of two G K Chesterton mysteries by John Goodrum of Derbyshire-based Rumpus Theatre Company, before John’s wife Karen Henson of Tabs productions snapped up John Lyons to play two roles: Inspector Hubbard in Frederick Knott’s Dial M For Murder and the judge in Marie Lloyd And The Music Hall Murder, both in the 2017 Classic Thriller Season in Nottingham.

The two Johns, Lyons and Goodrum, met when John Lyons was appearing in The Mousetrap in the West End. The distinguished actor has appeared in Agatha Christie’s legendary play on three separate occasions, clocking up no fewer than 1,200 performances as Major Metcalfe.

John Goodrum had written a play called The Ripper Files about Jack the Ripper which was going on tour. He thought the other John would be ideal to play the inspector, so he left a script at the stage door.

John Lyons as Farther Brown

John Lyons read the play and liked it: “It had a very good twist at the end which I didn’t see coming.

I said to John I’d like to do it, so we met and chatted about it. I started to learn the script but then, as happens all the time in this business, an offer came along of another job and John very kindly let me out of The Ripper Files.”

Two-and-a-half years later John Goodrum called the other John again and asked if he would be interested in playing Father Brown. The character was popular at the time on BBC Television. John Lyons agreed because he felt he owed the other John a favour.

“That was a slight mistake because at that time the play hadn’t been written and I didn’t know how big the part was. So when I got the script for Father Brown it was 69 pages long and my character was on 65 of them!

“Anyway, I thought I couldn’t let him down twice so I’d better try to learn it. It took me four months but I got it in the end and I enjoyed it tremendously.”

John Lyons says he looks forward to working with both John Goodrum and Karen Henson.

“They’re very easy to get on with. There are no great histrionics or shouting or screaming. It’s almost like a family business. They enjoy what they’re doing and it passes over to you.

By Steve Orme 56 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

“When we do tours and they give me parts that are very taxing with a lot of dialogue, they work it out so that we never do a full week. We do about four days and then I get three days off to get my breath back.”

John Lyons who is still working hard at the age of 74 will take the role of Granddad in Ray Cooney’s Caught In The Net which opens later this month at the Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield before touring.

End musicals; about 500 television appearances including Play For Today, Upstairs Downstairs, The Sweeney, Minder, On The Buses and Man About The House; 50 TV commercials; and numerous theatrical productions.

He should be refreshed after having a break over Christmas instead of appearing in pantomime as he has done for a number of years. He was offered the role of Captain Hook in Peter Pan but turned it down.

“I wanted to have a long career playing lots of different parts. And I’m glad to say it’s worked out that way because I’ve near enough covered almost everything you can do. The only thing I haven’t really conquered is radio and voiceovers.”

“I did it ten years ago which was okay. But I think Captain Hook is physically a little too much for me – the fencing that he has to do with Peter Pan and the running around.

“Panto is hard work but fun. I hope if I keep my health, strength and faculties together there’s probably another one or two pantos left in me.”

John Lyons was born on 14 September 1943 in Whitechapel. He is a true Cockney, born within earshot of the bells of St Mary-le-Bow Church, Cheapside – but they were not chiming on the night he was born because the Luftwaffe were dropping bombs on the capital.

When he was 17 he played Sunday morning football along with thousands of others on Hackney Marshes – one of the largest areas of common land in London. In the same team was a journalist who asked John if he had thought about becoming an actor.

The journalist told John about a new drama school, East 15, which was just about to open. John rang up, got an audition and to his great surprise as he had never been on stage he was accepted.

The distinguished actor has appeared in Agatha Christie’s legendary play The Mousetrap on three separate occasions “At the beginning I thought ‘this is rubbish – I don’t want to be an actor’.

But at the end of the three-year course I enjoyed it so much I thought I could be quite good at it and make a career of it.”

John left drama school on a Friday and three days later he started filming Catch Hand, a BBC drama series about the adventures of two building workers, which also featured Anthony Booth – later to star in Till Death Us Do Part.

John has worked almost constantly since then, appearing in four West

That seems ironic after John had one-to-one tuition every morning when he was at drama school to eradicate his Cockney accent. Now his deep, mellifluous voice is one of the reasons he is able to play everything from policemen to judges.

His most famous role was, of course, George Toolan in A Touch Of Frost.

He appeared in all but a couple of the 40-odd Frost episodes, missing them only because he was contracted to do other work.

“It turned into the best job I’ve ever had, the most fun and the most enjoyable. That really was all down to Sir David Jason. As with Rumpus, he made it fun to do. He made it a pleasure to go to work.

“A Touch Of Frost was tremendous. And it’s helped my career. I ride on the back of it I suppose – in a nice way.”

Over the past six years John has added another line to his extensive CV: guest speaker on board P&O cruise ships. He talks to passengers about his life and career. He has been on ships bound for Canada, the Mediterranean, Australia and San Francisco. A bonus for him is that his wife of more than 50 years Ann is able to accompany him.

He is hoping for more cruises in 2018 as well as further jobs with Rumpus or Tabs. But so far there is not much in the pages of his new diary.

“There’s something quite nice about not knowing what your next job is, where it’s going to be and who it’s going to be with. I know it may sound daft but I quite like that uncertainty. Since I was 17 I’ve never had a proper job.”

Anyone familiar with John Lyons’ work will be grateful for that as he has become one of the finest jobbing actors this country has produced for generations.

Ray Cooney’s farce Caught In The Net featuring John Lyons can be seen at the Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield from 16 until 20 January.

John Lyons, Chris Sheridan and David Osmond in Dial M for Murder.

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 57

An Alpine-style walk around Matlock Bath

On a sunny weekend today’s Matlock Bath is popular with middle-aged motorcyclists whose expensive mounts line the riverside frontage. They are just the modern manifestation of the visitors who come to enjoy the local scenery.

As far back as the Georgian era, people have come to admire the unique setting of this small village: at first it was only visited by those who could afford the expense of horse-drawn transport, but when the railway came, and with it cheaper transport, it opened up the place for those with lighter purses. Since then the coming of the motor car has spread the net and people flock from all over the north Midlands for a day out in this mini-holiday resort.

Early visitors likened Matlock Bath to an alpine resort, and that cannot be far from the truth.

Romantic poet Lord Byron described Matlock Bath as; ‘There are places in Derbyshire rivalling Switzerland and Greece’. A bit far fetched, but with the vertical limestone crag of High Tor and its continuing ridge opposite the main part of the village, the aspect is not far removed from some alpine village – admittedly not quite as high, but nevertheless the looks are there. The ambience is continued with the cable car up to the Heights of Abraham and its terraced woodland walks.

There’s even a tiny chapel, St John’s, about half way between Matlock and Matlock Bath that could easily be mistaken for a miniature Alpine Schloss.

Probably the closest to a truly alpine footpath is the path along what is known as ‘Giddy Edge’.

This path, complete with a metal handrail crosses the upper face of High Tor and can truly be compared – again, in a small way, to Via Ferrate the iron ladders that criss-cross the Dolomites

and other limestone mountains of the Alps.

This walk uses many of the high-level and riverside paths that wander high and low around the village. Starting at Matlock Bath railway station the walk climbs up the side of High Tor into the outskirts of Snitterton. This linear satellite village follows what was once the only road south from Matlock until the line of the A6 was developed. Entering woodland, the path climbs to the summit of High Tor, where the exciting prospect of the Giddy Edge path begins its descent back into Matlock Bath. Here if you want, a truly alpine extension to the walk can be made by taking the cable car to the top of the Heights of Abraham and enjoy its woodland walks. (Visit www.heightsofabraham.com for opening times) Continuing towards the riverside section of the walk, a footpath leaving the car park climbs to the ridge-top continuation of High Tor, before dropping down to the river by a series of well-laid steps. A left turn at the river will follow the wooded path called ‘Lovers’

Walk Derbyshire 3 is available through selected outlets around the County for only £2.99!

or buy on-line at

WALK3 14 More walks with a differenc e - written from Ramblers deep love and in-depth historical knowledge of this inspiration al County.

£2.99

www.walkderbyshire.co.uk £2.99

from Ramblers deep love and in-depth historical knowledge of this inspirational County.

While the Giddy Edge section of the walk has a well-placed handrail, it should be approached with great care and certainly not in wet or icy conditions.

For anyone not wishing to use the Giddy Edge path, there is an alternative route bearing left at the start of the edge path which crosses the highest point of High Tor. Children and dogs must be under close scrutiny at all times,

14 carefully selected walks around Derbyshire

Issue 3

58 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk 14 More walks with a difference - written

A WORD OF CAUTION

Issue 3

NOW ON WALK 3 SALE

Walk’ until it reaches a modern footbridge. Over this are the Riverside Gardens and beyond is the Pavilion, the restored replica of an alpine Kursall, or spa. The fascinating Peak District Lead Mining Museum is here together with a friendly café dispensing home-made food. There are many alternatives for refreshments along the roadside, ranging from fish and chips to several excellent restaurants and pubs.

The Walk with Rambler

• Take the side road parallel to both the river and railway line, away from the car park.

• Turn right and go under the railway, uphill towards the entrance to the bottom station of the Heights of Abraham cable car.

• Do not bear left to the cable car entrance, but continue ahead and through a squeezer stile next to a metal gate.

• Climb the roughly surfaced track until it reaches an unmade road lined with houses.

• Turn left on this road and go through a gate opening on to a surfaced track leading into woodland.

• The track climbs steadily, bearing right in its upper reaches.

• Where the track on leaving the trees bears left, continue ahead until it peters out. (The track going left is heading for a radio mast).

The woodland is part of the High Tor Recreation Grounds. There are several roofless old mines around the summit, often bearing fanciful names such as ‘Fern Cave’ or ‘Roman Cave’, but none are quite so ancient. It was once possible to enter the mines for self-exploration, but an over-cautious council has closed them off on Health and Safety grounds.

There was once a café on the summit of High Tor, but it mysteriously burned down within a few days of its closure.

• Swing round to the left away from the mast compound and make for the summit of High Tor to admire the view. N.B. There is no barrier at the summit, so keep well away from the edge – there is a 190 foot drop straight down the tor face.

• Bear left away from the summit rocks and follow the signpost towards Giddy Edge, making use of the iron handrails as necessary.

