Melbourne Village Voice February 2019

SCHOOLS IN ROAD SAFETY APPEALS

by LUCY STEPHENS

HEADS of both Melbourne schools have implored parents to give their “urgent support” to protect children’s safety by not parking opposite zig-zag lines or parked cars on Packhorse Road at drop-off and pick-up times

Newsletters from Melbourne Junior School have for several years been regularly politely advising parents of the problems caused by parking opposite the zig-zag lines when dropping children off and picking them up at the beginning and end of the school day

Near misses have been reported in the past

The matter came to a head on January 29 when, on a particularly wet day, Packhorse Road was so choked with traffic on both sides of the road that a bus could not get through at around 3 30pm – a time of day when hundreds of children are coming out of Melbourne Junior and Infant schools and the school bus is also coming through

Following extensive postings on the incident on social media, infant and junior school head teachers Mrs Charlotte Gibbs and Mrs Jane Whirledge have sent out an email to parents asking for their

help in trying to keep the road clear for children’s safety

The email said: “We take the safety of our children very seriously and are appealing once again to parents not to park opposite the zig-zag lines or parked cars on Packhorse Road and not to drop off in the entrance to the school drive

“Regardless of whether there are waiting restrictions or signs indicating restrictions, there is a legal requirement that the general motoring public do not park dangerously; this is a criminal offence, which can be enforced by the police ”

The message went on to point out how the road had been made more dangerous due to the fact there was currently no school crossing patrol on Packhorse Road, after the retirement of Joyce Hand (see Page 9)

A spokesman for Derbyshire County Council said: “We would always ask people to park safely and responsibly Parking opposite a school keepclear zone as denoted by the yellow zig-zag marking is not a civil parking offence, but causing obstruction or danger contravenes The Highway Code and that can be enforced by the police ”

Melbourne is by no means the only place where there are fears about children’s safety crossing the road at school time

In Coalville, an online petition is calling for a manually controlled road crossing on Meadow Lane after a teenager was killed in a collision with a bus in January

Over in Nottinghamshire, the council is looking into road safety outside Carr Hill School after a 10-year-old child was killed by a car there

Writing for Lincolnshire

Live, MP John Mann said the situation outside most schools was dangerous

The Quorn Hunt rode into Melbourne at the beginning of the month to provide a colourful rural spectacle. Story and more pictures on Page 2.

Hall gives Hunt a good send-off

ONE of Britain’s oldest hunts – or, in fact, the oldest – made a traditional spectacle as they rode out from Melbourne Hall on February 5

Around two dozen riders made up the Quorn Hunt as it met at the hall, with two-year-old Iona Stanley making an appearance at the start of proceedings!

Huntsman Peter Collins said he was very much looking forward to the day’s hunting: “It’s a beautiful setting,” he said Hunt master Liz Murfitt said the hunt would be following the bounds of the law, and the hunt was being videoed as proof

The Quorn Hunt claims to be Britain’s oldest, having been formed in 1696 by Thomas Boothby of Leicestershire

Pictured below are Iona Stanley with parents Tori and Ben. Right huntsman Peter Collins being handed a drink by Gill Weston

Assembly Rooms in line for £14k award

MELBOURNE Assembly Rooms have been recommended for an award of £14,000 to help with further refurbishments

South Derbyshire’s Community Partnership panel has reconsidered the application made last year, and recommended the council should now make the grant

situated on the foremarke estate. Large living/dining room with log burner plus tv/games room. Dowstairs wc. Bespoke kitchen with all white goods included. 4 double bedrooms, master with en suite. Double garage with study/5th bedroom over. Private driveway and gardens. EPC – C PRICE ON APPLICATION.

STABLE LODGE, BARROW ON TRENT

Large 4 bed barn conversion in idyllic location. Pleasant living room with original features. Farmhouse style dining kitchen with separate utility. Master bedroom with en suite. 4 double bedrooms plus family bathroom and extra shower room. Private enclosed garden with countryside views. £1300 PCM

32 SWEET LEYS WAY, MELBOURNE

Beautifully presented modern 3 bedroom detached property close to all local amenities. Fabulous kitchen/ dining room including all white goods and with french windows giving access to a private, low maintenance garden. Downstairs wc, good size living room. Upstairs are 3 bedrooms, 1 with en suite and fitted wardrobes plus a family bathroom. Driveway parking plus garage. EPC – C £950 PCM

6 HIGH STREET, MELBOURNE

Super 2 bed cottage over 3 floors in central location. Beautifully presented throughout with many original features. Bespoke kitchen with all white goods. Cosy living room with log burner and open beams. 2 double bedrooms. Large modern bathroom with freestanding bath and separate shower. Lovely cottage garden plus orp. EPC – D £750 PCM

17 BERRY AVENUE, BREEDON ON THE HILL

Completely renovated 3 bed property with country views. Through lounge/diner with french windows to the garden. Newly fitted kitchen including all white goods. Large downstairs walk in shower room. Upstairs are 3 bedrooms. Master with smart en suite. Lawned garden with shed and orp.

EPC – D £750 PCM

58 NORTH STREET, MELBOURNE

2 bed terraced house. Galley kitchen includes some white goods. 2 good sized reception rooms, 1 with open fire. 2 large double bedrooms with some storage. Bathroom with bath over shower. Garden with 2 out houses and a shed to the rear. EPC – E £595 PCM

SARAH: 07770 769246

CHRISTINE: 07870 547357

The money is allocated to assist with projects to replace the lighting in the main hall, complete the final part of the heating refurbishment, and to improve acoustics in the bar and foyer areas

In addition, an award to Whistlewood Common of £2,700 was approved to support the planned development of a classroom and event space A further grant of over £11,000 was made to Lullington village hall, bringing the total of awards given during the year by SDDC to community projects to £28,000

Along with money raised from the “buy a brick” campaign, a fund-raising concert in 2018 and donations from other groups, it is hoped that the work on the Assembly Rooms projects and redecoration of the main hall can proceed this year

Chairman Phil Dobby said he was “delighted with the award, and thanks to the generosity of Melbourne people we hope we can continue our plans to improve the infrastructure of our community building”

n MORE funds were donated towards Melbourne Assembly Rooms’ Brick by Brick appeal after a patrons’ concert put on by Melbourne Town Band

Donations made at the concert amounted to more than £100, which musical director Brendan O’Neill together with his son Thomas – a pupil at Melbourne Junior School – are pictured donating to the appeal

HOUSE BREAK-IN WITNESSES SOUGHT

POLICE are asking for witnesses after a house was broken into in Aston-on-Trent in January The burglary was reported as having happened some time between 11am on January 10, and 2 20pm on January 26

The property’s Velux window was found smashed Anyone who was in the area at the time and may have seen any suspicious people or vehicles is asked to let police know quoting reference 19*43182

n POLICE are issuing security advice to homeowners with external post boxes after a series of thefts across Derbyshire

In recent months, several thefts from insecure post boxes have been reported Post containing personal and financial information has been stolen, and documents used to apply for credit cards or loans

Because the post is intercepted fraudulently, police said victims often had not re-

alised they had been targeted Fraudsters would then apply for credit cards and loans in their names

Derbyshire Constabulary’s fraud and protect officer, Tammy Barnes, said: “Recently one of our officers visited a house with an external post box and was able to fit his hand inside and remove the mail

One of the letters was a personal medical record ”

£13k burglary-hit couple’s thanks

OWNERS of a Melbourne antiques business have warmly thanked the local community for rallying round after burglars smashed into their shop and stole around £13,000 of valuables.

Rob and Nicki Coombes, owners of Millpond Antiques based at Melbourne Hall, described the moment when they discovered the shattered remains of their cabinets in their shop and the contents swiped as “devastating”

Having run a shop in Melbourne for six years, this was the first time they had suffered a break-in

But, they said, the response from the community had been so overwhelmingly kind that they wanted to express heartfelt thanks through the pages of the Village Voice

The burglary happened overnight between January 9 and 10

Alerted to the scene that awaited them by another business owner operating at the hall who spotted something was amiss when arriving into work, Rob and Nicki were at least forewarned when they arrived at their shop the following Thursday morning

“We were devastated,” said Nicki “They’ve intruded on something that’s a pleasure for us to do ”

But as soon as they arrived to find such large quantities of valuable coins and jewellery taken, Rob and Nicki said they were at once inundated with well-wishers: “We were

l Nicki and Rob Coombes outside their shop, Millpond Antiques

swamped with flowers, chocolates, people coming in, wishing us well, giving us hugs,” she said “We’d like to give a massive thank you to the community and Melbourne friends and our customers for their support through this ”

In particular, the couple said they would like to thank Lord Ralph Kerr and the staff of Mel-

bourne Hall for their invaluable support through the traumatic time, along with the Rev Steve Short for actually managing to make them laugh – quite a feat in the circumstances

Rob and Nicki’s love affair with antiques has been going on for around 30 years, well before they had their own shop Nicki’s particular interest lies

Patrols prepare to help save the endangered toads

A MELBOURNE nature enthusiast is urging drivers to slow down in March and April to help protect a much-loved amphibian which is in decline across the UK

The time of year is approaching when toads begin their migration towards their breeding ponds – and Melbourne’s Christian Murray-Leslie is helping co-ordinate special patrols to help them across busy roads, as well as asking for drivers to slow down at key areas so as to avoid squashing them en route March and April is the time of year when toads will start the journey in large numbers, returning to the ponds where they themselves were spawned

After dusk, when it is warm and wet, is the time of day when they choose to travel

Local toad crossing patrol groups have been set up to assist toads on those parts of their journey when they must cross a road Patrols are out in force during the breeding season on the road passing Foremarke Hall or by Bretby Ponds on the Repton to Hartshorne Roads

Armed with buckets and torches, they do their best to get toads across roads safely by carrying them to the opposite verge

Often, toads will actually be travelling in pairs – with the female full of eggs – causing even more damage to the species should they end up beneath the wheels of a car

Christian Murray-Leslie and Bob Baker, who co-ordinate these crossing patrols, have asked drivers to be mindful of their speeds, particularly on these roads

The pair have said: “If you are driving a car at the times when the conditions are favourable for toad movement you can help greatly by slowing down So if you happen to see a toad in the road please remember to slow and keep a lookout for others in order to avoid running them over Although toads are obviously relatively small you can spot them quite easily if you are driving at 15 to 20 mph, but less easily at 30mph+ In doing this you can also help the local crossing patrols enormously by giving them time to get to the toads

“If you are on foot and see a toad in the road you can significantly improve its survival chances by scooping it up and placing it on the verge towards which it is travelling ”

Toads in the UK have seen a decline of about two-thirds since the 1980s, nearly qualifying as an officially vulnerable species

in the stylised pieces from the art deco and 1950s periods, while Rob has a passion for all things military

At the Victorian shopping evening held by shopkeepers at the hall on November 30 last year, he dressed in a smart red Welsh Guards’ uniform for the occasion – this was subsequently bought by a bridegroom who was in the Welsh Guards and wanted to wear it to marry his wife: he was not allowed to wear his serving uniform for the occasion

No-one has yet been arrested in connection with this burglary If anyone has any information that may help police with their inquiries, call 101 and quote crime reference number 19*14023 – Lucy Stephens

J. P. Springthorpe & Co. Funeral Directors

17 POTTER STREET, MELBOURNE DERBYSHIRE DE73 8DW

As the only privately owned, family run Funeral Directors in Melbourne, we are able to offer an extremely personal yet professional service at a reasonable cost, both in Leicestershire and Derbyshire.

