Melbourne Village Voice September 2024

WILL TREES HAVE TO BE AXED FOR SEWERS?

MELBOURNE residents are set to find out more about the town’s multi-million-pound sewer upgrade following considerable concern and confusion over an accompanying threat to a number of trees.

The latest meeting of Melbourne Parish Council heard from representatives of Severn Trent Water along with the town’s Civic Society, who both went along to speak on the subject of proposals lodged with planners

These suggest a number of trees including in The Crescent, Penn Lane and Turnbarrel may be for the axe to facilitate the large-scale works

Mike King, a retired chartered town planner and planning spokesperson for Melbourne Civic Society, explained that many were confused about why there were planning applications relating to trees rather than the sewer works themselves

“The feeling in the village is that this is putting the cart before the horse,” he said

But the meeting heard that no planning permission is needed for the sewer itself

by Lucy Stephens

Additionally confusing is the fact that not all trees affected by the proposals are covered by Tree Protection Orders (TPOs) so do not require planning permission to be felled

The meeting heard from Severn Trent that applications were already being made concerning trees so that when work starts in earnest, contractors are not held up by costly delays

Mr King said some of the trees had been carefully planted by the civic society and that care should be taken in finding suitable alternatives to mitigate their removal

He said: “The trees in The Crescent were planted by the committee A lot of thought went into that, a lot of care went into that ” Ben Jowett, from Severn Trent Water, said the authority would be open to having discussions with local groups regarding where and what to plant to replace any felled trees

He said that the sewer upgrade would “greatly reduce” the flooding threat to around 200 properties that

were currently most at risk in Melbourne

Mr King said: “Nobody is against the proposals of having a sewer – that’s supported I think by everybody It’s just the detail of where it’s going ”

Another representative from Severn Trent Water acknowledged that “it has been fairly quiet” over the last two years since the water authority announced the works, but that the community would now see increased engagement

Asked for further comment by Village Voice after the meeting, a Severn Trent spokesperson said: “We understand the concerns about the potential loss of trees during this vital sewer upgrade scheme But we want to reassure local people that our ecologists are developing plans for the replanting of any lost trees, while ensuring the area is left in a better position for fauna and flora than before the works

“We have been liaising with Derbyshire County Council and the district council over our plans and we will keep locals fully informed with updates, including at a future public drop-in session ”

As we say goodbye to Tony ...

FAMILY, friends, congregation members and the wider community packed into Aston-on-Trent's parish church to say goodbye to highly respected vicar Tony Luke, who has retired after 40 years in ordained ministry.

With a final service full of his favourite hymns, it was a fitting farewell for Tony, who had also been treated to a completely surprise 'This Is Your Life style celebration in Barrow earlier in the summer to mark his retirement

Though he is looking forward to pursuing his other great loves of music and theatre in his retirement, saying farewell to friends built up over 22 years in local villages was always going to be hard

"I call you all my friends, and I shall miss you all," said Tony as he concluded his final service

Born and raised near Chesterfield, Tony did not come from an especially religious family An early experience was joining the local church choir, but the idea of being a vicar was not fully cemented until he reached his A-level years

His father, an engineer, may have drily commented: "You'll not make money in that!" but Tony remained adamant and went on to Cambridge University where he initially read French and German, before switching to Theology He started out working with the homeless and

the young as part of the Church Army, before studying with the World Council of Churches in Geneva, and then becoming ordained in 1984

Over his years as a parish priest Tony has favoured longer stints in the churches where he has served, preferring a gentle approach of building up relationships over time

He started out in St Edmund's in Allestree, moving to Oakham, then returning nearer home with 15 years at Allenton and Shelton Lock parish The move to Aston came in 2002

He may have stayed in the same place for 22 years, but his parish has changed Initially responsible for Aston, Weston, Elvaston and Shardlow, in 2007 his remit expanded to include Swarkestone, Barrow-upon-Trent and Twyford

What have been the challenges over the years?

The highs and lows?

"The challenge has been trying to be visible in those communities where you don't live, which is always hard," said Tony "It's a little easier when you ' re living in a community because you see people in the Post Office and at the school gate

"In communities where you don't live it's much harder In some of those smaller churches, life has been something of a struggle to keep going; there are a few people who keep the show on the road Churches continue in small villages thanks to

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the concerted efforts of a few people who keep things going day in, day out "

One church to have seen dwindling congregations is in neighbouring Weston-on-Trent, and it has now taken the pragmatic step of becoming a festival church: only open for services at Easter and Christmas and other festival times

St Wilfrid's Church in Barrow, too, has changed considerably Having won significant Lottery funding its leaders protected its future by turning it into a community venue which is still open for worship too

Covid, too, brought its challenges and Tony –like other priests – did what he could online so that people could still connect with the church

Interestingly, these peaceful online services were so popular Tony was asked to keep them going after the pandemic had ended!

Life in ministry involves being a sympathetic ear to people at some of the most vulnerable

times in their lives, and for Tony this has been one of the most rewarding aspects of the job

I consider it a great privilege to be able to be with people at really important times in their lives, both the happy times and the sad times," he said

Despite retiring from his parish role, Tony will continue to be a listening ear in another important part of his life: the chaplaincy at Derby County FC, a role he has performed for many years and will still carry on

All that remains for Tony is to thank everyone who attended his final service and helped him end his long years in ministry

"I'd like to say how moved I was by the number of people who came to my final service, he said "Lots of people came from the community as well as from the congregations

“It was very moving to be able to say a proper goodbye to people "

it’s hello to Nikki

MELBOURNE Methodist Church has a new Minister with the arrival of Rev Nikki Geeson

Nikki takes up the post following the departure of previous Minister Sally Ratcliffe, who has moved on to Bristol as part of the Methodist system of appointments

This is Nikki’s first job as a Minister, and she arrives in Melbourne having spent the last three years studying Theology at The Queen’s Foundation in Birmingham along with working on placement in Nottingham

Before that, Nikki was a teaching assistant and has been a preacher for a number of years

Having moved to Melbourne with family – and a dog – Nikki said she had been made to feel very welcome despite only arriving at the end of August

“It feels like home!” she said “We had our welcome service at Melbourne – it was a wonderful service and I felt thoroughly welcome and at home already.”

Nikki says she is looking

forward to caring for the Methodist Church in Melbourne and Weston as well as Methodist churches in Sutton Bonington and New Sawley

“I am keen to seek ways of serving these churches and their local communities, of building relationships and of sharing the good news of Jesus’ love for all,” she said

“I look forward to meeting some of you and hope to see you around in the coming months and years.”

l Rev Tony Luke at his last service in Aston with wife Caroline and children Charlotte and Jonny

Katie lands dream army band master role

by Lucy Stephens

A MELBOURNE teenager has had the experience of a lifetime after being awarded the role of National Band Master for the Army Cadets aged just 17!

Katie Howat, who is studying for her A-levels at Chellaston Academy, this summer experienced a dream come true for many when she conducted army cadet musicians from all over the UK in front of a large audience at the Horse Guards Parade in London

Katie was performing the pivotal role at The Household Division’s military musical spectacular celebration, which has been taking place annually since the 1960s

Keen musician Katie plays the saxophone and piano to grade 8 level and has been a member of the Army Cadets since 2021, where she takes part in both regular band practice as well as the traditional army syllabus at ‘greens’ meetings in Ticknall

Band Sergeant Major Howat, who is also handy with a gun and one of the Army Cadets’ top shooters, was awarded the elite title of National Band Master after attending a camp in Scotland where she won a band master competition

The three-day concert required Katie to climb on to a podium and conduct the cadets’ combined Bands, Bugles and Drums

Katie said that despite having performed the role she still could not quite believe it!

“I’m still almost in denial,” she said “It was very nerve wracking – there are thousands of people watching you

“The whole experience was surreal I still can’t believe it actually happened It was very scary, especially marching up the steps to the podium, but gaining experience throughout

A NEW pothole repair material made from old HGV tyres is being used by council contractors, a public meeting heard Melbourne’s Derbyshire County Council representative Cllr David Muller told the latest meeting of Melbourne Parish Council that he had yet to see the new material in action but had been informed it was highly effective at dealing with the problem

“I’ll be very interested to see how it works,” he told parish councillors

the week and when I was there in the moment, I was confident I could do a good job It was definitely made easier by the fabulous players that were in the band ”

Katie said the highlight of the three-day concert had been being personally presented with a baton and hand-written note by Lieutenant Colonel Stewart Halliday, Commanding Officer of the Bands of the Household Division, who was impressed with her skills

Other highlights were a one to one conducting lesson with Bandmaster Tom LamertonReece from the Colchester Band

Proud parents Morag and Stewart travelled to London to watch Katie perform

“It was unbelievable,” said Morag “We’re very proud You would not have known that

they were cadets, it was that professional ”

Morag added that the family would like to thank the “wonderful volunteer staff of the Army Cadet Force”

“None of this would have been possible without their huge support and encouragement over the last few years,” she said

To find out more about the Army Cadets and how to be involved, visit https://armycadets com All standards of music are welcome and instruments and lessons are provided for complete beginners

Derbyshire’s band detachment meets on a Wednesday from 7-9pm at County HQ in Sinfin Lane, Derby Ticknall’s detachment meets on a Thursday, 7pm-9pm, at Ticknall Village Hall

l Katie Howat on the podium at Horse Guards Parade in London, and being handed a baton by Lieutenant Colonel Stewart Halliday, commanding officer of the Bands of the Household Division.

