Derby December 2018

www.countryimagesmagazine.co.uk • Your Complimentary Lifestyle Magazine • Established 1994

COUNTRY

Derby Edition - December 2018

A friend dropping in The Lost Houses

of Derbyshire

Temple House Derby

Mysteries, Murder, Marple and More...

Steve Orme interviews

Sue Holderness Modern Collectibles

Teddy Bears

Repton CAPITAL OF THE KINGDOM OF MERCIA

A Winter Warmer

WA Around the Longshaw Estate

From nut-sprinkled discs to chocolate drenched honeycombs

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You may not have considered using your garden before at Christmas time but this is when our cabins become truly magical. From festive parties to waking up on Christmas morning with a cabin full of presents from Santa! Imagine watching the snow gently fall outside whilst sipping some warm mulled wine in front of a roaring fire… Christmas bliss!

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2 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

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Nearly done!

Country

Yes 2018 is drawing to a close and this edition highlights so much that is happening on our high streets. Many businesses are offering tempting last minute bargains, so read each advert carefully to find them.

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

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A hearty thank you...

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our loyal customers, sales team, production team, editorial team, distributors, printers and readers for supporting us during 2018. We look forward to bringing you more packed editions in 2019.

Garry, Jane and the team at Country Images Magazine.

To be part of the January edition in 2019

please call us on 01773 830344 In addition to our extensive letterbox distribution, Country Images is also stocked at over 70 outlets across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

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Mysteries, Murder, Marple and More...

Theories about Agatha Christie’s disappearance

From the days of ancient Greece right up to the present day, people all over the world have been fascinated by crime stories.

Authors including Sophocles, Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle are often cited as being among the finest writers of the genre – but none can match the best-selling novelist of all time, Agatha Christie.

Miss Marple, as portrayed by Joan Hickson 8 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

The Agatha Christie bust

Death on the Nile featuring Peter Ustinov

Murder on the Orient Express display case

Murder on the Orient Express with Albert Finney

Her 66 detective novels and 14 collections of short stories have sold about two billion copies. She also penned The Mousetrap, the longest-running show in the world which has played continually in the West End for 66 years. Her estate claims that only the works of Shakespeare and the Bible have been published more widely.

So it’s hardly surprising that an exhibition about the writer, Agatha Christie: Mysteries, Murder, Marple and More, at Pickford’s House in Derby has been extended until 26 January because it’s been so successful.

The tribute to Dame Agatha has been put together by Gale Goddard, a retired civil servant from Langham in Rutland. In 2005 she was watching a Christie drama on television, Five Little Pigs, and an idea popped into her head that she should start collecting photos of actors involved in TV productions and films.

Five years later she had her first exhibition, at the now closed Snibston Discovery Museum in Leicestershire.

“I had quite a lot of photographs,” she told me when I met her at Pickford’s House. “I also had some items from Greenway (the

Christie family’s holiday home in Devon) which belonged to Agatha that she actually used herself.”

In 1926 Agatha Christie mysteriously disappeared after her husband Archie asked her for a divorce. She wasn’t found for ten days and two doctors diagnosed that she had been suffering from amnesia.

“I also had a few things to do with her disappearance,” said Gale. “I think then I could see the potential of a different type of exhibition and it’s really grown from there.

I have these ideas and I just follow them through.”

Gale revealed that she was fascinated by Agatha’s plots and the suspense in her stories.

“I once read that she leads you to the murderer at the very beginning of the story and then everybody is under suspicion.

“I’m also interested in the psychology of murder, not the actual act of murder.”

During World War I Agatha Christie volunteered as a nurse at Torquay hospital.

She then moved into a dispensary.

“I think she was in her element then because

she learned a lot about poisons,” said Gale.

“In her first book The Mysterious Affair At Styles, the way she described the poisons was so accurate that a pharmaceutical journal mentioned that she had a very good understanding of poisons and how they worked.”

Go along to Pickford’s House and you can learn all about Agatha’s writing and some of the characters she created. There are rare books as well as oil paintings of actors including David Suchet, Joan Hickson, Albert Finney and Peter Ustinov.

There are items that would be used by Agatha’s endearing Belgian detective Hercule Poirot including his black Russian cigarettes, cigarette case, hats and canes.

“If you look into the Murder On The Orient Express exhibition it’s almost as if you’re standing there or sitting in the train going along the journey not realising that murder’s at the end of it.”

The centenary of Agatha’s birth was celebrated with a bronze bust of her being erected in Torquay. A copy of the bust is in the Pickford’s House exhibition.

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 9

“This is an identical copy,” said Gale. “It’s made of clay but if the bronze one in Torquay were to be damaged, this is the only other copy because the mould was broken after this one was made.”

Many actors have portrayed Poirot on radio, television and film but Gale believes David Suchet was undoubtedly the best.

“He read all the books because he wasn’t familiar with them and made notes about the character.

“He played Poirot exactly how it should be.

I’ve met David on a few occasions and when he’s in costume he doesn’t come out of the character until he’s finished filming.”

Three Poirots

Another of Agatha’s enchanting characters is Miss Marple, played by Margaret Rutherford, Angela Lansbury, Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie among others. But Gale’s favourite is Joan Hickson who she said played the character as she was in the books.

“If we go back to the very beginning, Miss Marple was a little old lady – she wasn’t particularly a nice person. But after a while Agatha Christie changed the character who becomes very observant. This is what Joan Hickson portrays.”

Gale is negotiating where Agatha Christie: Mysteries, Murder, Marple and More will go next. She’s pleased that it’s been extended at Pickford’s House.

“All I want is for people to come to the exhibition and enjoy it. Sometimes I just like to watch people’s faces. That’s all I want – I don’t want anything else from it.”

So will Agatha Christie’s popularity continue?

Gale Goddard

Three Miss Marples “Undoubtedly. We’ve had quite a few young people who’ve come to see the exhibition, so it’s nice that there’s another generation of people out there who are fascinated by her stories and her books.”

There are some remarkable exhibits, none more so than a picture of the first actress to play Miss Marple on stage. Who was it? You’ll be intrigued. You’ll have to go and detect who it was yourself.

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The Lost Houses

of Derbyshire

by Maxwell Craven

Temple House Derby

The entrance front and portico from the drive, c. 1940s. [A. Barker]

If

you go up Mill Hill Lane today, you might come away with the impression that Temple House is the house facing you end-wise as you link round towards the top of Renals Street. That, however, would be a mistake encouraged by the fact that the building in question, a brick villa of some size, is the Temple Clinic.

In fact, this building was put up to the designs of architects Giles & Brookhouse in 1867 and then rebuilt

by Edward Fryer (1852-1883) in 1882 as the vicarage of St. Chad’s church, further along in St. Chad’s Road. Even then, it was smaller than it is now, for it underwent a further enlargement (by about a third) in the 1980s at the hands of the Council, the job being done with amazing

Map of the site in 1852 showing the house, its drive from Mill Hill Lane and the secondary approach from Burton Road.

Note that Abbey Street was pitched after 1819.

[M. Craven] CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 19

The Lost Houses

of Derbyshire

by Maxwell Craven tact in matching style: red brick, sparing stone dressings, sashes with glazing bars, dog-tooth cornicing and so on.

In fact that villa was built as a dower house for the owner of much larger Temple House, which nestled amongst the bocage on the slope to its right, half way between Mill Hill Lane and Burton Road. It was sold off for adaptation as a vicarage in 1881.

Temple House itself, demolished in 1959, was built about 1825 for Joseph Woollatt (or Willott) nephew of William Woollatt, Jedediah Strutt’s original partner in his cotton spinning business. It was situated on a steeply sloping piece of land which descended to the Burton Road, and which had been part of the pleasure grounds of Mill Hill House, the residence of banker Thomas Swinburne but, being rather steep and north facing, was sold to Swinburne’s fellow banker Samuel Richardson (1741-1823) about 1816. He landscaped the plot and had ‘a very handsome summerhouse built’ which he called The Prospect. This was situated near the top of the slope, just below what is now Mill Hill Lane and which was then a footpath, with a circular walk embowered by trees. Richardson died in 1823 when his family sold the plot, along with surrounding land to the south, to Joseph Woollatt.

Woollatt’s new house, which essentially replaced the summer house, was (naturally) called Prospect House, and not without reason, for anyone who has travelled up Mill Hill Lane will tell you that, where one can see northwards between the later houses, there are magnificent views to be had right across Derby to Drum Hill

by Little Eaton.

Illustrations: Top: The Garden front, as shored up after the widening of Burton Road, 1940s. [A. Barker] Middle: Temple House photographed in the 1950s; the NW (garden) front and conservatory.

[M. Craven] Bottom: Map of the site 1819, with the summerhouse of Mill Hill House (The Propsect) in its tree edged setting.

[Adapted from map in Derby Local Studies Library] 20 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

The house Joseph Woollatt built was a rectangular villa of Keuper sandstone ashlar blocks, situated towards the top of the slope on the south side of Burton Road. The house had main fronts facing NW and NE (due to the vagaries of the site). There were three storeys under a hipped slate roof supported upon a cornice and moulded entablature, there having been three widely spaced bays on each main front. The windows were protected by sliding cast iron jalousies those on the Burton Road (NW) side with moulded entablatures above.

The angles were embellished with giant Doric pilasters.

The entrance front faced Mill Hill Lane, and boasted a Doric portico, although a secondary approach was via a steeply inclined path from a

lodge house on the Burton Road, more or less opposite the junction with Abbey Street which still survives, although today sealed off and very overgrown. This led to the other show front of the house, the entrance on this side being via a door set under a broken pediment in a canted ground floor bay, the top providing a balcony for the bedroom above and being protected by an attractive cast iron balustrade.

There was a service wing to the west forming a court yard, and a conservatory. The plainer elevations of the house were very close in style to those of The Field, Osmaston Road, a villa which was described in Country Images in September 2014, which rather suggests that the architect was probably the ubiquitous and versatile Richard Leaper: alderman and serial Mayor of Derby, banker, collector of customs for the Borough and prolific amateur architect.

This supposition is strengthened when we realise that he was also the architect of Mill Hill House (built c. 1812) and also of Corndean Hall.

The ground floor windows on the two main fronts were sashes extended to terrace level, and in deed on the Burton Road side, the gardens were impressively terraced the house platform descending sharply to a semi-circular terrace below, a feature which began to give trouble post World war Two, as they began to slip partly due to lack of maintenance and partly due to the widening of Burton Road undercutting the bank. Much of the Swinburne’s landscaping was, however, retained.

Joseph Woollatt died in about 1830 and his widow, Harriett, married Joseph Bailey, a landowner at Allestree and Breadsall and a wholesale grocer. It was a second marriage for Bailey, too, for he brought with him a teenage son John who took over the business in the 1840s when his father died. The estate that came with the house lay mainly to the south, and seems to have extended to about 60 acres, cheek-by-jowl with that of another lost house (of which a photograph has yet to emerge), Mount Carmel.

Bailey was a councillor, chairman of the bench and a keen member of the Freemasonic Tyrian Lodge in Derby. Unfortunately, neither he nor his wife, Hannah had issue, and after she died in the 1870s, he decided to release about half the estate to build badly-needed houses, thus creating a block of streets south of Mill Hill Lane, by this time a fully metalled road: Bailey Street, Mill Hill Road, Western Road and

Temple Street, all pitched 1875-1878; in 1881 there were 3,000 people living on what had been Bailey’s estate!

Temple Street, of course, took its name from the Temple of Jerusalem, after which Bailey’s house had been re-named when he inherited it, thanks to his keenness for the arcana of freemasonry.

The name remained with it for the remainder of its existence. Bailey himself remarried Londoner Sophie Anne Beswick in 1882 and despite being in his seventies, had a son and three daughters, the youngest, Vera Margaret, being born only a decade before his death aged eighty in 1897.

The family continued to live there, with three staff and a Dutch governess, until the early 1900s, when they moved to Buxton and let the house to Thomas Allen Edwardes, the enigmatic proprietor of the Grand Theatre, Babington Lane from 1898 to 1919. His son Ernest pre-deceased him and he later moved to Bass Street, before going to Nottingham where he left his wife and family to run off with an actress and was never heard of again. It was let to Frederic Mander who left about 1930, when it was purchased by Derby Council from Bailey’s son, John Beswick Bailey (who went to Canada) and established the Temple House

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The Lost Houses

of Derbyshire

by Maxwell Craven (Mentally Defective) Council School there which, after a more tactful name change, lasted until about 1956.

The house lingered on, unloved and unappreciated, until 1958 when the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nottingham acquired it as the site of a new church. This was because St. Joseph’s Gordon Road, was considered inadequate to (then) current needs, and a new church designed by the late Derek Montague was built in rotunda style in 1962 on the semi-circular terrace of the old house, the site of which was used for a church hall. The old St. Joseph’s was handed on to Derby’s thriving Polish community which re-dedicated it to St. Maksymilian Kolbe.

Today, the only relic of Temple House is the rusty iron railing alongside Burton Road and the chained up gate which, after its purchase by Derby Council, was used as the main entrance to the house, latterly just 91 Burton Road.

