THE Melbourne Festival brought a smile to these two faces.
Ceramics ‘king’ David William Sampson proudly shows off some of his creations.
And Harriet Newman aged two, from Ticknall, certainly enjoyed the sun with an ice cream in the food court.
Full reports and more Festival photos inside.
by Lucy Stephens
TWO local runners completed 26-mile marathons on the same day for worthy causes … at opposite ends of the country.
Helen Gregory, a palliative care nurse from Melbourne, ran the London marathon for Macmillan Cancer Support on October 3.
Meanwhile Julie Eames, a former housekeeper at Melbourne Hall, crossed the finishing line of the Loch Ness marathon on the same day.
Julie did her challenge in aid of the Staley family’s Little Stars charity, which is raising money for the fetal medicine department at Royal Derby Hospital.
Despite the two events taking place nearly 600 miles apart, there were some similarities to
the runners’ experiences where the weather was concerned.
Helen reported that in London, the heavens opened with rain as she hit mile 17, while in Loch Ness, Julie said things got distinctly chilly with the wind up and “proper waves” on the famous expanse of water.
For both, it was also their first marathon with Helen having taken up running five years ago and Julie only starting this year with the ‘Couch to 5k’ challenge.
Both Helen and Julie said they enjoyed the experience.
Helen, whose job at Royal Derby Hospital is part funded by Macmillan Cancer, said: “It was an amazing experience: the crowd, my family came down, cheering me on. It was really humbling. I met some lovely peo-
ple. It was really emotional actually. Running over Tower Bridge was just fantastic.”
Julie’s adventures started when she was travelling to Loch Ness; it was a worry as to whether the UK’s limited fuel supplies would see her up to Fort
Augustus.
But she made it to the event which takes runners from a high point at Foyers, dropping down and finishing along the shores of Loch Ness.
“It was really, really pretty,” said Julie. “It was freezing though!”
Julie said she was delighted to raise money for Little Stars, adding that her mother, who passed away three years ago, would have approved.
“I think it’s a brilliant charity to help babies and mums,” she said.
Both runners’ donation pages are still up and running.
Helen has raised just under £3,000 for Macmillan Cancer. She thanked Matt at the Spirit Vaults pub in Melbourne for allowing her to host a coffee morning there in September for the cause.
Any readers who want to donate to her can do so here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.co m/HelenGregory17
Julie has raised about £1,000 for Little Stars. The charity has not been able to continue its plans to re-vamp the fetal medicine area at Royal Derby Hospital due to the Covid situation, so has decided to release all funds raised to date to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and fetal medicine department at the hospital.
The Staley family, which started Little Stars in memory of their daughter Lyra, said they were very grateful to everyone who had raised funds for them so far, and will share details of what the money has been spent on over the coming months.
Any donations can be made to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/alison-staley-little-stars
ONE of the founders of the Village Voice, Ron Ford (above) has passed away.
Ron, who was 88, died in Australia. His ashes will be scattered in Sydney and Westonon-Trent.
Tributes –Page 5
l Julie Eames is pictured with Henry Hall and Barrie O’Sullivan.
l Helen Gregory.
DOZENS of motorbikes were out in force in Derbyshire as part of a charity event organised by Melbourne’s Andrew Bainbrigge.
Andrew said the ride-out had taken place since the loss of his brother, Mick, in a motorcycle accident 11 years ago.
Mick was on his way home from the Isle of Man TT when the accident happened.
The ride-out in the memory of him and other absent friends raises money for the local air ambulance service, as the Cheshire branch were called out when it happened.
This year 68 riders took part in the ride to Alrewas Arboretum.
The charity ride was supported by Tony, Claire and their team from the Chequers pub in Ticknall.
Steve Lakin organised a band, The Skimble Brothers, and designed posters.
A representative from the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance collected funds and gave a short talk about the air ambulance’s work.
Mark and Gail from The Alma in Melbourne also collected funds which went towards the total £742 raised.
CONCERNS that locals have been raising about the standard of service provided by the local medical practices have been reflected in a survey published by the NHS.
In the most recent GP Patient Survey, independently run by Ipsos MORI on behalf of NHS England and sent to over two million people across the UK, the Melbourne and Chellaston Practice has fared badly across many categories compared to both local and national averages.
A total of 73% of those surveyed described their overall satisfaction with the practice as ‘good’, compared to an 85% average in the local area and, for example, 94% from nearby Willington Surgery. It was the eighth lowest score of all GP practices in the Derby and Derbyshire area.
Getting through to the surgery and making an appointment was marked significantly below national and local area averages. Only 32% of respondents said it was easy to get through on the phone – well below the national average of 68% and a score which ranked it sixth lowest in the area.
Only 45% of respondents marked as good their experience of making an appointment, compared to 71% nationally and 86% of patients at Willington.