PHASE two of a £2.5million restoration project at Calke Abbey in Ticknall has begun – and it involves fixing a lot of rotting windows

Kings Newton based heritage and conservation specialist ASBC Ltd is conducting repairs to the Grade 1 listed National Trust property

This latest phase involves the extensive number of windows on the first and second floors on the west and south fronts of the house Building surveyor and Project Manager of Reframing Calke Ben Freeman said: “Over time, the elements have taken their toll on this historic building, resulting in the need for repair After a conservation condition report conducted in November 2021, we identified a programme of six projects, costing around £2 5 million once complete, to ensure the house remains watertight and protects Calke’s collection and historic interiors ”

Scaffolding is currently being installed in preparation for phase two on the walls and all 65 windows on the west and south front Restoration is taking place over 24 weeks, which involves replacing rotten sections of the window frames, repairing cracked panes of precious crown glass, replacing panes where cracking is substantial, filling fine cracks on rendered areas, pinning loose stone in place and replacing stone beyond repair

Oak timber from the Calke estate and a combination of Hollington Stone from Staffordshire and Swinton Stone from Berwickshire – the closest matching stone available today – will be used

where necessary to preserve the Baroque exterior

General manager Stewart Alcock said: “We’re excited to begin phase two of Reframing Calke on the west and south front of the house, which will help safeguard Calke Abbey and its important collection by preventing leaks and damp condi-

tions inside Conservation projects like this are essential to securing Calke’s legacy for generations to come ”

After successfully completing phase one on the ground floor of the house last year, a team of craftspeople from ASBC, are reaching new heights this year to repair the windows, masonry

and render on the first and second floor

Owner of ASBC Alan Staley said: “One of the biggest challenges on a building like this is the element of uncertainty

“Until we gain scaffold access and can carry out further investigations, it can be hard to assess the true extent of repairs, as decades of old paint can hide the true condition of timber decay to window frames

“Although challenging, heritage restoration work is often very rewarding, as it’s great to know our work helps to preserve historic buildings like Calke Abbey ”

Nocturnal surveys were carried out ahead of this work, as the Calke estate is home to 11 of the 12 species of bat found in Derbyshire, which typically like to roost and nest in old buildings and trees From the surveys, 39 common pipistrelle bats were recorded emerging from a roost located in the mansion stonework

Ben continued: “To ensure the building works don’t harm or disturb this protected species, we’ll be working with a licensed ecologist throughout the project and have a Bat Mitigation Class Licence We’ve also placed eight bat boxes in nearby trees to provide more suitable roosting sites while the work takes place ”

Visitors can follow along with the project on Calke’s social media channels and will later have the opportunity to view some of the repairs upclose on demonstration days led by ASBC A viewing platform will also be installed to allow visitors access to the first floor where some of the work is happening

Protest over ‘sky high’ pylons plan

CAMPAIGNERS in Aston and Weston-onTrent are protesting against proposals for new “sky high” pylons close to their villages.

National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) is consulting on proposals to build a new overhead electricity line between Chesterfield and the existing substation at Willington to add capacity to the network

Across the East Midlands it will involve installing 60 kilometres of new 400 kilovolt cabling, supported by 50-metre tall pylons, according to campaigners objecting to the proposal

Publicity for the Chesterfield to Willington project outlines how it will support the UK’s net zero target by adding capacity to accommodate increasing power flows of energy generated mostly from offshore wind, in Scotland and North East England, which are expected to double within the next 10 years, to areas of demand south, to the Midlands and beyond

By reinforcing the network in the centre of the country, the project will facilitate the connection of more renewable and low carbon electricity, to allow clean green energy to be carried around the network

SAVE (Save Aston and Weston) are campaign-

by Frank Hughes

ing to “Say No to Sky High Pylons” and say “this project will cause disruption during construction and will leave a lasting scar on the landscape of the Trent Valley”

The group says: “We do not know how this project will fit into the wider modernisation programme (The Great Grid Upgrade) and how that could impact Aston & Weston The large pylons used may need dedicated access roads and it is likely that other energy projects (onshore wind and particularly solar farms) will be placed near the route of the power lines ”

A public consultation exercise is currently underway and closes on September 17 Full details are provided of the project, which broadly follows a route to the East of Derby and then travels from East to West from Ockbrook across to Willington, crossing the outskirts of Aston, Weston and Swarkestone

The feedback form is available at https://www nationalgrid com/the-great-grid-upgrade/chesterfield-to-willington/consultation-materials

There is also a facebook group called “Stop The Pylons Derbyshire”

Garden party farewell for Rebecca

FRIENDSHIPS formed at Weston Women’s Institute have been blossoming even more with the group’s first ever garden party

Outgoing president Rebecca Lacey was presented with flowers and gifts from WI members (above) in recognition of her “incredible work over the past two and a half years”, said committee member Felicity Johnson

Weston WI was formed in April 2022 with the aim of helping women in the village form friendships

Felicity said: “Reb's leadership has been instrumental in establishing the WI as a cornerstone of our community, providing a welcoming and enriching space for women of all ages

“The garden party was made even more special with delicious cakes provided by Florentine Patisserie in Shardlow, adding a touch of sweetness to the festivities It was an evening filled with laughter, conversation, and the warm

sense of camaraderie that defines the Weston on Trent WI ”

Weston WI is keen to welcome new members and visitors

“Whether you ' re looking to make new friends, learn new skills, or simply enjoy some quality time with like-minded women, the WI is the perfect place to do so,” said Felicity “The group meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:30 pm, offering a variety of activities and events that cater to diverse interests ”

In addition to regular meetings, the WI is hosting an open meeting and pop-up café on September 23 at 7 30pm in Weston Village Hall

This event is open to the entire community and will feature an informative talk by local police on cyber security

It's a great opportunity to learn about an important topic while enjoying the friendly atmosphere of the WI

Andy calls it a day on full-time Assembly Rooms role

MELBOURNE Assembly Rooms’ long-standing manager, Andy Heafield, has retired from his full-time role

Andy said he felt it was time he called it a day, although he has not fully stepped away from the events management side of the job

Having been recruited as the Assembly Rooms’ manager back in its earliest days in 2012, Andy has overseen the once hardly used community venue into a thriving village hub that’s used by 40 local organisations and groups It has been booked out for 14 weddings already in 2024, and has attracted some huge musical names to play to packed-out audiences, with the likes of Tony Christie, Kiki Dee, Squeeze guitarist Chris Difford, Albert Lee and Fairport Convention gracing the Melbourne stage – and often returning for more!

Interviewed when he first began the job, Andy said his vision for the Assembly Rooms back then would be for local people to wonder what was happening there over the following weekend – and more than a decade later, that vision can certainly be said to have been realised

“Initially, it was just about getting people using the place,” he says of his brief when taking on the job The Assembly Rooms –previously The Bill Shone Leisure Centre – was just in its early days of moving from parish council management to the committee, who are still in charge

“There was no weekend usage at all There was lots of opportunity in a new role ”

The first inkling of a local appetite for events came in Andy’s first year, when he put on his first show – a Mark Barry gig “It packed the place out!” says Andy “We didn’t want to turn the place into a club but could see there was an appetite for people in Melbourne to come and enjoy themselves

“We started doing a few more People were coming to shows, they were asking could they have it for parties, for funerals, could they have their 21st there? I thought, ‘there’s a real appetite for having a village hall here’ ”

In 2020 the disaster of Covid hit and a community venue like the Assembly Rooms might have floundered – but in fact, post pandemic, it has come back stronger than ever, perhaps as people have realised the value of having fun together through being forced apart for so long

Indeed, it is over the past three or four years that the Assembly Rooms has really taken off, says Andy, and it has the bank balance

to prove it: at the end of the last financial year there was a six-figure sum in the bank

There has been significant development work over the years, with South Derbyshire District Council having invested heavily in upkeep and development, and large fund-raising efforts also contributing to an Assembly Rooms that is radically different to the one Andy first took on as manager

The outside area is now developed for weddings: the main hall has had a refurbishment, along with the kitchen and bar area, and Andy has been rushed off his feet, being a fixture at the Assembly Rooms most weekends for several years – whether behind the bar, doing sound checks, selling tickets, or doing everything else that a manager needs to do

What have been the highlights?

Andy is proud of some of the big names that have come to Melbourne over the years, and the fact that events have been so popular: for one glam rock night, he remembers, “you couldn’t print tickets fast enough!”

