NEW HOMES PLANS ARE A PUZZLER
IT WAS standing room only at the latest meeting of Melbourne Parish Council as representatives from a developer answered questions on plans to add another 135 homes to Kings Newton.
The proposals for fields on Kings Newton Lane are currently at the pre-application stage and 1,000 residents have already been asked for their views through a leaflet campaign conducted by developer Richborough Estates
The land is one plot adjacent to the settlement boundary, running alongside Footpath 7 – Bucks Orchard Path and another plot to the west of that, to the South side of Kings Newton Lane, opposite Tori and Ben’s farm shop entrance
The proposal describes a strong green infrastructure network, retaining trees and hedgerows, a play space and drainage systems
Clare Clarke, director of Pegasus Group, spoke at March 4’s parish council meeting on behalf of Richborough
She said 86 people had responded to the leaflet campaign with both negative and positive views
Around 30 local people packed out the meeting to hear from the developer and express their feelings
Local resident Alan Aitkenhead said the proposal should not be supported by the parish council as it lies outside the official settlement boundary of Melbourne and Kings Newton
He reminded the room of the contents of a Neighbourhood Development Plan which had taken years to produce and had been formally adopted by both the parish and district councils
At present the land that is the subject of the proposal is classed as rural and therefore limits very strictly the kind and size of development to be permitted The local Neighbourhood Development Plan, which is valid until 2028, similarly outlines those restrictions
Alan also told the room that while the current Labour
by Lucy Stephens and Frank Hughes
government had voiced its intention to build “lots and lots of houses” it had been made clear most of these should be near cities, making it easier for people to get to work
Clare Clarke, responding, said it was “absolutely right” that the Local Plan should be the basis for decision making and said the developer was hoping to promote the site through the updates to the plan that are currently being made
Margaret Gildea, of Melbourne, said allowing one large development in breach of the Neighbourhood Development Plan could open the door to more, and that the character of Melbourne could be in danger of being lost if it was surrounded by too many developments
She said: “A lot of people in Melbourne think of this as a predominantly rural village, they don’t want to live in a suburb, as if they did they’d live in Chellaston ”
Other views expressed by the public included fears over the loss of agricultural land, and there were also questions as to whether any development would be carbon neutral or if it might involve local employment
However, views have also been expressed that a development of this size would boost currently falling pupil numbers at local schools
Councillors, discussing the plans, asked for an extension to the time period allowed to them to make their opinions known before the application is submitted – which is expected to be this month
Cllr Jane Carroll voiced her view that the development is outside the settlement boundary and therefore should not be supported
Cllr Neil Collyer, meanwhile, said it was important that the parish council – even if it objected – should still be sure to make requests of the developer as to how the community could benefit from any development, should it go ahead
Parish church 900-year celebrations continue
EVENTS to celebrate the 900th year of Melbourne Parish Church continue on April 3 with a talk from local expert Philip Heath.
Philip writes: “Past accounts of the parish church tend, with good reason, to concentrate on its original Norman phase and the possible motives behind the building of such a grand church. But there is so much more to its story than that.
“Beyond the essential business of hatches, matches and despatches, the influence of the church was felt in virtually all spheres of village life, such as education, timekeeping, proving wills, judging cases of slander, and through being a place where financial contracts were made.
“The church was also involved in the annual agricultural cycle of the parish, via such topics as maintenance of the town bull, walking the parish bounds on rogation day, and the strawing of the church floor.
“It was a focus of devotion and also occasionally of fun, being the original source of the annual merrymaking perpetuated today by the Wakes.
“In the mediaeval period Melbourne had two churches in close proximity to each other, while over the last 300 years the parish church has struggled to fight its corner in a village famous for its variety of non-conformist denominations.”
Philip’s talk aims to explore the original building alongside other key phases in its long career, and to throw some light on its social context within the story of the village as a whole. It will be at 7.30pm in the parish church.
New development’s hopes for 4,000 jobs
by Frank Hughes
A MAJOR new distribution and industrial development is being planned near East Midlands Airport as part of the East Midlands Freeport. SEGRO, which developed the East Midlands Gateway, has designed a second phase (EMG2) –outlined in the picture above –which covers about 250 acres of farmland between Donington M1 Services and Diseworth,
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with a further smaller plot nearer to the new rail interchange
A recent public exhibition claimed that the development would bring 4,000 jobs to the area, along with £325million in investment, producing £1billion in economic activity
Along with development partners Harworth and Uniper, the area will see significant changes to Junction 24 of the M1, along with nearby development of the power station and other sites for housing
The plan also includes expansion and improvements to the rail freight terminal, involving
installation of a huge lifting gantry, provision of road and infrastructure improvements, including new vehicular access from the A453, and a new estate road serving the buildings They also plan a new bus interchange terminal at the A453/Beverley Road junction and retaining Hyam’s Lane as pedestrian/cycle connectivity through the middle of the estate
Extensive landscaping areas are planned alongside a significant landscape screen, using earthworks bunding on the western edge, to obscure the site from Diseworth and other
residential properties
The rural and historic village of Diseworth is also under threat from the development plan to build an entirely new town comprising 4,700 houses, on the other (western) side, stretching as far as Isley Walton Protect Diseworth, formed to protest about the development in the area, held a public meeting on March 3 to enable locals to air their views on the SEGRO plan
A further plan for the area had been submitted by EMA and developer Prologis to build warehousing on the same land and is under consideration
Out of tune? Carry on singing
LOVE to sing but worried you’re not that good?
A choir specially made for you has been started up in the area, and they’d love you to join!
Weston-on-Trent Primary School teacher
Shaun Barker is behind the “tuneless choir” in Willington
Tuneless choirs exist under a franchise all around the country; the movement was set up for people who love to belt out their favourite songs but worry they might sound better in the shower
Shaun said he was inspired to set up a tuneless choir in Willington having seen first-hand how much his sister enjoyed the one she joined in Allestree
The Willington choir has only been going since the start of 2025 but already has 90 people signed up and between 30 and 40 turning up each week
“It’s for people who might think they can’t sing, but they enjoy singing,” explained Shaun “At school they might once have been told to stand at the back
“We welcome anyone who wants to come along and sing We don’t practise songs, we’re not there to sound good, we are just there to have a good time
“The feedback I’ve been having is really positive A couple of blokes said when they were at school they had a fear of singing – one of them literally stands front and centre now ” Those who go along to the tuneless choir are able to request songs they’d like to have a go at with the current clear favourite being the Coldplay classic Fix You
Shaun, who is musical himself having grown up playing the trumpet and has run school choirs in the past, said the idea was to create a sense of community and belonging centred around the sheer joy of singing, which is known to boost endorphin levels
“It s to create that community spirit,” he said “I saw when I went to the Allestree choir how much my sister was enjoying it This is what music is Music is there to be enjoyed
“For me, it’s huge for my wellbeing I get a massive buzz out of it on a Sunday evening People there have said it really improves their Sunday blues It’s really nice to do that for somebody ” The Willington Tuneless Choir meets in the village hall on Sundays at 6 30pm Anyone can turn up and have a go!
On their bikes from Vietnam to Cambodia
TWO local ladies took on an exciting two-wheeled challenge at the end of 2024, cycling from Vietnam to Cambodia
Jo Mathews and Jo Cooke were part of a team of 74 women, from all over the country, pedalling 450km in support of Women V Cancer – a fund-raising partnership between Breast Cancer Now and Ovarian Cancer Action
The adventure began in Vietnamese capital Ho Chi Minh city and followed the Mekong Delta to the finish line at spectacular Anghor Wat
Thanks to donations from friends and family of the Weston-on-Trent duo, Jo and Jo’s Big Bike ride raised £3,760, whilst the two groups as a whole raised an impressive £250,000 to make a real difference to women cancer patients and their families
Jo Cooke said: “Now our kids are growing up, we wanted to do something special to challenge ourselves in our 50s Both our mums are breast cancer survivors so it seemed a great cause to support ”
Even though they’d not done any serious cycling before, the Jos dedicated themselves to months of training, starting at spin classes in the winter months, then getting out on their mountain bikes for increasingly longer distances as the year went on
Their husbands, both keen cyclists, helped with route planning and joined them on weekend training rides, increasing in distance up to 50 miles as far as Ashbourne in one direction and Bradgate Park in the other, with lots of stops for bacon butties and cake
Along with the charity logos, the Jos’ personalised cycling tops showed that they were ‘‘Fuelled by Cake!”