The surgeries did much better in terms of satisfaction with the level of healthcare provided, with 98% of respondents saying they felt their needs were met during their last GP appointment, compared to a national average of 94%, and 99% of patients had confidence and trust in the healthcare professional they saw or spoke to.
In all 280 surveys were sent out and 150 were returned, showing a completion rate of 54%, but, as the practice has indicated, this figure represents only 1% of registered patients. The data was collected between January and March 2021.
Responding to the results a spokesperson for the practices said: “Our patients' views on the services we provide are an important part of how we assess the performance of the practices. This is why we have recently carried out our own patient survey and why we review the results of the GP Patient Survey.
“It is important to note that our two practices currently serve 15,500 patients; the most recent survey was sent to 250 patients, of whom 150 returned a completed form. The survey therefore represents less than 1% of all our patients.
by Frank Hughes“However, we do take it seriously and will consider the results, as well as the patient feedback we receive constantly through our administrative and clinical staff.
“We are deeply committed to providing the best possible service to our patients at a time when the whole health system is under severe strain. We want to thank our patients for their support, encouragement and patience throughout the pandemic and as we move towards winter.”
A representative of the local Clinical Commissioning group said: “The annual Patient Survey is an important avenue by which patients can provide feedback about their personal experiences within the health system.
“Collating and understanding such patient feedback is an essential part of running GP practices, and staff take the experiences of their patients seriously. Staff at GP practices, like colleagues all across the health and care system, work incredibly hard to care for patients. They are currently facing an unprecedented demand on healthcare services, and GP practices are providing thousands more appointments in response.
“Patient feedback is an important part of the way in which performance is measured and should not be considered in isolation. In particular, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) carries out rigorous, expert performance reviews, which are published with important supporting information.
“As is the case across the health service, variations in performance are constantly being reviewed but may be influenced by a wide range of factors, some of them beyond the control of the practices themselves.”
“We welcome patient feedback but also ask that the wider public consider how they engage with primary care services. A wide range of services is available, and these will often provide access to the most appropriate care more quickly. This includes using self-care, speaking with a pharmacist, contacting the Derbyshire Mental Health helpline and using the NHS 111 website and phone line.
“Many practices also offer access to nurses, physiotherapists and other specialists without needing a GP appointment.”
Pictured are John Bown, community fund-raiser for Derbys/Leics /Rutland Air Ambulance, receiving the cheque from Andrew Bainbrigge, with Tony, Claire, and Louie Matthews (proprietors of the Chequers pub, Ticknall) and Mark Hudson, landlord of the Alma, Melbourne.COMMUNITY Care in Melbourne is restarting shopping trips again after a gap of over 18 months and the volunteer car service, making trips for hospital and other appointments, is already back up and running.
The weekly shopping trips from home to the supermarket aim to give people who might need an extra helping hand the independence to do their own shopping. This service covers Melbourne, Ticknall and other nearby villages.
After consulting drivers, helpers and regular shoppers the Friday morning trips will now be heading to the Co-op in Castle Donington, where the café will provide an opportunity for the regulars to have a short break to enjoy a chat. The shop also lists an
IF YOU are retired or semi-retired and looking for an opportunity to get out your bicycle and start using it, a new U3A group may be just the opportunity you are waiting for.
Melbourne Area U3A are looking at forming a road cycling group for members. The rides would be around 20 miles and take about an hour and a half, perhaps with a refreshment stop along the way. To join U3A the only requirement is that you are no longer in full time employment; there is a small annual subscription fee.If interested, email madu3achair@gmail.com for more information.
by Frank HughesAmazon and John Lewis collection point, with the opportunity to shop online and collect in store.
With the “new” minibus a few more shoppers can be accommodated and there will still be an escort on hand to help load and unload bags, as well as a friendly face in the shop to call on if needed.
Car journeys for hospital, doctor, dentist, and other appointments started up again in July and, as the NHS is starting to build up the number of outpatient appointments, demand for the service is also growing.
However, there is a shortage of drivers at the present time, both for the regular car
trips. All that is needed is a clean driving licence, standard insurance and a willingness to help; minibus drivers additionally require a half-day MIDAS training session.
Escorts for the bus journeys and helpers to be at the shop are also needed, for those who can spare a half-day once every couple of weeks.
Although regular excursion trips to places such as Solihull, Nottingham and Burton-on-Trent are not yet being organised, it is hoped these will resume early in 2022. Meanwhile the minibus is available for groups to hire with a trained driver.
If you are interested in joining the trips, or in volunteering in any capacity, drop into the office on Derby Road any morning, or call 01332 863585.
On September 13th, Valerie Hastings sadly passed away peacefully. Loving wife to Bob, Mum, Mamar and Friend, Val had a wonderful life filled with love, laughter and joyful memories. She will be sorely missed by all.
