Melbourne Village Voice April 2021

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No. 341 April 2021

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Two totally different pictures with very interesting stories behind them.

You can discover their secrets inside.

LOADS OF RUBBISH Litter-picking volunteers shocked at what they have had to clear up

LOCAL volunteers who have been out litter picking on roadside verges near Melbourne have reported shocking amounts of rubbish – including deer skeletons.

Some of the action has been happening on the Ashby Road between Melbourne and the county border, with litter-pickers taking advantage of the period when the road was shut because of drainage works on Robinson’s Hill.

Friends Pam Worrall and Judith Long have notched up 10 hours of litter picking between them along these verges.

So far, the pair have picked up 52 black bin liners full of rubbish.

by Lucy Stephens

Pam said she and Judith had been appalled at the amount of litter they could see while driving between Melbourne and the A42.

She said: “It’s got worse, and worse and worse. Every time we drove past it becomes more upsetting because it’s just there.”

Judith and Pam have been out on five litter-picking excursions so far, getting right down into ditches to do a thorough job.

Most of the rubbish they have found has been crisp packets, milk cartons and empty takeaway containers.

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Melbourne Civic Society and the local footpaths group, meanwhile, also came out to the verges along Ashby Road.

Volunteers from the two groups were out litter picking on Friday, March 19, and again on Tuesday, March 23. On the second occasion, volunteers discovered the road had in fact re-opened but they carried on anyway.

Volunteer Paul Grimley said the state of the verges was “really disgusting”.

The groups even found five or six deer skeletons along the verges.

The civic society and Melbourne Footpaths Group collected 16 bags of litter, including car parts.

By March 24, the verges from Robinson’s Hill to near the county boundary had all been cleared.

“It feels very therapeutic,” said Pam. “You feel like you have given something back.”

She said that, while picking litter, she and Judith had received some congratulatory toots from passing cars, and cyclists had also shouted their thanks.

Pam and Judith are intending to keep on picking up litter until they have covered verges between Melbourne and Lount. Disappointingly Continued on Page 4.

l Members of Melbourne Civic Society picking up litter along the verges.

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Chance to thank local heroes

2 Village Voice April 2021

DO YOU know anyone who has gone above and beyond during the coronavirus pandemic?

If so, you can nominate people who really have made a difference in the South Derbyshire Community Heroes Roll of Honour.

The scheme is organised by South Derbyshire Council for Voluntary Service (CVS), Active South Derbyshire and South Derbyshire District Council.

This year, the traditional South Derbyshire Awards event is going virtual and will focus on the “incredible community volunteer response to the pandemic”, organisers said, adding: “It will give local people the opportunity to recognise members of the community, who are not key workers, that have helped them during this challenging time.”

Community heroes could include local businesses or community groups, friends or family members who have made sure you have your weekly shop or medication, or any volunteers in South Derbyshire you would like to thank for making a positive difference to you during this difficult time.

Submissions can be made until May 2 online, at www.southderbyshireawards.com

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Linda says she’s reached her ‘best before date’

more than £15,000 to small groups and projects, like the rugby club, Royal British Legion, allotments societies, Melbourne Assembly Rooms and many more.

She said she had “really enjoyed being a county councillor and working with people from all over the place”.

She added: “Public service is a privilege and there is some satisfaction in being able to make a meaningful contribution and, hopefully, leave an impact within one’s community.”

Asked if there was anything she was not able to achieve, Linda mentioned her campaign to get a bus shelter on Cockshut Lane; she was disappointed not to see through the Melbourne traffic review, which she feels is an issue which will continue long into the future, and a persistent frustration is with irresponsible parking.

Councillor Barry Lewis, the county council leader, paid tribute to her, saying: “I’d like to thank Linda for her tireless service for her local residents and the county council. She has been a passionate advocate for her division and South Derbyshire generally. Linda has been a key member of the group for the last eight years and I’ve very much enjoyed working with her during that time. She will be missed and I wish Linda well.”

Linda lost her husband Keith in the last few years and said she is looking forward to having a holiday, maybe a trip to Australia when it is allowed and trying to have a good sort-out!

She had one piece of advice for her successor: “Be on the ball”.

There is no doubt she will be a hard act to follow. n County council election candidates – Page 14.

by Frank Hughes

AFTER two terms in office as county councillor representing the Melbourne area Linda Chilton has decided to step down.

“We all have a Best Before Date,” she said “… and I believe I have reached mine! Another four years would take me to almost 80 and I would not be able to work at the same pace.”

The role is a demanding one in local politics, with six parish councils to attend as well as the busy schedule of meetings in Matlock.

Linda additionally took on roles for the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Authority; she was chair of the County Council in 2017/18, sat on the Audit and Scrutiny Committees, the South Derbyshire Partnership, three Safer Neighbourhood Forums and also was a governor at the Royal Derby Hospital and at the local junior school.

Over her eight-year tenure she reflected on many achievements including, in her early days, the speed check campaign in Ticknall, improving the access and realignment for the footpath adjacent to Swarkestone Causeway (Footpath 8), improving the road layout at Orchard Close so that emergency vehicles could properly access the residents in sheltered housing there, the rebuilding of a 20foot wall which had collapsed in bad weather in Newton Solney, and continuing to raise the need for a new road crossing at Swarkestone.

In addition, through the community leadership scheme, she has been able to provide

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Surgery’s online bookings system

ONLINE booking for appointments is now available at Melbourne and Chellaston Medical Practice.

The practice said patients could now book GP and nurse appointments, request medication and view blood test results online on the new system.

Anyone who wants to be set up for the new service is asked to email the surgery at reception.melbournesurgery@nhs.net Doors at both surgeries in Melbourne and Chellaston remain closed, but there is now an intercom which patients can use to make inquiries and speak to a receptionist.

The practice said: “We still need to keep the social distancing measures in place but we are trying to offer as normal a service as we can.”

They continued: “We are aware and acknowledge that telephone access to the surgery remains difficult at times. We are looking at reviewing our telephone message to highlight key points to the patients.”

An example of this is that anyone needing an on-the-day appointment should call between 89.30am.

Non-urgent queries could perhaps be emailed to the surgery, or patients could wait for a less busy time, the surgery said.

The practice said: “The practice receives over 1,600 calls a week and since improvements have been made we have already seen a reduction in the average call waiting time and we hope that this continues.

“We have also recently recruited new reception staff who will commence their training after Easter.

“The practice is very happy to receive constructive feedback on how things can be improved.

This can be put in writing or emailed to the surgery at reception.melbournesurgery@nhs.net and it will be forwarded to the practice manager.”

Two new members of the clinical team have also now been welcomed to the practice: clinical pharmacist Gurdeen Girn and first contact physio Nick Kommatas.

Gurdeep will be carrying out medication reviews and assisting with any medication queries, while Nick will be able to see any patients who have a problem of a musculoskeletal nature, ie: back, leg or neck pain.

Nick is an experienced, fully qualified and senior physiotherapist who is available to assess, diagnose and recommend appropriate treatment or referral for musculoskeletal problems without a patient being required to see a GP in the first instance.

There is another new member of the team, social prescriber Judith Kelf.

Judith is there to support patients who feel they need help on a social basis due to feelings of loneliness, or needing support with social aspects of their life.

The practice said: “We hope that introducing these types of clinicians will make more appointments available with the GPs. We will soon also be introducing a service where you will be referred to the local community pharmacies for treatment.”

The practice has now vaccinated more than half of its population with the Covid vaccine, with second doses now commencing. More first dose appointments will be made available in accordance with supply, the practice said.

Defibrillator training

AFTER a request from a member of the public for training in the use of the defibrillators around Melbourne, the parish council has voted to proceed with arranging training. It will be available to anyone who wishes to learn how to use the life-saving equipment.

Village Voice April 2021 3

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Off to get married on a bicycle made for two

IT WAS third time lucky for this pair of newly weds who got married at Breedon having cycled there for 15 miles on a tandem bike!

Jessica Knowles and Tim Featonby have been together for 10 years and got engaged in 2018.

They had planned their wedding for 2020, but had to reschedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Jessica and Tim finally tied the knot on April 1 at Breedon Priory Church, the third time they had had to reschedule.

Jessica said there had not been a lot of flexibility on available dates and the day they chose, April Fool’s Day, had been one some others preferred not to pick!

With current restrictions allowing only six people at weddings, it was a pared back ceremony, but Tim and Jessica are delighted to have made the day special in their own unique way.

Lovers of the outdoors, they cycled all the way to Breedon – where they lived until recently – from their new home in Rolleston. That is a journey of 30 miles there and back, which takes in 10 miles along a canal path and culminates in the steep hill up to the church.

Roman remains found

ROMAN remains have been discovered in Melbourne, the Village Voice understands.

Archaeologists have been seen working in an area of the village for several weeks.

We hope to bring you further updates in a future issue.

by Lucy Stephens

All did not go without incident as they got a puncture within sight of the church; no time to spare until their allotted wedding time, they pressed on regardless.

“We both enjoy going for bike rides, and we like to go outside,” explained Jessica. “That seemed the perfect way to sum us up.”

Tim and Jessica were married by Rev’d Mary Gregory.

Despite the day being different from the one they had originally envisaged, Jessica said the couple were determined not to allow the pandemic to put a total kibosh on their plans.

“I think we were just relieved that we could finally do it,” said Jessica.

“Rather than letting Covid dictate our plans, it felt so liberating.

“We saw it as an opportunity to say, ‘Actually, let’s scale it back and remember what this is all about. It was perfect for us.”