We are also happy to arrange personalised Golden Charter Funeral Plans

Telephone: Melbourne (01332) 865511 AT ANY TIME

Large, purpose built, heated dog kennels and cat chalets in Ingleby. Large, secure, grass exercise paddocks for to their requirements.

Now taking day boarding dogs which includes socialispaddocks.

Contact us: 01332 862796

l A huge range of conducted tours on offer by Thomas Cook & Son. The date of this poster is later than 1873, which is when Cook opened his Ludgate Circus offices.

How a Melbourne man shaped the High Street

A FASCINATING insight into the life of Melbourne-born Thomas Cook and his part in shaping the Great British High Street is there to be discovered in a new book uncovering the history of British retail

Britain has famously been called a nation of shopkeepers – the comment may have been made dismissively about the British by Napoleon (having first been made by Adam Smith in his seminal work: The Wealth of Nations) but you come away from reading Stephen Butt’s new book: British Retail, and The Men Who Shaped It, understanding something greater about the social history behind our most famous brands

This entertaining book, packed full of anecdotal detail, tells the story of how Thomas Cook and other entrepreneurs saw a gap in the market and went on to found the best known names on the British High Street, such as Wilko, Thorntons and Curry’s

Thomas Cook famously had his idea for organised travel tours while walking the 16-mile journey from his home in Market Harborough to attend a temperance rally in Leicester in the early summer of 1841

Clearly a man of action, he had turned his idea into practice very fast, with the world’s first ever railway excursion leaving Leicester for Loughborough on July 6 of the same year

One of the many interesting nuggets to be gleaned from Butt’s delve into the social

history of retail is that it was on the exact same road that William Wheeler Kendall walked from Market Harborough to Leicester in 1870, intent on making his fortune there

The author speculates that during Kendall’s journey, it may have been raining, because he chose to manufacture umbrellas; by the 1960s Kendall and Sons had more than 100 stores The lot were bought out and eventually became the popular

womenswear chain Next in the 1980s

Thomas Cook was famously motivated in his desire to promote low-cost travel in order to divert the working classes away from the demon drink

The idea was commercially very successful – and still is today – and Thomas went on to commission a substantial home in the Leicester suburb of Knighton in the arts and crafts style, for himself, his wife and his daughter

The name of the house, Thorncroft, was said to be a play on his birthplace in Quick Close, Melbourne – as Midland Hawthorn is known as “Quick Thorn” and Croft is another word for Close

Tragically, Thomas’s daughter died in the house at only 34 years old, overcome by carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a faulty gas heater – one of the earliest of these devices to have been installed in Leicester

Cook maintained his Victorian values all his life, combining those with practical philanthropy: setting up a soup kitchen in the severe winter of 1855 and 1856 during which many of Leicester ’s worst off really suffered

The cottages for local people that he founded in Melbourne, opposite Dove’s Garage, are still there to this day, as is his “Mission Hall” to be rented out for a low fee

British Retail and The Men who Shaped

It is published by Pen & Sword Books Ltd – LS

SPRING HOLIDAYS WITH ROBERTS

Warners Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel

4th March, 5 days £349

INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

• 4 nights hotel accommodation, dinner and cooked breakfast throughout

• Welcome drinks reception, and cream scone on one afternoon

• Perthshire Visitor Centre with liqueur tasting

• Excursions including Erdradour Distillery tour

• Glass of wine every evening & free use of the hotel’s leisure facilities

• Scottish dance lesson, Sword dance demonstration & Quiz night

• Whisky tasting one night & Scottish themed dinner with Celidh

Scottish Winter Warmer 18th March, 5 days £339

This Victorian castle looks out over its peaceful estate and never feels crowded.

INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

• Roberts Gold Service

• 4 nights accommodation at the Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel

• Dinner and cooked breakfast throughout

• Visit to Llandudno, Betws-y-Coed & Llanberis

• Excellent entertainment programme

• Free use of the hotel’s leisure facilities

Great Yarmouth Spring Break 6th April, 5 days £279

Relax surrounded by stunning wide sandy beaches, beautiful countryside and the famous Norfolk Broads.

INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

• Roberts Gold Service

• 4 nights hotel accommodation, dinner and cooked breakfast throughout

• Light lunch at the hotel

• Complimentary drink with dinner each evening

• 1½ hour journey on the Southern Comfort on the Broads

• Free time in Wroxham, Southwold & Great Yarmouth

Scarborough & The Yorkshire Vet 12th April, 5 days £339

Ales, Rails & Dales of Cumbria 15th April, 5 days £395

A warm Yorkshire welcome awaits you at this traditional seaside resort.

INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

• Roberts Gold Service

• 4 nights hotel accommodation, dinner and cooked breakfast throughout

• Entrance to The World of James Herriot

• Visits to Thirsk, Pickering & Whitby

• Free time in Scarborough

This wonderful tour sees us exploring Cumbria and the surrounding area, said to be one of the most beautiful regions of the UK.

INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

• Roberts Gold Service

• 4 nights accommodation at the Gilsland Hall Hotel

• Dinner and cooked breakfast throughout

• Return journey on the Settle to Carlisle Railway

• Guided brewery tour at Jennings Brewery with tasting

• Journey on the South Tynedale Railway

Kent’s Castles & Gardens 22nd April, 5 days £499

We will visit the best castles and gardens in Kent.

INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

• Roberts Gold Service

• 4 nights accommodation at the 4 star Mercure Maidstone

• Dinner and cooked breakfast throughout

• Entrance to Leeds Castle, Sissinghurst Castle & Garden and Hever Castle & Gardens

• Journey on the Spa Valley Railway

• Free use of the hotel’s leisure facilities

HOME COLLECTION | CALL NOW FOR OUR FULL BROCHURE

For further information or to book please call our Holiday Advisors on 01530 816425 or visit www.robertstravelgroup.co.uk

TO

Over 500 sign hot food takeaway plan petition

THE former Birds bakery shop in Melbourne’s Market Place could become a new hot food takeaway – if planners agree.

But the latest meeting of Melbourne Parish Council on February 5 heard representation from the village’s fish and chip shop that a petition in the shop against the proposals had already garnered more than 500 signatures

The proposals to put a hot food takeaway into the former Birds have been put via a Birmingham-based architect practice

Details as to the type of food planned for the former bakery have not emerged, but the suggested opening hours on the planning application are from 10am to 11pm seven days a week

A heritage statement accompanying the plans – now lodged with South Derbyshire District Council’s planning department – says an extractor flue is proposed for the rear of the property which would be sprayed with a colour to match the existing brickwork to minimise its visual impact

The statement says: “From a positive perspective, the shop has been closed for over one year This change of use will allow reuse of the property to commence with adding to the vibrancy of

Cuppa cheer at the tea dance

RECREATION in Aston’s weekly tea dance had an unexpected visitor pop in for a cuppa!

Neil Atkin, Aston’s member for Derbyshire County Council, paid a visit and is pictured presenting them with a cheque for £1,042 to enable them to buy new tables for their recreation centre

The centre has recently undergone a major extension and refurbishment but now needs new tables and chairs

Cllr Atkin allocated the money from the county council’s ‘Members Community Leadership Scheme’.

Chairman of Recreation in Aston, Barbara James said: “The Tea Dance has been running very successfully now for just over a year and we are over the moon to receive this money to buy much needed additional tables ”

Cllr Atkin said: “I am delighted to see such a wide age range of people from just over 100 years old down to much younger people dancing. It is a very healthy rewarding pastime for everyone to enjoy ”

The recreation centre is due to be officially opened on March 30 Look forward to coverage of the occasion in our April edition.

the street and this will create three new jobs for the locals ”

Mr Theodorou, from Melbourne Fish Shop, spoke at the parish council meeting against the proposals, saying the village already boasted significant options for hot food takeaway

He said: “For a small village of five thousand people, there are already five hot food takeaways, three restaurants and four pubs that serve food – the market is extremely crowded ”

Mr Theodorou said a new business venture in the former Birds shop should not be offering something that Melbourne already had in abundance

Birds moved from its location in the Market Place to its current much larger premises over the road early in 2018

It had been occupying its location on the Market Place since the 1970s – and the Birds chain itself is due to celebrate its 100th birthday this year

The Market Place premises was then sold at auction at Pride Park in Derby on February 22

£80,000 funding to find flooding answers

EIGHTY thousand pounds in funding has been secured to help water engineering experts continue to try to find answers on Melbourne’s flooding history.

Over the past few years a cross-organisation group with representatives from Derbyshire County Council, South Derbyshire District Council and Severn Trent Water have been working to find solutions to flooding in Melbourne after two serious

events in 2014 and 2016, when local homes suffered bad flooding damage.

Public meetings have been held to keep people updated on progress, with the latest held in Melbourne Assembly Rooms on January 30.

That meeting heard that £80,000 has now been secured in “local levy” funding which will be used to pay for investigations into “non-Severn Trent assets” in

the village These are all the myriad privately-owned water culverts and drains that criss-cross underground Melbourne and need to be properly investigated in order to establish where the water flows in some cases.

Meanwhile, work has been going on over the past few months to try to sort out Melbourne’s drainage, with 192 manholes surveyed and flushed out.

Country Living with

Robert Parker

THE dreary and damp days of winter may lead you to think we are having lots of rain, but the fact is we are still in drought. This winter so far has been very dry in our area, with November and December nearly breaking records

The old “farmers and stagers” are suggesting that we are having a rerun of 1975/6 – and 2019 will be another dry year Watch this space!

The 2018 drought is still affecting farms and will be for a few more months The amounts of hay and silage made last year were much reduced, and in some parts of the country stores of forage are at critical levels.

Prices for hay have reached very high levels; at one sale last week some was sold for over £200 per tonne. Alternative feed sellers have jumped on the bandwagon with things such as brewers’ grains and sugar beet pulp all up in price by some 50 per cent

One redeeming feature this year is that straw is fairly plentiful and, unusually, wheat straw is very good for feeding All our cattle are having a lot of straw to dilute our grass and maize silage and make it last longer

That doesn’t help farmers who don’t grow wheat and barley though. All will be looking at their feed reserves and looking to the fields hoping for an early spring n We’re contemplating growing some beans for a break crop this spring but

their destination was a little surprising.