People from outside Melbourne are regulars at the Assembly Rooms and report they have stayed in local B&Bs, eaten in local restaurants and shopped locally, significantly improving the economy, while events in which Andy has had a big hand in the local area – such as the Queen’s Jubilee – were also hugely proud moments

Of all the events to have taken place over the years, perhaps the most personal was the last one for which he was still manager: his son Matthew’s wedding in August

As for what the future holds, Andy is not yet quite decided, but he is not one to be sitting down and doing nothing – Melbourne has a way of being home to community spirited people, and he is certainly one of them

Pubs voice fears over smoking ban plan

AN OUTDOOR smoking ban affecting pub gardens could have a serious impact on the hospitality sector, local landladies have told Village Voice

This summer the Government confirmed it was investigating stricter rules on outdoor smoking as a way of reducing deaths related to tobacco It could mean smoking would be banned in pub gardens, outdoor restaurants, outside hospitals and sports grounds

But local landladies have voiced considerable disquiet at the proposals, saying they could seriously affect businesses and lead to more neighbour complaints if smokers are forced on to nearby pavements

Jayne Walls, landlady of The Staff of Life in Ticknall, said she was not “too worried” at the

by Lucy Stephens

moment as the move had not been put into place, but voiced concerns over the hospitality industry as a whole with pubs not offering food – unlike hers – likely to be more affected

She said: “It’s going to stop people feeling relaxed I think it’s going to have a very detrimental effect on hospitality ”

Laura Bowler, landlady of The Malt in Astonon-Trent, said: “I think it s a big concern obviously I think we could maybe look at having designated smoking areas Personally, I think it will have a massive impact on many pubs especially drinking pubs

“It’s going to frustrate lots of people ”

A COUNCIL employee can provide free one-to-one help to “make life better” for people in Melbourne, a public meeting heard

Charlotte Mining, who is employed by Derby City Council to provide support for Melbourne, Willington and Hilton, was at the September meeting of Melbourne

Parish Council to provide an update on what she can offer local people

Charlotte (pictured left) is the local area co-ordinator and ex-

Gayle Weston, landlady of The Alma in Melbourne, said she could see the move to ban outdoor smoking in pubs simply moving the issue onto the pavement

She said: “I think it will shut a lot of pubs especially wet-led pubs I don’t see how they can do it How are you going to police it? People standing on the road outside pubs is going to upset neighbours 70 to 75 per cent of my clientele smoke or vape

“On a day like today (sunny) they like to sit out there and have a cigarette with a pint “Food-led pubs are slightly different Nobody wants to sit next to a table that’s smoking But people have got some morals and some sensibilities about them ”

plained how her wide remit includes being able to offer support to anyone of any age She said the age of those she is supporting in Melbourne ranges from 17 to 94 and she is there simply to support anyone who is “experiencing a problem in life”

She is there to make it easier for people to get the information, support and services they need

Charlotte said she knows the area well and can provide people

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with options and ideas they may not have previously considered, as well as helping people meet new people, connect with old friends and “be more involved in your community”

She told councillors: “If there’s somebody who you come across in your life, like a neighbour, you can just give them my telephone number ”

There is no eligibility criteria to access the service Charlotte offers

She explained that as part of her

is

role, she has liaised with Melbourne Community Care and her work has led to the founding of the Memory Café in the local area

Along with Derby City Council, Charlotte’s post is partly funded by Team Up, an Integrated Care Board initiative that brings together local health and care organisations to improve outcomes, tackle inequalities and create better services

You can email Charlotte on charlotte mining@derby gov uk or phone her on 07741975826

CONGRATULATIONS to Tabitha Shepherd from Ticknall, who has been presented with her Gold Duke of Edinburgh award

Tabitha

pictured at the presentation ceremony.

ABOVE LEFT: Visitors to the show

Open times 7.30am - 6.00pm Monday to Friday

Teacher led quality day care for children from 12 weeks to 5 years in a stimulating environment where learning is fun.

• Teacher led pre school for children 3 1/2 - 5 years.

• Holiday clubs for children 4 - 11 years.

Art show gives school a £4,000 booster

by Frank Hughes and Lucy Stephens

HUNDREDS of visitors and pieces of art helped raise thousands of pounds for Dame Catherine’s School in Ticknall when the 31st annual summer art exhibition took place over the August bank holiday

This year ’s event raised more than £4,000

As well as over 500 pieces of artwork for sale, the exhibition this year also featured a Makers Market, including crafted upholstery and many other stalls of home-made produce An expanded online exhibition also enabled artists from further afield to enter work, and for buyers worldwide to make purchases

The exhibition is unusual in that it is uncurated, so all pieces that are entered are displayed – for a small fee

One of the organisers, Amanda Harmer, said: “We would like to encourage all artists – amateurs and those more professional – to submit their artwork to the show next year! If you submit, we will hang your work!”

After the success of the 30-under-30 contest last year marking the third decade of the exhibition, this year ’s competition focussed on three sponsored awards announced at the Champagne Preview evening – which was sponsored by Styles Renovation

These were: “It’s in the detail”, judged by Dame Catherine’s Art Exhibition volunteers – which was won by Steve Smith with The Last Post

“Location Location” was judged by Amanda Harmer, of Harmer Fitz Douglas Architects, and won by Paul Rothera with his Alhambra Gardens

ABOVE RIGHT: Lazy Kitty Creative: Sisters Sharon Lucas and Lucy Thompson show their goods.

The overall “Best in Show” competition was judged by Ticknall Parish Council member Christina Oppenheimer, along with Staff of Life landlords John and Jayne Walls, who pronounced The Lake at Staunton Harold by Robin Nicholls the winner

Competition prizes were sponsored by The Staff of Life and Harmer Fitz Douglas Architects

l Claire Cerysanne Groves and her wildlife inspired art

Returning to Ticknall to take part in the Makers’ Market was the former landlady of The Wheel, Sharon Lucas, who now runs upholstery and upcycling business Lazy Kitty Creative with her sister, Lucy Thompson

Sharon said it was lovely to return to Ticknall and reconnect with many familiar faces

She said: “It was really, really good, really busy People were very engaged with our products, they wanted to hear about things It was just a really positive experience ” Lazy Kitty Creative has a shop in Belper and specialises in upcycled products such as footstools made from old paint tins

The three-day art show was continuously busy with around 600 visitors in total, with 20 stalls in the crafters market, opportunities for child-friendly events such as a bouncy castle, climbing wall and craft activities, and the chance to enjoy cakes and light meals provided by Jose Raine

A postcard auction also raised over £400

HOW THE MONEY HELPS

THE exhibition plays a significant part in meeting the running costs of Dame Catherine Harpur School, a small independent school and nursery which accommodates around 50 to 60 pupils on a full-time, flexitime or home schooling basis Amanda Harmer, one of the organisers of the event, said they were aiming to use the funds to improve and redevelop the toilet block area with the intention of adding an additional classroom

There is, however, the challenge of the forthcoming proposal to levy VAT on school fees, which is being introduced in January 2025

The impact would be to increase the current annual fee for a full-time child by over £1,600.

The school has already been lobbying local MP Samantha Niblett to try to understand exactly what impact the new policy will have

BEST IN SHOW: Christina Oppenheimer, member of Ticknall Parish Council, and Jayne Walls, of the Staff of Life in Ticknall, with winner Robin Nicholls for his The Lake at Staunton Harold painting.

Touch of Oasis glory in Andrew’s debut single

by Lucy Stephens

A LITTLE bit of Oasis magic has reached one Melbourne singer. He has produced his first single with the help of the sound engineer who helped (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? become one of the biggest selling albums of all time

Andrew Horth has released the single, Watercooler Girl, with the help of sound engineer Nick Brine, who has worked with some of the biggest names in 90s music including Oasis, The Stone Roses and Stereophonics

Produced by Scott Milligan, of Burton band Kitten Pyramid, Andrew recorded his single in Wales

This summer he also had the opportunity to perform it at the same festival as Noel Gallagher himself when he took to the stage at Y Not

It has all been a hive of activity for Andrew, and he is keen to build on his success and get more songs released, as well as start up a band

Watercooler Girl is a rocky and upbeat track telling of an officebased romance with contemporary lyrics referencing now commonparlance concepts such as home working

That’s not all that’s familiar – the scenes from the video quite clearly feature a well-known florists on Melbourne Market Place too!

Andrew began playing the guitar as a teenager but his career took him on a different path and he works day to day as a computer programmer

But his love of music has never gone away and he began getting seriously back into the groove a few years ago by taking part in open mic nights in Ashby and the local area

Local readers may recognise Andrew having heard him play locally at the Festival and Whistlewood, and he has been very happy to be able to hone his talents with the support of warm Melbourne audiences and his wife, Mairead

Brothers Justin and Marcus are also musicians in America where the Horth family emigrated in the 1990s, and now Andrew is keen to see where things take him next

He has been working with renowned vocal coach Adam Hepkin and is pleased with how his musical life is panning out

“I really love how the song has turned out,” he said “It’s got a lot of energy, I would say I wouldn’t really change anything about it

“Y Not was really good I’ve not actually been to that many festivals It gave me a taste of wanting to do more festivals next year, hopefully with a full band ”

Watercooler Girl can be checked out on all streaming platforms under the name ‘horthworld’ and the video has been released on Facebook where it has had 6,000 hits, and is now visible on YouTube

You can hear Andrew playing at Melbourne Arts Festival on Sunday, September 15

BUSINESS owners are being invited to take advantage of a new scheme offering free health checks for employees

Derbyshire County Council is one of 48 authorities sharing in £6 6 million of funding to run free health checks in workplaces

These life-saving checks help improve the health and wellbeing of employees, prevent serious health conditions from developing as well as help people stay in employment for longer

The county council has been successful in bidding for £36,000 of funding which will be used to run free NHS Health Checks and Live Life Better Derbyshire MOT Plus in workplaces across the county Derbyshire County Council’s Cabi-

Fine Art, Ceramics, Glass, Sculpture, Jewellery by 150 Artists in 60 Venues around the historic heart of Melbourne.

We guarantee art to intrigue, inspire, buy and take home!

