Melbourne Village Voice July 2018

£88,000 APPEAL TO HELP TEACHER ZARA

by LUCY STEPHENS

PARENTS, friends, colleagues and relatives are rallying around to raise tens of thousands of pounds to help a much-loved primary school teacher, who has been diagnosed with brain cancer.

Zara Scott, 34, taught children in Melbourne Infant School for 10 years

Well known in the community for teaching first ‘Owl’ class, then ‘Seahorse’ and latterly ‘Penguin’, her sister Laurie shared on social media in June that a grade four cancerous tumour had been found in Zara’s brain earlier this year

Laurie has launched a largescale fund-raising appeal on the Just Giving website to raise £88,000 to fund treatment for Zara at a private clinic in Germany so she can have a longer life with her family, fiancé Matt and sons Noah, four, and Isaac, 10 months

As Laurie put it on the JustGiving page: “This treatment has the potential to watch her boys grow up ” Zara had suffered with headaches and a seizure before being diagnosed She had an operation to remove the tumour but, as Laurie said “ because it is so aggressive it will come back”

A flood of donations has been coming in from the community already – including one anonymous donation of £5,000 – but much more is needed to get Zara the treatment she needs Melbourne Infant School is hosting a fund-raising “Miss Scott Picnic” on Monday, July 16 (3 30-5pm), to which all are welcome – including current and past pupils of the school and their families

With a range of events such as a “black and white penguin waddle” – themed along Zara’s most recent reception class at the school – plus the possibility of throwing wet sponges at

teachers, the aim is to raise as much money as possible

School head Charlotte Gibbs said: “She was a really valued member of our team and we all wanted to do something to show that we love and support her ”

Parents and those whose lives have been touched by Miss Scott’s natural affinity with children and her way of getting the very best out of them in the classroom have added numerous heartfelt comments on the JustGiving page

One said: “Thinking of you Zara and sending all our love; you are quite simply the best teacher our boys ever had So

hoping you raise all the money you need Stay strong xxxx ”

Another read: “Zara, you have inspired children with your teaching, and now your courage and strength is an inspiration It seems only right that so many people now show you their gratitude and love XXX”

You can donate to the fundraising efforts to help by visiting this page: https://www justgiving com/cro wdfunding/tia-nicole-1

There will be collection buckets at the Carnival procession on July 14 and at the school’s stand at the Carnival

HAPPY FAMILY ... Zara Scott pictured with fiance Matt and four-year-old son Noah.

l Young Charlie Gregory gets a kick out of the World Cup fun day held at Melbourne Sports Park. Full story and more pictures on Pages

Melbourne Lets

RAINBOW COTTAGE, MELBOURNE

Beautiful, spacious 3 bed cottage with bespoke kitchen, large living/ dining room with log burner, downstairs shower room plus utility. 2 large double bedrooms and 1 single/office plus family bathroom. Lovely private courtyard to the rear. Full of character throughout. EPC – D £950 PCM

FLAT 1 THE OLD NATIONAL SCHOOL MELBOURNE

Fabulous part furnished 1st floor flat in conserervation area. Huge dining kitchen-all white goods. Beautiful sitting room with feature fireplace. 2 large bedrooms both with en-suite and fitted wardrobes. Third bedroom/office. ORP for 1 car. EPC-E £900 PCM

11 HATTONS COURT MELBOURNE

This 3 bedroom family house has a large kitchen with all white goods and dining conservatory. Lounge with patio doors leading onto the private enclosed rear garden. Upstairs are 3 bedrooms - master with en-suite and fitted wardrobes, balcony off the second bedroom. Modern family bathroom. EPC-C £800 PCM

75 VICTORIA STREET, MELBOURNE

Refurbished 3 bedroom villa with private garden and ORP. Galley style kitchen. Large dining room with log burner. Living room with bay window and open fire. Family bathroom. Redecorated and some new carpets throughout. Sorry, no pets. EPC-D £725 PCM

40 DERBY ROAD, MELBOURNE

2 bed terraced house close to the centre of Melbourne. Living/dining area with log burner. Kitchen includes some white goods. Upstairs are 2 bedrooms and a bathroom with separate bath and shower. Good sized garden with shed. EPC-D £650 PCM

2 HERMITAGE MEWS, MELBOURNE

Pretty 1 bed mews style cottage in highly sought after location, lots of character throughout. Kitchen includes white goods. Light and airy bathroom with separate bath and shower. Living room with gas stove. Large double bedroom. ORP. £600 PCM

3A POTTER STREET, MELBOURNE

Large 2 bed flat in the centre of melbourne. Kitchen includes white goods, bathroom with bath and shower. Good sized living room with feature fireplace. Secluded garden area with shed. EPC-D £550 PCM

Contact

SARAH: 07770 769246

CHRISTINE: 07870 547357

Take

Gardens with the wow factor

“WOW” – that was the word from organisers of Milton’s Open Gardens with more than 500 people flocking to the summer-time event, many for the first time

The event saw 13 gardens open to the public, who were also entertained by various scarecrows en route

A report from organisers says: “What can Milton say except wow and a huge thank you to everyone who came along or who helped make the day a success in so many different ways

Milton was proud to welcome 503 visitors, many of them first time visitors, over five hours on Sunday, June 3

“The sun was shining, bunting flying and 13 amazing gardens, diverse and beautiful, each reflected the visions of their owners Tea and home-made cakes were served by Milton WI in the village hall, and the telephone kiosk was decorated to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War 1 and remember those from Milton, Ingleby and Foremarke who lost their lives

“A wonderful afternoon with lovely visitors, with everyone in the village making them feel welcome The feedback from the event has been fantastic

“The scarecrows were imaginative and fun, and of course the event would not have been complete without our very own live scarecrow keeping everyone in order with her sweeping brush!

“The evening ended with a BBQ in The Swan beer garden where tired but happy Miltonians and friends enjoyed bangers and burgers and maybe a pint or two

“Profits from the event, £4,250, will be split between Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance and the upkeep of Milton Village Hall ”

Get your hands on

£250,000 of funding

COMMUNITY groups are being encouraged to dip into a £250,000 pot of funding made available by South Derbyshire District Council

The Community Partnership Scheme is available to a wide variety of organisations and projects, from parish councils and sporting groups to arts, heritage and environmental schemes

A minimum grant of £1,000 and a maximum of £25,000 will be awarded as matched funding to support capital projects costing over £4,000

Those applying must demonstrate that the funding would be used to improve the quality of life of residents in South Derbyshire

Organisations also need to evidence that they are fit and proper groups, properly constituted and managed Between five and 50 per cent of the total project costs can be met, but help can also be provided with sourcing external funding

Speaking at the recent Local Area

info@melbournelets.co.uk

Forum, community partnership officer Ian Hey reported that, although the first cut-off date was June 20, there will be a second chance to apply before the second cut-off on September 19

“The successful projects will need to show that they are addressing the council’s aims and objectives as set out in the community strategy, and overall they will benefit local residents,” he said

Ian also advised that potential applicants are very welcome to make early contact with him to ensure that bids are properly constructed

Councillor Jim Hewlett, chairman of housing and community services at the district council, said: “The Community Partnership Scheme always has a positive response from those across the district It reflects all that we are striving to do in South Derbyshire – to build on its reputation as an attractive place to live, work and visit

“We’re committed to helping those who

are working hard to better the communities of South Derbyshire and this is one way we can really make a difference We want to hear from anyone who thinks they may be eligible to benefit ”

Among those to benefit from the scheme previously are Ticknall church, Rosliston Astronomy Group, Friends of Newhall Park and Etwall George V Fields

In the past, the scheme has invested in communities to help with the cost of new buildings and supported improvements to community spaces, especially making projects accessible for all

More information is available from Ian Hey at the District Council on 01283 228741, or email ian hey@southderbys gov uk

You can also find out more by logging on to the district council’s web page at: h t t p s : / / w w w s o u t h - d e r b y s g o v u k / o u r- s e rvices/crime-and-community-safety/community-grants –

Frank Hughes

SIGN TO AID EMERGENCY VEHICLES

A

sign has been installed at Melbourne’s Orchard Close in an attempt to keep the way clear for emergency vehicles

The “limited turning space” sign was put up at the instigation of Melbourne county councillor Linda Chilton

She said it was to deter drivers and “those who park inconsiderately” because: “Emergency vehicles experience a number of diffi-

culties when trying to access people in need ”

Cllr Chilton said she had experienced not being able to drive easily in that area of Melbourne due to so many tightly parked vehicles and one parked almost on the bend

“I urge residents to think twice before they park where it suits them; a life can be at risk,” she said

NEW road

Play equipment out of action for summer

A LARGE piece of play equipment in Melbourne’s Lothian Gardens is unavailable for use this summer holidays after a parish council meeting heard it was old and unsafe

Now the good news: local families are being invited to give their comments as to what they would like to see in its place

An inspection of the equipment by ROSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) has found it is unsafe to use

At the latest meeting of Melbourne Parish Council at the Assembly Rooms on July 3 clerk Jacqui Storer said the equipment aimed at children aged between around five and eight was rotting at its base and had been patched up many times

Cllr David Smith said: “We have got to accept this piece of play equipment is the best part of 18 years old It’s out in all weathers and well and truly used I think it needs serious consideration as to what we do ”

Councillors said it was unfortunate timing that the inspection meant they felt they could not delay in putting the equipment out of action – just before the summer holidays

The parish council recently replaced another piece of equipment in the playground with a basket swing, after winning a

£10,000 Awards for All lottery grant

Families visiting the park the morning following the council meeting in temperatures of 25 degrees found the equipment had already been covered in red and white tape to prevent it from being played on Lynne Armstrong, who has five grandchildren, was one of the disappointed visitors She said she goes to the park every week, and told Village Voice: “When we went today my grandchild ran over to it and

was really disappointed that it wasn’t available and said ‘there wasn’t anything for me to play on, nanny’ It’s the fact that it’s not available during the summer holidays when the children really need it But if it’s a health and safety issue, children’s safety comes first ” To give your views on what you would like to see replacing the equipment at Lothian Gardens, contact Melbourne Parish Council on melbourneclerk@aol com

Katie crowned Miss Melbourne

MEET this year ’s Miss Melbourne – Katie Howells, from Ticknall Katie, 12, a year seven Chellaston Academy pupil, said she was “thrilled to become Miss Melbourne”

Saturday 18th AUGUST 2018

l Miss Melbourne Katie Howells with the trophy surrounded by her attendants (l-r) Nancy, Isabella, Chloe, Isabella, Alice (standing) and Grace

Fire crew kept busy

MELBOURNE firefighters have been busy as scorching temperatures caused problems with flames in June – travelling out to Tintwistle Moor to tackle the large blaze at Saddleworth that hit the headlines at the end of the month

Crews from the village went to Tintwistle as part of the largescale firefighting effort on June 30

They were also at a recent blaze in Robin Wood, near Melbourne

The annual disco where Miss Melbourne and her six attendants are selected was held this year at the Royal British Legion Miss Melbourne traditionally helps to open the Melbourne Fete and Carnival when she rides in the procession accompanied by her young helpers – and carnival organisers reported that this year ’s disco event enjoyed a packed house with many girls hoping to be selected Carnival chair Tracey Ridley said: “Miss Melbourne and her attendants were chosen by a panel of four judges The contestants dazzled the judges with karate demonstrations, French speaking – and even a front tooth practically fell out on stage!