It was quite a different experience cy-
cling through the Mekong Delta, where daily temperatures were around 33 degrees, with humidity making it feel like 40
A local ground team went ahead to provide safety patrols, water and snacks but, other than staying safe and hydrated when cycling, the ladies laughed that the real challenge was having to cope with the schedule of early starts, living out of bags and sharing snack stops and ‘hole in the ground loos’ with 70-plus other women!
The route took them through crowded cities and chaotic small towns, teeming with scooters, stalls and livestock, as well as past rural communities, taking in paddy fields, banana and coconut plantations, spectacular Buddhist temples and a floating market
There was also time to reflect on Cambodia’s harrowing history with a humbling visit to the Killing Fields
Describing the experience, Jo Cooke said: “It was all a bit bonkers But despite the whirlwind logistics it was a privilege to be part of such an amazing fund-raising effort and to share the experience with new friends And it was very special to see such beautiful countries so close at hand, from a local rather than a tourist perspective
“Vietnam was really crazy –just a very frenetic culture Mad
traffic with no rules, quite a shouty language, all just very urgent Cambodia was more peaceful in comparison, or maybe we’d just got used to it all
“Anghor Wat was a really special place to visit – the perfect finale
“Both countries have had very traumatic recent histories and it felt that the people are keen to enjoy a peaceful, more prosperous and happier future
“Even though we cycled through some really poor places, we received such joyful welcomes from everyone
“Everywhere we went children ran after us and people came out of their houses to wave hello Though 74 Western women on bikes was quite a spectacle!”
Jo and Jo are already thinking about their next cycling adventure Meanwhile they will be giving a talk about their experience at the next meeting of Weston WI on Monday, March
Mark Langley, Steve McLoughlin, Peter Watson.
Glass by: Emma Mayle, Ceramics by: Bradley Spencer, Helen Butler and Sylvia Glover.
10, at Weston on Trent Village Hall (guests are welcome at a cost of £5)
If anyone would like to support their fund-raising for Women V Cancer, you can find more details or make a donation at their
Just Giving page www justgiving com/page/jo-and-josbig-bike-ride
As the only privately owned, family run Funeral Directors in Melbourne, we are able to offer an extremely personal yet professional service at a reasonable cost, both in Leicestershire and Derbyshire. We are also happy to arrange personalised
l Jo Mathew (left) and Jo Cooke settin off from Ho Chi Minh cit and (below) with some o the team at Anghor Wat.
Your chance to honour someone
GRISELDA Kerr, one of the three Deputy Lieutenants for Derbyshire living in Melbourne, has written to the Village Voice about the Honours System
She is encouraging Melbourne residents to consider those individuals who have devoted much of their lives to good causes and who perhaps could be recognised with an Honour from the Sovereign
It could be a BEM (British Empire Medal, normally awarded for services to local causes), an MBE (for someone who has made a significant impact on their community or achieved something outstanding) or an OBE (for people who have made a significant contribution to their community or country)
Honours are rare and valuable and only given to exceptional people Thousands of nominations are sent to the Cabinet Office every year – but geographically there are fewer applications from the East Midlands than other regions, so lots of people in Derbyshire are not getting the recognition they deserve
Anyone can put someone forward she says; the forms can be found on the internet under UK Honours System Nominating someone is fairly easy but she offers three pieces of advice:
n find good supporting letters for the nomination that come from people widely respected or those that have benefitted directly from the person’s actions n keep the nomination short and punchy (no extra words as the Cabinet Office to whom the form goes, read thousands of applications every year and, she is told, dislike wading through treacle ) n discretion The intended recipient should know nothing of the proposal The process of selection is a long one and obviously not always successful So, dealt with incorrectly, the recognition you are seeking for someone may lead to a quite unjustified sense of failure and disappointment instead of the joy you intended It means becoming something of a sleuth
Griselda concludes by saying that there is nothing to stop applications going straight off to the Cabinet Office She has, however, offered to advise whether a person has, to her knowledge, been put forward before, to read completed applications and to forward them to the Derbyshire Lieutenancy to advise upon before submission if that would be desirable
Griselda can be contacted at email: griseldakerr@btinternet com
Why not have a go at nominating someone you know They might get the recognition they deserve and if successful it will give you a warm glow!
WHO’S behind you?
The Aston Players had a triumphant packed-out run with this year ’s panto performance, Camelot, by Ben Crocker.
The annual event saw the players put on four performances in February and, as well as providing lots of fun for everyone involved, they raised money for Rainbows and the local air ambulance. This cast photo was taken at Aston-onTrent War Memorial Hall where the panto was performed.
OFFICERS from Derbyshire Police’s Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) have been training up a new Community Speed Watch group in Weston on Trent
They are a great asset to the SNT and have a real impact in the local community
If you would be interested in setting up a Community Speed Watch group for your area, you are asked to get in contact with the police via 101 or the Derbyshire Constabulary website
The group have been out on their first session, actively making the roads in the area safe Community Speed Watch groups play a huge role in gathering data for roads that might be in need of traffic calming measures
Sight loss no obstacle for runner Simon
A MELBOURNE Paralympian with complete sight loss is taking on two half marathons this month to raise money for a charity which saves lives every day.
Simon Goodall is no stranger to life’s challenges
Born with a rare eye disease, the 55-year-old competed in the Paralympics in 2012 as a member of the GB goalball team – a sport in which players participate blindfolded, using orientation skills to throw a ball in which bells have been embedded
“It’s very fast, and very physical!” said Simon Simon, who has had total vision loss since 2021, is a listening volunteer for the Derby Samaritans, a charity for which he is running two half marathons this month in a bid to raise £1,000 He will be accompanied by sighted guides David Green and Barry Miller
Simon has been a keen runner for a long time and last year took part in the London Marathon
He said: “Life is an ongoing challenge
“I run to escape those life stresses and running is both my passion and saviour But that’s not the case for everyone, and people can often find it very difficult to cope with the tough situations life can throw at them That’s why the work of the Samaritans is so vital
“As a Samaritans listening volunteer, I know first hand what a difference it makes – talking
“Every 10 seconds Samaritans responds to a call for help so it’s vital that the important work of the branch continues, and I just want to play my part ”
n Anyone can contact Samaritans FREE any time from any phone on 116 123, even a mobile without credit This number won’t show up on your phone bill Or you can email jo@samaritans org or visit www samaritans org n Every 10 seconds, Samaritans volunteers respond to a call for help.
Stephanie Taylor, director elect of Derby Samaritans, said: “Simon has been such an inspiration for us all and his guide dog, Mr Darcy, is a much loved addition to our volunteer team We’re all excited that Simon is raising money to support our branch
“The Derby branch is over 60 years old and last year we provided support to over 18,000 people whether by phone, email, or online chat Everyone is a volunteer, but it costs us £35,000 to keep the branch open 24/7, every day of the year so we can be there for those in need So Simon’s half marathons are an important way for us to raise funds as well as let people know that help is only a call away
“We want to be here for another 60 years With supporters like Simon I’m sure we will be ”
Simon was due to take part in the Dorney Lake Half Marathon on March 9, with sighted guide David Green and he takes on the Reading Half on March 23 with sighted guide Barry Miller You can support him here https://samaritanscommunity enthuse com/pf/simongoodall
MELBOURNE Parish Council has announced the recipients of the highest honours in the community
John Harrison and Andy Heafield are to receive the Honorary Freedom of the Parish for their sterling contributions to the local community.