A multi-national company with a processing plant in Nottingham is looking for 30,000 tonnes of beans this year to be made into fish food

Farming trout and salmon in estuaries in Scotland is becoming a booming business despite some reservations about its environmental credentials I believe the conversion ratio of food into fish is better than beef and lamb and is not using imported soya that must give it high attraction.

For us, making the bean crop more profitable is also a great plus point Beans also leave some residual nitrogen in the soil to be used by the following wheat crop

n HERE’S a lovely seasonal sight – this carpet of snowdrops was captured by our photographer Tina Baker in the graveyard of Elvaston’s St Bartholomew’s Church

These delicate flowers are traditionally a sign that spring is on its way, being among the first to bloom in the year

This particular area has seen some harder times recently, with ball bearings shot from a pellet gun or other type of shooter having broken windows at the ancient church in this graveyard over recent months

Parishioners are now having to find nearly £2,500 to repair the damage. See Page 11 for the full story

OFFICERS in Melbourne’s Safer Neighbourhood Team are warning motorists to stop using an “access only” road as a short-cut Woodshop Lane in Swarkestone is controlled by access only signs with its junctions with the A514 and A5132

But the police team say they are receiving complaints that motorists are using it to avoid congestion at its junction with the two roads a few yards away

PCSO Emma Guest, from the team, explained: “Woodshop Lane is a relatively narrow residential road and as such is not designed to take a

large amount of through-traffic Residents have been complaining that, particularly at rush hour times, motorists are using the lane as a rat-run to avoid the junction of the two ‘A’ roads close by “This practice is dangerous and illegal and as such we will be enforcing the access only signs We are also in conversation with local councillors and residents to see if there is a longer term, more sustainable fix to the problem ” Contravention of this type of sign is dealt with by means of a Traffic Offence Report (TOR) which could be followed by a court summons or a conditional offer of a fine payment of £50

School gets road safety message over to pupils

STAFF at Weston on Trent C of E Primary School organised a whole-school road safety day in a bid to prevent children potentially being injured by the vehicles on the school run.

All 126 of the five to 11-year-old pupils at the school on Forrester Avenue dressed up in the brightest clothes they could find for the day and took part in a series of activities to get the road safety message across

They took part in games and quizzes based on the Green Cross Code They drew maps to highlight safe places to park in the vicinity of the school, as well as made posters to display in the village The school also held a special collective worship assembly on the issue

The day was a proactive response by the school, which is committed to keeping its children safe, according to Headteacher

Sarah Burns

“Traffic and parking near the school are always very busy at the start and end of the school day, so we felt it was important to hold a day that was solely focused on road safety,” said Mrs Burns “There have been incidents recently that have heightened our concerns about the safety of our pupils, and we felt compelled to do something to try to reduce the risks that pupils face from issues such as inconsiderate parking and vehicles travelling too fast

“The vast majority of our parents and carers have been supportive of our repeated pleas for considerate driving and parking – such as parking only in designated areas – but it’s vitally important we keep doing all we can to keep our pupils safe ”

Mrs Burns also said she hopes the event will highlight to local residents –who often bear the brunt of inconsiderate parking and road use – that the school is doing all it can to address the problem

“We would like to thank local residents for their patience because it must be very frustrating to keep seeing vehicles parked close to the school, especially when there are options that are a short walk away,” added Mrs Burns

“It’s such a shame that we have got to this position, but we have to act because the safety of our pupils is our number one priority ”

Mat looking forward to his new policing role

SOUTH Derbyshire’s Safer

Neighbourhood policing teams have a new sergeant-in-charge

Sgt Mat Haslam (pictured) has joined the teams, replacing Graham Summers, who has made a return to response policing

Mat has been a police officer for nearly 17 years, spending most of his time in uniformed policing roles in Derby and South Derbyshire Settling into his new role, he said: “I am looking forward to speaking to the communities of South Derbyshire and finding out about the issues that affect and matter to them the most

“The area covers around 320 square miles and is diverse in terms of towns, villages and countryside I know there is a large rural community who can feel isolated, so it is important that we work hard to deal with the issues that are affecting them

“For me it’s also about targeting those people who choose to affect us and our communities the most and bringing them to justice ”

If you would like to talk to Mat about policing

Colour Blast Dash for charity

FANCY getting a blast of colour while raising money for a great cause?

Last year many people from the local area, including teaching staff at Melbourne Infant School, took part in the Colour Blast Dash at Darley Park in Derby: this fun-filled event involves running around a course while getting blasted with colour

This year ’s local Colour Blast Dash will also take place at Darley Park, on Sunday, May 19

Organised by local children’s sports camp company Activate Sport, the event will raise money for The Laura Centre in Derby, a charity which offers free bereavement services for Derbyshire families

Organisers of the Colour Blast Dash are calling on local schools to take part in the event as part of their Getting Active Schools Competition

And this year ’s dash is also adding extra obstacles to the race for added laughs

ABOVE: Pupils at the school display their road safety posters and (LEFT) children with PCSO Emma

You can book on to the Colour Blast Dash by logging on to https://www activatecamps co u k/events/book/

in South Derbyshire you can make contact with him using any of the

Guest.

LEFT: The saplings planted behind the Hollywood Grandstand and (RIGHT) work on the Hairpin

Getting into top gear at the Donington Park circuit

SPECTATORS at Donington Park are being promised a quicker entrance to the venue when the new season starts in March

This year will mark the motor circuit’s second full season under MotorSport Vision (MSV) operation, which reports having done a lot of upgrade work over the winter

The work includes a change to the main paddock entrance for pedestrian access to the circuit, which will see spectators now entering through a new section to the right of the existing main entrance point

Separate from vehicles, the new entrance will have three ticket booths

and six pay lanes, which circuit managers say will mean “much swifter entry”

“The ambience will be improved too, with the whole area set to be heavily landscaped,” said a statement

Work started around a month before Christmas to create the new entrance, with the old concrete wall demolished to open up the view of the Melbourne Hairpin

Further changes are also planned to the pedestrian entrance at the Fogarty Esses, with the Park saying: “A more effective admission system will allow faster access into the circuit,

with new pay booths set to be installed and more landscaping planned”

Other planned improvements include new LED lighting and signage at the tunnel to the infield at the Esses; extra signage around the whole venue to make navigation easier; metal barriers in spectator zones replaced with more attractive wooden ones; and space created for 50 extra cars at the Starkey’s parking area

A new race winners’ podium is being built next to the scrutineering bay next to Garage 39, enabling more people to witness post-race ceremonies, while marshals are set to

benefit from new posts and designated parking areas near posts so they can reach them easily in their own vehicles

As far as competitors and track day users are concerned, the concrete runoff at the Old Hairpin has been improved and extended, and there will be three new designated recycling areas to dispose of waste and oil

Lastly, 500 new sapling trees have been planted behind the Hollywood Grandstand, with more to follow – circuit bosses have stressed that the location of trees has been carefully planned so as not to obscure any views

Donington Park Venue Manager

Chris York commented: “Whilst a considerable amount of work was carried out last winter to bring Donington Park up to the standards of the other circuits in the MSV portfolio, we were aware of other areas where investment was much needed

“Our programme of upgrades over the next few months will ensure Donington takes another big stride forward in time for our brilliant calendar of events in 2019 ”

The track’s new events season starts on March 3 with the Donington Rally – Lucy Stephens

n THE Aston Well Dressers presented a cheque for £650 to the Aston & Weston branch of the Royal British Legion at the White Hart Inn, Aston-on-Trent.

The Legion was one of the beneficiaries of the funds raised over the weekend at the Well Dressing Festival in Aston on Trent in July 2018

The money will go towards the cost of the

new standard that was first paraded at the GP90 event in Ypres last August

Pictured (l-r) are Katie Archer, RBL branch secretary, Steve Aynsley, who took the standard to Ypres, John Lawson, RBL branch chairman, Chris Hopkinson, chairman of the Aston Well Dressers, and Naomi Benham, treasurer of the Aston Well Dressers

NEW DASH-CAM CRIME REPORTING SYSTEM

DERBYSHIRE Police have launched a new system for reporting crimes and traffic incidents captured on car dashboard cameras

The new system called Derbyshire Capture has been introduced to enable the public to securely upload footage directly to the police

The aim of the system is to assist the police to investigate

more quickly offences such as dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention, using a mobile phone, not wearing a seat belt, contravening a red traffic light, and other driving misdemeanours Any recordings submitted must be less than 10 days old for it to be investigated and comply with the Road Traffic Act

Derbyshire County Council

have confirmed that this system cannot be used for reporting suspected breaches of weight restrictions, for example lorries on Swarkestone Causeway

The existing form still needs to be used, although if there is any photographic evidence available trading standards investigators will be happy to use it if they can

Choir ’s day to remember

A CHOIR from Weston on Trent Primary School sang with Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley in front of an audience of more than 7,000 people in the Resorts World Arena at the NEC in Birmingham

The pupils were part of Young Voices – a series of concerts across the UK at venues including the O2 Arena in London – and backed the 80s legend as he belted out classic hits ‘Gold’ and ‘True’, as well as a song from his latest album, ‘Talking to the Moon’

Hadley was one of a number of star guests at the two-hour show – which has become the largest annual series of school choir concerts in the world – and featured children from dozens of schools across the Midlands, who performed as one choir

School governor Phil Curnock, whose daughter Isobel was part of the 30strong choir from the school (who all wore tinsel to try to help parents see them in the large crowd), said the crowd erupted into massive cheers as Hadley took to the stage and started singing and all the children joined in as one

“It was an amazing night to see pupils from our school taking part in such a brilliant show at such a massive arena,” said Phil “The children took it all in their stride, but I think the parents and the rest of the audience were more in awe of the appearance of Tony Hadley as they danced in the aisles during the performance It was fabulous and something that the children will remember for the rest of their lives ”

Joyce hands in her lollipop stick

Mrs Sheila Pappin

25th April 1925 –22nd December 2018

Perhaps you sent a lovely card, Or sat quietly in a chair, Perhaps you sent a funeral spray, If so we saw it there.

Perhaps you spoke the kindest words, As any friend could say; Perhaps you were not there at all, Just thought of us that day.

Whatever you did to console our hearts, We thank you, So very much whatever the part.

Susan, Paul and Family

MELBOURNE’S street crossing patrol officer, Joyce Hand, bid farewell to the job after nearly 19 years and now someone else is being invited to take on the important post

In January, Joyce retired from her job helping children cross the busy Packhorse Road to Melbourne Infant and Junior schools at the beginning and end of the school day

Having started the role in the year 2000, she handed in her hi-vis coat to join husband Brian in his retirement

Joyce said shortly after retiring that she was “missing it already” but that she and Brian wanted to enjoy their retirement together

“I’ve enjoyed the job,” she said “I was sorry to leave it, but my husband is retiring and you want the time together, don’t you?”

