

DAWN’S HAVING A WHALE OF A TIME
by Lucy
WHAT’S life like in the coldest place on earth?
Six weeks’ marine surveying in Antarctica has been the experience of a lifetime for Weston-on-Trent ocean conservationist Dawn Thompson
“I’ve never seen so many colours of white in my life!” said Dawn, who admits these days she only “occasionally” lives in Weston
“I didn’t realise white could be more than 200 colours ”
For the past three years Dawn has volunteered for UK-based marine conservation charity ORCA, which is dedicated to the long-term study and protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises and their habitats in oceans worldwide
While Dawn herself had a background in conservation, having worked for the RSPB, she said this was not an essential criterion in volunteering for ORCA, which offers full training to give people the opportunity to travel the world – or remain in the UK – and conduct important surveys for themselves
Surveyors are provided with board on commercial ships and in return record sightings of numbers of cetaceans: the marine term for whales, dolphins and porpoises
As an ocean conservationist for the charity Dawn has been on trips to the Bay of Biscay – one of the world’s best places to see whales – as well as around Scotland, Iceland, and, most recently, Antarctica
Part of the role involves showing ship passengers sightings of whales, which, as Dawn put it, never fails to excite her despite having done the job for several years
“It’s a wonderful organisation,” said Dawn
“It’s a way for people to be able to directly involve themselves in conservation It really is at the coalface of conservation work This charity gives anybody who wants to have a go the opportunities to do that
“On ferries in the Bay of Biscay you talk to passengers in places like Spain and France; you get to speak to 1,000 people a day ” Dawn said that when she was offered the opportunity to travel to Antarctica in the last months of 2024 she jumped at it

“It is of course spring in the southern hemisphere, but nevertheless the temperature in Antarctica hovered around 0 degrees centigrade,” she said
“My job was to stand out on deck recording any sightings of whales or dolphins The wind chill soon hit and, despite many layers of clothing, after about two hours I’d be dithering with cold and heading in for a hot drink but back out again when the shivering stopped
“It was beautiful and foreboding in equal measure;









when the weather changed for the worse, which it would do in an instant, you realised what a truly inhospitable place the coldest continent in the world really is
“Standing there on our modern ship in our modern gear, as protected as you could possibly be, you do get a sense of what the early explorers must have endured in their wooden boats and woefully inadequate clothing How brave they were ” Continued on Page 2











Stephens
l Dawn Thompson aboard ship heading to the Antarctic.
Conservationist’s experience of a lifetime

Continued from Page 1
The work of ORCA is to harness the enthusiasm of citizen scientists to monitor populations of some of the world’s most iconic marine mammals on which factors such as climate change, pollution and fishing pressure are taking their toll
But Dawn said it was important to focus on the positives and on the important work that ORCA is doing
“We hope that our surveys will identify what we call ‘hot spot’ areas of activity which can actively be used to help protect these majestic creatures,” she said
“Whales and dolphins are essential for the health of our oceans – and the oceans, by regulating the climate and producing 50% of the world’s oxygen, are essential for our wellbeing ” What is it like to spot a whale, dolphin or porpoise in its natural habitat?
“I still squeal – I can’t help myself,” she said “I defy anybody who doesn’t People have got to love something to want to protect it I feel privileged that my job is to show people these things ” See https://orca org uk/ for more
Silver award for Purple Emperor project
AN innovative environmental project that saw a beautiful butterfly spotted in Aston-on-Trent for the first time in nearly 200 years has been recognised in a major international awards scheme.
South Derbyshire District Council (SDDC) and Butterfly Conservation jointly won a silver award in the Green Apple Award Ceremony for their project preparing for the climate-change induced migration of the Purple Emperor butterfly
The butterfly was once only seen in the south of England but populations have been moving northwards because of climate change
The project involved the planting of hundreds of goat willow ‘whips’ – saplings – on which the Purple Emperor caterpillars feed
Through the collective efforts of Butterfly Conservation, SDDC, and environmental organisations – including the National Forest Company, the National Trust, Forestry England, Severn Trent Water, and other landowners – 550 goat willow whips were purchased and planted at strategic sites to encourage the Purple Emperor Aston Brickyard, which was formally designated a Nature Reserve in 2019, was one of the sites where the goat willow saplings have been planted – and the village was rewarded with a sighting of the butterfly soon afterwards

It was the first time on record – which goes back to 1829 – that the purple emperor had been seen in South Derbyshire
John Holloway, from The Friends of Aston Brickyard Local Nature Reserve (FAB), said they “are delighted to congratulate SDDC and East Midlands Butterfly Conservation on their Green Apple Award, a richly deserved recognition of their Butterfly Migration project
“FAB works closely with SDDC, annually supporting their ‘Free Tree’ scheme and with EM Butterfly Conservation, planting over 50 Goat Willow plants and honeysuckle to encourage the Purple Emperor and White Admiral butterflies to South Derbyshire
“A first sighting of the Emperor in Aston was photographed by a FAB member and we eagerly await next Spring to see if both species decide to make their homes in the area As a voluntary community organisation it is most encouraging to work with two organisations committed to wildlife and the green environment ”
The Green Apple Awards, organised by The Green Organisation, celebrate outstanding environmental projects and initiatives across the globe The Preparing for Butterfly Migration into Derbyshire Project was singled out for its unique contribution to preserving the Purple Emperor butterfly, a species whose northern migration is being hastened by shifting climate patterns
As a woodland species, the Purple Emperor requires specific habitats for breed-
ing, and these new plantings will help establish a reliable food source for the butterflies once the trees mature
The project has also been instrumental in enhancing a network of wildlife corridors, connecting woodlands and grasslands across the region, which will benefit not only the Purple Emperor but also a variety of other species
Ken Orpe, Butterfly Conservation East Midlands Branch member and County Recorder for Derbyshire, said: “I am absolutely delighted that this small idea of mine has resulted in this fantastic environmental award: this is a fitting tribute to the hard work of Butterfly Conservation East Midlands branch, South Derbyshire District Council and the 30 landowners who allowed nearly 600 trees to be planted on their land
“The fact that we recorded the first-ever sightings of this amazing butterfly in the county just a few months later was a huge reward, and an inspiration to keep doing what we do at Butterfly Conservation Thank you to everyone involved for all of your help ”
In recognition of the project’s success, SDDC is continuing to engage the local community through the Free Tree Scheme, offering free Goat Willow trees to residents in South Derbyshire Hundreds of trees are set to be planted throughout the district, further enhancing local biodiversity and providing future food sources for migrating butterflies
OPENING TIMES
Open Wednesday 10am - 8pm ursday to Sunday 10am - 4pm For breakfast, lunch, homemade cakes, scones and a whole counter full of goodies - Booking is required for A ernoon Tea -
Much love, Lou and the team x