The funeral will be held on Monday 11th October at Trent Valley Crematorium at 10:30am.
HUNDREDS of pounds have been raised for charity with two coffee mornings held in Melbourne and Ticknall.
Angela Tillyard’s coffee morning at the Thomas Cook Hall in Melbourne on September 11 raised £350 each for Macmillan Cancer and a charity for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – both of which charities have family connections.
Lots of cakes were donated by friends and family and there was a chocolate tombola, raffle, and a ‘decorate a biscuit’ stall.
The family thanked the local businesses who donated: Wayne Spiers butchers; Scallywags
Nursery; Louise Carey Hair and Nails; GW Heath & Son; Carey Valeting; Melbourne Cobbler; Slater’s Salon and Deb Savage at Number 11 and Dog Hairs Grooming.
Angela said she would like to give a “huge thank you” to everyone who helped make the event a success.
On September 21, Ticknall Coffee Club held a coffee morning and cake sale in the village hall, raising £1,115 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
WHEREAS London’s Albert Hall recently featured the World Premiere of the latest Bond movie, Melbourne Assembly Rooms will be hosting exclusive screenings of St Michael’s Players’ latest film production,writes Frank Hughes.
The self-styled anarchic amateur drama group has produced a lethal mix of Carry On style jokes, with Dad’s Army characters and blatant satire and come up with “Don’t Pan(dem)ic” in which “the Home Guard is mobilised to combat a most curious affliction”.
Featuring the usual suspects in the players, the cast is supported by a dazzling list of local characters, not least Richard and Laura Fortey as never seen before!
Filmed on location, entirely within Melbourne, the film has captured some iconic views of South Derbyshire, including the Georgian Market
Place, the landscaped Pool and, of course, Melbourne Assembly Rooms’ car park.
Tickets (£10) are available for all screenings from October 28-30 from wegottickets.com or by calling 01332 863475.
The stars of the film may even be rolling out a red carpet, mainly attributable to much spilled red wine ...
THE Air Ambulance shop on Derby Road, Melbourne, made £464 for the charity by holding a raffle over the weekend of Melbourne Festival.
Staff at the shop warmly thanked local businesses for their generosity in donating a total of 75 prizes.
ABOVE: Jenny Hollingsworth, Christina Oppenheimer and Paul Colleyshaw at Ticknall.
ABOVE LEFT: (l-r) Tom Carey, Baden Ramage, Sara Tillyard with Fern and Erin Carey, Angela Tillyard and Jason Tillyard.
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ONE of the founders of the Village Voice newspaper has died aged 88.
Ron Ford had a stellar career in journalism in Australia, being a shrewd and successful editor of Sydney’s The Sun newspaper.
Despite the success of his life in Australia he remained close to his roots in Weston-on-Trent and travelled back every year, for several months at a time after he had retired.
Mick Robey, another founder of the Village Voice, recalled how Ron would like to grow his runner beans while in this country!
It was on one of these visits that Ron met the other founders of the Village Voice and agreed to use his knowledge and experience to set up this newspaper.
Born Gayford Ronald Ford in June 1933, Ron was a young boy when he moved with his family to Weston-on-Trent from Lockington in Leicestershire, after his father had taken on a farm in neighbouring Aston-on-Trent with his brother.
Ron and his three brothers, John, Harold and Edmund, were educated at local schools.
Even as a pupil of Weston-on-Trent Primary School, Ron’s keen intellect was already attracting attention. He passed his 11+ and attended The Bemrose School in Derby.
“He passed every exam,” recalled brother Edmund, of Weston-on-Trent. “And he used to teach me how to spell!”
After passing his entrance exams for university, Ron elected to enter the world of work instead so joined the Derby Evening Telegraph straight after school.
Edmund remembered how in those early days he would set off for work on his motorbike, assisted by his mother, Mabel, who would help it start by pushing it down the drive.
“He used to rev off and leave her flat on the ground!” he said.
After doing his National Service with the RAF followed by a spell working at Butlin’s, in his 20s Ron, like many others, took the chance of a £10 ticket to Australia. There he emigrated together with fellow Derby Telegraph journalist Lionel Pickering – who subsequently returned to this country, set up the Trader newspaper group and later bought Derby County Football Club.
After starting out working on the trams Down Under with Lionel, Ron’s talents found him work
by Lucy Stephens
in the newspapers and took him abroad. He travelled to Rome to join the Papal party to Pakistan following a disaster in that country. His prodigious talents as a wordsmith took him to The Philippines, the Queen’s Tour of Australia, and a Beatles’ concert in Sydney in the 1960s –where, wrote Ron, all the Fab Four got out was “She was just Sev! En! Teen!” before “the shrieks took over for 30 minutes solid”.