Joyce started her working life as a machinist in Melbourne’s stocking factory in Church Street and went on to work at the Dunnicliff family’s shoe factory

She and Brian have two daughters, Gayle and Fiona

Joyce’s sewing skills which she learned as a machinist have been put to excellent use at Calke Abbey, where she has made

many of the children’s dress-up clothes in Squirt’s Stable play area, where Fiona works

Joyce started out her street crossing patrol duties in Melbourne on Derby Road, at the Sainsbury’s crossing (formerly Budgens) where she helped children cross the road for a decade before that service was stopped and she moved to Packhorse Road

Joyce said she very much enjoyed the job, particularly chatting to schoolchildren every day

“The children, they’ve always got something to tell you, which a lot of the time you couldn’t repeat!” she said “They all used to run down to me and stand there and wait for their parents and tell me all sorts of things!”

Derbyshire County Council has confirmed that its School Crossing Patrol service will continue to be funded – after its future had been in doubt

On January 31, county councillors agreed it would be funded and managed by its Public Health Department for the next three years from April 1 Councillor Simon Spencer, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Highways Transport and Infrastructure, said: “We know how highly

regarded the school crossing patrol service is and we’re now able to secure its future through a different source of funding

“We all know that being physically active helps to improve physical and mental wellbeing By securing the future of the service we aim to encourage people to walk to school, particularly at an early age, which will help set young people up with good habits for life ”

The county council is currently inviting people to step forward and take on the street crossing patrol service for Melbourne

Anyone interested is invited to apply on the council’s website: derbyshire gov uk/jobs – the best way to find this job is to type in “crossing patrol” in the search field

It’s an important job, Joyce said, especially for local families in which children are walking to school on their own: “There are some children that can’t be taken to school and they do find their own way,” she said

She and Brian are planning “a bit of a getaway” to mark their retirement, after which they are considering volunteering at Calke Abbey – Lucy Stephens

TEXT

SERVICE

To try and reduce the amount of clinical time lost due to missed appointments and late cancellations, the practice is now o ering a text messaging service. Any patients who wish to receive these will need to complete a text messaging consent form, available at reception. Please note, we cannot o er this service unless a consent form has been completed.

l Joyce Hand helps a father and his daughter across Packhorse Road

Infant school gets new benches

NEW benches have been installed for children at Melbourne Infant School, courtesy of a local business.

Sharon Kaye, managing director of Melbourne-based UK-Gardens, gave the benches to the school via its Parent Teacher Association (PTA).

The new benches are in the school reception garden, where children are now able to use them as a quiet area to share a book, chat to a friend or just have a sit down, says head teacher Charlotte Gibbs

“The children really enjoy using them,” she said

Pictured with some of the pupils are (left) Katie Pattinson of the PTA and Sharon Kaye

in brief

Scam warning Road crash

POLICE officers were out in the Melbourne area at the end of January after two reports of scam builders targeting vulnerable people Derbyshire Constabulary’s Swadlincote Response Unit tweeted on January 29 that officers had been in the area, and urged the community to “please be vigilant and look out for your neighbours”

A TWO-VEHICLE collision on Derby Road, Melbourne, on February 7 resulted in one person being taken to Royal Derby Hospital

The incident was reported to emergency services at around 7 30am It had a knock-on effect of holding up Chellaston Academy buses from picking up Melbourne pupils that morning

Homes cash injection for surgery

EXTRA clinical capacity is being planned for Melbourne and Chellaston medical practices with cash coming from new homes being built in the area

In December ’s Village Voice, we revealed how some of the cash due to the local community from section 106 payments by Miller Homes – currently building the Victoria Gardens development on Jawbone Lane – had now been paid

Of more than £120,000 that has so far been handed over by Miller Homes, £6,940 58 has been allocated to Melbourne and Chellaston medical practice to go towards extra clinical space

That amounts to around half of the money to the surgery that will eventually be due from the Victoria Gardens homes

The Village Voice has learned that Melbourne and Chellaston Practice has “outlined the need” for £145,000 for “internal development” arising from extra housing and residents in the area

Of that, £55,000 will be paid out of section 106 funds from housing developments

A spokesman for NHS Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Groups said: “We monitor popu-

lation and health needs, working hard with local authority partners which plan housing, adult social services and public health, to provide co-ordinated care and make the best use of all available resources - including building development section 106 (s106) cash

“We’ve been working closely with planning partners when we are consulted to see what the impact of additional housing and residents coming into the area could have

“Melbourne and Chellaston Medical Practice outlined the need for £145,000 to use for internal development, of which £55,000 has been allocated from s106, with further funding from NHS England

“Ultimately, it is expected it will eventually bring more clinical capacity to the area as a whole – in addition to two extra consulting rooms already completed at this surgery two years ago

“We’re pleased partnership working is continuing to prove effective in providing resources for the residents all organisations are providing services for ”

Lucy Stephens

WOOD CLOSED TO PUBLIC

IN RESPONSE to an enquiry, The National Forest has confirmed that Melbourne’s Stafford Wood is now closed to the public.

The wood, which is adjacent to Poppy Wood and Smiths Wood, features on National Forest maps of the area, and locals who had previously roamed in the woodland have been confused by signage

A featured walk “Wildlife

– Woodlands – Calke Walk” runs adjacent to the wood, but is not affected by the closure

A spokesman for the National Forest said: “Stafford Wood remains part of the National Forest, as is everything within the 200 square miles of the Forest: towns, villages, woodlands both open and private, waterways and roads, farms and open space, schools and

businesses ”

The spokesman added: “The various wooded landscape is what makes up the forest as a whole.

“We work hard with landowners to make the woodlands as accessible as possible to everyone.

“I hope your readers will still enjoy the walks along the public rights of way and other woodlands in the area around Melbourne.”

Witnesses sought after pellet gun attacks

POLICE are asking for witnesses to come forward after at least seven incidents of property appearing to be damaged by pellets fired from a gun in Aston, Weston and Elvaston – including an 800-year-old church

The church warden of St Bartholomew’s Church in Elvaston was actually in the historic building with others when the latest incident happened on January 13

Church warden Ray Thompson was taking down Christmas decorations with his wife and two friends when they all heard a loud bang followed by a broken window and saw several ball bearings on the floor

Ray said he did not “want to think of what the consequences could be” had the person who fired the ball bearings – from a pellet gun, sling shot or some sort of catapult – aimed lower and hit one of the children who are often in the area on family walks in the surrounding Elvaston Country Park

After hearing the bang, Ray said he immediately ran out of the building to see who had fired on the church, but could not find anyone

Police from the South Derbyshire Safer Neighbourhood Team are inviting any witnesses to come forward as they investigate the series of incidents

As well as the attack on St Bartholomew’s Church, car and house windows in Aston and Weston-on-Trent were damaged in a similar manner in December and January

PCSO Emma Guest, from the team, said: “We are becoming increasingly concerned about these damages because as well as the cost and inconvenience to victims, in the latest incident splintered glass was shattered all over the pews in the church which clearly could have caused harm to someone

“We think that one of the incidents at the church happened at around 1 15pm on the Sunday, January 13, as a loud bang was heard by people in the church and then newly damaged windows were discovered

“This area is busy with walkers and visitors to the nearby Elvaston Castle and so we would appeal to anyone who saw anything suspicious to make contact with us ”

Ray said he thought the incident at the church had not been the first, as he had also discovered broken glass back in November but thought at the time that a light must have blown

St Bartholomew’s has around 15 regular congregation members for its services, and now they will have to find nearly £2,500 to fix the damage caused by the ball bearings being shot

He said: “The history of this church is phenomenal In the 17th Century during the time of Oliver Cromwell, we have got shot marks all around the church when it was attacked The church walls have survived all that, then World War Two, now we are at the mercy of someone who’s firing ball bearings through the windows

TAX UP

MELBOURNE Parish Council has approved an increase in the parish precept for the forthcoming financial year of two per cent The total precept levied for next year will rise from £74,425 to £75,914 This will be added on Council Tax bills from April 2019

This increase is on the heels of a three per cent increase last year, justified by the need to meet the costs of 2018’s World War One commemorations

The parish council’s finance committee recorded at its December meeting, that “although the costs of WW1 celebrations were significantly below budget, the benefit or a refund or reduction would not be felt; instead the funds will be used to provide an event(s) in the parish for all residents to enjoy ”

The parish accounts also showed a year-end balance of over £180,000 on March 31, up by over £35,000 from the same time in 2017

Chair of the parish council Cllr Sheila Hicklin said that “the increase was in line with inflation”

At the same meeting Alderman Harrison advised that South Derbyshire District Council had agreed to increase the Council Tax for 2019/20 by 1 95 per cent, which will mean an increase of around £35 on an average (Band D) property

n At Ticknall Parish Council’s January meeting parish councillors voted not to raise their precept for the year 2019/20 The precept will be £12,450, the same as it was in the last financial year

“I was angry at first; quite frankly, these people need help When I was a youngster, there was an offence called sacrilege – there’s no such thing any more Times have changed If you broke into a church or took anything, people used to be outraged – nowadays you have to keep churches locked and secure and all the rest of it

“It’s very sad It is what it is – you just have to go with the times ”

Anyone who would like to contribute to the £2,465 required to mend St Bartholomew Church’s windows is warmly invited to get in touch with Ray on 01332 705872 or email him on r thompson46@btinernet com

The church is also planning a new visitors’ map on top of its tower from which a great view can be had of the surrounding area; this can be enjoyed for a £1 fee

If you think you can help police with their inquiries into these incidents, get in touch with PCSO Emma Guest with a private message via Facebook on /DerbyshireConstabulary, direct message on Twitter on @DerPolContact, calling 101 or completing the contact form on www derbyshire police uk/Contact-Us In all cases, please quote reference number 19*21650 – Lucy

Stephens

Junior school gets a good report

IT’S great news for pupils at Melbourne Junior School –they’re going to a good school, and that’s official

Ofsted visited Melbourne Juniors on January 10 and judged the school was still continuing to provide a “good” standard of education

The school’s previous Ofsted inspection also found it to be “good”

Inspector Anthony O’Malley spent a day at the school and wrote in his report: “Staff have high expectations of what pupils can achieve, and pupils consistently meet these expectations By the time they leave,

pupils are well prepared for their secondary schools

“Standards at the end of Year 6 are consistently above average in reading, writing and mathematics Parents are proud of their village school

They say that it very successfully meets its aim of being ‘a friendly, welcoming school where everyone is valued and appreciated’ ”

Mr O’Malley said strengths at the junior school were the positive impact of its leadership on all levels of teaching and learning; a revised approach to teaching reading that has raised reading skills and enjoy-

Step into spring at Calke Abbey

To mark the 200th anniversary of the death of the ‘Isolated Baronet’, this year we’re exploring stories of loneliness and isolation, kindness and compassion at Calke. When the house opens its doors for spring, you’ll discover HumanKind, an exciting project telling new stories about the people who lived and worked here. Find out more on the website.