MELBOURNE Mummers made their regular appearance around the pubs of Ticknall and Melbourne in the run-up to Christmas, bringing their own brand of festive cheer and fund-raising in the process.
Reviving a tradition going back to the 13th Century, the local group has been performing the story for the past 14 years The origins of the traditional themes are obscure, but the characters include Father Christmas, St George, “Slasher”, a Doctor, Beelzebub and a Minstrel.
At one venue this year, Slasher came in for a bit of teasing as he seemed to be channelling his inner Adam Ant, Prince Charming, and had trouble remembering the script The onlookers were also amazed to see a doctor turn up so quickly to the scene, given the issue with GP appointments!
As the finale of The Twelve Days of Christmas rang out, the bucket collection went round and a staggering £870 was donated.
This year the charities were CVS at Swadlincote and Books for Children in Foster Care
THE Melbourne to Ashby bus service was affected on January 9 after a collision between a vehicle and a telegraph pole closed the B587 near Staunton Harold Leicestershire Police were called to the incident at 7 40am and the road was closed for hours This resulted in the power supply being stopped to several local homes and the National Grid stepped in to manage the situation later in the morning
Pick-up lift for zoo
WHAT does a zoo-keeper most want for Christmas?
Top of the wishlist at Twycross Zoo was a Toyota Hilux pick-up truck donated by the fire crew at East Midlands Airport after it was upgraded for a new model
Zoo-keepers said they needed the truck to carry hay, netting, food supplies and anything for the management and upkeep of the 100-acres site
It is not the first time that members of the East Midlands Airport community have donated their old equipment to the zoo
Over the summer the airport’s fire crew gave old hoses for staff to use to create swings, hammocks and balls in which
to hide food for the apes at Tywcross
When DHL, whose major UK hub is based at the airport, heard about it they realised they had plenty of cargo netting available, which is ideal for creating hammocks and food holders inside enclosures
The latest donation from the fire crew has seen them hand over the keys to the pick-up truck which, after being used as a general utility vehicle carrying fire-related equipment at the airport since 2011, is being replaced by a newer model
EMA Firefighter Julian Essex, who has organised the donation of the truck and liaised with DHL colleagues, said he’s delighted to be able to help the charity zoo again

Katie sees her stage role dream come true at 17
by Edith Stephens
WHO says dreams can’t come true?
They did for Katie Chamberlain from Weston-on-Trent, who won her dream stage role aged only 17
Katie, who is studying maths, physics and performing arts at Bilborough College in Nottingham, said the experience of playing the part of Christine Daaé – the lead role in The Phantom of the Opera –had been nothing short of magical
Katie, who would love to become a professional actress on the West End stage one day, played the role made famous by Sarah Brightman in a prestigious Derby Theatre production, watched by some 3,000 people
She said: “I feel so lucky to have done it The week itself was magical I loved every second of it I would do it every single day if I could I had the best time The theatre was beautiful It felt like you were in the West End it was crazy ”
Katie spotted the ad asking for people to audition for the show on social media and popped in an application hoping she might be seen for a spot in the ensemble
But things went much better than that when she won an audition and then a call back for the leading role of Christine
After three rounds of auditions she found out she had won the part
It was a dream come true for Katie who first saw The Phantom of the Opera aged seven and told her mother she would like to one day play the leading role
Katie has been honing her talents locally in Aston-on-Trent and with the award-winning Erewash Musical Youth Group where she has appeared in many productions, which are performed at The Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton
She said the rehearsal process for a big show at Derby Theatre had been intense but “magical” and her ballet skills on pointe shoes had also been put to the test
But Katie would do it all again in a heartbeat and would love to perform the iconic role again one day
“The cast was so lovely, so supportive, I loved every single one of them,” she said
“I just want to do it again Magical is an understatement Nothing describes how it feels to be told you’re going to play your dream role The first and last bow I will never forget I cried every night!
“Literally, I was so grateful for it I had the best time, the best cast, the best production team Everything about it could not have been more perfect My costumes were handmade I was so lucky ”

Rise in annual council precept
PARISHIONERS in Melbourne and King’s Newton will face an inflationary rise in their annual precept levied by the local parish council, it has been decided
Members of Melbourne Parish Council discussed their budget at their latest public meeting held in The Assembly Rooms on January 7
It was decided to earmark from the council’s reserves a sum of money to pay for hosting any events that may be proposed, and to raise the precept by 2 7 per cent, in line with inflation
The rise will mean that residents in a Band D property will pay £55 19 to Melbourne Parish Council, up from £54 05
Parish councillors were not unanimous in the decision, with seven voting for the rise and four against
The council has earmarked significant funds to pay for the refurbishment of Melbourne Cemetery’s chapel building

GENEROUS supporters and pubgoers at the Smisby Arms helped Santa visit many children in need last Christmas
The pub held a Christmas Craft Fair that even saw ponies and dogs get involved as well as see a visit from Santa himself.
Craig and Carol from the pub have reported that the festive fun raised £550, which was used to buy sackfuls of gifts including toys, toiletries and clothes distributed to the Co-op Children’s Toy Charity and local Leicestershire children’s home
Craig and Carol would like to thank all those who helped raise the total.
MELBOURNE Carnival is set to be extra special this year as it is celebrating its 100th birthday.
The committee will soon be getting busy organising this summer ’s event – so mark your diaries for Saturday, July 12



Council’s £10k play area boost
MELBOURNE Parish Council has scored a slam-dunk after spending more than £10,000 in refurbishing the local play park – including newly strengthened basketball facilities
With Sport England now reporting more young people playing basketball in this country than ever, keen young Melbourne players are delighted with their revamped court and nets that are in place and ready for action in the Lothian Gardens park
The work on the play park has been masterminded and paid for by Melbourne Parish Council Parish council vice-chair Cllr Andy Dawson said the latest refurbishment works at Lothian Gardens had come about after safety inspections highlighted a few areas that needed attention
Previous basketball hoops had also suffered from vandalism
The work has included newly installed concrete, helping make play equipment secure; replacement fencing around the court; new backboards on either side of the court; and sturdy 10ft high nets
Parish council chair Cllr Joe Ward said: “The parish council is putting more into improving things in the area – we’ve got a list of other things that are underway to improve the area around the town ”
Cllr Dawson said contractors employed to do the works at Lothian Gardens had done a “first class job”, and that the parish council was actively spending money with various action groups now working on bringing projects to fruition in Melbourne and King’s Newton
The work to improve basketball facilities in particular has met with approval from local families
by Lucy Stephens
with the game attracting a lot of new talent and enthusiasm amongst the younger generation currently
Parents said they particularly appreciated having a good basketball court in the area after it was out of action while works were being undertaken Keen players reported regularly going to Lothian Gardens to practise their skills
Sharon Bentley, mum of basketball enthusiast
Louis, said: “It’s just a great facility to have on your doorstep ”
Lucy Smart, mum of Arthur, said: “I think it’s great for kids to have somewhere they can come and be outside and play with their friends I really appreciate it ”

PROGRESS ON EMPTY COUNCIL PROPERTIES
SOUTH Derbyshire District Council has made “significant progress” in reducing the number of empty council properties in the area, the Village Voice has been told
A spokesperson from the council has provided updated news to our newspaper about the current state of council properties, on request.
The spokesperson said the significant progress had been made over the past 12 months, and that in the local Village Voice area there were currently three proper-
ties currently undergoing works.
In South Derbyshire there are currently 730 live housing applications on the waiting list
The council said fewer than 20 residents were currently in temporary accommodation and all of these were being actively supported in finding “suitable, long-term housing”.
The spokesperson said: “We have made significant progress in reducing the number of empty council properties in South
Derbyshire over the past 12 months.
“Across the whole district, we currently have 61 empty council homes that we are preparing for let, or that require repairs/maintenance
“We have a further 17 homes that are ‘ready to let’ and in the process of being allocated to the successful applicant.” Concerns have been raised in the past about the delays in South Derbyshire council properties receiving new occupants after becoming vacant