N.B. If it’s icy, raining or if you do not have a head for heights, bear left away from the start of the Giddy Edge path and go over the highest point of High Tor. This path joins the Giddy Edge path on the far side of the summit.

Country

• Continue on the edge path, using a well-placed seat for a rest along the way.

• At the far end, join a rough path zig-zagging steeply downhill through mature woodland.

• Go to the left and then right around the perimeter fence of the cable car. Go under the railway bridge and turn left on to a side road.

If you wish to extend the walk, then the cable car bottom station is conveniently close at hand. The ticket also gives access to woodland walks and two well-appointed mines (guided) at the summit.

There is also a café and gift shop.

• Walk through the station car park and go to the right on to a path leaving from near the coach parking bays.

• Follow the path uphill until it reaches a stepped-path going left.

• Follow the path uphill and then along the ridge until it reaches another stepped-path descending right.

• Go down these steps and on reaching the riverside path (Lovers’ Walk), turn left and walk downstream, past an over-arching metal bridge.

• Walk on until the path reaches a second, more modern bridge.

There was once a small menagerie and a handdrawn ferry opposite what is now a rowing boat hire

app

it’s FREE to download today

jetty.

• Cross the bridge and turn right to pass through Riverside Gardens and the pond full of golden carp.

• Make your way up to the Pavilion and the main road.

• Turn right along the road, following it past the famous fish pond (currently devoid of fish) and then past the old ( Jubilee) bridge. Divert through the memorial garden.

• Turn right beside the Midland Hotel and follow Station Road back to the car park.

USEFUL INFORMATION A moderate walk of 3 miles (4.8km) with one 190ft (58m) climb on well-maintained woodland and riverside paths.

Great care should be taken on the ‘Giddy Edge’ section where children and dogs must be kept under careful control. Not suitable in wet or icy weather. But see alternative.

Recommended map: Ordnance Survey 1:25000 Outdoor Leisure Sheet 24. The Peak District, White Peak Area.

Refreshments in and around Matlock Bath.

Public Transport. Rail or bus from Derby.

(Plus buses from Ripley or Matlock).

Car parking in Matlock Bath station yard.

The home of Sherbourne Lift & Rise Recliners in Derbyshire Free Delivery. Free Removal of Old Furniture.

All Ground Floor Showroom

Rowditch Furnishers Ltd or visit www.countryimagesmagazine.co.uk

95% of our Products are British made.

The Parade,Mickleover,Derby,DE3 0GB

SALES HOTLINE 01332 511235

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 59

Diary of events Royal Centre Nottingham & Concert Hall 0115 989 5555 www.trch.co.uk JANUARY 2 Classical Music, Dance. Johann Strauss Gala 4-5 55+ Creative Writing 5 Hello Again - The Story of Neil Diamond 6 Classical Music National Youth Orchestra Of Great Britain 9-13 Thriller Live 12 55+ Song Writing 15 Classical Music - The Classical Music Roadmap 18-21 What the Ladybird Heard - Two crafty robbers, one tiny ladybird, and a whole farmyard of fun!. Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len have a cunning plan to steal the farmer’s fine prize cow. But they reckon without the tiniest, quietest creature of all: The Ladybird has a plan of her own!

Join the woolly sheep, the hairy hog, the fat red hen and the dainty dog in this glittering stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks’ colourful farmyard adventure. With live music, puppetry, plenty of audience participation and lots of laughs! Recommended for ages 3+.

19 Dear Esther Live 20 Classical Music, Music - Abba Symphonica 23-27 Tango Moderno 24 Academy of St Martin in the Fields 25 Bowie Experience: The Golden Years Tour 27 Family, Foyer Events, Music David Gibb 27 Classical Music - Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra Family Concert 28 Classical Music - Dina Duisen 29 The Third Stage Hancock’s Half Hour: One Man, Many Voices 29 An Evening with Aggers & Bumble 30 to Feb 3 Son of a Preacher Man FEBRUARY 1 Dance Anton & Erin 2 Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra 2 Music After Hours: Klezmer-ish 3 to Mar 24 Magic Lantern - Backstage Tours 3 Grimethorpe Colliery Band 5-10 Hedda Gabler 7-10 Moscow City Ballet 10 The Magic Lantern Backstage Tour 12 Erasure Derby Theatre Box Office 01332 59 39 39 www.derbytheatre.co.uk .

JANUARY Up to 6th Peter Pan - Journey with Peter and the Darling children, as they soar through the night sky, to embark on a spellbinding adventure to the island of Neverland 15 - 16 From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads Adrian Berry’s acclaimed sell-out production tells the tale of a young David Bowie.

30 Jan to Feb 3 Private Lives London Classic Theatre present a major new touring production of Noël Coward’s sparkling comedy. 1930. Deauville, France. Two newlymarried couples occupy adjoining honeymoon 60 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

diary@imagespublishing.co.uk

suites in the same hotel. Champagne flows and the sea shimmers in the moonlight as the newlyweds prepare for the evening ahead. But when Amanda overhears a familiar voice singing a forgotten song, an old spark reignites, with spectacular consequences. Full of razor-sharp wit and quick-fire dialogue, Private Lives is Noël Coward’s most popular and enduring stage comedy. Extraordinarily written in only three days, Private Lives originally opened at London’s Phoenix Theatre in August 1930 to packed houses. Since then, this charming comedy of manners has retained its remarkable appeal, captivating audiences all over the world Derby Live. Box Office 01332 255800 www.derbylive.co.uk JANUARY 6 Derby Roundhouse Tour. Join us on a journey to explore the oldest turning shed in the World where the golden age of steam once ruled!

17 Stephen K Amos 19 Martyn Joseph 23-28 Rapunzel 27 Oasis v Blur 30 to Feb 3 The Wizard of Oz - In a brand-new adaptation of L Frank Baum’s ‘The Wizard of Oz’, the Oddsocks troupe invite you to meet Dorothy.

FEBRUARY 2 Pretty Woman Movie Night 3 Grease Movie Night 5-6 The Simon & Garfunkel Story 7 Tea With The Old Queen 8 Rise, Like Lions!

9 Viva Brass Quintet Buxton Opera House & PavilionArts Centre.

01298 72190 www.buxtonoperahouse.org JANUARY 4 Russian State Ballet of Siberia - Cinderella 5 Royal Northern College of Music. James Girling and Charlotte Badham 5 Russian State Ballet of Siberia -The Snow Maiden 5 Buxton Buzz Comedy Club - January 6 Russian State Ballet of Siberia - The Nutcracker 7 Kinder Choirs of the High Peak - Mozart’s Requiem Mass and Vesperae Solennes De Confessore 8 Singin’ in the Rain 8 The Big Sick 13 Son of Bigfoot Buxton Cinema 13 80’s Mania 16 - 20 Spamalot - Lovingly ripped off from the hugely successful 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot is a riotous comedy full of misfit knights, killer rabbits, dancing nuns and ferocious Frenchmen. Join King Arthur as he travels with his hapless Knights of the Round Table on a divine

mission to locate the illusive Holy Grail – with uproarious consequences.

17 Jamie Andrew and Ness Knight 24 Michael McIntyre - Sold Out 25 Brendan Cole 26 The Illegal Eagles 27 The Original Elvis TCB Band 28 Fairport Convention FEBRUARY 1 Dave Spikey 2 Mowbski Quartet 3-4 Wallace and Gromit - Curse of The WareRabbit Buxton CinemaThe Disaster Artist Buxton Cinema - Pavilion Arts Centre 3 King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys 4 La Traviata 7 Tangomotion Nottingham Playhouse 0115 941 9419 www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk 1 to Jan 20 Cinderella - A dashing prince is hosting a ball and Cinderella would give anything to go, but her stepmother and sisters have other plans. Can Cinderella escape their clutches and, with the help of her Fairy Godmother and best friend Buttons, find true love?

13 The Abominable Snowman - A wonderfully playful and inventive take on this well-known legend blending puppetry, live-music and enchanting storytelling.

23 Exploring Wonderland 24 Elkie Brooks: Live In Concert See Elkie perform her biggest hits live, including Pearl’s A Singer, Lilac Wine, Fool (If You Think It’s Over) and Don’t Cry Out Loud.

25 Sing-A-Long-Beauty And The Beast 26-27 The Beautiful Game 2018- Next Door Dance delves directly into the heart of football 27 Morgan & West: Time Travelling Magicians 30 Fairport Convention FEBRUARY 1-3 The Wedding 3 MissImp: Consenting Partners 7-10 Finding Nana 9-24 Wonderland: Palace Theatre Mansfield www.mansfield.gov.uk/palacetheatre JANUARY Up to January 7 - Jack and the Beanstalk.

The town’s premier entertainment venue is delighted to announce the full star-studded line up who will be whisking you away to a land of giants in Jack and the Beanstalk.

13-21 SleepingBeauty FEBRUARY 8 Genesis Connected 10 Thank You For The Music 17 60s Night Out 18 Wizard of Oz 20 Feb County Youth Arts Showcase 2018 County Youth ArtsVariety

WONDERLAND Nottingham Playhouse. February 9-24 Directed by: Adam Penford. Written by: Beth Steel

80s Mania

Wonderland is set in Nottinghamshire in 1983.

Two 16-year-olds wait nervously at the pithead.

Guided by a veteran miner, they descend into the brotherhood, banter, searing heat and liquid blue light of Welbeck Colliery.

Meanwhile in London, an American CEO known as The Butcher is brought in to reform King Coal. Pits close and a strike is called.

A Tory MP tussles with his leader’s hard line ideology, whilst an eccentric dandy is sent undercover to break up the strike. Cracks appear on all sides as the embattled miners are torn apart trying to protect their livelihoods and families.

Nothing will be the same again.

Confirmed to play Spud – a charismatic pitman at Welbeck Colliery - is Harry Hepple, best known for his performance as lead character Leo in BBC 2’s Boy Meets Girl. Taking to the stage alongside the sitcom star is another TV regular, Matthew Cottle – best known for playing Martin in BBC’s Game On and more recently, Prince Edward in Channel 4’s The Windsors – who will be playing reallife politician Peter Walker in the Nottingham-based show.

Wonderland is a regional premiere directed by Nottingham-born Adam Penford and is written by the daughter of Nottingham miner, Beth Steel.