You will be able to see Katie and her attendants at this year ’s Melbourne Fete and Carnival which is being held on July 14 Look out for full pictures and coverage in the August edition of the Village Voice

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.

only. WORCESTER

We are also happy to arrange personalised Golden Charter Funeral Plans

at the Senior Citizens Centre, Church Street OPEN TO A AGES, WHY NOT HAVE A GO? DAY TRIP TO... on Monday 23rd July Depart 9am Castle Square, Melbourne £16 - All welcome

Telephone: Melbourne (01332) 865511 AT ANY TIME

Parasol £29. Base £15.

Moving time for property firm

HER business is in helping other people move – now Katie Austin of Austin Property has moved herself but only a few doors down Melbourne lettings office Austin Property is celebrating a decade in business by moving into larger offices on the corner of Russell Yard

“I am delighted to have been open in Melbourne for 10 years,” said Katie

“I never thought all those years ago when starting in a small office in the front of my house, we would grow so much to now be in this lovely big office ”

Interestingly, more people are choosing to rent in today’s housing market than they were a decade ago, said Katie

Whereas in the past it was often thought preferable to own rather than rent, Austin Property is seeing more people choosing the letting option

“I feel people’s views on renting have changed over the years when we first started a lot of people felt that renting was ‘dead money’,” said Katie

“However, it now seems for a lot of people they like the peace of mind that other than their rent and bills each month they have nothing else to pay and, more importantly, no hidden surprises like a leaking roof or a new boiler!”

Katie started her business in Allestree, where she hails from, having helped her father with about 10 rental properties he was looking after at the

time

“We then set Austin Property up in 2004 and, due to living in Melbourne, soon realised that a lettings-only office here would be a great idea,” she said

“I really enjoy working in property; there is so much variety in the job and you get to meet so many different people

“This area is very popular and why wouldn’t it be with so many beautiful places on our doorstep?

“Being very central for Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, having motorways and major link roads just a few minutes’ drive away and having very easy access to an airport are all great reasons to be in this area ”

Caught on camera being caught short

OFFENDERS have been caught on camera urinating in broad daylight in Potter Street, police have told The Village Voice

Now members of the Melbourne Safer Neighbourhood Team have warned that police will be looking to identify people caught on camera doing “this unpleasant act” and that enforcement action would be taken

One Potter Street resident has handed CCTV footage to police in an attempt to make

the issue stop

Police said the offending behaviour had been going on for around three weeks during June with individuals relieving themselves in doorways of homes on the street

“Some offenders have been caught on camera, so don’t get caught short and then on camera as the police will be looking to identify them and enforcement action taken,” said a local police representative

TO RUSSIA BY PEDAL POWER

PEDAL power has raised £840 for Melbourne Infant School – and it was all about getting to Russia

Pupils, staff and parents at the school were challenged to get the miles under their wheels on bikes or scooters in a fund-raiser whose theme tied in with this year ’s World Cup

Over the course of a week the combined efforts of the school’s pedallers – including keen cyclist school caretaker Kai Maguire – managed to get more than the 2,000 miles they were challenged, in fact reaching 2,734

A bike ride of this distance from Melbourne would get you to Kazan – where South Korea dramatically beat Germany on June 27 – with around 300 miles still in the tank

The week’s pedalling ended in Sainsbury’s where staff, parents and pupils took £285 in the

store in sponsorship while taking turns on an exercise bike

The total raised as part of the fund-raising was £840, which will go towards painting new markings on the school playground once it has been resurfaced

THERE will be a public meeting to discuss proposals for parking and one-way traffic in Melbourne on September 26

Look out for further details on exact venue and time in future editions of the Village Voice

l Katie Austin (left) and Mel Dumelow outside the new premises in Russell Yard, Melbourne.

l (l-r) Caroline John, Ben Adcock (duty manager Sainsbury’s), Claire and Mollie Walters with Sarah Robertson (seated)

Crash driver jailed

MELBOURNE’S Christine

Ramsey has thanked family and friends for their support in a year which has seen her in hospital multiple times and needing a wheelchair after she and her daughter were hit by a car

The driver has now been jailed

Christine and her daughter Lisa were walking along Ashby Road just outside Melbourne in the early afternoon of September 12 last year when a car driven by Kamil Oltarzewski, of Derby, crashed into them with all four wheels on the pavement

Lisa was thrown into the air and badly bruised but Christine suffered very serious injuries, including a fractured pelvis, fractured foot and elbow

She still uses a wheelchair to help her get around but told the Village Voice she was now trying to walk more

On June 28, Oltarzewski was jailed at Derby Crown Court for causing injury by dangerous

driving

He was sentenced to 22 months in prison and disqualified from driving for three years and 11 months

Christine had metal plates and pins inserted during a lengthy hospital operation after the crash Sadly, her husband died suddenly on March 10 at the age of 57 and then Christine herself ended up in intensive care in hospital suffering with sepsis

Friends and family rallied round to support with fund-raising and now Christine has thanked them and the witnesses who reported what they saw on the fateful day of the crash

She said: “I thank everyone in Melbourne –family and friends; how kind they have been I don't know what I would have done without them all

“I am struggling at the moment and take the wheelchair with me because of my energy levels but trying to walk more to get stronger ”

Society’s appeal over airport noise

LOCAL residents are being urged to give their views on aircraft noise from East Midlands Airport, especially at night.

Melbourne Civic Society is drawing attention to the airport’s “Noise Action Plan”, a five-year plan open for public consultation until July 30

Society chairman Dr Paul Grimley said the airport’s plan ignores the increasing number of night flights saying: “The airport suggests that introduction of new aircraft built to the latest, lowest international noise standards will reduce night noise But most night flights are freighters, and the new quieter, aircraft types will be built as passenger aircraft

“We believe that the airport has overestimated the availability of these new aircraft in the freighter fleet and increased flight numbers will greatly outweigh any noise reductions from new aircraft

“Arrival and departure routes were defined some 15 years ago: aircraft now have modern, more accurate navigation technology, a sort of sat-nav in the sky, so review of the routes is well overdue

“But the airport has not scheduled any route reviews in the plan, so for several years will still allow departing aircraft to overfly Wilson, parts of Melbourne and fly close to Weston-on-Trent

The airport seems reluctant to initiate route changes ”

EMA’s corporate social responsibility director Neil Robinson said the airport was facing a “period of significant opportunity” with a pivotal role in the regional and national economy

But he said this did not come “at any cost” and that the airport prided itself on being a good neighbour

He said: “The work we do to reduce or limit noise has been key to achieving the year-on-year growth of the cargo operation here

“This has been achieved, in part, due to the fact that we run a 24-hour operation with a busy night-time schedule, which is critical for logistics companies to hit their next-day delivery commitments

“While, over the last 10 years, the number of flights has increased, the noise levels have not They are the same as they were 10 years ago This has been achieved thanks to the progressive introduction of aircraft which are more modern and quieter, encouraged by the charges and fines we issue if aircraft exceed noise restrictions

“We will prioritise actions that create the right incentives for airlines to switch to quieter aircraft We expect that these measures will speed up this transition ”

n MELBOURNE’S answer to Glastonbury was held this year with crowds of people turning out to enjoy wheelbarrow races, local bands, food, drink and sitting in the sunshine relaxing with friends

Now in its fifth year, the Whistlewood Music Festival was held on Saturday, June 30.

Hundreds of people made their way up to the land on the outskirts of the village where they raced each other in wheelbarrows before settling in to enjoy a long lineup of music, featuring the talents of local band Boats on the Ocean plus many others

There was food from local shops for people to enjoy, with families sitting on rugs and under gazebos as the sun beat down until well into the late evening

Black

JAILED ... Kamil Oltarzewski

Country Living with

Robert Parker

FROM deluge to desert in three short months People will be fed up with me harping on about the weather but I make no apology for this under the present situation.

A large percentage of the population is on cloud nine at present, all dressed in very little to keep cool, and getting a super tan –but farmers are heading for disaster.

One of the latest spring sowing times was quickly followed by hot and dry conditions and those spring crops are really suffering from lack of moisture Some can handle it –like maize – but even that crop is wilting in the middle of the day and grass growth is near to zero

This couldn’t have come at a worse time as the late spring emptied all fodder and bedding stocks on animal farms, and replenishing those stocks looks very unlikely in the coming months.

Most farms have had two fairly good cuts of silage already but more is needed very badly. Alternative feeds are rising in price and goodness knows how much straw prices will be at harvest.

Incidentally, we actually started harvesting winter sown barley on the second of July which is as early as I remember it being, and yield of both straw and grain was not at all good

To add to these problems farmers in the Derbyshire hills are once again having trouble with their water supplies just a few short months after they had them frozen during the sharp frost.

Having been above Ashbourne a few days ago it shocked me how the drought seems to be worse up there. Thorpe Cloud was completely brown and looked rather like a mountain in Spain.

n We have some new residents on the reservoir – well, certainly new to me as I have never seen them before.

A pair of Egyptian geese and seven goslings were on the shore below the farm a couple of weeks ago and since then we have seen two other pairs.

They seem to be fairly tame and don’t move very far on to the water when you approach them.

I took a while to identify them as they weren’t in any bird books that I have; the internet provided the answer as to what they were

Are they ornamental geese that have escaped from a park or garden or have they just moved out of their usual habitat? Who knows, in a few years’ time we could be overrun with them like the Canada, which I was very pleased to first see when a child

A RARE butterfly which hasn’t been seen in Derbyshire for more than 11 years is being reintroduced at Calke Abbey in an ambitious conservation project

The Grizzled Skipper disappeared from Derbyshire in 2007 and is declining across other parts of the UK, but a partnership between the National Trust, Natural England and wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation is working to see it established at the National Trust’s Calke estate – where it hasn’t been seen since the 1960s

The estate’s ranger team has been preparing the ground for the re-introduction of the butterfly by removing tree cover since it needs lots of sunny, open areas to breed and thrive Grassy areas have also been raked to expose bare soil to encourage the growth of its caterpillars’ food plant, the wild strawberry Butterfly Conservation’s Mike Slater said:

“I’m thrilled to be working alongside the National Trust to bring this beautiful butterfly back to Derbyshire and we hope this will be

the first site of many across the county to become a home for the Grizzled Skipper A lot of effort has gone into creating this habitat, so I’m confident the Grizzled Skipper will do really well here

“This charismatic black and white butterfly has a chequerboard pattern on its wings and is lovely to watch as it skips from flower to flower, which is where it gets its name ”

Bill Cove, countryside manager at Calke Abbey, said: “To ensure the greatest chance of success we need a long and warm summer, so we’ve got our fingers crossed that the sun shines for us Butterfly eggs have been placed in a secluded area of Calke’s parkland, along with some adult butterflies which will hopefully lay more All being well, we should see our first hatchlings emerge in late spring next year ”

To find out more about the National Trust’s work to support butterflies in the Midlands, visit www nationaltrust org uk/midlands

The Great British holidays with Roberts

Skegness & Woodhall Spa with Cream Tea

Mon 10th Sept, 5 Days £299

Weymouth, Mapperton House & Cream Tea

Mon 17th Sept, 5 Days £435

Durham, Beamish & Crook Hall

Monday 27th August, 5 Days £395

• Entrance to Port Sunlight Museum with guided tour of the village

• Full programme of entertainment

The highlight of this tour is a visit to Beamish, The Living Museum of the North.