Calke on camera

Saturday 16 February 10.30 – 12.30 and Kids with Cameras 13.30 – 14.30

Bring your camera to Calke and have some fun with the photography team on this creative walk in the park. We’ll teach you some handy tips and show you the best places to take photos on the estate.

Vintage Fair in the Riding School

Sunday 3 March 11.00 – 16.00

Get some seasonal inspiration at the popular Vintage Fair, with a range of stalls selling handmade and vintage gifts. From fashion to home-ware, you’ll be spoilt for choice!

Lambing at Home Farm

Saturday 16, Sunday 17 and Saturday 23, Sunday 24 March 11.00 – 15.30

ment; better provision in art, music and sport, and safeguarding

Head teacher Mrs Jane Whirledge said she felt the report accurately reflected the strengths of the school and congratulated the school team, staff, pupils and parents on this outcome

She said: “We are committed to continuing to improve the quality of education for our pupils and we are already working towards our next steps ”

Ofsted’s “next steps” include ensuring the school’s most able pupils are challenged in maths

you’re lucky, you might even see a lamb being born. A garden ticket is required for this event. By becoming a member of the National Trust, you help us to protect the country’s heritage and landscape, while enjoying free entry to over 500 places. Here at Calke Abbey, membership supports our conservation work both in the house and gardens, as well as the internationally important protected parkland.

Calke Abbey spring opening Restaurant & Shop: daily 10.00 – 16.00 (17.00 from 2 Mar) Park & National Nature Reserve: daily, 7.30 – dusk Gardens : daily, 10.00 – 16.00 (17.00 from 2 Mar) House: opens 2 Mar, 11.00 – 17.00

Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/calke for more information

Normal park admission applies to all visitors. For more information on what’s on at Calke this Spring please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/calke or telephone 01332 863822

www.facebook.com/NTCalkeAbbey

@NTCalkeAbbey

l The pellet holes in the church window. Inset: church warden Ray Thompson.

Established 2014

• OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK

• NO WAITING LIST

• ON LINE BOOKINGS

• PHYSIOTHERAPY

• SPORTS INJURIES

• MASSAGE

• ACUPUNCTURE

• EVENT HIRE

Unit A1, Castle Street, Melbourne DE78 8DY

01332 694344

www.melbournephysio.co.uk

is the best and most thorough you could ever have – if you don’t agree I won’t accept your payment.

Along with the purchase of your home and family car, your soft furnishings are one of the largest investments you will make. Professional cleaning of your furnishings on a regular basis will extend their life considerably as well as keeping them hygienic and looking good.

4 Reasons Why You Should Choose My Company To Clean & Protect Your Family’s Health

1. Thorough Cleaning – My method doesn’t leave any residue or cause shrinkage. It cleans down to the base of your carpet removing harmful bacteria leaving your carpet clean and healthy.

2. Honest Pricing – I promise no high-pressure sales gimmicks. The prices I quote you are fully inclusive of cleaning products and labour. A full complete clean AND no hidden extras.

3. Protection of your soft Furnishings - Your valuable soft furnishings will stay cleaner longer, vacuum easier and have improved stain resistance with our carpet and upholstery protectors.

4. Long Standing Reputation – My company enjoys a reputation which is second to none, many of our customers not only come back to us time and again but recommend us to their family and friends.

www.breedoncarpetcare.co.uk

NOTE: WE DO NOT CHARGE VAT SAVE 20% min

JANUARY 2019 closed out with a day of sub-zero tem of the UK – but while the cold weather may be a mit make the scenery spectacularly beautiful, too January 31 certainly saw the mercury plummet bel area, although it wasn’t as bad as in Braemar in Scot degrees – the lowest temperature recorded in the UK -15 6 degrees in Lincolnshire, for those interested in The frost and mist on Thursday morning after th Wednesday, January 30, meant some stunning lookin adorning a lot of Melbourne, much like a particul party

Meanwhile, Melbourne Pool froze over, causing the on earth the water had gone as they experimented w Let’s hope they didn’t get too hungry.

mperatures across much e uncomfortable, it can ow freezing in the local land, which fell to -14 4 K since 2012 (which was the detail) e bitterly cold night of ng frosty cobwebs were arly chilly Hallowe’en birds to wonder where with sitting on the ice

We are friendly establishment located on the outskir ts of rural Melbourne o ering comfor table, secure accom ation, daily exercise sessions, playtime and love from our knowledgeable and experienced sta We welcome dogs and cats of all breeds and sizes and invite owners to visit by appointment to see our facilities To book or arrange a viewing please contac t us...

Pottery finds on display

TICKNALL Archaeological Research Group (TARG) has a fascinating exhibition running until the end of February at Sharpe’s Pottery

The group has put together a collection of recent finds and research discoveries demonstrating the long history of pottery in the Ticknall area Finds dating back from 1500s through to the 1800s are on display

The exhibition also details the pottery trade in the area through the ages and shows how far afield the products were regularly traded, from Chesterfield down to Solihull

The finds on display include some high-quality Cistercian ware cups, finely decorated with religious symbols, along with some Midlands Purpleware and the later Yellowware

The exhibition runs through until Thursday, February 28, and is taking place in the lower gallery at Sharpe’s in Swadlincote

So, if you don’t know your sagger from your tyg, this is your chance to learn!

Outdoor art project plan for Calke Abbey

PROPOSALS for three temporary outdoor exhibition spaces at Calke Abbey as part of an art installation about loneliness have been lodged with council planners

The National Trust is proposing the outside exhibition structures as part of a “Humankind” art project that aims to challenge the stigma of loneliness and social isolation as awareness grows about its harmful impact in today’s society

The research project between the National Trust and the Research Centre for Museums and Galleries at the University of Leicester is aiming to tell six “stories” about family and staff members who lived and worked at Calke, to mark the 200th anniversary of the death of seventh baronet Sir Henry Harpur –often called the ‘isolated baronet’

Their proposals would see three outdoor installations in the grounds for two years, and have been sent to South Derbyshire District Council for a decision

A “red room” would represent the library and seventh baronet Sir Henry Harpur; the “blue room” would tell the story of the boudoir and Winifred Harpur Crewe; while the “pink room” would stand for the stable block and Airmyne Jenney

Calke Abbey and the family who lived there have the reputation for telling a

rather melancholy story of isolation and eccentricity

The house itself is presented to the public as a crumbling estate, showing a more vulnerable side to the traditional magnificence and wealth often associated with a stately home

The idea behind the Humankind project is to tell a deeper story about the characters who inhabited Calke, and

HORTICULTURAL WINTER SERVICE

how they connected with one another despite encountering difficulty in life

A planning and heritage statement accompanying the plans says: “For more than 30 years, the story of Calke Abbey has been built around tales of a reclusive family who guarded the estate from modern life and led eccentric and disconnected lives However, new research has fundamentally changed our understand-

ing of Calke and the people who lived and worked here

“Drawing on this research, Humankind tells six new stories, spanning more than 200 years

“Revealing lives where love and compassion are interwoven with loneliness and despair, these are stories that many of us can relate to today

“The people who lived at Calke needed one another and took care of one another Their routes out of difficulty were always aided by others – by humankind and human kindness Humankind challenges the stigma that surrounds loneliness and social isolation today and raises questions about this pressing social issue

“It encourages all of us to nurture more, and more meaningful, human connections, and, in true Calke tradition, encourages small acts of kindness ”

The proposed location of the outdoor rooms is, as the statement says, “highly symbolic”

Airmyne Jenney’s pink room is proposed for the stable yard, where she spent much of her time with her animals; Winifred Harpur Crewe’s blue room is further into the landscape to signify her travels; while Sir Henry Harpur Crewe’s red room is close to the library that he built –

Lucy Stephens

n MELBOURNE’S Senior Citizens Centre received a grant for £450 to continue with its kitchen refurbishment programme

The money was donated by Derbyshire County Councillor Linda Chilton (left), from her Member ’s Community Leadership Fund.

Karen Grewcock, from the centre said: “The centre trustees and committee are delighted with this boost to funds which improves the centre facilities for all our users ”

Alert over mattresses

TRADING Standards officers in Derbyshire are warning the public to be wary of flyers posted through doors advertising memory foam mattresses for sale

The flyer says the business is closing down and the mattresses are being sold for greatly reduced prices

Derbyshire Trading Standards say: “Mattresses sold in the UK must comply with safety regulations such that they are flame-resistant and must have a blue safety label permanently attached With no way of tracing the seller, there is no way of checking whether the mattress is safe, and it has been known for false safety labels to be stitched in to look authentic

“If the trader gives a company name and address, type those details into the internet using a tablet or smartphone to see if they exist ”

Builders’ Royal appointment

KINGS Newton building firm owner Alan Staley has the Royal seal of approval – his firm has just won two contracts to undertake restoration and conservation works at Windsor Castle, the Queen’s favourite official residence.

Alan, 40, has been working in the building trade since starting out as a general labourer (tea-boy) aged 17 and has built up a stellar reputation for exceptional craftsmanship and painstaking attention to detail, specialising in working on heritage and conservation projects

Now ASBC Heritage & Conservation Specialists have reached what must surely be the pinnacle in any career in the trade, having beaten off stiff competition from some big names to complete works at Windsor

“We were absolutely elated,” he said “We were up against some very well-established contractors who have worked there for many years ”

Alan began working as an apprentice for the Blunt family when he was fresh out of school, and spent the next four and a half years doing “a bit of everything”, while learning valuable skills such as masonry

Setting up on his own at the end of his apprenticeship, he undertook all kinds of jobs in the local community while discovering that the life of a building contractor involves many long hours, often getting on site at dawn and then completing administrative work in the evenings

Over the years, Alan’s work became more and more focused on heritage projects, with the firm employed to work on numerous places of worship, ancient monuments, the roof of Melbourne Hall, as well as Calke Abbey, St Michael’s House at Melbourne Parish Church, and further afield estates such as Belton House in Grantham and Stydd Hall in Ashbourne

Alan has built solid relations with many lords and ladies, private estate owners and agents, The National Trust, Historic England and English Heritage

This type of highly specialised conservation work involves a wealth of extra detail and skill for builders to factor in to their schedule: maintaining stability on delicate structures while undertaking repairs by designing special propping mechanisms and constructing entire temporary roofs to protect vulnerable buildings while work

Another fabulous fun night at the Legion

THREE top quality comedians and a great compere made for a fabulous night of fun at the Royal British Legion

First up was Steve Royle, a highly talented entertainer Not only were there jokes a plenty, but we were also treated to some juggling, and a very convincing impersonation of Wallace (without Grommit) Well known for his appearance on Phoenix Nights, Steve is one of the most versatile acts around at the moment

Middle Act Harvey Hawkins immediately gripped the audience with his storytelling style, which depends on a relaxed pace in which punchlines land perfectly with the audience

Alfie Moore, as headliner, was well known to the Melbourne audience not only because of his previous visits, but also as he is now a familiar voice on Radio 4, with his show “It’s a Fair Cop” A natural raconteur with a wealth of stories from his time as a policeman, his story about finding a dismembered head, which closed the show, is always worth another airing!