Tickets are priced £7.50 - £8.50 For more information visit www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk

Buxton Opera House January 18th Prepare to experience Europe’s ultimate 80’s concert show, featuring 35 chart-topping pop icons authentically recreated with live band and awesome dancers.

Do you long for your shoulder pads and curly perm from the past? Well whether you’re young, young-at-heart or old enough to know better, 80’s Mania is the perfect party night for you!

Performing over 35 chart topping smash-hits live in concert, with spectacular tributes to Duran Duran, The Human League, Kim Wilde, Culture Club, Madonna, Wham!, Nena, Toni Basil, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Bananarama, Dead or Alive, Madness and many many more! This dynamic production sets the stage alight with electric vocal performances and fierce dance moves. Together with a top quality band and professional dancers, they recreate the era with outstanding energy and stunning accuracy!

So grab your ra-ra skirt, pull on your leg warmers, and get ready to party!

A Derby Theatre Production

Two

By Jim Cartwright Friday 2 – Saturday 24 March Derby Theatre raises a glass with the brilliant comic two-hander.

Box Office 01332 593939 Book Online derbytheatre.co.uk

Derby Theatre is part of

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 61

Diary of events Birdwatching for Beginners walks at Carsington Water.

December 2017 was a great walk, seeing our regular visitor, the Great Northern Diver, plus a pair of Goldeneye and Siskin, plus Redwing.. some of the many nice winter visitors. Come for a crisp 2-hour walk which is always held on the first Sunday of EVERY month. Book by contacting Carsington or for more information, 01629 540696 or just drop in to reception. Warm clothes and binoculars essential!!

Future dates…Sunday 4th February; 4th March; 1st April plus 8th April.

Happy Birding.”

Breadsall Memorial Hall Brookside Road, Breadsall DE21 5LF Derbyshire Constabulary Male Voice Choir 19th January 2018, 7.30pm. Bar open 7 pm.

Tickets £8. Phone 01332 831577 or 831564 Come along and enjoy a relaxed evening of music.

Derby RSPB 10th January at 7:30pm Ashley Grove presents a talk entitled “Shetland to Sicily - The birds of the British Isles”. Meeting at The Grange Banqueting Suite, 457 Burton Road, Littleover, Derby, DE23 6XX. Admission for members is £2.00, for non-members £2.50 and juniors £1.00.

Also: 21 January. Free birdwatching walk at DWT Witches Oak Water. Meet at 9.30 am. The entrance is from the westbound carriageway of the A50. After junction 1 take the slip road signposted Shardlow Gravel Pit (quarry traffic only) and park by the gate.

More details on the RSPB Derby local group website www.rspb.org.uk/groups/derby Pentrich Historical Society Pentrich Historical Society meet on the third Tuesday of each month from September to June inclusive at Pentrich Village Hall from 7.15 pm. £3 with light refreshments. Talks on various historical subjects.

Allestree Flower Group Tuesday 16th January. Flower demonstration by Don Billington Entitled ”Something Special”. 7pm for 7.30 pm at the Evergreen Hall, Cornhill, Allestree Admission: Members £3.00. Non- members £7.00 For further details telephone 01283 702601 Derby French Circle 19 January: The Theatre of the Absurd and Coronation Street. A talk by Tony Callen (after the AGM) (2 February: History of the Isere region. A talk by Thierry Viennois.) Students £3 and Visitors £7 per meeting, full season membership £40. Come and join us, all levels of French spoken. Venue: Fraser Hall, Leylands Retail Estate, Darley Abbey, Derby DE22 1AY. Fortnightly on Fridays from 7.15pm. www.derbyfrenchcircle.org.uk Darley Abbey Historical Group 62 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

diary@imagespublishing.co.uk

Friday 19 January ‘Derby Pubs in World War One CAMRA Project’ by Marie Gibson.

All meetings start at 7.30pm and are held in Darley Abbey Village Hall, Abbey Yard off New Road, Darley Abbey, DE22 1DS. There is a charge of £1 for members of the Historical Group and £3 for visitors.

For further information contact Maria Gibson on 01332 552837 To find out more about the Historical Group, take a look at their blog: https://darleyabbeyhistoricalgroup.wordpress.com/ Derby Chamber Music Society Friday 12th January at 7.30pm at the Multi-Faith Centre, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby, DE22 1GB A concert by Colin Stone (piano) Beethoven: Piano Sonata in D minor, Op.31 No.2 “Tempest” Schubert: Fantasia in C, D760 “Wanderer” Robert Keeley: Selection of Preludes Rachmaninov: Moments Musicaux, Op.16 Tickets £15 and £14 (concessions) Ring 01332 830585 or visit www.derbychambermusic.org Derby wine Circle Friday 5th January 2018 – “Stanton, gone but not forgotten” guest speaker – Stephen Flinders Meetings are held at The Evergreen Club, Allestree – 7.15pm for 7.45pm Mickleover Model Railway Group January 25th 2018 5 Years of Railway Photography Part2 at Mickleover Royal British Legion 30 Poppyfields drive, Mickleover DE39GB with Les Nixon. Admission £4. Free car park, Bar open. Tea/ Coffee. Wheelchair Friendly. Details From Mike 01332513378. Run By Enthusiasts. All welcome Derbyshire Dales Woodcraft Club Derbyshire Dales Woodcraft Club meets in Wyaston village hall (DE6 2DR) on the first Saturday of each month from 10:00am to 2:00pm. We have a mixed programme of visiting demonstrators, hands-on sessions under the guidance of more experienced members and a monthly competition.

6th. January 2018 - this is a hands -on meeting so if you fancy trying woodturning, carving, pyrography etc., come along and give it a go!

First meeting is free. For more information go to www.ddwc.co.uk where you can see reports with photos on previous meetings, including competition results, and read past newsletters.

If you would like to know more about the club, email your query to info@ddwc.co.uk or phone James Sharpe on 01335 344933.

Spondon Historical Society Members £2.50, Visitors £4.00. All are welcome.

Further information: 01332-677515’ Spondon Village Hall, Sitwell Street, Spondon DE21 7FG Little Chester Local History Group

Chester Green Community Centre, Old Chester Road, Derby. Admission non-members £2. Have you taken out the annual subscription for £10? For further information Tel. 01332 559615.

Heanor Floral Art Group AGM to be held at Morley Hayes on January 15th at 7oclock . Contact 01332-880179 .

Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company Up to Saturday 6 January, Town Mouse and Country Mouse The Grahams in Concert by The Grahams 17 February 2018 - Crich Glebe Field Centre – 7:30 pm Highly rated, Nashville based Americana band, The Grahams, blend deeply personal, emotive, and powerful lyrics, with powerful harmonies from the Deep South; a show to thrill and delight!

Introducing their songs with explanations and banter makes the gig so intimate that, by the end, you will feel as though you have known them all your life!

Originally from NYC, husband and wife Alyssa and Doug Graham are now based in Nashville, Tennessee, and have spent nearly all their lives exploring music together. They have combined their love of adventure with a desire to build on foundations laid by their musical predecessors.

Their first song-crafting expedition was a yearlong trip along the Mississippi’s Great River Road, stretching 3,000 miles from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, and resulted in their acclaimed debut album “Riverman’s Daughter”. For their follow up, “Glory Bound”, they rode the rails for 3 months.

“There is a special connection between American folk music and the railroad that has no parallel elsewhere in the world. Rail lines stitch together the sprawling fabric of American song”. Alyssa says “We’re looking for the modern echo of older songs”.

The Grahams tour of the UK in early 2017 was wildly successful. This time, the duo will be augmented by another guitarist and drummer, so audiences are certain of a foot-stamping evening.

SLACKS TRAVEL Luxury coach travel with guaranteed seats & local boarding points BRITISH COACHING

Re-Discover

CYCLING

with an ELECTRIC BIKE

MYSTERY WEEKEND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 Feb (HB) £102 WARNERS BODELWYDDAN CASTLE . . . . .26 Feb-02 Mar (HB) £247 SCOTLAND INVERNESS ALL INCLUSIVE . . . . . 18-22 Mar (AI) £389 MALVERN 3 COUNTIES EASTER DISCOVERY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Mar-02 Apr (HB) £267 BLENHEIM PALACE & WADDESDON MANOR AT EASTER . . . . . . 30 Mar-02 Apr (HB) £292 EASTBOURNE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02-06 Apr (HB) £253 HISTORIC WALES & RIVER TALES. . . . . . . . . . 09-13 Apr (HB) £376 A TOUCH OF CORNWALL & DEVON . . . . . . . . 13-18 Apr (HB) £326 CUMBRIAN ADVENTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-27 Apr (HB) £352 BANK HOLIDAY MYSTERY WEEKEND . . . . . . . 05-06 May (HB) £108 SPRINGTIME IN SUFFOLK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07-11 May (HB) £326 LITTLE TRAINS OF NORTH WALES . . . . . . . . . 07-11 May (HB) £389 CORNWALL PENZANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-16 May (HB) £502 GLASSHOUSES & GARDENS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-13 May (HB) £282 BOURNEMOUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-17 May (HB) £331 THE COTSWOLDS & ENGLISH CASTLES . . . . 20-24 May (HB) £411 SIDMOUTH DELIGHTS OF DEVON . . . . . . . . . . 20-24 May (HB) £378 REMEMBERING DIANA, KENSINGTON PALACE & WINDSOR CASTLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-27 May (HB) £173 WALES, LLANDUDNO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27-31 May (HB) £360 ISLE OF WIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 May-01 Jun (HB) £297 SCOTLAND A BONNIE REGAL TRAIL . . . . . . . 04-08 Jun (HB) £413 BABBACOMBE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07-11 Jun (HB) £302 WARNERS SINAH WARREN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-15 Jun (HB) £396 POOLE & THE JURASSIC COAST . . . . . . . . . . . 18-22 Jun (HB) £379 GREAT YARMOUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-24 Jun (HB) £386 CORNWALL LOOE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25-29 Jun (HB) £392 WEST COUNTRY RAIL & SAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25-29 Jun (HB) £424 BRIDLINGTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Jun – 02 Jul (HB) £231 SIDMOUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01-05 Jul (HB) £386 EASTBOURNE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 05-09 Jul (HB) £333 HAMPTON COURT FLOWER SHOW . . . . . . . . . . 07-08 Jul (HB) £168

EUROPEAN COACHING HOLLAND, TRAMS, BOATS & BULBFIELDS. . . . . . . . . 05-09 Apr (HB) £433 IRELAND WESTPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16 Jun (HB) £591 SWISS ALPS & THE BERNINA EXPRESS . . . . . . . . . . . .21-28 Jul (HB) £786 THE ITALIAN DOLOMITES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Aug-03 Sept (HB) £856 AUSTRIA TRAINS & BOATS OF THE TYROL . . . . . . . 15-24 Sept (HB) £836 IRELAND KILLARNEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-22 Sept (HB) £625 BELGIUM BRUGES CHRISTMAS MARKET. . . . . . . . . . 02-05 Dec (BB) £326

Come and chat with our friendly staff about the benefits of E-Biking, whether your new to cycling or know exactly what you want in your E -Bike, we can offer you great advice. Why not enjoy a test ride and a coffee!