John Elliot, meanwhile, is being honoured with the Dr Freeman Award this year for his work organising the village quiz
John Harrison is being given the Honorary Freedom of the Parish for his work to bring the Melbourne Sports Park (MSP) to the town, while Andy Heafield is being recognised for his multiple projects including at the Assembly Rooms, the Thursday market, and the Big Village Small Town festival
All three will be formally presented with their awards at the Annual Parish Meeting at Melbourne Sporting Partnership on March 19 (see the parish council advert in this edition for details).
Lots more for our Tots Council reveals honours names
LOCAL villages continue to have “lots for tots” with no fewer than six providers in our area being shortlisted for county awards
Aston-on-Trent Primary School, Hero Town from Scallywags Nursery and Derby Forest School at Whistlewood Common are once again finalists in this year ’s Lots for Tots awards after all three won in their categories last year
Joining them are Sale & Davys Primary in Barrow-upon-Trent (pictured), which is nominated in the Primary Age Education Provider category
Scallywags Nursery is a finalist in the Preschool Age Education Provider category, along with Aston-on-Trent Pre-school and Derby Forest School at Whistlewood Common
Sale & Davys Church of England Primary School belongs to the Derby Diocesan Academy Trust and, along with the other finalists, will find
out if it has picked up the title at an award ceremony in April Head teacher Sarah Briggs said:
“Our school thrives on strong values, inclusivity and a passion for learning
“Our recent SATs results were fantastic – putting us in the top 2% of all schools nationally for achieving expected grades and the top 1% of schools nationally for achieving greater depth
“Everyone at the school is really excited to have been nominated for an award and the children can t wait to find out if we will be picking up a trophy ”
Lots for Tots is the free magazine showcasing what’s on and what’s available for the under-fives and their siblings across the East Midlands
It launched a series of awards in 2023 which are designed to recognise and celebrate the businesses, volunteers and organisations making a difference in early years settings
l Simon Goodall and sighted guide, David Green at the start of the Bournemouth Half Marathon.
Harriet’s novel take on a classic is a winner
A TALENTED 12-year-old pupil at Repton Prep School in Foremark has recreated her favourite book from a female perspective and won a national competition with her imaginative graphic novel
Harriet Maxfield Sloane reinterpreted Lord of the Flies with striking digital illustrations to win first prize in the contest organised by publishers Faber and the National Literacy Trust
The competition invited young creators across the country to reinterpret William Golding’s literary masterpiece in innovative ways
Harriet’s entry, which she renamed Lady of the Flies, flipped the narrative by reimagining survival and leadership through the eyes of a female protagonist, showcasing her talent for combining storytelling with bold imagery
Her victory in the individual category of the competition was all the more remarkable given that she taught herself to use Procreate software in just a month in order to create her submission
Harriet, who hopes to be a professional illustrator one day, said: “Lord of the Flies is definitely my favourite novel of all time because it has an incredible storyline coupled with a cliffhanger on every page I decided to explore how the story would change if I put myself in it and if things would be different with a girl
VILLAGE EARTH DAY EVENT
RESIDENTS in Weston on Trent are holding the village’s second Earth Day on Sunday, April 27, at the village hall and St Mary’s Church Refreshments will be available at both locations
on the island taking that leadership role
“It was never in my mind that I could win, I just enjoyed producing my novel I did 20 pages and each one took me at least an hour, so it was quite time consuming
“I couldn’t believe it when my parents told me I’d won; I honestly thought they were kidding My lovely English teacher was overjoyed too and she has really encouraged me all the way ”
Harriet, who is currently reading Dracula, 1984 and Animal Farm simultaneously, has won a signed copy of the graphic version of the novel and some book vouchers for the school library
The judging panel included author Judy Golding – whose father William wrote Lord of the Flies – and Aimée de Jongh, author of Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel
The judges said: “Harriet submitted a beautifully designed graphic novel The entry expertly blended the tropes and conventions of graphic novel writing and illustration with the horror and brutality of the story
“The entry also made reference to today’s society ‘breaking’, but ultimately it finished on a positive and hopeful note for humanity to ‘look forward to a brighter future’ The character expressions, artwork and panelling were delightful ”
There will also be stalls from local environmental groups
Please contact Lindsey on 07910 406976 or heeky@hotmail co uk if you would like to join in with the yard sale which is free to enter or for further information
There will be lectures and presentations on native plants, local walks, rivers and canals, the opportunity to try out Tai Chi, do a local walk, get seedlings from the allotment society, and take part in a yard sale a way of decluttering without using landfill
Councils’ opposing devolution views
A RIFT has emerged between Derbyshire County Council and the other nine district, borough and city councils with two very different approaches of achieving the Government’s devolution target to scrap tiers of local government in favour of single unitary authorities
A joint statement has been issued by the nine authorities, which includes South Derbyshire District Council, to say: “Working collaboratively, and in the best interests of local residents and businesses, we explored a range of options that would ensure that Derbyshire’s historic boundaries remained intact, while also creating new unitary councils of the right scale to deliver the best possible services for our communities
“The current options we are exploring would involve the creation of two new unitary councils utilising the geographies of the eight district councils as the key building blocks alongside the geography of Derby City Council ”
Meanwhile, Derbyshire County Council (DCC)
leader Barry Lewis issued a statement which outlined its plan for one authority to cover the entire county, with the City retaining a separate administration
He said: “Derbyshire County Council’s position is clear: a One Derbyshire council would best serve our residents and could save in the order of £126 million of taxpayers’ money over five years
“Creating smaller unitary councils – such as dividing Derbyshire into two council areas as proposed by the district and borough councils and Derby City Council – simply wouldn’t achieve these savings ” Leaders of the other authorities say this would
MELBOURNE Carnival is 100 years old this year – and to celebrate, organisers would love to hear from past carnival royalty Miss Melbourne has been held since 1925 and the committee want to hear from anyone who has won the title over the years
This year ’s King & Queen celebration will be held at the Melbourne Sports Park on Friday, May 16.
With the theme for this year ’s event ‘Melbourne celebrating 100 years’, committee members (pictured)are busy getting their heads together to make the carnival on July 12 extra special
by Frank Hughes
“effectively ‘doughnut’” Derby City Council
“This would create a large and remote council, with disparate communities, particularly across Southern Derbyshire, that would in turn lead to the inefficient delivery of services
“It would also create a significant imbalance in the local taxbase; a County Unitary with a taxbase of c810,000, and Derby City Council with a taxbase of only 270,000, with little space for growth,” they said
All the councils have been given only until March 21 to submit their initial proposals An extensive consultation is likely to take place in the near future so that residents, businesses and other concerned parties can have their say Meanwhile, DCC launched a brief consultation, which was open until March 9, on the “have your say” section of their website
Local elections for the county council will be proceeding as planned on May 1 Candidates for the election will have to submit nomination papers by April 2 So far, the candidates for the Melbourne and Woodville seat are understood to include the current County Councillor, David Muller (Con), Andy Dawson (Lab), John James (Lib Dem) and Charlotte Hill (Reform) District Cllr Matthew Gotheridge is encouraging everyone to register and vote
“By voting in the election you can support a candidate who will represent your views locally You can influence the policy issues you care about and have a say in the decisions that affect and impact not only your own future but the community you live in,” he said
LA
Here’s a way of making the French connection
belle France may be closer than you think …
Did you know that our local villages are part of a twinning association with one foot in the Midlands and the other in the Eure region of France?