l Melbourne Parish Council chair and vice-chair Cllrs Joe Ward (left) and Andy Dawson, with young basketball enthusiasts Arthur Smart, Louis Bentley, Seb Bettelley and Benjamin Short
David puts his sole into fish suppers
MELBOURNE cobbler David Gray has thanked the local community for supporting his festive fish suppers project after he was able to provide more than 100 to people in the area this year
David has been running his festive cheer project for four years now and said 2024 had been the busiest yet Born during Covid, David’s project sees him collect donations throughout the year from people who pay a small amount to advertise on the board outside his shop.
The donations pay for meal vouchers delivered within the community which can be redeemed at the fish and chip shop or Bird’s Bakery
David and his wife, Michelle, then walk around Melbourne delivering meals from the redeemed vouchers to people such as older members of the community who may appreciate the gesture at Christmas time
David (pictured in his shop) has thanked people for supporting the project by advertising on his board, enabling him to collect more than £700 in 2024
He said the idea for the project had first struck him when walking his dog in Melbourne and feeling there could be a need for distributing some Christmas cheer amongst the community
He said: “This town has supported me for 25 years now and it’s my turn to give a little bit back ”
David would love to hear from anyone who knows someone – or who themselves – would appreciate a voucher for a fish and chip supper or Bird’s meal during the festive week
He said: “If someone wants a voucher they are welcome to come and get one If it makes somebody smile that’s all I want ”
David thanked Caslon Print which printed last year ’s 100 vouchers free of charge.

New Year ’s OBE honour for Marvin
by Frank Hughes
MANY congratulations to Melbourne resident Marvin Cooke on being awarded with the honour of Officer of the Order of the British Empire in The King’s New Year ’s honours list.
Marvin, who is also a Deputy Lieutenant for Derbyshire, was awarded the OBE for Services to Automotive Manufacturing and said that it came as a big shock when he got the official OHMS letter in November
He said he let wife Angie open the letter as he was not sure what it was about, and she made him sit down before she told him the exciting news
Having had 33 years’ experience working for Toyota, rising through the business from engineer to Executive Vice-President in Europe, until he retired in 2024, there is no doubt he is a world leader in the automotive industry Originally from Derby, Marvin began working life as an apprentice at the age of 16 for Pirelli in Burton on Trent He did a technical apprenticeship and a degree course at Nottingham Trent, before moving to Carlisle
Around 1989 he saw that Toyota were planning the new car plant, and applied for a job After an initial setback, he was taken on as an engineer in the pressing department

He remembered with fondness and pride the first car rolling off
the production line in December 1992, the first of five million cars manufactured there up to December 2024
Talking through a catalogue of roles, he describes both challenging and exciting times, including overseeing the issues raised by Brexit, with 85% of cars then exported to the EU, then Covid – having to halt production and being the first to restart, the global shortage of semiconductors, and the impact of the war in Ukraine, as well as developing the strategy for future manufacturing in Europe
Since retirement Marvin is now Professor of Enterprise at Derby Business School, part of the University of Derby, and is enjoying the part-time role, with occasional guest lecturing but mostly developing the business school’s industrial engagement activity with local and national businesses
Marvin said it was “very humbling to get the award”, and he recognised that he was “sharing the honour with all of the people he had worked with over the years ”
He also said he was “deeply indebted to his wife and family for their continued unwavering support and encouragement ” He has no date for the investiture as yet but is looking forward to the whole family joining him in London for the occasion
Alert over bird flu
THE trading standards team at Derbyshire County Council is urging bird keepers to take steps to combat the spread of bird flu, as cases have been dealt with in other parts of the country
Anyone who keeps poultry or other captive birds must register them with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and make sure they are following Government guidelines to meet the minimum biosecurity standards to protect their birds
Keepers can register their birds online – either as a keeper of fewer, or more, than 50 poultry or other captive birds, or a keeper of a captive bird of prey DEFRA and the Government’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have provided a biosecurity checklist for bird keepers as well as advice about how to prevent avian flu and stop it spreading
Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Carol Hart said: “Avian influenza is a highly infectious disease affecting many species of birds, including poultry, pet birds and wild birds
“While it’s not currently in Derbyshire, cases have been dealt with in other parts of the country, so I am urging anyone who keeps birds in the county to register their birds, follow the Government guidelines, and limit the spread, if we can ” Bird flu is a notifiable animal disease Anyone suspecting any type of avian influenza in poultry or captive birds must report it immediately by calling the DEFRA Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301
Cats needing a home
CATS Protection Derbyshire Cat Centre recorded an unmatched 1,012 adoptions in 2024, highlighting the growing strain the charity is under to find suitable homes for the increasing number of unwanted cats
The cost-of-living crisis proved a triple challenge to the centre last year with increased vet costs, a rise in abandonments and more cats arriving with serious medical issues
Centre Manager Helen Wood said: “We had one of the hardest years at the centre last year We are so pleased to have homed so many cats and kittens, but there are still so many out there needing our help ”
Among cats at the Derbyshire centre currently looking for homes are Titch and Wendy The one-year-olds have both suffered with knees issues but Wendy’s were more severe, requiring orthopaedic surgery to make her more comfortable They are super friendly pair who need to be rehomed as a pair
See www cats org uk/derby for more















T he Common Touch...
Environmental honours
JANUARY sees the New Year ’s Honours list come out, awards appointed by King Charles III This is of interest this year to us at Whistlewood Common as we received an award by him last year, The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, celebrating our volunteers’ hard work over many years and recognising the amazing results from our project for our local community and environment
I was looking through the list to see if there were any significant environmentalists in the list and the only ones with any connection to climate change or environmental issues included David Warren, former CEO of Rolls-Royce, who masterminded the Group’s net zero technology strategy and was a founding signatory of the UN Race to Zero (2020)
This is a movement of more than 9,000 companies, 1,000 cities, 1,000 educational institutions and over 600 financial institutions who have pledged to take rigorous, immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030
You can find more info on this from the United Nations Climate Action website; there’s some great info on there
This month has seen reporting from The European Copernicus climate service that 2024 was the first calendar year to pass the symbolic threshold of 1 5 degrees C, above pre-industrial temperatures, as well as the world's hottest on record
The word ‘race’ is even more poignant for this agreement of non-state actors Governments have made a lot of promises in this area and not done much action The race to net zero will be a joint effort though
Find out what your company is doing to be


more sustainable; if they’re not doing much, find out why Planned change is always more sensible than having changes thrust upon you It’s possible that these companies could be accused of ‘greenwash’ We’ll just have to see what is achieved in 2030 It wouldn’t be right not to mention the part these companies involved in car and aeronautic industries in bringing us to where we are now regarding climate change None of us are blameless I suppose; we are where we are and we can’t change what’s gone before, only what we’re going to do today and tomorrow
Stephen Fry is the Vice-President of Fauna and Flora International charity – Saving Nature Together They deliver tangible positive outcomes for nature, people and climate, with a partnership led approach and projects all over the world They are doing some impressive work and results
From our distance from London, we can probably avoid the heated conversations on what the RT Hon Sadiq Khan has achieved He has, though, introduced the world’s largest clean-air zone and overseen fantastic public transport initiatives
People in Greater London have mixed views about how these projects have been implemented, but the effects have very large benefits to everyone in the area or visiting London
There were no women involved in environmental work on the list Hopefully, next January there will be more representation and recognition in the Honours list of this important area of all our lives
– KATHERINE PARRISH
Gill’s sights now on guide dog puppies

