He rose to become editor-in-chief of the Sydney Sun, a job at which he was extremely successful. As Edmund said: “He got the people to read the paper. He did it that well that everybody bought it.”
Back in the UK, Melbourne’s Mick Robey remembered how Ron’s early involvement with Village Voice saw him editing all the stories. With his extensive knowledge of layouts, he would “sketch out the layout of each individual page, designating the space allowed for each individual story and advert”.
Village Voice editor David Finn said: “It has been my privilege to have known Ron for almost 30 years. If it had not been for his journalistic skills and foresight I doubt whether this newspaper would have been the success it is.
“Together with the boundless energy of the late Andrew Jackson and David Bellis, Ron helped to create something very special. We at the Village Voice, are just so grateful to have worked alongside them. Only Mick Robey is now left of the four-man group who, in 1992, got this newspaper up and running.”
Tom Mills, news editor of the Village Voice for many years, remembered how Ron’s journalistic instincts would come to the fore when, on inspecting a story to be published in these pages, he would come up with a “new nose” – a journalistic phrase for a fresh opening angle.
Tom said: “His guidance was for the good of the paper. I liked him as a person, and as a journalist.”
Ron died in Australia in September. He leaves a wife, Barbara, and two children, Alisa and John.
His ashes to be scattered in Weston-on-Trent and Sydney.
MELBOURNE Royal British Legion (RBL) will hold an ‘open-air service’ at the Melbourne Memorial, Church Square on Remembrance Day, Sunday, November 14.
It will begin at approximately 10.55am once those on parade have arrived.
The parade will muster at the Melbourne RBL, Derby Road, at 10.20am and the route is: Derby Road, Church Street, leading to the Parish Church.
There will be a designated area specifically for the public, in order to enable the parade to enter safely into Church Square.
Any individual wishing to lay a wreath is asked to contact branch president David Worrall on 01332 863547.All wreaths ordered will be hand delivered to the relevant organisations and individuals before the event.
After the service the parade will return to the Legion via Castle Square, Potter Street and Derby Road whereupon an informal concert is given by Melbourne Town Band. Road closures will take place.
A rehearsal regarding the procedure for the open-air service will be held at 10.30am on Saturday, November 13, in Church Square.
UPDATES on Melbourne Cemetery’s chapel, finance for a new defibrillator, and the latest on the Queen’s Jubilee celebration in 2022.
These matters were all discussed at the latest meeting of Melbourne Parish Council held at The Assembly Rooms on October 5.
Cllr Terry Summerlin told the meeting that the North Chapel in the cemetery in Melbourne had been recently used very successfully to hold a funeral.
The meeting heard an update on the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations to be held in June 2022 at Melbourne Sports Park.
Acts have now begun to be booked for the occasion.
Former parish councillor Tom Gates, who has resigned, was thanked for his service on the council, especially for his help with the parish council’s website.
Regarding the public toilets, the meeting heard how police were treating the vandalism there as two incidents – one of anti-social behaviour and one of arson.
Councillors also agreed to give financial support for a new defibrillator at Kings Newton Bowls Club.
“That defibrillator, once it’s installed, could save a life tomorrow,” said Cllr David Smith.
Councillors also agreed to give a donation to Melbourne Town Band to support them in playing for the Remembrance Day parade.
l Ron Ford and (below) the four founders of the Village Voice (l-r) David Bellis, Andrew Jackson, Ron and Mick Robey.IT HAS taken years of hard work, more than half a million pounds in lottery funding plus hundreds of thousands more.
Now, the new-look St Wilfrid’s Church in Barrow-uponTrent is open again.
To mark the occasion, a special ‘thank you’ day was held in the church on September 9. Funders, supporters and members of the project team were invited to see the completed church, enjoy lunch, and be thanked for their contribution.
Guests included representatives from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, South Derbyshire District Council and Tarmac (Entrust) all of which provided funding to make the project happen.
Welcoming guests to the occasion, church warden Anne Heathcote said: “I can’t say thank you enough to everyone here.”
The project to transform St Wilfrid’s into a community cen-
by Lucy Stephenstre, as well as a place to worship, began around a decade ago.
Anne said consultation with villagers while the parish plan was being drafted revealed a deep affection for the venerable building.
She said: “A lot of people, although they didn’t want to come to the church to worship, did not want the church to close. They were desperate that the church would not be one of those churches that closed, because they loved it.”
Amid fears the ancient building might have to shut, plans were made to save it by adapting it for community use.
A few years later, a successful bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund saw St Wilfrid’s receive more than half a million pounds in funding.
That, plus other fund-raising, has paid for the transformation. The Victorian pews
have been taken out, and a new wooden floor installed. Stackable chairs mean the space can be booked out for classes, and there is also a music mixing desk and a large screen for film screenings.