ADULTS £5 - UNDER 18S FREE

Concerts & Performances

FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 7.30 for 8pm

Festival Funhouse Comedy Club

Melbourne Royal British Legion, Derby Road DE73 8FE

THURSDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 7.00 for 7.30 pm

net Member for Health and Communities Councillor Carol Hart said: “By identifying risk factors such as high blood pressure early, we can help people to get the support and treatment they need to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease and avoid heart attacks and strokes

“In turn this helps people to live well for longer as well as helping to boost our local economy ” Derbyshire County Council’s Healthy Workplaces team will be delivering free NHS Health Checks and Live Life Better Derbyshire Body MOT Plus to workplaces across Derbyshire until March 2025

If you are a Derbyshire business owner and would like to arrange free health checks for your staff then visit www derbyshire gov uk/healthch

The Friends of Melbourne Parish Church present

Graham Oppenheimer & FriendsEuropean Masterpieces

At Melbourne Parish Church DE73 8JH

FRIDAY 20 SEPTEMBER Ages 5-11 from 5.00 to 6.00pm

Magical Mayhem Magic Show

Melbourne Parish Church DE73 8JH

FRIDAY 20 SEPTEMBER Ages 8-18 from 6.30 to 7.30pm

Marvellous Balloons Workshop

Melbourne Parish Church DE73 8JH

FRIDAY 4 OCTOBER 7.00 for 7.30 pm

The Friends of Melbourne Parish Church present

Jazz Night with The Ben Crosland Jazz Quintet

Melbourne Parish Church DE73 8JH

l Andrew Horth performing at the Y Not festival.

(Photo: Scott Milligan)

Two years on and Rob’s ‘in the groove

task with hard work and enthusiasm

IT WAS quite something when Richard and Sharron Scarff moved on from the Harrington Arms at Thulston a couple of years ago because there are not too many pubs in which the tenants have been in charge for 20 years.

In that time, the Scarffs had nurtured a terrific classic country pub, and Sharron’s superb food had a reputation for miles around, so there was no little trepidation locally about what the future might hold

Two years later, Harrington devotees are breathing easier Rob Taylor, a young chef, knew he had big shoes to fill but he has taken to the

The food offer under Rob is different but proving no less acclaimed and the beer choice is innovative while the same two staple beers, Draught Bass and Castle Rock Harvest Pale remain

The décor has been tweaked – Rob’s mum, Heidi, is an interior designer with long experience in pubs – but without losing the “country pub within reach of the city” feel which made the Harrington what it is

For Rob, the two years have flown by and only

now does he feel he’s “getting in the gro

Within months, he had appointed a Dan Churcher, who has his finger on th a day-to-day basis

If he went about his business qui seemed, Rob feels it was more quietl would have preferred

“I’d say it took us a while to find ou definitely now I feel like we’re in the g says

“Initially, I was in the kitchen every have a head chef now and that’s given more time to focus on pushing the bus ward and come up with new ideas

“It was my strength in the kitchen, a been, but it’s been really nice now bein house more and having time to come a people ” And of course it’s a lifestyle, not just

“It’s constantly on your mind; I’ll w four in the morning with an idea,” Rob

“It’s taken those two years to build a r I didn’t think it would be overnight bu think it would be this long either

“It’s been tough, a real challenge, bu very passionate about pushing things fo it’s so nice to see people enjoying the pub beer garden full – it makes it all worthw

“And we won’t be turning it into a ‘ga We always wanted to keep it as a tradit

“Come and listen to some music, hav full of beer and good food It’s impor these types of pubs that they don’t go t other way, if you know what I mean ” It was also a plus that most of the st on board when Rob moved in

“I think we’re very fair with our staff obviously been trained well, so it was g come into that – we can’t complain,” he

The Harrington has always had an garden, a proper sun trap, and is also bl a large car park

They have developed the garden, w new patio and regular music events For casions, bands play on a lorry in the where everyone can see them easily Rob wants to spruce up the front of t (“nothing radical”)

It may be a never-ending job but this to be going especially well so far n Colston Crawford writes a regular be pubs column for the Derby Telegraph

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nah Ali, Sally Boatman of Scallywags Nursery

ABOVE: Aston head teacher Sam Moore with teacher Tom Bamford

Melbourne Dental Practice

Naomi Fry accepts child orthodontic N.H.S. referrals.

If you wish to contact the practice, please call 01332

Lots for Tots awards for our villages

OUR local villages have lots for tots –and that’s official

A grand total of three local organisations providing children with a great start in their lives were recognised at this year ’s Lots for Tots awards

Aston on Trent Primary School won the Primary Education Provider of the Year award, while Hero Town from Scallywags Nursery in Melbourne won Local Family Attraction of the Year. There was further success for Melbourne with Derby Forest School at Whistlewood Common winning “Best Pre School Education Provider” for its nature nursery.

Recipients of the awards said they particularly appreciated their victories as they were voted for by readers of the Lots for Tots magazine

Aston on Trent Primary School headteacher, Sam Moore said: “We are extremely proud to have won this prestigious Lots for Tots award after beating off competition from schools in Derby, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire We are so pleased for all involved in our wonderful school ”

Sarah Butler is a director of Scallywags Nursery, which is home to Hero Town – an interactive role play centre for children that gives them the ability to dress up and play different roles in play houses Hero Town is welcoming around 500 people a week

Sarah said: “We were very shocked but very, very happy to be given the award, particularly when up against such stiff competition The staff were very overwhelmed that people had voted for us It really meant such a lot to know that customers value what we do.”

Derby Forest School at Whistlewood Common wrote on social media after winning their award that it belonged to the “fantastic staff team” who are the “most passionate, caring, creative and talented creatures of the woods who strive every day to give hild th bsolute best”.

Come and see us during the Melbourne Art & Architecture Trail. We are hosting 3 artists so will be open Sat 14th & Sun 15th Sept 10am - 5pm It is with a mix of gratitude and appreciation that we announce the departure of our current General Musical Director, Keith Reaveley, as he embarks on new adventures.

Keith has been an integral part of our Society since he rst joined in 1978, playing King Gama in the 1979 production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Princess Ida. Over the following years, he took on several principal roles before shi ing his focus behind the scenes. In 1983, he became the Assistant Musical Director for e Yeomen of the Guard production, eventually leading up to becoming General Musical Director, contributing his musical talents o stage.

Keith’s dedication to the Society goes beyond his musical contributions. Having joined the committee shortly a er becoming a member, he has played a vital role in the smooth operation of the Society. From producing our show programmes from 1985 to 2009 to being the welcoming face of our front-of-house during the annual Gilbert & Sullivan productions, Keith’s impact has been felt in every aspect of our work. He also took the initiative to launch and manage our website, keeping us connected and engaged with our community. For over thirty years, Keith has been the creative force behind our summer and Christmas concerts, cra ing diverse programmes and leading our members to deliver outstanding performances. His dedication was recognized in 2011 when he received the Gerry Shaw Award, honouring those who go above and beyond for the Society. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Keith for his countless contributions and unwavering commitment over the years. As he moves on to new ventures, we wish him all the best.

We are also pleased to welcome David Henshaw as his successor, who will continue the tradition of excellence in leading our annual Gilbert & Sullivan productions and concerts.

TOP: Denise Horton-Bradley, Han-

RIGHT: Children having fun at Derby Forest School.

T he Common Touch...

Fantastic results

THIS month the schools go back, which means the end of summer holiday club sessions at Whistlewood with Derby Forest School and the return of the Forest School nursery

This is not just unstructured outdoor education but education where Forest School principles are followed led by Forest School trained educators

It can be a much-misunderstood education specialism, especially when run alongside a conventional school where some of the original principles can be compromised by the everyday school timetable

I've seen the results at Whistlewood myself, and the confidence, communication, knowledge and abilities of these pre-school children who have attended is fantastic. I wish it had been around for my child, who is very nearly a fully-fledged adult!

She at least had the opportunity to play and learn at Whistlewood whilst helping as the site was establishing back in the first five years, from 2013

Watching the community build structures, straw bale buildings, composting toilets, digging out ponds and doing these things themselves and organising and raising the money for all this by starting a co-operative these are experiences I'm sure she will not forget And the tree

planting, fund-raising events, parties, interacting with nature, playing and exploring the site

Experiencing the freedom that older generations who were lucky to live near open space or countryside had, but children now don’t get much of a chance to do.

There is a power in knowing that you can do something without waiting for others to sort stuff out for you, the confidence that comes from your own autonomy of a ‘just get on and do it’ mindset.

This is the way Transition Towns work and our project was born from our own Transition Town initiative

We have had several Duke of Edinburgh volunteers over the past few years who have been part of our project's growth and success.

This summer one of them achieved a Gold Award and was presented with it at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace

We are extremely grateful for these young volunteers who help maintain our Permaculture Land Project. We are proud to see their achievements and I hope they are proud to be part of this unique project we have here in Melbourne

Check out our Facebook and Instagram pages to see what we get up to – it might intrigue you enough to come and join in the fun – KATHERINE PARRISH

MARK STARTS NEW ROLE

MELBOURNE’S funeral director J P Springthorpe has a new office manager – and a new-look office too Mark Arjoo has now started his role as manager at Potter Street-based Springthorpe’s, a change in direction after 30 years working in the public sector He takes over the job from Andy Clay Mark (pictured above) said he was keen to help people going to Springthorpe’s feel as relaxed as possible at a very difficult time in their lives

He said: “When people come in, for a lot of them, it’s the first time they have ever had a bereavement “It’s a difficult, upsetting and stressful time

“What I want them to do is come in and be able to feel welcome, comfortable and confident that we can arrange a funeral for them and they can feel at home ” Along with its new manager Springthorpe’s has had a facelift with new paint, pictures and furniture with the aim of creating as welcoming a space as possible for those going through the distress of arranging the final goodbye for their loved ones

“For me, it’s about providing a good service – that’s what I want to do,” he said

“It’s about providing families with a good service and giving their relatives a decent send-off ”

Every resident has a story, this is Brian’s. Move to Richmond Villages Aston-on-Trent and celebrate yours. Settle in and save up to £3000 over 6 months* Call 01332 794300 or visit richmond-villages.com/care-homes

Top class exam results for Aston teenager

ASTON-ON-TRENT teenager Miyuki Kitahara is one of the highest achieving students nationally this year after scoring straight nines in her GCSE exams.