Because only Tim’s brother and Jessica’s sister were able to attend their wedding, they plan to have a larger party next year.

Walks with history twist

A SERIES of local walk packs with a historical twist have been launched in Aston on Trent.

Aston-on-Trent History Group noticed that many more people were exercising by walking in the countryside during the coronavirus pandemic.

They have planned and published a series of 10 area walks incorporating information about local history.

The packs were funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Group chairperson Carole Bagnall explained: “When you walk along footpaths you tend to look at the views, wildlife and flora, forgetting that history is all around you. Using the many footpaths around Aston and other villages we’ve included information that lets walkers know some of the fascinating facts from the past. “ Each A5 size walk pack contains a map, route directions and historical information. Packs are also available to download from: www.astonon-trent.co.uk or www.astonontrentpc.org.uk For hard copy packs contact Carole Bagnall or Richard Coates 01332 793196 or nibsaston@tiscali.co.uk Walk packs are free, though a small donation is always appreciated.

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Loads of rubbish

4 Village Voice April 2021

From Page 1 since they have been out, some more rubbish has started to accumulate on the verges they have already covered – dates on packaging prove that it was recently bought.

Bob Wheat, of Stanton-by-Bridge, who is the local church warden and chairman of the parish meeting, said he had been out litter picking every couple of months along the short stretch of the A514 from the Ticknall Road junction to the small cross roads at Wood End Lane.

He said: “It really is surprising how much waste is dumped, presumably from cars, along this short stretch of

road: McDonald food containers, coffee cups with plastic lids and straws, glass beer and spirit bottles, tin drink cans, plastic bottles and, of late, face masks and aluminium foil.

“It really makes me wonder how some people are brought up, with such neglect for the countryside. They almost seem to take a pride in it!

“There are a few others in Stanton that try to keep the verges clear and I would encourage anyone with a spare half-hour to don a high-vis vest, carry a picking stick and bin liner and help to keep Stanton and the surrounding neighbourhood tidy. It can be very satisfying.”

A NEW local initiative to keep our villages clear of litter has been promoted on social media.

Called ‘The Litter Wombles’, after the novels by Elisabeth Beresford, the 1960s TV series (and its 90s reprise) and the Mike Batt chart-topping song, the Facebook group has ‘recruited’ volunteers all over the East Midlands area and beyond.

Those who are too young to “Remember you are a Womble” need to know that the Wombles lived in a burrow on Wimbledon Common and recycled rubbish in imaginative and creative ways under the watchful eye of their leader, Great Uncle Bulgaria Coburg.

The administrators of the social media site are keen to point out this is

not an organisation, not aligned with any council or parish or other group, but a collection of individuals all picking litter at their own liability.

The site also lists some clear “do’s and dont’s” for pickers. These include wearing hi-vis clothing, gloves, and suitable footwear; only use a litter picker, never your hands; be wary of hazardous materials such as glass, needles, and wasp nests, There is also a need to seek permission if collecting on private land, such as around the Severn Trent reservoirs. Picked litter needs to be handed back in those cases, and not disposed of through the local council facilities.

Advice on obtaining litter picking kit is also available on their Facebook page.

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Festival set for September date

A BLOSSOM tree has been planted at Weston-onTrent Primary School to give hope for the future after lockdown.

Head teacher Sarah Burns explained: “We planted a tree during the Easter collective worship at school to celebrate new beginnings and hope for the future.

“A parent had suggested a blossom tree to mark

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MELBOURNE Festival’s Art and Architecture Trail will be happening this year, organisers have confirmed.

Festival director Sharon Brown said a Covid Safe festival would go ahead on September 18 and 19.

She said: “After lots of discussions the Festival team have decided to plan for a Covid Safe Festival this year as people desperately need safe social activities to look forward to.”

This year’s festival will be on a smaller scale than previous years; 2020’s event was cancelled because of the pandemic.

Artists will not be in houses, as not everyone will have had vaccinations by September.

However, they will be exhibiting in gardens, halls and gazebos where they can be socially spaced.

“The public can enjoy meeting the artists, bumping into old friends, and have an opportunity to buy original art in Melbourne now that the gallery has closed,” organisers said.

Food is also set to be available at Melbourne Assembly Rooms, Castle Square and the Senior Citizens Centre.

If it is safe to perform outside, the busk stops will also return, alongside food.

The festival will be sharing some of the projects local people have been involved in this year, such as The Melbourne Letters and Whispers from the Woods, which are still open for entries.

Organisers said: “Like all of us the festival has

suffered this year but has spent their reserves on projects to support local people.

“The festival is a not-for-profit organisation but there are significant expenses in putting on festival events, especially as there are additional precautions required at present.

“If you enjoy the Art & Architecture Trail and the other Arts Melbourne activities the festival team needs any support you can give by either becoming a Friend of Melbourne Festival or by volunteering to help out at the Festival in September.”

The festival is looking for a new home for its Arts Melbourne Gallery.

They want a gallery to act as a “hub” for a year-round presence to build a creative community in Melbourne, encouraging people to get together, get creative and sing, dance and perform together with Melbourne Festival as the highlight of a year of activity.

Sharon Brown said: “Creativity and taking part in the arts have been proven to improve wellbeing during the pandemic; let’s hope that all the creative organisations in Melbourne can work together to get our community up and running later this year.”

Anyone who wants to contact Arts Melbourne can email info@melbournefestival.co.uk or drop off a note in the box at the Post Office.

“We will look forward to meeting up with everyone at Melbourne Festival on 18th & 19th September for the launch of Creative Melbourne,” said Sharon.

Fabio-lous photo scoops a top national award

A TICKNALL photographer has won a major national award for his fabulous shot of a dog enjoying a blow-dry.

Fabio De Paola, who lives in the village with his wife Claire and children Luciano and Cecilia, won the Pets and Domestic Animals category of the British Photography awards for the striking and joyful image.

A photographer for more than 20 years, Fabio took the picture while covering Crufts for The Press Association.

It shows Lloyd, an Italian Greyhound Whippet Cross, being groomed at a pop-up spa for dogs at Roadchef in Norton Canes.

The spa was created by the motorway service area operator to highlight the importance of giving pets a break during car journeys.

Lloyd himself is no stranger to publicity, being a “social media micro-influencer” who is a popular canine model.

Fabio said he was “over the moon” to win. His award-winning shot has also been used on the popular quiz show Have I Got News For You. “It’s nice to get a bit of national recognition,” he said.

The awards ceremony would normally have taken place at a swanky event at the Savoy Hotel in London,

but this year was held virtually.

Fabio has been shortlisted in other categories of the awards in the past.

He started out by doing a photojournalism course in Sheffield, and his first job in the trade was at a paper in Cheltenham.

He has been working for the national and international press since 2002, taking many pictures for The Guardian newspaper and magazine.

Working mainly as a portrait photographer, he has travelled abroad extensively. His work has included commissions for Madame Tussauds in London, taking pictures of the rich and famous who are going to be made into waxworks.

Famous names in his portfolio include Tony Blair, Mike Tyson, the Kardashians and Donny Osmond.

One of the most important aspects of his job is to make people relaxed, he said – especially as he sometimes only has a few minutes to capture a great image.

So, what’s the secret of becoming a successful photographer?

“Good planning, and always looking behind people for where you can photograph them,” said Fabio.

“I am good at arranging things.

David Bailey used to say he would arrange his granny’s mantlepiece so it would look nice.”

No virus cases in area for nearly a month

Village Voice April 2021 5

THERE were NO cases of coronavirus in the Melbourne area for nearly a month, the latest figures reveal.

Figures compiled by Derbyshire County Council show that in Melbourne, an area which includes Kings Newton, Staunton Harold, Ticknall, Calke and Smisby, no virus cases at all were recorded between March 6 and April 2.

The Aston area, which covers Barrow, Weston, Swarkestone, Chellaston, part of Boulton Moor, Shardlow, Great Wilne, Ambaston and Elvaston, also had no virus cases for part of that time, although in the two weeks between March 26 and April 2 there were seven positive cases.

Numbers of people testing positive for coronavirus fell in South Derbyshire overall in March.

In the first week of March, from February 27 to March 5, there were 157 virus cases in the district.

That had dropped to 84 the following week.

The last two weeks of March, from the 20th to April 2, saw 126 virus cases recorded overall in South Derbyshire.

l Fabio with his children Luciano (seven) and Cecilia (five), and his national photography award.

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FIELDWORK … (l-r) Christopher Attwater, Harry Attwater, Henry Dunnicliff, Jeremy Butler, Alan Dunnicliff and George Dunnicliff planting trees on Bare Hills and Brown’s Field, Melbourne. These fields have been acquired by the Dunnicliff family.

AT A TIME when many retail businesses are turning their back on the High Street, Melanie Ayland thinks it is an ideal time to open her new shop Melanie Louise on Derby Road in Melbourne.

“People have missed the high street through lockdown,” she said “so I think it’s a good time to be opening a new shop. The interest and feedback so far has been very exciting.”

Due to open on April 12 on Derby Road her shop will stock British-made home accessories.

Her passion is for items sourced from small businesses with a story behind them. Thus, for example, the wool blankets come from Laura’s Loom, run by a lady in Sedburgh in the Yorkshire Dales, who collects the wool from nearby farms and fashions it into cosy blankets. Similarly, her cushions come from a designer in Surrey with Cystic Fibrosis, who has turned a passion into a small business.

“I am hoping that people will appreciate things

that are ethically and sustainably created and, most of all, made in Britain, and I want to share the story behind the products I sell,” she said.

