POLICE IN DRUGS ALERT TO PARENTS
POLICE have called on parents to know what their children are doing and who they are visiting when leaving the house, after a spate of drugs-related reports in Melbourne involving escooters and young people
Derbyshire Constabulary’s Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) reported several incidents that took place in Melbourne in October, including a court warrant carried out in North Street
Communicating via a Derbyshire Alert message on October 27, police said: “Officers from SNT have obtained and executed a court warrant on North Street, Melbourne, last week following community concerns of drug use, drug dealing and young children being involved in criminal activity ”
Further reports involved young people using escooters while engaged in criminal activities
Police said: “In recent weeks, we have completed numerous vehicle stops and stop searches on youths in the area who have been sighted in suspicious circumstances/suspected dealing or using drugs and using escooters in order to assist them in their criminal activities
“One young male decided to fail to stop for officers and was subsequently removed from his e-scooter, searched and found to be involved in the carrying of drugs This e-scooter was seized ”
The Derbyshire Alert message from police added: “Please know what your children are doing and who they are visiting when they leave the house and work with us to keep them and the community safe
by Lucy Stephens
“If you have any concerns or information, please reach out to us on 101, online contact form, social media or via Crimestoppers
“Expect more enforcement in the coming weeks ”
Asked by Village Voice to comment, a police spokesperson said: “There is no county lines drug dealing in the area that is currently being investigated –however, there are investigations ongoing into the supply of drugs within Melbourne but the village remains a low crime area
“We do understand that incidents like this may raise concerns; however, we are working proactively to target those who are concerned in the supply of drugs, and working with partners to ensure that young people understand the impact on them that becoming involved in drugs can have
“We have seen children be exploited by criminals in other areas of the county – and we work closely with partner agencies to ensure that young people are supported if they do become involved in crime – but we will also take positive action to ensure that our communities remain safe placed to live, work and visit ”
Police have also reiterated that e-scooters are illegal to ride in a public place unless they are under an insured council scheme – of which none are currently running in South Derbyshire
These vehicles are also “ routinely used to commit crime”, police have said
Continued on Page 3
LOCAL residents have been getting very handy with their crochet and knitting needles, creating some beautiful poppy displays in Ticknall and Elvaston to mark Remembrance Day this year. See inside for the full story and coverage of the Remembrance service in Melbourne
Pupils are given a taste of career building
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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
IT’S official – Melbourne Junior School pupils are the fastest young manufacturers in town!
When Acres Engineering of Melbourne held its National Manufacturing Day, the company welcomed around 145 students from schools around the area to go along for the day
The company, which makes a range of products including trestles, trolleys and lifting devices, gave students from schools including Chellaston Academy, St Wystan’s, Derby High and Melbourne Junior School a tour of its processes as well as providing various challenges designed to illustrate when a career in manufacturing entails
Pupils were challenged to build a trestle and one group of pupils from Melbourne Junior School proved the fastest on the day with an impressive time of six minutes and 24 seconds to complete their building challenge!
Also handy at building a trestle was South Derbyshire MP Samantha Niblett, who went to see Manufacturing Day at Acres in action
Samantha said the day was “fantastic”
She said: “As somebody who is really passionate about getting more girls and women into tech and STEM and engineering more broadly, it’s just so wonderful to see young people engaging and having the opportunity to get practical and see close up for themselves what manufacturing involves ”
Alice Parker, head of HR at Acres Engineering, said: “It’s been absolutely brilliant to open our doors to all the children We’ve had 145 students come through
“ It has been absolutely amazing
“It’s just really important for us to make sure that the children of today understand manufacturing, understand the careers in manufacturing, and also, the whole process from start to finish, that things don’t just come off shelves, that they don’t just come in the post; they are made, and they are made by us, a lot of the time in Britain ” Meanwhile, over at Pennine Healthcare in Derby, students from John Port Spencer Academy were among those who tried their hand at plug building as part of their National Manufacturing Day experience
Freedom of Parish award
MELBOURNE and Kings Newton residents have been advised they can help suggest nominees for the highest honour the parish council can bestow – the honorary freeman or woman of the parish
The first Honorary Freedom of the Parish for Melbourne was awarded a few years ago to Cllr Jane Carroll
Other recipients have been Margaret Sharp and the late Andrew Jackson
Members of the public are able to nominate suggested recipients of the award, which –as set out in Melbourne Parish Council’s policy on the topic – is “the highest honour that the parish council can bestow”
The Honorary Freedom of the Parish is awarded to a person who has made a major contribution to community life in Melbourne and Kings Newton
Those honoured must have met at least two of three criteria: that their contribution should have “brought distinction to parish life and enhanced the parish’s reputation in the area or activity concerned”; “contributed in a way to improve the lives of those less able to help themselves”; and “demonstrated innovation and entrepreneurship which is delivering results in the parish”
Due to the distinction of the honour, no more than five people can hold the Honorary Free-
dom of Melbourne Parish title at any one time
A group of no fewer than three local electors can petition any Melbourne parish councillor to make a nomination on their behalf
The parish council will debate any nominations in a closed session and so the Press and public will be excluded
Nominations for the honorary title must set out in writing the reasons for the nomination
The councillor making a nomination for the honorary title needs to demonstrate to the council that the criteria listed have been met
ABOVE: Melbourne Junior School pupils at Acres, and (below) John Port students at Pennine
‘The Bean Man’ is a canny collector
HE’S become so well known his story has reached BBC News – and he is making a big difference to those in need
Neil Potter, of Willington, also known as ‘The Bean Man’ was outside Sainsbury’s in Melbourne this October doing his vital work collecting for the local food bank.
Neil has regularly been dressing up as a Heinz Beanz tin can since earlier this year to raise awareness of food poverty and encourage donations.
He was a friendly face outside Sainsbury’s in Melbourne on October 5, when shoppers were making donations
Everything raised and donated to Neil has been going to South Derbyshire CVS, which runs a food bank in Swadlincote.
Neil, who is not sponsored by Heinz, has also been in Etwall, Findern, Hatton and Willington
Village hall to host a film premiere
THE red carpet is being rolled out in Breedon-on-the-Hill for the premiere of a film starring home-grown talent
Saturday, November 23, sees the world premiere of ‘Falcon’, which tells the fortunes of an army veteran in a wheelchair who bonds with an injured Peregrine Falcon after it flies into her window
Written and directed by Noel Wyatt – a former roadie turned film director who has toured with Metallica, Aerosmith, Iron Maiden, Elton John, Billy Joel, The Police, Lady Gaga and Sir Paul McCartney – the black and white film is a community project with the aim of supporting marginalised groups
A write-up on the Midlands Movies’ website tells how Noel has highlighted a lack of opportunities in the film world for veterans, female leads and those with disabilities
Marcie, the lead character in Falcon, is embarking on a journey back from the army to civvy street, having sustained injuries while on active service
Joining her on screen is Breedon resident Debbie Freeman, who plays the role of police constable DC Parkes
Debbie said the was attracted to the project because of its themes
by Lucy Stephens
She said: “I think it was the whole story around a veteran, that it was female-led – I don’t think we see that as often as we should A female-led retired veteran in a wheelchair, it was just something that appealed to me ”
Film producer Claire Ward, whose roster includes Horror titles such as Tales of the Creeping Death and There’s Something in the Shadows, described the finished film as “gritty”, covering themes such as violence and drugs
Filmed on location in Derbyshire and Staffordshire, Claire said the idea for the film was for it to be a fully inclusive project
She said: “Because it’s a community-based project, we didn’t want it in a cinema We wanted it to be in a community setting ”
Debbie said: “I’m very proud of us all We’ve all come from different walks of life, all with different experiences I really feel that we became a Falcon family ”
The premiere of Falcon is being held at 6 30pm in Breedon Village Hall on November 23, and the event is free Anyone interested is welcome to attend
Following its first showing, Falcon will be entered into film festivals
Home-grown talent star in ‘gritty’ movie
POLICE IN DRUGS ALERT
Continued from Page 1
A spokesperson said: “This also means if you fail to stop, ride dangerously or drink/drug ride, you will be treated the same as a motorist would and prosecuted ”
Two local representatives from the local Safer Neighbourhood team attended the latest meeting of Melbourne Parish Council on November 5, where they confirmed to councillors that they are present and active in the local community
Police said that when it came to drug-related crimes, a covert approach was usually more effective
“Just because you don’t see us, doesn’t mean we’re not here,” said one officer
Police are advising that anyone witnessing an active crime – including drug use – should report it to 999
Robin William Gregson-Brown 20-2-1936 - 17-10-2024
Robin passed away at Glen eld Hospital on ursday 17th October, 2024. e funeral service will be family only. ere will be a memorial service at 2pm on Friday 15th November at Melbourne Parish Church. DENNIS ARTHUR WARREN 20/7/1931 – 31/10/2024
Dennis passed away peacefully at home in his sleep, on Thursday 31st October.