When opening her results envelope at Chellaston Academy, Miyuki was one of only 1,270 students across the UK to have achieved straight 9s

In total, 667,340 people sat their GCSEs this year

Miyuki achieved her top grades in physics, chemistry, biology, maths, English Literature, English Language, sociology, RE, history and Spanish

This month she is heading to sixth form at Chellaston where she plans to study maths, Spanish, politics and history with a view to one day possibly exploring a career in international law

Miyuki, who alongside studying likes to keep fit with regular running along with a dance and fitness class in the village – plus volunteering for her local guides group – said she had been relieved to open her results and to have achieved what she wanted

Chellaston Academy head teacher Phil Smith congratulated Miyuki and said the school was “very pleased” with 2024’s year 11 GCSE results

He said: “We are proud of their performance, and it is lovely to see that their hard work has secured successful and exciting opportunities and

pathways ”

by Lucy Stephens

Other top-scoring students were Alicia Banton, Emma Clifton, Eve Cook, Theo McKeown, Rosie Stanton and Daniel Zheng who all achieved an average grade of between a 8 and 9

Overall, three quarters of Chellaston students passed English and maths with a grade 4 or above, with over half scoring a grade 5 or above in both English and maths Half of all students got a grade 7 in at least one subject – an old-style ‘A’ grade The school’s average grade across all GCSE and level two entries was a grade 5

Last year, 80 per cent of Chellaston’s pupils got a grade 4 or above in English and maths, while two thirds scored 5 or above in these two core subjects

“We are also delighted that the vast majority of our students have achieved their pathway of choice,” said Mr Smith

“The school culture of ‘inspiring each other to realise our potential through Integrity, Care and Excellence’ is at the heart of everything we do, and students leave Chellaston Academy ready to be successful in their next stages in life

“All of this success is not possible without the dedication and support from every member of staff at the school, and I would like to thank them all ”

FIVE

STAR (l-r) Ben Mead, Inara Ahmed, Belle Fletcher, Lola Robinson and Nick Revill

ACADEMY A-TEAM

LEADERS at Chellaston Academy have voiced their pride after this year ’s leavers did them proud in the exam hall – surpassing last year ’s A-level results.

The school on Swarkestone Road has reported that a third of all grades this year were A* or A and almost 60 per cent were A*-B

One group of students from Melbourne have said they were pleased and relieved when opening their results this year, and are looking forward to the next stage as they leave secondary education

Lola Robinson, 18, was delighted with a distinction/distinction for her BTec in art & design, plus an A in A-level fine art – the equivalent of three As at A-level.

She said: “I’m just happy that I’ve got what I need to go to where I want to go in the future ”

Ben Mead was also very happy with As in

A MELBOURNE business has been shortlisted for a major award after volunteering its services to help a male suicide prevention charity’s life-saving messaging reach many more people Matt Clutterham and Jenny Jarvis, who founded Q Branch Consulting in 2024, have been shortlisted in the Outstanding Collaboration category of The Business Desk’s Business Masters East Midlands awards for 2024

Q Branch’s nomination is for the company’s work with Nottingham-based male suicide prevention charity Tough to Talk

Founded by Steve Whittle –himself a survivor of three attempts to take his own life – the charity delivers ‘tough talks’ in male-centric working environments, to encourage men to share their feelings with the aim of preventing them taking the fatal step of taking their own life

A new ManClub has recently been launched in Melbourne in response to a local chef having taken his own life, with the aim of encouraging men to go along and talk openly in a safe environment

The group meets on Monday evenings at the Assembly Rooms from 7-9pm

IT’S FAMILY FUN AT THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL

THE banner is up, the bunting is up and the Festival team are on standby ready for the 19th Melbourne Festival Art & Architecture Trail this weekend.

There is already a buzz of anticipation around the village as everyone prepares for the Festival weekend; it is always good to see homeowners tidy the garden, touching up paintwork and helping make Melbourne look its best ready for the visitors to arrive

This year there are lots of new artists and a few new v ues along the Trail s look out for fresh faces alongside Festival favourites

A-level maths and physics and a B in computer science. He is going on to Sheffield University to study computer science, which he said he was “really looking forward to”

Belle Fletcher got an A* and A in fine art and art and design, and is going on to do an art foundation year in Loughborough, while Nick Revill will be studying computer science at Loughborough University, armed with an A*, B and B Inara Ahmed, meanwhile, will be going on to Newcastle University to study computer science

School head teacher Phil Smith said: “We are particularly delighted that the vast majority of our students have achieved their pathway of choice.

“This includes many students who have been successful in gaining places on university degree courses or degree apprenticeships ”

Thanks to support from an Arts Council England National Lottery Project grant and other sponsors this year many local people, from under fives to nearly 95s, have taken part in over 20 work shops, organised by th Creative Melbourne Tea and led by professional artists as part of BLOSSOMING and BEARING FRUIT

so pop in and say hello

As an appropriate follow-up to last weekend’s extremely successful Flower and Produce Show there will be a display of photographs and examples of some of the work created by Melbourne's creative community in Melbourne Parish Church The work will be on display from Thursday so that lots of the participants will be able to pop into the church to see the exhibition before, as well as during, the Festival

Over the weekend there will be lots of exciting things happening in the church and three Festival artists – Michael Cook, Bob Bernard and Waney Grains – will be exhibiting in the church

The 2024 Art & Architecture Trail is a bonus year for visitors with families as the BLOSSOMING and BEARING FRUIT continues into the Rectory garden, decorated with banners created by children at Melbourne Junior School, printed bunting by children at Melbourne Infant School, a marquee showing clay tiles made by families and young people at a workshop this summer and photographs from the ‘Picture This’ workshop for young people It’s not too late for families to get cretive Why not drop in on Saturday to make fruit crowns with the Making House (back by popular demand after Melbourne Carniand on Sunday join mallprint Company e a nostalgic Letterkmark Drop in to eiop between 12 and Ridley will be back 1 30 and Attie Lime with Rhyme Time at 3 30

The Festival is open from 10-5 on Saturday and Sunday Trail guides are available from the Creative Melbourne Gallery this week or from volunteers selling them at the gallery, Market Place, MARS, Castle Square, the bottom of Church Street and at the Park & Ride at Tori & Ben’s or the schools; or get the number 2 Arriva bus or Diamond Flyer 9 Make a date to meet old friends, and maybe meet a few new ones at Melbourne Festival this year Art, music and creativity are good for all of us so come along and we guarantee you will leave with a smile See the advert for more information or visit www melbournefestival co uk)

l Miyuki Kitahara with her results in her Aston garden

CRAWFORD FISHER

23 June 1954 - 21 July 2024

CRAWFORD was born in Greenock, Scotland, the only child of parents May and Peter Fisher He grew up in the same town and attended Greenock Academy from 1959 to 1972

He spent the first 32 years of his life in Scotland and during that time chalked off some memorable achievements, including the Chief Scouts Award, and Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award alongside his accountancy qualifications

OBITUARY

In 1986 came a turning point in Crawford’s life when the company he worked for in Scotland closed down, and he was offered the chance to move near Birmingham

In a twist of fate, he decided to make a visit to Crete, and flew from East Midlands Airport On both outbound and return flights he encountered cabin crew member Maureen Rose, asked her out, and subsequently they married in 1989 They lived in Melbourne, and were soon blessed with the other loves of Crawford’s life, daughter Kirsty and son Jack

After moving to Melbourne Crawford, or Crawf as he was known to all his friends, quickly established himself as a big character in the village His love of rugby brought him to Melbourne Rugby FC, where as chairman of the Mini and Junior Section and director of the club from 2008, he committed so much time and energy developing the playing, coaching and the social side of the club He was pivotal in establishing the Melbourne Sporting Partnership, spending many hours working on the financial and legal documentation required to set it up, and he subsequently joined the governing board, representing the rugby club

On the social side he was instrumental in creating the highly popular annual beer festival Crawford was a proud Scotsman who seemed

to enjoy life to the full He had a unique quality of making all his friends feel like they were very special to him, and he always seemed genuinely delighted to pass time in good company

Dads and Lads evenings on the “Melbourne Mile” were legendary, with total commitment to the task! Other friends tell similar tales In one tribute, friend Roy Briscoe said of his social side:

“Everyone knew him and the affection (for him) was palpable Such people are indeed rare His likeable, charming, and agreeable nature drew people towards him ”

Among many proud highlights in his life, one was daughter Kirsty’s wedding on his beloved Crete Having been postponed and relocated because of Covid, Crawford made all of the wedding arrangements for a memorable occasion The couple were escorted to the top of the hill overlooking the town of Sitia, through the narrow alleyways by local musicians playing Cretan music followed by the ceremony taking place within the Kazarma Fortress