This is Melanie’s first venture into the retail world. Originally from Prestatyn in North Wales, her previous experience has been working with Peter Scudamore, former jockey and horse trainer, as his personal assistant and a work rider. She has also been a science teacher in a secondary school in Gloucestershire.

Having had grandparents who had a jewellery shop she said: “It has always been my dream to open a shop.” She has just moved into the area with husband Rob who has a motorcycle business in Hinkley and she is looking forward to getting involved in the local community.

Helping her in the shop will be her two dogs, Larry and Chewie – named after the Star Wars character – and already they seem to be making themselves comfortable in the shop window! Despite their cuteness, they are not for sale!

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Open days to see church project

Phil helps young people’s award scheme return

6 Village Voice April 2021

THE first visitors were finally able to see a huge transformation project to a church in Barrow-upon-Trent this Easter.

St Wilfrid’s in Barrow has had more than half a million pounds of work done in 2020, thanks to a successful Heritage Lottery bid to turn it into a multi-use community centre which is still available for worship.

The lockdown announcement meant the church could not open for parishioners when the work was finished last year, but socially distanced open days were organised this Easter.

Nearly 200 people took part in those on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, with 10-minute slots for separate bubbles to admire the church’s brand new look.

St Wilfrid’s was also open for a church service on Easter Sunday.

Church warden Anne Heathcote said: “It was amazing, the sorts of expressions we heard were ‘wow’ and ‘awesome’ and ‘this is amazing’.”

The first weddings are starting to be booked at the new-look St Wilfrid’s, along with bookings for other community uses, such as a meditation class.

l Phil Marriott wearing his DofE top, and (right) a group of youngsters taking part in one of the activities.

A DEDICATED Duke of Edinburgh Award volunteer co-ordinator from Weston-onTrent has helped get a much-valued scheme up and running again.

Phil Marriott is one of a group running the open access scheme for young people who cannot do the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) scheme at school.

He was involved in a youth centre in Woodville, where many young people did DofE, which shut in 2019 because of budget cuts.

That meant eligible young people aged between 14 and 24 who had no other means to start their DofE course through school or another organisation could no longer do so.

But now the volunteers who ran these centres in Derbyshire have joined forces and applied for charity status.

Funding has been provided by Derbyshire County Council for the new group’s first three years, after which it is expected to be selfsufficient.

Phil said DofE was a great scheme and had helped many young people find value and purpose, including those who were perhaps starting to “go off the rails”.

DofE is offered at some secondary schools but not all, meaning some people miss out.

Phil never did DofE himself but said he had seen the huge benefits it had for those who had been through the scheme.

Before retiring in 2017, he worked as a Community Engagement Officer for South Derbyshire District Council and during this time he became aware that there were a lot of young people in the area, particularly Woodville and Swadlincote, who could not access the DofE award.

He said: “I think the DofE award is marvellous for putting a bit of purpose in young people’s lives.

“It gives them confidence and I think it gives them real purpose and it pushes them. It moves them out of their social comfort zone and it will

by Lucy Stephens

encourage them to develop new skills and make new friends, get fit, and volunteer in the community, and finally to get involved with planning expeditions with their friends.”

Phil said it was devastating when funding was cut: “I know that the only people who are going to lose out are those young people who just couldn’t access it.”

He is the manager of the new group, which is now accepting registrations from any young person resident in Derbyshire who cannot access other DofE schemes near them. The group is also looking to recruit adult volunteers who might be interested in supporting young people to gain their DofE award.

This could range from being a helper when needed, assisting with expeditions, or becoming a fully qualified leader.

Phil said: “Now is a particularly good time for young people to consider starting their DofE as it is sure to provide a much-needed and welcome diversion from Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns. Since the pandemic broke, the DofE has been adapting to respond to young people’s needs, using the flexibility inherent in the DofE and introducing temporary changes to ensure young people can continue their DofE With A Difference safely from home.”

The 2020 DofE Certificate of Achievement was also launched to formally recognise the achievements of participants who have completed their skills, volunteering and physical sections but are unable to do their expedition or residential due to Government guidelines.”

You can find more details on how to register or volunteer by visiting the website www.derbyshiredofe.org.uk

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l The Easter Bunny visited Wilson this year with the much-welcomed aim of cheering everybody up. Easter activities organised in the village included window decoration, an Easter bunny hunt, and Easter eggs for children. Pictured are (l-r) Elizabeth, Matthew, Verity, George and Etta in the village bus shelter with decorated wooden eggs.

Congregation finally gets to sing together – outside

Village Voice April 2021 7

THE Easter service at Melbourne Parish Church saw the congregation process outside to sing together for the first time in over a year.

Due to pandemic restrictions, Easter Sunday was the first service held in the church in Melbourne since Epiphany, just after Christmas.

More poignantly still, it was the first Easter Day service in church for two years.

Welcoming a socially distanced congregation to the service on Easter Sunday, the Rev’d Steve Short said: “It’s a joy to welcome everybody here today.

“I want to say a very big thank you to everyone who has made worshipping today in church

Parking snaps spark a social media spat l A police picture of a car on double yellow lines off High Street, Melbourne.

by Frank Hughes

IRRESPONSIBLE parking in the centre of Melbourne has been attracting negative comments on social media and has resulted in a spat between parish council chair Cllr Sheila Hicklin and the local police team.

Sheila posted pictures of vans parked on the pavement and dangerously obstructing the view along Ashby Road near the junction with Selina Street, describing it as “crazy parking”; the subsequent 60 comments continued to debate the issue and some were critical of the local police for not taking action.

This resulted in a letter by the local safer neighbourhood team (SNT) to the parish council complaining that the chair had been “unprofessional and unethical” in using social media to “incite local residents” against the police and highlighting issues which instead “should be brought to the police’s” attention, not causing “a hate storm”.

The problems of bad parking on pavements have become a national issue and last year the Government ran a consultation on what options there were to solve the problem.

One option is to extend the pavement parking ban in force in London, but it is thought this perhaps could take years to introduce.

At the present time it remains illegal to park on the pavement where there is a traffic restriction order in place, where there are parking restrictions in place (e.g. yellow lines) and where the vehicle is over a certain weight. There are also offences of wilful obstruction, unnecessary obstruction and dangerous obstruction of the highway, which can result in legal proceedings.

Sergeant Adrian Pegg, of the local policing team, said: “We are aware of concerns from local residents about vehicles being parked on a pavement causing an obstruction and have been carrying out patrols in the area. Parking issues are handled by a mixture of local authority and police powers, depending on the situation, and we are responsible for dangerous parking or obstruction.

“While parking on the pavement is not illegal as such, it could lead to an offence of obstruction if the vehicle would stop a pedestrian, pushchair or wheelchair user from passing by safely on the pavement.”

He added you can report parking issues on line

possible.”

Congregational singing inside the church’s four walls was still not permitted under the virus rules, although a small choir was allowed to sing.

However, outside singing was allowed so worshippers processed outside after Communion to sing the final two hymns outside.

Congregation members chatted to by the Village Voice afterwards agreed that it had been very enjoyable to be permitted to sing together for the first time in 55 weeks.

The Rev’d Steve Short is pictured outside Melbourne Parish Church with the congregation on Easter Sunday.

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01283 701001 at www.derbyshire.police.uk/ro/report/asb/asb/report-antisocial-behaviour The police did take enforcement action against one vehicle which had been parked on double yellow lines just off High Street, Melbourne, on March 26. According to the SNT social media “along with dodgy parking the driver had no licence or insurance and had driven all the way from Kidderminster”. The vehicle was seized and the driver, who was a contractor working on resurfacing the Assembly Rooms parking area, was reported for the offences.

Sheila Hicklin has herself written to the police to say that she believes there is no case to answer in respect of the allegations made and is awaiting a response.

An internal review by the parish council concluded that “there were no grounds for the complaint” the April meeting was told, and Cllr Hicklin said she was taking the matter further as an individual, rather than as a councillor.

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More spaces for parking

8 Village Voice April 2021

MELBOURNE has five new car parking spaces after works outside the Assembly Rooms (MARs) were completed.

South Derbyshire District Council were working on the car park for the last two weeks of March. They undertook an extensive programme of works including completely re-laying the car park surface; clearing and repairing the drains to ensure they do their job properly after rain; as well as taking down old sheds to create five new parking spaces.

The storage area on the right-hand side of the building has had its damaged roof and front panels removed, although the supporting uprights and beams have been retained for possible future restoration work.

In November last year, we reported that the Assembly Rooms had been allocated more than a quarter of a million pounds by South Derbyshire District Council to pay for repairs and building work.

Cllr Martin Fitzpatrick, representing Melbourne at South Derbyshire District Council, said: “It’s great to see the work finished in the car park; the extra spaces created will be very welcome in our village as our businesses and shops look to bounce back from the effects of the covid pandemic.

“Underneath the new surface several ducts were laid which at some point in the future can be used to lay cables for electric charging points without the need to dig up this new surface, so we have tried where possible to future proof the works.

by Lucy Stephens

“The capital investment from SDDC is being used in the core of our community and when all works are completed at MARs we hope that residents will be able to continue to use this excellent facility for many more years to come.”

Melbourne Assembly Rooms manager Andy Heafield said: “The car park has been stripped back to a depth of 150mm and re-laid with over 400 tonnes of new asphalt.

“The car parking bays have been marked out giving the right priority to disabled users, and we believe the car park will be more inviting to visitors to MARs and Melbourne in general.