AN optician who worked in Melbourne for nearly 30 years is now involved in a different kind of sight-related occupation: helping train a guide dog puppy!
Gill Weatherall has thanked local people for their “lovely messages and gifts” following her retirement after many years at Lomas’ Opticians in Melbourne
guide dog puppy ” This is not the first time Gill and Barrie have taken on raising a guide dog – Skye is their sixth
Their role as puppy raisers involves taking on a dog until it is about 14 months old, when it goes to ‘big school’ for the next stage of training
The initial period with foster owners like Gill and Barrie involves socialising puppies and getting them used to busy environments
“She's a little fluff ball, like an Andrex puppy but with sharp puppy teeth!" said Gill













She said she was sad to leave but warmly thanked all those who left messages and presents at Lomas’ where she spent a large part of her 46year career as a dispensing optician
Gill and her husband, Barrie, from Nottingham, have not been resting since Gill’s recent retirement, however




They have got their hands full helping train a 13-week-old Labrador retriever cross, Skye, ready for her future life as a registered guide dog
“I’ve always been a supporter of the charity,” said Gill “I did a half marathon for them a few years ago
“When I watched Blue Peter in the 1960s I used to send in my silver foil bottle tops to buy a
CAN you help some toads reach their ancient breeding grounds in Foremarke? Then the committed volunteers at Derbyshire Amphibian and Reptile Group would like to hear from you
“We’re going into shops, garden centres, towns, buses, on the train, going to the hospital, walking around the supermarket, the café
“You hope you’re doing something good for somebody else down the line We like animals, we like dogs, but we feel we couldn’t afford to have our own pet because they are quite expensive, and they’re a tie as well ”
Anyone interested in finding out more about helping foster a guide dog puppy can find out more via the charity’s website: www guidedogs org uk/
For more than 30 years the ancient crossing at Foremarke has been patrolled every spring by group members to prevent toads being run over as they make their way to their breeding lake
The annual migration usually takes place in late February and March
During this time the group runs a daily rota to patrol the adjacent road in the early evening The team is very committed but a few more volunteers are needed to help spread the load
Anyone who is interested is asked to contact the group on derbyshirearg@gmail com
l Gill Weatherall with Labrador retriever cross Skye

A real feast of festive music
LIKE the wise men, the Melbourne music Christmas concerts came in three, with A Choir ’d Taste, Melbourne Operatic and then the Town Band all performing within a week
First up was A Choir ’d Taste’s Songs of Joy playing two nights to full houses at the Assembly Rooms The favourites with the audience included solos by Lyra Smith (winner of the recent Emerging Artist competition) on the viola , Vaughan Saxby singing In Summertime on Breedon, Ruth Duxbury’s The Infant King, the Ensemble’s version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and the male section’s O Holy Night
Musical Director Paul Marshall’s glittery outfit for the first half, and his post-interval Christmas festive jacket, like a walking advent calendar, were surefire crowd pleasers
Melbourne Operatic’s “Feast of Christmas Cheer” was performed over two nights, one in Melbourne and the other in Castle Donington
The concert, with so many bell-related references, rang quite a few changes with David Henshaw having replaced Keith Reavely as musical director, Philip Heath as accompanist and even a modest PA system to amplify sound
Some traditional elements of an operatic concert were still there, however, including the
by Frank Hughes
chairman’s shaggy dog tale, this year involving an elephant, the confusion over raffle ticket colours, and the interval wine and snacks
A packed repertoire included many delightful songs and readings, with highlights including the lovely harmonies in the quartet’s rendition of A New Noel, solos by Allie Sturla and Katherine Dryden, a piano solo from Philip, and the opening unaccompanied version of Gaudete from the whole choir
Melbourne Town Band’s Christmas Concert at the parish church featured all three elements –the training band and the concert band, under the direction of Karen Worrall, and the town band, directed by Graham Purdy
With many of the training band newcomers still gaining accomplishment of their chosen instruments, their enthusiasm was palpable as they performed their four Christmas pieces
Their finale, “Little Donkey,” even included a panto style donkey in the form of 10-year-old George Lancaster, an enthusiastic percussionist
Despite being “not very happy about it” he performed magnificently
Next up, the concert band, who given the con-


ditions in the church, had appropriately chosen Frozen and Polar Express among their set The concert band was formed in 2022, to enable the inclusion of woodwind and other instruments Although Karen explained they were missing some eight members on the night, they impressively played their way through some complex arrangements As Karen said: “Live music – you can’t beat it!”
Finally, the Town Band and then the whole ensemble massed together, filling the second half There is nothing quite like the wall of sound a brass band makes and the church, normally reverentially silent, was suddenly awoken with joyful rousing music
The rest of the programme was equally as stirring, with the Christmas Triptych an audience favourite Conductor Graham Purdy even persuaded the audience to participate in some bierkeller agility – swaying, standing, sitting – to the Shneewalzer, an Austrian Christmas favourite, before the finale of Jingle Bells
What was particularly noticeable in the MTB concert, was the presence of so many young children clearly enjoying and participating in music
All three concerts showed the wealth of musical talent in the community, and the support they get locally To misquote Karen – you can’t beat a fabulous Christmas concert




TOP LEFT: Melbourne Operatic Society.
TOP: Melbourne Town Band.
ABOVE: Paul Marshall and Lyra Smith at the A Choir ’d Taste concert


Tractor Run reaps huge rew

THE latest Ticknall Tractor Run was an absolutely spectacular sight with 95 vehicles taking part – and a fitting tribute to lifelong farmer Robert Parker in whose memory the event took place.
The tractor ride has been taking place annually for a few years now and the most recent event was held in memory of Robert, who wrote a Farming Life column for the Village Voice for nearly 30 years and passed away in 2024
Robert farmed at Derby Hills and was a lifelong member of the NFU as well as being the Derbyshire representative on the arable board.
Many local people rode their tractors in memory of Robert, and organisers would love to thank all those who went to watch the spectacular procession move past.
The Ticknall Tractor Ride raised a huge £3,172.10 for the Combined Triage Assessment Unit at Royal Derby Hospital which cared for Robert last year
The large cheque is pictured being presented by organisers to a team from the hospital.


al children who have started out in a
are


FAR LEFT: Redwood and Acacia classes joining Melbourne Junior School in year three with class teachers Mr Radburn and Mrs Green.
MID LEFT: Dragonfly class at Melbourne Infant School.
MID RIGHT: Seahorse class at Melbourne Infant School FAR RIGHT: New starters at St Hardulph’s School in Breedon
ward for hospital
















Trevor Langley gives us a taste of what ’s on offer in our local restaurants
I LOCATED Gyros Express in Long Eaton This takeaway, which I became aware of from recommendations, offers authentic Greek cuisine to a high standard, having regular customers since the opening (November 2020) Gyros Express has a splendid selection of Gyros Wraps and Souvlaki, plus Greek Kofta and more
Merida Boxes are very popular, with choices of chicken, pork and other main items, along with accompaniments Extras include various sauces, rice, Greek salad, halloumi and dakos (toasted bread, tomato, feta, oregano, olive oil)
I selected a mixed grill (Chicken Gyros, Pork Gyros, Chicken Souvlaki, Pork Souvlaki, Sausage, Pitta, Chips, Tomato, Onion, Tzatziki, Yogurt Sauce) This was all very well cooked, having enticing aromas and presented with excellence
Complementing flavours were great for my taste buds throughout With the succulence and tenderness, plus the abundance of flavours, ‘Compliments to Chef ’ followed – without question
Baklava dessert completed the meal This grand, sweet delectation has a history dating back to the Assyrian Empire
I found a most impressive range of Greek delights, from a light snack to a full meal, with something for everyone, including soft drinks from Greece
Collections, deliveries and pre-orders are all available too
A most excellent recommendation for a very impressive takeaway The website has more information and ordering is easy Thank you to head chef Emanuel and the team for excellent service

Gyros Express, 65 Market Place, Long Eaton, NG10 1JQ
Tel: 0115 874 0473
E-mail: gyrosexpressnotts@gmail com Web: www gyrosexpress co uk



FUNHOUSE Comedy Club returns to Melbourne Sporting Partnership on Friday, January 31, for a laughter packed night
Topping the bill is Silky (pictured) whose irresistible stage persona combines angriness with silliness Silky is a triple treat: comedian, musician, improviser No two shows are the same, but they’re all joyful.