Beloved husband of Muriel, cherished father to Sharon and Lesley, a much loved grandad to Samuel and Thomas.
The funeral service will take place at Melbourne United Reformed Church at 10.45am, followed by a cremation in the Willow Chapel at Bretby Crematorium at 12.15pm, both on Friday 29th November. Family flowers only please, donations in lieu if so desired, to the Stroke Association. All enquiries to JP Springthorpe and Co Funeral Directors, 17 Potter Street, Melbourne, DE73 8DX, tel: 01332 865511.
HUGH “RAY” RAYMOND RAMAGE 13/9/1955 – 6/11/2024
Ray passed away peacefully at the Royal Derby Hospital on Wednesday 6th November 2024, aged 69. Beloved husband of Diane. The funeral service will take place at Ticknall Church at 11am on Thursday 28th November, followed by a burial in the churchyard. Family flowers only please, donations in lieu if so desired, to the RSPCA or Save The Children. All enquiries to JP Springthorpe and Co Funeral Directors, 17 Potter Street, Melbourne, DE73 8DX, tel: 01332 865511.
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
Karen hosts artisan fayre
LOCAL jewellery and ceramics maker
Karen Winfield is organising a Melbourne Artisan Christmas Fayre to be hosted at the Melbourne Assembly Rooms on Sunday, December 22.
Karen and husband Simon (pictured together) exhibited at this year ’s festival and had such a positive response that she decided to look into the idea of hosting a Christmas event and managed to secure the last available seasonal date at MARS After consulting with Melbourne Festival
organisers, she has brought together a range of creatives keen to exhibit their hand made artistic pieces and gifts to showcase at the fayre
“It will bring together over 20 artists and makers from the area including fine artists, print makers, illustrators, ceramists, sculptors, jewellers, aluminium art, glass artists, and wood artists,” she said
Her ambition is that it might become an annual event The fayre will be open from 10am to 4pm, and admission is free.
All set for the big festive lights switch-on
MELBOURNE auctioneer Irita Marriott will be helping local residents get into the Christmas spirit this year by joining Santa himself in switching on the festive lights!
Irita will be accompanying Father Christmas along with Melbourne Parish Council chair Cllr Joe Ward at this year ’s late night shopping night and lights switch-on, which will take place on December 6
Irita’s TV show, The Derbyshire Auction House, was filmed in and around Melbourne and has been airing this year
She will be helping Santa and Cllr Ward who, along with local children, will be counting down to the big switch-on at 6pm
Melbourne’s Christmas shopping night has become the traditional start of the local festive season All the hard work to organise it has been done by the parish council and Melbourne Florist owner Sue Statham, with shops and other attractions involved to get everyone in the Christmas spirit
The parish council has said that while in the past few years it has not been able to accommodate a children’s roundabout, this year it will be sponsoring free face painting and balloons to entertain younger visitors There will also be festive characters mingling around for children to enjoy photo opportunities
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Attractions for visitors will be spread from the Market Place, along Derby Road and to outlets in and around Williams Yard
The parish council has said: “Hard road closures will be in place for the duration Please bear with us for the few hours that the closures are in place We understand that the closures may be an inconvenience to some of you, but we politely request that you recognise that it is only for a few hours during one evening in the year
“The closures will take effect from 4pm and it would be much appreciated if you could adhere to them when driving The High Street car parks will be accessible Thank you for your understanding ”
The parish council is also looking for volunteers to help man road closures Anyone able to help is asked to contact the parish clerk at clerk@melbourneparishcouncil gov uk
Bus routes will be affected during the road closures Anyone due to travel on the evening is asked to check with the relevant bus companies
Barbara Bagley has kindly given her permission to use her festive picture for promotional posters advertising the event around Melbourne
The parish council will also be running the festive shop window competition again, which this year has been sponsored by East Midlands Airport
Edward Hands & Lewis Solicitors – continuing to serve
Market Place as we have done since 1935
We do not compromise on service or skills and only We are here to help and we have a friendly and very
WI celebrates 95th anniversary
ASTON-ON-TRENT’S Women’s Institute is 95 years old and going strong.
Members of the still thriving WI have been spending their 95th anniversary year by having fun, fund-raising and helping in the community.
As part of their birthday year they spent a morning tidying the grave of founding member Margaret Ellison, which was hidden under moss and weeds
The group has enjoyed plenty of activities this year including kurling, collecting bras for BraBank, theatre trips, and planting daffodil bulbs on Shardlow Road
They also marked their birthday in October with lunch at Morley Hayes.
Pictured (left) are the WI’s oldest and youngest members – Olivia, 35, and Wendy, 90, –cutting the cake together with the group’s president, Anne James.
Pictured right are group members tidying Margaret Ellison’s grave
New homes plan in need of your input
PUBLIC opinions are being sought over the latest council plan which sets out how and where 8,874 more homes will be built in South Derbyshire over the next 15 years.
South Derbyshire District Council has now published the latest version of Part One of its Local Plan and is asking for responses to a consultation before December 6
A series of drop-in events is planned, with one in Melbourne at the Assembly Rooms on November 14, from 4pm to 7 45pm, and another in Barrow on Trent on November 18, between the same times
The Local Plan sets out a strategy for future development, including housing, employment, and sustainability
The current Local Plan (Part One) was adopted in 2016 The new one will set out a strategy updating how much, where and what type of larger development will take place across the area up to 2039 It will provide planning policies and site allocations to guide the changes and enhance new development proposals
The council consulted on the issues and options in autumn 2022 and has considered the representations received, using them to develop the revised document
The plan sets out a need to build 14,483 new homes between 2022 and 2039; 8,874 are needed
by Frank Hughes
in South Derbyshire, and 5,609 as part of the unmet need for the Derby City area
However, it anticipates some 4,500 being built as part of two strategic sites on the Infinity Garden Village, and to the south of Mickleover
More than 8,000 houses remain uncompleted as part of the 2016 Plan allocations, including 2,046 on the Drakelow site There are 285 still scheduled under Part Two allocations, leaving a total of 851 houses still to be built under what the council are calling “windfall” developments
The review also refers to Local Plan Part Two, which covers non-strategic housing allocations, detailed heritage and conservation policies, retail polices, Rural Area policies and development management policies This refers specifically to the rural villages and key service villages, like Melbourne, and, importantly, it says: “This part is being saved and is not amended at this time ”
The publicity for the consultation says: “The purpose of the consultation is to provide an opportunity for representations to be made on the Draft Local Plan Part One and to shape it through feedback This is an important stage of consultation before the plan is finalised ”
Details on how to respond can be found on the South Derbyshire District Council’s website
To Lisa, of Blanch Croft. Many, many thank yous for all your help and kindness. Brenda Bentley, Dunnicliffe Lane, Melbourne.