Included in your holiday

• Roberts Gold Service

• 4 nights hotel accommodation, dinner and cooked breakfast throughout

• Time in Wetherby and excursion to the Durham Dales

• A visit to Beamish Open Air Museum

• Guided tour of Durham and admission to Crook Hall

• Free time in Ripon

Warners Littlecote House Hotel

Mon 24th Sept 2018, 5 Days £435

Skegness is one of the UK’s top seaside destinations and a firm favourite for so many years.

Included in your holiday

• Roberts Gold Service

• 4 nights hotel accommodation , dinner and cooked breakfast

• Visits to Cleethorpes and Mablethorpe

• Woodhall Spa with a cream tea

Weymouth’s buzzing quayside harbour is ideal to sit and watch boats come and go.

Included in your holiday

• Roberts Gold Service

• 4 nights hotel accommodation

• Dinner and cooked breakfast throughout

• A visit to Mapperton House & Gardens & free time in Weymouth

• Scenic tour of the surrounding area with cream tea included

Enjoy live music and shows in the evening, together with a whole host of things to do during the day.

Included in your holiday

• Roberts Gold Service

• 4 nights hotel accommodation, dinner and cooked breakfast throughout

• A visit to Windsor and Marlborough

• Free time at the hotel

Photo: IAIN H LEACH

Summer Sunday a real scorcher

A RECORD number of people turned up in the scorching midsummer sunshine to enjoy the second ever Summer Sunday in Breedon-on-the-Hill – with a quacking finale in the form of a village duck race

Organised by the village’s parish council, the event lasted the whole day on June 24, starting with a walk to the church in the morning followed by a service.

The day included music provided by Melbourne Town Band and Speed the Plough, a local Ceilidh band, plus a climbing wall, a dog show, stalls, and a bake-off competition

The duck race at the end of the day saw 300 ducks sold to participants with hundreds raised for the local primary school, St Hardulph’s.

Debbie Keith, from Breedon Parish Council, said: “It was a resounding success; we had wonderful weather and record numbers. We as a parish council were absolutely thrilled ”

Local band on crest of a wave

HOME-GROWN talent in the form of fresh young local band Boats on the Ocean wowed on the stage of the Music Festival at Whistlewood

But they will be playing to some even bigger audiences this month after being one of just five chosen from 1500 hopefuls to appear on the main stage at Y Not festival in Derbyshire, alongside big names such as Razorlight, Kaiser Chiefs, Jamiroquai and the Manic Street Preachers

Two members of the four-piece hail from Melbourne – vocalist and guitarist Frank Statham and bass player Harry Fox The 17-year-olds met each other at Joseph Wright College in Derby, where they are all studying for an advanced diploma in music performance

The other band members are drummer Tom Spray, from Ripley, and Cameron Mundie, who is from Chellaston, on guitar

So how did it all start?

“One of our assignments that we had to do at college was to get in a group,” explained Cameron Performing covers was an option, but the four musicians soon realised they were able to work creatively together and have since that day written and performed all their own material

Their varied style owes something to music they have grown up listening to – from indie tal-

ent such as Paolo Nutini and Viola Beach (Frank) to Oasis and Led Zeppelin – with their own “cheeky and funky” energy and sounds thrown in

As for their appearance on this month’s Y Not, Boats on the Ocean told the Village Voice that having not expected to win through against so many other bands, they are now very keen to be playing on the festival’s main stage

“We’re just excited and pumped to play!” said Harry

Boats on the Ocean have already appeared at venues around Derby and now have big plans to aim high with their own headline show in November plus applications to appear at other festivals such as Glastonbudget, for which they will have to audition

“We’ve played enough gigs to get more confident and it’s just excitement now!” said Cameron

At this year ’s Whistlewood music festival, the group played a 10-song set with numbers including Halo, The Grasp you Have on Me, On and On and Darkness

So, to wrap up, why Boats on the Ocean?

No particular reason, other than the four band members plucking words they liked out of the air and assembling them creatively

Members of the Parish Council

Chair Sheila Hicklin 01332 865726

Vice Chair

Terry Summerlin 01332 864643

Highways

David Smith 01332 862699

Burial Grounds Michael Usher 07791 605861

Planning and Strategy

Jane Carroll 01332 863269

Finance & HR

Margaret Sharp 01332 862471

Facilities, Recreation and Events

Andrew Jackson 07931 541387

Nigel Collyer 07831 540538

George Dunnicli 07780 806267

Wendy Earp 01332 865019

Carol Fearria

Martin Fitzpatrick 07808 001479

Tom Gates 01332 865718

Robert Parker 07973 297404

Jacqui Storer - Clerk 07734 939292

Useful Numbers

Aircraft Noise

& Complaints 0845 1088540

Clean Team ( y tipping) 0800 5872349

Street Lighting Faults 0845 6058058

Melbourne Parish Council

Quarterly Report - July 2018

I was very proud to be elected chair of Melbourne Parish Council on May 1st and I hope to engage with the people of Melbourne and improve communications with all residents.

My rst o cial role as Chair was to lay a wreath on behalf of the Parish Council at the unveiling of Wallace Hatton's war grave in Melbourne cemetery. Since then I have attended a sustainability meeting at East Midlands Airport and the inauguration of Michael Stanton as chair of the S.D.D.C. The Melbourne Library consultation is ongoing, and hopefully will reach a positive conclusion as we cannot a ord to lose a much loved and well used community asset.

Once again the St George's ags were own which make a ne display in our village . The patriotic red, white and blue hanging baskets are now in place and will make a stunning feature in the Market Place and surrounding areas.

Sue Pegg of Derbyshire County Council attended the June Parish Council meeting to give a short presentation on secondary school eduction for the children of Melbourne. It was great to see so many members of the public in the meeting. I'm also pleased to see the new bench at the end of Queensway being used, it is the rst to be sited and there will be a further nine installed at key locations in Melbourne.

The Parish Council are heavily involved in the WW1 commemorations that are being held in our village. The rst two that already have taken place have been well supported. A commemorative beer, '1918', has been brewed and sold out very quickly, a rebrew is planned for the Autumn. The painting ‘Swords into Ploughshares’ by local artist Michael Cook and commissioned by the Parish Council is now on display at di erent venues throughout the village until November. A nal and tting location for the painting has yet to be decided. There are many varied events commemorating WW1 from September onwards and I am looking forward to attending them.

Sheila Hicklin, Chair, Melbourne Parish Council

– Lucy Stephens

It’s an approach that seems to have paid off so far

Potholes 0845 6058058

90th birthday plaque for Palestine

A DISTINGUISHED army veteran from Melbourne who served in Palestine before the creation of Israel was given a special plaque to celebrate his 90th birthday

Gordon Foddy, of Victoria Street, was handed the plaque at a celebration at the Royal British Legion on June 20 to mark his 90th birthday that month

Born in 1928 in Ashby, Gordon moved to Melbourne with his family at only a few weeks

old

He left school aged 14 to work on the land and at Loakes shoe factory on Commerce Street but then got the urge to join up

As he tells it: “I came home one day and I said to my father, if you sign this paper I can go in the army aged 17 and a half ”

Gordon joined the Royal Artillery and was posted to Palestine, where he was a wireless operator with British forces, who had a mandate to act as peacekeepers ahead of the cre-

veteran Gordon

ation of Israel in 1948

It was a bloody conflict and around 800 British troops lost their lives

After his time in Palestine, Gordon was with the army in north Africa before he was demobbed – in those days, the army gave you a complete civilian suit wrapped up in a cardboard box and a trilby hat, which he gave to his father

Gordon still attends two Palestine Veterans Association events each year –one at the National Memorial Arboretum near Burton-onTrent, and the other at Eden Camp in Yorkshire

LEFT: Gordon is pictured receiving the plaque made by Karen Worrall from Dave Worrall.

RIGHT: Gordon in Palestine

Dawn past halfway to target

n FREE sports equipment paid for by the parish council will be in Melbourne on four dates in the summer holidays

South Derbyshire District Council sends its “sports mobile” out every summer to give children the opportunity to play on it for free in the long summer break

District councillor Jim Hewlett, member for Melbourne, updated the latest meeting of the village’s parish council, held in The Assembly Rooms on July 3, as to when the equipment would be in the village

Cllr Hewlett said the sports mobile would be at Melbourne Junior School from 2pm to 4pm on the following dates: Mondays July 30, August 6, 13 and 20

n IT will be time to dust down that doublet and hose with the news this year ’s medieval market in Aston-on-Trent is set to take place on September 15

The market will be happening from 10am until noon

l Dawn thanking supporters for sponsoring her and her “warriors” on completing the 10k Race for Life at Markeaton Park

The Very Best in Retirement Living

MELBOURNE pink miles charity

fund-raiser Dawn Aston is not letting anything daunt her – and she is now more than half way through her target to complete 2,018 miles on foot for cancer charities this year

In our April edition we reported how Dawn had vowed to complete the distance to raise money for Breast Cancer Now and Prostate Cancer Research Centre, having been herself diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2017

She has been carrying on with her miles every day with her beloved hounds and on Sunday, July 1, took part in the 10k Race for Life event at

Markeaton Park, accompanied by nine friends – her “warriors”

Since starting the challenge she has trekked 1,074 miles and raised £3,000

Her other achievements include being awarded member of the month at Breedon Priory Gym and finishing the Race for Life in Rome

The next fund-raiser as part of Dawn’s 2018 Pink Miles is a charity salsa night on August 25 at the Royal British Legion – tickets available from Havana Salsa

To donate to Dawn, visit: h t t p s : / / m y d o n a t e b t c o m / f u n d r a i s -

Melbourne’s ironmonger shutting up shop

Melbourne’s ironmonger shutting up shop

END OF AN ERA

MELBOURNE’S longest surviving shop, L Ward ironmonger on Derby Road, now has a “sold” board outside.

JOHN WILLIAMS takes a look at this slice of history, soon to be gone

IT’S a funny sort of word: “ironmonger.” It’s not a very common word any more It is a word that comes from another age, like “wireless” or “telegram”.

There used to be lots of different “mongers”

There were costermongers, fellmongers, cheesemongers and fishmongers Those who provoked or supported conflict were often called warmongers The word describes a trader, someone with something to sell

We have one in Melbourne Drive along Derby Road and you will find an ironmonger His premises are themselves a historical survival The shop is constructed from a World War One British Army hut, built in their thousands for the Great War and sold to the nation afterwards, an enduring reminder of those times and now a place of commerce

The business is even older John Coton, the ironmonger, calculates that his family started the enterprise in the mid-19th century The Wards moved to the premises on Derby Road in 1920 after getting permission to insert shop windows into the hut

So, what does it sell? What is ironmongery?