Dom Woodward had been the first act on the very first comedy night in Melbourne, and as compere he showed just what an accomplished comedian he is Gently ribbing with audience members, Dom held the evening together very well

Next show is scheduled for March 29 – Brexit day – so a night of comedy will be a good way of having some light relief no matter what happens! – FH

Carnival takes to the water this year

ALL things aquatic is the theme for this year ’s Melbourne Fete & Carnival – and organisers are working hard behind the scenes to make the event a success

This year ’s carnival is taking place on Saturday, July 13, along the theme of “Under the Sea”

The traditional procession will be taking place through the streets before the fete goes ahead on the field between Melbourne Infant and Junior schools

There will be lots of stalls, games, rides, food, drink and performances to enjoy

Anyone who wants to get involved and host a group float or sponsor the event is asked to contact melbournecarnival@hotmail co uk or check out www melbournecarnival co uk for more

is carried out

For example, the firm’s work at Worksop Priory for the Prince’s Regeneration Trust and Historic England provided stability to the medieval cloister wall by undertaking various highly skilled masonry repairs to the structure This included pinning fractured stones, hand carving and installing new sections of very detailed and ornate copings, and undertaking mortar repairs using crushed sandstone and lime

It was Alan and his firm’s outstanding work at the Dower House in Melbourne which attracted the company’s first national award – The Federation of Master Builders, Master Builder of the Year 2017 winners in both heritage and large renovation categories

“To be recognised by the industry’s leading experts as the best company in the UK for heritage and large renovation has been a real highlight for us,” said Alan

So what’s the attraction of heritage work for Alan?

“It’s very rewarding,” he said “Lots of the buildings we work on are on the ‘National Heritage at risk’ register

“By the time we have completed the restoration work, it takes that building off the register You know you’re preserving historically important buildings and enhancing them for generations to come ”

Alan’s wife, Ali Staley, added: “You do get to go to loads of places that no-one else goes as well; like at Belton we got to stand on the main roof and had a view of the entire estate which was breath-taking! And being behind the scenes at Windsor is such a privilege ”

But for Alan and his firm, their achievements would never have happened without their most important asset: their team of highly skilled tradespeople, male and female, some of whom have been with them for over a decade

“We couldn’t do it without the team,” said Alan “We’ve got an excellent team with a diverse skill set, who are very good at what they do They really deserve recognition for their skills and standards ”

For security reasons, few details of ASBC’s work at Windsor Castle can be publicised, but we are able to reveal that one of the projects is on a “prominent elevation”

ABOVE: Members of the ASBC team hard at work and (right) Windsor Castle where their expertise will be put to use.

(Photo: Pixabay)

SCHOOL pupils in Breedon-on-the-Hill have a new head teacher – Mrs Kelly Ellis

Kelly started her job as head of St Hardulph’s School in January, replacing Caroline Wenham, who had been in the post for 11 years

As a local North West Leicestershire resident, Kelly said: “It’s a really lovely opportunity to give something back to my local community ”

Having been in education for the past decade, this is Kelly’s first headship She goes to St Hardulph’s having been a deputy head teacher in Staffordshire, working in two outstanding Ofsted-rated church village schools

As well as that, she is a specialist leader of education and has supported teachers across schools in a wider area to improve teaching and learning practice

Kelly, who has a 14-month-old son of her own, said: “It’s an exciting challenge

I’m getting to know families and the

wider school community ”

Some schools in Leicestershire have over recent years been going through an important transition away from a three tier education system – first school, middle school and senior school – towards the two tier school-system which is much more standard across Britain: primary and secondary

That transition saw St Hardulph’s expand to accommodate year six pupils for the first time this academic year

Previously, children have left the school after year five and gone on to a different establishment for year six – the year they take their SATs (Standard Assessment Tests)

Kelly said: “It’s exciting to work with St Hardulph’s on the next chapter of its journey, and to bring the experiences that I have in working with year six children to the school ”

Kelly is pictured with pupils William Guilford and Isabella Rackhamsayer

Melbourne’s Annual Meeting of the Parish

Thursday, 21st March 2019

New head looking forward to an ‘exciting challenge’ Polly gosh ... look what’s in the garden

The Lounge, Melbourne Assembly Rooms at 7.30pm (refreshments from 7.00pm)

- All Parishioners are invited to attend -

Councillors: Mrs Margaret Sharp, Jane Carroll, Wendy Earp, Nigel Collyer, George Dunnicli Carol Fearria, Martin Fitzpatrick, Tom Gates, Sheila Hicklin, Steve Hogan, Andrew Jackson, Robert Parker, David Smith, Terry Summerlin, Mick Usher.

LICENSING ACT 2003 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF PREMISES LICENCE

Notice is hereby given that Melbourne Fete and Carnival Committee is applying for the Grant of a Variation of Premises Licence under the Licensing Act 2003 for Melbourne Junior School, Packhorse Road, Melbourne, Derby, DE73 8JE.

The Licence if granted is to enable the following activities to take Place: Provision of regulated entertainment outdoors and Sale of alcohol on the premises

On: Second Saturday of July each year 12 noon until 6pm

Any person wishing to make representations in relation to this application may do so by writing to the The Licensing Section, South Derbyshire District Council, Civic O ces, Civic Way, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 0AH.

Representation may be made for 28 consecutive days from the date of this notice.

A copy of the application for the grant of the above licence is kept by The Licensing Section, South Derbyshire District Council, Civic O ces, Civic Way, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 0AH. The application can be inspected at the Council O ces during normal working hours by prior appointment only or viewed on-line at: www.south-derbys.gov.uk

It is an o ence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application, the maximum ne on summary conviction for this o ence is £5,000.

Dated: 30 January 2019

HERE’S a handsome looking chap you don’t expect to see in South Derbyshire everyday – a ring-necked parakeet was spotted in a garden in Stanton-byBridge!

Jill Goodchild took this photograph of the beautiful bright green parakeet on the bird feeder in her garden in Stanton in January

“I was in the kitchen,” she said “I looked out of the window and there it was, on the bird feeder

“It was lovely, it was trying to eat these round fat balls It tried and it tried and it couldn’t get anything It was hanging upside down – and then it just flew away ”

While you might think of spotting a parakeet in the wild in more tropical climes, the ring-necked variety is in fact quite common in the southeast of the UK

Britain’s only naturalised parrot, there are currently more than 8,500 breeding pairs in this country It seems that the parakeet, unlike aspects of the public transport system, is not put off by cold British winters

Nick Brown, wildlife enquiries officer for Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said that ring-necked parakeets were now spreading north after successfully colonising the south-east

He said: “Sightings in Derbyshire and the East Midlands are still quite infrequent

and localised so their colonisation up here isn’t rapid but is gaining some momentum now

“Birds are fairly regularly seen at Allestree Park for example and there is a

possibility they nested there in a hole in a tree last summer They tend to be seen in the suburbs and villages, in autumn eating fruit like apples in back gardens or more usually at bird feeders where they are dominant and noisy!”

The spread of these tropical birds in Britain has caused some concern, with the suggestion they may potentially impact negatively on native species

Asked if parakeets posed a problem, Nick said: “Parakeets are considered a problem in that they dominate bird feeders and utilise holes in trees which otherwise would be used by native species such as woodpeckers, stock doves and even tawny and little owls

“They are also very raucous and that can be very annoying to residents

“Having said that, they are very colourful and lively birds and some people actively enjoy seeing and watching their antics ”

If any members of the public see a parakeet in their garden or in the wild, it would be very helpful to report it to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust so that their colonisation can be tracked

Sightings can be reported by email to enquiries@derbyshirewt co uk or by ringing the office on 01773 881188

Look carefully at any bird that arrives in your garden – it may be a naturalised parakeet, or it may be another type of parrot that has escaped from its owner ’s house –

Lucy Stephens

Demolition job is finally on the way

MELBOURNE’S adult education centre is finally set to be knocked down – two years after the decision was made to demolish it to make way for extra car parking.

In March 2017, the Village Voice reported that Derbyshire County Council’s ruling cabinet had agreed to knock down the building on the school grounds in Packhorse Road.

The demolition is set to take place in the school Easter holidays this year, which run from April 12-29.

The car park at the school is then to be resurfaced over this year ’s summer holidays, to create 13 parking spaces for both the junior and infant schools to use for staff and visitors.

Village Voice Postbag

Active citizens are the way forward

I THOUGHT that the Robinsons raised some good points in your January issue (Village Voice, January 2019, letters page: Let us tell them what WE want to happen about traffic)

As head of a family with a big stake in Melbourne I'd like to raise a few more

I think that the push to achieve improvements will have to come from within the town My discussions with our district council in the past have not shown much appetite on their part to make improvements

A one-way traffic system naturally brings objections from individuals who are affected These should be given weight in proportion to the overall benefit to the town

An edge of town long-stay parking area should be actively sought

Every single parking space is of great value I believe a few more could be found without destroying landscaped areas

Empty shops have become a feature of towns, large and small So far Melbourne has bucked the trend I believe we need a

group of active citizens devoted to keeping it that way

John Blunt Staunton Harold.

The Village Voice welcomes your comments on this important matter Please contact us by emailing letters@melbournevillagevoice.co.uk or by letter to The Village Voice, 11 North Street, Melbourne DE73 8FZ

What WE need is a new car park

THESE are our comments regarding the traffic problem forum featured in your January issue:

n Parking is the biggest problem and causes most traffic issues, affecting residents, shoppers and tourists

n Another car park near the edge of Melbourne would alleviate many problems

Blackwell Lane would be a good spot as that would serve the many tourists who visit the Hall/Tea Rooms/Pool/Church/Blue Bell Pub and large numbers of walkers who park on any street in Melbourne

If situated there, this pleasant historical area of Melbourne could be better enjoyed (for residents and tourists alike) in a much safer environment Suitable signage could direct the route to it and

maybe nearby streets could have areas of restricted parking

n Older residential streets suffer serious parking problems Could more be made of the Quick Close garage/play area (Lothian Gardens provide a play area now)? Police House: its future may be in doubt, but could their land/rear garden be utilised for residential parking?

n Workers/shop owners fill car park spaces for the whole day Increasing numbers of residents use the car parks as a place to keep their cars Shoppers and visitors struggle to find a place to park

To sum up, a new car park is needed (Blackwell Lane) and private residential parking areas should be developed (Name and address supplied).

