Melbourne Village Voice October 2016

Anyone for tennis? Yes, lots in fact

,IN a few short weeks, it’s gone from eight members to just over 200 – Melbourne Tennis Club is only one of the sports clubs whose future is looking bright, thanks to September’s unveiling of £2.5million in topclass sporting facilities on Cockshut Lane.

Three brand new tennis courts are among the facilities on offer at the new Melbourne Sporting Partnership’s grounds on the recreation field – and they have brought about a particularly dramatic turnaround for the tennis club.

It has been going since 1958 but has only had a skeleton membership during the whole of the current century.

Club chairman Tim Shone told The Village Voice after the sporting partnership’s official opening on September 11 that membership had now increased to just over 200, beyond expectations, with around half of those new members being children.

This, he said, would have made his father Bill Shone – headmaster of Melbourne’s Secondary Modern and one of the tennis club’s

founders when it was based on land, now the Lothian Gardens children’s playground – “over the moon”.

Tim said: “This would have been a dream for him. He would have been completely over the moon about this. I just can’t put into words how he would feel.”

n For a full rundown of the Melbourne Sporting Partnership opening, and how all the town’s sports clubs are benefiting from the new facilities, see our feature on Pages 10 and 11.

by LUCY STEPHENS

“LET’S get on with it” – those words rang round the council chambers after plans to finish developing the now derelict Melbourne Arms were given the go-ahead for the second time.

Applicants Stanton Developments now have permission to build seven homes on the site of the former iconic Melbourne pub, an increase from the five originally granted in 2014.

But, because of new government legislation, Melbourne’s schools, doctors’ surgery and play areas will not now receive £50,000-plus from

the development, which they were eligible for under the previous plans.

South Derbyshire District Council’s planning committee meeting on September 27 heard how proposals to develop the site had gone from creating one home in the Melbourne Arms building itself, and four on the adjoining land, to today’s proposals involving making the pub into two homes and adding a further five next to it.

It also emerged that whereas the original proposals would have seen the Melbourne community receive £54,044.45 in “Section 106” money, now local schools, surgeries and recreational facilities will get nothing.

That is because, since the original permission was granted in 2014, t he government has introduced a new ruling which says developments of under 10 homes do not have to pay

any money to their local communities.

Planning officer Chris Nash told the meeting that the council would not be able to justify asking for section 106 money under the new government rules, saying: “We are not at a point where the services are about to crumble because of this many dwellings.”

But Melbou rne councillor Jim Hewlett responded by saying: “… the school is full, and secondly, the doctors’ surgery has not been accepting new patients for over a year. Doesn’t that add up to being in a crumbling state?”

Later, he added “…these are family houses; there will be children there”.

Despite the absence of section 106 money, councillors agreed that the Melbourne Arms was now looking so sorry for itself that moves should be made to develop the site as quickly

Continued on Page 2

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Baptist church says goodbye to pastor

CONGREGATION members at Melbourne’s Baptist Church have said goodbye to their minister of 15 years, who has returned home to Cumbria.

A special celebration service, followed by a buffet lunch, was held for Pastor Jackie Birnie in September.

Pastor Birnie has retired from the church and returned to Barrow-in-Furness.

Church secretary and Deacon Kate Hewlett said: “We had a special service to say thank you to her for 15 years of fulfilling ministry, to pay tribute to the wonderful work she did when she was with us, and to praise her for the fact that she’s left us in good heart and well equipped to carry on for the future.”

Jackie Birnie is pictured being presented with a glass plaque from the church members by Kate Hewlett.

Retirement village plans may change

DEMAND for elderly facilities at Aston-on-Trent’s new retirement village is so high that bosses want to scrap plans for 36 homes and create extra care apartments instead.

In September 2014, Richmond Homes won planning consent to create a care community plus 74 additional residential homes on the former Aston Hospital site.

Kay

Beardsley Counselling

Mobile: 07759 930346

Email: kay@kaybeardsleycounselling.co.uk www.kaybeardsleycounselling.co.uk

But take-up of the elderly care accommodation has been so great that Richmond has now asked planning officers if it can abandon the building of 36 of those residential properties in favour of creating 37 extra

care apartments plus a clubhouse.

A statement submitted to South Derbyshire District Council’s planning office says: “The applicant has seen a high demand for the units under construction and ongoing interest in the development.

“This, together with the continuing rising need for elderly accommodation, both nationally and in the locality, has resulted in the applicant wishing to extend the retirement village accordingly.”

The 36 residential properties now facing the axe had formed part of the council’s plan to deliver thousands of new homes

across South Derbyshire.

But Richmond Homes has argued that, because the council is now able to show it has enough new homes in the pipeline for the next five years, the loss of 36 in Aston should not matter.

Developers are still planning to complete the remaining 38 residential homes, but are now asking for a slightly altered layout. The plans are available to view on the South Derbyshire District Council’s planning website under reference number: 9/2016/0898.

–Lucy Stephens

New future for derelict pub site

From Page 1 as possible.

Melbourne councillor John Harrison said the former pub was now “… almost totally derelict. It has been a source of concern to all of the residents of Melbourne, seeing what had happened to this iconic building.

“All in all, it’s very important that this application is granted, otherwise I can see this site being an eyesore for far too long.”

Fellow committee member Martyn Ford agre ed, adding: “I drove past the site on Sunday and it’s desperate, absolutely desperate.

“It was a lovely public house, I’ve been there many a time – let’s get on with it.”

Committee members unanimously passed the updated plans.

The developers say they will create a “careful and sympathetic” conversion of the Melbourne Arms, and the overall design “complements the existing development characteristics of Ashby Road and Melbourne as a whole”.

Homes are put on burglary alert

RESIDENTS of Melbourne streets who were warned about an increase in burglaries via a leafleting campaign have been reassured there is “nothing to get worried about” – but nevertheless to take steps in safeguarding their homes.

The leaflets were put through doors in Commerce Street, Hope Street, North Street and Alma Street on October 3 with “Police Warning” in red capital letters on the front.

They came from the South Derbyshire CVS after a reported spike in burglaries in the affected streets.

A spokesman for South Derbyshire Dis-

It’s back with a banger

FOLLOWING the very successful re-introduction of the ‘Bangers and Brass’ concert last October, the Melbourne Assembly Rooms was the venue once again as the Melbourne Town Band hosted the second of what is hoped will become an annual event.

Special guests of MTB this year were the Melbourne Town Training Band, which is now well established and performs at many events in the area.

Also, formed very recently –in January of 2016 – and making an appearance for only the third time at a public event was the Melbourne Town Drum Corps. They will be playing alongside band members at this year’s RBL Remembrance Parade on Sunday, November 13. Playing to a packed and appreciative audience, all three bands entertained with a programme of music that crossed

trict Council said the action had been taken after records showed three or four burglaries in the area over the past few weeks –an increase from the normal levels of between zero and one.

Despite the low levels it was still felt a good idea to warn people to take precautions to protect their property.

The leaflet said: “You are receiving this leaflet because Melbourne is currently suffering from an increase in burglaries.

“Most of the burglaries have occurred where the house is empty and there are no visible signs of anyone being at home.”

The leaflet said sheds and garages could be an easy target as they had little security

and burglaries often happened when the owner was at home, with pedal cycles, power tools and lawnmowers popular items to steal.

Residents were given comprehensive further advice which included making sure no tools were left in the garden that could be used to attack a shed; locking shed windows and covering them so people could not see inside, and marking valuables with a property marker pen so that if they were ever stolen, it would be easier to get them back.

You can ring the CVS on 01283 219761 for a free fitted shed alarm, security check and property marking.

many genres. A beautiful rendition of ‘Midnight Euphonium’ was played by soloist Heather Grimsey; an arrangement by MTB Musical Director Brendan O’Neill of the famous duet ‘Cinema Paradiso’ was expertly performed on cornets by sisters Karen Worrall

and Cathy Lester, who were later joined by Andy Boardman and Phil Mustoe to execute a rousing rendition of ‘Buglers Holiday’.

Special thanks were given to local butcher Wayne Spiers who most generously donated all the bangers in support of this fund-

raising concert. Band members Victoria Cook, Zoe Hunt, Rachael Simpson and Laura Simpson are pictured serenading audience members Shirley Edwards, Lin Bentley and Heather Bainbrigge as they enjoy their bangers.

£20,000 from the Colour Rush

SHOWERED in a rainbow of coloured powder paints, 600 adults and children took part in the Treetops Hospice Care Colour Rush at Elvaston Castle Country Park. The sponsored event raised over £20,000 for the charity, which provides nursing care and emotional support for adults and their families.

TICKNALL WI held its renamed Autumn Market in the village hall on Saturday, October 1. It was a successful event with lots of people attending.