DAY EXCURSIONS

EARLY BOOKINGS ADVISABLE

RHS SHOW CHATSWORTH*

Admission included*

Adult / OAP / Child

SAT 09 JUN’18 £37.50 FROM DERBY £35.50 AFTER ALFRETON

AIR HOLIDAYS JERSEY FROM EAST MIDLANDS . . . . . . . . . . VARIOUS DATES FROM £459 GUERNSEY FROM EAST MIDLANDS . . . . . . . VARIOUS DATES FROM £469

“2018 BROCHURE OUT NOW” 76 Derby Road, Spondon, Derby, DE21 7LX www.cyclomonster.com/e-bike

T: 01332 902701

Telephone 01629 582826/584192 K.V & G.L SLACK LTD, THE TRAVEL CENTRE, UPPER LUMSDALE, MATLOCK, DE4 5LB

Website: www.slackscoaches.co.uk Email: enquiries@slackscoaches.co.uk

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 63

Gallery

gallery@imagespublishing.co.uk

Norma Gent Derbyshire Artist

◆ Pets, Portraits, Scenes, Still Life, Executive Caricatures, Victorian Life.

Start the year by developing a new hobby or advancing an existing talent with watercolour classes or a special day workshop run by Norma Gent, watercolour artist.

Contact Norma on 01773 836907, or call in to The Studio, No2 The Galleries, New Lane, Alfreton.

SPECIAL DAY WORKSHOP

Saturday 10th March 2018

WATERCOLOUR CLASSES Tuesday mornings and evenings & every Thursday 9am - 10.45am St Thomas’s Community Centre Somercotes Framing Now Available

The Studio, No 2 The Galleries, New Lane, Alfreton.

01773 836907

ew 18 N 20 r fo

Lifestyle

Golf Membership at

Flexible Golf Membership Packages from only - £295.00*

FPB Family History Research

Memberships run from 1st April 2018 to 31st March 2019

Fiona Boardman

Purchase any unlimited Golf Membership before 28/02/2018 and receive a complimentary Champagne Breakfast Package

nd

Available ire

ro u

• Online Tee Time Booking system

Buggy H

• No joining fees • Club Competitions all year round

A ll y e a

ra

• 18 Hole Championship Manor Course • 9 Hole Tower Course • 5/7 Day memberships * Price based on 5 Day Lifestyle Membership Package ** Price based on Premier 5 Day Lifestyle Membership Package *** Official handicap subject to payment of DUGC affiliation fees

Main Road, Morley, Derbyshire DE7 6DG • www.morleyhayes.com • 01332 782 000

64 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Richard Cooper has spent may hours exploring the countryside, and visiting and revisiting locations at different times of the day and the year to capture landscape in its best and most appropriate light. “As a landscape photographer nature provides us with all the ingredients we need to make beautiful images. However, more often than not, all of these ingredients do not ‘come together’ to form a whole.

Occasionally though, the landscape, quality and direction of light can combine to create breathtaking moments which I feel privileged to be witness to. My aim is simple, to record these moments of beauty as faithfully as possible.”

Visit wwwpeaklandscape.co.uk

Unlimited Golf Membership Packages from only - £695.00**

• Official CONGU handicap***

Richard Cooper photographer

“I can investigate and report on your family history or provide advice and support if you prefer to do the researching yourself.”

Gift vouchers available, in multiples of £25. The perfect gift for that “hard to buy for” person who is interested in finding out more about their origins.

Telephone:01773 822819

fiona@fpbfamilyhistoryresearch.com

Enjoy

7 FREE DAYS of exercise at Etwall

and Green Bank Leisure Centres

I

f you are feeling inspired to get fit for 2018 we’re giving you a great chance to turn spectating into participating with a free 7 day guest pass for gym, swimming and classes at Etwall Leisure Centre, Etwall and Green Bank Leisure Centre, Swadlincote.

Jump off that sofa and start to discover the benefits of being more active. Set your own goals and go for gold. Start training for your first 10K, join a 5-a-side league, get back on the netball court, or just set your sights on being able to keep up with the kids on your next free 7 day guest pass as the starting line for something brilliant!

For your free 7 day pass visit www.activenation.org.uk/vip and the pass will be emailed to you. Or telephone the team at Etwall Leisure Centre on 01283 735404 or the team at Greenbank Leisure Centre on 01283 216269

Use the free pass for the gym, swimming and classes at Etwall or Green Bank Leisure Centres.

Free 7 Day Guest Pass

for gym, swimming and classes at Etwall Leisure Centre and Green Bank Leisure Centre, Swadlincote For your Free 7 day Guest Pass contact our team at Etwall on 01283 735404 or Green Bank on 01283 216269

REGISTER ONLINE NOW FOR FREE! www.activenation.org.uk/just-try-it

www.activenation.org.uk CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 65

Musical Madness The Country Images Annual Quiz

Win a meal for two This year we are doing things a little different. We spend a lot of our lives listening to music but how much do you really know.

Pit your knowledge against others by matching song titles to the following headings. Here are the rules. We need 5 song titles that are legitimately linked. For every 5 legitimate there has to be one cryptic/funny/play on words loosely based on a real song making a collection of six songs. You could have 30 songs in a category but for every 5 you come up with there must be an

Subject matters are:

Cosmetics:

Sport:

additional cryptic/funny one. That will end up with 36 entries in that category.

We will give you a start: Lets take the cosmetics category and a couple of old songs. For legitimate you can have ‘Lipstick on your Collar,’ and four more. For the funny/play on words etc you can have ‘Making up is hard to do’ Neil Sedaka.

For Wildlife you could have ‘Tiger Feet’ by Mud. Do you get the picture?

Wildlife:

Transport:

Clothing:

Universe:

Send your entries, to reach us by February 18th 2018, marked “Images Quiz 2018” to competitions@imagespublishing.co.uk Or in writing to Images Quiz 2018, Images Publishing Limited, Unit 5 Keypoint Village, Keys Road, Alfreton Derbyshire DE55 7FQ There will be two prizes: one for the ‘overall winner’ and one for the ‘Funniest’.

Please have fun. If you know your music you should do well.

There’s no limit to the amount you send because we will decide who wins the prizes based on how good we think they are. The Editors decision (mine) is final and no other prizes are available.

DERBYSHIRE HARDWOOD FLOORING

W

e are specialists in hardwood flooring restoration and expertly fit or even just supply all types of wood flooring.

Call us for a no obligation home consultation.

www.derbyshirewoodflooring.co.uk Tel: 01298 816698 Mobile: 07711 112046 Email: info@derbyshirehardwoodflooring.co.uk.

out our Ask ab

F 20% OF s r o do

New life for Old Kitchens!

So if you enter and win the prize then that’s what you will get. No swapsies!

As usual we will get complaints from some who have lost the plot where a bit of fun is concerned and feel it’s life and death stuff.

Creative Occasions Cake bakery and Sugar Craft

Creative Occasions bake exquisite cake designs for weddings and special occasions.

Make your event that much more memorable with a cake from Creative Occasions. We have a passion for making unique cakes and with years of experience all our cakes are light, rich and full flavoured.

15 Nottingham Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 5RF

Telephone: 0115 944 1292

enquiries@cakesbycreativeoccasions.co.uk | www.cakesbycreativeoccasions.co.uk

Glass Balustrade & Staircase Specialists

Fine bespoke architectural metalwork in steel, stainless steel, brass, copper and glass.

Just replace the doors and worktops It’s so easy! Not only will a Dream Doors makeover save you £1000s, but you will not have to suffer the stress, upheaval and mess that comes with a traditional refit.

DREAM DOORS NEW LIFE FOR OLD KITCHENS

Call Steve for your FREE survey & quote on 01332 290600 Showroom Now open at 20 The Strand, Derby, DE1 1BE www.dreamdoors.co.uk 66 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Contact us now for a free quotation or just to discuss your requirements

Tel: 01629 820030 www.elysion.uk.com service@elysion.uk.com Elysion Ltd, Willowbath Mill, Water Lane, Wirksworth, Derbys DE4 4AA

FF 10% O advert

Delicious Meats & Produce Sourced From Local Farms in and Around The Peak District…

with this Musical Instrument Hire & Sales Here at Bass Bags we have high quality violins, cellos and double basses. All our instruments are set up by our luthiers and are available for hire or sale.

Bass Bags Ltd

y 2018 During Januar 0.00 or More.

ng When Spendi

R.G

£1

. Stafford Ltd

33, Avenue Road, Duffield, Belper, DE56 4DW

Tel: 01332 840391

sales@bassbags.co.uk | www.bassbags.co.uk

Q ua

The Very Best Quality Farm Fresh Beef, Pork, Lamb and Poultry all locally sourced.

Cooked Meats, Homemade Meat Pies and Quiches, Homemade Pork Pies including 2lb Gala Pork Pies Made to order...

72 Western Road, Mickleover, Derby.

T: 01332 514087

lity Butchers

Are you struggling to create the garden you want?

Would you like some inspiration and advice?