“This stage of the works comes after recent replacement of our flat roofs and we look forward to the next phase of the project which is to repair, replace where necessary and paint the windows as we continue to work with the South Derbyshire District Council to ensure their funds are being put to good use.”

Cllr Sheila Hicklin, chair of Melbourne Parish Council, said: “Any improvement to help with parking in the village is always welcome.

“We appreciate parking is an ongoing problem, so a more accessible car park with additional parking spaces is an improvement.” n Has this helped the parking problems in Melbourne or does more still need to be done? Let us know your thoughts. Write to us at The Village Voice, 11 North Street, Melbourne DE73 8FZ or email us at letters@melbournevillagevoice.co.uk.

l Melbourne Assembly Rooms manager Andy Heafield, South Derbyshire district councillor Martin Fitzpatrick and Cllr Sheila Hicklin, chair of Melbourne Parish Council, in the newly re-laid car park, which (in the photo taken by Gordon Hughes, below) can be seen from the air.

Walking all over cancer

REOPENING UPDATE Throughout April we will remain as takeaway only but will start introducing a very limited number of outdoor tables for you to enjoy your takeaway at.

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Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10-4, serving hot and cold food, cakes, cream teas and a whole counter full of goodies.

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THESE two Melbourne ladies are stepping out for a great cause.

Heather McPhee and Sarah Rogers took part in Cancer Research UK’s “Walk All Over Cancer” fund-raising initiative in March.

The national campaign invited participants to raise money by walking 10,000 steps a day for the month, but Heather and Sarah decided to top that by undertaking double that amount!

March saw them walking at least 20,000 steps, around 10 kilometres, every day to help raise vital funds for cancer research.

“It’s something we wanted to do because my mum had breast cancer and recovered,” explained Heather. “I wanted to do it to make her proud.

“I think we almost didn’t realise how hard it was going to be. It’s been a big commitment, but obviously we are both really proud of ourselves.”

Heather and Sarah, both of whom have children at Melbourne Infant School, have been enjoying the huge variety of walks in the local area to undertake their challenge.

They particularly enjoy walking from Melbourne to Wilson and back, and to the

Limeyards in Ticknall.

“It’s been nice walking routes around Melbourne, and to do something positive, to be honest!” said Heather.

Sarah said: “I think everybody these days knows someone who has had cancer.

“I just felt like I wanted to do something creating awareness and this felt like something positive to do.”

If you would like to support Heather and Sarah’s efforts with a donation to Cancer Research UK, they are still accepting contributions. You can donate by visiting this link: https://tinyurl.com/2h2cfe7s

It’s good to be back, says Maria

THE founder of a muchloved charity promoting memories for families affected by life-limiting illnesses has voiced her joy at moving back to Melbourne.

Maria Hanson, of me&dee, said she could not be happier with her charity’s new base in Castle Lane. me&dee was previously based in Melbourne High Street but then moved to Derby for a few years.

But Maria (pictured above) said that a base in a community like Melbourne is a much better fit for a charity like me&dee, which prides itself on a warm, personal approach where people can pop in.

Also, the journey through traffic in and out of Derby was extremely tricky for Maria, who has disabilities herself.

Now she is keen to immerse the charity in Melbourne, with a stall at the market outside the Assembly Rooms once a week.

Other events are also planned, such as a craft fair on July 11.

“We don’t just want to be in Melbourne, we want to be part of Melbourne,” said Maria.

Maria received a Pride of

Britain award in 2014 and was made an MBE in the New Year’s Honours the following year for her work with families at me&dee.

The charity has a lodge in Sherwood Forest for families to go on holiday for free, the idea being to create memories of special times together.

But since lockdown started the families supported by me&dee have not been able to go on holiday, so Maria has organised special ‘treat packs’ to be delivered instead.

These contain special gifts for children to help bring joy even during a pandemic.

Maria has also been out delivering 100 Easter eggs to families in need.

Any businesses who would like to get involved in supporting me&dee are welcome to get in touch by popping down to its offices at 18A Castle Lane.

l Taylor Lewsley, six, with one of the me&dee packs.

Taylor had meningitis as a baby which resulted in his legs being amputated. .

Village Voice April 2021 9

The long farm of the law ...

FROM enterprising cows to an escaped goat – police have been having to deal with a couple of incidents involving animals recently.

On March 17 in Weston-on-Trent, police reported that one of their community support officers (PCSOs) had been alerted to a “report of anti-social behaviour of the four-legged horned variety”.

It turned out that a goat was on the main road, chasing cars and passing joggers.

Police said: “PCSO Robbins held the goat by its horns with the help of member(s) of the public until PC Stevens (pictured), from Swadlincote Police attended to assist.

“The goat is now safely back in its enclosure.”

Owners of pets and livestock were advised it is the responsibility of the owner to ensure they are kept under control at all times and secured accordingly.

On March 26, police were once again assisted when a herd of cows near Milton, in the words of police “…decided to check whether the grass was greener in a different field!”

PCSO Robbins and PC Stevens once again worked together to resolve the problem.

Police thanked the farmer and members of the public who stopped to assist.

C fo

10 Village Voice April 2021

CCop ppppiice ce Co oopp ce

l Katie, Rachel and Richard Chamberlain on the newly built staircase, and (below) the old very steep way of reaching the bell tower.

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New stairway makes life a lot easier for the bellringers

A BRAND new staircase at Aston-onTrent’s parish church means ringers will be able to climb up to the bell tower in safety once again.

The new stairs have been installed thanks to contributions from various sources including local donations and were tried out for the first time on Palm Sunday.

The previous staircase was extremely steep and, with no handrails either, was becoming an increasing concern for the church’s bell-ringing team.

“They were frighteningly steep … for a lot of ringers, both youngsters who didn’t like going up, to older people who were finding it more troublesome as well,” said the church’s tower captain, Martin Nicholson.

One problem caused by the steep staircase was that Derbyshire Young Ringers would not practise their skills at the church.

On Palm Sunday, March 28, when churches were able to re-open, the Chamberlain family from Aston ascended the new stairs to ring the bells, which had been silent since Christmas.

“In Aston, everybody always says it’s lovely to hear the bells ringing,” said Martin.

Bells have been rung at the church over the past year but in a limited fashion as, even when restrictions permitted, it was necessary to maintain a two-metre distance.

Chapel repair work gets underway

REPAIR work is currently being undertaken to Ticknall Methodist Chapel.

Residents of the village received a leaflet through their doors in March informing them of what kinds of works are currently being done to the chapel, a striking build ing which dates back to the early 1800s.

Fund-raising had started for a small refurbishment of the chapel including external painting, re pairs to the windows, re-pointing of areas of brickwork, re-bedding the roof ridge tiles and improvements to the kitchen and toilet.

The scaffolding currently on the chapel has enabled some of this work to be done, with money raised through a loan and fund-raising.

However, major problems with

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Church’s 21-year wait or a gate finally over

MPAIGN to get a gate installed hicular access to historic Breeurch has finally been won. the gate will be installed on the g up to the 1,000 year old church. , it will be locked during the hours

means that vehicles will not be able hurch when it is dark, but those on

hurch of St Mary and St Hardulph grade one listed building and a wellttraction with its sweeping views ngs. rable building has attracted much recent years, which is why local peokeen to get a gate to prevent vehiat night. nt, in 2019, a vehicle was driven hurch door and a sledgehammer stonework. shots have also been taken at the st serious incident was the theft of silver a few years ago.

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Cllr Ray Morris, chair of Breedon Parish Council, said: “The lead (on the roof) has gone three times; the Saxon silver has been stolen and never recovered and really, it’s all on our watch. A thousand years the church has stood, no problem, and on our watch over 30-odd years it’s a disaster.”

The path to getting a gate installed on the road leading up to the church has been challenging for all concerned.

The closure of a highway is quite a significant piece of legislation.

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the roof were uncovered, which meant more funds were needed than originally thought.

Funding has now been secured towards the roof and ceiling repair, but it is envisaged there will be additional costs as well as those for

any additional works needed.

The building on Chapel Street is listed and in a conservation area.

Anyone who would like to support the refurbishment with a donation can call 01283 217168 and ask to speak to a minister.

Efforts have included trying to get a Public Spaces Protection Order put on the area, which proved problematic because of the number of letters of support required, and the fact these needed to include a Personal Impact Statement.

Now the order has been put forward by local councils and has been signed off by the Secretary of State.

Cllr Morris said: “It’s the culmination of a huge effort both by the whole parish council team and previous parish councils.

Church vicar Rev Mary Gregory said: “I am very grateful to the parish council for working so tirelessly to secure permission for this gate, which will protect the church grounds and building and preserve the top of Breedon hill as a place of peace and of beauty. This is such a special place for so many. This gate will help keep it special for generations to come.”

At a meeting of Breedon Parish Council in December last year, police reported that they had dealt with seven incidents at the church over the previous month.

These included fireworks being set off and possession of drugs. Police gave out 13 Covid fixed penalty notices and said they fully supported the installation of a gate.

It is believed that the gate will prevent many of the incidents as they have often involved vehicles.

The gate will be shut at night by a team of volunteers, of which a few more are ideally needed.

Anyone who would like to help with unlocking and locking the gate is asked to contact Breedon Parish Council clerk Sam Lockwood on clerk@breedonparishcouncil.org.uk The vicar said a part-time heritage officer had now been appointed to “improve the experience of those visiting the church and churchyard”.

Also, repairs to the tower are now nearly finished.

Breedon Priory church won a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of nearly a quarter of a million pounds in 2019.

The money was given to repair the stone and timberwork of the tower and to employ a heritage officer.