Steve and Sarah Higton, of Melbourne, have for the last 15 years been enjoying trips to Gasny near Giverny having joined up with the Castle Donington Twinning Association which is linked with the French town
Few locally may realise that Melbourne and all surrounding villages are included in the association and are warmly invited to join
Twinning in Castle Donington has been happening for more than 30 years, having started with a former headmaster of St Edward’s School taking children to Normandy in the summer
He asked the authorities if the children could visit a French school and they chose Gasny
Steve and Sarah, who have recently moved to Melbourne from Shardlow, have greatly enjoyed years of friendship with Gasny residents as part of their association membership
The Castle Donington Twinning Association runs yearly coach trips offering members the chance to travel to Gasny for a reasonable price, where they await a warm French welcome in the homes of local residents who are part of the association in their country
In return, French families from Gasny return to the Midlands once a year to enjoy hospitality on our side of ‘la Manche’
Steve said membership of the association had been extremely rewarding and more local people should consider joining
“You’re matched with a family over there of similar age to your own and you stay with them,” he said
“When you go in a big group you’ve probably got a bit more confidence in speaking French I do find when you’re there, you start on the Thursday and my French is a bit iffy, then by the time you come home I’ll notice I was completely talking in French by the time I left
“I think we are quite insular in this country to a degree When you’re in France the borders in Europe melt into each other more ”
Over the years Steve and Sarah have welcomed their French friends to enjoy local beauty spots such as Chatsworth and Haddon Hall, and even treated them to a proper British chippy tea!
But he said that even more important than food and travel was the opportunity to be friends with people from another country and receive their friendship in return
He said: “We’ve now got good friends in another country – not just down the road You get more of an insight into the culture of France too ”
Membership of the Castle Donington Twinning Association costs £5 a year for an individual and £10 for a family
Hospice funding booster
DONATIONS to Treetops Hospice are being doubled in March thanks to a generous anonymous benefactor
The donor will be matching the value of donations during the month up to the value of £10,000
They have told the hospice that they understand the difference hospice care makes for people with life-limiting conditions and those who have been bereaved
The donor has told the hospice: “We want to support Treetops because hospice care is so vitally important, and we are aware that funding is under stress ”
Katy English, Treetops nurse, said: “Caring for someone 24 hours a day and through the night is incredibly challenging, physically and emotionally Knowing that a dedicated and compassionate Treetops nurse will be looking after your loved one while you get a rest, makes a huge difference
“It costs £5 3million every year to run the hospice We have to raise 80% of this through donations from our fantastic supporters We really hope people will dig deep, donate, and know they’re making double the difference this month ”
To donate to Treetops, head to www treetops org uk/donate
MELBOURNE HALL & GARDEN
This wonderful treasure house and garden, once home to Victorian Prime Minister Lord Melbourne, will be open for the 2025 season.
Hall and Garden
OPEN - every a ernoon in August (except the rst three Mondays) HALL: 2pm - last entry 4.15pm GARDEN: 1pm - 5pm
Garden
OPEN - April - September on Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from 1pm - 5pm and whenever the Hall is open during August Enjoy a selection of delicious food in...
The Tearoom or stop o at...
The Sitooterie for a drink and ice cream - then relax inside or outside...
The Brewhouse before you browse around the... Shops with our unique selection of retail units. The Courtyard FROM MAY 7TH TO SEPTEMBER 24TH
l Gordon
with his card from King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Gordon’s a very happy centenaria
‘BORN and bred” Melbourne man Gordon Ast ebrated his 100th birthday on February 25 pictured with his card from King Charles I Camilla
Born in 1925 in the house on Packhorse Ro jacent to the old Packhorse Inn, Gordon ha moved far – he is now a resident on Melton A in a house he had built in 1957 The war too out of the village, when he was post Portsmouth in the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Ar pairing aircraft and working on engines lik Merlin, Griffin and Bristol.
His working life continued as an engineer the war, and he worked for Melbourne Engine until he retired aged 63
Ruth celebrates 90th
He met his wife Betty sadly died 10 years ago camping holiday in the District and, after a friendship, they marrie moved from Sheffield to their family life Being h Gordon even built some furniture himself Gordon talked about h sion for speed boats and m bikes He built two himself. “One was en built from mahogany – b ful it was,” he remember also owned a Manx N bike and said he wish could still ride it! Remar he was driving his car just a few weeks ago.
Obviously in robust health and cheerful, G has enjoyed a very healthy life and admitte he had only taken medication for the very firs in his life a few days ago!
Fortnightly Wednesday Food Event, 4pm to 8pm, in e Courtyard - a selection of street food traders serving food from all over the world. Please check Facebook and Instagram Melbourne Hall Courtyard Events for updates. 01332 862502 www.melbournehallgardens.com info@melbournehall.com
ere is so much to see and do from evening comedy events and daytime strolls in the Garden, historic tours in the Hall to retail therapy and food in the Courtyard.
RUTH Collyer, of Melbourne, turned 90 on March 5 and celebrated her birthday with 35 family and friends, including children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with an afternoon tea at Melbourne Tea Rooms.
Ruth has lived in Melbourne for 60 years.
Our picture shows Ruth (centre) celebrating her birthday at the Tea Rooms with her three daughters, Caroline Roberts, Alison Rayns and Sarah Smith, and stepdaughter Hayley Clouston.
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Castle Street, Melbourne, Derbyshire DE73 8JA
Poetry in motion
WITH all the children going to school in pyjamas and taking their favourite book to relax and share a love of reading, World Book Day on March 6 was already a bit different and exciting for the pupils at Weston-on-Trent Primary School Then poet Dominic Berry – aka Dommy B – walked into a packed hall and delivered an hour of improvised poetry with rhythm and rhyme that one teacher described as “simply sublime” He is pictured jumping in the air as he performs poetry
He followed this with workshops with the children in class and had them writing poems, including one to help the year one children remember facts about Florence Nightingale That was not the whole story for year three children at the school who earlier in the week walked to the next door village of Aston-on-Trent to share stories with residents of Richmond Village
Asked the usual question of a centenarian –is the secret of a long and happy life? – Gordon a very simple message: “Just enjoy life.”
With his daughter, Lynne, who lives in B grand and great grandchildren, as well as family members nearby, we wish Gordon a happy 100th birthday!
Church
FRIENDS of Weston-on-Trent’s historic c launching a new campaign this month to saf future
With parts of its interior dating as far back as th tury, St Mary the Virgin Church is a historically building which became a ‘festival church a few yea sponse to dwindling congregation numbers
The church’s ‘festival’ status means services ar there for big occasions, such as Christmas, Easter, Festival, Saints’ days and Remembrance Sunday, Sunday worship no longer takes place
The ‘friends’ – a group of local volunteers cam safeguard the church – are working to raise mo nearly £200,000 in repairs identified in its latest nial’ survey, an assessment of church buildings a which takes place every five years
The church needs around £30,000 in immediate a further £155,000 required in the next couple of y
Campaigners are this month conducting a l around Weston to boost interest in engagement in building, set in a beautiful scenic spot on the outs village with lovely views of the River Trent
They are urging local people to get involved to church is not shut down altogether
Erica Stocks, from the ‘friends’ group, said: “We local people to work together to safeguard St Mary an important community asset
“Many people in Weston may have little or no
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Paul lands more gongs
LOCAL landscape gardening specialist Paul Bignall is once again cream of the crop having won two national awards – to add to his already groaning mantlepiece.
Paul, who runs PB Landscapes of Melbourne, collected two more successes at the nationally recognised Bradstone Assured Awards which recognise the pinnacle of landscape garden design amongst members of the scheme.
This year ’s wins for PB Landscapes were for Most Challenging Project and Best Patio Transformation in recognition for two local schemes he and his team have now completed.
The win for Most Challenging Project saw Paul crowned for a job at Repton that saw the team completely redesign a garden rising to a whopping three metres above ground and leading to a paddock.
With 350 tonnes of soil having to be dug out, the project took three and a half months to complete and involved creating a large patio with multiple steps, made with a grand total of 7,000 bricks.
In terms of the challenge, Paul said the real difficulty with jobs as complex as this one was in the pre-labour stage when it came to pricing and planning.
The other prize, for Best Patio Transformation, was awarded for a job in Swadlincote, which involved giving householders much more space and use out of their small plot.
Paul said it was exciting to win and always made him particularly proud having left school aged 15 with no qualifications.
“I’m very nervous being invited to the awards because I know that some of my gardens have made it to the last six,” he said. “I’m overwhelmed!”
Paul’s latest wins mean he has so far clocked up 14 prizes at the Bradstone Assured Awards in under 10 years of the scheme being run.