Cash blow for Elvaston Castle’s multi-million pound masterplan
HISTORIC Elvaston Castle could be sold off by Derbyshire County Council as a £35million masterplan to revive its fortunes looks set to be abandoned due to soaring costs
The latest twist in the tale of Elvaston Castle will be debated by councillors next week after the council announced that the masterplan to overhaul the site was no longer financially viable Plans to revamp Elvaston Castle have been rumbling on for years, with the latest proposals rejected by South Derbyshire District Council’s planning committee in 2023 on the grounds of poor design
Now members of Derbyshire County Council’s ruling cabinet will discuss a report outlining how spiralling costs mean the estimated cost of delivering the masterplan for Elvaston has soared from £35million to £50million – now an unaffordable sum
The council has said that while the original masterplan was off the table for financial reasons, “more affordable enhancements” could still be developed
The original masterplan included restoration of many of the site’s listed buildings as well as building a new café, access road and car park
The aim was to increase visitor numbers and boost revenue
The council said: “But the impact of inflation and the complex nature of the project have seen the potential costs of the masterplan spiral, while grants that might have helped fund its proposals are no longer available
“Against a background of financial challenges affecting many local authorities, we have decided
to carry out a detailed review into future options for Elvaston ”
The review has recommended that councillors should withdraw the masterplan on cost grounds and instead develop and deliver a more affordable plan This could see proposals for improvement such as upgrading Elvaston’s equestrian and showground facilities, modernising the castle courtyard and increased marketing of the site, giving a much quicker return on investment
If the proposals are approved, talks will be held with key interest groups in order to update
them and discuss the various options being considered for the estate that would form part of the proposed new plan
The report “acknowledges that a sale would be considered in the future as part of the long-term options for the estate if an opportunity arises”
Councillor Tony King, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Clean Growth and Regeneration, said: “Elvaston Castle and Gardens is a much-loved heritage destination which continues to be popular with thousands of people every year However, it is becoming increasingly
expensive to run and cannot generate enough income in its current form to cover its costs
“Since we began developing the masterplan for Elvaston more than six years ago, the financial climate has changed drastically Costs have risen massively and any external financial support is very limited
“If we leave Elvaston in its current condition that, too, will come at an increasingly unaffordable cost It therefore makes sense to look at the potential for a new approach that addresses immediate challenges while also examining all options for a viable long-term future ”
Under the proposals, Elvaston Castle and Gardens Trust would continue to play a key role in the development of the estate, the council has said
Dr Peter Robinson, Chair of the Trust, said: “We have worked in partnership with Derbyshire County Council to develop a plan for the longterm sustainable future of the estate and the economic environment post-Covid has had a significant impact on the affordability of those plans
“The trust remains committed to supporting Elvaston and will be working on a programme of fund-raising, volunteering, education and events
Over the past three years we have secured £50,000 in grant funding and will be furthering this work to enhance and improve the estate
“We have exciting plans for the future, with a series of open house events and garden tours taking place from January onwards, building on the success of our first event last September ”
Scarecrows are back
SCARECROWS made a welcome appearance in Weston-on-Trent this October after a five-year absence – and helped raise more than £1,000 for good causes too
Local mums Kate Todd and Lisa Ireland teamed up with the local village hall committee to relaunch the Weston Scarecrow Trail, and local residents fully got behind things with some highly inventive creations
There was definitely a topical theme with Donald Trump, Oasis and Taylor Swift being represented along the trail, while school children and characters from Frozen also put in an
appearance
The Weston Scarecrow Trail was last held in 2019 but then had to be put off due to Covid
Kate said: “Lisa and I have young families and are passionate about having local events for everyone to enjoy There was a lot of excitement within the village before the event and there was such a buzz in the village over the weekend of the trail
“It was really positively embraced and lovely to bring back a village tradition that was started by Louise White
“We had 32 wonderful entries, with the win-
ner being voted for by the public, named as Chaotic Quidditch
“We were raising money for the Bridge the Gap children’s mental health charity and the village hall We still have money coming in but we have raised over £1,000
“Not only did the trail raise money for our charities but also the café that we ran in the village hall, where visitors could browse photos of previous scarecrow trails We’d like to say a massive thank you to all our volunteers, we couldn’t have done it without them
“We’ll be back next October!”
LEFT: Kate Todd and Lisa Ireland, organisers of the scarecrow trail and (ABOVE) some of the creations, including the winning Chaotic Quidditch
New life for an old high street shop
A NEW chapter is starting for one of Melbourne’s most prominent high street shops which will be re-born as an estate agency after lying empty for more than three years
Melbourne Sales & Lets, part of the Nick Humphreys’ Group, will be opening up in the old Melbourne News in the Market Place next month
Mr Humphreys told Village Voice he had bought the freehold of the shop from previous owner Margaret Wheatley
Margaret shut Melbourne News in 2021, bringing to a close 141 years of news selling on the same premises
Nick said he was “delighted” to have found an ideal home for the family-run estate agency of 35 years in the heart of Melbourne, having been looking for some time for the right location
This is the second move into Melbourne from the Nick Humphreys’ Group which earlier this year took on Melbourne Sales & Lets from its previous owners
The company will now have branches in Melbourne and Loughborough
In a nod to tradition, the newly opening Melbourne Sales & Lets will feature “The
l An artist’s impressions of how the new shop’s interior will look
Charity appeal for presents
MELBOURNE memory-making charity me&dee is calling on local residents to get into the Christmas spirit by backing its annual festive appeal.
At this time of year, the charity founded by Maria Hanson MBE, organises Christmas presents for families under the care of Derby and Burton hospitals – who are experiencing long hospital stays, invasive treatments, and sleepless nights as a result of a life-limiting condition
The charity’s annual appeal is for presents suitable for young people who will be stuck in hospital over the festive season, to provide some much-needed relief through these difficult times
Anyone who would like to contribute to the appeal is asked to check out me&dee’s Christmas wish list on Amazon.
Maria said: “We really hope that people will support our appeal to help families at Christmas time. Lots of the gifts on our wish list are under £5 and they make such a difference to children who find themselves stuck in hospital for months
“Craft activities are a great distraction and we’ve carefully curated our list to include activities such as stickers and non-mess items that can be easily played within the limited space of a hospital table. We hope that local people will be generous and support me&dee families this Christmas.”
Old Paper Shop” as part of its address
Two luxury apartments are on the first and second floor of the building, and Nick said business was already going well
“We are already being instructed in sales and lettings,” he said
“During Covid, one of the first businesses to be opened was estate agents because of the spin-off trades When a house is sold, you need a plumber, an electrician, a carpet fitter
“We’re encouraging people to come for-
ward and join our list of approved contractors ”
The old Melbourne News was originally two shops – a newsagent and a bakery and confectioners Newspapers had reportedly been sold there since 1880
The new Melbourne Sales & Lets office has been designed by Tuk Rural with Nicky Deakin having done the interior design
“We’re looking forward to welcoming clients to our new office,” said Nick
The me&dee wishlist is available here: https://amzn.eu/ervoIJo
CANDLELIT SERVICE
THE beautiful Staunton Harold Church will be candlelit for a carol service on Friday, December 6, starting at 7pm in aid of Bright Hope. Seasonal refreshments will be served afterwards Parking is available in Lion Court car park. For more details: 07964 263432
IT
It’s goodbye as town’s glass act Gill retires
by Lucy Stephens
WAS an emotional day at Melbourne’s Lomas Opticians when customers went to wish long-standing team-member Gill Weatherall a happy retirement.
Gill, 66, has decided to retire as a dispensing optician after nearly 30 years at Lomas’ and a career of 46 years
But the parting was bittersweet with many hugs and tears as customers said goodbye to an optician who has fitted many local people with glasses over the years
Customers visited the shop to say goodbye after the business took an advert in the Village Voice thanking Gill for her long service and inviting people to an open morning to wish her a happy retirement
The advert said: “Gill has looked after the eyecare and eyewear needs for so many of you in our community for almost 30 years, with dedication, professionalism, kindness, humour, and when needed, compassion
“She has watched many of your families grow, celebrated and commiserated with you, but mostly, she has been a shining star in our practice and an absolute credit to her profession We will miss her!”
Gill joined the opticians 27 years ago when it was owned by Mark and Julie
Lomas – initially to help out for six Thursday mornings!
After leaving school in 1977 she joined the eye profession having spotted an advert for a dispensing optician
Her first job was with Dolland & Aitchison where she learned her trade
on the job and through a correspondence course
“The job has changed dramatically from when I first started,” she said “Then everybody was entitled to NHS spectacles, which had heavy glass lenses ”
Perhaps the biggest revolution in eye care since the 1970s is the treatment of cataracts, which previously had to be much more advanced before they could be removed, meaning any glasses fitted afterwards contained a small pebble-like area in the middle of the lens
These days, however, cataract operations have improved so much that some people do not even require glasses at all afterwards
Huge strides have also been made in the creation of varifocal lenses, which have made life much easier for many people
But other aspects of the job have not changed – Gill has always enjoyed the fundamental task of helping people to see
“I try to get people something that they are happy with, something they can see out of!” she said
The decision to retire was not easy, but Gill said she was finding the journey from her home in Nottingham to be getting harder Incidences of flooding, which have increased in recent years, have sometimes made it harder still
Despite being sad to leave Melbourne, Gill is looking forward to spending her retirement with husband Barrie, and she expects that the imminent arrival of the couple’s next Guide Dog puppies, ready for training, will be keeping them busy!
CRIMINALS are attempting to steal personal information using a fake 'annual living allowance' text message and website, police have warned
The scam text mentions an ‘annual allowance’, which is NOT an official government scheme, and claims that your 2023-2024 allowance hasn't been received and that you have a short window of ‘three working days’ to submit your application ‘as soon as possible’
The link (url) within the message takes you to a copycat government website using convincing gov uk logo, formatting, and even includes genuine working links to the official gov uk website
If you proceed, it instructs you to enter your details to receive a ‘£900 Cost of Living payment’ It also requests your debit or credit card details to make your payment
You can report suspicious text messages by forwarding these, free of charge to 7726 This helps gets the fake pages taken down
If you think you may have fallen victim to this scam, please contact your card provider as
l Gill on her last day as a dispensing optician
Local villagers respond to Poppy Appeal REMEMBE
THE Poppy Appeal has seen many local landmarks turned into a tide of red – while generous residents have been digging deep into their pockets too
In Melbourne, Sainsbury’s shoppers have been thanked for helping launch this year ’s Poppy Appeal in the village, raising £2,000 in its first week.