He was also known for two other unique stylish traits: first was his casual wardrobe In another tribute at his funeral David Rose wrote this verse remembering shared holidays in France:

“My Hawaiian shirt was sky blue; Crawford’s was red with palm trees and parrots

“Bright red, vibrant, vivacious, vivid red, lively, energetic, playful, radiant Like Crawford Fisher – full of life, shining his bright light

“This is when I saw the best of him in the best of times ”

Crawford passed away after a lengthy illness which he endured privately He leaves wife Maureen, children Kirsty and Jack, son-in-law Fred and a whole community of his friends and colleagues Crawford’s funeral took place on August 12 at Trent Valley Crematorium He will be sadly missed by family and many friends

THE city of Derby has a lot to offer to discerning diners, and it’s where I located Bella’s Gyro Greek restaurant

The menus look enticing and most interesting Opening during May 2024, Bella’s Gyro gained a lot of interest from the outset and this authentic Greek eatery has established itself as a firm favourite for locals and visitors alike

For my dining experience I chose a mixed box (includes juicy chicken and pork skewers, minced beef kebab, sausages, pita bread and more and comes served with chips) Yes, I am most impressed Tasty, excellent flavours (in abundance), perfectly cooked and extremely well presented The complementing flavours, with the succulence and tenderness of the meats, made this a ‘compliments to chef ’ moment

Head Chef is Ali, who, with the team, delivers much appreciated satisfaction to diners –many of whom have been regulars since the opening

Other very popular dishes include Bella’s Box variations Gyro’s Wraps choices have beef souvlaki, chicken, pork souvlaki, halloumi, plus many more menu options, including meal deal combos, skewer varieties and Skepasti Greek kalamata olives and Greek feta cheese are popular sides

Next, I favoured Kataifi in an excellent list of desserts to choose from This traditional delectation has layers of kataifi pastry, vanilla custard and whipped cream, then topped with finely chopped nuts Splendid!

The extensive menus are such that Bella’s Gyro should be given a second visit – or more – to truly appreciate other very flavoursome dishes on offer Collections are available too Thank you to Miriama and Erjon for impeccable service throughout

An excellent recommendation

JOHNNY Vegas was back in Melbourne recently to launch a new sideline to his Field of Dreams TV enterprise He was here to promote “Sweet Dreams” beer, which has been brewed in collaboration with an old college friend, Jonny Birkett

The pair held the nationwide launch at Melbourne Hall Courtyard, with a stall to promote the beer and other spin-off merchandising from the TV series and the glamping Field of Dreams site in Melbourne

Johnny (the celebrity) said he had a lifelong appreciation of stout and it had been an ambition of his to create a brew of his own Jonny (the brewer) said he had been delighted to collaborate to produce the beer The final product took many

l Johnny Vegas, Sally Harrison, Bev Dixon and Jonny Birkett at the stall promoting the beer.

hours of tasting and tweaking, they said Jonny said his Problem Child brewery based in Parbold, Lancashire, was a small five-barrel (BBL) brewery which produced a range of handcrafted beers

The new beer, (4 1%ABV) is described as rich, earthy traditional stout It will be available locally in the Brewhouse at Melbourne Hall for any

drinkers who would like to try it

Johnny also said that he wanted to thank the people of Melbourne for supporting him over the past two years

“The feedback from local people and local shops has been fabulous It has been unbelievably lovely, and I have been able to build some great relationships,” he said

DOWN ON THE FARM

With Ben Stanley

Badgers: it’s not all black and white

I HAD a crazy dream about Taylor Swift the other night In it Taylor Swift and George Clooney changed the course of American political history by failing to endorse Joe Biden in his quest for a second term in office and thus being the catalyst for him to resign

Then the 52-year-old convicted criminal gangster rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg carried the Olympic flame into the Stade de France and proceeded to have one hell of an Olympics by being the most standout spectator in the history of the games

Then, in my ‘jump out of bed for joy moment’, I dreamt that the BBC had run a programme where my hero legendary Queen guitarist Brian May had finally saved the UK cattle industry from the appalling scourge of bovine TB

Some background on the farmers’ problem with TB in cows may be useful Bovine TB is an appalling disease that, although with a negligible risk to humans, can affect all mammals and is an especially challenging disease for cattle in the UK – particularly in some parts of Derbyshire

Despite on-farm control measures, restrictions on cattle movements and the culling of infected cattle the disease has continued to slowly spread across the country over the last few decades

Over 30,000 cattle a year are slaughtered in efforts to control it, resulting in total misery for

hundreds of farmers who see their beautiful cattle taken away and destroyed

It is a problem that has plagued the cattle industry for far too long We have been lucky to never have had a case of TB at Park Farm, but it could be only a matter of time that we do and the disease already has a huge impact on our business

Despite not having the disease our cattle are worth less because we are in a high-risk TB area and the movements on our cattle are highly regulated, meaning that it can be highly bureaucratic even moving cattle from field to field in some instances

This issue of Bovine TB is made even more controversial and emotive because of the argument over the route of transmission and sources of infection, which can be varied and complex

Brian May’s programme rightly highlights the various ways in which cattle can catch TB from each other, through poor on-farm hygiene from contaminating hay and silage and drinking water with infected slurry or spreading infected cattle manures onto pasture

As a cattle farm we also have to test regularly to prove we don’t have TB Every single animal on the farm has to undergo a ‘skin test’ to prove it doesn’t have the disease, in our case once every year or if we want to sell any animals to other farmers we have to do it at the point of sale

In areas where TB is more common the test-

Celia in title frame – twice

ARTIST Celia Brookes has more prizes to her name after winning two prestigious titles this year.

Celia, who turned 70 this year, won the Cuthberts Mill Award at the highly regarded Patchings Open Art Competition, for which she entered her evocative work ‘The Fruit Seller ’ , in the amateur section

The Melbourne artist is a previous winner in this particular competition, having been crowned three times over the past few years

But that has not been all for the wellknown watercolour artist, who also won two prizes at the Sock Gallery in Loughborough Town Hall this year.

Celia’s entry of three men having a conversation – painted from a photograph taken by her husband – struck a chord with judges who gave it a highly commended, and it was then selected as the People’s Choice by hundreds of visitors to the gallery over the course of a month!

Celia (pictured with her two prize winners) said she was particularly happy to win a People’s Choice award, showing that visitors liked her painting best out of 155 hanging in the gallery

“I like that piece because people stand in front of it and think – ‘I wonder what they are talking about’!” she said. “I couldn’t really believe it when it won.”

ing can be as frequent as every 60 days It is stressful work for both animal and farmer, with every animal having to be handled and put through the cattle pen; then the intense pressure of waiting for the vet to allow an animal to proceed or potentially be condemned

Brian’s programme highlights the inadequacy of this method of testing and how it allows ‘some positive TB reactors’ to slip through the net and continue infecting other animals

However, the programme does leave an enormous black and white elephant in the room because, basically, a lot of badgers also carry TB as well and there is overwhelming evidence that there is a link between the transmission from infected badgers to cattle

Badgers are our nation’s fiercest predator but since the 1973 Badgers Act they have been fully protected and, because they have no natural predators, have seen their population explode to over half a million – 100% more than their population in the 1980s And it may be a complete coincidence but as the badger population has exploded so has the rise in the spread of TB in cattle Badgers and cattle have a shared environment and whilst out and about of an evening transmission can be as simple as urinating on grass that is then eaten by a poor cow the next day

Since 2013 the Government has allowed some limited licensed culling of badgers in areas of high TB prevalence Despite the route

of transmission being scientific fact and the incidence of TB in cattle dropping by over 60% in the most recent badger cull zones, Brian’s point is that he would much prefer to leave badgers alone and tackle the disease through improved on-farm methods only And he seems to be winning his argument because the new Government has just announced a winding-up of the cull zones during the course of this parliament

But for me as a wildlife lover just as much as Brian I also worry for the infected badgers

Badgers are highly social animals, and a badger set can be a busy and crowded place meaning they are very vulnerable to transmitting TB to each other

Nobody can possibly want poorly badgers either so it is vital that this problem is resolved and we all have our fingers crossed for an effective vaccine that could be efficiently delivered in the future

The protection of the badger has been an amazing success, but this success has at the same time reflected a rapid decline in their prey species – markedly hedgehogs and songbirds

Any predator species that is out of balance will always have a detrimental impact on its environment even if they are championed by a rock star

Perhaps the hedgehog gang needs to reach out to the Snoop Dog team and I will happily volunteer to help recruit Taylor Swift to champion farming

What’s On

Thursday 12 September:

Melbourne Photographic Society Member’s Night What we did on our holidays!

Ten minute talks by members covering a wide genre of subjects illustrating their holiday pursuits and travels. 7.30pm Thomas Cook Hall. Entry. Non-members £5, members £2. All welcome.

Friday 13 September:

Festival Funhouse Comedy Club

Melbourne Royal British Legion, Derby Road DE73 8FE. 7.30 for 8pm. Tickets £13 www.wegottickets.com/event/626699 or 07506 303247 or from Creative Melbourne Gallery.