During the works, an alabaster effigy of a priest, believed to be John De Belton, was uncovered from behind the organ. Dating back to 1348, it is thought to be the oldest alabaster effigy of a priest in existence and is now displayed in a glass cabinet for all to admire.
Since being re-opened to the community, St Wilfrid’s has already been used for a wedding, a meditation weekend, birthday parties and open days.
Architects Latham’s and builders HA Briddon were both thanked for their careful work on St Wilfrid’s, as were the community who kept the project going.
Anne said: “This would not
RESIDENTS in Breedon, Tonge and Wilson are being asked to give their homes an angelic lift this December.
The “Angel Trail” is being organised by Breedon church through its heritage lottery funded project.
Taking place on December 11 and 12, people are being asked to decorate their window or front lawn on any angel-related theme. The only stipulation is for the decoration to be fun and family friendly. A trail map will be produced for visitors to discover the angels.
A purpose built large paddock on the edge of Melbourne that has drive in parking, enclosed by 6ft fencing making it a safe, private and secure space that can be hired out for single dog use or multiple dogs.
If you would like to focus on training in a different environment, if your dog isn’t very sociable or just energetic then Pip’s Paddocks is the perfect place for them to enjoy and let off that built-up energy.
have happened without everyone in the community coming together.”
As for the reaction to the transformed interior, she said: “If I had a pound for every ‘wow’ that came in – that was without exception the word everybody used, including school children.”
Nigel Sherratt, from the Dioceses of Derby, who attended the thank you day, said the adaptation of St Wilfrid’s was an inspiring model.
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“It’s absolutely stunning,” he said. “Well done to Anne and her committee.
“They had some vision which is fantastic. There are so many churches that are very lightly used … particularly in smaller villages where the Post Office has gone, the pub has gone and the church is the last public (space), and if it can become a community facility so it’s available for worship and other uses, it’s a win win.”
TOP: Jim Harker, National Lottery Heritage Fund deputy chair for England, Midlands and East, talking to guests at the Thank You event.
ABOVE: Anne Heathcote welcoming guests.
(Pictures: Ian Hodgkinson/Picture It)
LEFT: an effigy, believed to be of John De Belton, dates back to circa 1348.
MELBOURNE born and bred Kirsty Fisher and her fiancé Freddie Butler, of Llandudno, Wales, jetted off to be married in Crete just in the nick of time to overcome Covid travel restrictions.
Kirsty and Freddie had been planning their wedding locally after their engagement in a Cuban fort, Castillo de la Real Fuerza, a year prior, and they had decided on a simple wedding which was due to take place on July 11, 2020. Unfortunately, due to the restrictions, they were forced to push the date back to 2021.
Impatient, the couple of nine years decided to take their chances and arranged to elope. With much arranging from the bride’s father, they were legally married in Sitia, Crete – a village which father Crawford had been visiting for over 40 years.
Without any close friends or family knowing, the parents of the bride and groom joined the couple on their adventure to witness the big day on September 25.
The couple were escorted to the top of the hill overlooking the town, through the narrow alleyways by local musicians playing Cretan music followed by the ceremony taking place within the Kazarma Fortress. They were the first couple to ever marry inside!
The after party was celebrated in the local waterside taverna Zorbas, with carafes of local wine from Toplou Monastery and Gamopilafo, which means “rice of the wedding”, a traditional wedding feast dish consisting of goat accompanied by rice cooked in the meat broth.
The couple enjoyed a mini honeymoon in Agios Nikolaos whilst getting the apostille for their
Greek wedding certificate.
After two postponements the couple were able to receive a wedding blessing at St George’s Church in Ticknall followed by a celebration party at Ticknall Village Hall with their family and friends.
A NEW display shows how a nature reserve in Astonon-Trent was once used for mining.
The display at the Friends of Aston Brickyard site on the outskirts of the village has been produced by group members, with Ken Adams and Richard Coates doing the research and sourcing materials.
The two wagons were built by volunteers from the group over the summer. They represent those which would have been used on the tramway and underground mines in the area.
While the nature reserve is known as the brickyard plantation, it was also once the site of an underground mine and opencast quarry producing gypsum.
This material was used mainly to make Plaster of Paris, whitewash and flooring.
Wagons would have been drawn by horse to take the gypsum to the Trent & Mersey Canal.
Underground mines once went as far as Chellaston but production was abandoned at the beginning of the 19th century.
A display board at the nature reserve tells visitors all about how the area was once used.
A group from Aston first came together in 2012 to turn the Derbyshire County Council owned former brickyard into a haven for wildlife.
In 2019, their efforts were rewarded when the site was formally designated as a nature reserve.
Flora and fauna now thrive there, including the White Letter Hairstreak, a rare butterfly.
LEFT: Workers at an alabaster mine in the area of Aston Brickyard.
BELOW: Aston brickyard as the nature reserve it is today, and the display showing how the area was used in the past.