Simon Gotheridge, pictured taking part in this year ’s Poppy Appeal in Melbourne, said: “It’s something that’s really well supported in this village by everybody.”
Over in Ticknall, members of the Women’s Institute have created a poppy installation within St George’s Church
Using the ancient remains of St Thomas Becket Church, the Ticknall22 Women’s Institute and friends (pictured above far right) put up their poppies for Remembrance
Sunday
Ticknall22 Women's Institute has also once again decorated the village’s taps with poppies, in particular to mark 80 years after the D-Day landings.
Their decoration followed last year ’s display on Ticknall’s taps, which saw the Women’s Institute create eye-catching ‘toppers’ illustrating the problem of water pollution
Meanwhile, residents of Thulston, Elvaston and Ambaston have been very busy hand knitting and crocheting 1,500 poppies to create two cascading displays in the village, one of which can be seen in the middle picture above
The Elvaston lengthsman had the idea to ask residents to create the display, and the idea was enthusiastically taken up by many people.
APPEALING (l-r) Kevin Iliffe, Simon Gotheridge, Brenda Sharratt and Richard Whiting, selling poppies in Sainsbury’s, Melbourne.
ERING THE FALLEN
WDS joined together on Rebrance Sunday in local vilin the traditional solemn ion bearing tribute to those have served and died for our ry on active service.
Melbourne, the streets were with people wearing poppies atching the procession led by urne Town Band resentatives from local Guides
Scouting groups, Melbourne h Council, local cadets and the rvice joined the procession, acnied by a huge crowd who red at the war memorial ple listened and watched in sias Karen Worrall movingly
played The Last Post and Reveille, before the wreath-laying ceremony took place
Benefiting from Order of Service sheets that had been distributed to those present, everyone joined in with singing ‘O God Our Help in Ages Past’, before prayers and The National Anthem closed proceedings Meanwhile, over in Aston-onTrent, members of the Royal British Legion have acquired a new Remembrance Bench, which has been placed outside Aston Memorial Hall
The bench was made by Exhaust Products and the base supplied and installed by Steve O’Connor, of Aston
ve Aynsley, Jane Archer, Katie Archer, Barbara James, Devin ll, Andrew Vintner, David Smith, Russell Payne, Bob Read, Ken son with the new Aston Memorial Bench
Barbara Bagley, Kat Christou,
Davies, Stevie Davies, Alison Evans, Helen Hallows, Steph Jansen, Gabi Komar-Dixon, Elaine Lim-Newton, Lucy Ormsby, Anna Roebuck, Pam Smart, Kay Taylor, Connie Wan-Docksey, Mark Langley, Steve McLoughlin, Peter Watson and Christina Williams.
Levelling the landscape
John Blunt, of Staunton Harold, reminisces about how some things come full circle.
AT THE end of the Second World War England found itself awash with redundant military equipment, mostly American.
Many enterprising individuals set about finding civilian uses for much of it; my brother-in-law bought a trailer for his farm from Joe Bamford, who later went on to found the JCB company
One item which found a ready market was the bulldozer, which hadn’t been heard of before the war With one of these you could do in a day what would take a team of men with shovels weeks to achieve
The need to grow our own food was still acute, and a government department, known colloquially as the War Ag, gave grants to farmers who wanted to clear land to make it suitable for ploughing and growing crops
One early user was Billy Dowell, who had a small farm above Calke Mill. I remember him proudly showing my father and me a piece of land above his house, which he had cleared of bushes and small trees. The land at Staunton Harold which we owned was mostly level ground, but there was one field which had been used for mining surface coal, all humps and hollows, bushes and rough grass We applied to the War Ag, the scheme was approved, and within days we had a level field
A popular model, the ‘Caterpillar D8’, became the farmer ’s best friend. That was then, and who but an old-timer like me would remember it Hedges were ripped out to plant more crops, and those who appealed for restraint were dismissed as sandal-wearing nutters Change came slowly; I was a lone voice when I started planting trees in field corners in the late 70s
Now we’ve gone full circle; farmers are being encouraged to retain such humps and bumps as remain, and to recreate those diverse habitats which were scorned in the post-war years
The programme for Santa and his helpers to visit Melbourne and district households is as follows:
Friday 6th Dec, starting at 6.00pm Melbourne Late Night ShoppingCome and meet Santa and post your letter.
Sunday 8th Dec, starting at 5.00pm
The Woodlands, Nettlefold Crescent, Smith Ave, Paget Rd, Main Street - Kings Newton, Station Road, Sweet Leys Way Estate, Freeman Drive, Huntingdon Ct, Sta ord Cl.
Monday 9th Dec, starting at 6.00pm Derby Rd, Blanch Croft, George St, Dunnicli e Lane, Moira St, Selina St, Washington Close, Quick Close, South St, Alma St, North St, Victoria St.
DAVID DONNACHIE 1951-2024
DAVID’S funeral took place at Trent Valley Crematorium conducted by Celebrant Susan French
He was the son of John and Vera Donnachie and brother to Jean, who lived in Blanch Croft, then Ward’s Lane in Stanton by Bridge and later, Station Road, Melbourne He attended Melbourne Primary and Junior schools and, having passed the 11-plus exam, went to Derby Grammar School for Boys, where maths was his forte David, who was known to his friends as Don, decided on a career in hairdressing, starting with an apprenticeship at The Golden Curl in Shelton Lock, then working in Derby at Midland Drapery and Kevin Morris on Babington Lane before going
ANGELA ROSEMARY LAMB (nee Smith)
October 31, 1935 –September 30, 2024
ANGELA was born in 1935 in Quick Close, Melbourne, a first daughter to Harold and Mary Smith After school at Swannington and Ashby Girls Grammar, she started work as a clerk at the head office of the Coal Board at Coleorton Hall
She met her husband, Tony, when they were quite young at the Packhorse Inn in Kings Newton where her father would regularly play the piano on a Saturday night But it was not until they met at the Young Farmers’ dances at the Public Hall that they became a couple and then married in 1958 They were happily married for 63 years
Dancing and socialising were something they both loved, a joy that united her love of fashion and his of music They were quite the couple, stylish and elegant
OBITUARIES
to Stanley Dennis, who had several salons in Nottingham
In the early 1970s he opened a salon with Simon Urmston in Allestree By 1971, David had fallen in love with Beverley Cudworth, who worked at the Keith Hall hairdressing salon in Derby, and they married shortly after their meeting Together they opened Greens on Green Lane, Derby and later a second salon in Littleover Their son, Thomas, was born in 1983 and daughter Briony followed in 1986 By this time they were living in Chellaston
In 2016 he was delighted to become a grandfather to George, son of Thomas and wife Claire
With a small bevy of beautiful, more practical helpers, David has lived alone in Melbourne in recent years, becoming an acc o m p l i s h e d cook, enjoying all sports – particularly cricket – and was a staunch supporter of all British athletes Like his father and grandfather, he particularly loved horse racing
For his 60th birthday he travelled with friends for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris
They started married life at Stanton Barns farm in Stanton by Bridge and in 1964 had the opportunity to take up a council small holding on Melbourne Common It was very rundown when they took on the tenancy but, by working hard as a team, they turned it into a successful dairy business which they owned for over 22 years
She would also work in the October half-term for local farmers, potato picking It was back breaking work, but she always managed to look glamorous even in a potato field
for many years at Melbourne News in the Market Place She really enjoyed being in the centre of Melbourne and meeting lots of people
She also turned her love of fashion into a paid role within the Alexon ladies-wear concession at Brindley’s department store in Derby It was a job she loved, helping customers find that special outfit Angela worked
Tuesday 10th Dec, start at 6.00pm Commerce St, Hope St & Ticknall Village.
Friday 13th Dec, starting at 6.00pm From the old Melbourne Arms, Ashby Road, Penn Lane, Peniston Rise, Salsbury Lane, up Church St, turn and down Church Street, Castle Mills, Castle St, Jubilee Close, The Lilypool, The Crescent, Chapel St, Potter St.
Sunday 15th Dec, starting at 5.00pm Packhorse Rd, Oaklands Way, Queensway, Derby Road, Windsor Ave, Melton Ave, Spinney Hill and side roads.