Judging from the interior of this shop, it is almost everything There is paint and putty, thumbtacks and strong thread, dog collars and crockery and a list of goods for sale that almost defies description Ironmongers carry a huge selection of what is now called “hardware”: items which we need in our daily lives, in the real world of planting gardens, putting up curtains, getting stains out of the sofa and treating woodworm in the clock

This is the world of John Coton, Melbourne’s ironmonger There are almost no shops like this now to be found in UK high streets and there is hardly anybody with the professional experience of John

He is an ironmonger par excellence His shrewd eye can size a nut or bolt, predict a wood screw or advise on a planting problem He is able to dispense sound advice on decorating ceilings, eliminating codling moths in fruit trees, improving the airflow to an open fire and painting old

Library meeting fails to attract many

A PUBLIC focus group meeting to discuss Melbourne Library saw hardly anyone attend Cllr Linda Chilton, who represents Melbourne for Derbyshire County Council – the body which is currently consulting on proposals which would include transferring the village’s library to community management – expressed disappointment at the most recent meeting of Melbourne Parish Council that so few people had turned up to the meeting on June 28

The meeting in the library was a focus group session intended to enable individuals to discuss the practicalities should Melbourne be devolved to community management

The consultation on the issue is still ongoing and everyone can take part until July 30

Speaking at the parish council meeting held at Melbourne Assembly Rooms on July 3, Cllr Chilton said: “At last week’s focus group meeting only three people turned up I’m very, very disappointed in that, because everybody is saying we all like the library and nobody bothers to turn up

“We (the county council) want to engage the public and see if they can come up with something that we haven’t (thought of) ”

timber

I lived across the road from his shop for many years and can vouch for this On many occasions customers brought their DIY problems to him to ask for advice After listening, John would walk into the labyrinth of shelving and emerge, minutes later, with the perfect solution

The shelves held myriads of little boxes containing every conceivable grommet, washer, hook and eyelet, carpet tack and clout nail It was local legend that if a thing had been made, John would probably stock one and in a choice of colours

This skilled understanding comes only to those who have spent their years assisting and supplying the public John remembers the very specialised clients, the market gardeners and the engineering community who required specific items, like Vernier gauges and Melbourne Swannecked hoes

In the autumn, jam pots and Kilner jars would be required for those pickling or making jam Each season had its particular requirement and local people went to L Ward Ironmongers to find them

John began as an ironmonger in 1963, starting work at the shop then run by his aunt That’s 55 years behind the counter Over the intervening decades, like all of us, he has seen how society and commerce have changed John sadly observes that the tradition of “make and mend” has passed Things are now abandoned when broken and new items are purchased The market gardeners, engineers and shoe factories of yesteryear have all gone and today’s DIY enthusiast visits the hardware section of the supermarket, not the ironmongers The range of stock, the personal service and the experienced technical advice are things of the past

Now John has announced his intention to retire He is in the process of selling the shop and is considering his options for afterwards

What is certain is that this region will miss him We will miss the quick eye and sure advice We will miss the cheerful personality and dry humour

John has seen decades of local people pass in front of his counter This long experience of life and labour encourages his particular philosophical character which we will also miss

The longest surviving of Melbourne’s businesses is to cease The ironmongers is closing

You can still take part in the consultation about the proposal to devolve Melbourne library – among others – to community management Visit this page: https://www derb y s h i r e g o v u k / c o u n c i l / h a v e - y o u r - s a y / c o n s u l t a t i o nsearch/all-consultations/consultation-details/libraries-forderbyshire aspx

Two Rosettes for Culinary Excellence

l It was

all round when Weston-Under-Fives Pre-School visited residents from Richmond Villages, Aston on Trent’s Care Home, to play games and sing songs together, on one day in June

Martin joins council

MELBOURNE parish council has a new councillor – local parent

Martin Fitzpatrick

Martin was co-opted on to the parish council at its most recent meeting in Melbourne Assembly Rooms on July 3

His co-option comes after the resignation of Simon Green

A further councillor, George Hudson, has also resigned

Introducing himself at the meeting, Martin (pictured right) said he was a dad of three sons and had lived in Melbourne for five years

“I do feel quite lucky in life – I’ve got a good job, good friends –and I do like to get involved in things,” Martin told parish councillors “I think Melbourne has got a fantastic community If I can contribute and help I’m more than happy to do so ”

Isabella dishes up a winning treat

A PUPIL has proved that school dinners aren’t about soggy cabbage any more when she won a county-wide cooking competition – and now her award-winning meal is going on school menus across Leicestershire!

Isabella Rackham-Sayer, aged 10, who attends St Hardulph’s Primary School in Breedon, was crowned the victor in the coveted Junior Chef of the Year competition 2018 by Leicestershire County Council’s school food service

Isabella, whose mum Hannah works at the school, seriously impressed judges at the June final in Leicester College with her two-course meal: a Mexican tortilla bake, crispy potatoes, mixed salad and sun-dried tomato focaccia followed by white chocolate and raspberry blondies with a fruit coulis

With judges including the likes of Andy Greasley, former contestant on MasterChef: The Professionals, and senior dietician Paula Mckee, Isabella’s winning dishes will now be added to the next Leicestershire Traded Services catering services school menu

Isabella said: “I entered the competition because I enjoy cooking I’m always asked by my mum what I can make I mostly like to make cakes but my speciality is banana and chocolate bread

“I loved cooking in the competition and was surprised that I won, as everyone else was really good ”

Councillor Ivan Ould, cabinet member for children and families, said: “Congratulations to Isabella and all the chefs involved who did really well to reach the finals

“It was clear that Isabella has a real passion for cooking and the judges thought she showed creativity, enthusiasm and an ability to work under pressure

“The competition is a great way for young chefs to showcase their cooking skills ”

The finalists were put to the test during a series of heats organised at their schools by the council before six great young chefs were selected to appear in the final

The competition attracts hundreds of entries from across the county

Isabella’s mum Hannah said: “I’m a super proud mum! Our school dinners are really good here – this kind of thing is a great example They’re trying to spice things up, make the meals more modern and trying to get children’s ideas on the kind of things they like No more soggy cabbage!”

It is clear the Rackham Sayers are talented cooks – Isabella’s older sister, Amelia, also won in 2013, with her cauliflower and macaroni cheese followed by a strawberry shortcake

The county council’s school catering service provides 31,000 school meals a day to children across the county

Lucy Stephens

–

l Junior Chef of the Year finalists

Film nights in Melbourne

MELBOURNE Assembly

Rooms are setting up a new film club in September, having acquired their own large screen and projector

“The intention is to have film shows at least once a month, probably on either Friday or Sunday evenings, showing titles which are just off general release,” said MARs (Melbourne Assembly Rooms) director Frank Hughes

“The film showings that we had previously appealed to a small audience, but sadly did not prove economical enough for us to continue them so we

are hoping that by securing our own licence and attracting more members we can ensure this is more sustainable ”

The plan is to run the club initially for a trial six months period, with a subscription of £30, which will work out at £5 per film Members will be able to sign up in advance, or when attending their first film, and it is hoped that the number of members will have built up sufficiently to continue into next year

The date of the first film night is now set for September 30

A four-metre wide screen and a quiet projector has been provided through the generosity of various groups and is now available to hire as well It has already been used for a showing of a TV documentary by the Friends of the Parish Church

Because of licensing requirements, single titles will not be advertised publicly but members of the club will be kept informed and will have the opportunity to help decide which films to show There will be an opportunity for members to take their friends too

(l-r) Florence Green, Avani Varu, winner Isabella Rackham-Sayer and Harry Haggerwood

Picture: Sarah Salotti

smiles

Final police warnings for the nuisance parkers

POLICE are cracking down on nuisance parking and will be issuing fines if warnings are not heeded

A campaign has just commenced in Melbourne to persuade drivers not to use the pavement area outside Sainsbury’s shop entrance People had been seen stopping there to use the cash machine or to go and do shopping, rather than using the free and accessible adjacent car park

Warning signs have now been installed and it is hoped that the message will sink in

Police have said they have received “numerous complaints” about the issue of vehicles parking on the pavement outside the supermarket On June 20 Melbourne Safer Neighbourhood Team tweeted that a van user had been given “a final warning” about parking there

“Use the car park, don’t park in front of the shop,” said the Tweet “Numerous complaints re this It is being monitored You have been warned ”

In Elvaston drivers are leaving vehicles unattended on roads outside the country park to avoid paying parking fees, which cost £3 for four hours or £4 80 all day This is causing nuisance to local residents, who have found cars parked even across driveways

On June 27 police tweeted that they had issued 11 tickets to vehicles which had not used the car park at the country park

Residents in the area have been subjected to abusive language and threatening behaviour when seeking to deter drivers from blocking roads

Elvaston parish councillor Melanie Beadle was herself subjected to threatening behaviour on the last bank holiday when she had approached one car Silver Lane is particularly targeted, but “cars were parked on both sides of Ball Lane and Main Street, leaving it very difficult and dangerous for both pedestrians and vehicles travelling through the village”, she said

“Inconsiderate parking has been a major issue in Elvaston and Thulston for many years and we are very pleased that this has been brought to a head and something is being done about it Councillor Atkin is taking an active role in getting the problem recognised and hopefully parking restrictions will soon be in place

“Many people who visit Elvaston Castle park in the villages, and even right outside the gates, to avoid paying parking charges What they do not understand is that they are causing problems for residents with ac-

in brief Market idea still up in air

WHETHER or not Melbourne will get a street market is still up in the air with no planning application having yet been made – at the time of the Village Voice going to press

Cllr Jim Hewlett, South Derbyshire District Council’s member for Melbourne, provided the update at the latest meeting of the village’s parish council on July 3

He said he had inquired as to whether an application had yet been made to hold a street market in Melbourne

Cllr Hewlett said: “It requires the operator to make an application and he has not yet done so – he does say he’s still interested in doing it ”

Heat is on for water company

cess to properties and visibility when manoeuvring Cars park on the narrow pavements, which causes problems with push chairs, wheelchairs and mobility scooters and even for people walking with their dogs Access is restricted for emergency vehicles which is both selfish and dangerous Restrictions really do need to be put in place ”

Similarly at Foremark Reservoir police have been issuing warnings to drivers who are avoiding using the car parks, which are run by Severn Trent and cost

£2 50 per day

Visits by police during May found several drivers parking on the verges alongside the single continuous

Still time to have say on castle plans

DERBYSHIRE residents are being invited to have a say in the plan to restore and regenerate Elvaston Castle and Country Park

The castle, which was the former home of the Stanhope family and has listed buildings which date back to the 13th century, is in need of substantial restoration, and the proposals put forward are intended to protect the heritage site, ensure a sustainable future for the estate by attracting more visitors and increasing income to help with the high running costs

There are two phases in the master plan, the first addressing the issues with the buildings, and the second the historic gardens

Phase one will see the outer courtyard area transformed into a visitor hub, providing a central focus for the site including a new café, shops, offices, adventure playground area and an education centre A new access road running from the A6 by-pass to a new car park near the courtyard would bring visitors directly to the central hub

The ground floor of the castle would be opened up for weddings, conferences and smaller meetings Converting the upper floors could provide residential accommodation for short-term holiday lets or longer-term leases

In addition, the plan identifies some sites within the estate for enabling development, such as housing, which would generate funding from the sale of the leasehold on the land to help fund repairs to the castle and estate

Phase 2 of the plan intends to restore the nationally recognised park and gardens to their former glory

Both masterplan and petition are available on the DCC website https://www derbyshire gov uk until July 16

white line which is there to discourage parking Warning notices had been posted on a number of vehicles

Speaking at a recent Local Area Forum PC Joe Pilgrim said this was always “a tricky issue” and the present tactic was to issue warnings rather than impose fines in the first instance However, if the message was not getting through enforcement action would follow

Frank Hughes

–

SEVERN Trent Water has been pumping 300 million more litres of H2O into its system on some days during June’s scorching temperatures

This year saw the hottest June for 40 years but that has taken its toll on the water supply

The operator was asking people to use less water including putting away garden sprinklers, avoiding washing cars –using a bucket rather than hose if the need really was great –and taking showers instead of baths

l On the verge of getting a fine

Match in memory of Tony

Established 2014

• EVENT HIRE

01332 694344

www.melbournephysio.co.uk

“ You Get The Most Thorough Clean Ever Seen Or It’s Free”!