Pictured right: View to the upper lodge through the brick arch at the end of the courtyard, 1940s. [A. Barker] Below: The service court yard on the SE side, 1940s. [A. Barker]

22 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

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Modern Collectibles

Teddy Bears

by Maxwell Craven

Toy animals

have been around since the days of Ancient Egypt, but bears only since the 18th century, and genuinely cuddly ones, made of plush stuffed with something that will take a squeeze, only became available as a manufactured item in the 19th century.

German Schuco Teddy bear with it original (rather plain) box, 1920s.

H

owever, the all-encompassing soubriquet’ Teddy’ owes its origins in this context to the 20th century.

‘Teddy’ has been around as an abbreviation for Edward since the 17th century but it saw the early 20th century before the word became attached to bears.

Nor was it in this context, - short for Edward - but for Theodore, the culprit being US President Theodore Roosevelt.

On 16th November 1902 the Washington Post ran a cartoon of President Theodore Roosevelt refusing to shoot a bear. He had been part of a hunting party in Mississippi but in three days was the only member of the party not to have had a shot at a bear. Not wishing to lose face the organiser, the state governor, ran to earth an old injured bear, tied it to a tree and invited the President to shoot it, to which, he replied ‘Spare the bear! I will not shoot a tethered animal.’

The incident soon got out and to connect his reluctance with current politics led to the cartoon being published. Not only that, but the cartoonist, Clifford Berryman, never failed to include a ridiculous looking bear in any subsequent cartoon of the president!

Yet the Teddy Bear connection came about through a New York sweet shop owner who saw the cartoon and put in his shop window two stuffed toy bears his wife had made, but perspicaciously first asked Roosevelt’s permission to call these toy bears ‘Teddy's bears’.

Their unexpected success led him to mass-produce them, eventually forming the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company.

Clifford Berryman’s original Washington Post cartoon, 1902.

A very early Rupert Bear inspired by the Daily Express cartoon from 1920.

Steiff early 20th century mohair bear, estimated at £80-120.

[Bamfords Ltd.]

Steiff Bears

Almost simultaneously, a Germany company, started making stuffed bears too. Margaret Steiff was a seamstress but with the help of her nephew Richard, diversified into making soft toys. In 1903, an American saw one of her toys at the Leipzig toy fair - a bear, needless to say but one which went a stage further with jointed arms and legs – and bulk-ordered them for re-sale. These also came to be called Teddy Bears. These early ones are beautifully made usually covered in plush or mohair and tend to have slightly humped backs and longish, more realistic, snouts.

A large 1972 original Paddington, a later small version and a 1978 Aunt Lucy bear, all by Gabrielle designs, estimated £70-100. [Bamfords Ltd.]

Steiff bears can be very valuable, as can other German makes such as Bing, Sussenguth Brothers and Schuco. Such was their popularity that, with the first war, German imports to the UK dried up and several British companies rushed to fill the gap, Chiltern, Dean, JK Farnell, Merrythought and Chad Valley being amongst those that began to manufacture Teddies.

Because no two Steiff bears are exactly alike, prices can vary, but the early date and sheer quality can lift prices of examples in good condition to as much as £30,000 retail – this for a black coloured one made for the British market in memory of the Titanic disaster of 1912 and in superb condition.

And of course, one should always buy bears in the best possible condition; they have to have been expertly repaired and more importantly professionally cleaned for a dirty bear can spread mites and moth which can spread to other soft toys and indeed us. If the price is high, try and establish provenance, like a good work of art. If they’re ‘well-loved’ they will be less collectible and hence less valuable, even though perhaps all the more endearing!

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Replica Steiff black Teddy as issued to mark the Titanic tragedy 1912.

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CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 29

J K Farnell ‘Alpha’ bear as bought by A A Milne in 1921 and immortalised in 1926 as Winnie-thePooh.

A 1930s Chad Valley Teddy, estimated at £50-70.

[Bamfords Ltd.]

Rupert Bear and Winnie-the-Pooh

In 1920 the strip cartoon featuring Rupert Bear in the Daily Express revived the boom, followed hard on its heels by Winnie-the-Pooh in 1926, the original of which was a Teddy made by the firm of J K Farnell and bought for his son by A A Milne in 1921. Paddington came along in the 1970s, and early ones are highly collectible: a group of three by Gabrielle Designs made over £100 at Bamford’s in August.

Yet bears in character are really a distinct sub-division of Teddy bear collecting, not being Teddy bears at all!

Teddies can also have other, bolt-on characteristics which in earlier models can make them more desirable and hence more expensive.

Some growl when rocked, others have a musical function: the possibilities are fairly wide.

Although Steiff bears, identifiable by their distinctive trademark button in one ear, resumed production in 1947, the present boom in collecting Teddies is traceable to 1969 when character actor Peter Bull wrote a book entitled Bear With Me (later re-titled The Teddy

An original bear made by the Ideal Novelty & Toy Company, 1900s.

Bear Book) about his collection and affection for the toy. This led to a revival on the making of Teddy Bears, often individually made and in 1985 the Teddy Bear Artists’ Guild was formed; also, Christie's held their first auction dedicated to the sale of antique bears.

Yet during the 1960s the traditional manufacturers lost ground to Teddies produced in China and Indonesia, as cheaper mass-produced bears took over the market. Nevertheless, there are still several companies that produce high-quality collectible bears around the world and in addition there are many ‘bear artists’ producing individual, hand-made collectors’ bears. Prices levelled out a few years ago with the recession but now they are steadily on the rise again A recent Bamfords toy and juvenilia sale included no less than twentyone collectible Teddy Bears, some by important makers, and although the majority were estimated at £40-60, most did much better than that.

Modern ones are much less expensive, although very large ones tend to be (unnecessarily) pricey, but keep an eye out for quality and eschew artificial fibres Bears come, like Antony’s Cleopatra, in infinite variety, and it is easy to adapt one’s collecting to what you like and maintain consistency as well as suit your pocket. Then of course, you just might want to buy one for an actual infant to cuddle up to!

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Country

Repton

Repton Cross

CAPITAL OF THE KINGDOM OF MERCIA

by Brian Spencer

T

he history of the North Midlands is writ large on this ancient town set high above the quiet meadows bordering the River Trent. Its history is traced from Saxon and Norman times, through Tudor to the present day. Even the Danes who came this far up the Trent in their longships, made it their winter base during their attempted expansion south from Northumbria into King Alfred’s Wessex.

Repton’s parish church of St Wystan is built on Saxon foundations, part of the priory that brought Christianity to this part of the Midlands.

Remains of the ruined 12th century ecclesiastical house are incorporated within the famous school, the most important remnants being Prior Overton’s Tower, now part of the Headmaster’s

House. The school can trace its foundations back to the time when the earliest Saxons settled here; today it is the North Midland’s major centre of learning. The parish church, that most recognisable part of that monastery still stands, with a needle-like spire beckoning the faithful over miles of water-meadows. It shelters a rare

old crypt as well as overlooking the fine school buildings old and new, with grey walls and red walls, gables and red roofs, green carpeted church yard sheltered by ancient trees, the whole overlooked by delightful cottages – along the road to Bretby there is even a rare example of a black and white house with a room that overhangs its porch.

When those early Saxons erected their simple timber and mud-walled church some time around the middle of the 7th century, it began a thousand years of building, giving us one of the most noble of village shrines. They gave us a crypt which grew in fame until it became the northern equivalent of Westminster Abbey.

Beginning with King Æthelbald (AD716-757) CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 35

it became the final resting place of Mercian kings and queens including King Wiglaf and martyred Prince Wystan his grandson, who was murdered in AD849. For many years the crypt beneath the church sheltered the remains of the martyred prince who had been treacherously murdered by his cousin, but in 874 his remains were transferred to Evesham on the approach of invading Danes.

By this time Wystan had been made a saint and his shrine a place of pilgrimage. Such was the popularity of a pilgrimage to St Wystan’s Repton tomb that the crypt was regularly dangerously overcrowded by devout pilgrims. As a result an extra set of stairs was made, creating an early example of a one-way system, which stands to this day.

Around this time the Danes were for ever making a nuisance of themselves and after one particular foray in 850, they destroyed the monastery which had stood there for more than 200 years. When later Saxons built a church on the site of the old

abbey, they laid its foundations on the remains of the old chancel walls, walls that are still standing to this day. Part of this rebuilding left us a crypt that has been called the most perfect example of Saxon architecture, certainly in this part of England. Only 17 feet square, it has a vaulted roof with small rounded arches resting on four spirally wreathed pillars, and eight extra half pillars on the walls. Modern windows have been cut into the walls to let light in and show us the crypt to its best advantage. There are still traces of an old altar, and an opening in the western wall which is believed to have been a peep-hole in by-gone days when lepers or the infirm could view the shrine without struggling up and down the steps.

The crypt was desecrated during Henry VIII’s Act of Dissolution and forgotten until the end of the 18th century, when a workman accidentally fell into it while digging a grave. Near an entrance to the crypt from the outside, a holy-water stoup, made for the use of the priory can still be seen.

Today’s visitors have none of the struggle early

Priory Gateway - entrance to Repton School 36 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

pilgrims experienced. Modern lighting allows access even though it must be remembered that the stone stairs both in and out are hundreds of years old.

Today’s visitors to St Wystan’s, Repton’s parish church, can see the work of the 12th century and later builders who reshaped the Saxon church but the chancel walls are mostly as they were when the original 10th century craftsmen downed tools on their last day’s work. There are still the remains of two Saxon pillars with square capitals which were once part of the 13th century nave arcades, but now stand in the two-storied porch.

Above its ancient door, St Wystan looks out from a small niche, watching visitors, old and young who come to see his wonderful Saxon church.

Outside and on the side of the support tower of the slender spire is a clock, which prides itself as being half the size of Big Ben’s clock on the Houses of Parliament in Westminster.

It comes as something of a shock when wandering around the churchyard, to see the number of

Commonwealth War Graves tucked away in a secluded corner. With only the odd exception they hold the remains of trainee glider pilots killed during training flights from their school based on the site of what is now Toyota’s Burnaston factory off the A38 near Derby.

The Parish Church with its slender steeple

Repton School celebrated its 400th Anniversary in 1957. Built on the site of the old priory church, its spacious main hall was designed in 1886 by Sir Arthur Blomfield, a major Victorian architect, in memory of Doctor Stuart Pears. It was under his rule that what was then a grammar school, became in the space of twenty years one of the great public schools in the country.

The friendly local pub the Bull’s Head offered to look after our dog while using the inn’s toilets in a village without such public conveniences for visitors, rounded off a day visiting this one-time capital of Mercia, one of England’s original four kingdoms.

A stroll around this attractive not-so-sleepy village of interesting old buildings with the occasional antique shop, can be extended by a two mile drive out to Foremark Hall. While not generally open to the public, the view from the outside is well worth the visit. Built in 1760 in the Palladian style, for the Burdetts, it is now a preparatory school for Repton; the family church is a National Trust property open to the public on advertised days. A century older than the house, it is externally Gothic, but its interior is still Jacobean, furnished with box-pews, a threedecker pulpit and a fine rood-screen.

Repton’s historic crypt where the kings of Mercia are buried CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 37

Gardening IN DECEMBER with

Mark Smith

R

egular readers to my article will know at this time of year that I like to look back on the year. The past 12 months have seen many ups and downs professionally. Firstly being made redundant from a garden centre I truly loved working for. The timing was the worst. Then working for a plant wholesaler in Derby which seemed OK at first but 3am starts were never going to work for me.

However now I’m working for a nursery, selling plants all over the country to many incredible garden centres, plus a trip to Tuscany in Italy every month is a nice bonus! I cannot wait to share my Italian experiences over the coming months with Country Images.

And how can I remember all of this?

My “Golden” tip – invest in a note book to record all your successes, but also note the weather too as this does play a big part if crops or ornamental plants are going to succeed… If you don`t really like writing things down use a digital camera. I’ve started using a lot more pictures in my notes.

•

In the Greenhouse: •

•

Allotment or Vegetable Patch: •

• •

•

If not done so already, wrap grease bands around the trunks of fruit trees to protect them from winter moths, I tend to leave grease or bands on all year.

Finish any winter pruning of apple trees.

Now is a great time to lift rhubarb crowns and divide them. Divide with a sharp spade into equal parts and repot or re-plant into the ground again.

Get ready for planting asparagus crowns in spring, removing weeds and digging over the soil and enrich it by adding homemade compost.

38 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Now is the best time to plant new fruit trees, bushes and cane fruits. As the selection of varieties in Nurseries will still be good.

•

By now you should have insulated the greenhouse with bubble polythene, the large bubble wrap is the best.

Check weather forecasts closely to ensure you’re setting greenhouse heating accurately, and open vents on warm days.

Remove any late falling leaves and wash glazing inside and out to let in more light. - And remember to compost those leaves !

General Garden Maintenance: •

•

Bring all watering equipment indoors, including hoses and sprinklers etc and wrap insulation around outside taps.

Check garden birds have water to drink, especially on frosty days when it might be frozen, and remember to top up seed and nut feeders.

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3 plants that will look fantastic over the Winter Months:

Skimmia Rubella: A slow growing, compact evergreen shrub. Bright scarlet flower buds from late September to late January then comes into flower until mid March.