In another change to the norm, the WI members made bacon cobs as alternative refreshment to the normal splendid cakes, and they were well appreciated. This was the major fund-raise of the year and achieved £610 for the WI.

Pictured are president Gale Miller, Maggie Fenby-Tayor and Rosemary Mumford at one of the market stalls.

Country Living

with Robert Parker

WE SEEM to have had a fairish run of fine weather lately and, if this is the start of an ‘Indian summer’, then long may it continue.

I feel it is quite a stressful time as the days get shorter and a sudden change in the weather can bring on winter in a matter of days.

Very little wheat and barley has been sown yet as there is a trend to go a little later to beat our latest in fashion weed blackgrass. Let me explain: blackgrass has been around a long time but the fashion for autumn sown crops and not ploughing has let it get out of hand and a bad infestation takes all the nutrients and space meant for the crop.

In the major arable areas to the east and south some have had to change their cropping big style. Sowing later in autumn gives the chance to get the blackgrass seed to grow and be sprayed off with roundup (tumbleweed) be-

fore the crop is seeded.

Some people are even changing to spring cropping to give more time to do the above operation.

It will have been a bad result this year as, in my experience, spring crops have been poor generally.

Overall crop yields for 2016 have been disappointing in our area which, combined with the poor prices, is adding up to the general gloom in the industry. But we have no choice but to sow crops for 2017 if we have the land.

n Saw a funny sight on the reservoir yesterday. Two cormorants were being mobbed by a flock of seagulls. The cormorants kept diving but on re-emerging were soon set upon by the birds in the sky.

I don’t know what it was all about but it did brighten a dull day.

Mammal mia! Look what we found

IT’S time to meet the neighbours – which, in Melb ourne, count this handsome field vole among their number.

The Derbyshire Mammal Group and volunteers from Whistlewood Common found this little chap along with 35 other wee critters when they held their annual small mammal trap there in September.

The aim of the exercise is to monitor the area’s biodiversity by finding out the range of animals living there, and also to encourage local people to interact with nature by encouraging them to get involved.

Volunteers set 40 traps in the hopes of catching small animals so they could be inspected, weighed and released back into their natural habitat.

Around a dozen people who took part this year managed to find five field voles, four wood mice, 20 common shrew, four bank voles and three specimens of the not often spotted water shrew.

Last year’s small mammal trap uncovered a rare harvest mouse at Whistlewood. Although one

was not found this year, their nests have been seen.

Whistlewood has banned dogs from the site, which is felt to encourage small mammals to flourish – as well as the owls, raptors and other wildlife which feed on them.

To find out more about Whistlewood and how you can get involved, have a look at their website on http://www.whistlewoodcommon.org/

TWO ‘Get back into Angling’ taster sessions were held at Foremark trout fishery in September. Organised jointly by the Angling Trust and the Environmental Agency, the sessions were delivered by Richard Pearson from the fishery.

The sessions were about providing a route back into angling

for those who no longer go fishing and also as an introduction for those new to the sport.

Each day started with classroom sessions that introduced the participants to the sport and getting to know their prey.

The afternoon sessions were of a practical nature held in Flamingo Bay, one of the many

shore-based fishing locations at Foremark and included setting up the tackle, getting to understand what flies are available and selection for use based on the life cycle of real flies. The participants also had the opportunity to put their learning to the test, but the fish weren’t biting for everyone.

l Christian Murray-Leslie and Katherine Parrish with a common shrew.

Fourth councillor in a year quits

THE parish council was almost at full strength for its October meeting but the news that Cllr David Carpenter has resigned leaves a hole that will need to be filled.

There had already been three resignations so far this year and those vacancies have been filled.

The council has now put in place the process for appointing a replacement for Cllr Carpenter. Interested applicants should contact the parish clerk, Mrs Jacqui Storer, on 07734 939292 for details.

District Councillor Jim Hewlett reported that the planning appeal for 44 houses in Jawbone Lane will take place on October 18. Subject to the Inspector’s discretion, members of the public may speak, but they must be in attendance at the start of the hearing.

The new application for 34 houses by the same developer was rejected by the planning committee at a meeting in September (See Page 7). A major reason for the rejection is that the district Local Plan has been completed and that a five-year housing supply is covered.

Cllr Hewlett added that an assessment to ensure progress of building compared to the fiveyear plan will take place next July and, subject to the outcome, recalculations may be required.

The next Citizens Advice DIG-IT computer training meeting will be held in Melbourne on October 14. This session will be of assistance to anyone needing benefits because applications will need to be made via the internet when changes are introduced in 2017.

Discussion on the sensitive topic of topple testing memorials at the Packhorse Road cemetery deferred from the September council meeting took place and the decision taken was not to proceed with this practice as there is no legal requirement to do so.

Reporting on progress with the Neighbourhood Development Plan, Cllr Jane Carroll informed the council that the residents’ questionnaire is still to be circulated.

She requested that all councillors read the document and respond to her especially in regard to the community aspirations content.

Cllr Wendy Earp reminded councillors that the ques tionnaire will be circulated on behalf of the parish council and it is important that all councillors are in agreement with its content.

After some discussion regarding surfacing work on public footpaths around the parish – but more specifically the one linking Derby Road with

TOM MILLS reports from the October meeting of Melbourne Parish Council

King’s Newton – it was decided to defer the topic until a later meeting. It is hoped that by this time a positive and clear proposal can be put to the full council and that any issues regarding, ownership of land, liability for users, costs and who will carry out the work can be fully researched and understood.

Councillors reported positively on the success of both the Melbourne Art Festival and the formal opening of the Melbourne Sports Park.

Cllr Carroll said that an indication of numbers attending the former was that 5,000 trail guides had been issued, although this figure did include a small number given to artists and volunteers.

Cllr Andrew Jackson reported that the opening of the new Sports Park facility was a huge success with different sporting activities taking place throughout the day across the site.

An estimated 2,000 people attended at different times during the day with representatives from SDDC, contractors, local councillors, and South Derbyshire MP Heather Wheeler present for the formal opening.

n County Councillor Linda Chilton reported that a funding decision in favour of Melbourne is anticipated on October 18 with regard to the ongoing flooding issues being undertaken jointly by DCC and Severn Trent Water.

The next public meeting will be held on October 26 at Melbourne Assembly Rooms at 6.30pm.

n Wakes Week will take place in Melbourne from October 10-18 with road closure in force from midnight on the 10th.

n Whilst work is ongoing to finalise a new parish council logo, the new website will be ready to go live in November.

n Cllr Paul Wilmore reported that plans for Melbourne at Christmas are well in hand, although he did need council volunteers to assist with some duties.

Road closures have been appr oved and will be in operation through the Market Place from 3.30pm until 8.30pm on Friday, December 2.

n A ‘MEN United’ Prostate Cancer charity evening took place at Aston and Weston Bowls Club. The charity has been chosen by Cllr Pat Murray, chairman of South Derbyshire District Council, as one that he will campaign for during his year in office.

Club members paired up with SDDC staff to play friendly matches. Cllr Pat Murray donated a new trophy to the club, a "Charity Cup", which was presented to the winning team at the end of a most enjoyable and en-

tertaining evening.

Donations from club members and SDDC staff, plus monies raised from a raffle amounting to £170 were presented to Councillor Murray, who thanked the club for organising the event.

The photograph shows the Charity Cup being presented to the winning pair (l-r): Clive Brett (club chairman), Sue Shadbolt with Sandra Murray (winners) and Cllr Pat Murray.

Gourmet Night

Thursday 20th October

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Booze Carouse

Friday 21st October

Posh pub crawl on the ‘boozer carouser’ bus, 3 FREE drinks

‘Tour’met Night

Fri 28th October

4 course supper at

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No International Rescue needed for the Thunderbirds

TEAM Thunderbirds managed to get all the way from Melbourne to Mongolia on the Mongol Rally – and all without the need for an International Rescue.

Melbourne student Isaac Gosling, travelling with friends from university, has just returned from a 17,000-mile road trip in a Perodua Kenari kitted out as Thunderbird 2, with a mobility scooter.

Summing up the trip, Isaac said: “It was a once-in-a-lifetime expe rience. Some 4,000 metres up a mountain track in the snow in Tajikistan, having been driving through seven lanes of traffic in Tehran in blistering heat only days before, we just sat and wondered how on earth did we get here? It was just amazing.”

Along the way, one of the most arduous parts was getting through border check points.

“Leaving Iran, our border post was closed, so we ended up at another but it was for trucks only. So the car was weighed and put through a lorry

X-ray machine, but eventually they let us through. But then we arrived in Turkmenistan where you were sent from pillar to post, window to window, to get all the necessary documentation.”

After reaching the finishing line they crazily decided to try to drive back.