AT THE age of 88 Marie Glynn has fulfilled an ambition she has held for over 20 years … by abseiling down Derby Cathedral.
Marie, who now lives in Chellaston having moved from South Street in Melbourne, has been ticking off her “bucket list” with a trip on a Harley Davison and a ride in a hot air balloon in recent years.
Asked if she had any fears going into the latest trip, she said her main concern was whether she could climb the 189 steps to the top of the cathedral tower, before climbing over the top for a 212 feet descent. She said she had been walking up and down hills in Cornwall to prepare!
She was one of a number of volunteers taking part in the adventure to raise money for Rainbows, and daughter Janine Patton decided to join her. So far she has raised £1,200 for the charity, which cares for sick children and their families.
And her next ambition? To have a ride on an electric scooter!
NINE months of painstaking work has gone into this remarkable model of Melbourne Parish Church.
Dave and Chris Astle, of Melbourne, created the model of the church and surrounding buildings to add to their previous creation: a model of central Melbourne.
The pair spent months building the church, using thin cardboard, with each brick carefully cut out and individually glued on.
The finished work creates a “Circle of Life” tableau around the church, with a christening, wed-
ding and funeral all taking place at different sides of the building.
Attention to detail even includes the church lighting up and bells ringing out of the tower!
The Astles showed their stunning creation at Melbourne Festival.
They also sold copies of Chris’s book, NHS Bears in Lockdown, to raise money for the diabetic clinic at Royal Derby Hospital.
Chris said that they had sold a further 34 copies of the book over the festival weekend. l Chris and Dave Astle with their model of the church.
ENCOURAGING starter homes and not executivestyle properties for Melbourne and Kings Newton, and no developments outside the settlement boundaries – those are some of the policies outlined in Melbourne’s Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) which has taken one step closer to adoption.
At a meeting of South Derbyshire District Council’s Environmental and Development Services Committee on September 23, councillors agreed Melbourne’s NDP should now proceed to the wider publicity stage.
Seven years in the making, the plan started after a public meeting back in 2014 to discuss housing development in the villages.
There was standing room only at that packed meeting, where strong opinions were voiced that the infrastructure, such as roads and the surgery, could not cope with the influx of more houses.
Feeling was also voiced that more development would affect the character of both Melbourne and Kings Newton. Several new developments had recently been given approval, such as the Kings Croft estate.
At the time, Neighbourhood Development Plans had just been introduced under the Localism Act to enable neighbourhoods to have a greater say in the scale and location of development in their areas.
After months of consultations and evidence gathering from residents and local groups a first draft including three main policies was drawn up.
Since then, subsequent drafts and redrafts have been going back and forth between the group and the district council before the final version was approved earlier this year by Melbourne Parish Council.
Whilst the district council has approved the plan to proceed to wider consultation and subsequent examination by a planning inspector, planning officers have some reservations, despite
rating it above a number of other similar draft plans in the area.
One concern is that the district’s Local Plan enables housing to be built outside the village settlement boundary in certain circumstances, whilst the NDP housing policy is that no new developments should take place in the fields around the villages, and that the two villages should retain an area of separation.
Another NDP policy is that proposals for development of buildings within the settlement boundaries of the two villages will be supported if they have three bedrooms or fewer, meaning that any ‘infill’ will be for new starter homes and downsizing “rather than for large ‘executive homes’.”
By making an amendment to the committee’s motion to approve the NDP, Cllr Martin Fitzpatrick added a clause that the council will include in their response to the forthcoming consultation a positive comment about the NDP and the group’s co-operation with the planning team at the council.
All those who had taken part in Melbourne’s NDP were publicly congratulated for the efforts they had put into it.
Cllr Fitzpatrick said at the meeting that particular congratulations should go to Margaret Gildea, Frank Hughes, Jane Carroll and Mair Aitkenhead.
The next step is for the district council to now publicise the neighbourhood plan for a minimum of six weeks, invite representations, notify statutory consultation bodies and send the draft neighbourhood plan to independent examination.
Local residents will then have an opportunity to vote on the plan in a referendum.
THERE was a sense of the village almost back to normal over the festival weekend, with many happy smiling faces, a bustling atmosphere with music, art and family fun dominating our lives, rather than the gloominess of previous months.
Festival director Sharon Brown said: “It was amazing to see so many happy, relaxed people in the village, and the artists were so pleased that it had gone ahead.”
While numbers of visitors were slightly down, with around 80 per cent of average revenue from trail guide sales, this exceeded organisers’ expectations which were that numbers could be reduced by half. It was estimated that about 5,000 adults and children enjoyed the scaled back trail.
Around 100 artists, creators and makers exhibited their work in the 40 venues open, with mainly the bigger halls and garden gazebos hosting the art. Children enjoyed the family fun and ‘Woodland Friends’ theme in the Vicarage Garden and the food stalls in Castle Farm and at the Senior Citizens Centre were kept busy all day.