That’s right, the most thorough cleaning ever. My carpet and upholstery cleaning 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 01332

A SPECIAL memorial football match is taking place in Melbourne to mark two decades since the death of a much-loved manager “who had a profound effect on many young lives”

The game is being played in memory of Tony Coffey (pictured left), who managed a Melbourne United youth team which played together during the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s

Organised by Donal Miller, who represents a group of supporters and players from Tony’s youth side, the Tony Coffey Reunion is happening at Melbourne Sports Park on Saturday, August 11

Born in Manchester in 1959, Tony married Sue and moved to Melbourne in 1984 where the couple lived with their three sons, Ben, Michael and Liam

Tony worked for many years at East Midlands Airport With his passion for Manchester United taking him to many of their games both home and away, he also had an interest in music, aeroplanes and a love for coaching grassroots football

Kicking off at 2pm on August 11, the

reunion in Tony’s memory is starting with a football match featuring many of his former players plus friends and family

There will be coaching sessions for children of all ages held by FA qualified coaches running alongside the match

Food will be served from the pantry and refreshments from the bar – there will also be ice creams and a bouncy castle for the younger ones

The celebrations will continue afterwards in the clubhouse, where there will be a raffle and auction later in the day with organisers promising “some fantastic items up for grabs!” These include golf days, Premier League tickets, signed items, stadium tours, National Trust vouchers and a growing list of prizes donated by local businesses

There will also be live music in the evening

Donal said: “A fantastic day is planned so please come and join us ”

All proceeds raised will be put to great use by running first aid courses for young players, covering topics such as heart attacks, strokes, cuts, sprains, head in-

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

UNITED celebrating the merger of Melbourne’s two football clubs at the MSP

The day two became one

RLD Cup spirits proved an inration when Melbourne’s footl clubs officially merged for first time in their history with amily fun day on June 16 round 250 children from 14 of new Melbourne Dynamo’s ior teams – ranging from der-7s to under-18s – conged at Melbourne Sports Park SP) where they played each er within age groups as part he day’s sporting events

Meanwhile, said club chairman rk Jackaman: “Some of our ches dusted off their boots d risked shins and hamstrings ying our adult Dynamo!”

ach team had a World Cup ntry-themed area with flags d bunting, with the under-11 azilians winning the best nd ocal Guides were on hand to vide face painting; there was ot and shirt recycling; and e stands plus a bouncy castle

raising £400 for the club

MSP honorary president John Harrison and current chairman Steve Hollingsworth joined in proceedings to celebrate the success of the club’s adult teams and trophy-winning U-18 sides

The club person of the year –Stuart Uprichard – was also recognised for his service and commitment

In the evening, the club held a race night at the MSP clubhouse, which raised a further £900 This will go towards kit and equipment

Mark said: “The merging of the club now means we have several generations of involvement playing or coaching It was great to see children and adults coming together

“We've more volunteers than ever, more teams and last season's trophy haul suggests more success on the pitch will follow!”

juries and asthma

In Tony’s memory, there will also be a trophy made and presented to a Melbourne Dynamo youth player each year

Liam, Tony’s youngest son said: “It’s been nearly 20 years since our dad passed away and for him to still be missed by so many is a tribute to the man he was

“It’s fitting that the money raised will be injected into youth football, which meant so much to him

“He would be deeply honoured that the lads he worked with all those years ago, still remember him fondly and want to carry his name and values on to the next generation

“On behalf of all the family, I would like to thank Donal Miller and the rest of the team for their hard work and time on this project ”

If you would like to support the reunion event by sponsorship, donation, or donating auction or raffle prizes or would like to be involved in the match or want any other information, contact Donal on donal miller3@sky com

LEFT: The clubs officially merge

BOTTOM

LEFT: Charlie Gregory.

BELOW: The trophies won by both United and Dynamo in the last season

Coppice

Boarding Kennels & Cattery Coppice

We are a friendly establishment located on the outskirts of rural Melbourne o ering comfortable, secure accommodation, 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 contact us...

01332 862770

info@coppice-kennels.co.uk

Voted Best Kennels in Derbyshire

Blackwell Lane, Melbourne, Derbyshire DE73 8EL

www.coppice-kennels.co.uk

Trust the domestic cleaning experts at MOLLY MAID

That’s what tens of thousands of people around the world do!

• Uniformed and professionally trained staff

• 100% guaranteed and fully insured

• Regular or occasional cleans

• Free in-home estimate

• All materials supplied

• No contracts

01283 351770

gill-dawson@mollymaid.co.uk

www.mollymaid.co.uk/burton-upon-trent

More affordable than you

WHERE can you meet not one but two Peter Rabbits before admiring an igloo made from 107 plastic milk cartons the Weston Scarecrow Trail, that’s where!

This year ’s event in Weston-onTrent was held over the weekend of June 16 and 17 with organisers reporting a bumper year for both visitor numbers and money raised, although the final totals are not yet known.

Record numbers of scarecrows also made an appearance in the village this year – a whopping 75!

Our photographer Tina Baker went along to take photographs of the trail, with the Lawson family’s incredible hay Peter Rabbit on Trent Lane catching her eye.

And that Peter was just along from another excellent papier maché Peter Rabbit made by the Marks family.

Also pictured is the Cooke family’s “Eskicrow” scene, featuring an igloo made from 107 plastic milk cartons and 21 penguins made from pop bottles, a commentary on the importance of refusing or re-using plastics

Other scarecrows dotted around the village included a “Going on a Crow Hunt”, inspired by the children’s book “Going on a Bear Hunt”; a Loch Ness monster, a suffragette and Russell ‘Crow’ in a gladiator chariot

There were also rugby demonstrations by Castle Donington’s RFC Diamonds on the recreation ground as well as craft stalls, children’s games, races, yoga taster sessions, African drumming, a woodworking demo and an art exhibition by local botanical artist Cheryl Wilbraham.

In the evening, a scarecrow ball was held with around 70 guests

Record number of scarecrows turn up in village

Good year for Community Care

MELBOURNE Community Care chairman

Brian Dollamore has paid tribute to the staff, the volunteers, the committee and the officers for helping to make it another successful year providing services to the local community.

Those attending the AGM also heard treasurer

Alan Corbett say it had been the ‘best year for a while’ in terms of fund-raising, with a £3,000 uplift in fund-raising, due in no small part to the successful promise auction, and in donations also significantly up on last year Angie Cooke was also thanked for her significant contribution from her fund-raising run

Managers Alison Thornhill and Christine Lee reported that a lot of work had been done to raise the profile of the organisation locally “to ensure people know what we do and what we’re here for” Advertisements appeared in both the Village Voice and another local magazine, talks had been given to several local groups and a new Facebook page had been launched The website was also being revamped They highlighted a number of events over the year, including the Christmas afternoon tea at Melbourne Hall and a summer special event held last August The new “Coffee and Company” taking place the first Thursday every month at Mel-

bourne Assembly Rooms was proving “a very worthwhile venture” which they hoped would grow over the future months

Among the challenges ahead were the growing demand on services, with cuts and declining provision in health and social care there was an even greater reliance on the voluntary sector, creating additional demand for volunteer helpers Replacement of the ageing minibus was also going to be needed soon, with the additional expenditure that would require

It was hoped at the meeting that Melbourne Community Care would be chosen as Sainsbury’s local charity of the year Customers had the chance to vote in store or online The successful charity will be announced in July

It is apparent that our community is increasingly reliant on a strong and vibrant Community Care organisation and, in turn, it depends entirely on those who come forward to help and organise

It is probably not comprehensively understood that Community Care has no external funding at all; it is all self-funded If you wish to be involved in any way, please do get in touch either by calling into the office on Derby Road or visiting the webpage (www melbournecommunitycare co uk)

– Frank Hughes

Ramsden, former bishop of Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea

Sons’ asthma spurs mums to begin fund-raising campaign

TWO Melbourne mums have been raising awareness and funds for a potentially life-threatening condition suffered by both their sons

Everybody has heard of asthma but for Henry Stringer and Joshua Roberts, aged eight and six, an attack has often been so severe it lands them in hospital

In June their mothers Vicky Stringer and Milly Roberts held their first ever cake sale in aid of Asthma UK, raising nearly £300 for a cause that is dear to both family’s hearts

The sale was held at Little Wesley’s café above the Wesley Hall on Potter Street, which Milly runs

“When an attack happens it’s always so heartbreaking to see,” said Vicky “He usually responds quickly to the medication, but the after-effects can last a number of days ”

Henry first started displaying asthma-like symptoms at six months

“He was struggling to breathe,” said Vicky “We took him to the doctors and he was rushed straight to hospital, where he was admitted He was then in and out of hospital every six weeks until he was probably about three and a half ”

Now Henry is able to control his asthma well with preventative inhalers plus regular reviews and check-ups at the Royal Derby Hospital

Joshua was diagnosed with asthma when he was four years old, although he had been through plenty of episodes

from the age of two

As his mum Milly said: “This was a turning point for us as it was when he was given proper preventive treatment and not just an inhaler for ‘when it got bad’ We have managed it really well up until the start of this year when his reg-

ular review showed his condition had got worse

“We were given new inhalers and techniques to use Josh has suffered one attack already since then He dealt with it in the way he always does –like a star!