“Travelling back across Russia, we knew we only had six days on our visa to travel 6,000km. So we drove through the night a couple of times and drove on broken suspension just to reach the border crossing with only four hours left.

“Mongolia was a particular highlight – with incredibly spectacular scenery, most of the vast space being empty and unpopulated. The Pamir Highway in Tajikistan, the second highest highway in the world at 4,600 metres above sea level, was simply amazing.”

The Mongolian ‘arkhi’ he could have done without though; a drink of fermented mare’s milk does not taste good at all, and once the bottle is

opened you just have to finish it – it’s the custom!

“Luckily, there were no major mishaps along the way. We were stopped a few times in Kyrgyztan by dodgy police officers telling us we had to pay an instant $50 fine, but they usually settled for just a couple of dollars, and eventually we learned just not to stop!

“We reached the Rally finishing line after 56 days travelling, and had only a few days off during the trip.

“ The overwhelming sense was of how friendly people are, right across the continents. In Iran

one driver travelled alongside us insisting we have a gift, of his BeeGees CD!”

The Thunderbirds have raised almost £3,000 for charity from the trip. They are still hoping to push that a bit further for their Cool Earth and Cancer Research charities.

They are still accepting donations on their site: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mongolrally2016

On return home the £450 car needed its MoT and, amazingly, only required a new brake light to pass.

THAT’S MILES BETTER GET YOUR FREE TREES HERE ...

A £10m programme to surface dress the county’s roads over the summer months has been completed by Derbyshire County Council.

Between April and September the council has been improving around 250 miles of Derbyshire’s roads –around eight per cent of the 3,300 miles countywide it looks after.

Surface dressing can extend the life of a road for between 10 and 15 years and costs around £3 a square metre to lay compared to £25 to resurface a road.

It can only be carried out from late spring to early autumn because the warmer weather is needed to make the technique effective.

TWO free trees per household or 10 trees for a school or community group are being made available to all South Derbyshire residents, schools and community groups keen to do their bit for wildlife and the wider environment. This popular scheme designed to make South Derbyshire even cleaner and greener is to return for a 14th

year.

Until Monday, October 24, applicants can choose from four varieties of native tree – hazel, elder, crab apple and cherry plum.

All trees are two years old and up to approximately two feet high, with information provided on how to plant and nurture them.

Cllr Bob Wheeler, Leader of South Derbyshire District Council, said: “Planting more trees can make a big difference to how people feel about where they live”.

Applications can be made online at www.south-derbys.gov.uk/freetreescheme or by calling 01283 595795 during office hours.

Richmond Villages, who have a new retirement village opening early next year in Derbyshire, offer so much more than just retirement properties. Take the 1 and 2 bedroom Village Suites as an example. These Suites come with an independent living package, including all meals, laundry and daily maid service and have been designed

•

Jawbone Lane homes scheme again thrown out

THE latest plans to build homes on fields next to Melbourne’s Jawbone Lane have been thrown out – despite an attempt to win over planners with proposals for more affordable homes and sought-after bungalows.

The most recent application by chartered surveyors Fisher German – on behalf of Investin Properties – was to build 34 homes at Bond Elm, next to Jawbone Lane.

But a meeting of South Derbyshire District Council’s Planning Committee on September 27 was unanimous in rejecting it.

Fisher German were last year refused permission to build 44 homes on the same area of land and their appeal against that decision is to be heard in a five-day planning inquiry at the end of this month.

As well as their appeal they also resubmitted a proposal for an “affordable-led” housing development which would have seen six new bungalows in Melbourne and 18 of the 34 properties fall into the affordable sector.

Planning officer Chris Nash told the meeting: “Very rarely do we see an affordable scheme of this size come forward, and in this location where we all know there’s a demand.

“We know that bungalows are a constant request with lots of comments recently to try and deal with the ageing population.”

But planners decided that, despite the desirability of affordable homes and bungalows, the development should still not be allowed – because it would be outside Melbourne and would affect the heritage of the area.

Jessica Long, speaking at the meeting on behalf of the King’s Newton Residents’ Association and Melbourne Civic Society –which both objected to the proposal – said the latest scheme was “wholly unacceptable”.

She said: “We know it is not sustainable development as the negative impacts on the social and environmental elements are significant. We don’t want to lose the setting of the two villages and we don’t want to spoil the open rural and historic landscape of Jawbone Lane which also provides safe walking and cycling. We also don’t want to lose even more quality agricultural land.

“We know it is almost impossible to commute to any workplaces using public transport, and we know that Derbyshire County Council are reviewing the only bus services as they do not wish to subsidise it any longer in the evening and at weekends. Without viable public transport, planning legislation says you cannot have sustainable development.

“…we know that there are no places in the schools. We know the doctors and wider health services have no places. We know that we already have a significant number of affordable houses built and being built as a result of all of the recent applications.”

–Lucy Stephens

First with the good news ...

MELBOURNE Senior Citizens Centre has announced good news in its first newsletter – the centre has been granted a new five-year lease operative from June 2016.

The production of the newsletter itself is also good news; it contains information about what has been happening and what is planned. The newsletter will also be used to promote the centre and the activities held there and will be distributed to the 90 current members.

It is hoped that it will also encourage more use of the facilities.

The centre has undergone some changes with the committee working hard to install new flooring, a disabled toilet and a fresh kitchen that conforms to all hygiene standards and has been awarded Food Hygiene Rating 5.

l JAYNE Marshall with son Dan is pictured presenting a cheque for £650 to Ann Pearce, representative for Cancer Research UK, which was raised at the Bob Marshall sponsored bike ride and family fun day organised by Melbourne Cricket Club in July.

Joint organiser of the fund-raiser Alex

Slater is looking on.

This was the third year that the event had been held in the memory of Jayne's husband, Bob. The club is hoping the event will be repeated in 2017 as Dan is already making plans. Further funds raised through the event have been donated to the club.

Food and drink extravaganza

ONE of South Derbyshire’s showpiece events for 2016, The Swadlincote International Food and Drink Festival, returns with an even bigger and better menu between Friday and Sunday, October 14 and 16.

As well as a whole range of stalls offering delicacies from Mexico, Poland, Germany, Spain and beyond there will be a continental bar, live cooking demonstrations, crafts, clothing, gifts and fairground rides. Celebrity chef James Straw-

bridge, star of BBC2’s It’s Not Easy Being Green and ITV1’s The Hungry Sailors, will work his magic during a live cooking show.

The event – which runs between 10am and 6pm each day on The Delph, Market Square –will also welcome high-energy 1950s rock ‘n’ roll singer Paul Ace, vocalists Annabelle Bartram and Laura Jane Vintage, and the South Derbyshire Community Drummers as part of a live entertainment programme.

There is still work to be done with the external decoration, and the centre is grateful for a number of donations received, totalling £1,100 to help make this possible. However, funds are still low and another £400 is still required.

Volunteers are also needed to run the whist drives held fortnightly on Thursdays at 7.30pm. If you can help, contact Maggie on 01332 863640.

Museum grant

SHARPE’S Pottery Museum has been awarded a £4,500 ‘Start Up’ grant from Heritage Lottery Fund. The grant will enable a full feasibility study to be undertaken to explore the best possible way to return a ‘working potter’ who can deliver a programme of educational workshops to Swadlincote.

LEFT: Millie Roberts and young helper Rachel Boddey raised £179.76 at Little Wesleys Macmillan coffee morning.

RIGHT: At the MJS Macmillan coffee morning are among others: Jenny Haliday, Jo Margett, Kirsty Ryley and Katherine Parish.

BELOW: Harry Roberts enjoying the cakes with Aunty Florence Dale at Little Wesleys MacmIllan coffee morning.

History of a railway station

FOLLOWING on from the AGM of the Ticknall Preservation and Historical Society, members were treated to a talk by Professor John Becket, of Nottingham University, entitled “Local impact of WW1”.

The society’s programme will continue on Friday, October 28, with Nigel Lowey’s talk “St Pancras –the history and development of St Pancras Station”.

This talk is for anyone with an interest in history, world-class architecture, elegant engineering, or a great story: it describes how the fantastic mid-Victorian Gothic railway cathedral came to be built and how the long neglected building has undergone a breathtaking transformation.

And, on Friday, November 25, it is “What’s my tool?” with Michael Arkle, who will bring numerous ancient items for inspection for the audience to decide what they were used for.

Raising a smile and cash for charity

CAKES and coffee always raise a smile and – as local people joined in with the annual Macmillan Coffee Morning – sometimes they raise vital funds for charity, too.

Macmillan Cancer’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning took place on September 30 and several local organisations took part.

At Melbourne Junior School, coffee and cakes were served in the hall in the morning as the school’s Parent and Teacher Association (PTA) decided its first fund-raiser of the year should be for the charity.