I can help with the following service:

Advice and Guidance Design and Planting Plans Bespoke Maintenance Plans Just call the numbers below and ask for Jo

01773 824693/07851 425 689 jo@reallyusefulgardens.co.uk www.reallyusefulgardens.co.uk

Online and traditional sales service Online auction Residential lettings and property management Offices in Mickleover and Hilton

NEW BRAND, SAME GREAT SERVICE 01283 777100

www.scoffieldstone.co.uk

Scoffield Stone is a trading name of ourhouse uk limited

The Potting Shed DERBY’S No1 DISCOUNT FURNITURE STORE We don’t sell cheap furniture – just top brands cheap!

21 Balaclava Road, Derby DE23 8UL 01332 270 100 Also at 4 Babington Lane, Derby, DE1 1SU 01332 341 709 www.sillysids.co.uk

AERIAL FOCUS

Aerial drone photography & video

At Markeaton Garden Centre

The Potting Shed is a charming purpose built tearooms located within Markeaton Garden Centre. Serving delicious home made food including breakfasts, lunches, light bites, afternoon teas, and of course our famous homemade cakes.

MARKEATON LANE DERBY DE22 4NH GARDEN CENTRE 01332 292554 CAFÉ 01332 492545

Make 2018 your year for a new

Holtams Kitchen

Aerial Wedding Videos and Photography, Events, Estate Agent Aerial Photographs Roof Surveys Farming Surveys

Tel: 01773 768955 M: 07886 742856 www.holtams.co.uk

www.aerialfocus.net CAA Commercial Operations Number EUAV3572 Licensed for Commercial Work

Kitchen & Bedroom specialists

Random Ridge, Pickard Lane, Heage, Nr Ripley, Derbyshire, DE56 2BD

T: 01773 852683

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 67

IN DERBY AD FEB:Layout 1 17/10/2017 19:45 Page 1

Restaurant of the year 2017 Terroir Bistro is all about seasonal local produce. We support lots of small local producers of meat, fruit and vegetables as well as sourcing produce from our own livestock

121 Friar Gate, Derby DE1 1EX 07802 478179 hello@terroirbistro.co.uk www.terroirbistro.co.uk

Every Tuesday is...

Includes: pint of any cask ale, carling, strongbow, draught soft drink or 175ml house wine (red/ white/rose)

ONLY £9.95

PROPER PIE & PINT NIGHT Choice of homemade pie Starts Tuesday 9th January 2018

served with mushy or garden peas and mash or chips!

“Good honest food served daily” Served 5pm-9pm Booking is recommended 01773 745222 Codnor Denby Lane, DE5 9SP 68 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

www.marquisoformonde.co.uk

Marquis of Ormonde

&

Food Drink

Oakfield

FARM SHOP

Providing customers with quality and tasty produce.

NEW

extensive

I can hear you asking what is a Secret Tea Room?

T

he location of the Tea Room is kept a secret until you book and then full directions are provided… intrigued? Why not come along and forget about everyday life for a couple of hours in a relaxing setting. You can book as an individual, as a couple or as a group (up to 12).

I can bring tea to you.

Are you planning a special occasion, maybe a hen do, family celebration, birthday party or retirement do? Then why not let someone else do all of the hard work? This can be a fully hosted afternoon using my own china or I can supply just the food – the choice is yours.

Just want some treats…

Are you thinking it would be nice if you could take your friends or family a tasty offering the next time you get together, but you fear your baking skills are not quite up to scratch?

Then why not! As I can supply you with as little or as much as you may need, whether it be sweet or savoury

farm shop and cafe opening by early March Oakfield Farm, Belper Road, Stanley Common, Derbyshire, DE7 6FP info@oakfieldfarm.co.uk www.oakfieldfarm.co.uk

Telephone: 0115 930 5358

Farm shop open Saturday 9am – 3pm

Rachaels Secret Tea Room 07931 611485

07931 611485

yummy@rachaelssecrettearoom.co.uk www.rachaelssecrettearoom.co.uk

G Vou ift c Ava hers ilab le

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 69

Success in Business

Kim Beresford Ashover Brewery

There must be thousands of men – and no doubt a good number of women too – who envy Kim Beresford. As well as running his own brewery, he has a string of awardwinning pubs to his name.

Roy found some kit on eBay and drove to Scotland to check it out. They bought it and brewing started in January 2007.

But don’t think running a brewery is a barrel of laughs. Kim, who readily gave up his time to talk about how he turned his hobby into a business, was interrupted on more than one occasion and admitted it was hard work.

Many friends who tried Kim’s products refused to believe he had brewed them at home. But it wasn’t until Kim was about 40 when he had a major fall-out with his father that Kim took the first step on the beer ladder.

“I don’t think I’ve ever worked as hard in my life as I do now. Although running a pub was very hard, this is like running a pub only looking after lots of other people as well.”He’s not even sure how many people work for Ashover Brewery. He counts them up on both hands but forgets to include his wife Jackie who does some accounting work for the company. And the figure doesn’t include his pubs which employ their own staff.

After leaving school he had gone to catering college to learn to be a chef – “not because I wanted to cook but because I thought there’d be lots of girls there.” A career in the catering trade beckoned.

“I absolutely love it,” says Kim. “I’ve said many times that I actually haven’t got a job. I don’t go to work. I get up in the morning and I go and do something I love. I get a real sense of job satisfaction from it.

“But there are bad days and there are hard days. People might think it’s all roses but they don’t see all the blood, sweat, tears and the pain.”

So how did Kim get to this position? He says the idea for the brewery started in his head in the early 1980s when he decided it would be a good idea to brew his own beer. Lots of people were doing it at that time, using kits they bought from high-street shops.

“It was rubbish!” says Kim. “I thought there’s got to be a better way than this and I started doing some research. Me being the type of person I am, I need to know all the ins and outs of everything. I bought books on the subject and learned how to brew proper full mash beer.”

by Steve Orme 70 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

At that time his father formed a business manufacturing fibreglass products. He and Kim fell out a lot – “we used to fight like cat and dog. I helped him build that business up to a substantial size. Then we had a major fallout and I left.”

Kim then went back to work for a food processing company where he had done an apprenticeship. After five years he rose to the position of operations manager and went on various courses to learn accounting, budgeting, communications and man management.

Again he returned to work for his father only for them to have another huge disagreement. It was while he was feeling fed up that he went for a pint at the Dead Poets Inn at Holbrook which was run by his friend David Brown.

Eventually he persuaded Kim to work for him and manage the cellar and bar there with his son James.

That was Kim’s first venture into the pub trade. “It was THE best place in Derbyshire if you wanted to learn how to run a cask cellar well.”

Kim and Jackie bought their own pub, the Old Poets’ Corner at Ashover, in 2004 and threw themselves into it. “It was seven days a week, 24/7, hard graft. We used

“...not because I wanted to cook but because I thought there’d be lots of girls there.”

to have a chiropodist who came every fortnight to sort our feet out – they were in a state because we were on them all the time!”

He had the idea of putting a brewery into the pub – “it just seemed like a nice, quirky thing to do and would be an attraction”. When the cottage next door came up for sale, the couple had no hesitation in buying it.

Kim and a drinking friend Roy Shorrock, who was due to retire from a bank, went into business together.

With a glint in his eye, Kim describes Roy as “almost a professional drinker”. Roy found some kit on eBay and drove to Scotland to check it out. They bought it and brewing started in January 2007.

“The idea was just to brew four or five core beers of a consistently good quality and we would put them on in the pub. It went very well and in fact we started brewing beer for friends of ours who ran pubs in the surrounding area.

“At that point it became apparent that we probably needed someone else to help us in the brewery. Roy’s daughter Janine – if you chopped her in half she would have real ale written down the middle of her – decided she would quite happily chuck in her job and become a full-time brewer for us. To this day Janine is our head brewer and very good at it she is too.”

Kim and Jackie then took on The Poet and Castle at Codnor. They were continuing to brew beer and had to tell other pubs they couldn’t supply them.

“We hadn’t really set it up to make money. We resisted the temptation to grow the brewery because we wanted to keep it nice and small. Even today we’re very precious about that.”

Two years ago Ashover Brewery moved to a new home, a unit tucked away on an industrial estate at Clay Cross. “It was absolutely the right time for us so we took it,” says Kim.

Ashover which brews beer a couple of times a week. It was runner-up in Britain’s best local pub competition in 2011 and was voted national cider pub of the year in 2006.

Now Ashover Brewery produces about 10,000 pints a week and its beer goes right across the country.

The bulk of the beer is cask-conditioned, real ale, although the company is starting to bottle more beer.

Future plans include producing keg beer for sale to town-centre bars and sports clubs. Kim would also like to open a shop to sell bottled beers. And the company may have to address what to do about the Clay Cross site if it becomes too small.

Kim puts his success in the brewing trade down to a number of factors: “Being in the right place at the right time and doing the right thing; being a workaholic which my wife will tell you I definitely am; having an understanding of the business and having the right skillset.

Ashover Brewery produces about 10,000 pints a week and its beer goes right across the country.

“My job description has changed from being a cellarman and a chef to a man who sorts everybody else’s problems out.

“We certainly get a good response to our beer and people seem to like the style of pub we do because we do traditional pubs with open fires and wooden floors – how it used to be.

“One of the criteria for people who work here is they need to care about beer and the industry. It’s infectious.

They get excited about things and work really hard to make things happen which is great. We’ve got a great team.”

No doubt an increasing number of people who drink Ashover Brewery’s products will be raising a glass to Kim Beresford and his staff.

“Actually we came in here and thought ‘wow, isn’t it great that we’ve got all this room’. Now we’re falling over ourselves again and haven’t got room to swing a cat. We actively go out now selling although not very much. We’re still not having to work too hard at selling beer.”

After running The Poet and Castle for nine years, Kim and Jackie decided to let it go. They now have the Tupton Tap, the closest pub to the brewery; the Black Swan at Crich; a micro pub in Matlock, Stanley’s Ale House; and they’ve still got the Old Poets’ Corner at

Pictured on this page are, at the top: Kim Beresford, below head brewer Janine Shorrock and the brewery team.

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 71

Coxbench Hall Residential Home

We’re here for you in your time of need, day or night…

For people in their later years – quality care in a Grade II listed Georgian mansion set in 4.5 acres of parkland, 7 miles from Derby.