Ward’s step ladder finds a new home

I WAS born in Melbourne in 1964 but now live on the south coast of England near Portsmouth

My mum, Ann Barnett (nee Ward) relocated here too but keeps up with Melbourne happenings via Paddy Laban, who generously posts the Village Voice each month to her, accompanied by a handwritten, newsy letter – so lovely to receive!

Mum and I particularly enjoyed the article in the November issue regarding Ward’s ironmongery shop on Derby Road In one of the photos a tall step ladder was visible which, whilst visiting the Melbourne Festival this year, I decided to buy I felt it was a piece of family history

Lilian and Carl Ward, who ran the shop in the 1930/40s, were cousins of my mum her family ran the cardboard shoe box factory in South Street Mum married Michael Barnett, and with my brother Guy and I, lived in Melbourne until 1972

With no immediate way of transporting the ladder we walked it down ‘The Twitchels’ to Paddy and Jo Laban’s house; they kept it safe until we returned for collection a few weeks later! It now has pride of place in our courtyard garden in Southbourne, West Sussex, and each time I look at it I’m reminded of happy times in Melbourne!

Sarah Lippett (Barnett)

Village school has room for more children

THE school’s governors wanted to respond to the report that St Hardulph’s Primary School in Breedon is “full” in the January 2019 issue of the paper (P3, “Garden Centre homes plan upsets villagers”)

For many years, St Hardulph’s has been a relatively small village school and, whilst we have grown significantly in terms of pupil numbers in recent times, the school does have further capacity for growth Currently, for example, we have 76 pupils but, with a capacity of 105 children, we do have

FRENCH TUITION

n STEVE Hogan was unanimously approved to join Melbourne Parish Council as a co-opted councillor at its meeting on January 8

Steve said he had been running a virtual reality company since 2015 and had moved to Melbourne in 2007 He described that he had previous relevant experience having been involved in the Chamber of Commerce, as a school governor and that he was on the board at Whistlewood Common

French taught to all ages and abilities

Guitar, ukulele, ddle, keyboard & melodeon The ukulele club is a fun, sociable evening of song and playing.

We also do barn dances and maypole Bryan Dawson 01332 702386 or 07949 108037 bryandawson@hotmail.co.uk

Melbourne Hall

GARDENS & VISITORS’ CENTRE - DERBYSHIRE -

Hi from the Tea Rooms Team at Melbourne Hall. We are open as always and wish to say thank you to all our valued customers and visitors.

The visitor centre will be undergoing new exciting renovations and upgrade. The aim is to rejuvenate this great destination whilst maintaining its unique charm and appeal to welcome all from the local community and beyond.

the ability to welcome new children and families

Our most recent Ofsted inspection in 2017 judged St Hardulph’s to be good in all areas and the school was praised for its positive culture where pupils thrive and achieve well

The inspector commented: “The school provides a happy and inclusive environment where each child is valued Staff know the pupils well and understand their individual needs Consequently, pupils

The Tea Rooms will be staying in the existing building. All the retail outlets will remain open for business throughout the project period.

thrive and achieve well at the school ”

Should you wish to find out more about St Hardulph's and the places we have available, parents and families are welcome to contact the school and speak to our new headteacher, Mrs Kelly Ellis More information on admissions is available on our school website

Mrs Kerry Hodges Chair of Governors

St Hardulph’s Primary School, Breedon on the Hill

Thank you again for your continued custom and we look forward to seeing you over this coming season.

Louise and the Tea Rooms Team and Melbourne Hall

Enquiries: 01332 862502

www.melbournehall.com

l The step ladder outside Wards (above) and (right) in its new home on the South coast

Double delight for garden club members

MEMBERS of Ticknall Garden Club enjoyed a double helping of gardening delights at their January meeting

Tony Kirkham shared his experiences as Head of the Arboretum at Kew Gardens

As well as spending nearly 40 years caring for its 14,000 trees, he has also found time to travel the world in search of rare trees to add to Kew’s collection

His passionate interest in Ernest Henry Wilson, one of the greatest plant hunters of the early 20th century, has led Tony to retrace his steps in China

In doing so he replicated many of his original glass plate photographs and discovered many new trees which are now growing in Kew Gardens

On the same evening the audience were given the exciting news of the forthcoming publication of a book on gardening written by one of its own members Griselda Kerr, whose own lovely garden at The Dower House in Melbourne is regularly open to the public, has based her book on the daily journal she wrote as she created her garden over recent years

It is hoped that The Apprehensive Gardener, due out in May, will prove to be a valuable reference guide for both new and old gardeners alike

Tony is pictured with Griselda Kerr bonding over their common interest in gardens

SITUATIONS VACANT

Support needed for new footpath

LOCAL people – dog walkers, keen ramblers, and anyone interested – are being asked to support a proposed new footpath between Swarkestone and Melbourne

The proposal has been put forward by Melbourne Footpaths Group and, if it goes ahead, would see the existing path next to Swarkestone Bridge Causeway linked to Wards Lane

The move follows a lengthy battle to get a footpath designated next to the causeway (footpath 13) which was finally won last year Previously, walkers had to negotiate the trafficheavy causeway itself in order to travel between Stanton-byBridge to Swarkestone on foot as the land next to the causeway is privately owned

The group sent its latest proposal to Derbyshire County Council and the relevant landowners in January

The county council finished drainage works on the very soggy southern part of footpath eight (which runs parallel to the causeway) late in 2018

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO RUN THE MSP FACILITY

We are recruiting a new Facilities Manager to manage and promote the fabulous MSP site.

As a motivated self-starter you will have a keen interest in driving the facility forward

The role is part-time – 25 hours per week

A full Job description is available at www melbournesportingpartnership org or from Marcus Radcliffe at the email below

To apply please send a covering letter and CV outlining your suitability for the role to mspavilion@outlook com

The closing date for applications is Sunday 24th February.

Assistant Housekeeper required

The new path would be less than 200 metres long and would join this footpath at its southern end, heading east to the northern end of Wards Lane while going under one of the causeway arches

As with the previous Footpath 13 which was finally granted after a battle of around a decade, this new section of path will require permission from The Church Commissioners, which own a section of the land it crosses

However, Paul Sturges, chair of the Melbourne Footpaths Group, said he was confident that permission would be given

He said: “After all, a new right of way would cross only 50 metres of Church Commissioners’ land: less than the width of one of the 112,000 acres of farming land they own ”

The footpaths group would welcome messages of support Contact r p sturges@lboro ac uk for the project proposals

Melbourne’s Fire Station needs YOU

MELBOURNE Fire Station is re-doubling efforts to recruit on-call firefighters to fill local vacancies

Having lost two members of the crew, watch manager Andy Astle is looking to replace them and potentially find up to six new staff

“There is a nationwide campaign to get more people on board,” Andy said, “with a new social media campaign #oncallfire”

Locally, a new facebook page ‘Melbourne on-call Fire Station’ has been set up and is attracting interest

Alongside this Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service has rebranded three engines to publicise the campaign Derbyshire’s Chief Fire Officer Terry McDermott said: “We have been working hard across the whole of the UK to raise awareness of the role of an on-call firefighter, a career that can fit around other commitments, and one that can give people many skills that are transferrable ”

In Derbyshire two thirds of all fire appliances are crewed by on-call firefighters

The awareness campaign hopes to raise the profile of the role of on-call firefighters and get people from all walks of life to consider joining up

Andy said: “It is an amazing job; it not only gives a sense of serving the community, but also it takes you to places you would not normally have gone to, and puts you in situations which challenge you to deal with things under pressure ”

Entry requirements for an on-call role include being over 18, a good level of fitness and

l One of Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service’s branded appliances

ability to pass medical and eyesight examinations, and to be available on call as required by the local station

Employers and local businesses are also being asked to consider how they may support the fire service by releasing oncall staff to attend for emergencies

Recently a local firefighter at work in a busy restaurant was able to alert kitchen staff quickly to prevent a fire spreading

If you are interested, call in at the fire station or look online at facebook or www derbysfire gov uk

MICHAEL JOHN HARRISON

1936 – 2019

A WELL-KNOWN Derby, Barrow-upon-Trent and Melbourne gentleman, who spent his working life in architecture and public service, passed away on New Year ’s Day just before his 83rd birthday

Michael was born in 1936 and grew up as one of three brothers in Derby where he attended Firs Estate Primary and Bemrose Grammar Schools, developing his many talents and love for art, architecture, scouting and sport

Michael retained a life-long link with the ‘Old Bemrosians’ and regularly attended their annual dinners, having the honour of proposing the ‘Loyal Toast’ for many years

Michael was a keen Scout and member of the 99th Dunkirk Scout Group in Derby

He joined The Derby School of Art in Green Lane where he met his wife, Margaret, and

WATER levels at the local reservoirs are rising again steadily after the unusually low levels observed following the dry summer period

Severn Trent is now reporting overall reservoir levels at nearly 90 per cent of capacity, with the figure for the Dove group, which includes Foremark and Staunton Harold, now showing just over 70 per cent of capacity.

This has risen from a low of 52 per cent, detailed for the end of October 2018 With the huge reservoir at Elan Valley in Wales showing at full capacity and rainfall in the central area consistent with the long-term average, supplies appear to be back to normal Water levels can be monitored

OBITUARY

Daughter Sarah and son Nick both grew up in Barrow

Michael’s love for village life and his sociable nature meant there were few clubs and organisations that he wasn’t involved in He became a parish councillor in Barrow alongside school governor duties at Chellaston School

He was a keen member of the Labour Party and took active interest in canvassing and standing for election in South Derbyshire as well as representing the party in the famous Melbourne Quiz for many years

then went on to attend Nottingham School of Architecture which set him up for a lifetime’s career in architecture

Michael and Margaret were married at St Luke’s Church, Derby, in 1962, following which Michael worked on the design for a new housing development in Hall Park, Barrow-uponTrent

They bought a house there and this became the family home for the next 50-plus years

Michael played hockey for Nottingham Cardinals and cricket for the Old Bemrosians, British Rail Erectors and Hilton clubs

Margaret died suddenly in 2001 They had shared 39 years of marriage

Michael also enjoyed completing ‘The Times’ crosswords and sudoku as well as attending many different groups and clubs The art club in Mel-

bourne was a particular favourite of his

Michael became a father-inlaw to Andrew and Julie and became grandfather to Matthew (& Katt), Oliver, Billy, Daisy and great grandfather to Eva He also became a very close friend to Pam, spending more than a decade together Pam too died just over a year ago and has been much missed by all the family

In 2014, Michael moved to Melbourne to be closer to Sarah and Nick

The family would like to extend their gratitude to both The Royal Derby Hospital Renal Department Peritoneal Dialysis Team and the healthcare team at The Old Lodge Nursing Home in Etwall whose care and dedication has helped to ensure the opportunity for family and friends to spend much quality time with Michael over the last few years

Given Michael’s passion for cricket, it’s fair to say he had a good innings!