Likes full sun or a partially shaded position in light to heavy (clay) soils.Ideal for a small garden or great in a container. 3ft X 3ft

Sarcococca Confuse: Fantastic shrub that’s evergreen with white scented flowers – ideal for a container so you could bring it closer to the house.

Gets to about 5ft and grows best in part to full shade.

Viburnum tinus “Eve Price”: A compact growing evergreen shrub that is pink/red in bud opening to pure white flowers in late winter and spring, followed by blue/black berries in autumn. Can be used as an informal hedge or as a great container plant, clipped to shape. 4ft to 5ft high X 4ft wide.

Don`t forget to tune in to my gardening feature on BBC Radio Derby, every Wednesday just after 1pm. Thank you to everyone who reads Country Images and my gardening article, I have only ever had great comments from you.

Please keep contacting me with your gardening problems (If you can please include a photo or as much detail as you can think of as this will help a lot) garden.guru@virginmedia.com Please get in contact if you require a gardening talk for a Gardening Club or similar.

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Images Leisure time

Celebrity Interview Walk Diary Gallery Food & Drink

Should you find yourself in Mansfield over the winter season and you see Sue Holderness walking down the street, don’t be afraid to shout “Marlene!” at her.

The actress who’s playing the Wicked Queen in the town’s pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs won’t be insulted that you still think of her as Marlene Boyce from Only Fools and Horses, described by Sue as “the biggest tart in south east London”.

Steve Orme interviews

Sue Holderness

S

ue spoke to me as rehearsals were starting for the panto and told me how playing Marlene changed her life, how she’s frightened of getting dementia and what she’ll be doing next year on her 70th birthday.

Sue and Marlene could hardly be different. Sue comes over as charming, educated and well-spoken, talking quickly and enthusiastically about life and her career.

Sue played Marlene from 1984 until the final episode of Only Fools and Horses in 2003.

The character of Marlene was supposed to be in the television sitcom for only one episode. Del Boy and Rodney were to look after the Boyces’ dog while they were on holiday and Marlene delivered the animal to the two brothers.

“John Sullivan wrote such a wonderful scene for my handing over the dog that a couple of weeks later he rang up and said ‘we’ve decided we like Marlene and she’s coming back’. So thank you John Sullivan because it’s been a joy.”

Sue played Marlene from 1984 until the final episode

of Only Fools and Horses in 2003. She and on-screen husband John Challis – dodgy second-hand car dealer Boycie – then starred in the spin-off ‘The Green Green Grass’ which ran for four series and three Christmas specials.

Hardly surprising that people still address her as Marlene – yet she says she loves it.

“If John Sullivan were still around and writing, I would like to be playing Marlene until I shuffle off this mortal coil or am staggering around on my zimmer frame because he wrote wonderful lines for us.”

She explains the enduring popularity of Only Fools and Horses: “None of the characters swear, they don’t drink and drive, they don’t take drugs – it’s proper family viewing that’s just fun. There’s not very much of that about.”

Only Fools and Horses was life-changing to such an extent that Sue never has to audition for a part.

“Aren’t I lucky? I haven’t had to audition for many moons thanks to Marlene. When I got the role in 1984 I thought it was just going to be one day’s work. Now I seem to be able to do plays and pantomimes and not have to audition simply because they can say ‘Sue Marlene Holderness’ and think people might come along.

“I’m going to be 70 next year, still working, and that can’t be said of an awful lot of actors my age because it’s hard out there. There are an awful lot of us who really don’t want to retire but there aren’t enough parts for us all, so I’m lucky that I keep getting offered them.”

Susan Joan Pringle Holderness was born on 28 May 1949 in Hampstead. She trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London and has worked consistently in theatre, radio, film and television.

Her first taste of pantomime came in 1974. She took a break for about 14 years while her children were growing up but couldn’t wait to return.

“I came back with a vengeance and you can’t stop me now! I love it. Some people are scathing about pantomime and I don’t know why. You can’t get away with pantomime if you can’t do the work. You’ve got to be able to sing and dance and remember your lines.

“The wonderful thing about pantomime is you get the reward all the time from the audience. If you don’t get it right it’s quiet. If you’re getting it right they’re booing and hissing.”

Sue thinks Snow White is one of the best pantos. She’s appeared in it nine or ten times because the character she’s playing is “gloriously wicked”.

She adds: “I think it’s a particularly good pantomime for little ones because the story’s so sweet. We’ve got a very adorable Snow White. I instantly hate her and decide to get rid of her. There’s a very handsome prince and I love him and decide I’m going to have him.”

What can people expect from Sue’s Wicked Queen?

“They can expect to be very, very scared. But I hope she’s a little bit funny too. I like Snow White because it’s a story that everyone knows. Obviously there’s going to be the odd double entendre in there for the grown-ups but basically the jokes and the fun are aimed at kids.

“I just think it’s a terribly good way to get everybody into the holiday spirit. The kids have got to be frightened of me, they’ve got to know there’s a chance I’m going to kill Snow White. So you’ve got to have certain skills to get out there and do it.”

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Sue will appear at Mansfield Palace Theatre for the first time. The punishing schedule means she will perform 62 shows in just over a month.

Ten years ago the cruise company P&O signed up Sue to be a celebrity guest speaker on their ships. She takes her husband with her and they have a great time.

“I do a lot of stuff with Alzheimers for various reasons and I’m terrified that I’m going to lose my mental capacity. We’re all frightened of Alzheimers and dementia, aren’t we? So I think learning lines is very good for keeping that at bay.

“We’ve now done 41 cruises. After Christmas we jump onto a ship in Bermuda, then we go to the Caribbean.

I’m very grateful to P&O because they’ve also changed my life. It’s been fantastic because we’ve been to places we’d never have dreamt of going – Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, the Middle East, the Far East, America.

“My mum suffered from dementia and it’s quite a big part of my life now. The battle has to go on to raise more money to try to find a cure.”

This year will be strange for Sue because it will be the first time she has not spent it with her children.

Harriet is 33 and teaches yoga and massage on a beach in Ibiza. Freddie, 31, is head of history at a school in West Sussex. He and his wife have given Sue her first grandchild, eight-month-old Max. “They couldn’t be more different,” says Sue of her children. “One is bohemian, the other is bourgeois and they’re very fond of each other.”

Sue’s husband Mark Piper recently retired as executive director of the Theatre Royal, Windsor. “He’s coming up to Mansfield and we’re having lunch in a restaurant so I won’t have to cook. It might be nice but it’ll be very peculiar”.

It looks as though 2019 is already shaping up to be another busy year for Sue. She’ll be in the next series of another TV sitcom, Still Open All Hours, playing Mrs Rossi and working alongside Sir David Jason again.

“When the producer said the writer Roy Clarke wants you back in the next series I realised that I will be gainfully employed on my 70th birthday without having any real gaps in my career.”

“I love cruising – what’s not to like? Somebody cooks your food, makes your bed, you don’t have to think about what to buy at the supermarket – it’s just bliss.”

Like many of the people in the entertainment business I talk to, Sue admits she’s been fortunate: “I’m very lucky that acting came my way because it’s been pure joy. It’s not for everybody because so much of the time people are waiting for the phone to ring. Because of Marlene I’ve never really had to do that”.

“My mum suffered from dementia and it’s quite a big part of my life now. The battle has to go on to raise more money to try to find a cure.”

“I’m lucky to be in a profession where you get up in the morning and really want to do your job. The fact that you get paid for it is a bonus.”

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at Mansfield Palace Theatre from Saturday 1 December until Sunday 6 January.

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 47

A Winter Warmer

Around the Longshaw Estate

I

have to make an apology before embarking on the text for this walk. In July I acquired a new hip, this was after upwards of ten years trying to ignore an ever growing problem.

Fortunately I had the sense to build up a stock-pile of walks, which kept Garry and Alistair happy at Images HQ, making it possible for them to publish my walks as and when necessary. once linked Sheffield to the salt wells of Cheshire, and carried finished metal goods such as scythes on the return trip.

Feeling a lot better since my session with Mr Williams, one of the osteopath surgeons on the staff at Calow Hospital where, I must add, I didn’t feel a thing, and was much entertained by what sounded like the opening bars of Giuseppe Verdi’s Anvil Chorus from his opera il Travatore!

With far reaching views throughout, the walk starts by skirting the front of the lodge, along a path between it and the open moors now grazed by sheep, but once the realm of sportsmen and their guns in search of game. Going through a swing gate, the path splits with one going south towards Big Moor, and the other bearing right, drops down to the Grindleford road. This is the one we took, going past an attractive pond, the haunt of wild geese. The path crosses the road by way of a stone stile and then finds its way down to Burbage Brook. An ancient stone packhorse

Deciding it was time to put my boots on again, I chose this walk mainly because it is short and finishes with the alternative of a pub lunch or the excellent soup and sandwiches on offer at the National Trust tea-room next to Longshaw Lodge. Using easy to follow paths through what was once a sporting estate, the walk drops down into the upper valley of Burbage Brook. Here it joins one of the ancient Pack-horse tracks that

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48 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

bridge crosses the brook which is followed upstream to another stone bridge. Here a right turn joins a cobbled track winding its way up to the Grindleford road again. Diagonally right across the road there is a gate house and behind it a footpath through woodland back to the car park.

Longshaw Estate and its lodge was built in the early 1800s for the Duke of Rutland as a sporting estate. During the Great War of 19141918 it became a military hospital, mainly for Commonwealth soldiers. From old photographs it looks as though many of the fitter soldiers managed to enjoy the heavy snowfalls that seem to have been more regular then than now.

In the 1920s Longshaw was bought by Sheffield Corporation as an amenity for the city whose boundary cuts through part of the estate. While the lodge has been turned into private residences, the rest of the estate having been gifted to the National Trust, is open to all. The now famous Longshaw Sheepdog Trials take place annually in the large field below the main house.

There is still time to commission a bespoke watercolour of your pet from Norma Gent, working from good quality photographs. A selection of black and white mugs decorated with Norma’s sketches of local scenes and dogs are also available

A Walk with Rambler

A Winter Warmer Around the Longshaw Estate

Useful Information

The walk

• From the National Trust car park, follow the path down to the National Trust tearoom and Information Centre.

• Bear right and then left on to the path running between the lodge surrounds and open fields. Follow this path up to a swing gate next to wild rhododendrons.

To your left as you walk along the first path, the raised wall apparently supporting the ground above it is called a ‘ha, ha’, or ‘haw, haw’. Its purpose is to prevent stock from encroaching the built-up area surrounding the lodge, but without spoiling the extensive moorland view.

• Reaching the gate, go through it, bearing right alongside rhododendron bushes, where pheasants are often sheltering.

Wooden signs at the side of the path point to where children might find places where friendly boggarts live.

• Continue along this path until it reaches a large pond.

• Skirt round the pond with it on your right and then bear left past the second stone barn before you reach the road. It usefully serves as a shelter in wet weather, as well as offering information about the surrounding countryside and its wildlife.

• Cross the road and go through a stone stile and then drop down to a stone packhorse bridge over the narrow brook.

• Cross the bridge and turn right, upstream for about a quarter of a mile, as far as the next bridge.

• Turn right and cross the narrow bridge.

• Follow a cobbled path, winding steeply uphill and through woodland as far as the road • Go diagonally across the road, heading towards a gate house.

• Follow signs past the gate house and onto a woodland track.

• Continue along the track back to the National Trust car park

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3miles (5km) of easy walking on well-maintained estate paths and riverside and woodland tracks.

Recommended map: as the walk cuts through the northern and southern edges of both the OS White Peak (Sheet OL24) and OS Dark Peak (Sheet OL1) maps, it can make map oriented navigation rather difficult, but hopefully my poor quality sketch map and written instructions will be sufficient.

Public transport: Regular service between Sheffield and Grindleford stop at the Fox House Inn a few yards from the entrance to Longshaw Estate.

Parking: Inside estate (National Trust members free).

Refreshments: Fox House Inn and Longshaw tea-room and Information Centre.

Annual sheep dog trials as advertised.

Guided walks and seasonal children’s events throughout the year.

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Tel: 01332 291808 CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 49

Diary Of Events

diary@imagespublishing.co.uk Royal Centre Nottingham & Concert Hall 0115 989 5555 www.trch.co.uk DECEMBER 2 Classical Music Nottingham Harmonic 3 Katie Melua 5 The Human League

8 Dec - 13 Jan 2019 Peter Pan 9 Simply Sinatra 11 The Australian Pink Floyd 13 John Wilson Orchestra - At The Movies 14 The Magic of Motown 15 The Overtones 16 Sunday Piano Series: Sarah Beth Briggs and James Lisney 17 Travis - The Man Who in Concert 21 Kate Rusby 21 The Third Stage 23 The Gruffalo’s Child & Stick Man 23 Dec 2018 31 Sinfonia Viva New Year’s Eve Gala JANUARY 3 The Glenn Miller Orchestra 7 National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain: Come and Play 16-17 The Sleeping Beauty 18 The Nutcracker

command - is getting ready to pounce. Dick Whittington is one of the nation’s best loved rags-to-riches stories. Buxton’s favourite Dame, James Holmes (‘Clive’ from the hit comedy series Miranda) returns as Dame Sarah the Cook, while Gabrielle Green is the lovely Alice Fitzwarren.