Once Tony retired from farming, they made every effort to see the world They travelled to America on many occasions, and also enjoyed cruises in the M e d i t e r r a n e a n , trips to the Canaries and holidays in Italy The Amalfi Coast and Portofino were particularly special Angela enjoyed fashion, music and reading and walking She was an avid follower of tennis and loved poetry and a fond memory at this time of year is how she would often recite Keats’ Ode to Autumn
Over many years Angela enjoyed the fellowship and special
He also enjoyed quizzes and had multiple electronic Scrabble games on the go at one time Until recent years, he played a good game of table tennis and snooker David had a stent fitted after a heart attack in August but seemed to have recovered
His flat was struck by lightning on September 21, including the removal of his TV and modem, which presented difficulties for him, but his death was totally unexpected on October 17 David – or Don, to most – was well loved by his family and many friends He provided kindness, fun, laughter and happiness and he will be greatly missed He leaves his son Tom, daughter-in-law Claire, grandson George, daughter Briony and her partner John, and sister Jean (Grimley)
friendships at the United Reformed Church with both the Ladies Own and Bright Hour groups Her reports on Bright Hour activities were often found in the Church newsletter
She was always willing to help in any role and was a valued member of the Friday lunches team, affectionately known as one of the cabbage ladies She loved going on the outings and had many happy times
Throughout her life she enjoyed being involved with her family and friends and most of all loved being part of her children and grandchildren’s lives She is survived by children Jennifer and David, grandchildren Alex, Robert, Fergus and Frankie and great-grandson Freddie
A service to celebrate Angela’s life was led by Revd Julie-Ann Heath at the United Reformed Church attended by many friends and relatives who will miss her friendship and her lively personality
T he Common Touch...
OCTOBER is a month when the hue of Whistlewood turns from the green of summer trees to beautiful autumn shades of yellow, orange and red
Ten years ago, this colour shift would have been absent; back then our field had just been planted with some very small trees It was only one year on from being a complete monoculture of grass
One of the important principles in permaculture design is the valuing of diversity and the benefits are multi layered
For Whistlewood the amazing variety of plants and trees there now, creates a habitat and food source for thousands of creatures
There are hundreds of food plants which provide diverse nutrition for us humans, too There are many plants and trees that give us all sorts of useful materials as well Trees also give us shelter on site and provide protected areas for food growing
Our wide-ranging diversity gives us a supportive and strong network and the strength provided by these intertwined strands of nature and our human activity create this permaculture space
Usually in autumn we have a celebration of fermented foods; this year we’ve had to change our plans, but we do have a gut health and Kraut making workshop at the beginning of December with local nutritionist and fermenting expert Lucy Kay
Diversity inside our own bodies has become
such a hot topic We now know we have better physical and mental health if we have a diverse range of healthy gut flora, comparable to Whistlewood’s diverse plants and activities on site, which give our project resilience
One example of our site’s healthy food is our apples, which can have up to 100 million microbes on one apple, and are pre- and probiotic, supporting the good bacteria in our guts Advice says to aim for inclusion of at least 30 different types of plant each week in your diet to support your microbiome This could include small amounts of autumn foraged foods – you don’t have to eat massive amounts, as the vitamin and mineral content of these is high compared with some supermarket-bought veg, which has been developed to be bigger but less nutritionally dense
Working out how you can increase diversity in your own meals is surprisingly easy Boost salads with various grains, pulses, seeds, veg and fruit; you can have a side dish which gives you 10 of these plant points
Making homemade Kraut can include various veg, too – not just cabbage – and can be flavoured with various seeds and herbs It becomes a diverse mix of veg and beneficial bacteria, making sure your microbiome is having a brilliant diverse ‘party’
This autumn and winter look after your own body’s internal diversity and it will look after you – KATHERINE PARRISH
Jazz night hits all the right notes for church
THE Ben Crosland Quintet returned to a dramatically lit Melbourne Parish Church to give the packed audience a superb evening of quality jazz and raise funds in the process
Playing tracks from his album ‘Solway Stories’, Ben was joined by the stellar line-up of Steve Waterman on trumpet and flugelhorn and Steve Lodder on piano and keyboards, together with Chris Allard on guitar and Nic France on drums
The music was inspired by Ben’s 1988 visit to the beautiful area of South West Scotland, bordering the Solway Firth, and the evening featured a range of jazz styles from swing and blues through rock to funk
All proceeds from the concert went to The Friends of Melbourne Parish Church, a charity dedicated to caring for the nearly 900-year-old Norman building
Meanwhile, The Friends of Melbourne Parish Church held their AGM in the church and heard from chairman Gordon Hughes that, while finances and membership numbers remained in good health, more needed to be done to fulfil their ambitions
There are currently 233 members of the Friends, slightly under pre-Covid levels but
steadily rising Revenue from both businesses and corporate members had fallen, however, prompting a request to encourage new businesses to join the list of supporters
While there were no new live projects, there were a few ideas which would need funding High on the agenda was a need to improve heating in the building, which was impacting on their ability to host events
Gordon said that there had been a number of excellent events, notably the Jazz and the Oppenheimer concerts
Jim Hewlett asked if the Friends could financially support some of the 900-year celebrations Subject to additional clarity on the events being planned, Gordon said this would be considered favourably
The Friends, a registered charity formed in 2004, have four broad aims: to preserve the historic church, to enhance and develop its facilities, to encourage connections to the wider community, and to raise the profile of the church more widely
Details of the charity are set out on the website
(www friends-of-melbourne-parish-church co uk) for anyone, individual or business, who would like to join or support – FRANK HUGHES
Loads more laughs on the way
MELBOURNE Festival Funhouse Comedy Club
brings another night full of laughter Melbourne Sporting Partnership on Friday, November 22
Topping the bill is comedian, writer, radio broadcaster and TV presenter Nick Page, a semifinalist on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and winner of English Comedian of the Year 2017 The seemingly indestructible, larger than life, award winning English comic, whose life is a series of disasters somehow turning into unlikely triumphs No gimmicks, no PowerPoint, no props and no flipcharts Just stories and belly laughs, he is a master of his art
Opening the night will be the very lively and genial Gerry K, a 2023 finalist in the prestigious British Comedian of the Year competition Having performed stand-up all over the world he still found time to fit in some TV appearances You
Mastering Melbourne
HAVING spent the few days based in the chic hotel, Harpur ’s of Melbourne, so we could house hunt the surrounding areas, we concluded: “Why are we looking anywhere else?”
My other half, ‘TAS’ (explanation later) and I lay in bed listening to the occasional plane overhead and decided we’d look no further As for the planes? We’d get used to them And we have I also enjoy thinking about the people inside: where are they off to and what have they left behind?
The astute among you will have seen the spoiler We have now moved into Melbourne My phone is filling up with photos of planes and more importantly, we have been welcomed with open arms, a welcome breakfast left on the doorstep and the odd bottle – which we can’t wait to share with our neighbours once these boxes are unpacked Disclaimer – the breakfast goodies are long gone
by Naomi Duffree
It was just as well we drove up the M1 and didn’t arrive by plane otherwise we would have been paying a surcharge on the baggage What had we left behind when we made the journey north from Kent? Judging by the size of the removal van and the contents of the car, absolutely nothing
However, possessions are one thing A fulfilling job, great friends and colleagues, and a much-loved house with caring neighbours are another But sometimes it is time to downsize, see new places and be nearer family and friends from bygone days This year the Christmas card won’t say “We must meet up this year” it will say “It was great seeing you”
We are also looking forward to some local sports Football in Melbourne, with the Dynamos seems a joy to watch compared with the likes of my childhood team, Watford, and that of The Arsenal Supporter ’s (TAS) I am still a season ticket holder at Watford (WFC) and did manage to see us beat Derby (sorry!) before we moved I will be seeing them again in January away at Derby where, if the usual happens to WFC after the Christmas break, Derby fans will be laughing
I can’t say the same for TAS and his team because, let’s face it, he’s an Arsenal fan and when
may recognise his face from TV’s ‘The Bill’ and ‘FHM Comedy Heroes ’ His humorous stories and factual tales are told with a ‘twinkle in the eyes’ and leave his audiences crying with laughter
Completing the line-up is Pete Teckman, who was crowned Silver Stand Up of the Year 2017 at Leicester Comedy Festival – an award for comedians over 40 years of age – with his mix of selfdeprecating and observational humour He personifies the taking of difficult, painful situations in life and turning them into great comedy
Compere will be James Cook with his sharp tongue and dry sense of humour He previously worked as a presenter on commercial radio stations, went on air with A-ha and presented Lenny Henry with his ‘Walk of Fame’
All proceeds from the night go to supporting Melbourne Festival
do they ever stop moaning about their team – even if they win? We will not be moaning about being able to walk to see our local team though
But first a trip to the tip to recycle more boxes and finish the declutter we started four months ago Down south we had to book in advance, fill out all our credentials, including (it felt like) knicker size, plus, they were never open after 4pm The one at Swadlincote appears more user friendly I had already earmarked and since delivered two boxes to Irita Marriott’s auction house and dropped off some pieces at the Air Ambulance charity shop
Even amenities that aren’t walking distance are just a short drive away An open water lake not 20 minutes away was a godsend Spring Lakes Water Park, Long Eaton was the perfect place to trial my wetsuit for a swim challenge in The Serpentine the following weekend It was raining and cold, but I needed a practice before the two-mile challenge I deserved a medal for just getting the wetsuit on The move had eaten into my training plans and time was running out My younger daughter, who is also taking on the challenge, accompanied me She lives in the neighbouring county and is loving the new home I think it is the thought of TAS being her personal handyman (Back off madam, we have some jobs here first)
Even the elder one appeared and fell in love with the place She helped organise the kitchen cupboards and other places, which means I have more time to put pen to paper If you are looking to blame anyone for the five minutes this has taken to read, she is your woman Moving isn’t new to us, but I’m really hoping that this will be the last time Melbourne appears to be the place that never stops giving –be it friendly people, local shops, activities, greenery, eateries and watering holes And a wonderful Post Office, which couldn’t sell anymore if it tried We feel lucky and humbled to be here and are looking forward to mastering Melbourne among the people who make up the community
THE good folk of Stanton-by-Bridge have been up to their dastardly deeds again!