Alfreton Road – Coxbench – DE21 5BB Family-run since November 1984

Gardens in the National Garden Scheme · Own Minibus Superb home cooking · Highly Trained Staff Entertainment and Activities · Most rooms en-suite

COXBENCH IS ABOUT CARING

Champion for

Dignity in Derbyshir

e

Call for a brochure and DVD or visit to view

(T) 01332 880200

(W) www.coxbench-hall.co.uk

New year,

Murray’s

Independent Funeral Directors

Come and arrange your pre payment plan or your loved one’s funeral in the tranquil setting of Findern village just a few minutes from Littleover and Mickleover.

All your needs catered for by our qualified staff Pre-Payment plans designed to suit you Monumental Mason Service Available

25, Main Street, Findern, Derbyshire DE65 6AG Telephone 01332 425022 Also at 23, York Street, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire DE14 2LX Telephone 01283 562299

www.murraysfunerals.co.uk

01773 832164

• Fast, invisible & fixed brace options • Staggering results in a matter of weeks • Payment options & 0% finance • Professional teeth polishing • Squeaky clean teeth and gums • Whole rang of hygiene options • Look, feel & work like natural teeth • Ideal for replacing missing teeth • Interest free credit available

Call us today for a FREE new patient appointment and find out how we can help transform your smile!

72 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Residential Care | Nursing Care | Dementia Care | Respite Care | Day Care

ashmere the

family

Codnor Park The Firs Kidsley Grange King William

Flexible Care... a few hours a few days a few weeks ...to suit your needs

88 Glass House Hill, Codnor, DE5 9QT 90 Glass House Hill, Codnor, DE5 9QT 160 Heanor Road, Smalley, DE7 6DX Lowes Hill, Ripley, DE5 3DW

Smalley Hall Valley Lodge West Hallam

Main Road, Smalley, DE7 6DS Bakewell Road, Matlock, DE4 3BN 8 Newdigate Street, West Hallam, DE7 6GZ

Telephone: 0845 602 2059 | Web: www.ashmere.co.uk | Email: derbys@ashmere.co.uk

Stanton Hall A caring lifestyle for all ages

Stanton Hall Suite • Nursing Care • Dementia/Confusion • Respite Care

• Residential Care • Physical Disability

• Day Care • Palliative Care

Private and Funded Clients welcome Stanton Hall care home is set within 5 acres of private grounds offering twenty four hour nursing and residential care. Compromising of three suites who care for: Elderly, Dementia and Young Adults

Stanhope Suite

A purpose built unit for Younger Adults

& The Crompton Suite

Both suites offer Palliative Care, Day Care & Respite Care for those with: • Physical Disabilities • Parkinson’s Disease • Multiple Sclerosis • Motor Neurone Disease • Huntington’s Disease • Brain Injuries

Main Street, Stanton by Dale, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 4QH Telephone: 01159 325387 | Fax: 01159 442054 | Email: stantonhall@mpscare.co.uk

The World’s Lightest Portable Mobility Scooter!

The only Lightweight Micro Scooter with all the features of a full size Mobility Scooter • So small and so light, that it travels on any plane or ship • All models fold flat to fit in any car boot • Can be used indoors or outdoors • Spare battery options available • A few models available at pre-increased prices • Demonstration models available at vastly reduced prices • Part exchange welcome Find out more call us today for a Free No Obligation Home Demonstration

Feephone 0800 413 567 Spires Croft, Back Lane, Tibshelf, Alfreton, Derbyshire DE55 5LN

www.emscooters.com 74 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Aspirational Retirement Living Wouldn’t it be nice to live free of the stresses of modern living?

To be surrounded by like-minded neighbours who want to get the most out of life? To be part of a safe community filled with social opportunities and beautifully landscaped outdoor spaces to enjoy?

Richmond Aston-on-Trent is a fabulous purpose-built retirement community that has the kind of luxury facilities that most people can only dream of.

Independent Living | Assisted Living | Care & Support

• Large 1 & 2 bedroom apartments • Restaurant, bar & café • Activities & events team • Wellness Spa, with pool & gym • Hair & beauty salon • Transport service • Care team on site 24 hours a day

For more information, please contact:

01332 895702

www.richmond-villages.com/aston Richmond Aston-on-Trent, Richmond Drive, Aston-on-Trent, Derbyshire DE72 2EA CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 75

Country Images feature IP Adesigned to help you enjoy photography

Images Publishing Country

Captured on camera County

Golfer

WALK

Manuel Delaflor is a Visual Artist, currently living in Chesterfield. He has won several contests, and has exhibited his work in various countries in Europe and the Americas. Currently, he is working on a project of portraits with the Mexican Embassy in the UK and giving workshops in the Peak District area and London.

To know more or book an appointment write to: manuel@manueldelaflor.com .

Part Three: The Rules of Composition by: Manuel Delaflor

A fantastic photograph is the result of many factors that happen to work together in harmony. One of such factors is, of course, the camera, but contrary to the general opinion, it is not a good camera that captures “good photos”, the best camera in the world will capture garbage if we point it at garbage. It would be pretty detailed garbage, but still, garbage.

And what I’m wanting to say here is simple, “the camera is just ONE of the necessary components required to create compelling images, and it is not the most important one”. A bad photographer with a fantastic camera will take, at best, average photos, while a toy camera in the hands of a professional will produce very interesting and creative photography.

Why is this the case? Because it matters more how we use the tool that the tool itself. And here is where our subject for this months article comes in handy. At one point, we have all read about some rules, either online, in a workshop, or any other source, and these are supposed to be the grammar of photography, or something like this.

It is not that simple, as photography per se is not a language in the regular sense of the word, it is certainly a vehicle that can be used to communicate things (emotions, memories) but it doesn’t have proper syntax, verbs and other components.

For me, the most important thing to remember, right

76 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

before starting taking photos, is that everything in the frame is MY responsibility. I cannot control what happens in the world (to a great extent), even when I can control some things, like the shape of the shadows using studio flashes.

And so, before shooting, my best recommendation for you is to observe, and change your position or perspective until the whole frame communicates what you want, until it is in your creative control. Remember that you have other tools at hand, for example, if you can’t get any closer to your subject, and your lenses do not have enough zoom, you can always crop the photo later on your computer or mobile phone.

Another important point is to have a very clear idea of what we are going to capture, and to look for strong visual elements when framing a shot. A last point I want to be clear about, before entering in to the details of some of the most widely used rules, is that the best thing you can do is to learn to master the rules and then go beyond them. Don’t try to jump straight to ignoring them because it will show in the results!

Understand the Rule of Thirds

Drag the eye using your frame, this rule is thought to enhance interest. Place your subject over each of the intersecting points on the grid until you find the composition that works best for the scene. Some cameras have this optional grid. They can display these lines, so use them.

Colour

You are looking for harmonic balance between the colours in the scene. Sometimes, even when your subject is beautiful, things look “bad”, and this might very well be because of the colours that are not mixing together in a flattering way. Ideally, you are looking for appropriate opposites in a wheel of colour. It’s good to study it. Oh and as a last resort, if colour doesn’t work don’t just discard the photo, go to black and white and see if that makes it better. Sometimes it does!

Contrast

This is one of the most important elements in any image. It defines the character and in many ways the emotional tone of the photo. Contrast can be achieved in many ways, and is more than controlling the amount of shadows and lights. For example, we can create contrast between something sharply focused against a blurred background, or by utilizing a strong pattern in relation to blank, negative space. We can also make the people in the photo to be completely different between them, creating another form of contrast.

Colour

Lines

Lines are powerful tools to draw interest in an image, you can make the eyes follow a path, use the vanishing point in your favour. The trick is to change your perspective until you find definite lines. Play with the surroundings, move around to find them. Leading lines, whether man-made or natural, draw your eye through an image

Contrast

Textures

They can add or subtract from your main subject, so we must use them wisely. If you are taking a portrait, and there are too many textures behind your subject, they will distract the eye and will compromise your composition. Sometimes, when you can’t get rid of them, it helps to re-think your image in black and white. Some other times, the texture is so good and interesting that it makes the image.

Negative Space

When you have a strong subject, say a person, or a flower, or a pet, you can use negative space around them to make the attention naturally focus on them. You can achieve this by using the sky, or water, or even a plain wall. Remember your rule of thirds to achieve this effect in the right way.

Lines

Foreground, Middle, Background

Think about a photograph’s composition as having foreground, middle, and background elements. This is specially relevant when composing landscape photographs, but the idea works with any kind of photo. In the end, what we need to remember is that everything counts towards the final image.

Balance

This is a very important point, and probably the one that is more subjective. Good images have a balance between the elements that are in the frame. Forms of balance include the relative “weight” of the elements, colour contrasts and composition, lines and patterns against negative space, or the use of black and white when colours are not adding balance to the image.

Texture

Conclusion:

Remember that YOU are responsible for EVERYTHING that is in the frame. This is the best way I can put it. You must be sure that everything in the frame remains under your creative control. To achieve this I think there are basically two paths, and they are complementary. 1. Shoot shoot shoot shoot. 2. Compare your photos with the ones from famous photographers and try to use the elements described in the present article as a guide to see how your photography compares.

Negative Space

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 77

Twenty-two stunning designs for babies and toddlers, with beautiful yarns available from U-DUIT Creative, Church Street, Ripley.

Cosy Up

Stunning range of blouses and tops for day and evening from Just White now available at Jillian Hart Fashions 40-44 Babington Lane, Derby or telephone 01332 347647 for information regarding the collection.

78 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Bold styles combined with simple elegance from ‘pomodoro’, available in the January Sale, now on at Clarkes of Ripley, Grosvenor Road, Ripley.

Cosy Up

Winter

SALE Now On Up to

75% OFF 40-44 Babington Lane Derby Tel: 01332 347647 Quality Yarns, Large Variety of Needle Work supplies and accessories

U-DUIT

CREATIVE CRAFTS

Opening Times: Monday - Saturday 9.30am - 5.00pm

22 Church Street, Ripley DE5 3BU Tel: 07497 523 821 uduitcreativecrafts@gmail.com

Lots of Bargains Winter NOW ON

Winter Sale - Wednesday 27th December Doors Open 9am

Fashion Accessories

Up to 70% OFF brands in all departments

Cookshop

at Ripley & now at Belper

Linen

Friendly personal service from assistants who care in two truly independent stores.