Opening the night will be the somewhat cynical and gloomy Mike Gunn, who despite this has the ability to get the crowd on his side, however far he pushes! In his first Edinburgh Festival Show, he appeared as a funeral director! He has numerous TV appearances including Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Celebrity Deal or No Deal, and Harry Hill’s TV Burp Completing the line-up is comedian and script writer Sean Percival. His brand of comedy steers clear of the surreal and confronts realism in an explosively funny way His down to earth act is unforgettable.
Compere for the night will be the appealing Carl Jones, who has a natural ability of telling humorous stories, which draw in the entire crowd
Welcome to the future
NEW tenants at The Melbourne Inn are looking to reestablish the pub as a warm and welcoming venue for the village, with a particular focus on couples, walkers and the community.
Deej and his partner Jodie (pictured) officially re-opened the refurbished pub on December 13 The whole place has had a repaint, with floors revarnished, fireplace opened up, pool table removed, and a more welcoming feel
“We want this to be a community pub, where you get a warm and friendly welcome,” Deej said, “the all new Melbourne Inn, if you like ” Deej has had vast experience running pubs – mainly in Nottingham, where he was also a police officer Jodie has a background in project co-ordination
“It is going to be a family run pub,” he said, “and Jodie’s eldest son is being trained up to take over the kitchens from the end of January ”
The food offer will be burger-

based, either to sit in or takeaway, with a wide range of locally sourced products
He added that he will be having entertainment the last Friday of every month, which will feature live singers, comedians, or other acts He has a reputation for singing himself, he admitted
The couple also have plans to refurbish the outside garden to host summer and community events Jodie was keen to emphasise the importance of catering for females, too, with
hygiene products available in the loos
Opening hours will be much reduced from the previous regime, with no late-night drinking
Another new touch is the book swap and games corner, where you can borrow a book and take it home, or play board games in-house Deej and Jodie said they are really looking forward to their time in the pub and welcoming members of the local community
Brian Budd
DOWN ON THE FARM
With Ben Stanley

IT’S ALL ABOUT TEAMWORK
GOODNESS me, doesn’t it just come and go in a festive flash!
Waiting until midnight for two very excited children to finally go to sleep on Christmas Eve, so that ‘Santa’ could sneak in and hang their stockings up without revealing his true identity seems a lifetime ago now
With two slightly suspicious children in the house it was a game of fine margins, and we were thrilled to find out that the man himself had indeed called, because at 2am both children burst into our bedroom with the news Getting them back to sleep took some incredible negotiation from Tori – a glorious and blessed role play I am sure being undertaken and duplicated by parents in households all over the world
During Christmas the farm routine of looking after the livestock continues regardless of the festivities, the only main difference being that because we have friends and family staying with us I’m doing the daily routine with a slightly blurry hangover
So work is conducted at a slower pace, but that’s fine because there are far fewer interruptions: all the sales reps that dare risk driving up our very bumpy track to the farm unannounced have been and gone in the few days before Christmas, leaving us a range of diaries and calendars to choose from
It's an ingenious method of marketing because inevitably you end up looking up and down at their branded merchandise on every day, of every week, of every month of the year The reality is, though, that only one firm can make the cut on our wall and that leaves us with a lot of surplus merchandise to give away
I am certain that the local tractor dealership principle would be disappointed to learn that it will be my sister-in-law in London who will be spending January looking at the fresh new design of a John Deere tractor cab every morning on her calendar, not me
After the indulgence of Christmas and New Year celebrations the return to normality can be tough and the start of January and, in particular, the first Monday of the year is the day that many people will have
Eyeing up the Abbey restoration work
MEMBERS of Melbourne Civic Society
were invited to visit Calke Abbey in December for a “behind the scenes” tour of the renovation works being undertaken
Managing director Alan Staley from local firm ASBC guided the group, properly hard-hatted, to see the re-fenestration work taking place on the windows on the East and North side of the building
The tour began in a makeshift but fully equipped joiner ’s workshop in a converted container at the rear of the Stable Yard
Here it was possible to see the intricate work involved to replace rotten wood with seasoned oak to exactly match existing frame profiles and watch a skilled craftsman at work on the last two windows to be renovated
Alan explained how, by taking photos, each step of the work is meticulously recorded in a system devised by his company which has been adopted and is being
etched on that new calendar as the first day back to work, kids back to school and statistically speaking the most common time to look to change your career and even replace your spouse
Many of us look for a focus and a purpose, a fresh challenge to confront those January blues with For example, leaving the farm in a tractor becomes a significant challenge as the end of the drive becomes swollen with parked cars spilling out onto the road as Breedon Gym receives it annual influx of January members all looking to work off the Christmas excess and turn a new leaf
Gym classes spill out onto the road and up and down the pavements with people running up and down and carrying anything from an old car tyre on their heads to bouncing up and down on gym balls
With having 7km of hedges to plant as part of a new environment scheme, I can’t help pondering that this could be fertile ground for me to recruit some help
The opportunity to do something for the environment and get fit, what’s there not to like? Nothing can be achieved without a good team, and hedge planting is certainly a task you need a good gang for So if you’re looking for an alternative fitness routine that involves getting muddy hands let me know
When I think about some of the things I want our little farm to achieve this year, often it is to build on the successes of the last One of those successes we have enjoyed being involved in has been sponsoring the Melbourne Juniors rugby team
This came about through taking my son Bertie to play at the MSP every Sunday morning and watching him flourish and develop under his fantastic coaching team at our local club
Do I want Bertie to be the next Tigers scrum half? Yes But is he likely to be? Most likely not
But what I do want him to get from his rugby is to learn how to work together as part of a team You cannot achieve anything as an individual in life, you have to do it as a team – and rugby is the ultimate team sport; catering for everyone, the tall, the small, the light, the rotund, the smart and the not so smart, all
working together to succeed
At times and especially when we started our farming business from scratch Tori and I have felt like we’ve been in a rugby game of our own, where making each decision and taking each risk could mean the difference between success and failure But we have been able to make it work this far because we have been lucky enough to be able to build a wonderful team around us who have helped us succeed – those people who have been part of our story and to whom we shall always be forever grateful
On New Year ’s Eve we lost one of that team, one of those special people in our story ‘Bill and Pat’ have helped us from the very start Bill, a retired butcher and farmer from Whitwick, first came to give us a hand and show me how to butcher the first lamb we ever sold on the farm kitchen table He was a kind and patient man who loved farming life and he and his wife, Pat, have always been there for us, helping in any way they could
Without them we would have never been able to leave the farm and take the children on holiday to Cornwall, Mull or go to the Yorkshire Show for the week The farm is such a commitment and responsibility, but we would leave in the knowledge they would look after it as we would and treat the animals with care and compassion We joked that our dogs much preferred it when they stayed, as they would spend all day walking them Bill often came on my livestock purchasing expeditions up North and I enjoyed his company, his knowledge and his enthusiasm for what we were doing
After a brave fight Bill sadly succumbed to cancer and when I last went to see him on Christmas Eve, he was still hoping to come out one final time and see the cattle with me
Let us not be too morose about seeing in the first few dark and cold weeks of the new year, be excited about what this year will bring We are the lucky ones who are here to see it Appreciate those around us who help us succeed and, where you can give back, do it is an amazing feeling