This year ’s village murder mystery evening was themed around Cluedo, with villagers enjoying a three-course meal in between the acts as they tried to work out just who had the motive to finish off the unfortunate Mr Boddy!
Pictured are: Miss Peacock (Anne-Marie Lawrence), Rev Green (Leo Durston-Smith), Mrs White (Sandra Quinsee), Professor Plumb (Keith Burgess), Miss Scarlett (Nicola Wright), Colonel Mustard (Simon Durston-Smith) and Inspector Knowall (Angela Marsden) who, with the help of the villagers, got her man!
The village hall group reports: “Great fun was had by all and we raised much-needed funds to keep the doors of the village hall open for all ”
The group
Trevor Langley
gives us a taste of what ’s on offer in our local restaurants
THE market town of Loughborough, in the Charnwood Borough of Leicestershire, paved the way for successful companies to emerge in the 20th century University and college education facilities are renowned (globally) Arts, museums and sports are some further attributes to Loughborough as are the restaurants and eateries
It was here that I located the award-winning Tarboush restaurant (opened 2010), which offers authentic, classic Middle Eastern cuisine to an excellent standard The drinks menu has quality beverages for everyone
To commence I opted for Grilled Halloumi Cheese This flavoursome dish confirmed my faith for the following courses
Main course choices drew me towards BBQ Mix Grill (marinated lamb cubes, lamb kebab, chicken cubes and chicken wings, grilled on wood lump charcoal and served with chef ’s special garlic sauce) This regularly chosen dish had superb, complementing flavours of ingredients, was impressively cooked and very well presented (selected side of Moroccan Couscous)
Head Chef Wafaa and the team have the experiences and knowledge to create perfection Other regularly chosen dishes include a good number of fish, meats and other options
Desserts offer several Middle Eastern delectations I chose Mediterranean Sweet Selection, which includes delicious Baklava This (to me) was exactly right for that ‘towards the end-
ing of a great meal’ selection An extensive range of fruit flavoured Shisha Pipes is available and very popular too Parties/occasions occur regularly Collections, outside catering and deliveries are available as well The entertainment/live music times are extremely popular and often booked well ahead Advanced booking for this restaurant is very much advised, particularly for popular dates and times Gift vouchers are available – perhaps a surprise for someone special?
Thank you to Jamal for the genuine welcome, plus Lou and Rahaf for exemplary service throughout Highly recommended
Tarboush Restaurant, 12a Market Street, Loughborough. Tel: 01509 264470. E-mail: info@tarboushcafe.com Web: www.tarboushcafe.com
DOWN ON THE FARM
With Ben Stanley
Time to mull over what life should be about
‘YOUR daily screen time this week is two hours and 24 minutes, up 25% on last week ’
OMG how is this even possible? How have I spent so much time staring at my phone? I’m a middle aged farmer with fat fingers that gets annoyed about writing emails and text messages on something so small, I’m not on social media because I’m scared to death of it and I only have two apps (the only two a farmer needs: the weather and the bank apps), so how on earth have I managed to spend so much time staring down at it?
Two reasons: Firstly, it was the week before half-term and we are just about to go on our annual family holiday to exotic Mull off the west coast of Scotland
So every five minutes I have been checking various weather apps to track Storm Ashley, which looks like it will pass through the front door of our holiday cottage just after we arrive, and then for the rest of the week seeing if any of the various weather apps don’t show rain every day at 100%
If it does rain every day that leaves the horrifying prospect of playing board games all day with my family; Tori cheats, Bertie is a terrible loser, and Iona just stares out of the window and talks about horses
The other reason being as it has remained too wet here to ‘get on’ and sow any wheat yet, my phone has sucked me in, busy googling all the
places we should have gone on holiday, somewhere warm, somewhere with a pool, somewhere where I don’t need to wear my wellies and Barbour on holiday
But then I read on my phone about ‘over tourism’ and how local people in the Canary Islands are protesting against a saturation of holidaymakers, and the thought of that and the negative impact of over tourism fills me full of dread, and I remember why we go away to Scotland Not just for the rugged beauty but to get away from everything – people, traffic, the overcrowding of modern life, the noise of night time aircraft, to be with my family, reset the clock and have a bit of an adventure, with the added bonus of having no phone signal!
Our Mull holiday has become a bit of a pilgrimage; we love everything about the area we go to because it feels so beautifully remote, like being on the edge of the world and, joking aside, the weather has its part to play There is no point at all looking at the weather forecast because being on the west coast you get something out of every day: the weather blows in as dramatically as it blows out
The wealth of the natural world up there is breathtaking and the four of us indulge ourselves in it From sea otters, Golden Eagles, seals, roaring red stags to the curlews foraging in the bay We can walk amongst it absorbed for hours and not see a soul
But driving to Mull it amazed us how many
n THE trustees and partners of the Thomas Cook Almshouses travelled to the 2024 Annual General Meeting at Sennowe Park in Norfolk, the home of trustee Charles TempleRichards, a direct descendent of Thomas Cook Cook’s grandson, Bert, bought and extensively rebuilt the house in the early 20th century, having sold his share of the travel business.
Chairman of the Trust, Nigel Collyer, said: “It's really important that the trust celebrates and respects the legacy that Thomas Cook gave to Melbourne, and this visit to Sennowe demonstrates that the connection to the Cook family remains strong ”
COMMUNITY Care in
Manager Claire Barker
Claire has also planned
Community
people view their holiday moment through the screen of their phone As we parked up for a sandwich in beautiful Glencoe, we were staggered by how many people clambered out of coaches and cars took their selfie in front of some big Scottish mountain and then, having ticked the ‘I’ve just visited Scotland box’ and presumably then having posted the picture on Instagram, clambered straight back into their vehicle
Is this what we have been reduced to by our phones? Is it any wonder that people from Vienna to Madrid and countless other wonderful places are fed up: we turn up, take a selfie and disappear again, having taken no interest to engage with what’s going on with local people and their culture
For us it’s the people that draw us back to Mull and the friendships we have made – and that makes our holiday infinitely richer every year Having first mustered up the courage to knock on the door of the local farmer a few years ago, whilst desperately trying not to sound too English, to buy some local Hebridean lamb, it led us to getting to know farmers Helen and Josh and their family This relationship has enabled us to appreciate what it is to farm in that environment, the challenges and the gifts of living in a small island community and the things to go and see that you wouldn’t normally find on the side of the road through your phone screen Josh especially has become a huge hero to
Bertie, who ran as fast as his little legs could carry him from our cottage straight down to the farm the minute we arrived to go and help him work with the little, black, tough Hebridean sheep, Josh’s dogs loyally shadowing their every move
This relationship has meant Bertie has even set up his own little flock of Hebridean sheep off the back of it here (yes the ones that keep escaping to Breedon) and even more remarkably Josh has purchased a Longhorn bull (like we keep) – an unusual site in Scotland – to put to his hardy cattle to help improve their beef quality on Bertie’s recommendation
The week passed so quickly and was filled not only with family time but also plenty of time spent out working in the fields with our friends learning more about island farming A beautiful and simple type of farming, working with what the hill provides rather than forcing and fighting against nature like I feel we do sometimes down south
A change is as good as a rest and we all returned home transformed, but we had been transformed by the renewal of those friendships To understand somewhere you must try to understand and embrace the people that belong to its landscape You can’t do that from behind a phone On the very wet and windy drive home, whilst waiting for the ferry, I switched my phone back on PING: ‘Your daily screen time is 35 minutes’, down 75% What a fantastic feeling
What’s On
Thursday 14 November:
Melbourne Photographic Society
Wildlife Adventures Around Ashby by Martin Vaughan. Martin’s wildlife talk features images taken within 5-6 miles of his home and illustrates the problems he faced and how he overcame them. How to use a tripod up a tree, what to do when a swan charges and how a buzzard knows when he’s in a hide - these and other stories will be revealed. Digital presentation. 7pm Wesley Hall. Members £2; Visitors £3. All welcome.