Saturday 14 - Sunday 15 September: MELBOURNE FESTIVAL

ART & ARCHITECTURE TRAIL

10am - 5pm. See ad on Page 9

Thursday 19 September:

The Friends of Melbourne Parish Church present Graham Oppenheimer & FriendsEuropean Masterpieces

At Melbourne Parish Church DE73 8JH

Graham Oppenheimer & Friends, including works by Haydn (op 76 no 5 in D major), Schubert (Quartet "Death & the Maiden" in D minor) and Shostakovich (Quartet no 8). Featuring Bradley Creswick and Rafael Todes on violins, Graham Oppenheimer on viola and Kirsten Jensen on cello. 7.00 for 7.30 pm Tickets £15 www.wegottickets.com/event/626356 or 07902 626063 or from Creative Melbourne Gallery.

Thursday 19 September:

Melbourne Photographic Society

An Insight to my photography by Paul Hassell.

This evening we follow Paul’s thirteen year photographic journey from camera club to present day. He takes us through his mindset with changing genres, amusing stories of conversations he had along the way and illustrates before, after and final edited images. Print presentation. 7.30pm Thomas Cook Hall. Entry. Non-members £5, members £2. All welcome.

Friday 20 September: Magical Mayhem Magic Show

Melbourne Parish Church DE73 8JH

Ages 5-11 from 5.00 to 6.00pm Tickets £4

Friday 20 September:

Marvellous Balloons Workshop

Melbourne Parish Church DE73 8JH

Ages 8-18 from 6.30 to 7.30pm Tickets £4.

Saturday 21 September:

Coffee Morning

United Reformed Church Hall, High Street. 10am - noon

Sunday 22 September: Hiking Stick Making Workshop

Make a traditional pilgrim stick, shepherd’s crook, hook or contemporary design stick from scratch out of wood from local woodlands. 11.00 am to 5pm. To book: whistlewoodcommon.org/shop

Saturday 28 September:

Coffee Morning

Catholic Church, St Mary's Hall, Church Street. 10am - noon.

Saturday 28 September:

Melbourne Town Band

Summer Concert

Featuring Melbourne Town Band, Concert Band, Training Band and Drum Corps. Melbourne Parish Church 7pm

Tickets £5 inc light refreshments from Sue on 07801 709501 Band patrons and children under 6 free

Sunday 29 September: The Golden Gates Gallop

5 mile run and 2 mile family fun run event around Elvaston Country Park. 10am. All proceeds to Blood Cancer UK. For more information: www.goldengatesgallop.org

Thursday 3 October:

Melbourne Area Derby u3a Guest speaker on reinstating the Peaks and Dales railway

Melbourne Assembly Rooms. 2pm £1 entry includes tea/coffee. All welcome.

Friday 4 October:

The Friends of Melbourne Parish Church present Ben Crosland Quintet Solway Stories

Melbourne Parish Church. 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm. Tickets £14 www.wegottickets.com/event/626362 or Creative Melbourne Gallery 07902 626063 www.melbournefestival.co.uk/creative-melbourne-gallery

Saturday 5 October:

Coffee Morning

Methodist Church Wesley Hall, Potter Street. 10am - noon

Saturday 5 October: Enamelling Workshop

Creative Melbourne Gallery - 10.30am - 1.30pm

Suitable for beginners and those with some experience. All materials included. £40pp

To book: email: christine1pearson@yahoo.co.uk

Saturday 12 October: Coffee Morning

Baptist Church Schoolroom, Chapel Street. 10am - noon.

Saturday 12 October: Winter-themed Pen and Watercolour Workshop

Creative Melbourne Gallery - 10.30am - 12.30pm

Suitable for all abilities, from beginners to the more experienced artist. All materials supplied. £35pp.

To book visit the workshop section of Kate’s online shop: www.katedawesstudio.com Contact: kate@katedawesstudio.com or 07814 850157

Saturday 26 - Sunday 27 October: Introduction to Leaded (Stained Glass) Panels

Learn this traditional craft and the beauty of glass over a weekend. Take away a beautiful panel with a natural theme. 10.00 am to 4.30 pm. To book: whistlewoodcommon.org/shop

We always try to include events, but due to limitations of space, we cannot guarantee this without also booking an advertisement.

LICENSING ACT 2003 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR NEW PREMISES LICENCE

Ijaaz Jabox

71 Derby Road, Melbourne, Derbyshire DE73 8FE

Summary of the proposed licensable activities (hours and activities applied for):

Provision of late night refreshment - Indoors

Monday - Saturday: 23:00hrs - 23:30hrs

New Years Eve: 23:00hrs - 01:30hrs

Supply of alcohol - On premises:

Monday - Saturday: 12:00hrs - 01:00hrs

Sunday: 12:00hrs - 23:00hrs

New Years Eve: 23:00hrs - 01:30hrs

Opening Hours

Monday - Saturday: 12:00hrs - 01:00hrs

Sunday: 12:00hrs - 23:00hrs

New Years Eve: 23:00hrs - 01:30hrs

Date of application: 13th August 2024

Last date for representations: 20th September 2024

The register can be viewed during o ce hours at South Derbyshire District Council, Civic O ces, Civic Way, Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE11 0AH. Please contact 01283 221000 in order to make an appointment. Alternatively, the full application can be viewed at www.southderbyshire.gov.uk.

Any representation relating to this application must be made in writing to the Licensing Authority by 29 consecutive days after the date of this notice.

Returns as to election expenses

Date of Election – 4 July 2024

South Derbyshire Constituency

NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to Section 88 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 that I have received the candidates' returns as to their election expenses.

The election expenses returns, declarations, and all accompanying documents of all of the candidates at the above elections are available for public inspection, by appointment, at Civic O ces, Civic Way, Swadlincote, DE11 0AH, for a period of two years after receipt by me.

Copies of all or part of the individual returns can be supplied on payment of the prescribed fee of 20 pence per side.

Ardip Sandhu

Acting Returning O cer

For further information contact the elections team: Telephone: 01283 595875 / 595728 / 595723 Email: elections@southderbyshire.gov.uk

Club reaches peak of fund-raising

MELBOURNE Dynamo Football Club showed they really are a team when a group of 13 players, parents and coaches raised around £4,500 by doing the famous Three Peaks Challenge

The notoriously tough challenge involves taking on the UK’s three highest peaks – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon – all within 24 hours, including negotiating traffic

The group set off at the MSP and travelled nine hours in a minibus described as “cosy” to Fort William, manned by club chairman Conor Raynor and U9 coach Nigel Jackson

The following morning they embarked on Ben Nevis with the first person, Eddie Bardsley, making it back to base in an impressive four hours

The trip to the Lake District was challenging in that the minibus was limited to 60mph and was also stuck behind a tractor for 45 minutes Undaunted the team climbed Scafell Pike with Eddie Bardsley once again the first to make the whole distance and the

rest descending in pitch black! More traffic troubles beset the team on the drive out of the Lake District – this time caused by single track country roads with the addition of sheep and cows

The summit of Snowdon was reached by Eddie Bardsley and Conor Raynor, achieving the 24-hour challenge with five minutes to spare

Melbourne Dynamo has thanked The Staff of Life who sponsored the event and all those who took part and contributed, raising nearly £4,500 to go towards new floodlights for the club

Chairman Conor Raynor said: “The challenge was extremely mentally and physically draining, but the team were absolutely fantastic throughout They really supported each other from start to finish, and pulled each other through A fantastic achievement and they should all be really proud!”

The link to donate to the challenge is still open: www gofundme com/f/melbourne-dynamo-3-peaks-challenge

CUP GLORY FOR TICKNALL

Continued from Back Page

Ticknall, batting first, took them to the cleaners, scoring a massive 278 for the loss of two wickets in their 20 overs with Borrington making 103 and Cork 100 Dunstall had no answer and duly lost by 135 runs

The final was against homesters Alrewas Ticknall, again batting first, put on another mammoth total of 255, this time Wood scoring a 44-ball century Again, Alrewas had no answer and Ticknall became the winners of the Burton Breweries Cup

Ticknall 2nd team had a better month in August than they have been doing, winning two of their five games They started, however, with an away loss at Breadsall by 41 runs Breadsall made 156 for eight in their 45 overs but Ticknall capitulated, scoring only 115 all out in 30 overs

The first win came the following game away at bottom of the table Burton

Ticknall were put into bat and made a creditable 224 for seven, top scorer Read with 45 Burton were bowled out for 169 in the 37th over, Ticknall winning by 55 runs

The following game at The Grange against Hilton saw Ticknall get their second success Put into bat Ticknall made a good score of 256 for the loss of four wickets, Read top scoring with 70 Hilton made a poor show in reply making only 68 with Geutjens taking six wickets for 10 runs in seven overs

The last two games of the month ended in defeat, firstly away at Uttoxeter by a massive 286 being bowled out for 57 chasing a mammoth 343 made by Uttoxeter

The final game of the month was another loss, this time at home to Spondon, who batted first and were bowled out for 215 Unfortunately Ticknall were bowled out for 145 where Mayfield made 52 and Ticknall

lost the game by 70 runs

Ticknall 3rd team had an indifferent month, winning one, losing three and having one abandoned due to bad weather

Their only win was against Sawley by eight wickets

Sawley were bowled out for 114, Ticknall reaching the winning total in 17 overs with Foster making 61 not out The three defeats were against Burton, Rosehill and Ashbourne

n Your intrepid reporter has now watched his last live game of the season as he will be receiving a long-awaited hip replacement but be assured, I will receive reports from matches played and hope to report next month on the promotion of Ticknall 1st team back to the premier league where surely, they belong

l Members of Melbourne Dynamo FC during their gruelling Three Peaks Challenge

CRICKETERS BID FOR NET GAIN

MELBOURNE Town Cricket Club has embarked on a fundraising campaign to provide a new two-lane cricket net at the Melbourne Sporting Partnership

The current nets (pictured) are in a sorry state and, whilst they are still being used by players, they will be dismantled at the end of this season because of safety concerns.