The Revd Gregory said: “Breedon church already attracts hundreds of visitors a year. We want to make sure that they have a great experience when they visit, with engaging tours, accessible information and creative activities.

“Our newly appointed heritage officer will take the lead in helping us do this. One of her first tasks will be to recruit volunteers. We'd love you to join in!”

Breedon Priory is the oldest church in Leicestershire and houses a unique collection of Anglo-Saxon carvings, including the Breedon Angel, which is thought to be the earliest European representation of an angel.

Village Voice April 2021 11

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12 Village Voice April 2021

OBITUARIES DAVID INGRAM July 28, 1939 – February 16, 2021

FREDERICK WILLIAM DOWNING 1924 – 2021 FREDERICK William Downing, affectionately known as “Bill” passed away peacefully at his home, Herries Lodge Care Home, in Sheffield at the royal age of 96 on January 27.

Bill was born in Derbyshire and lived near Swarkestone prior to and after the Second World War. He was a proud member of the Military Police and served with them in Palestine for some considerable time prior to the creation of Israel.

After the war he married a Sheffield lass, Sheila, a member of the Land Army working in Derbyshire, and they both

subsequently settled in Sheffield and raised three children, Julia, Helen and Clive.

Bill remained in contact with his military contacts and was a keen member of the Royal British Legion for many, many years, the last four decades (at least) with the Chapeltown Branch.

Unfortunately, due to his failing health and the current pandemic he was unable to keep in touch with his friends at the club but he always asked how things were progressing.

Another good man gone, but not forgotten.

MERCHANT naval officer David Ingram, who served and worshipped at Melbourne Parish Church for more than 50 years, has died at the age of 81.

The only child of Major Edward Ingram and his wife Mary, David’s childhood was punctuated by his dad arriving home and going again, sending love to his son on postcards from around the world.

David joined the Merchant Navy as an officer cadet at 14, training for two years at HMS Conway on the Menai Straights.

Leaving there in 1956 he signed his indentures and remained at sea for the next 44 years. He found his sea legs on his first trip, crossing the Bay of Biscay in rough seas, reporting in his notes that he didn’t know what had hit him!

Over the next 16 years David worked for several shipping companies and sailed all over the world, including Newfoundland, taking grain to Russia; the Black Sea, the USA and Bermuda. Along the way he became tangled up in the wars and troubles in Ashdod, Beirut and Cyprus.

David’s longest single journey was when the Suez Canal was closed and he had to get to the Persian Gulf by way of the Cape of South Africa. With an attention to detail David wrote that this was 12,026 miles and it took 40 days, 17 hours and 12 minutes.

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Due to ongoing COVID restrictions the office remains closed to the public Melbourne and visitors, if you Community Care need any assistance please message the office on the following: Tel: 01332 863585 Email: melbourne-care@btconnect.com Website: www.melbournecommunitycare.com Please see our Facebook page for regular updates.

PETER HENRY WRIGHT August 9, 1930 – March 19, 2021 BORN at Quick Close, Melbourne, Peter was the eldest of four children, his siblings being Sheila, Christine, and Susan.

As a boy he helped his father Arthur with his mobile greengrocery business and attended school at Melbourne, before receiving a scholarship to go to Bemrose School in Derby.

Peter had many different jobs in his lifetime. After leaving school he worked for the Edwards family at Pool Farm, where he was late for work one morning and Mrs Edwards bought him an alarm clock and took the money out of his wages.

In March 1950 he began his National Service with the Royal Army Service Corps at Catterick Camp in Yorkshire, where he was a clerk in the stores.

In July 1950 of the same year aged 19 he came home on leave and married Betty

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By 1971 he was the second mate.

Moored in London he met and fell in love with Joanna Burden, recording in his diary on July 8, 1972: “I did the 3am watch because it suited me as I went and got myself married!”

David and Joanna were married in the Chapel Royal at Her Majesty’s Tower of London.

The couple set up home in Melbourne, with David carrying on with his life at sea, taking Joanna with him when the ship allowed and sending his love home by postcard when they were apart.

After a naval career of 46 years, the second half of which mainly saw him as ship’s master working vessels across the North Sea, and up rivers and canals into central

Europe, David came home for good to have a spinal operation.

Some years later, he provided 24-hour a day care for his beloved Joanna as tragedy struck and she became paralysed from the chest down. Even then he was never able to settle her down for the night without checking the shipping forecast and the barometer.

David’s faith was hugely important to him and he sang in the choir at Melbourne Parish Church when at home. Even when away, he was always keen to hear the latest recording of the church choir. He spoke to St Michael’s Youth Group about his faith and a life at sea, and to others about the spiritual times on the waves when God seemed very close, the ship was quiet, and the ocean vast and calm.

He also learned to ring the bells and regularly starched and ironed acres and acres of altar linen to military perfection.

A keen water colour painter, he was the master bread-maker for Lent lunches and provided hundreds of sticky date cakes for Church garden parties.

He was also a keen member of Probus, and a lover of science fiction: his cats were called after Star Trek characters!

Giving a eulogy for his life, Rev Margaret Jacques remembered a quiet, unassuming man with a gentle disposition yet nerves of steel, with eye-watering stories to tell about his life at sea.

Twells at Derby Register Office. They were married for 51 years before she passed away in October 2001.

After completing his National Service he worked at the military vehicle storage depot at Donington Park and later joined the Derbyshire police force, living with Betty in numerous police houses in the Heanor and Langley Mill area over a period of years.

Peter often told the story of when he and a senior officer, after a tip-off from the landlord, caught and arrested a Russian spy in a remote public house.

Peter left the police force and moved back to Melbourne where he went to drive lorries for Joe Laban. In fact, he was out driving a Laban’s lorry when Betty gave birth to their only daughter Diane in November 1965.

Peter became a manager of a bookmakers in Allenton, a job he enjoyed as he and his father, who assisted him at the shop, both loved horse racing.

Next, he went to work at Dovesite mushroom farm on Melbourne Common, where he worked as a labourer and also delivered the mushrooms to the wholesale markets in Derby, Alfreton, and Birmingham. Betty also worked there as a mushroom picker.

He loved messing around with cars and was a competent mechanic; he owned numerous vehicles in his lifetime and most Sunday mornings were spent at the scrap yard scavenging for spare parts with daughter Diane by his side.

The family left Melbourne in 1977 to move to a cottage in Hartshorne.

After the mushroom farm Peter went to work as a security guard for Gateway supermarkets at their distribution centre on Ascot Drive in Derby. Around this time he received a commendation for bravery from the Chief Constable of Derbyshire after he, together with another bystander, apprehended an assailant and gave life-saving

first aid to a lady following a stabbing in the Eagle Centre car park in Derby.

Peter’s final job before retirement was as a local government officer for South Derbyshire District Council where he inspected public footpaths and rights of way. This was a job he particularly enjoyed as he was able to take his dog Meg to work with him.

After retiring from work Peter and Betty moved back to Melbourne and lived in Selina Street.

Peter had one grandchild, Thomas, who was born in 1991; Diane spent a month in hospital before his birth and her father visited her every day without fail.

Peter’s son-in-law, also named Peter, had throat cancer in 1994 and Peter took him to and from the hospital every day for his radiotherapy. They had a great relationship.

Peter enjoyed growing his own fruit and vegetables and had an allotment at Melbourne for many years until he was unable to maintain it anymore.

Following the death of Betty, Peter moved to Breedon on the Hill to be near to his daughter.

He was a very generous man and supported his family financially throughout his life. He bought his grandson his first car when he was 17 and always helped out whenever anyone needed anything.

Peter spent his final years housebound, but weather permitting often sat outside by his front door chatting to friends, family, neighbours and visitors and told many stories about the “good old days”.

He was very independent until the very last week of his life and cooked his own meals and did his own laundry, only needing help with cleaning and shopping.

He passed peacefully away at the Coronary Care Unit at the Royal Derby Hospital after being admitted the previous day.

He will be sadly missed by his daughter Diane, son in law Peter, grandson Thomas, and the rest of his family.

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Will be missed by all.

Village Voice April 2021 13

OBITUARIES DOREEN BEARDSLEY December 4, 1926 – February 6, 2021 DOREEN was married to the late Gordon Beardsley; she leaves behind a son, Paul, daughter-in-law Kay, grandchildren Ryan and Jordon and great granddaughter Thea.

Doreen was born in Sheffield and was one of four sisters and two brothers.

She joined the land army aged 17, was posted from Sheffield to South Derbyshire and met Gordon in the 1940s.

Doreen was in the land army with Melbourne ladies Millie Pass and Ruth Bradshaw.

Doreen and Gordon married on the 4th September 1948 at Derby register office; Doreen was 21 and Gordon was 19.

Paul, their son, was born shortly after at the home of Gordon’s parents in Packhorse Road.

They moved to Ramsley, Radbourne and Stanton and settled in Melbourne in the early 60s.

Doreen later opened fruit and vegetable stalls in the Eagle Centre market and Mar-

ket Hall in Derby. Paul also worked in the family business, D Beardsley & Son. In retirement Doreen and Gordon regularly played bowls at Kings Newton Bowls Club.

Grandsons Ryan and Jordon remember with delight nana’s fried egg sandwiches! Also the numerous fun trips to Skeggy; going ten pin bowling and playing crazy golf and attempting to ring that bell!

Kay loved her bread and butter pudding, mashed potatoes, carrots and swede but not all on the same plate! And we all

loved ‘Nana’s savoury mince’!

Oh, and Paul loved his mum’s chips!