8-9 Slaughterhouse Rulez 9 Jill Crossland Piano Recital 11 Buxton Adventure Festival 11Best of the Fest - The Dawn Wall 15-20 The Grinch 15-19 Nativity Rocks!

16 Jazz at the Arts Centre - Andy Powell 16 Love Actually 17 Miracle on 34th Street 18-20 King of Thieves 22 Elf 23 Home Alone 24 It’s A Wonderful Life 31 British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra JANUARY 4 Royal Northern College of Music Callum Smart & Philip Sharp 4 Russian State Ballet of Siberia - La Fille mal gardée Formed in 1981, the Russian State Ballet of Siberia has quickly established itself as one of Russia’s leading ballet companies and has built an international reputation for delivering performances of outstanding quality and unusual depth. The soloists and corps de ballet are superb and never fail to delight audiences with their breath-taking physical ability and dazzling costumes. Recreated by Alexander Gorsky, La Fille mal gardée remains one of the oldest ballets still regularly performed. A gentle tale of love thwarted, unrequited and found, it is a masterpiece of comedy. With plenty of ribbons, romance and rivalry, it conjures up a world of pastoral simplicity where a farm boy woos a flirty farmer’s daughter and they find inventive ways to avoid her mother.

5 Russian State Ballet of Siberia - Swan Lake 6 Russian State Ballet of Siberia - Nutcracker 12 80’s Mania - -

Buxton Opera House & PavilionArts Centre.

01298 72190 www.buxtonoperahouse.org DECEMBER 1-5 Juliet, Naked 1 The Brighouse & Rastrick Band 2 Hazel O’Connor & Breaking Glass Film, Q&A and Live Performance 6 The Houghton Weavers 7 Royal Northern College of Music Louis Perera & Fruzsina Szücs 8-13 Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald 8-30 Dick Whittington - Hoping to find fame and fortune in London, our young hero Dick Whittington makes his way down Ye Olde M1 with nothing but a sandwich and a can-do attitude; but he’s out of luck until he meets a friendly cat with a knack for catching rats.

As his cat gets to work ridding the city of its furry pests, it seems Dick’s dream will come true. Little does he know the scary King Rat - a nasty geezer with an army of rodents at his

Derby Live. Box Office 01332 255800 www.derbylive.co.uk 29-Dec 2 Cinderella The most famous pantomime of them all! In the classic ‘rags to riches’ story, Cinderella lives a life of poverty, bullied by her sisters.

30th to Feb 23 ‘The Sitcom Experience’ – Fawlty Towers Dinner Show 7-30 The Dinosaur Who Came for Christmas Join those funsters The Babbling Vagabonds, as they return with more seasonal shenanigans.

8-9 Jumping Clay Workshop 8 to January 5th Jack and the Beanstalk Starring Duncan James as Jack, Morgan Brind returning as Dame Trott and Britains best baddie Lawrence Boothman as Cess Pit. 15 Wassail!

JANUARY 7 Informal French Conversation Advanced 11 Mike McClean – Return of the Mac Mike’s delighted to be returning to Derby to perform his brand new solo comedy show.

6 The Bootleg Beatles - The world’s Premier Beatles tribute band continues to draw critical acclaim from across the globe with their stunning recreation of the greatest songbook of all time. Tracing the Fab Four’s journey through the swinging 60s, every tiny detail is meticulously covered from costumes to authentic period instruments; from their witty “Scouse” banter to their “inflection perfect” vocals. With a little help from their own Pepperland Sinfonia and this year featuring a special set celebrating the 50th anniversary of the White album, this has to be a not-to-bemissed event for Fab Four fans of all ages.

7-8 Kevin Bridges 8 Beanbag Music Club: Sinfonia Viva

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12 Floyd In The Flesh - A tribute to one of the UK’s greatest bands, Pink Floyd More Derby Theatre Box Office 01332 59 39 39 www.derbytheatre.co.uk November 30 to Jan 5th Hansel and Gretel Hansel and Gretel need to get back home in a hurry, but in the enchanted woods there’s a cottage made entirely of sugary sweets and gorgeous gingerbread, not to mention a wicked witch to contend with. Can Gretel save the day and rescue her brother? And can Hansel leave the lollipops alone and actually help?

Derby Theatre’s production team bring another magical and enchanting tale to the stage. With lashings of original music, heaps of colourful costumes and a super scrumptious talented team of actor-musicians, Hansel and Gretel cooks up a mouth-watering show.

December 4 to January 5 Goldilocks and the Three Bears presented by Hiccup Theatre in association with Derby Theatre Three Chairs, Three Bowls of Porridge, Three Beds… Make yourself at home!

Follow our naughty Goldilocks into the woods as she seeks the bowl of porridge that isn’t too hot and isn’t too cold but is “just right.” Little does she know that Mummy Bear, Daddy Bear and Baby Bear were really looking forward to breakfast! Oh, and who’s been sleeping in my bed!? Hilarious and heartwarming, it’s “just right” for the entire family. You’ll run all the way home delighted! Suitable for age 3+ and their families and friends Nottingham Playhouse 0115 941 9419 www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk 30 November 2018 - Saturday 19 January 2019 Robin Hood and The Babes In The Wood By Kenneth Alan Taylor.

From Sherwood Forest to Nottingham Playhouse, Robin Hood and the evil Sheriff of Nottingham are lighting up our panto stage.

The ultimate pantomime villain, the Sheriff hatches a wicked plan to get rid of his niece and nephew, the Babes in the Wood, and claim their fortune. It’s down to Robin Hood to save the day and stop the Sheriff with a little help from his Merry Men and Maid Marian.

Palace Theatre Mansfield www.mansfield.gov.uk/palacetheatre DECEMBER 1-6 Snow White Pop Diva’s Live. February 19th. The Family Focused Pop Party Of The Year takes the audience on a whirlwind tour of their favourite pop acts creating the perfect concert experience for little divas and their parents.

Four enormously talented girls bring you up close and personal with the greatest female pop performers of today includingMeghan Trainor, Ariana Grande, Beyoncé and Rihanna.With a dazzling array of superb vocals, choreography and state of the art videos the show is a perfect night out for both little divas and big divas alike.

The Nutcracker Buxton Opera House January 6th

The Gruffalo’s Child and Stick Man 23rd December at the Royal Concert Hall Nottingham.

Formed in 1981, the Russian State Ballet of Siberia has quickly established itself as one of Russia’s leading ballet companies and has built an international reputation for delivering performances of outstanding quality and unusual depth. The soloists and corps de ballet are superb and never fail to delight audiences with their breathtaking physical ability and dazzling costumes.

Multi award-winning recording artist Katie Melua at The Royal Centre Nottingham December 3rd Katie will be joined by a cast of stellar musicians, as well as members of Gori Women’s Choir who featured on the silver-certified 2016 album ‘In Winter’. ‘In Winter’ was recorded in Georgia, and commanded some of the finest reviews of her career with the Sunday Times describing it as “bewitching…ravishing…spellbinding” and the Independent as “exquisite” and “remarkable.” Born in the Georgian city of Kutaisi, Katie and her family emigrated to Belfast when she was 9 years old. She has released 7 studio albums to date and is one of the UK’s highest-selling female recording artists of all time.

These beautiful animated films, based on the books by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, are screened with live orchestral accompaniment of René Aubry’s inspired scores.

Who will the Gruffalo’s Child encounter as she sets out into the wood one snowy night? And will the Stick Man make it home in time?

Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman in Concert Saturday 26th January 2018 - 7:30pm at Crich Glebe Field Centre (DE4 5EU) Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman have long established themselves as one of the UK folk scene’s most rewardingly enduring partnerships.

Bonded by an unseen alchemy, they have entwined their professional and personal relationship into an enviable class act of imaginative, award winning song writing and musicianship.

This Dartmoor-based husband and wife duo has twice won the coveted Best Duo title at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (2016 & 2013).

Kathryn and Sean consistently deliver assured, distinctive performances.

They have travelled, and performed around the world, before deciding to return to their English folk roots, and gig as an acoustic duo.

Kathryn and Sean’s intimacy, and strength of passion on stage, has won them many fans and an enviable reputation as ‘songwriters par excellence’. They have never been trapped in a groove. They are always bold and innovative, mixing traditional song arrangements with their self-penned material, which reels from the bitter to the sweet; the wry to the sad; the political to the passive.

Suitable for those aged 10 and over.

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 51

Diary Of Events diary@imagespublishing.co.uk

Birdwatching for Beginners walks at Carsington Water.

Sunday 2nd December 10.00am Amanda is taking over the bird walks from David from 2019, and she will be with David on December 2 for the “hand-over”. They will be looking for the Great Northern Diver which should be back once again, and the charismatic Goldeneye should be displaying. Most of the winter birds will also be in so without the inhibiting leaves on the trees, the views will be good. If you would like to join the December walk, book by contacting Carsington or for more information, 01629 540696 or just drop in to reception. If you don’t want to miss the birds binoculars are essential!! If you can’t do Dec 2, how about Jan 6 2019? Happy Birding.”

Country Images would like to wish David all the best and thank him for his contributions to the magazine over many years. Oh and of course a speedy recovery David . Cheers Garry Allestree Flower Group Tuesday 18th December 2018. Social and Supper Time: 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm. Venue: The Evergreen Hall, Cornhill, Allestree. Admission: Members £3.00. Non- members £7.00. For further details telephone 01332 558540 Derby RSPB Derby RSPB local group welcomes Nigel Spencer to our Indoor Meeting with his audiovisual talk “ A Focus on Birds”. Wednesday 12 December at 7.30pm. Meeting in 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. More details on the RSPB Derby local group website www.rspb.org.uk/groups/derby Derby Chamber Music Society Friday 7th December at 7.30pm at the Multi-Faith Centre, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby, DE22 1GB. A concert by the Zelkova String Quartet Haydn: String Quartet in B minor, Op.64 No.2 Bartok: String Quartet No.3 Dvořák: String Quartet in G, Op.106 Tickets £15 and £14 (concessions) For further information ring 01332 830585 or visit www.derbychambermusic.org Derby & District National Trust Members’ Group. A friendly and vibrant group run by members, whose aim is to promote the National Trust and local properties and organise a variety of enjoyable social events throughout the year.

Tuesday 11th December “The Mystery of Morris dancing and Ripley Morris men”.

Graham Clarke tells about the origins and history of Morris dancing, especially Ripley Morris along with demonstrations of the dances and possibly some guising.

Landau Forte College, Fox Street, Derby with talks starting at 7.30pm. Contact the 52 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Membership Secretary on 01332 703512 or email derby.members@nationaltrust.org.uk Group Members £2.50/visitors £5.00 Non members very welcome.

Derby French Circle (CERCLE FRANCAIS DE DERBY) www. derbyfrenchcircle.org.uk 14 December. Function, circle members and their guests only. Talks, social and cultural events. Please come and join us for conversation and games in French. All levels of French spoken. Venue: St Edmund’s Church Hall, Kings Croft, Allestree, Derby DE22 2FN. Derby A Cappella If you are not currently one of our listeners and would like us to sing for you at an event in 2019, please contact:- Gordon. Tel: 01332 518594 or gordonsavage@yahoo.co.uk If you would like to come along to listen and sing with us, then we rehearse every Tuesday evening at Chester Green Community Centre, City Road, DE1 3SA from 7:30 until 10:00 p.m. You can also view:- www. derbyacappella.co.uk and also www.facebook.com/ derbyacappella/ Darley Abbey Historical Group Friday 21 December. The Rev. Peter Barham talks about WW1. 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. Contact Maria Gibson on 01332 552837 https://darleyabbeyhistoricalgroup.wordpress.com/

Spondon Historical Society ‘The Spondon Historical Society will meet in Spondon Village Hall, Sitwell Street, Spondon, DE21 7FG on Monday December 10th 2018 at 7.30pm. The speaker is Ian Morgan and the talk is ‘Inspector Hopkinson Discovery’, it will be in the form of a trial and the audience are the jury. This will be a very different evening to what we usually have so come along and see what it is all about.

Members £2.50, visitors £4.00 and all are very 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.

5th. Jan. 2019 - We kick off the New Year with a hands-on meeting; make it your resolution to try a new skill!

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.

Mickleover Model Railway Group’s Saturday 1st. December 2018 Trains only Swap Meet at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church Centre, 36 Uttoxeter Road, Mickleover, Derby DE3 9GE Admission: £1 Open 10:30am - 2:00pm Free Parking Refreshments Available

The freedom of flying A light aircraft flying over Derbyshire gives you an unobstructed grandstand view of the fabulous natural environment in which we live. Experience the joy and excitement of flying, soaring above the beautiful Derbyshire countryside.

Take a bird’s eye view of your favourite landmarks – maybe it’s Carsington Water reservoir, Dovedale, Froggatt Edge, Chatsworth House, Ladybower dams or your own home area. Taking hold of the flying controls, you can really experience the freedom of flying.

Derby Aero Club offers a wide range of flying services including tuition for the private pilots licence. Flying from its home base at Derby Airfield, Egginton, the club caters for all ages. Recently a number of our younger students have achieved their first solo flight at the youngest legal age of 16.