used on work taking place on other National Trust properties He explained how the brief of “replacing like with like” means that this information is crucial when matching different shades of colour in the paint – as not all frames are the same colour – and replacing putty with materials that have the same constituent elements The job also entailed “cutting in” paint expertly on glass panels to match the way previous house gardeners had done when given the job back in the day
This time-consuming attention to detail has been labelled the “Calke Effect” and it takes a lot more effort to achieve the finished outcome than would normally be expected
The tour concluded with various members being led up the scaffolding to see from the outside how the complex work of refitting was being achieved, how the stone masons have repaired stonework, and ultimately up to the roof to round off an unforgettable experience
PLANS for two threebed houses have been submitted on land in King’s Newton – after a previous application on the same ground was refused by planners and then rejected again at appeal
The latest proposals involve building the two homes plus parking for six vehicles on land off Trent Lane in King’s Newton
A previous application was made in 2022 and was for two three-bed homes plus an orchard on the land
A planning inspector, rejecting the application on appeal, said it would cause “significant harm” to the area’s “spatial strategy” as well as affecting heritage assets and neighbours’ living conditions.
A planning statement accompanying the revised application said the design of the proposal had been “significantly” altered with one plot reduced in scale. Comments have already been lodged with planning officers in respect of the latest proposal and anyone who wants to comment has until January 17 to do so.





























WESTON DECORATORS LTD.
Interior and Exterior Painting and Decorating
Tel: Andy - 07721 494555 Luke - 07454 266415 email: weston18@btinternet.com
aside the competition
What’s On
Wednesday 8 -15 January:
Creative Melbourne Gallery
Reviving Melbourne
Artistic explorations of our industrial past. Jenny Stevenson and co-created work with Beth Edge, Camille McCawley, Lisa Battelle and members of the local community. Supported by a National Lottery Project Grant from Arts Council England. Wellington House, Church St, Melbourne. Wed to Sat 10 - 4pm
Wednesday 15 January - 15 February:
Creative Melbourne Gallery
The Affordable Art Show
The perfect antidote to blank walls after Christmas decorations come down!
Everything under £300 &10% of sales donated to Treetops Hospice.
Featuring work by our Resident Artists: Michelle Holmes, Patrick Twiss-Prentice and Sujata Aten And Melbourne Festival Artists: Helen Brown, Vera Johns, Mark Langley, Kate Moore, Helen Rhodes, Peter Watson and Karen Worrall of KJ Glass Wellington House, Church St, Melbourne. Wed to Sat 10 - 4pm
Thursday 16 January:
Melbourne Photographic Society ‘Camera Club – My Takeaway’ by Paul Burrows.
This talk showcases what Paul has ‘taken away’ from being a camera club member enabling him to make far better images for himself and to share with others.
Included are short Audio-Visual films, Landscape, Wildlife and Awards Photography.
Digital presentation, prints in the tea, coffee & biscuits break.
Thomas Cook Memorial Hall, High Street, Melbourne. Doors open at 7.00pm and the talk commences at 7.30pm Members £2, visitors £5
Saturday 18 January:
Coffee Morning
United Reformed Church Hall, High Street. 10am - noon.
Saturday 25 January:
Coffee Morning
Catholic Church, St Mary's Hall, Church Street. 10am - noon.
Saturday 1 February: Coffee Morning
Methodist Church Wesley Hall, Potter Street. 10am - noon
Tuesday 4 February:
Thursday 6 February:
Melbourne Photographic Society ‘Same But Different’ by Lesley Grand-Scrutton & Andrew Lings.
Portrayed tonight is the work of two photographers with contrasting styles. Lesley and Andrew go to the same places but see things in different ways.
Prints will be used to display a wide range of different photographic genres.
Thomas Cook Memorial Hall, High Street, Melbourne. Doors open at 7.00pm and the talk commences at 7.30pm Members £2, visitors £5
Saturday 8 February:
Coffee Morning
Baptist Church Schoolroom, Chapel Street. 10am - noon. —————————————————————————————
Wednesday 12 February:
me&dee charity quiz night
Melbourne Sporting Partnership, DE73 8DG
Doors open at 6:45pm.
Tickets £10pp, £40 per team of 4
—————————————————————————————
Wednesday 19 February - 15 March:
Creative Melbourne Gallery Introspection
Featuring sculpture and prints by Johnny Vegas alongside work by Beth Edge, Amanda Graham, Oliver Lovley, Jenny Stevenson and Karen Wicks.
Wellington House, Church St, Melbourne. Wed to Sat 10 - 4pm
Thursday 20 February:
Melbourne Photographic Society ‘Two sides of China’ by Alan Harris.
The talk will cover some well-known tourist sites of China; The Great Wall, The Forbidden City, The Terracotta Warriors, etc. In addition, it will look at rural life in a small farming village and some street life in the cities. Digital presentation, prints in the interval.
Thomas Cook Memorial Hall, High Street, Melbourne. Doors open at 7.00pm and the talk commences at 7.30pm Members £2, visitors £5
Thursday 6 March:
Melbourne Photographic Society ‘Sporting Chance’ by Vin Scothern.
The first part of the evening covers sports photography from Rugby to Ice Hockey stopping off at various other sports. The evening concludes with wildlife, landscape and travel photography. Digital presentation, prints in the tea, coffee and biscuits




JOHN ANDREW WILLIAMS
June 11, 1952 – December 11, 2024
JOHN was the son of Edward and Gladys Williams from Ravenstone He attended Ashby Boys’ Grammar School and studied English and American Literature at Manchester University
After teaching English for a number of years at John Cleveland College, Hinckley, and Ashby Grammar School, he was appointed Housemaster at the latter ’s boarding establishment, School House He was eminently successful there, increasing its numbers and prestige, also running many wellattended Summer Schools for gifted and talented students from all over the world He led several holiday trips abroad for students, parents and colleagues
John and wife Lynne, who served as Matron at School House, had a homebase in Melbourne – first at Potter Street, then at Warwick House, Derby Road They moved to 21 Castle Street where there was an ‘open door ’ policy
OBITUARIES
John was a well-read man, being particularly interested in literature and history His favourite poet was Lord Tennyson and he was a keen reader of books on military history, such as the Crimean and Boer wars, and the two World Wars He was also a shrewd collector of antiquarian books, fine furniture, silverware and pottery