Parents popped in to partake of a morning

slice of cake and raised £201.39 for Macmillan.

A coffee morning was also held by Little Wesleys in Melbourne while, over at the Richmond care village in Aston-on-Trent, the coffee morning was a chance to meet the neighbours.

Richmond’s event gave local people a chance to meet people who have bought homes in the retirement village who may not be from the local area, over a coffee and cake.

The occasion had about 25 visitors and raised £172.80 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

There was also a coffee morning held at The Swan in Milton which raised £236.50.

Work to start on Assembly Rooms

EARLY in 2017, the activities of the Melbourne Assembly Rooms (MARS) will be interrupted by new building work, the start of a physical updating of the Victorian village school.

There were, several years ago, ambitious plans to spend £1m, provided the Heritage Lottery Fund could be induced to grant a significant sum towards that target. In the event this national body did not come up trumps – and it seems that the various charitable national bodies are unlikely easily to grant funding for this ageing building.

At the organisation’s AGM at the end of September, chairman Philip Dobby said that the Assembly Rooms had had a very successful

trading year, with a surplus in excess of £9,000.

MARS has an ability to draw on funds totalling nearly £80,000, set aside by South Derbyshire District Council, from a Community Partnership fund, and from the sale of Bretby Crematorium.

Work on both entrance foyers, with new modernised doors, is planned to start early next year. In addition, work will also start on building and furnishing a new meeting/social hub area in the current kitchen area.

These new plans were the subject of critical questioning from the members, who raised several valuable points as a warning of the pitfalls in any project. The district

council would contract the work, as Mr Dobby pointed out, and be responsible for the finished construction.

Mr Dobby thanked his fellow directors, Blaise Lambert and Robert Anderson, for the work they had done over the last 12 months, and singled out the work of the business development manager, Andy Heafield, for praise.

There was also discussion about the ongoing problem of the security of the building. Several suggestions were made, and Mr Dobby promised to take specialist advice.

Three new directors were elected by the meeting to the board: Peter Gough, Rik Pipe and Joanne Rost. –DOB

How art painted the futility of war

MELBOURNE Civic Society started its autumn programme in September with a talk by Danny Wells on Art in World War I.

The government of the time backed artists to document the war. Many well-known artists from the Slade School of Art such as John Singer Sargent, Stephen Spender and Paul Nash were commissioned.

The Edwardian era glamourised the patriotism, chivalry and romance of supporting one's homeland.

By 1916, when millions had perished in the conflict, disillusionment had set in. Paintings did not always

show the grim reality but used symbolism to drive home their message. The speaker gave an enlightening analysis of a range of paintings of a rich diversity of styles which all had in common the attempt to show the futility and tragedy of the conflict of World War 1.

The next Civic Society talk on October 31 will reveal art from a much earlier era when David K Jones will take "A Photographic Journey to Ravenna and Florence".

Meetings take place in the Melbourne Assembly Rooms at 7.30pm.

n ASTON parishioners once again exercised their right granted by a charter from King Henry 111 in 1257 to allow a weekly Tuesday market in All Saints’ Church grounds.

The tradition was re-kindled by villager Ken Adams in 2007 and now, every year in September, Loral Aynsley – together with husband Steve –hold a market to carry on the tradition. Of course, it is not held on a Tuesday but a Saturday morning, this year on September 17.

Ken's wife, Ann Adams, organised the tea and biscuits outside the Heritage Centre and a variety of stalls selling all kinds of goods for charity were dis-

played. One of the most popular was the homemade cider and elderberry cordial tasting stall.

Due to licensing laws, none of the cider could be purchased, but free samples were given with a voluntary donation to charity. Judging by the popularity of the stall, many of the villagers, if allowed, would have bought bottles of the very delicious cider.

Other stalls selling fruit and veg, jams and chutneys, handmade clothes, books, plants, decorative handbags and other crafts also proved popular. It is, however, the social aspect of the event that is most important and, once again, a good time was had by all.

Spooktacular time at Whistlewood

WHISTLEWOOD Common isn’t just a place to enjoy summer. Now that autumn is here you can get into the spirit for Hallowe’en on Sunday, October 23, by going to their Hallowe’en Spooktacular.

There you will find children's Hallowe’en crafts, storytelling, broom-making, conker contests and other Hallowe’en tricks and treats as well as warming soup and refreshments.

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

THE DAY THE DREAM

LUCY STEPHENSreports on the opening of Melbourne Sports Park

“PEOPLE were beginning to wonder if the dream would ever be realised – and it has been realised …” so said Melbourne Sporting Partnership chairman John Harrison at the official opening of the new ‘sports park’.

More than 2,000 turned out to see the opening of the park and to find out what sport is now more readily available on their doorstep.

The park was jointly opened by district council chair Cllr Pat Murray and Cllr John Harrison, who told the crowd: “I would like to pay tribute to the district council and to the clubs for holding together for so long. People began to wonder if the dream would ever be realised and it has been realised – I’m delighted that we are here today to share in this historic occasion.

“We are extremely grateful for all of the effort that has gone into creating these splendid outdoor sports facilities.

“They are a most fitting response to the London 2012 Olympic Games legacy in South Derbyshire."

Taking place on the day were football and rugby matches, an opportunity to try out different sports including tennis, a family fun run and bouncy castle, plus a football match between a Melbourne Dynamo legends side and Derby County legends, the Rams’ All Stars – won by the Melbourne players 4-2.

South Derbyshire MP Heather Wheeler said: “It took a long time but gosh, was it worth waiting for – for the superb facilities with so many community sporting groups in Melbourne all joining together.

“I’m looking forward to coming here regularly to watch matches and make sure that our teams improve to the highest level to match this fantastic facility.”

District councillor Peter Smith, chairman of South Derbyshire Sport, said: “Melbourne and its surrounding villages have long needed top class sporting facilities and we’ve been working hard to help deliver them.

“Local people will rightly be proud of Melbourne Sports Park and we look forward to seeing it in use.”

Pictures by TINA BAKER

l Steve Hollingsworth, Cllr John Harrison, Stewart Batchelor (SDDC), Mike Starkie, Zoe Sewter (SDDC), Crawford Fisher, James Hogwood, Tom Williams, Ian Lucas, Peter Upe, Cllr Andrew Jackson and Greg Salisbury.

l Waiting for the big moment, just some of the people who witnessed the official opening.

AN inaugural meeting involving all of Melbourne’s sports clubs in December 2005 (pictured above) led to the first meeting of the Melbourne Sporting Partnership early in 2006.

The aim was for the town’s sports clubs to join together in creating first class 21st century sporting facilities.

As The Village Voice reported at the time, that was at the instigation of the parish council which had organised an initial gathering the previous month –having been approached by the rugby club for help.

Partnership chairman John Harrison told the assembled company on opening day: “Some 20 years ago when I was playing for Melbourne Cricket Club, we were using the pavilion which had been donated to the village by Lord Walter Kerr, First Lord of the Admiralty, in thanksgiving for the Allied victory in the First World War.

“That pavilion served the community admirably for a long time. Certain extensions were made to it over the years but it was no longer fit for purpose.

Melbourne had grown and demand for sporting facilities increased – it was impossible for

MELBOURNE’S sports clubs certainly face a bright future thanks to the new sports facilities.

The tennis club is a big winner with its dramatic surge in membership from eight to more than 200 and a new coaching programme.

Chairman Tim Shone said: “It’s better than we expected, and the coaching programme has definitely started off better. We’ve had a lot of interest from children from four years upwards. Our youngest member is three and a half! The future is very, very bright – we’ve already got a ladies’ team together and possibly a mixed team.”

Today, heading up the new tennis coaching team is Paul Wilcock, a level 5 Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) coach, and the club is also offering a school holiday tennis coaching for which take-up, Tim says, has been “brilliant”.

Sporting Partnership member and a Melbourne Rugby Club director Peter Upe said: “We have worked very hard for this, now we’ve got the fruits of our labour. I’m very proud – it’s emotional really.

“When you spend so long to develop something like this … from a Melbourne

for our clubs

point of view it gives us probably the highest quality sporting facilities in South Derbyshire – for all age groups, for everybody in the community. It’s an inspirational place, we would hope that young people will come in and this will inspire them to be the best they can be.”

As far as football is concerned, for Melbourne Dynamo, the new grounds will mean one thing above all: its players can finally come home.

Based at Ticknall Cricket Club since 2000, players have had to play their first five and last five matches away because of the clash with the cricket season.

First team manager Gavin Salisbury said: “It’s what Melbourne has been wanting for years … we have had good football so far from the players, now we are already having emails and texts from players interested in coming down to play. We have always run it on a hand to mouth footing; we’re hoping this broadens our spectrum.”