Saturday 16 November: Coffee Morning
United Reformed Church Hall, High Street. 10am - noon.
Saturday 16 November: Ripped Paper Collage Workshop
With Danielle Vaughan.
A relaxing and memorable collage workshop, repurposing paper into art. Take home a finished piece to frame. Suitable for beginners and those with some experience. All materials included and refreshments provided. £70 per person.
Creative Melbourne Gallery, Church Street, 10am - 4pm
Saturday 16 November: Twelve Melbourne Houses
Melbourne Historical Research Group Autumn Talk and Slideshow. Much of the history of the parish of Melbourne can be told by the story of individual houses and their occupants. Philip Heath, Chairman of the group, selects twelve of the most interesting ones, to prove the point.
Melbourne Assembly Rooms, Main Hall - 7.30pm. Admission: £4 (accompanied under 16s free). Refreshments available.
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Wednesday 20 November - Christmas: Creative Melbourne Gallery Exhibition JOY!
Exhibition featuring artists: Barbara Bagley, Kat Christou, Roger Davies, Stevie Davies, Alison Evans, Helen Hallows, Steph Jansen, Gabi Komar-Dixon, Elaine Lim-Newton, Lucy Ormsby, Anna Roebuck, Pam Smart, Kay Taylor, Connie Wan-Docksey, Mark Langley, Steve McLoughlin, Peter Watson and Christina Williams. Everything for sale! See ad on P11.
Wellington House, Church Street, Melbourne. Wed to Sat 10 - 4pm
Saturday 23 November: Coffee Morning
Catholic Church, St Mary's Hall, Church Street. 10am - noon.
Wednesday 27 November: Charity Quiz Night for me&dee, Melbourne Sporting Partnership. Teams of four. £10 per person. Doors open: 6.45pm. Quiz starts: 7.30pm. Hot bowl food included in ticket price. Raffle ticket available to purchase on night. Must be prebooked via the me&dee website.
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Friday 29 November:
Christmas in the Courtyard
Melbourne Hall 4pm - 8pm. See ad on P8. Independent shops, Santa in the Tea Rooms, mulled wine & cider.
Saturday 30 November:
Christmas Fayre
Melbourne Parish Church, 10.30 am -2.30 pm. Santa’s Grotto, Pop Up Cafe, book, gift and cakes stalls, tombola, raffle, wheel of fortune, music and much more. Free entry. Everyone welcome.
Sunday 1 December: Gut Health and Seasonal Kraut Making Workshop
With Nutritionist - Lucy Kay of the Mindbodytree 1pm - 4 pm - £40 including materials and snacks. Learn about the emerging science of gut health, the microbiome and fermented foods whilst making a healthy seasonal preparation. www.whistlewoodcommon.org/shop
Tuesday 3 December:
Melbourne Community Care
Coffee & Company
Melbourne Assembly Rooms, 2 - 4pm
Meet friends...bring friends...make friends.
Thursday 5 December:
Creative Melbourne Contemporary Wreaths and Festive Decorations Workshop
Creative Melbourne Gallery - 6.00pm - 8.00pm
Suitable for beginners. All materials included. £40pp Bring the outdoors indoors this Autumn with decorations made from foraged materials. To book drop into the Gallery between 10am-4pm Wednesday to Saturday or call 07765 819428.
Email: gallery@melbournefestival.co.uk
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Friday 6 December:
Melbourne Parish Council
Christmas Evening Market
Melbourne - Lights turn on at 6pm. See ad on P5. ————————————————————————————
Friday 6 December:
Christmas Shopping & Open Studios
at Creative Melbourne Gallery
Featuring Patrick Twiss Prentice, Sujata Aten and our JOY! exhibition artists. Buy unique gifts created by local artists & makers this Christmas.
Creative Melbourne Gallery, Church Street, 6 - 8pm ————————————————————————————
Friday 6 December: Carol Service
The beautiful Staunton Harold Church will be candlelit for a Carol Service in aid of Bright Hope. Seasonal refreshments will be served afterwards. 7pm. Parking in Lion Court car park. Everyone welcome, wrap up warm. Enquiries: 07964 263432. ————————————————————————————
Saturday 7 December: Christmas Wreathmaking Workshop
2 afternoon sessions - £25 including a pre-made willow wreath base, lots of locally sourced natural materials and a glass of mulled wine!
To book a place: www.whistlewoodcommon.org/shop
Saturday 7 December:
Coffee Morning
Methodist Church Wesley Hall, Potter Street. 10am - noon
Saturday 14 December: Coffee Morning
Baptist Church Schoolroom, Chapel Street. 10am - noon.
Saturday 14 December: Melbourne Town Band Christmas Concert
Featuring Melbourne Town Band, Concert Band, Training Band and Drum Corps. Melbourne Parish Church 7pm.
Tickets £7 inc light refreshments from Sue on 07801 709501 Children under 5 free.
We always try to include events, but due to limitations of space, we cannot guarantee this without also booking an advertisement.
IMPORTANT NOTICE UNSAFE MEMORIALS
It is with regret that, following a memorial safety inspection, several memorials have been found to be unsafe. Please do not touch or interfere with these memorials. The memorials must only be repaired by an approved mason.
Attempts are being made by the Parish Council to contact the owners of the graves.
If you are the owner of a memorial which is affected or have any questions or concerns, please contact the Clerk to the Parish Council, Vicky Roe:
E: clerk@melbourneparishcouncil.gov.uk
T: 07734 939292
Details of the Parish Council’s Memorial Testing Policy can be found on our website at: melbourneparishcouncil.gov.uk/policies-and-procedures
DATED: 1ST NOVEMBER 2024
Members of the Parish Council
Chair: Joe Ward 07585 537280
Vice Chair: Andy Dawson 07811 586049
Facilities & Events: Andy Dawson 07811 586049
Highways & Environment: Mick Usher
Planning: David Smith 01332 862699
Finance, HR, Risk & Strategy: Joe Ward 07585 537280
Kate Beckett
David Calvert
Jane Carroll 01332 863269
Nigel Collyer 07831 540538
George Dunnicli 07780 806267
Matt Gotheridge
Kevin Guilford
Sarah Hardy 07855 645163
Sheila Hicklin 01332 865726
Terry Summerlin 07528 884778
Angela Tillyard
Clerk: Vicky Roe 07734 939292
clerk@melbourneparishcouncil.gov.uk
Useful Numbers...
Aircraft Noise & Complaints 0845 1088540
Clean Team ( y tipping) 0800 5872349
Street Lighting Faults 0845 6058058
Potholes 0845 6058058
www.melbourneparishcouncil.gov.uk
Rugby club’s beer festival ‘the best yet’
by Frank Hughes
THE 2024 Melbourne Beer Festival was a huge success again with a packed programme of rugby, a great line-up of entertainment and record-breaking attendances both on Friday evening and all day Saturday.
With the giant marquee pitched adjacent to the playing field, attendees were able to enjoy the rugby action while sampling one of the immense range of different ales, ciders, and drinks On the field the club celebrated a weekend of victories, with the Vets, Academy, 2nd XV, and 1st XV all winning in front of hundreds of home fans
As the day wore on the entertainment line-up including A Choir ’d Taste, Stargazy, the massively popular James Angelides, and PSL Entertainment, kept the crowd on their feet and dancing through the chilly evening, breaking out only to replenish glasses or take on food
Several successful changes for this year included having
Melbourne Parish Council
Chair’s Report - November 2024
Seasons Greetings!
I would like to start by welcoming our two newest councillors, Kate Beckett and Kevin Guilford, who were co-opted onto the council in October. They are a great addition to the Parish Council, and I’m sure they are looking forward to providing for the community. They were selected from a number of applicants, and I would like to thank all those who put their name forward. It is great to see people in the area wanting to be actively involved.