Dining

8-18 Grosvenor Road, Ripley T: 01773 742151

30-32 King Street, Belper DE56 1PS T: 01773 525358 CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 79

A Special Time

Alison House Hotel is a Georgian style house built by the Arkwright family in the Derwent Valley World Heritage site.

Set in seven acres of grounds, a peaceful setting with beautiful gardens and only a short walk from Cromford and attractions of Matlock Bath.

They have 15 en-suite bedrooms including double/twin, family rooms, disabled access and deluxe suites. There is a bar, a lounge and a spacious, bright breakfast room and restaurant.

The restaurant is open for dinner bookings to non-residents and they are open Monday to Saturday serving a traditional menu with a bit of a twist. The A la Carte menu uses locally sourced produce with a comprehensive wine list supplied by John Hattersley Wines.

Alison House Hotel is a great venue for family parties, anniversaries and celebrations. They are licensed for civil ceremonies and you can be married in one of their Ceremony Rooms or under the gazebo on the lawn. Alison House don’t offer traditional wedding packages; they cater for each couples’ individual wishes and budget. They help create a bespoke wedding every time, working closely with each couple and are guided by their requirements. It can be a formal dinner a casual barbecue or afternoon tea on the lawn. Alison House Hotel, Intake Lane, Cromford DE4 3RH 01629 822211

Swancar Farm Country House

Simply Unique ... Simply Yours ...

If you are engaged and looking for an EXCLUSIVE WEDDING VENUE for your Wedding Day then don’t hesitate to visit Swancar Farm Country House for a private viewing with your family and chat with our experienced Wedding Events Team to discuss all your requirements for your special day.

Swancar is an idyllic setting, set amidst 250 acres of rolling countryside in a unique location in Trowell, Nottinghamshire with ample parking and within easy reach of the M1 and local surrounding areas of Nottingham, Derby and Leicester. This unique house and grounds offers magnificent views, home comforts and a mixture of rustic charm with contemporary elegance and is available for you to use privately for your special occasion.

80 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Whether you are planning an intimate gathering or grand celebration throughout your stay you can enjoy great versatile facilities. Enjoy ice chilled champagne and canapés in our paved courtyard and gardens, an intimate Ceremony in The Gallery or The Barn which are licensed for Civil Ceremonies and the arched oak beams and medieval chandeliers’ in The Oak Hall provide an elegant backdrop for your Wedding Breakfast and evening’s entertainment. The fully licensed bars provide an extensive range of popular beverages and you can also indulge in the luxury of our beautifully furnished accommodation, each room has its own charm for a refreshing night’s sleep and is complimented by a delicious breakfast in our Old Farmhouse Kitchen the following morning – a great way to start married life.

Our talented team of chefs have also created an extensive menu to choose from and it is our attention to detail which sets us apart; our experienced, friendly team will make you feel at ease and ensure that your day will flow effortlessly and turn your dreams into reality.

Enjoy love and laughter with the ones you love at this unique venue.

Contact our experienced Event Team on T: 0115 9306528 to make your private appointment to view.

SALE TS STAR d r 3 Jan 2 All F F 10% O ck Sto

Couture @ 24 is a successful and influential unique women’s boutique Offering high end fashion products for every occasion.

M: 07732 344964 101 High Street Alfreton DE55 7DP

Getting Married?

and looking for an EXCLUSIVE,

WEDDING VENUE Swancar Farm Country House A unique venue and location for your Wedding Day central to Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Licensed for Civil Ceremonies • Licensed Bars • Quality Food, Accommodation & Service • Experienced Wedding Planning and Event Team •

OPEN DAY

SUNDAY, 14 JANUARY 2018 12PM -4PM PLEASE CALL TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

Tel: 0115 9306528 (Viewing by appointment only)

Swancar Farm Country House • Trowell Moor • Nottingham • NG9 3PQ www: swancarfarmcountryhouse.com e: info@swancarfarmcountryhouse.com CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 81

Directory Call 01773 830344 out our Ask ab

F 20% OF s r doo

New life for Old Kitchens!

Just replace the doors and worktops It’s so easy! Not only will a Dream Doors makeover save you £1000s, but you will not have to suffer the stress, upheaval and mess that comes with a traditional refit.

DREAM DOORS NEW LIFE FOR OLD KITCHENS

Call Steve for your FREE survey & quote on 01332 290600 Showroom Now open at 20 The Strand, Derby, DE1 1BE www.dreamdoors.co.uk

*Re-Upholstery *Loose Covers *Bespoke *Wide selection of fabrics 1 New Road, Heage, Derbyshire

01773 853338

14 More walks with a differe nce - written from Ramblers deep love and in-depth historical knowledge of this inspirational County.

WALK AROUND

HARDWICK HAL

L

a stile, then down a rough making its path way over ankle jarring tree roots into a small valley.

Climb out of the valley path into by a stepped woodland.

The wood you are in is called Lady Spencer’s Wood, after Duchess of Devonsh Georgiana ire, fifth Duke.

An ancesto wife of the r of Diana Princess of Wales, she spirited woman was a high who involved with politics herself of the time, so far as to even going offer kisses as paymen to tradesm t for en the Whig party. their votes in favour of An addicted gambler

13

Distributors required

M1

Ma

ns

fie

ld

Stile

‘Hardwick Hall – more glass than she was never wall’, runs the Derbysh able to enjoy ire rhyme. its splendo often rememb Even though urs, Bess ered, Elizabet of Hardwic h, Countes k as she is matriarchal s of Shrewsb more founder of the Cavendi ury, four times sh dynasty, married planned for accolade Hardwick of a lifetime’s to be the achievement.

7 Days a week al Home Cooked Meals • Food & Drinks Our Bar Off Served All Day ers 5 Real Spirits & Over Ales, Lagers, Wines, 220 Malt Whiskys 6 www.wal kderbysh

ardwickInn.c

ire.co.uk

o.uk

85024 5

Stile

cut ort

Sh

Picnic Site

Hardwick Hall Old Hall

START

Hardwick Lady Spencer’s Inn

Lodge

Wood

M1

The Har dwick Inn Tradition

Derby Nottin & gham

Teversal

ire.co.uk

9

Colourfully illustrated easy to read maps • Chatsworth Farm Shop, Pilsley, Derbyshire.

• Derby Tourist Information Centre, Derby.

• Swadlicote Tourists Information (Sharpes Pottery)

• The Chestnut Centre, Chapel-en-le-Frith.

• The Gift Shop, Melbourne Hall Visitors Centre.

• Ashbourne Tourist Information.

• Crich Tramway Museum • Hassop Station • Images Publishing, Keys Road, Alfreton.

or buy on-line at www.walkderbyshire.co.uk 82 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

garry@imagespublishing.co.uk

Home visits a pleasure for a Free Quotation for re-upholstery or furniture repair.

Mobile: 07960 849642 Tel: 01773 856082

Property Developments (Belper) Ltd

Visitor Centre

www.walkderbysh

Currently Available from:

Contact Country Images 01773 830344

All work carried out by our own skilled craftsmen with over 20 years of experience.

gate into go a paddoc front of the k in Home Farm buildings.

wall to k Hall, followin right as far g it to the as the hall return to the car park. and then If time allows the walk can combined be with the hall, finishingan enjoyable tour of block, or Hardwic up in the kitchen k Inn for a and drink. meal

A617

Tel: 01246

Free No Obligation Quotations

Walk to the 14 through end of the wood and a Walk alongsid 15 Hardwic e the garden

Ault Hucknall

www.H

Clean Reliable Service

she gave her and almost husband untold grief, bankrupted debts. him with her

Junction 29

5

A617

Walk Derbyshire’ is available through selected outlets around the County for a charge of ONLY £2.99

Patrick O’Neill Plastering Tel: 0780 701 6747 or 01773 434258

UPHOLSTERY RE-UPHOLSTERY REPAIRS

WALK3 1

Re-Skimming • Dry Lining • Rendering • Artex Removal •Small Repairs to Full Renovations

JOHN’S SOFA STUDIO

£2.99

Following the resounding success of Walk Derbyshire 1 & 2, in ipad size, we are pleased to release “Book 3” featuring 14 more delightful walks for you to enjoy.

All Aspects Of Plastering

Get your boots on and get paid!

BOOK 3 ON SALE NOW

Issue 3

Fourteen additional carefully selected walks around Derbyshire

RICHARD BOOTH UPHOLSTERY

• New Build • Extensions • Loft Conversions • Refurbishments • Garages

• Garage Conversions • Roofing • Soffit’s and Fascia’s • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Wet Rooms

• Conservatories • Windows • Doors • Block Paving • Pointing

Plans and Building Regulations drawings prepared for submission to Planning and or Building Control, free survey and advice about your project if required.

Very competitive prices.

Property Developments (Belper) Ltd

Suite 5K, North Mill, Bridgefoot, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 1YD

01773 823081

07921 721244

WEATHERSEAL

Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire’s Best

TRUSTED TRADERS

Windows, Doors and Conservatories

Your 5 Star Piece of Mind…

• Full Insurance Backed Guarantee • Shoot- Bolt Locking With Push Button (Autolock Handles as Standard) • High Security Internal Glazing Bead as Standard • A Rated Energy Efficient Windows As Standard • Hook Bolt Door Locks as Standard All kinds of repairs undertaken. Replacement Handles,Hinges and Door Furniture Including Double Glazing Repairs and Misted Up Glass Units

No High Pressure Sales – Guaranteed • Each Quotation Attended by the Proprietor • Our own Fully Experienced Installers, No Sub-Contractors • 20 Years’ Experience in the Window Trade

Tel: 01773 747265 Mobile: 07967 419 504 Email: weatherseal01@live.co.uk

A Local Family Run Company

SUNSET WINDOWS

The Area’s Favourite Window Company

WINDOWS DOORS CONSERVATORIES FASCIAS & SOFFITS REPAIR WORK

To advertise call 01773 830344

Head Office/Showroom 28 Church Street Ripley Derbyshire DE5 3BU

Tel:01773 513339

www.sunset-windows.co.uk

WE MAKE All Our Own Furniture

WE FIT With Our Own Craftsman

WE DELIVER Complete Peace Of Mind

Dove Bow Top Double Gates 4ft high 6ft gap only £399 4ft high 12ft gap only £705 6ft high 6ft gap only £580 6ft high 12ft gap only £1038

Dove Flat Top Double Gates 3ft high 6ft gap only £303 3ft high 12ft gap only £600 6ft high 6ft gap only £484 6ft high 12ft gap only £932

20 Disco% Supp unt l y onl y

t. 01332 650400 email: sales@orchardkitchens.co.uk www.orchardkitchens.co.uk Orchard House, Lower Granby Street, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 8DJ

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 83

THE McLAREN SENNA:

THE ULTIMATE ROAD-LEGAL TRACK CAR

T

VOLVO SAAB

INDEPENDENT SPECIALIST Service and Repair Facilities New & Used Parts Available

he McLaren Senna has been designed, engineered and developed with single-minded purpose: to be the ultimate McLaren track-concentrated car for the road. Legalised for road use, but not sanitised to suit it, the new Ultimate Series deliberately compromises McLaren’s trademark breadth of supercar daily usability; instead it provides the purest connection between driver and car, to deliver the most intense circuit experience of any road McLaren.