After a working life of helping young people, John continued to support anybody in need, as many living in Melbourne will testify He would regularly go the extra mile to try to sort out anyone’s difficulty, being always very generous with his time He joined Melbourne Probus and not only served as president but organised popular coach trips to places such as York, Cambridge, Oxford, Liverpool and Warwick
(County) 07415 720360/01283 384112 david.muller@derbyshire.gov.uk
He once said that he would have liked to have lived in the 18th century, as he often felt out of sympathy with present day mores He loved writing, contributing articles to Village Voice and other local papers He was also in demand as an entertaining lecturer, with a fund of anecdotes, whilst successfully meeting the challenges set by PowerPoint
In retirement John was able to meet up with friends on Saturday mornings, where he could help put the world to rights Firstly, at Sid’s Café and, latterly, at the Melbourne Hall Tea Rooms The group were likened to that of the Last of the Summer Wine, but nicknamed themselves First of the Winter Plonk
He will be much missed by such friends Testimony to the respect and affection that his exstudents had for him was that many kept in touch with him and paid visits to his home in Melbourne
Lynne was married to him for over 50 years, and she has been touched by the kind messages she has received from people who knew and loved John
DENNIS ARTHUR WARREN
July 20,1931 - October 31, 2024
DENNIS was born in Rawdon Street, Melbourne, being the eighth of nine children born to William and Lily Warren His father was a wheelwright and carpenter Dennis attended the infant school on Salisbury Lane, then the National School on Penn Lane and finally Melbourne Secondary School
His older brother worked the land as a market gardener and Dennis, when he left school, worked for him Dennis also did ‘hawking’, selling goods from a lorry, and had a round selling produce, providing schools and households in the surrounding areas and north Derbyshire
Dennis met his wife Muriel Aldridge, a farmer ’s daughter from Worthington, at a dance in Melbourne After five years they married in 1959 and were happily married for over 65 years
cure products The shop was a huge part of Dennis’s life
Unfortunately, he was forced to retire in 1995 after a severe stroke, closing the store and moving to a more suitable residence
Being a member of Melbourne Male Voice

They had daughters Sharon and Lesley and grandchildren Samuel and Thomas
When Dennis married Muriel in 1959 they bought ‘The Castle Inn’ and developed it into ‘Castle Stores’, known to everyone as ‘Warrens’ This made him part of the heart of the community for many years and the shop became a focal point for locals to meet and chat as well as getting their groceries
Dennis enjoyed creating window displays and won various competitions for his tinned fruit displays with Delmonte, Australian Gold and Epi-
Mastering Melbourne
WE HAVE now been in Melbourne for four months and come into the new year enjoying village life I hadn’t thought this would be my choice of living arrangements when I first moved out of my family home, but I’m beginning to realise there is something special about this one
Recently I was reminded of the one possible reason I had avoided village life for the last 30 years plus: people knowing things about you, before you’ve disclosed it! (Obviously writing about your life in the Village Voice has a touch of irony to this, but bear with me )
We were chatting to charming Barry, (not his real name) who we met while out and about He remarked, once he knew the vague direction we were living in:
“Oh you are the one who admired the loo paper in the house you were buying!”
Full disclosure, it was the make and packaging I had admired – I hadn’t tried it out It’s the one with the funky paperwrapping that is colourful – or wordy – or just plain black and white By now you are probably thinking, “Who gives a c*!p ” And you’d be correct, that’s the brand name for the eco-friendly roll (Other brands are available ) But you know what? It made me smile and besides, what an ice breaker

I don’t know how old I must be before I stop being surprised by what I really enjoy in life As it turns out, listening to the Melbourne Town Band (MTB) is high on that list
First, the bravery of the Training band, some very young, to play to a full audience, in the parish church along with the unique sound from the rest of the MTB made for an excellent evening of entertainment We were recently at their seasonal gathering, having been impressed
Choir was a big interest as he loved singing He had sung as a boy in church, initially a chorister in Melbourne Parish Church until he moved to attend the Congregational Church (URC) Playing the piano accordion, listening to music and watching his black and white films – especially cowboy films –were enjoyed by him
He loved history and was a great Melbourne historian, recalling many events in the locality He was a wonder at mental arithmetic and when shopping he would add up the groceries, so at the cash desk he usually came to the exact total
Another creative strength was gardening, taking cuttings, growing flowers and managing his greenhouse He was very proud of his garden and loved sitting out and watching people passing by and enjoying his colourful garden He surprised everyone when in later life he embraced technology with his own iPad!
He was very much a family man and enjoyed time with his grandsons whom he adored Dennis was very down to earth and treated everyone with the same respect from Lord to school child
From the recent Melbourne Born and Bred Facebook content it was seen that Dennis touched many lives
with their previous concert where we had been treated to renditions of Bohemian Rhapsody, Born Free and a dose of Tina Turner It was very humbling to listen to and I wish I had listened more to my recorder teacher at primary school: alas I was unable to raise my hand when the conductor asked the audience who among us could read music
I had a quick check on TAS, because learning I enjoyed listening to brass bands might not have been the only thing I would have learned that night But his hands stayed firmly down and my belief he couldn’t read music was confirmed
Which was a shame for the band, as they were looking for trombonists, newbies or otherwise, to join
New Year always creates a buzz around new hobbies – noticeably sports
So, I shall start as a spectator, with the Melbourne Rugby Club, who first came to our notice at the Beer Festival Now, some of you may know I’m not a rugby fan – I’m more into my football However, I do like the idea of a beer, especially one with a witty name
Stood at the sideline finding out who we were playing and what the score was as I stood with my pint of ‘Belter ’ and TAS, felt very different to the football
For a start the reaction of the players when shown a red card: they just accepted the word from the ref and off they came Where was the arm raising, the profanities, the refusing to get off until persuaded by six team-mates and a linesman? Rugby 1 Football 0
I also learned that a penalty is completely different in rugby; I had to question why they kept kicking the ball off the field TAS soon put me in the picture and my admiration for the penalty takers was

by Naomi Duffree
sky high rather like those kicks I’d been very concerned about a few minutes previously
Now, maybe it was the beer but the more I listened to the families chatting at the side, the players subbed off chatting about their team-mates and how good they were at aspects of the game, the more I understood I began to wish I’d had a pint of Belter in my music lessons – I probably would have been able to read and write music by now as well as be an expert on the trombone
In the spirit of a new start in 2025, I have joined Melbourne joggers and the pilates group in the village; both groups very welcoming and accommodating Unfortunately, I have since hurt my knee and am under instruction that I cannot run for another couple of weeks, so I guess I’m back to spectating So much for New Year ’s intentions!
I hope your hopes for the New Year come to fruition and it is a happy and pain-free one for all concerned
Plague that had a devastating effect on local agriculture
ON December 21, 1865, The Derbyshire Advertiser reported on a meeting of the Derbyshire Cattle Plague Insurance Association and a case of cattle plague (rinderpest) that had been identified by inspectors at Breedon-on-the-Hill. The affected cow was at Barrow Hill Farm, belonging to Skevington Cowlishaw
Mention was made that other farmers in the district had lost several head of cattle, but with no certainty as to the disease involved Restrictions on the movement of cattle had been imposed, but cattle were still being moved in carts overnight to Derby from Breedon and district, so the association considered that magistrates should instruct the police to be more vigilant
On January 10, 1866 diarist John Joseph Briggs mentioned an outbreak of cattle plague at Hannah Hemsley’s High Fields Farm where an affected cow died within two hours of observed symptoms
Another showed symptoms and was killed, and four others culled before symptoms developed to prevent the disease spreading Briggs documents progress of the disease over following months, noting that it is ‘raging dreadfully in some parts of England’ with 9,000 to 10,000 fatalities a week, although local farms probably escaped the worst of it
The Cattle Plague Commission was unable to establish the exact cause of the outbreak which started in London, but concluded that it did not originate among English cattle The source was attributed to imported livestock; the reason why epidemics started near ports and spread outward as cattle were moved around the country
Restrictions on movement and the slaughter of infected herds, including containment slaughter of healthy cattle, contributed significantly to control of the epidemic and infection rates began to diminish during 1867
This was one of several major outbreaks to affect the British Isles during the 18th and 19th centuries, but there were almost certainly other lesser outbreaks described as distemper and murrain and some, if not all, of these were instances of rinderpest