Paul remembers as a young lad the yearly family holidays to Blackpool and the fortnightly trips in his van to see relatives in Sheffield.

Doreen had fond memories of holidays; they often took several holidays a year to Spain.

She also enjoyed listening to Nat King Cole and the Archers.

Before any illnesses, Doreen and Gordon celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary together and when Gordon died they were two years short of celebrating their platinum anniversary. However, they were married for 68 wonderful years.

Doreen was 94 on December 4th 2020 and still lived at home until February of this year.

Finally, bowel cancer got the better of her and after a time in hospital she passed away on February 6th 2021.

Family was so important to Doreen and she would write daily memories about her family in her collection of diaries.

She will be sadly missed but will always be in our hearts.

LILIAN ELSIE SAUNDERS (nee Whitehouse), also known as Anne December 2, 1925 – December 14, 2020 ANNE was born in Walthamstow. Her official education ended at 14 with the closure of her school. A short unhappy period as an evacuee saw her return home for a few years, during which she witnessed the blitz on London.

Anne recalled peeping around the blackout curtains one evening just as a bomb exPictured is Anne, her daughter Liz and 'Lucky', who sadly ploded, obliterating homes on died three days after Anne at the age of nearly 17. an adjoining street.

In 1943 Anne joined the was ended. It was with sadness In 2003 Anne and Norman WRENS. On being offered a rou- that she lost both her parents moved to Breedon on the Hill to tine office job, she took it upon before she could tell them what be closer to Liz and Michael, herself to write a letter to the her work had been during the who lived locally. Anthony visappropriate authorities, ex- war. ited regularly from Rome. Norplaining that she could conIn 1953 Anne married Nor- man passed away in 2009 after tribute far more to the war man Saunders. They settled in 56 years of marriage. A few effort. Following this, and an in- Crowborough, Sussex, close to months later Anne moved to 43 terview in which it was revealed her great friend Jo, Norman's Castle Mills which proved to be she was adept at crossword puz- sister. They lived there for 50 a wonderful community. This zles – a pastime she enjoyed for years and had three children, was the perfect place for her the rest of her life – Anne re- Anthony, Elizabeth (Liz) and continued retirement. ceived a posting to the secret Michael. Anne loved fly fishing, Anne was a regular parishcodebreaking centre at Bletch- a hobby for very few women at ioner of the Roman Catholic ley Park. the time. She also visited Scot- Church in Melbourne. She died Having signed the Official Se- land regularly with Norman to peacefully in her sleep at home, crets Act she made no mention tour and fish. aged 95. of her war time work until 1975 when the 30-year restriction

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Work includes new refrigerators, reconfigured shelving, a new kiosk, new checkouts and display shelves for the produce section.

The bakery has had a refurb and a new oven. There is a new fresh juicer and water dispenser and more products to choose from.

During the closure, Sainsbury’s opened a temporary pop-up shop in the car park.

Manager Dawn Kendrick said: “We’ve really appreciated the patience and support of our customers throughout this major upgrade.

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Pictured are (l-r) front row: Deb Marshall, Glenna White, Ben Adcock, Nita Newbold and Sue Gray; back row: Darren Frost, Sally Ball, Dawn Kendrick and Kirsty Hancock.

Council facing up to future

MELBOURNE Parish Council will soon be back to meeting face to face instead of via online meetings.

Emergency legislation was passed in the House of Commons to give councils the power to do business over video conferencing, but the temporary law is due to run out the day after the local elections on May 6 and Melbourne’s parish clerk has been told there were not the resources to extend that legislation.

But, with the need for social distancing still likely to be in place, there was a lengthy discussion at the parish council’s latest meeting as to where such meetings could be held.

The new venue will be agreed at the meeting on May 4 – which will still be on videoconference.

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VOTING TO HELP SHAPE THE COUNTY’S FUTURE

14 Village Voice April 2021

WITH some big political issues on the horizon, including improving care for the elderly and vulnerable, the post-pandemic recovery for education and the economy and climate change, this year’s county council elections provide a real opportunity for voters to shape the future direction for Derbyshire.

At the time of writing just three candidates have declared themselves for the Melbourne area from the Conservative, Green and Labour parties.

There is a possibility of other candidates coming forward, with a deadline for nominations of April 8, the day the Village Voice goes to press.

There are a total of 64 seats being contested across Derbyshire and the Melbourne division, comprising the communities of Melbourne, Ticknall, Hartshorne, Bretby, Smisby, Newton Solney and Stanton by Bridge, will see a change of councillor as Cllr Linda Chilton is standing down after an eight-year tenure. There are approximately 10,000 residents of voting age in this area, although less than half regularly turn out to vote in the county elections.

Village Voice invited the candidates for Melbourne division to provide information about themselves and their pledges.

The Conservative candidate is DAVID MULLER, currently resident in Etwall and district councillor for Etwall Ward.

“I am delighted to have been selected to stand as the Conservative Party’s candidate for the Melbourne district in the upcoming county council elections. I have lived in Derbyshire for over 40 years, originally being transferred to East Midlands Airport by my employer KLM, the Dutch national airline.

My task then was to set up and run the first nocturnal freight operation into mainland Europe. I like to think of this as being the forerunner of the highly successful air cargo operations now seen at the airport today. I then set up a freight forwarding company and East Midlands Airport was the obvious geographical location for this venture. The company ran successfully for 38 years. I like to think I know the Melbourne area well and have many friends in and around South Derbyshire. My retirement from the industry gave me time for my other interests, being local politics and education.

I became a parish councillor in my village of Etwall and later a district councillor for the Etwall ward. I am presently chairman of

South Derbyshire District Council, a position I have held for two years but which comes to an end in May. Representing the people of South Derbyshire, my fellow councillors and staff at the civic offices has been a tremendous honour for me.

I am also a trustee of the Royal School for the Deaf Derby, an organisation I have been involved with for the past forty years.

If elected on 6th May, I know I will have a tough act to follow with Cllr Linda Chilton being such a supportive and well known personality in the area. I am working closely with her to understand any ongoing issues to ensure I am able to take them forward without any break in the process. I am confident that I have the experience and motivation to support the people of the Melbourne district at county level and, if elected, look forward to pursuing this aim over the next four years.

There will be challenges ahead but also exciting prospects, especially with the additional employment opportunities and financial benefits that will be brought to the area by the successful freeport bid. My aim will be to work to ensure Melbourne sees as much benefit as possible from this major project.”

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JANE CARROLL is standing for the Labour Party.

She is very well known in the area having been on the parish and district councils.

“I have lived in Melbourne for 50 many years. My sons benefitted from an excellent education at the local primary and Chellaston schools. I want to see that children from Melbourne can continue to attend Chellaston School.

I am a retired practice nurse and had worked at the local surgery for 30 years. This work has given me insight to people’s problems that can often be hidden in rural communities. I volunteer as secretary for Melbourne Community Care Group which provides help and support to vulnerable people in our community.

Standing for the Green Party is JONATHAN WOOD. “I’m Derbyshire born and raised and have lived in Melbourne for seven years, along with my wife and three children. I work in IT as a technical architect and take an active role in the community, organising litter picks and helping run Melbourne Table Tennis Club.

I would like to be elected to the county council to offer an alternative and independent viewpoint on the Conservative dominated council.

There are lots of ways the council could be saving money – for example, thousands of pounds are spent on cutting grass verges, when other, more forward-thinking councils have set-aside large stretches of the roadside for wildflowers and reaped the financial and environmental benefits.

Another example is the large amount of fossil fuel pension investments the county council holds. The council should have divested years ago; Friends of the Earth & Transition Economics estimate that those invest-

I am currently chair of the Board of Melbourne Assembly Rooms working with others to improve the building and com-

ments lost £64million between 2017-2020. If the council dispute these figures* I'd like them to publish what they believe the losses really are.

These decisions are important and too often the county council is acting too slowly.

Most English councils have declared a climate emergency, to help focus the council on their important role in tackling this global crisis – Derbyshire CC is behind on this issue and needs to catch-up.” *The Village Voice has been told that the county council does believe these figures to be incorrect.

munity facilities for us all to enjoy.

As a parish councillor and my past experience as a district councillor I have gained a wide understanding of local government and will use that knowledge for the benefit of residents in Melbourne division.

I am proud to be Labour’s candidate for the county council elections in May. If elected I will be working hard for all the people in the area.

I will work to keep the library open under county control rather than depend on volunteers; restore the pavement from Melbourne to Wilson and protect green spaces; develop the use of green technologies locally, and improve care and support for elderly and vulnerable people.”

The elections will be taking place in a Covid-secure way, and residents have until April 19 to register their right to vote. There are options to vote by post or have a proxy vote as well as voting in person.

For more detailed advice on how we can help you, call us now on:

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Series of art exhibitions

In addition to the county council elections there will be one for the Police and Crime Commissioner.

A GROUP of artists has got together to put on a series of exhibitions in Melbourne.

Michael Cook, Michelle Holmes and Sarah Kirby are behind the new group, called Nest, which is a pool of around 20 artists with shared interests who will this year be showing their work twice over a weekend.

When restrictions ease further, it is expected Nest will be showing work three times a year.

The group is intending to hold a spring, summer and pre-Christmas exhibition, with the first one to be held in Melbourne Assembly Rooms on the weekend of June 12.

SPEEDERS CAUGHT

NINE drivers were caught speeding when police conducted checks in Stanton-by-Bridge, Melbourne, and Barrow-upon-Trent on one day.

The speed checks were conducted by police community support officers on March 10.