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with St Mary s currently and may not have an interest in religion
“But St Mary’s is so much more than that It is part of the landscape and part of the community
“It’s used for meetings and community events as well as weddings, baptisms and burials ”
The Friends of St Mary’s Group has recently attracted some new members to help the team’s efforts
The group said it was now working “with renewed vigour” to raise enough money to pay for urgently needed repairs
They are working on grant applications plus a calendar of fund-raising events this year
Friends of St Mary’s are particularly keen to make the public aware of the church’s historical significance and are inviting people to attend a talk at the church by local expert Dr Jill
Scarfe on June 7
St Mary’s mainly dates back to the 13th century, but its chancel is a century older than that
The interior also features an unusual 17th century monument commemorating Lichfield Cathedral Canon Sir Richard Sales, who was a rector at Weston for more than 50 years until his death in 1625
The monument depicts the life-sized figures of Richard Sale and his wife, plus the smaller figures of children behind, all kneeling in a row The Sales were a noteworthy family locally, with lineage traceable to the Royal families of Europe
The church also has strong links with the 107th Derby Scouts from Aston, Weston and Shardlow, along with Trent Explorers, who have supported the church for several years by organising working parties to help maintain the grounds
Working with gardener and conservationist Mark Cummings, the Scouts have planted daffodils and other spring flowering bulbs as part of a meadow area, designed as a wildlife habitat to encourage bees, butterflies and other pollinators
Church volunteers have also recently opened up a previously overgrown area as a copse next to the building
The new area with seating allows visitors to pause and take in lovely views form the church down across fields to the river
To find out details about Dr Scarfe’s talk and other events including 2025 services, see the Friends of St Mary’s Facebook page
The Friends will also be supporting Weston-on-Trent’s second Earth Day on Sunday, April 27
walks include: Foraging with Andrene Forest Bathing with Helen The Rekalibrator with Graham Experiences include: Making a Terrarium with Jane Fairy Door Making with Roz Blossom Making Paper Craft with Katherine Plus: Bring Your own Hobby to our Campfire
l Paul Bignall with his medals and work on the projects which won him the awards
PETER MARRIOTT
April 16, 1935February 23, 2025
PETER Marriott was born in Tick-
nall As an Agricultural Engineer he worked at a great number of farms in his career
He learned to ring bells at the age of six and rang at churches and cathedrals throughout the British Isles, ringing a total of 316 peals
The first when he was aged 12 and the last when he was 81
He was Tower Captain and Ringing Master for 43 years, taking over
Tfrom his father before him
He was a keen gardener and whenever you met Peter he had a country tale to tell
He married Margaret in 1964 and they had a daughter, Jackie
A service of Celebration of his Life will be held at St George’s Church, Ticknall, on Saturday, April 12, at noon Donations to his memory may be sent to J P Springthorpe & Co
Funeral Directors and will be shared between the British Heart Foundation and St George’s Church, Ticknall’s Organ Fund 58545
OBITUARIES
he Common Touch...
WHISTLEWOOD Folk are currently busy or-
ganising a free event at Whistlewood Common on Saturday, April 26, as part of worldwide Earth Day celebrations.
We will also be very proudly officially receiving our King’s Award for Voluntary Service from Elizabeth Fothergill, the Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire.
It’s a big honour for our organisation and we hope lots of you will join us for this double celebration. We’ll be focusing on giving everyone a chance to ‘have a go’ at some of the typical activities that happen at Whistlewood.
There will be walks and talks as well as chances to learn other sustainable skills and we’re asking people to bring along their ‘green’ hobbies to share.
Are you a super keen crocheter? Love making willow baskets and want to share? If sewing is your thing, we’ll have some hand machines to use.
Whistlewood is an off-grid site, with no piped in water or electricity; we’ve already got a great green woodworking set-up where
we use pole lathes and shave horses as well as having lots of keen spoon carvers. All using human power!
Making things out of sustainable or recycled materials makes perfect sense for Earth Day (and the other 364 days of the year!).
Their theme this year is ‘Our Power Our Planet’ and, although lots of decisions about the future climate are in the hands of governments, we can still make our own pledges to live a more sustainable life as well as lobby people in power to make the changes we need to keep the creeping temperatures as close to 1.5 as possible.
There’s loads of useful info on the Earth Day website about plastic pollution, global species’ decline and bees. It’s a great organisation encouraging all to take action, educate, advocate, and mobilise.
Whistlewood has connected with Earth Day for many years; check out our Facebook or Instagram profiles to get the details on how to join us and join in.
KATHERINE PARRISH
JOYCE ‘AUDREY’ SHELDON
July 9, 1934 - January 8, 2025
AUDREY was from a long Melbourne lineage, her great-grandparents being John and Eliza Hatton She was born to Jessie and Bill Lester of 21 Castle Street, Melbourne, which would become the backdrop of her cherished childhood memories
Growing up during the Second World War, Audrey experienced first-hand the trials of that era She would recount the harrowing experience of when the bomb dropped on July 11, 1940, killing 11 soldiers billeted at The Lodge, next door to her house that was nearly demolished, leaving Audrey across the opposite side of the house with the back door on top of her!
Audrey’s account of that day was recorded not long ago and she said she could still remember it as clear as it happened, the emotions of that day still raw Despite the challenges, Audrey’s childhood in Melbourne was happy She attended Melbourne School and achieved her 11-plus, furthering her education at Parkfield Cedars School for Girls in Derby
drey’s life She attended the Methodist Chapel and Sunday School, teaching her family the importance of community, tradition, and values One of her favourite times of the year was the Sunday School anniversary, when the children would proudly stand in new outfits
Knitting was one of Audrey’s greatest passions She was never without her basket of wool, needles, and patterns, creating beautiful pieces for family, friends, and new babies in the village Her love for knitting led her to open her own business a wool and haberdashery shop in Melbourne Market Place She took great pride in serving the local community, sharing her enthusiasm and skill with everyone who visited her shop
Audrey’s life was deeply rooted in Melbourne, where she met her loving husband, Ted He used to go to Melbourne from Castle Donington on a Bartons bus and attended dances where they met and fell in love They were married on September 6, 1952, at Melbourne Methodist Chapel and they began their married life at 21 Castle Street
As the family grew, they moved to Melton Avenue, and later to Derby Road, which became a happy home for a family of six Faith always played a central role in Au-
She was actively involved in the Melbourne Operatic Society, RollsRoyce and Chellaston School choral societies, and later in life both Melbourne and Staunton Harold WI, the knitting group Caring Hands, Community Care and her social circle at Castle Mills If ever there was a raffle, Audrey would always win it!
When Audrey and Ted moved to Castle Mills, close to her childhood home on Castle Street, she forged a strong bond with the residents, many of whom were old friends or relatives and she loved being part of the community again
In her final days, Audrey was surrounded by the love of her daughters as she passed away peacefully, closing the chapter on a life well lived She leaves behind a legacy of love, loyalty and unwavering devotion to her family, friends and faith
SPRING DIARY
APRIL - JULY EVENTS
Events start at 7.30pm. Tickets: £15 - includes a glass of prosecco and chocolate. To book, please email stwilfridsbarrow@gmail.com
Boudicca – with Lesley Smith Friday 16 May
The story of Boudicca, although much of it is cloaked in poor evidence is still extraordinary. This inspiring and mighty Queen was on a mission of revenge for the rape of her daughters and possessed an absolute determination to teach the Romans on her land a sharp lesson.
Richard III – with Gareth Williams Friday 18 July
seen by some as a ruthless murderer and by others as the innocent victim of Tudor propaganda. This portrayal shows Richard the night before Bosworth, looking back on his life and considering whether or not he has done enough to earn God’s support against Henry Tudor the following morning.
TALKS start at 7pm. Tickets: £4 - including tea and coffee. No need to book.
Wednesday 2 April
Crusader criminals
Dr Steve Tibble explores the criminal underbelly of the crusades. From gangsters and bandits to muggers and pirates, Steve presents extraordinary evidence of an illicit underworld in the Holy Land.