Mark Jackaman, chairman of Melbourne United – which runs under-18s football –had this to add: “The excellent new facilities at the Melbourne Sports Park are already making a huge difference to Melbourne United FC. Our playing mem-

bership has more than doubled in the last four years – this season we have 16 teams competing locally from under 7s to under 18s and, for the first time, a girls' section, which is growing rapidly.

“The artificial grass pitch hosts our everpopular soccer school on Saturday mornings and is used every evening for training by our teams.

“The newly laid grass pitches are, without doubt, as good as any in the region which is encouraging an attractive playing style for the children to develop.”

The artificial pitch will also be used by members of Melbourne Cricket Club – and for chairman James Hogwood, one of the major benefits of the new park will be the cohesion it will bring between clubs, not to mention the social benefits.

He said: “We’re hoping that in the next year or so, as people see what we’ve got on offer, we can increase the standard we’re playing at and increase as a club more widely.

“Off the field success often leads to on field success. Cohesion creates a nice environment, we’re hoping that some of that will spread on the field.”

THE new sports park comprises the following facilities:

n New two-storey pavilion with six en-suite team changing rooms; three officials’ changing rooms; a club room with bar and two TVs; first aid room, kitchen, storage, spectator balconies and toilets.

n A 40-space car park.

n 3G floodlit artificial grass pitch (available to hire).

n Three floodlit tennis courts, also suitable for netball.

n Two high quality football pitches.

n Rugby pitch with new floodlighting.

Cllr Harrison added: “The Melbourne Sporting Partnership hopes to further advance and promote the development of all of the member clubs into the future, including the new netball club, the rounders club and the bowls club, with more than 600 people a week expected to use the new facilities.”

two rugby teams and two football teams to get changed at the same time.

“I took a decision in 1999 that I would make it my business to try to get elected to South Derbyshire District Council in the hope of being able to make significant progress.”

After that first meeting the district council engaged consultants to make recommendations on the layout of the pitches and the best site for the pavilion, along with developing a business plan, but the ball did not really get rolling until 2011 when the district council’s sale of the Bretby Crematorium produced a capital receipt of £3million, of which £1m was earmarked for enhancing sports facilities in Melbourne.

This provided the matched funding so that further bids could be made, and the rest of the money came from the Football Foundation (£600,000), Derbyshire County Council (£250,000), Sport England (£200,000), the Rugby Football Union (£100,000), Melbourne Parish Council (£18,000) and –as recently reported in The Village Voice – community donations of £27,000.

l The waiting is over ... Cllr Pat Murray cuts the ribbon to officially open Melbourne Sports Park.

l Families joined in the big day by taking part in the fun run.

SDDC Leader Robert Wheeler swaps a Melbourne Rugby Club shirt with Shinya Yoshino of Toyota City for a shirt from a team that Toyota sponsor in Japan. Ian Lucas of MRFC looks on.

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Words:

LUCY STEPHENS

Photography: TINA BAKER and PETE CLOUGH

ALUMINIUM butterflies, lettuce photography, intricate book sculpture, painting, printing, new and old faces, and even a visit from Toad of Toad Hall himself – it was all happening over the Melbourne Arts Festival weekend as the town once again welcomed thousands of visitors and artists for the annual creative celebration.

This year’s festival featured highly popular “story stops” at Melbourne Hall Visitor Centre, Chantry House Garden, The Vicarage Garden and Melbourne Hall Carriage Circle with characters from The Wind in the Willows reading out tales of their adventures for younger visitors.

More than 100 artists showed their work in homes and public buildings, including a special “Wild Wood” exhibition to mark 25 years of The National Forest.

Appetites and thirsts were quenched with food provided by local producers including the team at Whistlewood with their apple press and food saving champions from Sainsbury’s.

Photographer Chris Mear, who showed his shots of vegetables grown by Richard Jackson, in a one-day show at the Market Place, said the festival was “kind of beautiful”.

He said: “ exhibition sp it’s putting than putting Artist M showing his Penn Lane Madeleine, w own butterfl “It’s been lov get to see my Meanwhil of intricate books, said: very friendl looked after

ABOVE: Carol Newman and daughter Suzanne locked in behind David

wrought iron gate at the Hermitage.

BELOW: Junkyard Angels perform at the Busk Stop on Church Street.

BOTTOM LEFT: One youngster gets to see an artist at work. BOTTOM RIGHT: Karren Worral with her glassware at Roebuck House.

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TOP LEFT: Toad and his friends.

LEFT: Installation artists Emma Pegg and Christopher Mear.

ABOVE: Steve Craig with a display of his ceramic poppies.

FUN FEST

In order to encourage young artists, the festival three years ago set up an Emerging Talent award as it marked its own tenth anniversary.

This year’s award was set around the theme of “Our World” and was won by Robbie Short, 19, of Alvaston, for his thoughtful, ghostly image: Pollution and Apathy – which examined the effects of pollution in Derby.

Robbie won £500, a series of art mentoring sessions, and an exhibition spot in next year’s festival. Runner-up was Matt Archer with Ashleigh Kent commended.

“This is without doubt the best pace I have had to date because your work into context rather g it on a white wall.”

atthew Warburton, who was Aluminium Art at a venue in – next to 11-year-old daughter who was making and selling her ly art using a card stamp - said: vely – it’s a perfect site, people y work in its intended location.” le artist Claire Simpson, maker paper sculptures made from “It’s a lovely atmosphere, it’s ly and we’re being very well by the organisers.”

Festival director Sharon Brown said the whole weekend had once again gone “really well”.

She said: “I think the quality of the artists was very high and the feedback from visitors and artists was that it had a lovely friendly atmosphere and that people really enjoyed the event from both perspectives – to sell work and buy it.”

Volunteer students from Chellaston Academy sold 900 trail guides in order to raise money for the school’s Uganda project, with a donation of £450 going towards the cause from festival organisers.

TOP: Sculptor Ross Danby working in stone at the Dower House.

ABOVE: Claire Simpson with one of her paper sculptures.

BELOW: Emerging Talent Award winner Robbie Short with festival director Sharon Brown and judge Adam Deavey Smith.

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Victoria’s reign comes to an end

AFTER 10 years as manager of Melbourne Community Care, Victoria Hancock is retiring.

“I have had 10 wonderful years working with the volunteers and the people of Melbourne to provide a service that I think really helps,” said Victoria (pictured).

“However, there comes a time when we all have to hand over the reins to the next generation and I think that time is now.”

In accepting Victoria’s decision chairman Brian Dollamore, said: “Victoria took over the management of Community Care when government guidelines required organisations like ours to be careful about policies, procedures, individual records checks, training and all the work needed to provide a safe and reliable service. She has done a superb job and there is now a solid base of 45 volunteers to hand over to the new team.”

The new team will be well known to Melbourne people who visited the Fair Trade shop in the Market Place. This was run by Christine Lee and Alison Thornhill until earlier this year, and they have now both agreed to take on the role as a job-share.

They took up post in the office in William’s Yard, Derby Road from October 1 and will cover for each other to provide continuity of support. Although it is too early to say if there will be changes it is hoped that the office will be an even busier place with the office volunteers continuing to take bookings for the volunteer car service, the minibus and all the other services it provides.

As a registered charity, Melbourne Community Care relies entirely on the people of Melbourne giving their time and money to provide services that we are all going to need one day. In common with many voluntary organisations it is always looking for additional help for the various roles and for patrons to support it.

Garden club’s roots go back 25

years

TICKNALL Garden Club celebrated 25 successful years at the AGM held in September.

In addition to the anniversary cakes, the members were joined by Matthew Biggs, of Gardeners Question Time, who delivered a talk entitled The Wonder of Plants.

The talk was beautifully illustrated with a collection of colour slides and was most informative and very enjoyable.

Pictured are a group of club members Barbara Presley, Min Bell, Tricia Bricknell, John Bate, Wendy Gale, Sally Salt and Peggy Burns.

Pin is feeling chipper

MELBOURNE’S newest pub, the Chip and Pin, continues to go from strength to strength.

It has just been awarded the accolade of an entry in the 2017 Good Beer Guide, published in mid-September.

Dave Carpenter, who is one of the group of friends who own the micropub, said he was “totally made up”.

It was a personal goal of his for the business to feature in the guide but he did not think that they would achieve that within just two years of opening.

Dave has been a passionate devotee of the Good Beer Guide ever since he was a

student in London, aged 18. “It has never been far from my side,” he confessed.

Getting nominated for the book is no easy feat. Each CAMRA branch is allowed only a limited number of entries for the district and the selection depends on ratings compiled by customers about the atmosphere, the “offer” and most importantly the quality of the beer.

There are 23 other pubs recognised in the Derby area, including The Malt at Aston on Trent, The Swan in Milton and The Boot in Repton.