Derby Airfield is also the home of the Comet Racer restoration project. A team of volunteers are working hard restoring the Comet Racer G-ACSP that was originally flown by Amy Johnson and husband Jim Mollison in 1934, in the air race from England to Australia. Why not come along to the airfield on a fine day and sit with a cup of tea, watching the aeroplanes come and go, or purchase a ‘trial lesson’ as a gift for someone special or even for yourself?

A trial flying lesson makes an ideal present, gift vouchers are available from the Derby Aero Club.

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Website: www.slackscoaches.co.uk Email: enquiries@slackscoaches.co.uk CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 53

Century-old port from the cellar of a country mansion and Art Deco diamonds among dazzling lots in the Fine Art Auction A dazzling Art Deco 6ct diamond ring and century-old port discovered in the cellars of a period mansion are among a host of impressive items set to make someone’s day special.

The ring, with classic geometric lines, and the contents of the cellar at Bishton Hall are among hundreds of items which will be sold at Hansons Auctioneers’ Christmas Fine Art and Jewellery Auction, which runs from December 18-20.

Halo cluster diamond and sapphire ring, estimate £3,000£4,000. [Hansons]

To add to the fun, the entire auction will be held amid the splendour of atmospheric Georgian property Bishton Hall, near Wolseley Bridge, Staffordshire. The property played host to Hansons’ Autumn Fine Art Auction, which smashed all sales records to break the £1m barrier and attracted more than 1,000 visitors. The top

selling lot was a Thomas Tompion bracket clock, circa 1690, which made £200,000.

Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “We enjoyed a splendid sale at Bishton Hall in October and thought it would be wonderful to revisit this magnificent property.

“The Staffordshire venue is a short hop over the Derbyshire border and, by holding our auction there, it gives people an opportunity to enjoy a pre-Christmas treat in a wonderful setting. ” Rik Alexander, operations manager at Hansons, said: “There was a time when it was normal to hold auctions at properties. People would follow the auctioneer from room to room as he sold objects. “This type of sale was killed by the internet but we decided to take the technology with us on location and bring back the tradition thanks to new technology. “People enjoy attending an auction in person, especially when they have the opportunity to browse prospective purchases in an impressive period property.

People love the drama and atmosphere of a traditional country house location. “We have a splendid array of treasures to sell and Bishton

Christmas Jewellery, Watches, Fine Art & Library Auction at Bishton Hall, Wolseley Bridge, Staffs ST17 0XN Tuesday 18 to Thursday 20 December

Bishton Hall will host Hansons’ Christmas Fine Art Auction. [Hansons] Hall is the perfect place to showcase them.”

Among those treasures are Art Deco jewels including a diamond and sapphire halo cluster ring with a strong geometric shape, estimate £3,000-£4,000; various sets of ear-rings including ruby and diamond clips, estimate of £4,000£5,000 and the aforementioned 6ct emerald-cut diamond solitaire ring which has an estimate £30,000-£50,000.

Art Deco 6ct diamond ring. Estimate £30,000-£50,000. [Hansons]

In addition, the auction will include watches and silver, paintings, fine furniture and the Library Auction.

Art Deco diamond and pearl ear-rings. (No estimate as still being assessed) [Hansons]

Ruby and diamond ear-rings.

Est £4,000-£5,000. [Hansons]

Viewing: 16 December 12 noon - 5pm; 17 December 11am - 7pm and Auction days 9am - 10.30am Please contact: Adrian Rathbone, Associate Director arathbone@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk

Art Deco Diamond ear-rings.

Estimate £800-£1,200. [Hansons]

Valuation Days in Etwall Wednesdays 5pm - 7pm Fridays 10am - 4pm Saturdays 9am - 12 noon 01283 733988 Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire DE65 6LS

Free Home Visits for large/multiple items, House Clearance & Downsizing advice Probate & Insurance Valuations Regulated by RICS www.hansonsauctioneers.co.uk

54 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

The cellar at Bishton Hall.

[Hansons]

Hansons’ Christmas Fine Art Auction will run from December 18-20 at Bishton Hall, Wolseley Bridge, Staffordshire, ST17 0XN, starting at 10.30am each day. Entries invited until November 30. Viewing: December 16, noon-5pm; December 17, 11am-7pm and on sale days from 9am until the auctions begin. To find out more, call 01283 733988 or email arathbone@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk

Images Gallery RICHARD WHITTLESTONE wildlife gallery

Features:

Richard Whittlestone

Wildlife Artist Richard Whittlestone’s Winter Exhibition is now on at his gallery on the Chatsworth estate.

Well known for his exquisite paintings of birds and animals and with inspiration drawn from his wonderful surroundings, Richard sells his pictures all over the world.

Most of his work is executed in acrylic but this latest exhibition will show a number of new pen and ink studies and some fabulous landscapes in oils.

This year, as last, there will be a limited number of miniature originals.

Small and beautifully framed, they make a wonderful gift, though Richard is unable to paint these to commission, so it is a case of first come, first served. All his work of course, carries his trademark tiny fly hidden somewhere in the composition.

The gallery also has a comprehensive range of cards and limited edition prints along with the 2019 calendar, featuring 13 beautiful images.

AA sign posted, the exhibition runs until Christmas, 10am - 5pm daily. www.richardwhittlestone.co.uk 01246 582720.

Exquisite originals.

Limited edition prints.

Greetings cards.

Open every day until Christmas, 10am – 5pm.

Broomes Barns, Pilsley, Chatsworth, DE45 1PF 01246 582720 www.richardwhittlestone.co.uk

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 55

Food & Drink Viva Matlock Xmas Poster A2 2017.qxp_Layout 1 09/11/2017 19:44 Page 1

EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY WITH US AT

Viva Treat your loved ones to a christmas with an Italian twist. Delicious food and plenty to drink Buono auguri From the viva team Call or b

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56 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

593505

Robin Maycock

Family Butchers and Bakers Famous for their fresh, locally sourced meat, bakery and deli counter.

Christmas Poultry Orders Locally reared Turkeys, Free range Geese, Fresh English Ducks, Fresh English Chickens, Local Pheasants, Mince Pies.

Set in beautiful Derbyshire countryside with free parking outside AWARD WINNING HOLLOWAY VILLAGE BUTCHERS Lea Shaw Road, Holloway, Nr Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 5AT

01629 534333 www.robinmaycockbutchers.co.uk

From nut-sprinkled discs to chocolate drenched honeycombs T

wo pints of lager and a cream truffle may not be the average round for most pub-goers but The Three Horseshoes Inn at Breedon on the Hill is not your average pub. Yes, it has the roaring fire, real ales and quarry-tiled floors – but they’ve also thrown in a chocolate shop for good measure.

That’s right; a chocolate shop. And not just any old chocolate shop but one supplied with all manner of award-winning, artisan goodies.

Moreover, re-stocking is never a problem. The Bittersweet Chocolate Co. – run by Nigel Holling and wife Dianne – is housed in nearby outbuildings; just a short stroll across the pub garden.

The Bittersweet Chocolate Co.

In truth, I had been expecting the ‘shop’ to be little more than a shelf behind the bar. It turns out to be a gleaming, grandiose Victorian display counter straight from a chocoholic’s dream. It’s several feet long and decadently stuffed with all manner of moreish delights - from fruit-centred truffles to chocolate-dipped dates, nut-sprinkled discs to chocolate drenched honeycombs and fat caterpillars lying beside luscious lollipops.

“The chocolate counter always stops people in their tracks,” says landlady Jenny Ison.

“My business partner Ian Davison has owned it for more than forty years. We think it was a Victorian confectionary counter but Ian’s family used it to store boating paraphernalia at their chandlery at Sawley Marina. Ian was about 12 when he rescued it and it’s been moving around from garage to garage ever since. But when we bought the pub, Ian realised we’d got the perfect space for it.”

Jenny says the counter – and its contents – attract people from all over the country; “People tell us it looks magnificent and it’s definitely a talking point when I tell them we have a real-life ‘chocolate factory’ in the pub garden,” she laughs.

“We have a chocolate menu which is very popular as people have truffles instead of, or as well as, a desert. But we also get people having some chocolate with a bottle of wine or Prosecco. We can’t get our hands on enough salted caramel.”

“We’ve been based at the pub for nine years and it works really well,” explains chocolate-maker Nigel as he shows me to the vanilla-scented workshop where his colleague, Kate Jackaman, is busy coating honeycomb with tempered chocolate.

“When my wife Dianne and I first started we were working from our kitchen. We were trying to develop and manufacture hand-made chocolates all day, every day and turn it back into a family kitchen at night. It was quite a squeeze - we became very good at dancing. The Three Horseshoes were customers of ours and they offered us space in what used to be the motel rooms.”

He laughs; “But having a shop in a pub is unusual.

We might be in an exclusive club of one.”

The Bittersweet Chocolate Co. may have started on the kitchen table but the team’s artistry with chocolate - and wizardry with flavour combinations – has earned them multiple Great Taste Awards including a prestigious two stars accolade for their cracked coffee bean in dark chocolate.

“My background was in catering,” explains Nigel (54), of Chellaston, when asked how he came to master the art of chocolate-making.

“I helped set up the restaurants and catering outlets for the American Adventure Theme Park.

The role included involved managing stock and distribution and I ended up taking a sideways move into IT. But I loved working with food so much I’d take on part-time jobs providing cover for chefs.”

Nigel realised he’d reached a crossroads when his children Charlie and Anna (now 18, 16) were born. “With two small children, I couldn’t go out and chef anymore but I wasn’t ready to ‘put up and shut-up’ until my retirement. I decided CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 57

to resign in 2007 because I needed to work with food; it’s my passion.”

“Chocolate was in the forefront of my mind as I was excited by the scope it would give to create new flavours and textures. I enrolled in some chocolate-making courses and began to develop a range of truffles to sell in restaurants as an alternative to a desert. I knew from the start that chocolate would be the perfect medium to express my identity and individuality. When you get it right, the sense of satisfaction is immense.”

Nigel decided to bring his culinary expertise to the art of chocolate making.

“I’m always thinking about flavours that will sit well on top of the chocolate,” he says.

“It might be something I remember from a recipe, or a dish I’ve enjoyed in a restaurant that’s been stored in my memory and I instinctively know which flavours will work together. Popular combinations include lime and chilli, raspberry and almond and geranium rose which is our modern take on Turkish delight. We also sell a lot of chocolate flavoured with organic essential oils – our French lavender has been a huge hit.”

Nigel also showcases local products in his creations; “We use sloe gin and whisky and wild damson liqueur from a brewery in nearby Rutland,” he explains.

“Also, the honeycomb we make for Chatsworth Estate Farm Shop uses honey from bees on the estate.”

Although there’s something a little ‘Willy Wonka meets Heston Blumenthal’ about these creations – they invariably work. Nigel can only remember one exception.

“Grapefruit,” he recalls with a shudder.

“We tried all different ways but it just didn’t work. Whatever we did – it still made your mouth pucker so we walked away.”

The popularity of the company’s innovative flavour combinations led to an expansion of the business.

“My plan had been to supply restaurants but we began to take our products to farmer’s markets and food fairs and the feed-back was incredible,” Nigel says.

“We always gave people some samples and – even though the people at these markets are used to quality food and drink – a lot of customers said our chocolate was one of the best they’d tasted.

We also realised the market for truffles was too seasonal so we branched out into solid chocolate items which would sell all year round.”

Nigel and his team also decided to re-boot the 58 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

taste derbyshire humble chocolate button. The only stumbling block was finding a name.

“We toyed with drops, buttons and thins,” Nigel recalls.

“But when we had our branding company come up with the designs for the packaging we still hadn’t got a name so they just put ‘ThingyMeJigs’ on the mock-ups. Because they are hand-poured, they can be a little irregular, so the name was perfect.”

The company has recently been in demand to host workshops; “The first one came about because one of our neighbours was getting married and asked if we’d do a chocolate making class for her hen party,” Nigel recalls.

“We extended our work space and do both private and corporate workshops all year round.

They’re hugely popular because they’ve very hands-on, extremely light-hearted and you get to eat a lot of chocolate and then take your creations home.”

And the participants can be very creative; “Some designs are more complex than others,” Nigel says.

“We’ve had churches, dragons, boats and trains – even an Olympic torch. We also did a corporate

workshop at Rolls Royce and one team made a biplane and another an internal combustion engine in chocolate. I think it was good but I have to admit I’d never seen one.”

After sampling some salted caramel ThingyMeJigs, I can vouch for the quality of the chocolate. It’s packed with full-on-flavour without being overly sweet and the lack of vegetable fat – found in many high street brands means there’s no sticky after-taste.

“We buy from the finest chocolate producers from countries like Belgium, France and Germany as they all have different flavour profiles,” Nigel explains.

“A great chocolate should tantalise the taste-buds and leave a creamy, smooth texture as it melts on the tongue.”

Listening to Nigel rhapsodise about chocolate, it’s clear he doesn’t get tired of tasting it and – even more surprising – it’s not had a detrimental effect on his weight.

“We make eight to ten small batches a day so we all have the equivalent of a large bar of chocolate every day,” he smiles.