Artists said they very much appreciated the opportunity to show their work after months of being unable to do so.
Stevie Davies, a fused glass maker from Wirksworth, and Nicki Dennett, a print maker from Derby, were showing work in the new festival gallery on Church Street, formerly
home to Melbourne Antiques.
“It’s just nice to be able to showcase your work,” said Stevie. “The organisers are lovely: Sharon and the whole team, the communication, everything about it. Everyone who comes in is always just positive. There is a general interest in creativity and the arts and supporting the arts.”
Some artists were exhibiting at the festival for the first time, whilst others were regulars who had been here for years.
One new artist to the festival was Claire Docherty, from Melbourne, who was showing handcrafted jewellery from her business, Watermeadow Lane.
Claire recently set up Watermeadow Lane after learning to make jewellery 10 years ago while based in Singapore.
She said the festival had been a great experience for her.
“It has gone really well,” she said. “It’s just been nice talking to customers for the first time. I’ve had great feedback, lots of good responses and a nice number of sales. I’m really pleased.”
THE winners of the festival children’s hedgehog trail were: Kaylee Metcalfe, eight; Paige Grice, seven; Evie Grice, five; and Ellen Bow, eight.
RIGHT: Sculptor Ross Danby shows 10 year old Heidi how to chisel.
TOP LEFT: artist Laura Donaldson.
BOTTOM
LEFT: A Cadillac Coupe de Ville attracts admirers.
BELOW: Karen Worrall with some of her glass creations.
BELOW RIGHT: The Junkyard Angels in full swing.
THIS year’s Fest the sound of lau room at the Spor Hughes. Headliner Sco express train, wi venue, the audie Scott is a top-qua just broken into t Apollo gig lined u screened on TV in
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ABOVE: Tom Burgess at the busk stop.
MELBOURNE Festival’s Emerging Artist Award was won, for the second year running, by Leanne Bailey.
A young ambitious artist who is now studying Fine Art at Leeds Becket University, Leanne’s piece approached the competition theme of “Community” in a darker, surrealistic and dystopian way. Her inspiration was from the Polish painter Beksinski, whose “Fantasy Realism” work featured surreal and often disturbing dream-like subjects.
Leanne (pictured right) said the meaning of her work (left) was “open to interpretation but the concept is about how a community can become one and how it affects our society, positively or negatively”.
Runner-up this year was Alex Aiton’s “Are you a Boy or a Girl” – a textile work, which explored the theme of the transgender community.
Alex (pictured below with the Village Voice’s Frank Hughes) said “the colour palette used combines the colours of the transgender and non-binary flags”.
Zofia Skindzier won the “People’s Choice” award, with her portrait of a nightlife scene captured during isolation, while Lania Osman’s monochrome picture “Halabja” which reflected the traumatic episodes of the Kurdish community, was commended by the judging panel.
The award has become an integral part of the festival, as it seeks to encourage and support young artists aged 18 to 25, providing them with an opportunity to exhibit work publicly and the incentive of an attractive £500 first prize to help them as they further their art practice.
It was sponsored by Amalfi White this year, and their help in supporting the award was very warmly welcomed by organisers and entrants.
tival got off to a raucous start with ughter ripping through the club rting Partnership, writesFrank
tt Bennett started his act like an th a string of ad-lib gags about the ence and (cheekily) the organiser!
ality comedian and, hopefully, has the big-time as he had a Live at the up for the following day, due to be n the near future. He deserves the
success!
Middle Act Ash Dewson is a singer and piano player who weaves songs around his love life (or lack of it) and life experiences, such as attending his ex-girlfriend’s wedding.
The audience are drawn in with empathy, a bit of pity and then humorous delight with the gaglines.
Opener Dom Woodward has a crowd-pleasing manner as you are sucked into his slightly weird world as though you have been his lifelong buddy!
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His final magic numbers trick is fascinating to watch as he fills a table in mere seconds with seemingly random numbers drawn from the crowd to add up vertically, horizontally and diagonally.
Dave Williams did a great job as compere, engaging in the nicest possible way with the audience members and keeping the evening moving at a pace.
Next festival comedy night will be on November 26 at the Sporting Partnership with headline acts John Ryan and Mike Newell.
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THIS autumn Whistlewood has had a great crop of apples in our community orchard.
Our Solicitors will guide you through the process and advise you on the best structure of a Will relating to your circumstances. Protect your Assets and your Family.
We must have over 30 varieties. Some unusual ones and others which are local varieties such as the cooker and eater which was originally found in Kings Newton growing in the guttering of the Hardinge Arms pub! Strangely though, the Lord Derby, a cooker which sounds like it should be local, actually originates from Stockport. We grow cookers and eaters but we also have a few varieties of cider apple like the Kingston Black, which is a very popular variety in the west of England.