The Parish Council have continued to be busy pushing forward with projects. One of these projects came to fruition in time for Melbourne Festival - the new Town Map. This was a project undertaken with the Civic Society to celebrate their 50th anniversary, and we were very happy to help in marking this special occasion. These maps will be a useful source of information for residents and visitors alike. The Lothian Gardens are currently having a makeover as well, with the MUGA having a full tidy up and much needed work on trees and hedges being completed.
As you may have read in last month's Village Voice, memorial testing has been carried out at the Packhorse Road cemetery. The Parish Council is aware of how sensitive this can be, and I would urge residents to check whether a family member's memorial has been identi ed following the testing. If a memorial you visit has been marked, please get in touch with our Clerk for more information and steps forward. If we have not received contact for memorials by January, the Parish Council will begin making the memorials safe.
There has been increased vandalism and dog fouling in the area recently, and we take these matters very seriously. SDDC have ned three people £100 each for dog fouling with assistance from us - pick up or pay up is how we will continue to operate. The vandalism at Lothian Gardens has been passed to the Police with CCTV provided and persons identi ed. We will take a zero tolerance stance to these actions, and will always push for justice to be served.
We’re coming up to the festive season once again. The nights are closing in, and it’s the time we come together with friends and family to bring light and joy into these darker evenings. The Christmas Market will provide extra light and festivities on 6th December, and we have a host of stalls and entertainment for residents to enjoy. We’ve provided free face painting and balloons for the children too! A huge thank you to Sue Statham for her hard work in organising this, EMA and Jeani Accessories Ltd for their donations towards the event, and all those involved in continuing to make it a great annual event to add to the calendar.
I wish you all a wonderful festive season, however you choose to celebrate, and a very Happy New Year!
Joe Ward
Chair, Melbourne Parish Council
the Minis and Junior sections, adding to the family-friendly vibe; a VIP area for those taking a break from the exertions on a dance floor; and an alfresco dining area to sit quietly and enjoy Tori and Ben’s food offer
Another very nice touch was the naming of one of the beers Crawford’s Best (pictured), in honour of Crawford Fisher, who passed away earlier in the year and would have been in the thoughts of many present
One of the team of organisers, Jules Raine, said: “Hosting this event is a pleasure for the club, bringing together the best of Melbourne, including an alllocal entertainment line-up and food by Tori and Ben’s
“It was quite possibly the best weekend in our club’s 42year history and most definitely the best beer festival in its fiveyear history ”
In a long list of credits, Jules passed on thanks to “ all barrel sponsors your investment makes it all possible To Ed Allingham and Leatherbritches Brewery for the outstanding beer and steadfast support; special thanks to Crockers & EM&I for the marquee infrastructure your support for the club, especially during this festival, means the world A huge thank you too to every volunteer who helped from start to
finish you’re the backbone of this event!”
Jules said that planning is already underway for next year, with aspirations to make it even better, potentially including a women’s fixture to showcase and incorporate Melbourne
Ladies, “the newest arm of our wonderful club,” he said
Although the finances from the night are still to be finalised, it is anticipated that it will have exceeded last year ’s takings of £15,000
All profits go straight back into the club, to help improve facilities, training and opportunities
Once again the event passed off without incident, other than one accidental injury following a slip; a complaint on social media about noise in the village, turned out to be another event taking place
As one beaming vice-president remarked “Isn’t this just a fantastic event, all ages and generations out enjoying themselves – what a club!”
Council’s ‘green’ licence plates
SOUTH Derbyshire District Council has announced its latest ‘green’ initiative: environmentally friendly licence plates
The council’s new licence plates are made from recycled plastic and designed to last five years rather than one – as was the case previously
The council says it is not paying more for the new licence plates which use up to 60 per cent less plastic than traditional alternatives
Further adding to their green credentials is the fact the licence plates are recyclable into refusederived fuel for use in heat energy plants
They do not contain any PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
The council said: “These improvements not only contribute to a greener, more sustainable future but also align with the cuncil’s dedication to minimising carbon emissions and waste ”
Strong start to season for rugby club
MELBOURNE Rugby Club kicked off their season with a bang as they started their campaign in Regional 2 of the North Midlands League with a strong home win against Paviors
The match began poignantly with a silence and applause dedicated to the late Crawford Fisher, who gave many years’ service to Melbourne Rugby Club
Paviors from Nottingham had emerged the narrow victors after both encounters with the Green and Golds last season and were formidable opponents for the first game of the new one
With some notable absences in the Melbourne line-up – Lewis Hamilton in particular stood out in the fly half position – it was all the better to see the home side dominating from the
off The game was narrowly fought but Melbourne’s relentlessness won through and the end result of 20-15 paved the way for an excellent start to the season
It has continued to be a success story for Melbourne since that first September game with the only loss at the time of writing to a tough Lichfield, who won the day at 24-19 a week later
Since then Melbourne’s first team has been absolutely flying with five victories on the trot
By the time of their mid-October encounter against Newark, they were third placed in the league This was a tough game for Melbourne against a plucky (and very hospitable) side but the Green and Golds kept it together to achieve an impressive 29-24 winning scoreline
The firsts rose to the occasion before a big crowd at the Melbourne Rugby Club Beer Festival to score a five-try victory over Ilkeston, but the biggest win of the season so far came against West Bridgford on October 26 when Melbourne came back from 22-0 down with a brilliant final scoreline of 40-29
As of early November, they were riding high in second spot in the league with only Lichfield higher placed
The second team has not had quite such a strong start to the season with some back-toback losses early doors, but they got into their stride in October with victories over Ilkeston (a proper trouncing at 60-5), West Bridgford and Southwell, culminating in a fifth placed league spot at the start of November
Two titles for the tennis club teams
MELBOURNE Tennis Club made 2024 another successful season as they completed their last few games across all the teams in the last month
The men’s A team led the way in the Burton leagues as they won eight of their 12 matches in claiming the division three title by five points.
It was double delight for the men as the B team claimed promotion from division four, losing just the once during the season
Unfortunately, the men’s C team ended up being relegated after finishing bottom of their division.
The club’s ladies made a good showing in the Burton leagues.
The B team led the way as they won the division three title by two points to claim promotion to division two There they will join their A team which finished just two points out of the promotion spots in third place, while the ladies C team just failed to stave off relegation in division four.
The Mixed A team finished in fourth place in division two and next season they will be joined by the Mixed B team, who won the division three title by five points, losing just two of their 10 league matches.
In the Derbyshire leagues, the club’s men’s team only lost twice; their five victories left them agonisingly close to promotion from division four in third place The men’s second team also gave a good account of themselves as they finished fourth in division six.
The ladies’ first team were unfortunately relegated from the top division on game difference but there was success for the second team as they were promoted from division three, winning six of their eight games to leave both the club’s Derbyshire ladies teams in the same division next season.
The mixed team in the Derbyshire league finished exactly middle of the table as they won four and lost four of their eight games
MELBOURNE Dynamo FC’s first team began the month of October with a comfortable 4-0 home win against Baobab United in the first round of the Derbyshire Cup
A double from Jack Griffiths led the way along with strikes from Isaac Nkumrah and man of the match Oscar Supple
Dynamo were in more cup action a week later
Travelling to AFC Normanton in a league cup tie Melbourne came out comfortable winners with Archie Moore, Jack Griffiths, Jack Goodband, Tyler Withers and Jake Peverley all getting on the scoresheet
This was quickly followed by a Friday night league match under lights
Making the trip to Mansfield Hosiery Mills a last minute Elliot Dawson earned Adam Dolman’s men a point after a disappointing performance and they ended the month with a short trip to Derby Singh Brothers
Despite leading twice, thanks to firstly Jack Goodband and then Tyler Withers, the first team failed to hang on to their advantage as they eventually fell to a 3-2 defeat, ending the month in sixth place in the table
Melbourne Dynamo Reserves began October with a convincing 5-0 away win at Holbrook St Michael’s Reserves with Sam Bancroft, Vincent Dawson, Brandon O’Reilly, Pav Sahota and Riley Moore all on the scoresheet and they made it four wins on the bounce a week later
Making the long trip to Sleetmoor United a Riley Moore brace saw them come from 1-0 down to climb up to third in the table
But that run came to an abrupt end against top of the table Mickleover Athletic With Dynamos missing numerous chances the visitors were clinical as they came away with a 40 victory and the Reserves, unfortunately, made it two defeats in a row as they travelled to Bargate Rovers Despite goals from the two Joes – Shadbolt and Astle –Melbourne fell to a 5-2 loss leaving them in fourth place going into November