“There was some research, published by the

BBC, that says eating quality chocolate regularly lowers your Body Mass Index. I’m not sure of the science but we’ve pinned the article up in the bar.

We might go home thinking we’ve eaten enough but, come the next morning, we are raring to go again.”

His colleague Kate, busily piping chocolate onto a tray, heartily agrees; “I think it’s because we’re always experimenting with flavours and every day we make something different.”

“I never get bored of eating chocolate.”

You can order products from The Bittersweet Chocolate company by visiting www.bittersweetchocolates.co.uk Or visit the on-site shop at The Three Horseshoes Inn, 44 Main Street, Breedon on the Hill, DE7 8AN Derbyshire Stockists include; The Delicatessen, Blenheim Drive, Allestree, Derby.

Chatsworth Estate Farm Shop, Pilsley, Bakewell.

Croots Farm Shop, Wirksworth Road, Duffield.

Brown & Green, Derby Garden Centre, Alfreton Road, Little Eaton.

Forteys, Market Place, Melbourne.

The Spotted Calf, Town Street, Holbrook.

Self-confessed ‘foodie’ journalist Amanda Volley showcases all that is great about food and drink in Derbyshire.

Locally produced cakes, pastries and biscuits.

Our own handcrafted fudge Stockist of Bittersweet Chocolates Forteys is a family run coffee shop and sweet shop set in the centre of beautiful Melbourne Great speciality coffee, teas and milkshakes

FREE regular size hot drink with any purchase of Bittersweet Chocolates or Forteys Fudge when presenting this advert in store

2 Market Place, Melbourne, Derbyshire E: forteys@Sky.com CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 59

HADDON HALL Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1LA.

Evening Candlelight Tour at Haddon Hall December 6th – 20th

Beginning the evening with a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie, guests will join a knowledgeable guide on an enchanting tour of Haddon Hall by candlelight, discovering this year’s festive theme of ‘Sleeping Beauty and Other Tales’ Price: £29 per person

The Peacock at Rowsley This Christmas, The Peacock at Rowsley will be serving a new menu for the month of December, as well as Christmas*, Boxing Day* and New Year’s Day menus and a special tasting menu on New Year’s Eve. The Peacock also offers the perfect selection of dining options for your Christmas parties and gatherings.

*Lunch on Christmas Day and Boxing Day are now fully booked.

Book online at www.haddonhall.co.uk/visitor-information/christmas info@haddonhall.co.uk | 01629812855

Call 01629 733518 or email reception@thepeacockatrowsley.com

T H E PA P E R M I L L AT DARLEY ABBEY

• Premium Ales, Lagers and Ciders • Great Selection of Wines & Spirits • Live music alternate Sundays - See our Facebook page for dates • Pool Table - Separate Snooker Room • Available for functions

Darley St (opposite the Abbey) Darley Abbey, Derby DE22 1DX Tel: 01332 551344 Open Monday - Friday 5-11pm Saturday and Sunday 12 noon-11pm Dogs and Families Welcome 60 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Gin Gaf

P

- an absolute must for gin lovers.

op in and see GIN GAF folks, for a great selection of festive gins ready for you to treat yourself or that special someone.

Their wonderful gin collection is an absolute must have for any gin lover. The GIN GAF offers a spectacular selection of unique bottled Gins from all over the world.

306, Church St, Ashbourne, Derby DE6 1AE 01335 418703

Providing customers with quality and tasty produce.

ORDERS NOW BEING TAKEN

for our free range, home reared turkeys and cockerels

Phone: 07966 217779 email:info@oakfieldfarm.co.uk Facebook: oakfieldfarmshop

Oakfield Farm, Belper Road, Stanley Common, Derbyshire DE7 6FP www.oakfieldfarm.co.uk Opening hours: Friday 10 am – 3 pm - Saturday 9 am - 3pm

Specialist Premium Gin Shop

Delicious Produce for the Festive Season Our meats and produce are sourced from local farms in and around the Peak District, selling the very best farm fresh turkeys,chicken, beef, lamb, pork, geese and ducks all locally sourced.

Over 100 different gins from local and international distillers nestled in the beautiful market town of Ashbourne

We stock delicious cooked meats, homemade meat pies, quiches and pork pies including 21b and Gala pork pies made to order.

A full range of jams and chutneys also available for great gift ideas.

ORDERS NOW BEING TAKEN FOR ALL YOUR CHRISTMAS FAYRE AND TRIMMINGS

THE GIN GAF

30b Church St., Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 1AE

www.thegingaf.co.uk

Tel: 01335 418703

JOIN OUR CHRISTMAS CLUB - PHONE FOR DETAILS

R.G

. Stafford Ltd

72 Western Road, Mickleover, Derby.

Telephone:

Open Tuesday -Saturday 10am – 4pm Closed Wednesday

Q ua

lity Butchers

01332 514087

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 61

East Midlands Care Group Contributes Over £5.5m to Local Economy.

The Milford Care Group, a family run business,,which owns and operates care homes across the East Midlands is helping to improve the local economy, through direct and indirect employment.

A recent report commissioned by Skills for Care and Development has revealed that adult social care employers contribute £46.2bn to the UK economy. For the 2017/18 financial year, Milford Care contributed over £5 million in total gross payroll costs for all their homes.

Milford Care has five care homes across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, with a sixth set to open later this year, further highlighting the success of the sector and providing even more job opportunities in the area.

The recent Skills for Care report states that there is an estimated 1.8 million jobs in the care sector, representing 6% of the UK’s workforce, with most of these involving the provision of domiciliary care as well as support services.

Milford Care currently employs 400 people, the majority of whom come from the local

62 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

area. This includes carers who make up 54% of the workforce, nurses, catering staff, domestic support, and office roles such as managers, activities co-ordinators and admin support.

Skills for Care and Development chair, Dame Moira Gibb said: “This report highlights the importance of social care not only as provider of services to our fellow citizens when they need it, but our sector’s importance as a provider of jobs in local economies across the country where much of the money is spent.”

As well as direct employees, Milford Care employs the services of numerous local tradesmen for the refurbishment and maintenance work at all its homes, and last year contributed over £800,000 to the economy through agency staff and contractors Milford Care hire.“ The care sector does a lot for our economy and it is positive news that this is being recognised.” said Pierre Falleth, director of the Milford Care Group, “These positive stories are important as there are too many negative stories out there. As a group, we do a huge amount of good, both for the residents and for the local economy through employment of local people, which we are really proud of .At Milford Care we’re constantly on the look-out for fresh talent to join our team.

Pierre Falleth, director of the Milford Care Group We have an outstanding reputation, supported by winning Employer of the Year award at the Great British Care Awards, and are dedicated to delivering a high standard of training and investment in our staff ”.

AWA R D W I N N I N G C A R E

This Christmas

TAKE HOME A BEAUTIFUL HAMPER TO SHARE*.

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ASHBOURNE LODGE Ashbourne

01335 301 400

ashbourne@milfordcare.co.uk

SPENCER GROVE Belper

01773 599 349

spencergrove@milfordcare.co.uk

HAZELGROVE Hucknall

0115 968 0706

hazelgrove@milfordcare.co.uk

THE MEADOWS Alfreton

01773 520 491

meadows@milfordcare.co.uk

MILFORD HOUSE

Milford

01332 841 753

milford@milfordcare.co.uk

@MILFORDGROUP // STAY CONNECTED

HEAD OFFICE: 01773 599 340 // WWW.MILFORDCARE.CO.UK CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk 63 *terms and conditions| apply

Richmond Village Care Home

A

t Aston-on-Trent we offer nursing and residential dementia care to our residents.

Our Village Care Home is bright and beautifully presented with professionally designed interiors.

Corridors and communal areas are wide and spacious making this an easy space to navigate and walk through. It’s a lovely place to reside and spend time as a family member or guest. The home has two wings: Milldale where we support residents living with dementia, and Dovedale for the frail and elderly where we can provide 24/7 nursing care.

We are more than just a care home, in that the surrounding facilities of the villages are accessible to our care home residents, including the tranquil, heated pool that features a comfortable hoist. Our fitness professionals regularly visit the care home to ensure residents can participate in innovative exercise such as seated yoga.

Milldale We are extremely passionate about providing a comfortable home for our residents who have received a dementia diagnosis. Our residents live well, are mobile and require very little clinical support so we can provide proactive care that focusses on the person as an individual. Milldale is warm and elegant with plenty of visual indicators such as clear signage and memory boxes to help residents navigate communal and personal spaces calmly and easily. There is plenty of group activity using music and reminiscence therapy as well as valuable one to one time.

Dovedale Frail and elderly residents benefit from a lovely homely environment called Dovedale. Private en-suite bedrooms are stylishly appointed with space to bring plenty of personal possessions and furniture. State of the art profiling beds ensure

maximum comfort and staff can administer care around the resident easily. ‘Dovedalers’ enjoy a full programme of events and activities run by the dedicated team who are located within the wing and time is spent on individual hobbies and pastimes too.

Respite Aston offers respite for a minimum of two weeks and it is possible to book breaks in advance.

If you are a carer looking for a break yourself but don’t want to be too far away from your loved one please ask our Village Advisors about Richmond Retreats at this location.

Coxbench Hall Residential Home www.coxbench-hall.co.uk

Family run home providing quality care since 1984 Permanent, short term and day care offered 1st day visit complimentary

Contact us

01332 880200 office@coxbench-hall.co.uk Alfreton Road, Coxbench, Derby DE21 5BB

64 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Richmond Aston-on-Trent More than just a care home...

N U R S I N G , R E S I D E N T I A L A N D D E M E N T I A CA R E Let us welcome you to our Village Care Home.

A warm, comfortable and friendly place where we support elderly residents with nursing, residential and dementia care.

We have state-of-the-art facilities, private en suite bedrooms and beautifully appointed lounges and dining rooms.

Enjoy the wider Village complex with your family including: • • • • • •

Wellness spa with easy access heated pool Hair and beauty therapy salon Village restaurant, café and bar External terraces and gardens Family events and activities Book ahead respite breaks available

Our Village Advisors are available to talk through individual needs and wishes so we can show you how wonderful living at Richmond Aston-on-Trent can be.

Call the Village Advisors on 01332 895702 Richmond Aston-on-Trent, Richmond Drive, Aston-on-Trent, Derbyshire DE72 2EA

www.richmond-villages.com/aston

9.7 Review score on carehome.co.uk (Nov 2018)

Find us on

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W H Smith Voucher Across: 1 Electrical discharge 4 Loads 9 No progress 10 Satirical Drawing12 Form 13 Likes better 16 Winds 18 Anger 19 Above 20 Perform 21 Automatically 23 Intravenous in short 24 Text 27 Bird 28 Exempli Gratia 29 Living 31 Timid 34 Rubbish 35 Devour 36 Digit 39 Once more 40 Not in 42 Derived from nature 43 Chair 45 Atmosphere 46 Moves you along 47 Period Down: 1 Footwear 2 Enough 3 Permitted 4 Push 5 Bivouac 6 Tatters 7 Kung? 8 Moon 11 Imitate 14 Kingdom 15 Rule 17 Contains fodder 22 Circle 25 East North East 26 Indigestion.29 Aerial 30 Walked 32 Flogged 33 Forager 37 Speak 38 Expel gas 41 Oak 44 Bolt Just find the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire village in the crossword below and send you answer to: Crossword Comp. Country Images, Unit 5, Office Village, Keys Road, Alfreton, Derbys DE55 7FQ. Or email competitions@imagespublishing.co.uk

39 40

Win a ÂŁ10

44

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Entries to reach us by December 15th 2018

First correct entry drawn wins the prize. Terms and conditions apply.

Our apologies for the lack of dhaded squares in last months edition. The village should have been Eyam So the winner who emailed Ashbourne is Chris Duncan from.....Ashbourne - where else.

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

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

ashmere the

family

Codnor Park The Firs Kidsley Grange King William

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 66 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Support in your own home a realistic alternative At Bluebird Care we’ve long believed the best care is delivered in your own home and, when asked, most people say that they would prefer to remain in their own home if possible; keeping all the things that matter to them close to hand, in the environment they know and treasure. Our services range from ‘round-theclock’ Live-in Care to multiple daily visits, helping you with everyday essentials and supporting you to live the lifestyle you choose.

Everything we do is driven by you and our respect for your wishes, choices and the sanctity of your home. We fit into your picture, enabling you to carry on with life as enjoyably as before. With live-in care, we keep everything running smoothly and everyone up-to-date, if required.

Throughout our service we try to be as ‘light touch’ as possible. You and your family can enjoy peace of mind – knowing you’re supported by a team of trained professionals who care as much as you do.

The business, which began its service in 2013, is owned and operated by Philip and Susan King, offers a bespoke service and has a family feel. “We began our service after spending many years supporting several relatives of our grandparents’ generation and realised that good care can be difficult to find and of variable quality. It is an immense privilege to be entrusted to provide support to people within Derbyshire Dales and Amber Valley, and we have met many interesting people with amazing life stories.”

Families also trust us to look after their loved ones, enabling them to get on with their busy lives and become family members again rather than carers. They are often able to go on holiday, relaxed in the knowledge that their relative is being well cared for and we have

even delivered emailed update ‘letters’ so they felt included whilst the family was away.