Elaine Chadwick, another of the Chip and Pin owners, said she was “really, really

pleased. It is a testament to everyone involved, including the partners, the staff, suppliers, and of course, our customers”.

Through the ages

CHELLASTON History Group presents a free exhibition, 'Chellaston Through the Ages’, on Saturday, October 15, in St Peter's Church Hall, Chellaston (10.30am4pm).

A representative from Derbyshire Family History Society will attend to give advice on family tree matters. Refreshments will be provided by Chellaston W.I.

The tragedy that lies behind Syrian suppers

SYRIAN suppers have become something of an institution in Melbourne over recent years – but the lady behind them has her own very personal reasons behind raising funds for that beautiful, troubled country, discovers LUCY STEPHENS.

Posters advertising fund-raising for Syria have become a well-known sight in Melbourne, with local people knitting and attending elaborate Syrian suppers with the aim of raising money for the war-torn country.

But the woman behind the fund-raising drive, Jan Rosa Lee, has a highly emotional story to tell when it comes to her reasons for organising these events.

Six years ago Jan Rosa was living in Crete where, as she tells it, there were large numbers of Syrian men trying to find building work as there was so much poverty back at home.

She met and fell in love with one of them, Abdullah Al Ahmed, but he went back to his beloved homeland just as the revolution was beginning. There, two and a half years ago, he was killed.

“Because I have this personal connection, that has been the impetus behind everything I do,” says Jan Rosa, who still keeps in touch with Abdullah’s parents.

“He had been telling me about how bad it was and how people were being

killed, and his brothers were killed.”

Her fund-raising efforts started by organising local knitting groups and fundraising for Hand in Hand For Syria – warm clothing being highly important

in a country which experiences freezing temperatures from November to March and where many families are now without their homes.

“It’s important because Syria is a

country of extremes,” says Jan Rosa.

“It’s incredibly hot in the summer and in the winter there are cases of people who have frozen to death.

“Children are the most vulnerable to the bombing, and the communities that are being worst hit – that’s overwhelming; there’s not very much I can do about that – but to provide clothing which is warm, which is clean, which is new, which has been hand-made, there’s something quite special about that.

“The Syrian guys were always talking about Syria when they were in Crete. They’d say the jasmine was sweeter there, the oranges were better – I’ve never known people who had such a deep love of their land.

“What’s reported here is such a tiny part of what is going on. People don’t have an understanding of what the civilian people feel … nobody wants to leave the country; everybody has this love of Syria.”

Because of her continuing personal connections with Syria, Jan Rosa makes sure that any aid goes directly to the people who need it.

Her next fund-raising initiative is to ask local medical centres such as GP surgeries and hospitals whether they have any supplies they can spare – such as large dressings and basic painkillers.

If anyone can help, they are asked to call her on 01283 329855.

A NEW social group of community-minded people has been formed to help provide a support network for Melbourne and the surrounding villages.

Membership is open to anyone, and costs £10 per annum, with members’ partners, who are also welcome to join, free of charge.

Monthly meetings are held on the third Tuesday evening of each month, at 7pm, (currently at The Chip & Pin), with a monthly coffee morning on the first Tuesday, at 10.30am, at a variety of locations.

The group, named Melbourne Rotex, has already offered help for the Carnival, on-gate duty, and at the Festival, selling trail guides.

Future planned activities include the organisation of Melbourne’s Carols Round the Christmas Tree, (Thursday December 22), and marshalling at the Rainbows Santa’s Fun Run in Elvaston Park on December 11.

Anyone who would like to give a little time and effort to supporting community events in Melbourne (or close by) should speak to either the chair, Margaret Sharp (862471), or secretary, Kate Dumelow (862666).

l Jan Rosa Lee with former boyfriend Abdullah Al Ahmed.

REGINALD BERNARD COPELAND

1927-2016

REG was born and lived in Melbourne all his life. He worked at Fairystep Shoe Factory from the age of 14 until his retirement.

During World War 11, he served as a radio operator in Palestine in the Royal Horse Artillery.

Although Reg lost both his lower limbs and was wheelchair bound for the last 20y years of his life, he remained independent and cheerful. He enjoyed his outings to the Liberal Club and to the Royal British Legion: he liked a flutter on the horses, but without finding many winners!

Reg made lots of friends at the Senior Citizens' Centre and

ALAN SWIFT

1938-2016

BORN in Altrincham, Manchester, Alan Swift moved to Allenton in Derby when he was three.

His first apprenticeship was as an electrician and, at 18, he began two years of National Service. At 21, he had begun his hairdressing career, taking on his own barber shop in Allenton at just 24.

An early apprentice was Chris Park, who later owned Haircut 56 on Boundary Road. A second shop quickly followed, next to Joe Woodhouse’s Greengrocers in Alvaston.

In 1983 Alan moved to London Road where he had his ladies’ salon, Headfirst, and a barber shop in premises occupying the ground and upper floor. The shop is now owned by Alan’s apprentice Stuart Dicker, who bought the place from him in 2006.

Alan married Iris in 1976 and the couple spent 34 years of their married life in Melbourne where they lived in the Woodlands, before moving to a bungalow in Shelton Lock in 2000.

was well-known at the local Treetops Charity Shop.

His two daughters and family wish to thank all who attended the funeral and donated to the Senior Citizens' Centre. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Coast-to-coasters’ £1,735 for Trust

THEY did it … 190 miles of tramping across Britain’s beautiful countryside has resulted in Melbourne’s very own self-styled “Thelma and Louise” raising more than £1,500 for a vital blood service.

Aside from his fame across Derby as a barber, Alan was very fond of his dominoes games in The White Swan in Melbourne on Monday nights. He also loved playing the game at The Bull’s Head in Wilson, and he played cards in the former Melbourne Hotel.

Alan leaves his wife, Iris, children Wayne, Mark and Lee, and grandchildren Ryan, Jason, Matt and Grace.

His funeral was held on August 8 at Markeaton Crematorium, conducted by The Revd Michael Rogers. Iris said she would like to thank ward 405 staff at Derby Hospital, as well as the Co-op Funeral Service and all those who attended.

Helen Spencer and Clare Johnson took 12 days to walk the famous “Coast to Coast” challenge in September in aid of the Anthony Nolan Trust – the stem cell matching organisation through which in 2012 Helen’s husband, Tim, secured a match, enabling him to have a stem cell transplant as part of his treatment for leukaemia.

Updating friends along the way with blogs detailing progress, blisters, sore feet, getting lost, rained on and falling over, Helen and Clare finished their epic walk on September 20 and were greeted by Tim in Yorkshire’s Robin Hood’s Bay with a very welcome glass of bubbly.

Now the pair have thanked everyone who donated to their walk, with online donations reaching £1,735 – well over the £1,000 target.

Helen, who has now started her new job as a community nurse in Derby, said: “For the first couple of days I was a bit worried that we weren’t going to do it – in the hilly Lake District – but it just got easier.

“I’m proud of what we’ve done but I’m really overwhelmed with how much everybody has donated.

“The walk was life-changing – it was brilliant!”

Village Voice Postbag

I WONDER how many of your readers saw the mound of broken divan bed and mattress on the verge of the Staunton road in mid-September. If you travelled that way you could not miss it.

It is very frustrating for farmers and landowners to find fly tipping down the

farm tracks, and there is a temptation to move it to the roadside for the council’s ‘clean team’ to deal with.

The trouble with this approach is that many weeks can go by before the eyesore is removed.

Meantime, thousands of pairs of eyes lock onto it and register dismay.

On this occasion, after five passes, I gave up and sent our forestry team to clear it up. With cutbacks in council funding I think it will increasingly fall to individuals and organisations like Melbourne Civic Society to keep our countryside beautiful. John Blunt, Staunton Harold.

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l Clare Johnson (left) and Helen Spencer celebrating with champagne in Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire after finishing their walk.

CCTV leads to police successes

THE local police team are reporting a number of positive outcomes to crime investigations this month.

PC Oliver Priddle said: “We have had a number of success stories across the area, and the common theme is that Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) images have been used to identify offenders. When we have good quality CCTV footage we are able to release it and very often a suspect can be identified by members of the public.”

For instance, he reported, the Melbourne Chip Shop had a window smashed recently and the owners were left with a bill of nearly £500.

“Because there was a good quality CCTV image available, we were able to issue a press release appealing for information and, within a few hours, the person responsible for the damage made contact with the police.

“Through the community remedy process the offender and victim have come together and the person responsible has made an agreement to foot the bill for the damage and harm caused.”

In another case, he said, window wipers were snapped off a vehicle parked on Church Street. The local knowledge of PCSO Guest meant offenders were identified and again the community remedy process was applied and the damage re-

Are you up for this school reunion?

WERE you a pupil at Ticknall School and are you over 50 years of age?