Wednesday 7 May
The origins of a surname John Titterton looks at surname origins and distribution, and explains how a surname origin can be pinpointed statistically.
Wednesday 4 June
The Staffordshire Hoard
Dr Gareth Williams tells us the story of the exciting discovery, appraisal, and curation of the Anglo-Saxon Staffordshire Hoard.
Wednesday, 2 July
Hung, Drawn and Quartered – the history of capital punishment
Eddie Smallwood recounts the history of the death penalty used in England from boiling,
(Warning - some gory details!)
WORKSHOP
Saturday 14 June10.30am
First Aid Course
First Aid is important for us all. This St John’s Ambulance course, delivered in St Wilfrid’s Church, will give information to help in most situations.
Price: £20 per person
To book, please email: stwilfridsbarrow@gmail.com Feel
DOWN ON THE FARM
With Ben Stanley
SCRAMBLE! We had been sat in the living room and having a heated debate over whether we watched Ben Fogle ‘Lives in the Wild’ or some FA Cup football game Tori was just explaining to me (not ever so politely) that I didn’t even really like football and she had a point, but I didn’t really want to watch Ben Fogle because I know how much Tori fancies him
Then the evening changed like only life on a farm can There is a reason that livestock farmers need to live on site with their animals, and the primeval bellowing that is now blasting through the old thin glass farmhouse sash windows is why
Scramble! The noise is coming from one of the sheds that isn’t covered by the otherwise amazing CCTV and is at the back of the farm on the top yard
We know that noise, we know that it means we have to hurry
In a scene slightly reminiscent to something from Biggin Hill in the summer of 1940, everything stops, nothing else matters; instead of an air raid siren it is the unmistakable deep roar of a panicking cow and instead of glamorous young men in their flying gear running towards their Spitfires it’s two middle aged scruffy farmers hobbling towards the back door, in the knowledge that this is the beginning of another season It has started and for the next eight weeks life on the farm is going to be a lot more unpredictable
We know it’s a matter of life and death and we must get to the back shed where the first calving heifers or ‘maiden cows’ are housed for the winter as quickly as we can We reach the back door grumbling and swear-
ing, pulling on waterproofs over pyjamas and donning head torches We must be quick, we’ve been in this situation so many times before We run to the top yard and there it is – our first calf of the year ALIVE!
That s a good start: amazing, good girl she’s had it!
But it’s not in the shed, she has managed to push it under the gate onto the yard and now it’s skidding around on the muddy concrete trying to walk for the first time like Bambi on ice and she is going crazy because she can’t get to her newborn
All the other heifers (young soon to be mums) in the shed have surrounded her in a semi-circle completely fascinated by this new turn of events, their noses sniffing the air with big deep breaths trying to understand what has just landed, their necks tentatively stretching towards the drama
This has just become the highlight of a very mundane three months for them Their monotonous routine has just had a newborn calf bomb put into it and, because they are all first time mums, they have never seen or smelt anything like it
The bond with a first time cow and her calf can be unpredictable and sometimes they will bellow in fear of the calf and even attack it, but in this instance pedigree Longhorn heifer named ‘Kansas’ has mothered and licked her new born calf so hard she has effectively pushed the calf under the gate and out of the shed with her big prickly tongue
It’s a clear night and the temperature is dropping fast so we need to get them reunited and Kansas needs time to bond alone without a crowd, so we care-
Head proud of school report
THE head of Aston Primary has voiced his pride after Ofsted inspectors reported the school’s “special and strong relationship with its local community”
Ofsted inspector Jonathan Keay, who visited the school just before Christmas, said in his report:
“The school has established a very special and strong relationship with its local community
“It is truly connected to the people and places it serves Pupils participate enthusiastically in annual well dressing and community events
“Staff, pupils, and parents and carers alike say that Aston-on-Trent is a happy and thriving school
“The school’s work is driven by a simple vision: The Aston Way’
“This vision encourages pupils to be ‘ready, respectful and resilient Pupils exceed these expectations Their behaviour is excellent, and they are keen to help one another Pupils achieve very well
”
With Ofsted no longer producing single word judgements, Aston Primary was said to have
maintained the standards set at its last inspection, which was ‘good’
Mr Keay found plenty more to praise including a “strong spirit of inclusion” with parents describing the school as an “amazing place” where pupils are benefiting from “well thought-out-topics and programmes of study”, and talk with “great enthusiasm” about the books they borrow from the school library
The inspector also suggested the school could improve further by giving sufficient time to teaching times tables to help pupils remember them
Head teacher Sam Moore (pictured with some of the pupils) said: “The children at Aston on Trent are incredible and I am so proud to be their headteacher This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire school community The report highlights what a special school Aston is where children's personal development and our school values are at the heart of everything we do This child centred approach means that our children love being at school, have excellent behaviour and achieve very well ”
fully open the door reuniting them together and slowly walk them into an adjacent shed that has a pre-prepared stall with a big deep bed of fluffy straw where they can bond together We secure the gate behind them and then turn leaning on the gate in awe of the fruit of the start of a new season Kansas licks the calf towards her udder and the calf bunts into it enthusiastically: it is a wonderful image It gives us an incredible feeling and that feeling is the essence of why we do what we do
It is the start of a new season, the real start of the year
Thank goodness February, the ‘longest’ month with the least number of days, with its grey and gloomy skies like an everlasting smog from a third world factory town, is behind us
The new calf is a beacon for the real start of the year, the start of new life and spring growth, of better things to come A winter of worrying and waiting is over and now spring is underway; there will be drama, highs and lows, life and death
It won’t always go to plan, there will be times spent up all night with a newborn calf and then you watch it die, but you will dry your eyes and you will say maybe next year
The success of this year will depend on what happens over the next eight weeks We live in hope that during that time the tragedies are few and the successes are many and if you see Kansas and her calf in the Parkland in the coming months remember how much she loves her calf and how much we love them
HOUSEHOLDERS
in South Derbyshire will see a rise in their district council tax
Members of South Derbyshire District Council finalised the budget for 2025/6 at a meeting on February 27
They agreed to raise their portion of the council tax by 2 99% – the percentage recommended
This decision means a ‘Band D’ property will increase its payment to South Derbyshire by £5 38 for the year, to £185 24
The average annual council tax for these properties – taking into account the charges from Derbyshire County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service–- is now £2,201 41 Councillor Robert Pearson, Leader of South Derbyshire District Council, said: “Keeping council tax as low as possible, especially when many residents are facing increased household bills, is extremely important to us “I am pleased that our Band D Council Tax continues to remain the lowest in Derbyshire And we’ve done this while making no service cuts In fact, where it is needed, the council is continuing to invest back into service areas, to ensure we have the right resources to deliver for our residents ”
Tel:
What’s On
Continuing until Saturday 15 March:
Creative Melbourne Gallery Exhibition
Introspection
Featuring: Jane Brown, Beth Edge, Amanda Graham, Oliver Lovley, Andrew Mason, Jenny Stevenson and Karen Wicks. Wellington House, Church St, Melbourne. Wed to Sat 10 - 4pm
Saturday 15 March:
Coffee Morning
United Reformed Church Hall, High Street. 10am - noon.
Wednesday 19 March - Saturday 12 April:
Creative Melbourne Gallery Exhibition Spring Gold
Featuring: Jo Polmear, Kara Stracham, Kate Westwood, Mark Langley, Steve McLoughlin, Peter Watson. Glass by: Emma Mayle, Ceramics by: Bradley Spencer, Helen Butler and Sylvia Glover. See ad on P3
Wellington House, Church St, Melbourne. Wed to Sat 10 - 4pm
Wednesday 19 March:
Melbourne Probus Club
Dissecting Disasters of Air, Sea & Rail
Jim Campbell
Royal British Legion - 10:00am.
Jim will examine the common elements and happenings in different types of disasters.
Saturday 22 March:
Creative Melbourne Gallery
Pen and Watercolour Workshop
with Kate Dawes
10.30am - 12.30pm £37.50 per person
To book: go to www.katedawesstudio.com search ‘Art Workshops’
Saturday 22 March:
Treetops Pop Up Shop with a Spring Theme
Catholic Church, St Mary's Hall, Church Street. 10am - noon.