Village Voice April 2021 15

Future of farming at stake VILLAGE VOICE Postbag

COLIN Stewart (Village Voice Jan 2021) raises some interesting points. Sustainable farming is farming in a way that can carry on in perpetuity. This is the way that farming was pursued until the last 60 years or so when the very laudable aim to grow more food and grow it more cheaply became the overriding criterion for successful farming.

EU subsidies were paid on the area of land on which food was grown, so clearly the incentive for the farmer was huge. Disappointingly, and it was no one’s ‘fault’, we failed to see the long-term effect of such a policy on the health of the soil and the diversity of the natural world that is so important in supporting our aims.

The net result is that we have a farming industry wedded to high cost input of fertilisers and chemicals in order to produce food. This is unsustainable as the natural world is becoming so diminished by our activities and declining ever more rapidly.

At the same time the soils, the top 30cms or so on which we depend, are similarly being damaged so that they too may in time be unable to support our crops.

Clearly this cannot be allowed to continue. The Government’s aims for farming subsidies seem to be going in the right direction with the new incentives to farmers.

Mr Stewart fears that ‘the environmental lobby has taken over the Government’. I really think we can ill afford to look at it in this way anymore.

Farming and the care of the environment (and the repair of its rapidly diminishing diversity) are one and the same, inextricably entwined. If we look after the natural world it will continue to look after us. Allow it to disintegrate along the path we have followed up to now and the future for both humanity and farming is dire indeed.

Reducing dependency on chemicals and encouraging a richer and more diverse countryside could increase yields and cer-

Enjoyable stay

I WOULD just like to say how much I enjoyed my stay with all at Pool Cottage in my time of need.

Thank you to Emma Salt (manager), Matt Buckley (deputy manager), all the carers, kitchen staff, Martin (handyman) and also the domestic staff.

You were all dedicated to your jobs and nothing was too much trouble for you all when I needed a caring hand.

I also liked getting to know all the residents at the home and enjoying their company.

The home was very nice and my room overlooking the pool was really nice and well equipped with all the necessary things I needed and felt very homely.

The meals were always nice and I liked joining in with the daily activities put in

place to keep everyone entertained.

My family and friends liked the fact they could still come and visit me while the Covid19 pandemic was still around.

They just sat in the “pod” and they could have a chat and also see how I was getting better.

I intend coming back for a visit when the ‘Covid’ is relaxed, to see everyone and spend the day there.

I would recommend the home to anyone who is in need of some respite. Thank you all for all the help and care I needed on my road to a full recovery.

Hope to see you all soon. Once again I say THANK YOU from myself and my family members.

Dorothy Wright Aston-on-Trent

tainly increase the financial viability of farming.

Evidence would suggest that on those farms where the farmer has taken a ‘leap of faith’ and gone down this road already, the benefits can be very real. This does not mean planting trees everywhere (as Mr Stewart worries) but certainly encouraging a ‘rewilding’ of considerable tracts of land whose value as agricultural land might be in question.

The charity ‘Rewilding Britain’ reports (Jan 22): ‘We’ve already got 22 ambitious rewilding projects on the map and within our network community we currently have 216,385 acres in rewilding.’

We live in interesting and worrying times – we all have a vested interest in the future direction of farming and care for the natural world. Time alone will tell whether or not we are successful.

Joe Nutman Aston-on-Trent

Stamps charges

THANK you to all fellow hoarders who have sent used stamps for the RNIB. As Royal Mail are charging me £1.50 for any envelopes containing a surprisingly small number of used stamps that make the envelope too thick, please check with the Post Office that the unused postage stamp on the outside of the envelope is sufficient to cover the postage.

Alternatively, please telephone me, as Jane Lakin or myself may be able to collect your stamp stash, depending on where you live.

Thanks again.

Jean Grimley (telephone 01332 863385 or text 07904 245789).

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THERE has been speculation in the media and on social media about the future plans for our care homes across Derbyshire.

We’re sure this will have caused unnecessary stress and anxiety to residents, their families and our staff at a time when they are still dealing with the effects of the pandemic.

As one of the largest providers of local authority residential care in the country, we’d like to reassure you that we remain committed to ensuring older people can lead dignified lives in accommodation that is fit for purpose.

We’d like to make it completely clear that following an extensive public consultation,

members of our Cabinet agreed that none of our care homes would close.

It was vital that we carried out the consultation given the deteriorating state of 10 of our older buildings, their urgent need for significant repairs, the potential cost and the disruption to residents.

And we listened to the public’s views and agreed that we would continue with the planned refurbishment of three homes and none of the seven originally proposed for closure would do so unless a local care home or alternative provision was available to replace it.

Indeed, we have invested in the seven homes that are remaining open to carry out

Village Voice welcomes your opinions. Email them to letters@melbournevillagevoice.co.uk

Council website update

A NEW parish council website for Melbourne is on the way at last.

After the old website became inaccessible the council has been trying to get a new one up and running. Cllr Carol Fearria told the parish council that training for councillors to learn how to upload information to the new site was due to take place this month.

The old website crashed, suspending public access online to all historic papers and documents back in 2020. Now the council has the job of restoring archive material.

The domain name for the old website “melbourneparishcouncil.org.uk” appears to have been hi-jacked by a Spanish free book reading site.

extensive repair work to ensure they are fit for the 21st century to keep our vulnerable residents and staff safe.

All the council’s proposals for ensuring we have the right type of accommodation for older people across Derbyshire are included in our ‘Housing and Accommodation for an Ageing Population: A Strategic Vision for Derbyshire 2035’ which can be viewed at /www.derbyshire.gov.uk/socialhealth/adult-care-and-wellbeing/accommodation-and-housing/accommodation-and-ho using.aspx We will continue to work closely with district and borough councils, housing and care providers and developers to meet future housing needs while also providing a much-needed boost to the county’s postCovid economy.

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is the vital part that our care homes play in the lives of Derbyshire residents and we’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who works in our care homes, and those in the private sector, for their commitment and dedication.

They have done an amazing job in extremely difficult circumstances and have been a vital lifeline to people when they were unable to see their loved ones and for that we are thankful.

Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader, Derbyshire County Council Councillor Jean Wharmby, Cabinet Member for Adult Care

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Group sets sights on a ‘new normality’

18 Village Voice April 2021

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Melbourne Hall Ice Cream/Coffee Hut We have several positions available to work 3/4 days per week in our new outside coffee hut, serving hot drinks, ice cream, cold drinks and snacks. Hours of work will be 9am - 1pm or 1pm - 5pm Monday to Sunday on a Rota system, so must be available for some weekends and also additional days to cover holiday/sickness.

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Please email a detailed letter or CV to info@melbournehall.com or call 01332 862502

THE MELBOURNE U3A group has adapted well to the limitations of lockdown and is making plans for getting back to some sort of ‘new normality’.

U3A is a self-funding organisation for those who are retired, part-retired or without full-time responsibilities, who share skills, knowledge, or experiences and enjoy social contact. The local Melbourne branch has been running for more than three years.

Chairperson Marjorie Tunnicliffe said that they had struggled at the start of lockdown, like many other organisations, trying to adapt to new ways of meeting online and keeping groups going, but a number of the subject groups seemed to have thrived and adapted well to the unusual times.

There are eight groups still meeting regularly as well as a regular Friday ‘coffee morning’ where you just log on for a general “chit-chat”.

There is a current affairs group, who have run topical quizzes on the latest news stories and have occasional speakers, one of whom gave a presentation about the HS2

rail project. The art appreciation group has sessions which focus on a specific style of art, such as Expressionism or Surrealism, while the TV art group arranges to watch one of the programmes on art on television and then chat about it.

The laughter therapy session is not, as it sounds, an excuse for telling jokes, but it taps into the benefits to be derived from just laughing out loud! Anyone who knows Marjorie will appreciate just how infectious her laughter can be!

There is also a family history group with Sue Webster, who is very knowledgeable about ancestry and accessing various kinds of records; a reading group – where the group choose a book to read and then discuss it; talking technologies with Geoff Dowell, and a relatively new photography group.

There is also a meeting for all members on the first Thursday of the month, with a

guest speaker. Recent speakers have been Pat Brearley from Tollgate Brewery and Kevin Little, a fishmonger, who regaled the group with fishy tales!

In addition to the organised Zoom groups, a small number of the committee have kept in touch with all the membership, numbering around 100, with either occasional or more regular contact, and have had feedback as to just how much that has been appreciated. The group has also published a regular newsletter to members with updates on activities and useful contact information.

Looking forward to a post-pandemic world, Marjorie said they are planning to have their annual general meeting in July which will be covering the last two years. It will be organised in accordance with the distancing rules applicable at the time.

They are also planning to be at the local market on June 3, handing out leaflets and information. The group is always open to new membership, and more information can be found on their website, www.u3asites.org.uk/melbourne-area.

n Margaret and Christian MurrayLeslie, of Melbourne, took part in a nationwide day of action on March 26, urging support for the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill put forward

by Green Party MP Caroline Lucas.

Margaret and Christian are pictured holding a banner in Melbourne Market Place.

Melbourne Area Transition group’s Graham Truscott, in a letter to the Vil-

lage Voice, takes to task MP Heather Wheeler over the emergency bill.

Mr Truscott, of Ticknall, says the MP “is more likely to understand what is required – and vote for the bill – if more of her constituents raise her voting record with her.

“She is also more likely to ‘do the right thing’ if the May local elections return candidates who totally understand the CEE imperative.”