“East Midlands Ambulance Service

Fixing the holes in our roads

and the Children s A&E at Royal Derby are fantastic and we have been so grateful for the speed of their response every time We would love to see a development within our community services where asthma sufferers, especially children, are seen as a priority

“Living this far from emergency care, and with the ambulance service under constant pressure, this waiting time can be the difference between life and death While we have been lucky so far, unfortunately so many others have not ”

Vicky and Milly both praised staff at Melbourne Infant and Junior schools –where the boys attend – for their awareness and support in treating the boys for their asthma They would like to see funds raised for Asthma UK go to funding more facilities in communities for asthma – such as emergency inhalers in schools and community settings – and towards actually finding a cure

Henry started an asthma trial in June investigating a potential new way of reducing attacks in children

He said: “I’m interested to be part of this asthma research and hope it will help other children in the future ”

According to Asthma UK, someone in the UK is having a potentially lifethreatening asthma attack every 10 seconds, with three people in this country dying daily from the condition The UK has some of the highest death rates from asthma in Europe

COUNTY council crews have fixed more than 40,500 potholes in the first six months of 2018, a statement revealed Derbyshire County Council said that following bad weather at the start of this year its crews had been working “flat out” with extra resources brought in to tackle the issue

So far this year they have managed to repair more than double the number of potholes than during the same period last year

The problem has been so bad that nine more gangs of road workers have been taken on to support the usual 12 teams who fix holes and do other road repairs

The council is also using six extra “hotboxes”, which keep pothole fixing materials at optimum temperature on site

Cllr Simon Spencer, cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure, said £6million more funds had been put into budgets for fixing potholes with 6,000 more still to get to

Crews are currently fixing around 2,500 potholes a week

Half of the £6million in the pothole fixing budget has come from the county council, the other half from central Government

THIS is the time of year when university students graduate and junior school children prepare to go to secondary school and at the younger end of the spectrum, three and four-yearolds prepare for their very first days at school come September

The Village Voice is traditionally there to photograph new school children in our villages in the autumn term, and we were also at a get-together in the summer when local pre-schoolers met up to play together ahead of starting their reception class

Children from Scallywags Nursery, Dame

Catherine Harpur ’s in Ticknall, Puddleducks and Kangaroos meet up every summer to play games together – with this year ’s event being held at the Puddleducks base at the Scout Hut on Packhorse Road on June 7

Children from the settings enjoyed parachute games, races and craft activities all in the hot sunshine

At Scallywags, 40 children are passing this year from the nursery’s pre-school to reception Youngsters who attend the nursery are going to schools across the area: Melbourne Infants, St Hardulph’s in Breedon-on-the-Hill, Aston-onTrent Primary School, St Wystan’s School in Repton and Foremarke Preparatory School

The nursery said children had enjoyed lots of activities and special events over the course of the year to prepare them for school, including a Christmas nativity, hatching living eggs, arts and crafts days and the recent Royal Wedding party

Scallywags director Mary Attwater said: “We wish all of our children the very best as they start this new chapter in their lives and look forward to welcoming them back for breakfast, after school and holiday clubs ”

In the school year of 2012/3, a pre school partnership was formed in Melbourne and Ticknall’s pre schools to offer consistency of care and education for local children

Angela Beardow from Puddleducks said: “As a partnership we join together to celebrate festivals and organise group activities to offer the preschool children the chance to have fun with their peers and broaden their friendships with children from other settings ”

From Puddleducks, 30 children are leaving to start school in September, in Melbourne, Breedon and Weston-on-Trent

Meanwhile, 12 children are leaving Kangaroos this year – all bound for Melbourne Infant School – while most children who go to Dame Catherine Harpur ’s nursery in Ticknall will move up to the main school come September

l Milly (left) with son Joshua, and Henry with mum Vicky

Youngsters getting ready for their very first days at school

Fly-tipper is hit with a £1,579 fine

A MAN has been fined more than £1,500 after admitting dumping illegal waste – including a bath tub – in a flytipping hotspot area in Findern

Surveillance cameras installed by South Derbyshire District Council helped catch fly-tipper Thomas Smith, 31, of Derby, illegally dumping the waste on Staker Lane Signage is displayed to tell people the cameras are there Staker Lane has over recent years been so frequently blighted with fly-tipping that the district council wants to put a PSPO (Public Spaces Protection Order) on the land to prevent vehicles getting on to it

At Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court, Smith pleaded guilty to the illegal disposal of waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and was ordered to pay £1,579 18

He had dumped mixed household and building waste including a bath tub, window frames and empty paint tubs on Sunday October 15

The vehicle used as part of the fly-tipping was seized in a joint operation with Derbyshire

Police

Cllr Andy MacPherson, the district council’s Environment and Development Services

Committee chair, said: "We have a zero-tolerance attitude toward fly-tipping in South Derbyshire

“Fly-tipping is a deliberate and thoughtless act As well as being a blight on the environment, it is a source of pollution, a danger to public health and a hazard to wildlife It also undermines legitimate waste businesses

“Failure to properly dispose of any type of waste is simply not acceptable and we will take action against anyone caught

“We also urge members of the public to continue informing us about any fly-tipping they spot at www south-derbys gov uk so we can investigate ”

In the last 12 months, the

OBITUARY

COLIN CLULOW

April 13, 1941-June 2, 2018

COLIN was born and bred in Aston-on-Trent and when he left school he went to work at Ford and Weston, the Derby building firm After a couple of years, he left to take over the village shop in Aston on the death of his father

In 1969 he married Anna and in the next few years two children came along: daughter Mollie and son James, who in time gave Colin and Anna their first grandson

In fact, Anna and Colin’s wedding day did throw up a problem when Colin realised the exact date chosen meant that the shop would have to be closed because it was a Saturday Ever the devoted shopkeeper, Colin was unwilling to shut on a Saturday so the wedding was rescheduled to the Sunday

After taking over the village shop, Colin quickly adopted the policy of never discussing politics with his customers He knew you cannot afford to if you are a shopkeeper

Over the years, Colin became not only a shopkeeper but also a parish councillor, a school governor, part of the village cricket team, part of the football team, a freemason and a bandsman, with his instrument being the E flat bass

Whichever hat Colin was wearing, he gave 100 per cent effort He considered it a privilege to be part of each of his activities Perhaps the most public aspect of his life – when he was not shopkeeping – was when he was with the Newhall Band, which many in Aston considered to be their village band They played in All Saints’ Church in Aston many times, helping to raise money to maintain that beautiful building Not only that, they became established as being part of well dressing, playing on the Sunday afternoon in alternate pub car parks and then bringing the whole weekend to a close by playing for the outdoor evening service - one of their summertime gigs Perhaps the band’s best known winter gig was of course playing round the village just prior to Christmas, each of the village performances or-

district council has taken six people to court for waste management offences and issued 11 fixed penalty notices of £400 for fly-tipping

The council says that residents are encouraged to dispose of their household waste at the recycling centre located at Park Road, Newhall and it also provides a free household waste collection service every Saturday morning for areas that are more than five miles away from the tip

Information relating to the responsibilities around waste disposal can be found at environmentlaw org uk or by telephoning the council’s safer neighbourhood wardens on 01283 595968

ganised by Colin

Both Colin and Anna enjoyed walking Dancing was another favourite pastime They even learned to dance the tango – but not, as Anna was quick to add, the Argentine tango (too rude)

Colin helped Andy Jackson set up the Melbourne Town Band He talked to those who were interested in joining, he and some of his fellow players took their instruments to show them and demonstrate their various roles in band music

Colin was a man of many talents but there is one more activity that must be mentioned: the couple’s love of gardening To walk to the bottom of their garden was to get a glimpse of paradise –even if you were being stalked by their last remaining hen, which takes every opportunity to peck your legs

Rest in peace, Colin

Gold medal athlete puts pupils through their paces

DOUBLE Commonwealth Games gold medal winner Leon Baptiste took time out from coaching athletics to put primary school children from Barrow-upon-Trent through their paces

Leon was at Sale & Davys Primary School on June 27 as part of a scheme run by Sports for Champions, a community interest company which brings successful athletes into schools to deliver an inspiring message about exercise and healthy eating

Bearing his two gold medals from the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, where he won the 200 metres and was in the winning 4 x 100 relay team, Leon led children from the school in four-minute exercise sessions

All children – and your Village Voice reporter – took it in turns to complete a series of exercises including press-ups, running fast on the spot and star jumps, the idea being to demonstrate the value that even a small amount of exercise can bring

Speaking to the children in assembly afterwards, Leon said: “I’m pretty sure that a lot of you here have Nintendos or X-boxes at home that you spend more than four minutes on!

“We can easily play computers for two, three or four hours a day – but is that good for us? Is that healthy for us?”

Encouraging children to remember the

Don’t need those shoes? Then walk this way

INSTEAD of throwing out unwanted shoes, members of the public are being urged to donate them to a charity that has so far sent more than half a million to third world countries

Melbourne children’s shop Duck Duck Goose now has a special collection box, and people are invited to donate to Shoe Aid

People are being asked to give “lightly worn” shoes to the charity – but they can be for men, women, children and of any sort, including wellington boots

Shoe Aid is a Derby-based charity set up by Lee Todd in 2010, having worked in the footwear industry for 27 years

In that year, Lee experienced a serious crash on the M1 in which his car spun right round after being in a collision with a lorry

Describing the “near-death” experience, he felt a “sixth sense” that he should use his knowledge of the footwear industry to do something to ease shoe poverty across the globe

The statistics are stark: according to Shoe Aid, there are two billion people in the world who don’t have footwear, which is leading 70 million to be deprived of an education, as without shoes they cannot set foot in school

And the problem is not just in undeveloped countries either, with one estimate in the UK that more than four million children are wearing poorly fitting shoes which, it is feared, will lead to health problems for them in the future

Not only that, with 55,000 homeless people without shoes

and suffering associated problems such as trench foot – it is clear that shoes are not just a fashion statement, they are pivotal to health too

Set against all of that is the fact that, according to Shoe Aid, two million pairs of shoes are being thrown away every week in the UK

As well as sending shoes to the third world, Shoe Aid also sent 700 pairs to London in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower

value of exercise, Leon then told of his own inspiring career which has not been without its struggles: a keen footballer as a boy, he suffered a knee injury at the age of 14

that stopped him playing, so he turned to athletics

He became a successful junior athlete, winning a gold medal in the 100 metres at the European Junior Championships aged 18

He was riding high with a sponsorship deal, “but within two and a half years, I lost everything,” he told the children

“I was struggling to keep up with the payments on my car and my confidence was completely gone I considered quitting sport many many times but somehow I managed to continue for about six years then I said to my mum that I didn’t know if I wanted to do it any more.”

Leon’s mother convinced him to give sport one more year, and shortly afterwards he triumphed at the Commonwealth Games with his brace of golds Now retired from the track, Leon boxes competitively – training at the Bad Boyz Gym in Nottingham – and is also a coach for British Athletics

Children from the school raised £541 in sponsorship, of which 60 per cent goes towards buying sports equipment and the remainder supports training athletes.

CELEBRATING NEW FOOTPATH

TEN years of effort to get a new footpath approved next to Swarkestone Causeway is being marked with a special celebratory walk this month

The walk is being led by Melbourne Footpaths Group and will set off from the village’s Assembly Rooms at 10am on Thursday, July 19

The 6 8 mile Melbourne to Swarkestone circular walk has been dubbed “The Ten Years of Struggle Walk”, representing the lengthy efforts to get a small section of path formally approved

next to the causeway so that walkers did not have to take their lives in their hands on the bridge itself

The footpaths group has reported that its midsummer walk on June 21 from Melbourne to St Brides was very well supported, with future walks planned on Thursdays September 20, October 18 and November 22

The group welcomes a donation of £2 from walkers to help towards its work and running costs and Twitter @melbournepaths

tragedy, plus 2,000 to the British Virgin Islands, which was hit by a hurricane last year

Ceri Curnock, marketing manager for Duck Duck Goose, said the store felt that helping Shoe Aid was a “no brainer”, saying: “We’d like to offer a little bit of help ”

The shop is offering 10 per cent off any pair of new children’s shoes for each pair donated to Shoe Aid

– Lucy Stephens

l Duck Duck Goose co-owner Amy Roome, Lee Todd, founder of Shoe Aid, and Duck Duck Goose marketing manager Ceri Curnock

Health of those using

FOLLOWING your article in the June edition of the Village Voice I would like, as chairman, to respond on behalf of the sports clubs who are members of the Melbourne Sporting Partnership

Melbourne Sports Park is used each and every week by adults and children using our fantastic facility to train and play matches It is a facility that we are all rightly proud of, and it is contributing to the growth of sport in Melbourne and the surrounding area as the membership of our sports clubs continues to grow

In maintaining the site the amount of dog excrement that is found on a regular basis worries the MSP and the clubs, who regularly have to clear it away before matches and training As well as the unpleasant task of clearing away, the health risks are well known and extremely serious, and hence the MSP were very supportive of South Derbyshire’s District Council’s PSPO which banned dogs being let off leads on the site

We appreciate that the vast majority of dog

Village Voice Postbag

You can write to us with your comments, views, ideas, questions etc at letters@melbournevillagevoice.co.uk or by post...

walkers who use our facility are responsible and would clear away any mess However, unfortunately, there are a number of dog walkers who are significantly less responsible and appear happy to let dogs run free and/or not clear up after their dogs

It is very difficult for the people running the MSP to establish who is or isn’t a responsible dog owner and we have therefore taken the decision to fully support SDDC in enforcing this order The health of our children and sportsmen and women is paramount The clue is in the name of the site

it is not Melbourne Woods nor Melbourne Common nor Melbourne Dog Run – it is Melbourne Sports Park I would ask all residents to respect the facility, comply with the PSPO and allow our children and sportsmen and women to play in a safe environment

Steve Hollingsworth, Chairman, Melbourne Sporting Partnership.