Indeed, Briggs records in October 1845 that ‘In this and neighbouring villages, there is a disease amongst cattle especially cows, in which medicinal remedies seem of no avail When it once attacks a dairy it generally goes through it Mr Scott of Newton has lost 5 cows’
In August 1846 Briggs records: ‘The fatal disease in cattle in this parish Mr Robinson has lost 16 cows – Widow Cowley 1 – Mr Orton 6 ’ Cattle plague was likely also present in the UK in 183940 by inference from newspaper reports
Rinderpest is one of the oldest known diseases of domestic livestock with descriptions dating back to the fourth century It likely originated in
Villagers waiting for McDonald’s decision
VILLAGERS in Willington are awaiting a decision by the Planning Inspectorate to find out if a McDonald’s outlet will be allowed on the edge of the village South Derbyshire District Council (SDDC) turned down the application for a freestanding restaurant with drivethrough in April 2024 on the grounds that the applicant failed to establish that there were not other suitable or available sites within the local area and that the development would result in “a new built form that would be visually intrusive and out of character in the local area and would result in harm to the occupants of residential properties through increased vehicle movements and noise resulting from the 24 hour operation”
The proposed location is on The Castle Way, a very busy feeder road for the A38, and is presently occupied by a skip hire business
The application had 199 objection letters, with 43 supporting the proposal; objections were raised both by Willington and Eggington Parish Councils Melbourne A Choir ’d Taste member Sue Bussey, who lives near the proposed development and spoke at the planning meeting rejecting the application, also featured in a BBC news item which covered the story in November It highlighted the level of local concern on traffic levels and safety grounds
The appeal against SDDC’s decision was started on November 11 and interested parties had until December 16 to lodge representations The appellant had until December 31 to submit comments
With appeal decisions currently taking around 30 weeks to determine, the outcome can be expected around late spring
Asia and spread by nomadic groups moving cattle from place to place There is an incubation period of several days following infection and prior to symptoms, by which time an animal may have travelled far from the place of infection and have mixed with many others Most cattle died six to 12 days after the onset of symptoms Rinderpest is primarily a disease of even-toed ungulates, with deer posing the most likely risk of natural spread in the UK
The rinderpest virus (Rinderpest morbillivirus) has an interesting history While the highly infectious virus did not infect humans directly, at some point it underwent a cross-species transfor-
mation to become the precursor of the human measles virus
Cattle plague was declared to have been eradicated in 2011; only the second virus to have been so declared, the other being smallpox That may or may not be the end of it
More recently, on release of War Cabinet files, a sinister aspect of the rinderpest virus became apparent; its potential use as a biological weapon during WW2 An interim government report in January 1941 listed the animal diseases considered most likely to be effective in bacteriological warfare in which rinderpest was included It is unlikely that all world stocks have been destroyed
The 1865 epidemic of rinderpest was not the last and the next outbreak contributed to a general decline in fortunes that was already underway A major agricultural depression took hold in the last quarter of the 19th century caused by the culmination of a series of bad summers and poor harvests, crop and animal diseases, including an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 1883, with loss of livestock and falling prices on already declining world markets
In 1851 agriculture accounted for 20% of national income but by the end of the century it was just 6% In the midst of this was the final identified epidemic of rinderpest in the UK in 1877, although there is no record that Melbourne was affected
Skevington Dickenson Cowlishaw died on July 6, 1872, from cirrhosis of the liver aged just 48 His son James Cowlishaw became head of the family, working 320 acres and employing eight labourers and four boys Ten years later James farmed just 135 acres and employed two labourers and one boy
It is difficult to appreciate that diseases such as rinderpest were once prevalent in the countryside we walk through We see physical changes to buildings that record the history of our town, but not ephemeral aspects of the past that have in themselves no palpable lasting legacy, even though they may have, in some small way, altered the direction of local history every bit as much as a footpath or fence




Local history writer PAUL BROOKS has written this fascinating historical account of a terrible scourge that plagued the area in the 19th century.
ICE skaters from the local area including Melbourne and Aston-on-Trent have been taking part in a major national championship this January
Local members of the Nottingham Synchronized Skating Academy (NSSA) were taking part in the Britannia Cup in Nottingham which took place from January 1012
The sport sees teams of up to 16 perform complex routines to music on ice, with points given for the difficulty of the moves performed and how synchronised the performance.
NSSA fields several teams which competed in different categories
At the time of writing, the club’s juvenile, basic novice and mixed age teams which include skaters from the local area won gold medals, beating off competition from around the UK, and are now British champions for 2025
Dynamo end 2024 with great comeback
THE weather disrupted the local football scene in the month of December and matches involving Melbourne Dynamo Senior sides weren’t any different as only five of their scheduled nine matches went ahead
The first team started off with a resounding 9-3 demolition of Mickleover Reserves in the quarter-final of the Derbyshire Cup South with strike duo Withers and Goodband doing the damage, the former with five goals as the latter helped himself to the other four
The first team were in league cup action a week later, making the long trip to Staveley

by Alex Slater
Miners Welfare Reserves and coming away with a 3-1 victory The in-form Goodband and Withers continued their run with a goal each along with a Jack Griffiths finish to complete the scoring Melbourne finished the calendar year with a cracking comeback They found themselves 4-2 down to Mickleover Reserves going into injury time, but a Jake Peverley strike and a stunning Jack Griffiths free kick with the last kick of the game secured an unlikely point
Earlier in the game a goal from Macauley
Jones and Jack Goodband had twice brought Dynamos level with Goody spending the last 20 minutes in goal after an injury to Tom Cox Dynamo Reserves began the month in awful conditions away to Cromford & Wirksworth Reserves and battled hard to come from behind to win 3-2 with goals from Joe Shadbolt, Will Holmes and Joe Astle With 10 of the match day



SOME thrilling action has seen Melbourne Rugby Club’s first XI retain their fourth league spot and score three stomping wins at the back end of 2024 and into the new year
Emotions were high as the green and golds entertained league leaders Lichfield in December – last season’s home match encounter between this pair ending in a tie
A close and exciting game saw both sides fight hard with Melbourne’s Brayton Taylor forging through the opponents’ defence to score a try at 20 minutes in Talented Lichfield continued to fight back but Melbourne proved their merit with a final, narrow scoreline of 28-25
The following week the firsts won them-
selves a great early Christmas present with a solid victory over Old Salts with a scoreline of 29-17 in Melbourne’s favour – a brilliant footing from which to head into the New Year
Perhaps inspired by December ’s sterling performances, 2025 also began bright and bold for Melbourne’s first team with an absolutely barnstorming victory over Tamworth
With Matt Suddaby scoring for Melbourne after just seven minutes the high moments just kept on coming for the green and golds and they ended up with a brilliant 95-21 victory December didn’t go quite so smoothly for Melbourne seconds with a loss in the windy
weather early in the month, to Castle Donington (18-10)
And there followed another tough day away at Bingham for the second side in mid-December too as they ended up losing 51-5
However, the New Year dawned brighter with a brilliant win against Notts Moderns Playing in the chill, it was Max Lucas who kicked off Melbourne’s eventual victory with a try at 15 minutes in, with Chris Fulton named overall star player with two conversions The final scoreline was 29-12 to Melbourne January also began well for Melbourne’s Academy side, who scored a victory of their own (32-10) against Notts Moderns
against Lichfield on December 14
Photo: Jansen Brown Studios