VOLSAA

The ultimate road-legal, track-concentrated McLaren hypercar will make its public debut in March, at the 88th Geneva International Motor Show.

www.volsaaengineering.co.uk TEL 01332 291320 01332 296324

DERBYSHIRE’S NO DERBYSHIRE’S NO1 1 INDEPENDENT LAND INDEPENDENT LANDROVER ROVERCENTRE CENTRE

ENGINEERING Volvo & Saab Specialists

UNITS 2/3 FOX STREET DERBY DE1 2BW

Quality service without compromise.

Are you paying too much R TOO MUCH FO for yourELand AYINGServicing?

YOU PRover G?

AR VER SERVICIN YOUR LANDRO

der

un whilstunder Why not try DLS? We can service your ice vehicle even whilst le even ur vehic e can serv yo ality service S! Wwarranty. u aaqu yo g Land Rover manufacturer’s Giving you quality vin Gi y.

Why not try DL nt facturer’s warra to main dealer prices. ver manucompared service with great to main dealer prices.

Land Rosavings vings compared

promise. ice without com

with great sa

rv DLS - Quality se

DLS All servicing is carried out to the original manufacturer’s schedules DLS

All servicing is carried out to the original

Affordable Affordable and competitive on all service and repair Air Conditioning work, oftenwith largeService savings Full and aircon labour and diagnostics on parts pricesservice available Affordable quoted by the Main Dealer

Full Workingschedules Facilities manufacturer’s Affordable and competitive on all Service and Modern, fully equipped 6 Full Working Facilities Repair work,Available often with large savings on parts an bay workshop employing fully Courtesy Cars Modern fully equipped 6 bay workshop employing prices quoted by theus Main Dealer While labour your vehicle is with skilled Land Rover trained fully skilled Land Rover trained technicians Courtesy Cars technicians you could take up Available the option Computer Diagnostics yourcourtesy vehicle is with us you could take up of oneWhile of our cars Autologic option of one our courtesy cars so you will Computer Diagnostics so youthewill never beof without Diagnostic Technology never(conditions be without transport (conditions apply) Autologic Diagnostic transport apply) Technology

WATER LANE • WIRKSWORTH • MATLOCK • DERBYSHIRE • DE4 4AA

Air Conditioning Service Full air-con and diagnostic service available 84 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Used Volvos and Saabs at Competitive Prices

CALL OUR SERVICE TEAM ON (01629) 822185 Web: DLS-UK.co.uk Email: sales@DLS-UK.co.uk

SUN LIVING V65SL from

SUN LIVING S75SL from

£41,925

£44,925

on the road

EXCLUSIVE GEOFF COX SUNLIVING

OFFER

Available for a limited time on selected 2017 Sun Living models

SUN LIVING A75SL from

£47,225

on the road

on the road

DRIVERS PACK & COMFORT PACK

ADVENTURE PACK

Comfort pack inc.: Truma 4E electric heating, cab seats habitation textile, colour coded bumpers and habitation fly-screen.

Drivers pack inc.: Cabin air conditioning, passenger airbag & cruise control.

Adventure pack inc.: Bike rack, awning, 4G wifi, solar panel and in dash media player with bluetooth.

worth over £3000 included.

worth over £4000 included.

3.9%* APR from £299.24

per month Hire purchase representative example.

*Hire purchase representative example (V65SL): Monthly payments of £299.24, agreement term 120 months, cash price £41,925, total deposit £12,125, amount of credit £18,141.20, total amount payable £35,908.80, representative APR 3.9%, administration fees £0.00, option to purchase fee £10.

Don’t forget that all finance is subject to terms and conditions, and dependent on your status. Terms may vary according to the vehicle you wish to purchase. Written quotations are available on request.

Administration and purchase fees may vary. Geoff Cox is registered with the FCA, our registration number is 622785.

19 6 7

2 0 17

C E L E B R AT I N G 5 0 Y E A R S

DEALER OF THE YEAR

Ded ica t

Geoff Cox Showground T: 01332 781562 W: www.geoffcoxleisure.co.uk

g vin nli

rA erts fo dria an dS exp u ed

2017

Adria Motorhomes Geoff Cox Leisure

Derby Road | Denby | Derbyshire | DE58LG

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 85

Motoring Pre-owned and loved Cortina Mk 3 2000GT Colour:Daytona Yellow Engine: 1993cc 0-60: 11.7 seconds Top speed : 98 mph

Good wheels made a great 70’s car; they took your eyes off the rust!

A mean looking machine

T

he first car I owned was a ten year old Mk 2 Ford Cortina 1600L. It came complete with wafer thin inner front wings, loose bonnet hinges, blue paint that flaked off when travelling but it drove really well and never let me down. The previous owner was obviously a smoker because the fuses were wrapped in fag paper which when wriggled about formed a good connection!

During the 6 months I had it, I corrected all the faults as best I could, but moving to a new job created a need for another vehicle and the Cortina Mk 3 2000 GT (Britain’s best selling car in 1972,73,74, 75) became my pride and joy and a car I wish I had kept in the garage rather than sell it.

I realized this when ‘Life On Mars’ came on TV with Gene Hunt flying around in his Cortina 2000GXL and the Mk3 suddenly became a much sought after car exchanging hands for quite a tidy sum, far in excess of its original price.

Super comfy seats just enveloped your body.

The ‘Life on Mars GXL’. Nice but lacked the proper seats!

Sometimes labelled the Coke bottle

86 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

The 1971 two door Mk 3 Cortina 2000GT bedecked in Daytona yellow with a black vinyl roof was previously owned by superb work colleague Bob who was an ex Swindon Town goalkeeper. It was his pride and joy but changing circumstances forced him to sell. This was pure luxury for me. It was 7 years old and had acquired a little autumn gold on the rear wheel arches. Labelled by some as the ‘coke bottle’ due to its shape, it had a sporty looking front end distinguished by its four headlamps, spec included 2.0-litre SOHC engines, anti-roll bar, servo assisted brakes – front disc and rear drum, steering was by rack-and-pinion - a first for the Cortina. The 2000 engine was a 1,993cc SOHC S4 unit with a Weber carburettor.

The 2000 engine with newly fitted twin choke Weber carburettors was so sweet.

The best memories are journeys to Wales travelling up the A6 from Ashford in the Water and round the swinging bends up Taddington bypass. Snuggling down into the deep wrap round seats with integral

headrests it shot through the bends (and oil!) and delivered the smooth gears via a short-shift gear stick with ease and speed.

The top speeds of cars for the ordinary driver back then didn’t really hit three figures and the 0-60 is pretty tame by today’s standards, at just over 11 seconds on the flat although I could get a bit more downhill. I repainted the wheels and fitted new tyres and steel trims (see top pic). I taught myself to fit brake pads which worked well.

The centre console had, what I consider essential on a car, - lots of gauges, fuel, oil, temp and amp meter, plus radio and the then famous Ford heater which was really efficient. A family camping trip to rain soaked Jersey resulted in a new exhaust as being a low car, it got caught on the ferry slipway and fell off. That gave it the best sounding engine ever but not to everyone’s taste on Jersey So, why did I sell it? A Ford Cortina Mk3 2000E caught my eye. Four years newer and top of the range. But it just wasn’t the same.

Relative luxury yes, but not half the fun as the GT. When my boss gave me a company car it had to go and I wasn’t sad really. Yes I was gutted to get a free brand new Ford Escort 1.3 L (!)- a bit of a comedown - but I’d had my fun and those days would slowly come back...

A couple of years ago whilst clearing out some cupboards I came across the old Mk3 2000GT logbook and decided to check if it was still around. Scrapped I’m sad to say. I’m not surprised though as it did have a bit of rust, as most cars did back then, and could only get worse the more use it got unless repaired, and yet many have survived I’m glad to say.

Would I like another? Of course I would.

Will I ever get another? I’d like to think so.

When retirement beckons it would be nice to have one in the garage to tinker with. I know a good welder! That’s the important thing when taking on something old like this you need contacts.

GP

75% OFF JANUARY SALE IN OUR MASSIVE

S SALE STAMRBTER 26th DECE

AT 10AM

6 BRAND NEW KITCHEN DISPLAYS

FREINEG

FitIhTthTis advert w

PREMIER INTERIORS Quality Fitted Kitchens

T: 01773 252090 | W: premierinteriorsnottingham.co.uk Mon - Wed - 9am - 6pm | Thur - 9am - 7pm | Fri - 9am - 6pm Sat - 9am - 5.30pm | Sun - 10am - 4pm Showroom: 227 Station Road, Langley Mill, Nottinghamshire, NG16 4AD www.premierinteriorsnottingham.co.uk *Terms and conditions apply. *Not in conjunction with any other offer.

ercol Dining Offer

FREE CHAIR

Buy a table & 5 chairs & receive the 6th for FREE

special WINTER SALE

ercol Novoli Small Table & 4 chairs £4,049 WINTER SALE price £2,734 Parker Knoll Evolution Large Fabric Sofa from £1,928 WINTER SALE price £1,399 Myers Kelmscott Bed King Size Bed from £929 WINTER SALE price £499 Prices valid until 31st January 2018. All offers are subject to availability, for full terms & conditions please see in-store.

Mon-Sat 9.00am-5.30pm, Sun 10.30am-4.30pm Babington Lane, Derby. DE1 1SY 01332 349285 huntersfurniture.co.uk