He goes on to suggest that voters in the local election “can, at the very least, ask each candidate to make the following promise: "If elected I pledge to ensure that our council works with local residents to rapidly implement a Climate Action Plan which drastically cuts emissions over the next 10 years, and that the climate and ecological emergency is a central consideration in all council actions."

by Frank Hughes

LICENSING ACT 2003

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR NEW PREMISES LICENCE Melbourne Hall Events - Melbourne Hall, Church Square, Melbourne, Derbyshire DE73 1EN SUMMARY OF PROPOSED LICENSABLE ACTIVITIES (HOURS AND ACTIVITIES APPLIED FOR): LICENSABLE ACTIVITIES Regulated entertainment, films, sale by retail of alcohol.

LICENSABLE ACTIVITY HOURS: Thursday to Monday - 1100hrs to 2300hrs.

OPENING HOURS: Thursday to Monday – 1000hrs to 2345hrs Dated: 6th April, 2021 The register can be viewed during office hours at South Derbyshire District Council, Civic Offices, Civic Way, Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE11 0AH. Please contact: 01238 595890 or 01283 595724 in order to make an appointment. Alternatively, the full application can be viewed at www.south-derbys.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.

SOUTH DERBYSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL Your County and District Councillors can no longer hold advice surgeries because of the Covid rules, but are available on phone or email: LINDA CHILTON (County) - 07973 753525/01332 695112 linda.chilton@derbyshire.gov.uk MARTIN FITZPATRICK (District) - 07710 030187/01332 862323 martin.fitzpatrick@southderbyshire.gov.uk JIM HEWLETT (District) - 07979 976860/01332 863927 jim.hewlett@southderbyshire.gov.uk

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65 years of marital bliss

Village Voice April 2021 19

l Hannah and Stephen Wilkinson at home in Melbourne and (right) on their wedding day in 1956.

EASTER Saturday marked 65 years of wedded bliss for one Melbourne couple.

Stephen and Hannah Wilkinson tied the knot in Colne, Lancashire, on April 3, 1956, aged 22 and 21. Their married life has taken them to various different places in the UK, their most recent move being a couple of years ago to Melbourne to be near their eldest daughter, Christine Lee. Stephen and Hannah began their married life in London where Stephen was a bakery teacher at Hendon Technical College. This job was a continuation of the family business, Stephen’s father having been a baker before him.

The couple had four daughters, Christine, Sarah, Rachel and Emma, and the family returned to their roots in Lancashire where Stephen took on the family bakery business, from which he eventually retired in 1998.

The couple moved to Castle Donington where they played an active part in the local Methodist Church.

Stephen continued in a lay role for the church – he has been a local preacher for 60 years. Both

PUBS BOOK BACK ON TAP

MELBOURNE Historical Research Group has organised a second print run of its well-researched and illustrated publication as the first print run of books was sold within days before Christmas 2020.

The books are priced at £14.95 collected or delivered within three miles of Melbourne. Postage and packing if required is charged as applicable.

The books are now available and collection or delivery can be arranged by telephoning Jean Grimley on 01332 863385, emailing grimjeannie@aol.com or texting 07904 245789.

Airport losses

EAST Midlands Airport is losing about £1million per day in the current situation, according to Community Engagement Manager Colleen Hempson.

Addressing Melbourne Parish Council at its latest meeting, she said that, while the freight side of the business had seen a strong year, the airport could not survive without the passenger flights.

Cllr Terry Summerlin asked what had happened to the review of flight paths, which had started before the 2020 lockdown. She said that she expected a full public consultation to take place in spring or summer 2022.

T V AERIAL SERVICES

he and Hannah were involved with the Grapevine Café for 20 years, a church-run community service operating on Thursday mornings.

Highly creative Hannah still keeps her hands busy with fine needlepoint embroidery. Over the years, her handiwork has included beautiful embroidered pieces including framed work and a bell pull.

Stephen, meanwhile, is still a keen baker aged 87. He bakes bread for himself and family twice a week, kneading the dough with his hands in the traditional way, and not a modern breadmaking machine in sight!

“Baking and preaching are the two arms of my life!” he said.

Aside from baking and embroidery, Stephen and Hannah enjoy seeing their daughter Christine and spending time in their garden.

Covid restrictions being as they are, they have not been able to celebrate their milestone anniversary with any kind of celebration, but hope to mark the occasion by seeing family at a wedding later in 2021.

The Common Touch...

TIME TO BOUNCE FORWARD

MELBOURNE Area Transition has been given some ‘seed funding’ to start a project locally as part of the ‘Transition: Bounce Forward – What If – What Next?

Project’.

This is a project that has been created in response to the pandemic, aiming to support local transition town groups to organise activities which will contribute to a more caring and environmentally sustainable future.

It has been generously funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and more information can be found at https://transition-bounceforward.org/ The start of this project is a ‘What Is’ online zoom meeting to introduce what transition towns are about, look at inspiring projects from around the country and

also look at what fantastic community projects and groups we already have locally.

If you are interested in environmental topics, renewable energy, making our community stronger post-Covid, food growing or other green issues then we warmly invite you to join us on Wednesday, April 21, at 7pm.

We have a Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/MelbourneAreaTransitionUk and this is where you can contact us for the zoom meeting details.

It would be great to gather people together in this non-political, non-protest, proactive project.

Melbourne Area Transition has already started fantastic projects in the area, but

together there’s more we can do. We plan to expand some of the sessions to people in South Derbyshire, at Timber Festival and the Melbourne Arts Festival.

The larger project has been inspired by the Rob Hopkins (initiator of the whole Transition movement) book ‘From What is to What If ’ – unleashing the power of imagination to create the future we want’.

We will be organising some What if? sessions later in the summer online and in person, where we will travel in our transition time machine to 2030 and imagine how amazing the place we live in, could be.

If we can’t picture it, we can’t create it, but we need to start now and work out what we can do to make it happen.

– Katherine Parrish

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20 Village Voice April 2021

Happy jacks ... bowling’s back SPORT

BOWLING has started up once again in Kings Newton, with competitive play looking set to begin next month.

Play opened at Kings Newton Bowls Club on the last day of March, with players currently having to book to get a game and a maximum of six allowed on the green at the same time.

The club has reported that league games look set to start after May 17 when most players will have had their first and second vaccines doses.

The bar at the club is planned to open for outdoor, table service drinks on April 18.

Committee meetings are still being held over Zoom, and the annual general meeting will take place as soon as is possible.

The club has a new secretary, Ben Roe. He has taken over from Gayle Summerlin, who held the post for many years and “always did a wonderful job” the club said.

Mavis Taylor is also leaving the committee after many years’ service, including as chair.

Chris Halstead takes over as bar manager and is eager to start pulling pints again.

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ALL the local sports clubs are back in action following the enforced three month lay-off.

The Melbourne Sports Park (MSP) welcomed everyone back and has seen a great enthusiasm from all groups with numbers at an all-time high as people look to get back to doing what they enjoy.

Melbourne Dynamo Football

by Alex Slater Club was the first to return to competitive matches as all four senior teams were in action over Saturday, April 17.

Melbourne Town Cricket Easter weekend with the SaturMelbourne Dynamo Reserves Club has begun training in day first team hosting local ri- returned to action away to a readiness for a full 2021 set of vals Castle Donington in a strong Little Eaton first team fixtures and, as the photos friendly. from a division above and went show, the club’s first junior Gav Salisbury’s men came down 3-1, despite a battling training session was very well away with a comfortable 5-1 performance. Owen Morrell got attended. win which also put some much the only consolation for Adam In fact the club saw the most needed minutes into the play- Dolman’s team. juniors ever attend a training ers’ legs.

Dynamo’s Development side session since it reformed its junA double from James Smith actually started their Division ior section nearly a decade ago. plus strikes from Isaac Gosling, Two Cup campaign with a stunThe club’s senior sides have Karl Munton and a storming ning 5-2 away win against Cas- also begun their training sesheader from skipper Carl Allsop tle Donington Reserves. sions as they start their league completed the scoring as they Jake Hull led the way with a programme on April 17 with now move to a home friendly brace, plus further goals from friendlies being played the with Cromford & Wirksworth Ethan Watson, Joe Dale and weekend before.

Melbourne Rugby Club is just before their league campaign veteran Gav Spencer securing thankful to be able to do any re-starts at home to Linby on the victory for Mick Poynton kind of training as it’s been well and Duane Mclellan’s men to over a year since the last league give them a great start in their fixture. Their first training sesmini cup competition. sion back on March 30 saw a Melbourne Dynamo Senior remarkable number of more Sunday side also began their than 100 senior players turn mini-league on Easter weekend up. Their respective junior and were well beaten by a very teams are back to training on good young Smalley Villa side. other nights.

The enforced lay-off did Ross Finally, Melbourne Tennis Carcary’s team no favours. Fit- Club is in the midst of hugely ness played a part and the exciting times because as well younger Smalley side came as being able to get back to away with a comfortable 3-0 playing from March 29, the win at the Sports Park. three brand new courts are well The Dynamo Junior section is under construction at the now back in full flow too with Sports Park. It is hoped they the Saturday morning soccer will be in use by the end of this school run by Rich Docherty re- month. The nine teams they turning to many excited faces. enter into the Burton league All the club’s junior sides, in- have been told that they will cluding the girls’ section, were play a reduced programme back in training on the MSP’s starting in June, but the DerPay us a visit at 64 Church Street, Melbourne, Derbys Artificial Grass Pitch as soon as byshire league has confirmed Tel. Derby (01332) 862091 they were allowed, in readiness that its full fixture list will go www.melbournegun.com for their return to league action. ahead and starts early May.

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