Two girls who have got their skates on!

TWO Melbourne ice skaters are part of British championship teams after they triumphed at the latest championships in Nottingham in January – and one is off to represent Great Britain on the world stage next month

Alex Lewsey, a sixth form pupil at Chellaston Academy, is a member of the Icicles Junior team selected to represent their country at the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships 2019

The Junior Championships will take place in Neuchatel, Switzerland, on March 15 and 16

The Icicles Junior team, who train in Nottingham, triumphed at the British Synchronized Skating Championships which were held on their home rink on January 19 and 20

With 57 teams and 500 skaters from all over Britain going to Nottingham to take part, the Icicles Juniors won their category convincingly to retain their British championship crown

Alex is a member of the

newly formed Icicles Senior team, which also took gold and are waiting to hear if they have qualified for the senior world championships to be held in Helsinki in April

But also at the championships was another ice skater from Melbourne

Eleven-year-old Edith

Stephens (above) is a member of the Ice Pops synchronized team where she is an “alternate” – these are skaters who

will step in and perform if a skater is ill or breaks a limb!

Edith was inspired to take up the sport of synchronized ice skating having watched Alex perform with the Icicles at the championships last year, and has been a member of the Ice Pops elementary squad since September 2018

The Ice Pops also won their category at the same event, making them British champions too

Synchronized ice skating is the fastest growing discipline within the sport

It involves teams of up to 16 ice skaters performing intricate routines to music, in perfect unity

The growing awareness of “synchro” – as it is called – is such that this year ’s British Championships were streamed on the BBC Sport website and iPlayer for the first time

Nottingham has a very successful synchronized ice skating club with five of its teams achieving gold medals in the British championships, along with two more winning bronze medals

A campaign is growing for synchronized ice skating to be recognised as an official Olympic sport, both for recognition of its technical and physical demands and also to raise sponsorship, as currently families bear all of the costs

RED LETTER DAY FOR ORANGE TEAM

MELBOURNE Tennis Club’s evergrowing junior section continued its winter competitions with great success

The Mini Orange Team (pictured) consisting of (l-r) Layla Sherriff, Molly Barton, Oliver Clarke and Freddie Hill played their second Derbyshire Winter League Tournament cementing their win in October over Chesterfield, Ashbourne and Church Broughton

The results for their matches were

10-2 against Ashbourne, 8-4 against Church Broughton and a 6-6 draw against Chesterfield This meant that the team won its division – a huge achievement as they have been together just over a year Melbourne’s Mini Reds played their next matches with the team consisting of James Bannister, Phoebe Hackett, Joshua Williams and Henry Miller

They beat Littleover 6-4 and lost to Ashbourne 2-8

l Alex Lewsey pictured in action on the ice (above) and on the podium with her team-mates receiving gold (left)

Rugby club sitting proud at the top

MELBOURNE Rugby Club’s 1st XV continued their strong play into January, and are currently at the top of the table with 64 points – trailed by local rivals Long Eaton on 47

The green and golds have secured two new players for their first squad, after signing James Squires and Oli Saffell James formerly played for Hinkley RFC and Oli for Derby Saffell’s first outing for Melbourne came on January 12 with the first team heading up the A46 to Lincoln, where they overcame a strong (and sizeable) opposing side

It was a case of David meeting Goliath as Melbourne piled on the pressure from the off, with the first try of the game scored by Oliver Page to put the visitors on the up Lincoln fought back hard, though, and the scoreline was soon levelled, but Melbourne kept things going and at halftime were dominating at 12-22

Melbourne continued to battle and finished things off at 1928 Man of the Match was Alex Nightingale

Melbourne’s 2nd XV also met Lincoln on the same day, and emerged with a balanced scoresheet of 19 apiece, the Melbourne side playing well but not quite cracking Lincoln’s strong defence

It was a good day all in all for Melbourne’s rugby club as the 3rd XV met Trentham Social in a friendly game on the same day and trounced them with a final scoreline of 65-5

On January 26 Melbourne welcomed Long Eaton to Cockshut Lane, and played an assured game to win through 22-15, despite a couple of yellow cards in the second half

An away win at Loughborough (12-29) on February 2 saw Chris Rudkin make his starting debut of the season A hardworking, attacking Melbourne side took the bonus point, seeing Loughborough lose a home game for the first time in the season

The first XV’s next fixture in the Midlands Division – Midlands 2 East (North) league will be against Market Rasen & Louth, on February 16

It’s a Pea super title success

MELBOURNE’S six-a-side football league had a stirring finale to its fourth season with AFC Poddington Peas claiming the league champions title

To reach the top spot, the Peas took no mercy on Shardlow United FC with goals flowing throughout the game It was a tough battle at the top of the table right up until the final night of the season with Hottenham Coldspur taking second position, putting in a fantastic effort versus Foremarke Flyers

The league champions will be celebrating their win at Zeerah s Indian restaurant in Melbourne

Patrick Rowell, team captain of AFC Poddington Peas, said: “This was our first full season playing in the Melbourne six-a-side league

The title race went down to the last game so it was quite tense with the team working well together and full focus on the league champions title We’ve all enjoyed the challenges of the season, it’s been fun and a great way to stay fit with the team each week We’ll be working hard next season to claim back to back titles ”

The league reports how scientific studies in recent years, reported in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, have shown that small-sided football games promote health, reduce blood pressure and lower heart rate as well as being associated with positive psychosocial interactions, improved general well-being and motivational status

Steve Hollingsworth, chairman of the Melbourne Sporting Partnership, said: “We’re pleased that the league is contribut-

ing to the delivery of a more healthy and active lifestyle for local residents, it’s what the Active Derbyshire campaign is all about During a recent visit from the Football Foundation, they were impressed with the usage of our facility by a wide sector of the local community and the delivery of our independent Derbyshire FA affiliated Sunday night small-sided football league ”

This year some teams from the league are looking to enter the FA’s People’s Cup, the biggest small sided football tournament in the UK, with finals being held at St George’s Park in April According to the

Football Association, small-sided football is the most popular and fastest growing area of adult football with over 1 5 million adults playing every week

The open age adult Melbourne six-a-side league plays on the state of the art 3G artificial grass pitch at Melbourne Sports Park every Sunday evening (6-8pm), all year round All standards are welcome

The new season kicked off in January with 12 teams in the league To join, interested teams and single players can contact the league on 07513 30 6000, melb6aside@outlook com or via Facebook

They’re back up and running at Weston

THE Weston Run is back this year – after it had to be cancelled in 2018 because of the Beast from the East (remember that?)

The two-mile and five-mile races will take place on Sunday, March 10, starting from the Ukraine Centre in Weston-on-Trent at 11am

Rachel Brooks, on behalf of the Weston Run committee, said: “We are always looking for ways to improve our popular event and last year we made some changes to the route However, the heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures leading up to the event forced the committee to cancel the event for safety reasons

“We were unable to secure a date later in the year to debut the course without clashing with other local events so we are looking forwards to this year all the more

“By utilising the canal towpath in Weston-on-Trent we hope to avoid some of the local traffic and reduce congestion at busy junctions What's more it provides a chance to enjoy more of our picturesque countryside ”

For further information on how to enter, including online entry, visit https://www 107derbyscouts org uk where there is a link for Weston Run online entries and entry forms for postal entries

In 2017 pupils from Sale & Davys, Aston-on-Trent and Westonon-Trent Primary Schools competed in the two-mile fun run with their results counting towards an overall result for their school as a team Weston Run organisers said they would love to see more local primary schools joining this challenge and look forward to seeing all runners on the day

Seven up for the Dynamo teams

MELBOURNE Dynamo’s senior football sides had a superb start to 2019 with the two Saturday teams leading the way by winning all seven of their first and reserve XI matches.

The first team ended January a healthy nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table They began the year with a hard fought 2-1 home win in the challenge cup against Allestree with goals from Jack Goodband and Michael Tristram earning a quarter-final place

An emphatic 6–1 home win against Mayfield was thanks to doubles from Jack Bodill and Dave Worger plus strikes by Jake

Peverley and Jack Goodband

A week later, Tibshelf were well beaten, this time 5-1 by a rampant Dynamo Goodband and Peverley were both on the scoresheet again along with James Smith, veteran Dave Brough and a rare Jak Ward finish to complete the scoring

The Saturday first team ended the month with yet another home win, again 5-1 but this time against Burton Town as substitute Dave Brough rolled back the years with a couple of tapins to go with goals from Jack Goodband, skipper Carl Allsop and new signing Matt Lander

The Dynamo Saturday Reserves won all three of their matches in January as they began the year with a convincing 4-0 away win against Castle Donington Reserves Brad King scored two with a finish from Joe Shadbolt and a stunning strike by Scott Radley completing the scoring

Away to Ashbourne Reserves from the league above, two long range Toby Foxon goals saw the Reserves join Dynamo first team and win through to the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup

They ended the month in some style, hammering Castle Donington Reserves 8-0 Front two Shadbolt (3) and King (2) led the scoring backed up by the Foxon brothers Harry and Toby plus a sublime finish from substitute Jack Scothern

This left Dynamo Reserves just seven points off top spot, lying in second place in division one

Melbourne Dynamo Sunday first team managed just two league games thanks to the weather in January but they managed to win them both, starting with a 6-4 away win against Wanderers

A stunning long range effort plus a free kick from Dom Hurst led the way along with two tidy Harry Foxon finishes to go with goals from Callum Horton and Alex Slater to complete the scoring

A 4-2 away win against Pride Park United was thanks to an Alex Slater penalty, a typical poacher ’s goal from skipper Paul Lakin, a left foot screamer from substitute James Payne plus a long range thunderbolt from fellow sub Scott Harris

Dynamo’s Sunday Reserves lost their opening game of the year, 5-2 away to Mickleover Nags Head with Jacob Vella and skipper Morgan Johnson getting the consolation goals It was Joe Dale with the consolation a week later as Chimneys beat Dynamo Reserves 2-1

Melbourne did finish the month with a well deserved 4-2 win against Wilmot Arms as a stunning volley from Connor Duddy opened the scoring Further goals from Joe Dale and leading goal scorer Jacob Vella plus a superb individual goal from Scott Harris completed the scoring

l Melbourne Dynamo 1st XI (back row, l-r) Matt Lander, Jake Peverley, Michael Tristram, James Smith, Chris White, Jack Brownett, Jack Bodill, Jack Goodband, Brad Ellis; front (l-r) Sunil Nath, Harry Foxon, Carl Allsop, Gavin Salisbury (manager), Dave Worger (captain), Alan Buxton (assistant manager), Jak Ward, Macaulley Jones and Ollie Smith