Funds to help family are arriving steadily

I AM writing to inform readers of The Village Voice about the progress made in our efforts to help the Karusseit family who face being deported from the UK in February of next year

Readers may recall that we had a very successful public meeting at which we identified possible committee members We also began a website which invites readers to contribute to the fighting fund with which we hope to find appropriate legal support and advice

Funds have begun to arrive steadily after some very generous donations from local groups and individuals The range of those supporting Yvonne and Clive is very wide and composed of a very broad section of Melbourne’s population Linking all these people together is the feeling that Clive and Yvonne, already welcome in our community and sharing our values, have not received natural justice from the Home Office

We are still some way away from our ultimate target which might benefit them enormously We hope to find legal support of about £8,000 However, with continued effort and continuing loyalty

from those who live and work in this area, we are hopeful that Yvonne and Clive Karusseit will be able to enjoy full legal advice and help Local people will already know that we have sent a flyer to all Melbourne and district residents, briefly explaining the plight of the Karusseit family and giving details of the appeal You can find this appeal on the Internet at: h t t p s : / /

Lastly, if you would like to learn more about the appeal, talk to some of those concerned or win a fabulous raffle prize, you will find our caravan on the Melbourne Carnival website

The top prize in our raffle is a week’s free use of a luxury motorised tourer which sleeps up to four persons and provides a wonderful holiday opportunity Tickets are on sale at the carnival at £1

Thank you, Village Voice for your steady support for this campaign

J. Williams on behalf of The Karusseit Support Group

The Village Voice, 11 North Street, Melbourne DE73 8FZ

Please include your name and address, not necessarily for publication.

Beware the yellow legged Hornet

BRITISH beekeepers are facing an unprecedented and extremely serious threat in the shape of the Asian or yellow legged hornet (Vespa Volutina)

This is a determined and ruthless predator of honey bees and can destroy a colony of bees in a few hours

It also predates on a wide range of insect species including important pollinators such as bumble bees

It is now in the UK, having arrived in Bordeaux from China only a few years ago via a shipment of pottery It is spreading at an alarming rate and has done terrible damage to apiaries in France

It is essential that any sightings are reported without delay along with photographic evidence of a dead or a live hornet to alertnonnative@ceh ac uk so that the nest, usually high up in a tree, can be located and destroyed before the foundress queens disperse to set up new nests next year

This invasive non-native species has to be distinguished from its slightly larger European relative (Vespa Crabro), which is not a threat to honey bees

Readers may well have seen our native hornet flying

around or may have discovered a dead one They look a bit like a very large wasp with very similar abdominal markings and have become increasingly common in Derbyshire as they have extended their range northward

The Asian hornet is by contrast a much darker coloured insect overall with a dark non-wasp like looking abdomen with just the fourth segment yellow and a thin yellow line around the second segment and as it’s other non scientific name indicates its legs are yellow

Christian Murray-Leslie

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE ... the Asian hornet (above) and (below) alongside the not so dangerous European version

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.

Public encouraged to attend area forums

PUBLIC attendance at the South Derbyshire Area Forum meetings is something the chair of the group, Alderman John Harrison, would like to encourage.

Opening the meeting after a minute’s silence in memory of Christine Barker, former chair of Barrow-on-Trent Parish Council, Ald Harrison welcomed attendees and said he hoped that combining the Safer Neighbourhood Group and the Local Area Forum would attract more of the public to attend PCSO Emma Guest and PC Joe Pilgrim reported on crime incidents in the area, which included tackling complaints about mopeds using footpaths, cannabis users around Calke Road and Melbourne, vehicle seizures and anti-social behaviour

Questions to the police included the response to anti-social behaviour at Kings Newton Bowls Club and in dealing with an untaxed car, without MoT, parked on a

main road in Aston on Trent

During the remainder of the meeting Ian Hey outlined the current Community Partnership Scheme, with the potential for a grant of 25k, and it was reported that there was still money in the budget for Safer Neighbourhood Grants

Two recent bids from Aston on Trent for funds to secure facilities were approved but, with a total funding of £4,000 to award, more money was available Projects impacting on community safety, which give people the opportunity to address concerns about crime or fear of crime, would be welcomed

There was an update on some of the services provided by South Derbyshire CVS, including projects tackling loneliness and isolation, the befriending service, the travelling lunch club and the food bank, which was running low on stock There was also concern about the potential difficulties with the rollout of Universal Credit to this area, due in August 2018

Mat in running for top award

IT’S a good day at the office for this operations manager working in Kings Newton – he’s been shortlisted for Employee of the Year in the regional heats of a prestigious national awards scheme

Mat Bonner, who works for DG Light Haulage, is a Midlands finalist in this year ’s Rural Business Awards in recognition of his hard work

DG Light Haulage managing director David Guilford said of Mat when nominating him for the award: “Mat deserves to win this award because of his ongoing and relentless focus, commitment, loyalty, vision and dedication to the company, his colleagues and our customers

“He has made a marked difference to our competitive edge and our bottom line by excelling in his day-to-day role and by sharing his innovative ideas and contributions And, importantly for us, he is passionate about being involved in his local community and is dedicated to ensuring that our business success benefits others ”

The Rural Business Awards is a national scheme showcasing the very best in countryside enterprise across the UK

There are 13 categories, recognising everything from best rural start-ups to food and drink, manufacturing and diversification

Mat (pictured next to a DG Light Haulage lorry) joined the company in 2015 and will find out whether he’s won at a regional final to be held at Eastwood Hall in Nottingham in October

Support pledge for Rolls-Royce staff

COUNCIL leaders and South Derbyshire MP Heather Wheeler have pledged their support to employees affected by Rolls-Royce’s decision to shed 4,600 jobs this year

SDDC Chief Executive Frank McArdle provided an overview of the ways in which the council was “doing what they say they are going to do”, including introducing new vehicles for grass cutting and for refuse collection He promised that residents will see an improvement in the next few weeks He also mentioned a number of activities being promoted by the council, namely the Festival of Leisure, the launch of the Heritage Trail, which was being rolled out in the parishes, and a significant and enjoyable cricket match commemorating 150 years since the tour in 1868 of an Australian Aborginal team, when South Derbyshire won by 139 runs; sadly in the most recent match Derbyshire lost by seven wickets

The next Area Forum meeting will be taking place at 6 30pm on October 23 at Melbourne Sports Park and members of the public are warmly invited to go along

– Frank Hughes

Summer evening stroll in a beautiful garden

IT WAS a lovely day for an English country garden when members of Melbourne Garden Club were invited to stroll around the Dower House gardens at the invitation of their honorary president, Griselda Kerr

Lesley Hough from the club said: “It was a lovely evening and the garden was looking stunning, especially the roses We all took in the fantastic view across the pool and the many colourful borders

“It was a privilege to spend a delightful evening in such peaceful and beautiful surroundings in the heart of Melbourne ”

The garden club’s next meeting will be held on August 13 at the Senior Citizens Centre There will be a talk entitled ‘The floral kitchen’, which will look at edible plants and flowers, plus a taster session of the variety of preserves and pickles to try, as well as recipes to share

Starting at 7pm, the club says that new members and visitors are always welcome

This year ’s Melbourne Produce Show, organised by the club, is happening on August 18 Look out for posters around the town or email gardenclubmelbourne@gmail com with any enquiries

In June the announcement was made of huge job losses at the engineering giant, which employs 14,000 people at its Sinfin site –many of them living in the areas covered by The Village Voice MP Heather Wheeler said: “This announcement will clearly cause great worry to employees at Rolls-Royce

“I know the company’s Chief Executive, Warren East, has spoken directly with the Secretary of State for Business, Greg Clark, and has assured him that Rolls-Royce will work closely with those employees affected, the trade unions and the relevant authorities The company has also committed to ensuring there are no compulsory redundancies for represented staff

“However, it is important to be clear that these are not job losses in the traditional sense; they are not a result of a failing business but are part of a fundamental restructuring of how Rolls-Royce is run as a world-leading business

“It has also been made clear by the Chief Executive, this programme is not a response to the UK’s decision to leave the European Union and the business as a whole has a growing order book for its products What is important now is that the uncertainty caused by this announcement is removed, those affected are informed and the support available to them is clearly set out ”

Derbyshire County Council said a rapid response service was being set up with a range of partners including the East Midlands Chamber and the Government’s Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to ensure any affected workers and their families got the help needed to access benefits and find new employment

SUMMER SUNDAY GARDEN PARTY

SUNDAY 12TH AUGUST

3PM - 6PM

BBQ TEA CAKE

RAFFLE BAR

LIVE BAND PLUS MUCH MORE

AUSTIN PROPERTY

MANAGEMENT SERVICES LTD

We o er a personal and professional service at competitive rates. For more information please contact us on: 01332 862173 www.austinproperty.co.uk

Unit 3 Russell Yard, Derby Road, Melbourne

FRENCH TUITION

MUSIC TUITION

UKULELE CLUB

FOLK DANCE

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

Time for this year ’s ‘Bash’

THIS year ’s Brooksie’s Bash – a 10-mile trail race and 5k run – will be setting off from Foremarke Hall on July 15.

Taking place in aid of Derbyshire Mind, this is the third year the event is being held and, while the 10-mile race is now full, the 5k will take entries on the day

Organisers say the routes are “almost entirely traffic free, using mainly paths and bridleways”.

The 10-mile route heads through Ticknall and past Staunton Harold Reservoir, returning via Robin Wood and finishing at Foremarke Hall

“The 5k event is an ideal introduction to running away from the roads,” said an organiser

With the event run by Peak Running, there will be cakes, hot and cold food and drinks.

Derbyshire Mind is also organising a “gnome roam” for the children, amongst other family activities

Suite move as bowls club gets its new pavilion

A FORMER marketing suite in a newly developed part of Aston-on-Trent has been moved – literally – to become a new home for the village bowls club

The club and Richmond Villages officially opened the new pavilion with a ceremony in the afternoon of June 17

JOHN SMITH (MELBOURNE) LTD. The Common, Melbourne, Derby DE73 8HU Tel. 01332 862744

Prompt delivery to all local areas Competitive Prices Pre-Packed Cash & Carry Sales from The Yard Also Logs and Kindling

When Richmond Villages no longer needed their marketing suite, they donated it to their neighbours, the Aston & Weston Bowls Club in October 2017

Now the former office stands perhaps 200 metres away from where it once did, in its fresh guise as the club’s brand new pavilion

Greeting the assembled guests, club chairman Jim Ballington said: “Today we are celebrating the official opening of our new pavilion which was generously donated by Richmond Villages

Aston and Weston parish councils, Aston bell ringers, Aston well dressers, Lafarge Aggregates and the EMA community fund for their financial support which has enabled us to fit out the pavilion to suit our needs We also welcome the Village Voice to report our celebrations

“I would also like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all our club members who have spent hundreds of hours making the pavilion what it is today ”

Monday 6th August Chester eld (Market Day) Tuesday 21st August Chatsworth House and Farm Shop

Minibus trips in August Trips subject to a minimum of 8 people booking.