Tuesday 25 March:
Melbourne Community care
Memory Cafe
Melbourne Assembly Rooms 1.30pm-3.30pm, For people with dementia and their families and carers or experiencing memory loss.
Tuesday 1 April:
Melbourne Community Care Coffee & Company
Melbourne Assembly Rooms, 2 - 4pm Meet friends...bring friends...make friends.
Thursday 3 April:
Melbourne Area Derby u3a What does the u3a offer?
Find out at a showcase of more than 20 interest groups available to anyone not working full time. All welcome to pop in. Melbourne Assembly Rooms 2pm. www.melbourne-area.u3asite.uk
Saturday 5 April:
Creative Melbourne Gallery
Inroduction to Painting in Oils Workshop with Helen Brown
10.15am - 3:45pm £75 per person. Learn how to paint beautiful semi abstract seascape paintings in oils.
To book: drop into the Gallery between 10am-4pm Wednesday to Saturday or call 07765 819428
Saturday 5 April:
Coffee Morning
Methodist Church Wesley Hall, Potter Street. 10am - noon
Sunday 6 April:
Women’s Woodland Wellbeing Day with Derby Forest Schools
Relax, connect with nature, explore your creativity and learn conservation and bushcraft skills around the campfire £42. 10.00 am to 3 pm. www.whistlewoodcommon.org/shop
Tuesday 8 April:
Creative Melbourne Gallery
A Lot of Nonsense! Children’s Workshop with Attie Lime
10.30am – 11.30am £7 per child, age 5-11years
Learn how to write nonsense poems and make up nonsense words of your own. www.attielime.co.uk. To book: go to: www.ticketsource.co.uk search ‘Attie Lime Poetry’
Wednesday 9 - Saturday 12 April:
Melbourne Operatic Society proudly presents The Mikado
Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton, 7.30pm. Tickets: £15/£13. See ad on P9
Thursday 10 April:
Melbourne Photographic Society ‘Namibia’ by Paul Bingham.
Although mostly desert, the variety of landscapes and wildlife makes this one of Africa’s most impressive countries. Paul takes us on a 3,500 km drive visiting deserts, the world’s highest sand dunes, the spectacular Skeleton coast before returning inland through rugged landscapes to Etosha, one of Africa’s most famous national parks rich in mammals and birds. Digital presentation. Thomas Cook Memorial Hall, High Street, Melbourne. Doors open at 7.00pm and the talk commences at 7.30pm
Members £2, visitors £5
Saturday 12 April:
Coffee Morning
Baptist Church Schoolroom, Chapel Street. 10am - noon.
Saturday 26 April: Whistlewood Earth Day(ish)
Celebration Talks, Walks and Experiences - all aimed at celebrating "Our Power, Our Planet". 1 pm - 4 pm. Free Entry, some paid for activities. www.whistlewoodcommon.org/shop
Every Tuesday:
Melbourne Community Care Bereavement Group
Melbourne Assembly Rooms 10am -12pm Friendly group for anyone affected by a bereavement.
We are happy to include events in this listing free of charge, but the Village Voice costs money to produce every month. If your organisation has found this listing helpful, please consider helping us to continue to produce YOUR local newspaper.
Thank You.
has a vacancy for an Assistant Parish Clerk on a twelve-month xed term contract
8 hours per week
£12.85 - £13.47 per hour (depending on experience)
Visit our website for more details: melbourneparishcouncil.gov.uk/news
Deadline for applications is 4pm on Monday 24th March, 2025
Trevor Langley gives us a taste of what ’s on offer in our local restaurants
LONG Eaton is a very popular town for residents, locals and visitors too Independent retailers offer countless buying opportunities and eateries/restaurants cater for that ‘extra special’ break (or visit).
It is here that I located Naz Indian restaurant and takeaway which has been gaining in popularity since opening (May, 2024)
To commence my dining experience I chose Tandoori King Prawn (king prawns marinated in special spice and barbecued in a tandoori clay oven) Certainly, this made my taste buds very interested and most definitely had me looking forward to the following courses
WE ARE A FAMILY RUN STATIONER AND PRINTER BASED IN MELBOURNE.
WE’RE OPEN MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9.15AM TO 5PM AND SATURDAYS 9AM TO 12 NOON.
UNIT A WILLIAMS YARD, DERBY ROAD, MELBOURNE, DE73 8JR (NEXT TO MEAKS)
WWW.CASLONPRESS.COM
ROB@CASLONPRESS.COM 0 1332 415 626
For the main event I opted for Tandoori Special Mix (tandoori chicken, chicken tikka, lamb tikka, sheek kebab, tandoori king prawn barbecued and cooked with herbs, spices, onions and peppers in Goan style), from the ‘Tandoori Specialities’ section of the menu, which are all prepped in a traditional clay oven and then served with green salad and yoghurt dressing
In a word –WOW! This dish absolutely had my attention! The complementing flavours of the ingredients really say something about the head chef and kitchen personnel Tender, succulent and with quite exceptional flavours, without hesitation it was ‘Compliments to Chef ’
Head chef is Abdul, who, with the team, ensures that all is most impressive to diners Excellent ranges of speciality and traditional dishes include meats, fish, seafood and vegetable options
Set meals (for two or four people) are very popular
Advanced booking is very much advised – particularly for popular times and dates Collections and deliveries have regular ‘devotees’ too
Thank you to Saadee for excellent service throughout An excellent recommendation
Annual Parish Meeting
Wednesday 19th March
7pm to 8.30pm
The Annual Parish Meeting is generally chaired by the Parish Council Chair, but it is not a meeting of the Parish Council. Instead, the event is a gathering of parishioners to raise and discuss local issues, and for local organisations to report on their activities. Everyone is free to attend.
In addition to this, the Parish Council will also be awarding the Honorary Freedom of the Parish and the annual Dr Freeman Award. The meeting will be held at: Melbourne Sporting Partnership, Cockshut Lane, Melbourne
Refreshments will be served for the event. We hope to see you there.
Stanley (Village
describes very clearly the difficulties, uncertainties and frustration currently faced by our farmers and this is starkly evidenced by the high suicide rate in farmers
However, in making his points it is disappointing that he feels obliged to recycle the thoroughly misleading statistic beloved of the right wing that the UK only produces 1% of the world’s carbon emissions
This figure overlooks the fact that nearly all our manufacturing is now carried out by other countries, notably China, so consequently the emissions from making our commodities, goods and indeed often feeding our consumerism is actually added to the totals of those countries and NOT OURS!