New nets will benefit players from all age groups There has been a substantial increase in both junior and female members joining the club recently; junior membership has increased by over 300% since 2019 and the women’s softball team has grown from nothing to 28 players in just two seasons

There are now over 150 members regularly enjoying the sport at the club, which, having formed in 1861, is one of the oldest locally.

Installation of new nets will cost over £50,000 This is being financed through a combination of grants, loans, donations and fund-raising. The target for the new nets to go ahead is to raise £15,000 as the club’s contribution towards the total

The aim is to have the nets installed for the start of the 2025 season An English Cricket Board approved supplier has been engaged to design and install once the funding is in place

As part of the fund-raising challenge, Jules Raine is plan-

ning a non-stop 24 hour bike marathon at the MSP on September 27 and 28 and is aiming to raise £2,400. He is hoping other friends and team members will join him; everyone is invited to go and watch their gruelling experience He is planning to start at midday on Friday, the 27th, and go through until around 3pm the following day. People are also invited to join him on a cycle for an hour or two The event is being live streamed on TWITCH with a rolling donation counter, kilometres cycled and hours ridden information on screen.

To sponsor, or donate, visit

funding/jules-24hr-bike-ride

IT’S A STRUGGLE FOR TOWN FIRST ELEVEN

by Alex Slater

MELBOURNE Town Cricket Club first team continued to struggle in August but the second eleven performances picked up along with the thirds continuing to rack up points.

The first team started the month at home to Risley 1sts, who amassed a huge 302-5 batting first In reply an opening stand of 116 from just 11 overs from Faz Mehmood (58) and Ash Elwell (52) got Town off to a flyer, but wickets fell consistently as Melbourne ended on exactly 200 all out Uttoxeter 1sts were the visitors the week after and they fell to 167-7 thanks to three wickets apiece for Sam Jenkinson and Muhammad Nadeem but recovered to finish on 252-8 which Melbourne never got close to, ending on 170 all

out Away to Ockbrook, the home side scored 2279 but Melbourne’s reply fell short on 154 all out It was a lot closer a week later at home to Breadsall 1sts Batting first Town slipped to 11-4 but a stand of 122 between Ash Elwell and Matt Grimmett helped them post 183-8 off a reduced 41 overs, Elwell going on to to hit a quite superb 100 exactly and Grimmett 41

Two wickets apiece for Sam Raven and Nadeem kept the visitors quiet but they limped to the total seven wickets down with just nine balls remaining

The club’s second team started off the month in tough circumstances as they travelled to top of the table Muggington, who smashed a huge 4133 off their allotted overs Town’s reply was dominated by Bali Chohan, who smashed 62 from just 43 balls as Melbourne fell well short on 157 all out

A week later on a testing pitch away to Swarkestone 3rds Sam Adcock’s men struggled to 110 all out thanks mainly to the skipper himself, who scored 39

The home side’s reply was soon in tatters A remarkable spell of 5-11 by Chohan ably supported by 3-22 from youngster Isaac Walker saw Swarkestone shot out for just 61 to give the seconds a much deserved 49-run victory

A week later away to Quarndon 3rds, the home side scored 254-7 and Town could muster just 118 all out in reply The seconds finished the month with another trip, this time to Brailsford 2nds, who scored 285-2 In reply a superb 69 not out from Matt Nicholson and 64 from Ranjit Rathore took Melbourne close, ending on 246-7

The club’s third team had only three games in August and they began with an away match versus Ilkeston Rutland, who batted first and scored

170-6 Going into the last over all three results were possible A knock of 33 from Liam Landerssung and 19 not out from youngster Harry John took Town close but they lost their last wicket with three balls to go to fall to a four-run defeat

A great knock of 59 from skipper John Collins ably supported by Darvin Davis, who scored 36 not out saw the thirds manage to post 203-6 against Sawley 3rds

In reply a great spell of 4-5 from Khalid Mahmood alongside 2-32 from Adhir Christi shot the visitors out for just 115 to give the thirds an 88run victory In their final game of the month the thirds were shot out for just 75 but Melbourne pushed high-flying Victory 2nds close as Riley McTurk and Christi took two wickets apiece as the home side lost seven wickets in getting to Melbourne’s total

MELBOURNE Dynamo first team have had an impressive start to their 2024/25 football season winning all seven league games to finish the month in second place in the table

They began August with a hard fought 3-1 home victory against Derby Singh Brothers thanks to goals from Jack Griffiths,Tyler Withers and Jack Goodband

The first team then travelled to Gresley Rovers Reserves for a midweek game where both Jacks – Griffiths and Goodband – earned the three points late on

A third win on the bounce came at the expense of Cromford & Wirksworth as a Tyler Withers double plus a Dylan Muir finish saw Dynamo run out 3-1 winners This was followed by arguably the team’s best performance of the season so far as they beat a strong Holbrook St Michael's side 4-0 away from home

A double from Jack Griffiths plus strikes from Jack Bodill and Jack Goodband meant all three Jacks were on the scoresheet

A week later a fifth win on the trot came along versus Mickleover Reserves at Cockshut Lane

Isaac Gosling and Regan Bickerton grabbed their first goals of the season to earn a close 2-0 win, which was followed by a thrilling finish in Melbourne's next match away to Holbrook Sports

The first team scored a 90th minute winner courtesy of Jack Griffiths to go with a Tyler Withers finish as they came away with another three points in a 2-1 win

A perfect August was complete as James Smith, Jack Griffiths, Jack Goodband and Elliott Dawson were on the scoresheet in a comfortable 4-0 home win versus Mickleover RBL

Dynamo Reserves had a much more sedate month, playing just three games beginning with a home match against Inter Belper

An Alex Walsh finish earned them a point but Dynamo went one better a week later as they beat Cromford & Wirksworth Reserves 5-3, again at home Goals from Joe Shadbolt, Pav Sohota, Riley Moore, Mackenzie James and William Holmes earning the three points

Another 1-1 draw, this time versus Sleetmoor United finished the month, Joe Shadbolt once again on the scoresheet

Promotion closer and a trophy in the cabinet

by David Fox

AUGUST was a busy month for Ticknall Cricket Club’s first team with five league games and two competition fixtures The priority this season was always to gain promotion back to the premier league and, with only losing once in the month, another big step has been taken

The opening game of the month was at The Grange against Duffield Ticknall won the toss and elected to bat putting on 270 for the loss of four wickets It was a good top of the order batting performance with Paul Borrington making 55 and Cork making 57 but both were topped by young Tarrant making 71 not out The total was far beyond Duffield’s reach and they only managed 121 all out with wickets shared between the Ticknall bowlers in winning by 149 runs

The next game was again at The Grange against Quarndon, who won the toss and elected to bat However, they were soon in trouble finding themselves 62 for seven Lombard showed some fighting quality, making 62, and Quarndon were bowled out 142 Khizer took four wickets and Cork three Ticknall made light work of the total reaching 143 for the loss of one wicket with Wood top scoring on 66 not out

It was now a trip to fellow promotion hopefuls Clifton Ticknall won the toss and batted, which proved in hindsight to be the wrong decision On a difficult pitch Ticknall struggled to make 155 all out with captain Wood top scoring with 58 Clifton made short work of this, scoring 159 for three Man of the match for Clifton was Zaheer taking four wickets for 29 and scoring 56 in their total which helped his team win by seven wickets

Next it was back to the Grange against Alfreton The game from the start was affected by rain with a late start and a heavy shower during the afternoon Alfreton were put into bat and with rain breaks could only muster 128 all out Overs were reduced but Ticknall found no problem reaching the revised total (134), and losing only three wickets in the process

The final league game of the season was

away at Eckington, another promotion rival Ticknall elected to bat and a difficult start ensued with both Wood and Paul Borrington going early Ticknall fielded a weakened batting side and only 55 by Cork showed some resistance Through determination by the lower order Ticknall managed 162 which at the interval appeared well below par However, with spinner Wood opening the bowling Eckington were soon reduced to 10 for three Eckington batters buckled down and the innings progressed nicely Ticknall fought back, however, taking further wickets and, against all odds, the game ended in a very tight finish The last over commenced with Ticknall requiring one wicket and Eckington eight runs The second ball in the over Cork got the wicket and huge celebrations took place Another win and Ticknall find themselves in prime position top of the

table with three games to go

The two competitions brought only one success In the premier league cup Ticknall found themselves drawn at home to Cutney, noted as one of the best club teams in the country Fielding a weakened team Ticknall found the game hard Cutney batted first making a very good 274 in their 40 overs

Although Ticknall made a fist of it they were bowled out for 234 in the 37th over, losing the game by 40 runs

The other competition was a different matter The Burton Breweries Cup is a T20 competition Ticknall reached the semi-final stage which, together with the other semi final and then the final, was played on the same day and staged at Alrewas In the first of the semi–finals Ticknall were up against premier side Dunstall

Continued on Page 18

l Ticknall captain Tom Wood being presented with the Breweries Cup by Tom Alsop, the cup association chairman

SEVEN UP ... Dynamo players leave the field after their win over Mickleover RBL to complete a stunning August series of victories.

Photo: Jansen Brown Studios)