If so, you may be interested in attending a school reunion.

The event will be held on November 18 at what is now Dame Catherine’s School in Ticknall and is planned to be an informal get-together with old slides, good food and a chance to catch up with old friends.

Many of the slides were taken by Gertie Hill, a well-remembered and very well loved former infant teacher at the school.

Using their old school surnames, Liz Mumford and Teresa Lakin are organising the reunion and

paid.

The same process, under the restorative justice scheme, has been applied to damage caused at Aston on Trent Archery Club. Three offenders were identified and have already paid a total of £500 in compensation.

Most recently, following a burglary at Melbourne Royal British Legion, an internal bulletin was issued within hours, the suspect was identified by a police officer and an arrest made later that day. A man has been charged and is currently remanded in prison awaiting trial.

In each of these cases the CCTV footage was key. Without it the investigation would most likely have been unresolved. It highlights the value of camera surveillance and ensuring it is of a sufficient quality to clearly identify individuals. n A Melbourne man has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting having drugs to supply to others, following a search of his house.

He appeared at Derby Crown Court in September and pleaded guilty to possessing class B drugs with intent to supply. The 26-year-old man from Nettlefold Crescent was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment suspended, 100 hours’ community work, a home curfew and a requirement to attend a drugs course. –

would love to hear from anyone wishing to attend to enable them to adequately cater for the evening.

“It will be real food, not a buffet,” said Teresa, “and we hope that everyone will treat it as a real evening out.”

As a taster for the evening the photograph above will be one of many on display.

Names are not known for all the people in the photograph c.1961, but the group does include: Joe Hallifield, Pamela Smart, Mary Draper, Pat Musson, Anna Moult and William Moult.

For more details or to confirm that you will be attending, contact Teresa or Liz on 01332 864598.

Geography award booster

MELBOURNE Infants’ head teacher, Mrs Charlotte Gibbs, has announced that the school has achieved the Primary Geography Quality Mark (PGQM) Bronze Award.

The award is seen as a key strategy for raising the quality of geography in primary schools and has been driving school improvement in geography since 2006.

Praising Mrs Reed and all the staff and children, Mrs Gibbs said: “Everyone has worked extremely hard to achieve this

award. As a school we feel very proud with our achievement. Our next steps are to look at where we can further the development of geography and look at achieving the silver status at the time of renewal.”

A total of 66 primary schools achieved the Geographical Association’s (PGQM) at gold, silver or bronze level. These schools use creative approaches to stimulate learning and place a high value on using real life issues to promote understanding.

WESTON on Trent Wrens Class and (l-r) Mrs Minto (teaching assistant), Miss Cross (teacher) and Mrs Barton (teaching assistant).

FINDERN Primary School Ash Class with (l-r) Mrs Gregory (teaching assistant) and Mrs Hall (teacher).

ASTON on Trent Reception Class with (l-r) Mrs Donoldson (class teacher) and Mrs Boja-Bates (teaching assistant).

ABOVE: Sale and Davys Primary with (l-r) Mrs Tompson (teacher), Mr Comasky (teacher) and Sue Winter (teaching assistant).

RIGHT: Breedon St Hardulph’s Primary School with Miss Lakhman (teacher).

SITUATIONS VACANT

PEACH HOUSE RESTAURANT within Staunton Harold Nurseries require

a

SUPERVISOR

Duties to include cooking, serving customers, supervising junior staff, etc. with total responsibility for the busy restaurant in the absence of the manager. An excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic self motivated person to get a foot on the managerial ladder. The successful candidate will have min.1 year catering experience. Must be prepared to work alternate weekends & bank holidays. 35- 40hrs a week.

Appropriate Salary Depending on experience.

Please write with full CV to: Staunton Harold Nurseries Head Office, The Stables, Cockshut Lane, Melbourne, Derbys, DE73 8DG or email: mark@maetradingltd.co.uk

Super September for the RFC

MELBOURNE RFC embraced the new Sporting Partnership facilities with open arms in September.

The 1st XV welcomed Matlock in their first league game of the season. With Matlock having been relegated into the league, it was expected to be a tough game.

The new changing rooms made a massive difference to the high quality portable cabins of old, and the motivational pictures in the new changing rooms highlighted the gulf of quality in facilities.

Melbourne had a debutant in James Lockhart and welcomed back Alex Nightingale, Ben Burchell, Tom Lowery and Matt Smith after some absence.

Matlock started strongly building up a 14-0 lead before Melbourne hit their stride. On the stroke of half-time Dan Walker scored from a short range lineout, converted by Euan Holden for a 7-14 deficit.

The second half was Melbourne’s. Holden extended the lead with a penalty before

Lowery picked out Holden, rounding his man and scoring under the posts. Another penalty saw the lead extend to 20-14 and Melbourne repelled the final push by Matlock. MOTM Alex Nightingale.

Next saw West Bridgford arrive at Melbourne Sports Park. Two changes saw Chris Stark and Rob Foster return.

Again going behind early, Melbourne did not panic. Strong defence prevailed with powerful running especially from the new young centre partnership of Pearce and Iliffe. Tries came regularly from Page, Nicholson and Pearce (2), with Holden converting all four for a bonus point win. MOTM Jack Pearce.

The clubhouse was well attended before and after both matches.

The Stags had a 33-7 loss to Leesbrook 1st XV. A tough fixture and being a bit rusty and with a lack of cohesion saw a one-sided first half, with parity in the second half. Guy Cooper scored the try for Melbourne.

Members of the Parish Council

Chair

Margaret Sharp 862471

Vice Chair

Sheila Hicklin 865726

Highways

David Smith 862699

Burial Grounds

Sheila Hicklin 865726

Facilities

Andrew Jackson 07931 541387

Melbourne Dental Practice

30 YEARS -

TEXT MESSAGING SERVICE

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

Naomi Fry BDS & Associates, Helen Baker BDS

latest techniques and materials

● Friendly and caring service

● Cosmetic Dentistry including tooth whitening

Naomi Fry accepts child orthodontic patients on the N.H.S.

Castle Street, Melbourne, Derbyshire Telephone 01332 862942

Saturday 5th November

Saturday 3rd December

Planning & Strategy

Jane Carroll 863269

Finance & HR

Margaret Sharp 862471

Nigel Collyer 07831 540538

George Dunnicli 07780 806267

Wendy Earp 865019

Tom Gates 865718

George Hudson 07503 247953

Robert Parker 07973 297404

Terry Summerlin 864643

Michael Usher 07791 605861

Paul Willmore 863044

Jacqui Storer - Clerk 07734 939292

Useful Numbers

Aircraft Noise & Complaints 0845 1088540

Clean Team ( y tipping) 0800 5872349

Street

Potholes 0845 6058058

The next fixture was away to Amber Valley 2s. Weathering a strong start from AV, Melbourne found their range with a 33-0 win. Tries came from Richardson, Butler, Sparkes, Whittaker and Moorcroft. The Stags saw Pennant opposition ‘cry off’ again for the next fixture and ended up playing South Notts Barbarians, winning 42-17.

The Development XV has had a festival at Long Eaton and a game at Ilkeston. The festival saw a win, a loss and a draw, and the following week, a 24-22 win against Ilkeston.

The Academy had trials at Ilkeston (W) and Ashby (L) and then a U17 festival at Long Eaton with a mixture of U17 and U16 where they competed well, losing two games narrowly after a more significant loss against Ashbourne.

They also had a close game against Paviors, ending in a 12-10 win.

All in all a great a start with MRFC fielding four sides on September 17.

Melbourne Parish Council

Quarterly Report - October 2016

The three new Councillors have settled in with their duties on the council. We now have a vacancy for a new Councillor due to the resignation of David Carpenter. I would like to thank David for his contribution and loyal service to Melbourne Parish Council.

The Summer Play Scheme, held on the Infant and Junior School playing Fields, proved to be a huge success with the Play Mobile, Sports Mobile, and the Wheels Mobile held in the School Holidays.

Unfortunately our lengthman Jim Bancroft has now decided to retire, our thanks go to Jim for keeping Melbourne streets clean and litter free for the last 5 years, we wish him well in his retirement. The new lengthman is Anthony Hicklin who has been helping Jim for the past year.

The council has put in a grant application for some new play equipment at the Lothian Gardens, so if we are successful we hope to see some new equipment in the future.

The new "Melbourne Sports Park" was o cially opened on September 11th by Cllr Pat Murray Chairman of South Derbyshire District Council and Cllr John Harrison Chairman of the Sporting Partnership. It has been a long time coming, but it will be a brilliant facility for the community of Melbourne.