Indeed, if one looks at emissions per person we don’t look so virtuous being well up the league of big emitters, although well short of the US Moreover, it is morally incumbent on us to play our part in reducing emissions and set an example if we wish to maintain a liveable planet for our descendants I agree with Ben that it is a great shame that solar panels are being put on prime agricultural land, and wonder why new house and warehouses are not required to have such panels on their roofs The need to produce green energy is
urgent and it seems those in power have taken the path of least resistance in their haste to make the needed progress
Regarding the comments about Chris Packham and veganism it is worth remembering that some 80% of our agricultural land is either used for grazing livestock or producing the food to feed them, NOT US
This is an incredibly inefficient use of land and of producing calories for us and will not be sustainable in the longer term Like it or like it not developed countries have to substantially reduce their meat consumption sooner rather than later We remain in a state of climate and ecological crisis, which is worsening and we are running out of time to effectively remedy this Christian Murray-Leslie
CHRISTIAN and Margaret Murray-Leslie would like to record their thanks to several kind passers-by (one by the name of Harry), who raised the alarm, warned us and called the fire brigade, when our car parked on our drive caught fire
Their prompt actions including helping us douse the flames until the fire tender arrived probably averted a serious house fire as well They left the scene before we could adequately thank them so we do this now We are very grateful to them
Naz Indian Restaurant & Takeaway, 18 High Street, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1LL
Tel: 0115 891 1562
BEN
Voice, February)
Swimmers’ proper pool party
TALENTED young swimmers from Melbourne, Stanton and Ticknall put their best strokes forward when they took part in the Derbyshire County Swimming Championships – winning a clutch of medals and personal bests between them
Repton Swimming Club members from local villages were ably represented by Annabelle and William Blackbird; Harry, Hannah and Eva John; George Messer, Oliver Smith, Juliette Grant, Daniel Cotton, Joseph Pollock, Arthur Walters, Oliver and Jack Pallot, while Megan Cotton swam for Swadlincote Dolphins
The championships at Moorways Swimming Pool in February saw 700 swimmers take part from all over the county
Our local swimmers were said to have done “brilliantly” at the championships, after having to qualify in order to compete They then took part in heats with the fastest eight getting through to the final to vie for the title of county champion
The local participants all made finals in their events, which ranged from 50 to 400 metres across all four strokes
A gold medal went to Oliver Smith in the 200-metre butterfly, while Annabelle won six silvers and two bronze medals in the 50, 100 and 200metre backstroke; 50, 100 and 200m breaststroke; 50m butterfly and 400m individual medley
Hannah John took four bronze medals in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke plus 200m backstroke, while Joseph Pollock got a bronze in the 100m breaststroke
William was awarded the DASA Junior Grand Prix bronze medal Oliver, Annabelle, Hannah and Joseph achieved qualifying times to allow them to go on and compete in the East Midlands Regional Championships this year
Hannah also competed for Repton in the National League Cup Final in Cardiff on March 2
The inter-club competition saw 300 teams enter with the top 10 in the country making it through to the final – and a second final spot for Repton Swimming Club
Swimmers taking part in the event were aged between nine and 15, with the younger ones training three times a week and older double that
It was a championship debut for Eva and Daniel aged nine, while this was the fourth event for Harry and Megan at the age of 15
Exciting end to rugby season
AS THE rugby season marches on, Melbourne RFC’s first team continues to impress, maintaining their third league spot at the start of March
The firsts carried on with their winning streak on February 9 with a bonus point win against Newark in an emotional day’s play
With a penalty try awarded to Melbourne just four minutes in, and Euan North scoring just a few minutes later, it ended up being a solid victory for the home side and a final scoreline of 38-19
However, the first team’s eight-match winning streak came to an end on February 15 with a defeat to higher placed Dronfield, ending up 26-14, but the following week came a further win against Walsall, defeated 36-31 by the green and golds
With two cup games scheduled for the first team in March, the last few weeks of the season are set to be an exciting time
Things have been quieter for the seconds with their game against Tupton on February 8 postponed, and the next encounter against Long Eaton seconds not played until March 1
Melbourne scored a try bonus point against the higher placed Long Eaton but ended up on the wrong side of the score-
board with a 42-26 defeat
The Academy side has also been busy with a meeting against Ashbourne on February 8 that resulted in a 12-12 draw, followed by a triumph against Market Bosworth a week later, from which the green and golds emerged the 17-7 victors
The Under-16s have also had a great 2025 so far with three victories and a draw leading into mid-February, their winning streak only broken by a friendly against Long Eaton on February 16
Prior to that, the Under-16s won against Notts Casuals and Old Newts RFC, while the Under-15s matched that with a victory against Notts Casuals on February 9
LEFT: William Blackbird ABOVE (l-r) John, Juliette Grant and Daniel Cotton RIGHT: Hannah John BELOW LEFT: thumbs up from Jack Pallot
l Melbourne First XV in action against Newark
Photo: Peter Ilott
Rugby ladies back in action
A QUARTER of a century after the first one, Melbourne Rugby Club has re-established its ladies team – and their first game has been played
The club has said that a priority for the club’s continual development is looking to create playing opportunities for everyone, as well as welcoming new or returning players
“This is yet another pathway for a thriving male and female mini and junior section,” said club rugby director Matt Derbyshire
Melbourne has always been a family affair and thanks to commitment and enthusiasm shown by a group of wonderful people, Melbourne Ladies is reborn
Originally formed in 1999 and captained by Melbourne RFC Life Member Jo Mallard the ladies of Melbourne previously included a Lucas (Helen) and a Watts (Cal), both of whom have family members in the male side of the club In 2024, 25 years on, the theme continues with Rudd, Roberts, Cooper, Monteith, Beech, Hatton and Sims!
These ladies have taken on the mantle of pioneering the women and girls section of the club; their positivity and enthusiasm for one another as well as the sport has injected renewed interest, energy and camaraderie!
Since October the Melbourne Ladies
have been training twice a week, working tirelessly to take on the game and represent Melbourne Rugby Club The club could not be prouder Astounding to think that on Sunday, February 16, the newly formed ladies team took to the pitch for the first time in over 25 years as they hosted Paviors at the MSP in what was a fantastic fixture enjoyed by everyone
Under the direction and supervision of Head of Women & Girls Rugby, Gary Rudkin, and a coaching team of Matt Read, Matt West, Evie Rudd and Bex Beech, the ladies have steadily added players to the original 12 that turned up for the first training session, and have now gained an established group of 25 Returning players from years gone by, combined with an extremely talented group of U18 players, has added to the strength of the squad A number of players were part of the ALL MAC program which the club has maintained for a number of years to ensure all Melbourne female players have the opportunity to continue to play and enjoy rugby by combining with other local clubs to play fixtures The club now boasts teams at u12s, u14s, u16s and u18s
Matt said: “At the end of last season it was a priority of the club to establish a ladies section The fact that we have man-
over such a short period of time is simply due to the wonderful ladies within that squad It is led by an experienced and high level coaching team
The enjoyment and enthusiasm within the squad is fully evident every time you come across them
Everyone at the club is behind the ladies, the support has been phenomenal, and as a club that prides itself on being a family, we all come out to support the ladies when they are in action! This was evident against Paviors!
The ladies have a a number of fixtures planned for the rest of the season
Fancy trying rugby? Why not go along and be a part of the Melbourne Ladies?
Anyone reading this, who would like to get involved and come along to training (Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7:30pm) is more than welcome, no experience necessary
If you are interested please get in touch with Gary Rudkin either on garyrudkin@hotmail com or 07538 668253
The ladies team is also looking for new sponsors, so any business or company interested in the opportunity should get in touch with Matt Derbyshire [07854130147] or the club directly
Dynamo homing in on silverware
HOME is where the heart is for Melbourne Dynamo FC’s irst team. They had a very busy February to contend with playing all four of their games at the MSP as they were still fighting for silverware on three fronts.
They began the month welcoming top of the table South Normanton Athletic to Cockshut Lane and a superb team performance saw them run out winners 3-1 with a double from Jack Goodband plus a Jack Griffiths finish to secure the three points
A week later, again at home, the first team let a 2-1 lead slip through their hands as two late goals from Holbrook Sports meant the visitors winning 3-2 Dynamo’s goals came from Dylan Muir and Jack Bodill
A comfortable 5-0 home win against lowly AFC Normanton was thanks to braces from Tyler Withers and Jack Goodband to go with a Regan Bickerton strike This was followed by a tight 2-1 home
win against Bakewell Town as Tyler Withers and Elliott Dawson grabbed the all-important goals
Melbourne Dynamo Reserves began the month with a hard fought 2-2 draw from the long trip to Bakewell Town Reserves with a Joe Shadbolt double earning them a point
A cup game against high-flying Sunnyhill was up next for the Reserves A young weakened team were well beaten 6-1 with Brendon O'Reilly getting the consolation
This was soon forgotten as strikes from Bancroft and Shadbolt were enough to claim the three points when they travelled to Little Eaton a week later in their final game of the month
Just a reminder that Melbourne Dynamo first team play their Derbyshire Divisional Cup South Final on Wednesday, March 12 So, if you can, get along and support the lads as they take on Derby Singh Brothers at Long Eaton (7 45pm kick-off)
l Melbourne Rugby Club’s ladies today (above), and (left) the team back in the day.