We have an accessible and flexible service that people rely upon for caring support, delivered safely and with quality and punctuality. We are proud of our team led by Rhiannon, our Care Manager, who runs a tight ship to ensure quality and safety throughout our service delivery. We subscribe to a website review service, Homecare.co.uk and, thanks to the 100% positive feedback from customers and family members we have won awards for our service for the past 4 years consecutively, for being in the Top Ten, now changed to the Top 20 for the East Midlands.

We value our support team and, 2 years ago, we committed to paying our employees the Voluntary Living Wage and are one of only a handful of businesses in the local area to do so. We have an excellent team of Care Assistants supported by a very experienced Office team, enabling us to provide the quality of care that our customers enjoy and can rely on.

Our experience makes your experience If you, or someone you know, would benefit from our service, either live-in, companionship or daily visits, (multiple daily visits only available within a certain radius of DE56 1AX) please get in touch with our friendly and professional team on:

01773 880055

Bluebird Care, 6 Bridge Street, Belper DE56 1AX @BluebirdCareAmberValley

www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/amber-valley

www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/derbyshire-dales

Give to someone you care about

L

ife does its best to get in the way of good intentions. The hard work you put into providing for future generations isn’t always realised to the full. Set up a trust and pass on your assets at the right time, safe from life’s complications. You could provide for a grandchild’s education, or pass on personal property. Whatever it is, give to someone with confidence.

Your money in safe hands A trust is a legal arrangement that allows you to put

assets (money or property for example) into the hands of a third party, to hold for the benefit of others at your discretion. Different types of trusts give flexibility to how your beneficiaries can profit. For example, a trust may hold money for a grandchild until they turn 18, or release money regularly over a period of several years.

Leave for tomorrow, today To set up a trust, or for advice on protecting assets for future generations contact Astle Paterson’s wills, probate and trusts team. We provide specialist assistance for all trust matters, including guidance for trustees. Call Sarah Nash 01283 531366 or visit astlepaterson.co.uk

New Laser Eye Surgery Treatment...

N

uffield Health Derby Hospital are proud to announce the installation of their new state of the art Zeiss Laser to help correct vision problems. Laser eye surgery is a rewarding and life-changing experience - but for many people, making the decision to undergo treatment can be a daunting and difficult choice to make.

At Nuffield Health Derby Hospital, we are here to help you make this decision by informing, advising and supporting you whenever you need it.

At your consultation we will carry out a series of indepth tests and examinations on your eyes, in order to

check that you meet the criteria required. We will also talk you through the other options available, should you require another type of treatment.

In addition to typical treatments for vision correction such as LASEK & LASIK, our new Zeiss Laser offers SMILE a minimally invasive surgery compared to traditional methods. Our consultant led treatment by Mr M Anandan, Consultant Ophthalmologist ensures you are offered quality care in a professional, hospital environment. 0% interest medical loans are available to help you spread the cost of treatment. For further information or to book an appointment please call 0300 790 6190 or visit www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/derby.

AstlePaterson When trusted experience matters

The best gift is Trust When you want to leave something for a loved one, life tends to complicate things. Put your assets into a Trust and take control of the fruits of your labour. You could aid a grandchild’s education, pass on a property or other assets.

Contact Sarah Nash, who is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, to receive your free ‘Guide to Trusts’.

BUSINESS & COMMERCIAL . CONVEYANCING . FAMILY . LITIGATION . WILLS, INHERITANCE TAX & PROBATE . EMPLOYMENT

01283 531366 www.astlepaterson.co.uk

68 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Clay House, 5 Horninglow Street Burton upon Trent Staffordshire, DE14 1NG

Sarah Nash

Solicitor; Head of Wills, Inheritance Tax, Probate & Trusts

No waiting lists.

We won’t keep you waiting.

At Nuffield Health Derby Hospital you don’t need private medical insurance, you can just pay for the treatment as and when you need it.

We’re open to everyone and our treatment prices are all-inclusive*, covering everything from your procedure through to recovery.

Call 01332 898 202 for further information.

Or visit: nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/derby *Initial consultation(s), diagnostic scans/tests and investigations required to establish a diagnosis are not part of your procedure price.

Why not come along to one of our FREE events?

Call 0845 603 4346

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 69

Derby Heights Care Home, Littleover

D

erby Heights Care Home in Littleover provides the best in care in luxury surroundings with a real home-from-home feel. Set quietly back from the road in mature wooded gardens, the home is rated as good in all categories by the care quality commission.

Derby Heights differentiates by combining first class care with hotel-standard services, and a market-leading well-being programme designed to support independence and provide a fulfilling lifestyle. Spacious, light and airy en-

suite bedrooms, restaurant quality dining, a hair salon and barbers, cinema room and a stunning atrium café are the hallmarks of this beautifully appointed home.

Independent recognition of the excellence of the staff and service have come in 2018 with Gold Cap awards for both dining and housekeeping, plus Carer of the Year and Care Home of the Year at the Derbyshire Care Awards. For more detail search ‘Derby Heights Care’ online or on Facebook.

Wheathills House is proud to have been providing a service since 1984.

T

he home is set in stunning grounds within the beautiful Derbyshire countryside. It is a lovely location in rural Derbyshire, yet conveniently situated 2 miles from Mickleover and 4 miles from Derby City Centre.

We are committed to tailoring our care around the individual needs of our residents. Dignity and respect are the key pillars of the Wheathills House care plan and we ensure they are upheld at all times.

For more information contact Wheathills House on 01332 824600 or email info@wheathillshouse.co.uk www.wheathillshouse.co

Derby Heights Care Home A Real Home From Home A care home of unrivalled comfort and quality, Derby Heights is located in the village of Littleover, on the edge of Derby and adjacent to the Nuffield Private Hospital. The best in care is provided in beautiful surroundings, in this award winning and welcoming home-from-home for both residential residents and those living with dementia.

Our approach is to nurture an atmosphere of care and community, all delivered in a quality lifestyle. Your well-being is our primary concern, and we will ensure that you have the highest quality of support for your mind, body and soul.

Call 01332 484488 Search ‘Derby Heights Care’ online or on

Derby Heights Care Home Rykneld Road Littleover Derby | DE23 4BU 70 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

Personal Service from Murray's Funeral Directors…

N

estled in the quiet and picturesque village of Findern, but only a few minutes from the hubbub of Littleover and Mickleover are Murray's Funeral Directors. An independently owned and operated family company who pride themselves on the personal service they can provide.

The business was set up some 17 years ago in Burton upon Trent by Sue and David Barke, however they now have their funeral home in Findern serving families in Derby and South Derbyshire. The building occupies a prominent corner on the main road through the village and has ample car parking facilities. We are able to offer both traditional and contemporary funerals and have facilities for ritual washing if required. When someone close to you dies, having to arrange their funeral will probably be one of the most difficult challenges you will face in life. Their aim is to put you at ease, they take care of all the arrangements giving you and your family and friends the peace of mind needed at such a sensitive time. Perhaps you are thinking of prepaying for your own, or a loved one's funeral? Prepaying your funeral can provide friends and family with peace of mind at the most sensitive of times, whilst fixing the majority of the costs at to-days prices. If this is of interest why not come and discuss your thoughts without obligation, over a cup of tea at our Findern or Burton offices.

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

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

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 71

colour

Fall in love with

this winter

Beautiful gifts of fine diamonds, silver jewellery and watches from Tudor Jewellers.

81 High Street, Alfreton DE55 7DP. Tel: 01773 835990 and 47 South Street, Ilkeston DE7 5QT. Tel: 0115 930 3004.

Super soft comf y knitwear that’ll surely be your go-to woolly for this season.

Team with colourful skirts or jeans, from Mistral. Mistral is available from Clarkes 30-32 King Street, Belper and also at Clarkes, 8-18 Grosvenor Road, Ripley.

72 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

“The Alphabet Gift Shop in Burton-upon-Trent and Mickleover, Derby is well and truly in the festive spirit! With the perfect gift ideas for every family member and gorgeous seasonal decorations, it really is a one stop destination for all your seasonal shopping needs!

And why not have your gifts personalised whilst you enjoy a festive drink or scrumptious lunch in their coffee shop.

For more information please visit www.thealphabetgiftshop.co.uk or visit www.facebook.com/thealphabetgiftshop”

from

Tudor Jewellers‌

81 High Street, Alfreton DE55 7DP Tel: 01773 835990 47 South Street, Ilkeston DE7 5QT Tel: 0115 930 3004

New Season - New Brands - New Look!

Friendly personal service from assistants who care, in a truly independent store that’s big enough to stock the quality brands you want.

Ripley Store Family Christmas Market Sunday 2nd December 10am-4pm We will be open Sunday16th & 23rd December 10am-3pm

Full Store

Winter Sale

Starts Thursday 27th December Doors open 9am

8-18 Grosvenor Road, Ripley Tel: 01773 742151

Belper Store

Christmas Food Festival Sunday 9th December 10am-3pm We will be open Sunday 23rd December 10am-3pm

Winter Sale

Starts Thursday 27th December Doors open 9am

30-32 King Street, Belper, Telephone Tel: 01773 525358 CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 73

colour this winter

Fall in love with

Problem skin solved at Prestige Belper Why clients will choose the new Environ® Focus Care™ Clarity+ RangeThe Focus Care™ Clarity+ Range is an innovative 3-phase system offering a complete skincare solution that is tough on breakouts but easy on skin. Each phase contains products that have been specifically formulated to help target the root causes of breakouts by giving your client’s skin exactly what it needs, where it needs it most. This simple 3 phase skincare routine is tough on breakouts and helps create the appearance of a clean, controlled and clear skin.

Phase 1: Clean. Phase 2: Control. Phase 3: Clear.

Here at Cheeky Bambini we love traditional toys. We have lovely wooden toys, knitted toys and gorgeous soft ragdolls. We stock several brands of organic cotton children's wear (0-5yrs).

Organic cotton is kinder to the environment and kinder on the skin - perfect for little ones. During December we will be open on Sundays (11-4) and will also be open late on Thursday evenings until 8pm.

Follow Cheeky Bambini Ltd on Facebook for more information and offers. Cheeky Bambini, 122 Bridge Street, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 1AZ

Now available at Jillian Hart Fashions and perfect for cold winter days, quilted and wool Junge coat collection from Denmark. For more information regarding the collection call into the shop 40-44 Babington Lane, Derby or telephone 01332 347647

In the run up to the festive season Frox stock a lovely range of jewellery and accessories for the perfect finishing touch to your little black dress or evening and day wear.

The shop also stock a great range of pre-loved designer clothing for all occasions. Frox, Draycott Mill, Draycott, Derbyshire.

Tel: 01332 875572 www.froxshop.com

Second Chance Dress Agency Established 1977

Designer labels at bargain prices Day wear, occasion wear and accessories

Stunning Range Of Cocktail & Evening Wear

Stock changes daily No appointments necessary Wed 10-1. Tues,Thur,Fri 10-4.

Saturday 10-5.

Evening shoes and bags, jewellery, scarves and xmas gifts

40-44 Babington Lane Derby Tel: 01332 347647 Opening Times: Monday - Saturday 9.30am - 5.00pm

19 Church Street Ashbourne Tel:01335 343025

BEAUTY CLINIC HAIR STUDIO

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For permanent hair removal, pigmentations, thread veins, scarring, skin rejuvenation

Perfect treatment if you want to:

Firm • Lose Inches Re-sculpt • Smooth

8 Market Place, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 1FZ Tel: 01773 820000

www.prestigebelper.co.uk CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 75

a little bit of magic with

Airbrush Flawless Finish £34 Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder features ingredients to prevent excess shine and brighten complexions. This shade in 1 Fair is ideal if you have very fair to fair skin, perfect for fair redheads and blondes!

What makes Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder magic: • Enjoy effortlessly flawless skin in a silk touch like you’ve never experienced before!

• Soft focus micro powders from nano-particles blur away lines and imperfections, sitting like a soft micro-fine cashmere veil on top of your skin • Rose wax and almond oil hydrates your skin throughout the day and smooths flawlessly over your skin • Nourishing actives soothe and restore skin, with light-reflecting ingredients diffusing and reflecting light for a luminous complexion and even finish all day

Magic Foundation £29.50 Five years in the making, this is a new generation of anti-ageing, full coverage foundation that morphs to your face in a weightless texture, for a perfect second skin that lasts all day.

Proven to instantly cover & treat in the long term: • Acne, Acne Scarring • Redness, Rosacea, Discolouration & Melasma • Mature Skin: Deep Wrinkles, Age Spots & Thread Veins • Tired, Dull Skin Problem skin transforms into Perfect Skin before your very eyes.

The hyper-intelligent formula dispenses evenly over your skin and does not sit in imperfections.