Margaret Sharp, Chair, Melbourne Parish Council

l MELBOURNE RFC 1st XV with officials line up before the home game against Matlock. Back row: Dave Smith (president), Peter Ilott (chairman), Michael Lowery, Morris Hall, Alec Judge, Joe Stuart, James Lockhart, Alex Nightingale, Devon Iliffe, Tom Lowery, Charlotte Doughty (physio), Steve Grainger (coach) and Matt Derbyshire (head coach). Front row: Joe Nicholson, Tom Howard, Tony Day, Dan Walker, Mark Coyne, Matt Smith, Ben Burchell, Olly Page, Euan Holden and Jack Pearce.

Cricket club double sees them avoid the drop

MELBOURNE Town Cricket Club 1st XI ended the season in some style, winning their last two league games to move out of the relegation places in division 4S and finishing their campaign ninth.

Rained-off games against Etwall and Lullington Park left the firsts in need of a positive result at home to Alvaston & Boulton 2nd Xl.

Rain once again affected the game, which was reduced to 33 overs a side. The visitors batted first, scoring a creditable 177-9 off their overs with Julian Humpidge (3-23) and Alex Slater (3-53) stemming the runs.

In reply Slater (38) and Andy Potts (24) led the charge, but it was down to a fantastic innings of 62 not out by Matt Briers that saw Town home by just one wicket with five balls left. The final game of the season saw Melbourne travel to Trentside. Batting first on a difficult, damp wicket, Slater top scored with 33 as Town struggled to 153-9 off their overs. But a superb spell of 6-30 from Marc Towell supported by 3-55 from Slater took the firsts to a stunning 24-run victory. Unfortunately, Melbourne 2nds lost two of their last three league games and ended up being relegated from division 8S. They began their poor run with a five-wicket loss away to Derby Congs 3rd Xl.

Batting first, only Izzy Anjilliath (34) and late order hitting from Stephen Goalen (33) allowed Town to creep to 141 all out.

Despite two wickets from James Hogwood the seconds fell to a disappointing defeat.

Away to Walton-on-Trent 2nd Xl a superb spell of 3-31 from Goalen saw the home side bowled out for just 160. In reply Simon Fletcher (36), Rost (37) and skipper Dan Marshall (33) took the seconds to a much-needed victory. So, it all came down to the final league game.

At home to Ockbrook 4ths, Melbourne bowled first, and superb spells of 432 by Goalen and 3-54 from Hogwood had visitors bowled out for just 165. In reply, despite solid contributions from Fletcher (26), Rost (26), Adcock (23) and Goalen (27) the seconds were all out for just 145 condemning them to relegation.

Melbourne Town’s third team ended the season with a narrow 10-run defeat away to Trentside 3rds, after bowling the home side out for just 120 with Will Goodman (3-27) and Sam Barker (3-47) doing the damage. In reply, only Arun Iyer with 41 got to grips with the Trentside attack as they fell to a close defeat to end the season.

The club would like to thank all their ball sponsors in the 2016 season. Without them all, the club would not be able to maintain their new facilities at Melbourne Sports Park. In the month of September the sponsors were: Acres Engineering, Albert Wood, Austin Property Management, Melbourne Royal British Legion and Compartment Fire Ltd.

l Pictured at the final night are (l-r): Daniel Whiting, Rob Hatton,

NEIL ARROWS IN ON SINGLES TROPHY ROGER BOWLS WAY TO CHAMPION

MELBOURNE Darts Summer Singles League drew to a close with the final night to decide who would be the winner. Neil Jones did what was necessary and secured first place with Tony Gee second and Rob Hatton taking third spot. Earlier in the year when the decision was taken to restart the league, it was unclear how much interest there would

KING’S Newton Bowls Club held its annual competition finals day on a nice sunny afternoon with perfect weather.

The winning players were: Ladies Singles - Cynthia Bailey; Men’s Singles - Roger Timmins; Galley Jackson Trophy - Graham Leech; Handicap Singles - Roger Timmins; Handicap Doubles - Cynthia Bailey and Joan Ford; Open Doubles - Peter Balfour and Barry Woodman.

The last competition to be played was for the club champion cup between the ladies and men’s singles winners, which saw Roger Timmins defeat Cynthia Bailey to claim his third trophy of the day.

The bowls season is now drawing to a close with just the South Derbyshire floodlit league to be completed. With four matches left to play the team is third in the league, with a good chance of achieving promotion.

The team is also having a great run in the floodlit cup. Having won through three rounds to reach the semi-finals KNBC will play Swadlincote Caths Club on the Rolls-Royce Recreation Society Bowls Club green.

be. But, with 12 players persevering, the quality of play has got better and better each week with plenty of 180s and high check-outs.

The club is still open to new players for the winter league, to be held at The Royal Suite at The Melbourne British Legion each Monday.

CUP

l Cynthia Bailey and Roger Timmins before their game to decide who would be club champion.

Terry Brazier, Neil Jones, Tim Jones, Matt Higginson, Lee Smith and Ash Medhurst.

l Melbourne Town Cricket Club award winners: (back row, lr): Richard Heath (president), James Hogwood (2nd X1 bowler), Simon Fletcher (2nd X1 batsman) , Matt Briers (1st X1 bowler), Ash Ellwell (3rd X1 batsman), Ian Roberts (1st X1 fielder), Paul Scrimshaw (Debbie Dore Memorial Award) and Andy Potts (1st X1 highest score); front row: Andy Holden (3rd X1 bowler), Alex Slater (1st X1 batsman), Marc Towell (1st X1 all-rounder) and Rhys Phillips (2nd X1 fielder).

CRICKET WINNERS Table tennis boom

MELBOURNE Town Cricket Club held the end of season presentation at the new Melbourne Sports Park club house.

Long-serving president Richard Heath and new chairman James Hogwood presented the trophies to the winners in the first, second and third teams.

The Debbie Dore Memorial Trophy, which is presented to the person who has done the most for the club either on or off the field during the season, went to groundsman Paul Scrimshaw for his dedicated and outstanding efforts throughout the year.

TABLE tennis has become so popular in Aston-onTrent that a new group has started playing – in just a few months since the club was set up.

Aston-on-Trent Table Tennis Club was launched in May at a special event with visitors from Draycott and Melbourne Table Tennis Clubs, as well as the Derbyshire League.

Now the group has about 20 members and has become so popular that players are meeting on Monday nights as well as Thursday mornings.

Barbara James, chair of Recreation in Aston, thanked Sport England which provided a grant to help start the project, saying: “I’m delighted to see that Recreation in Aston is giving local people the opportunity to stay healthy and fit.”

The Aston-on-Trent Table Tennis Club meets on Thursday mornings from 10am to noon, and now also on Monday nights from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. The cost is £2 a session and all are welcome.

l Melbourne Dynamo 1st XI (back row (l-r): Alan Buxton (assistant manager), Michael Tristram, Jack Goodband, Callum Horton, Lee Sanders, Matt Jones, Dave Brough, Gavin Salisbury (manager); front row: Jak Ward, Josh Burton, Carl Allsop (captain), Ben Newton, Dominic Hurst, Toby McCabe and Adam Dolman.

DYNAMIC DAVE

MELBOURNE Dynamo’s Dave Brough is in the 200 club. Two goals in the third match of the season fired him to a double ton of strikes for the club.

Dynamo had a superb month of September and continue their great start to the 2016-2017 season. The first team are leading the way on top of division one and still remain unbeaten. They began

September with a clinical 3-0 away victory at Wirksworth Town Reserves with Michael Tristram scoring twice and Jack Goodband getting the other.

The following week Dynamo blew a 3-0 lead to drop their first points of the season at home to Matlock United, eventually drawing 3-3.

Dave Brough scored a brace this time with Jack Goodband the other.

The home match against Rowsley Reserves was the special occasion for Dynamo legend Brough, who completed the remarkable feat of 200 goals for the club.

Dynamo won 7-3 with Dominic Hurst also scoring two. Carl Allsop, Micheal Tristram and Dave Worger completed the scoring.

The first team ended the month with a hard fought 2-1 away win at high-flying Castle Donington Cobras. With goals from that man Brough and in-form Goodband, Gav Salisbury's men sit top of the table going into October.

MELBOURNE Dynamo Reserves also made a great start to life in division two. They remain unbeaten and progressing in the Challenge Cup.

They began September with a 1-1 draw with newcomers Littleover Dazzlers. Youngster Toby McCabe scored the Dynamo goal with a great header.

The following week Melbourne travelled to Punjab United for a cup game. The match went to extra time and, with goals from McCabe again, Tom Colclough and Paul Swallow, the reserves went through to the next round.

Greg Salisbury's men ended the month in some style as they put bottom of the table Dimple to the sword, winning 10-0 as the Stanley brothers ran amok with Dan scoring four and Ben getting two. Youngster Toby Foxon, Ryan McLaughlin, Paul Swallow and veteran Alex Slater completed the scoring.