COAL & SMOKELESS FUEL MERCHANTS Community Care Melbourne For more information or to book a place please phone: 01332 863585 or call in at the Community Care O ce. O ce: Unit D, William's Yard, Derby Road, Melbourne DE73 8JR

Over the past few months work has been going on dismantling the club’s old club house and then re-fitting the new one with a kitchen, toilets and seating in readiness for the 2018 bowling season, which is now underway

MELBOURNE Tennis Club had a month of up and down league results

The Mixed Derbyshire team started June with a comfortable 7-2 win over Ilkeston at home with the Simon Middlebrough/Nicola Tomlinson partnership winning all three of their sets as did Gary Heath and Lesley Heath

They backed up this performance with an 8-1 victory against Woodlands with Karen and Simon Brenchley plus Sallie

News... Call us on 01332 863181 or email... news@melbournevillagevoice.co.uk

“We have come a long way since last October when we removed the old club house from the site, emptied Richmond Villages sales office, worked at getting the site ready for the delivery and erection of the building, working through last winter and the Beast from the East to ensure the pavilion was ready for the start of the season in April

“Today also gives us the opportunity to say a big thank you to our other guests,

Allen/Howard Cheshire winning all three of their sets

But the Derbyshire mixed side lost their last game of the month 3-6 in the re-match with Ilkeston

The Derbyshire ladies team won one and lost one of their matches beginning with a close 4-5 defeat to Denstone, despite the Pat Milham/Pam Oliver pairing winning all three of their sets

This was followed by an emphatic 7-2 win against Church

Claire Fry, senior village advisor for Richmond Villages, told us after the official opening that donating the marketing suite was a “fantastic opportunity” “to put something back into the community” with residents being encouraged to come along and enjoy a game of bowls

Broughton with Milham/Oliver again winning all three sets as did Sallie Allen and captain Karen Brenchley

Melbourne's ladies A team in the Burton League drew their only match in June away to Ashby Castle 3-3 with the Julie Chamberlain/Karen Brenchley partnership winning all three points

ton A 3-1 win followed versus David Lloyd Lichfield thanks to Simon Middlebrough and Sallie Allen winning their two sets and the Ian Ward/Nicola Tomlinson pairing claiming the match winning point A 2-2 draw away at Alrewas was thanks to the Andy Fleming and Lesley Heath pairing winning both their sets, while a 3-1 defeat to Etwall ended their month’s tennis The men’s B team beat David Lloyd 3-1 but lost 4-0 to Grange C 22 V illage Voice July 2018 Advert ing... To find out more call 07584 025 852 or email: ads@melbournevillagevoice.co.uk Specification and pricing is available to download online... www.melbournevillagevoice.co.uk

Photographs... Photographs are available to purchase online. See all the latest images at... www.melbournevillagevoice.co.uk © 2018. An independent community paper designed and published by Village Voice Newspapers. Typeset by Greenborough Ltd., t/a Voice Productions. Printed in England. The publishers of Village Voice are not responsible for any content or claims in advertisements. Artwork not supplied by advertisers may not be reproduced without the written permission of the publishers. The use of this or previous editions of Village Voice for marketing or canvassing of advertisers is strictly prohibited.

Letters... Email us your comments... letters@melbournevillagevoice.co.uk or write to us at The Village Voice, 11 North Street, Melbourne DE73 8FZ

Ticknall top of the pile at halfway

TICKNALL Cricket Club’s

1st X1 is at the top of the Premier League at the season’s half-way point – despite the team having mixed results during June.

After an eight-wicket win at the end of May against Spondon, the club travelled to Ockbrook and Borrowash and suffered the first defeat of the season, chasing 173 posted by Ockbrook Jack Gorbet took five for 36 and Aidan Wheeler four for 42, but the first team fell short by 29 runs with Sam Trotman making 30 not out

This was followed by a 10wicket home win against Eckington, who batted first and were 194 all out, Wayne Madsen taking four for 42 and Waseem Fazal three for 38

Ticknall replied with 195 without loss, Paul Borrington 102 and Tom Wood 81

The team then lost away to Alvaston and Boulton by five wickets, making 210 for 9 (Paul Borrington 85 and Joss Morgan 57) Alvaston and Boulton easily passed the total

In the final weekend of June, the club’s first team achieved three wins On the Friday night, they won the Cameron Cup at Dunstall, scoring 151 for five wickets, with Will Kent Smith scoring 40 not out

In the allotted 20 overs, Dunstall made 143 in reply Richard Brown won the man of the match award Saturday’s match was a top of the table clash against an undefeated Sandiacre team Ticknall lost the toss and were asked to bat first scoring 294-5 on a good batting pitch in the allotted 50 overs

Wayne Madsen scored 117 and Joss Morgan 84

Sandiacre replied with 195 all out, Sam Trotman taking 3-

Councillor Linda Chilton

Councillor John Harrison

Councillor Jim Hewlett

27 and Aidan Wheeler 3-46

Ticknall’s 27 points and Sandiacre five points sent Ticknall to the top of the table

On Sunday, July 1, the club entertained Rolleston in the League Cup Rolleston won the toss and elected to bat, making 227 all out Waseem Fazal grabbed three wickets for 25

Ticknall passed the Rolleston score with only one wicket down – Tom Wood 43, Paul Borrington 110 not out and Joss Morgan 52 not out

Ticknall’s 2nd X1 and 3rd X1 had a testing June, both teams playing more than half their matches against 1st X1s, being well below full strength and now in the lower regions of

their divisions

With more players now available to play the club hopes that results will be more in their favour

The Junior section was also busy during June, with matches on most days of the week at different age groups, all teams doing well

The U13s played in the area finals, narrowly losing to Long Eaton, then winning easily against Mickleover The U12s and U14s are both through to the finals of the Collard Dawn Cup

The club reports a good response to the All Stars training for boys and girls of five and six-years-old

THE sun was shining and it was the perfect day for a bike ride as the fourth “Marsh’s fun day” was held at Melbourne Sports Park.

The day was held in memory of Melbourne’s Bob Marshall, who loved cricket and was a stalwart of Melbourne Town Cricket Club.

Organised by his son, Daniel – the current captain of the club’s second cricket XI – the day kicked off with a charity bike ride followed by tombola, stalls, a cake stall, barbeque, raffle and a dads’ v lads’ game

The event raised nearly £1,000, which will be divided between Cancer Research UK and the cricket club. Bob’s widow, Jayne, said: “It was a fantastic day and nice to see families up there ”

Tel: 01332 695155 Mob: 07970 062289

www.rhmotorsgarage.co.uk

“Listening

Town’s teams all sitting pretty

MELBOURNE Town Cricket Club’s teams are continuing their good form with all three sitting in the top five of their respective divisions at around the halfway mark of the 2018 season

Town’s first team began their month with an emphatic winning draw away to Alvaston & Boulton 2nd Xl Melbourne hit a season’s best 278-5 off their allotted overs with Muhammed Tayyab top scoring on 63 ably supported by Alex Slater (61) and Mark Rossi (59), who put on 100 in just 14 overs towards the end of the innings

A great spell of 4-47 from Waseem Sajid took Town close to victory but the opposing side held on at 210-8

A week later the first team again secured a winning draw with skipper Russ Allaway finding some form with 60 as his side scored 207-8 at home to Dunstall seconds Despite 4-28 from Sajid and 318 by Muhammad Nadeem the away side held on at 153-9

A disappointing batting display on a difficult wicket away to Trentside saw Melbourne shot out for just 78, losing by nine wick-

l Melbourne Town Cricket Club second team:

(l-r front row) Simon Fletcher, Ranjit Rathore, Daniel Marshall (captain), Ashley Elwell, Sam Barker; (back row) Alex Winter, James Hogwood, Matt Grimmett, Darren Poyser, Tim Jackson and Alex Blackhall

ets, and it became two defeats on the bounce as bottom of the table Hilton beat Melbourne by 52 runs

Muhammad Nadeem had taken 5-37 earlier as Hilton scored 193 all out and, despite 62 not out from Mark Rossi and 30 by Sajid, Town were bowled out for just 141

The first team did end the month with a great win away to highflying Elvaston seconds as the home side were bowled out for 142 Alex Slater led the way with 3-32 Town were in trouble on 29-4 but Rossi (52 not out) and Matt Briers (38 not out) saw them home for a four-wicket win that took Allaway’s men into fourth place at the end of the month

Melbourne second team ended June in a healthy third place They began the month with a losing draw at home to Walton second team who, batting first, scored 224-9 with James Hogwood taking 5-52

In reply, Melbourne limped to 126-8 Dan Marshall’s men returned to winning ways emphatically by bowling Lullington Park thirds out for just 93, Hogwood again in the wickets with 5-22 supported by Julian Humpidge, who took 3-31

Ashley Elwell scored 43 not out as Town recorded an eight-wicket win Batting first a week later at home to Hilton, Matt Grimmett (58) and Julian Humpidge (47 not out) led the way as the seconds scored 226-5; Humpidge completed a great game by taking 4-27 and Hogwood 3-30 as Hilton were bowled out for just 61

A third consecutive win away to Allestree first team was thanks mainly to openers Simon Fletcher (89 not out) and Alex Winter (60) as Town knocked off 212 for just three down Earlier, Ranjit Rathore returned to form taking 5-56 as the seconds restricted the home side

Melbourne ended the month with a remarkable match at home to Mickleover seconds as Town scored 276-5 with Alex Winter leading the way on 130 and Ash Elwell adding 89 not out But Mickleover managed to reach their target off the last ball of the match Melbourne Town third team also finished the month in third place after a good few weeks beginning with an easy six-wicket win at home to Kings Bromley seconds Alex Roome (4-44) and Toby McCabe (3-39) fired Bromley out for just 125 and, in reply, 14-year-old Ben Radcliffe hit a destructive 53 not out to ease Melbourne to victory

A superb innings of 61 not out from opener John Collins and some late order hitting by Fraser Radcliffe with 35 not out saw the thirds score 179-6 away to Ashbourne In reply the home side were bowled out for just 88 with skipper Andy Holden taking a career best 7-22

A disappointing four-wicket defeat at home to Clifton thirds followed as runs for Tony Papas (38) and Alex Blackhall (36) saw Town post 150 all out; despite 4-39 from Blackhall the away side won with nine balls to go

Andy Holden’s men ended the month with a gritty losing draw away to Castle Donington seconds as the home side scored 243-4 and John Collins held firm in reply with 39 not out as the thirds struggled to 111-5

The club would like to thank all of the June ball sponsors which were Doves Garages, Lee Tallis, Scallywags Nursery, the late Richard Heath, Edward Hands & Lewis, R & B Builders and Austin Property Management