Magic Away £24 This is the magic wand of makeup for perfectlooking skin! Magic Away Concealer in 1 Fair is an incredible full coverage liquid concealer in an ivory shade for very fair skin with cool undertones. For five years, Charlotte Tilbury has been working on this holy grail of concealers that reduces the appearance of dark circles, blemishes and imperfections, for fresher-looking second skin instantly!

to buy online visit www.charlottetilbury.com

Magic Foundation This is a great product. It makes your skin look flawless and lasts all day VP

Magic Away Liquid Concealer An amazing product! The applicator sponge with its pointed tip give precision application around the eyes. It hides dark circles and blemishes and even covers fine lines. It lasts all day and doesn’t smudge or crease. CB

Ladies & Menʼs Hair Abbey Lane, Darley Abbey, Derby DE22 1DG

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❄

❆ ❅❆❅ ❆❄ ❅ ❆❆

CHRISTMAS OPENING HOURS Open 'till 24th December Closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day Open 28th & 29th December Re-Opens Thursday 3rd January 2019

❆

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Appointment Service 01332 551440 Late nights Wednesday & Friday • Free Parking

Airbrush Flawless Finish I found this a very fine powder so the finish it gave was lovely and seamless. It lasted all day which was great giving a matt finish. I chose a shade too light thinking of winter colouring, so will go with ‘medium’ next time for my skin tone. JP

FESTIVE

Must haves...

Keep your hands warm with fashionable leather gloves. More styles and choices available at The Fabulous Leather Shop, Belper.

Giftfors ★ ★

★★

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him &her ★

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YOUR LOCAL RADLEY STOCKIST

The Fabulous

Owen Barry Jennifer Lopez Fiorelli Bulaggi Ted Baker Cath Kidston Gianni Conti Madalu Kipling

Leather Shop

★

★

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of Belper

2a Chapel Street, Belper, Derby DE56 1AR Tel: 01773 822794

OPEN: 23rd December 11am to 4pm CLOSED: Christmas Eve and REOPENING on 4th Jan 2019 FABULOUS RANGE OF PRE-LOVED DESIGNER LADIES CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES FOR EVERY OCCASION.

The shop you don’t want your friends to find...

DERBYSHIRE’S PREMIER DRESS AGENCY Est. 2006

Tel: 01332 875572 www.froxshop.com

CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 77

Holiday Apartment

The Tower, Sandy Close, Crantock, Cornwall

RICHARD BOOTH UPHOLSTERY

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

01773 853338

Luxury S/C Holiday Apartment for 4 (Couples/Families Only) Outstanding Atlantic and Country Views Glorious Beach and NT Coastal Footpath (4 minutes walk) Parking, Dog Friendly and No Passing Traffic

For Booking and Enquiries Tel: 01637 830394 Email sandyclose@btinternet.com

New life for Old Kitchens!

out our Ask ab

F 20% OF s door

Just replace the doors and worktops

Directory Call 01773 830344 JOHN’S SOFA STUDIO

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.

UPHOLSTERY RE-UPHOLSTERY REPAIRS

DREAM DOORS

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

NEW LIFE FOR OLD KITCHENS

Visit our Derbyshire showrooms or call to book your FREE survey and quote: 20 The Strand, Derby, DE1 1BE T: 01332 290600 www.dreamdoors.co.uk

WINDOWS DOORS CONSERVATORIES FASCIAS & SOFFITS REPAIR WORK Head Office/Showroom 28 Church Street Ripley Derbyshire DE5 3BU

Tel:01773 513339

www.sunset-windows.co.uk

WEATHERSEAL

Windows, Doors and Conservatories • 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

78 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

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

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

Clean Reliable Service

Mobile: 07960 849642

Free No Obligation Quotations

Tel: 01773 856082

Made to measure Gates, Railings & Ironwork Phone NOW for your FREE on site quotation Fitting Service Available

The Area’s Favourite Window Company

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

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

The Gate Maker

SUNSET WINDOWS

Your 5 Star Piece of Mind…

All Aspects Of Plastering

Dove Bow Top Double Gates 4 ft high 7 ft gap only £462 4 ft high 12 ft gap only £792 6 ft high 7 ft gap only £714 6 ft high 12 ft gap only £1224

Dove Flat Top Double Gates 3 ft high 7 ft gap only £399 3 ft high 12 ft gap only £684 6 ft high 7 ft gap only £630 6 ft high 12 ft gap only £1080

All gates come complete with brackets tofit to wall or existing post (posts not included)

01773 745822

www.thegatemaker.co.uk Shot Blast & Powder Coating Specialists in refurbishing wrought iron gates

Phone 01773 745822 NOW

A Local Family Run Company

Motor Bike Frames, Garden Furniture Collection Service Available for a small charge

Dynamism, luxury, pure open-air pleasure

the BMW 8 Series Convertible The second new luxury-segment arrival on show in Los Angeles adds a new breed of vehicle to the BMW line-up – one that allows the brand’s renowned sporting prowess to be experienced in a luxury opentop four-seater for the first time. The BMW 8 Series Convertible fuses exhilarating driving qualities with a design of matchless elegance and a superbly exclusive setting in which to experience driving pleasure and the delights of open-top motoring at their finest.

Dynamically stretched lines and a classical soft-top roof set the tone for the

distinctive appearance of the BMW 8 Series Convertible. The electrically powered roof can be opened or closed fully automatically in 15 seconds, even when moving at speeds of up to 50 km/h (31 mph). When closed, the soft-top emphasises the car’s low-slung, sporty lines. But with the roof down it is the two-seater’s elongated elegance that really stands out. Enjoyment of the driving experience is also assisted by a sophisticated interior design majoring in high-precision detail. Opening the roof reveals the seamless harmony of exterior and interior.

The instrument panel, door shoulders, areas around the rear passengers’ shoulders

ʻThe Friendly Professional Local Company With Over 25 Years Experienceʼ

Get your boots on and get paid!

• • •

We Require distributors for Ashbourne & Darley Abbey.

Contact Country Images 01773 830344 garry@imagespublishing.co.uk

and the soft-top compartment cover sweep around the four occupants in a continuous flowing line. The BMW 8 Series Convertible comes as standard with a rollover protection system and a wind deflector, while neck warmers incorporated into the front head restraints and a Winter Comfort package (including a heated steering wheel) are both available as optional extras.

The BMW 8 Series Convertible will be launched with a choice of petrol V8 or sixcylinder in-line diesel engine, with power directed to the road in both cases via an eight-speed Steptronic transmission and BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive.

•

All Types of Garage Doors Supplied & Fitted Up & Over, Sectional, Roller and Side Hinged Remote Control Operation to New or Existing Garage Door Repairs Competitive Rates, NO CALL OUT CHARGE Guarantees All Installations & Repairs Fully Guaranteed

Visit our website for examples of our work and call us for a free quotation

Call Today 01332 609445 or 07583 031427 www.ockbrookgaragedoors.co.uk CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk | 79

Set off and leave the worries of everyday life behind - in the Eura Mobil motorhome.

Geoff Cox introduces the new range of Eura Mobil luxury motorhomes

W

ith their functions and characteristics inspired by years of practical experience, Eura Mobil motor homes make travelling an endless delight.

Whether it be the generous storage space, protection from the weather thanks to the GRP chassis, stability during winter and comfortable underfloor heating thanks to heated double floors, insurance benefits or generous warranties, they’ve thought of everything you could need to make your holiday worry-free.

A 10-year guarantee against leaks and a 3-year furniture guarantee, ensures a truly stress-free holiday, completely aside from the reassuring feeling you get when you see and touch the

solid handles, sturdy door profiles and stout furniture sides.

Pure Luxury - the new Flagship Luxuriously upholstered seats with exclusive stitching offers the perfect invitation to sit on the comfortable pilot's seats or on the comfortable and stylish sofas. The high quality materials and skilled workmanship that has gone into every piece of furniture in the Integra highlights the tasteful character of comfort and style. The solid, twin-pedestal table with up to 7 seats (three-axle model) forms the heart of the living room. The visual connection to the wall units in the living space is created with elegant, moulded parts, producing a harmonious unit of the living space and driver's cab. And the precision adjustable ambient lighting creates the perfect mood, either during the day or at night.

Delighting Gourmets The kitchen in the Integra will leave even demanding chefs open-mouthed. This is because here too, Eura Mobil combines luxury with practical details. Take the extractor hood which is included as standard, for example, or the electric lift, which lowers the espresso machine out of its 80 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

elegant glass display cabinet. Even an oven is included as standard on board, while the 160-litre refrigerator comes with a 30-litre freezer compartment. The worktop and storage compartments are indirectly illuminated. The worktop-mounted three-hob cooker and stainless steel sink are transformed into extended work surfaces thanks to their glass or chopping board covers when not in use.

Exclusive Suite - But on Wheels Even the spacious bedrooms in the Integra mean almost limitless comfort: the generous wardrobes have plenty of space to offer even long winter or evening wear without any problems. Dimmable ambient LED lighting bathes the room in soft light, while bright reading spotlights make bedtime reading a pure delight. The spacious beds are designed as a central bed (I 890 QB) or as single beds (I 890 EB and I 700 EB) and can optionally be ordered with massage mattresses. And under the beds, an especially roomy garage offers plenty of space for luggage, sports equipment and much more.

Oases of Wellness The Integra's luxurious oasis of wellness greets you in the morning and is available all day long whenever you need to freshen up. The spacious bathrooms in the Integra 890 EB and Integra 890 QB as well as the variable-use central washroom in the Integra 700 EB leave no wish ungranted when it comes to wellness and comfort. Our motto for each of these bathroom designs is to create superb luxury with stylish elegance and a practical edge.

GET MORE WITH NEW ADRIA, SUN LIVING & EURA MOBIL GET MORE WITH NEW GET MORE WITH NEW MOTORHOMES FROM GEOFF COX ADRIA, SUN LIVING & EURA MOBIL ADRIA, SUN LIVING & EURA MOBIL MOTORHOMES GEOFFCOX COX MOTORHOMES FROM FROM GEOFF

Receive of FREE FREEextras* extras* Receive£2000 £2000 of Receive £2000 of FREE extras*

Geoff Cox Leisure - Adria, Eura Mobil and Sun Geoff Cox Leisure - Adria, Eura Mobil and Sun Living'sLiving's leadingleading brand ambassador & dedicated dedicated Geoff Cox Leisure -brand Adria,ambassador Eura Mobil &and Sun dealer for 10 years dealer for 10 years Living's leading brand ambassador & dedicated dealer for 10 years

Exclusive show finance 4.9% APR Exclusive show finance ratesrates fromfrom 4.9% APR

Exclusive show finance rates from 4.9% APR Nationwide after sales support

Nationwide after sales support

Nationwide afterpart sales supportprices Guaranteed exchange

Guaranteed part exchange prices

Guaranteed part exchange prices

Optional 5 year extended warranty on all new vehicles

Optional 5 year extended warranty on all new vehicles

Optional 5 year extended warranty on all new vehicles

Freestarter starter pack forfirst all time first buyers time buyers Free pack for all

Free starter pack for all first time buyers

Free overnight stay, stay, comprehensive vehicle vehicle Freecampsite campsite overnight comprehensive handovers handovers

Free campsite overnight stay, comprehensive vehicle handovers Family run business established since 1967

Family run business established since 1967

Family run business established since 1967

Call us on 01332 781562 or email gavin@geoffcox.co.uk

Call ususonon01332 or email emailgavin@geoffcox.co.uk gavin@geoffcox.co.uk Call 01332781562 781562 or For Life’s Adventures

For For Life’s Adventures Life’s Adventures

www.geoffcox.co.uk

122 Derby Road | Denby | Derbyshire | DE5 8LG

www.geoffcox.co.uk T: 01332 781562 E: info@geoffcox.co.uk www.geoffcox.co.uk

122122 Derby Road DE58LG 8LG Derby Road| Denby | Denby || Derbyshire Derbyshire | |DE5

01 332stocks 781last, 562 E: info@ *Offers and specifications are subject to changeT: and while further T’s & C’sgeoffcox.co.uk may apply, please speak to a Geoff Cox representative for more details. Geoff Cox Car Sales Ltd. trading as Geoff Cox. T: 01332 781562 E: info@geoffcox.co.uk

*Offers and specifications are subject to change and while stocks last, further T’s & C’s may apply, please speak to a Geoff Cox representative for more details. Geoff Cox Car Sales Ltd. trading as Geoff Cox. *Offers and specifications are subject to change and while stocks last, further T’s & C’s may apply, please speak to a Geoff Cox representative for more details. Geoff Cox Car Sales Ltd. trading as Geoff Cox.

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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.

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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

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Air Conditioning Service Full air-con and diagnostic service available 82 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk

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Fitted Kitchen stmas For fCewhrriemaining Last hens c t i k t s o M 3days 2 y l n o fitted in tle as t i l s a m Fro £2,995

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KITCH DISPLAYS

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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 CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY & NEW YEARS DAY ONLY - OPEN BOXING DAY Showroom: 227 Station Road, Langley Mill, Nottinghamshire, NG16 4AD www.premierinteriorsnottingham.co.uk *Terms and conditions apply. *Not in conjunction with any other offer.

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Winter Sale Starts 9:00am 27th DECEMBER

Lawrence Sofa

New for winter, our stylish Greenwich sofa is deep & sumptuous. Expertly crafted in Derbyshire and available in an extensive collection of fine fabrics.

Living | Dining | Beds & Bedroom | Kitchens | Flooring | Made-to-Measure Curtains

Furniture & Home Interiors Est. 1928 Hunters, Babington Lane, Derby. DE1 1SY t. 01332 349285 huntersfurniture.co.uk