Some of our apples go to support Darley Abbey Cider, a local project which produces cider from apples they collect from all over Derbyshire which otherwise would go to waste. We loved taking a mini apple day to Elvaston Wood fair in September, letting the festival-goers taste some of our more unusual varieties.
n Whistlewood has been successful in gaining a few grants to help us with our newest development – a community garden which will give us some space to grow annual vegetables and herbs.
For more detailed advice on how we can help you, call us now on:
DOROTHY CYNTHIA MASON
(nee Dallman)
November 28, 1929 -
August 29, 2021
CYNTHIA was born in Kings Newton, the only child of Grace and Leslie Dallman. Her education began at the primary school in Salisbury Lane and continued to the secondary school on the High Street.
Most of her early working life was at the Castle Mills factory where she was a machinist. In later life she worked at Melbourne Engineering and also
October 3, 1942June 27, 2021
BRIAN Symons, a former teacher at Melbourne Secondary School, has died at the age of 78. Mr Symons, who was a wellknown and much-respected figure during the 15 years that he lived and worked in the area, died peacefully at his South London home.
Thanks must go to the South Derbyshire Small Grants Scheme and Derby’s Dobbies Garden Centre – ‘Helping your Communities Grow’ – and the Transition ‘Bounce Forward’ grants for their support with this project. We’ll be able to share growing skills and continue our sustainability aims in growing food organically, cutting down food miles and reducing our dependence on local supermarkets.
We’ll have some large, high raised beds which will allow accessible gardening for our volunteer gardeners and help us to keep the rabbits at bay.
This time next year we should have an even bigger harvest to share and some very local ingredients to hand for popping on top of the pizzas we cook in our cob built wood fired pizza oven!
We will be looking for volunteers to help with this exciting new project so check out our Facebook page for info in the coming months.
Thinking about what veg to grow next spring is a hopeful and positive thought that will help us get through the coming cold winter months. Good luck planning your own veg plots!
– Katherine Parrish
Prescision Tools, where she worked until the age of 70.
Cynthia met her husband to
be Eric at the Empire Picture House in Melbourne and they were married at Melbourne Parish Church in 1951 –a marriage that was celebrated with their diamond wedding anniversary three months before Eric sadly passed away.
Cynthia had two children, three grandchildren and became a great grandma, which she took great delight in.
Cynthia passed away peacefully at her bungalow where she had lived for over 50 years.
The family wish to thank all those who supported her over the last few months.
one round-the-world cruise and a couple of trips on the QE2. More than 50 cruises in all.
Born in Croydon at the end of World War Two, he followed his father into the teaching profession and, after training, took up his first teaching post at Melbourne in 1966, later moving as Head of English at Chellaston Academy.
He quickly immersed himself in the life of the community, taking a special interest in the welfare of his pupils and engaging with every aspect of Melbourne life outside the school walls. Since his passing many of his former students have paid tribute to the inspirational effect he had on shaping their lives.
After the death of his younger brother he moved back to his native Croydon to be closer to his family and to teach at Edenham High School where he remained until his retirement in 2002. But he maintained strong links with Derbyshire for the rest of his life, regularly travelling up to rehearse and perform with the Melbourne Male Voice Choir and the Derby Operatic Society.
He had many passions, cruising being the first and foremost. He travelled the world by sea. He took his first cruise on board P&O’s iconic liner SS Canberra shortly after her maiden voyage in 1961 and took at least one cruise onboard every year until the ship was taken out of service in 1997. Thereafter he cruised on every one of the ships in P&O’s fleet – 10 of them. After his retirement he averaged five cruises a year including
Twenty years ago he volunteered as a steward at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre –something he took to with great enthusiasm. Over the years he completed hundreds of shifts and gave thousands of hours of his time to the Globe and the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. Following his death the Globe honoured him by adding his name and photograph to a plaque celebrating individuals who have made a significant contribution to the theatre. He was a huge fan of theatre generally and, whenever he was not working at the Globe, went to see a show in the West End three or four times a week.
He visited every theatre in London and saw every show often more than once. His favourite was “Dreamboats and Petticoats” which he saw more than 120 times.
He was also an enthusiast for rail travel and had an encyclopaedic knowledge of rail time tables and connections. This enabled him to become a proud member of the exclusive 92 club – people who have watched a football match at every one of the 92 football grounds in the English Football League. When it came to football Crystal Palace was his team. As a small boy he could see part of the ground from his bedroom window and for most of his life he was a season ticket holder at Selhurst Park.
He was a qualified badminton coach and member of Surrey County Cricket Club. He trained for and competed in several half marathons and two full marathons – including the Derby Ramathon and the Nottingham Robin Hood Marathon – and he studied for and gained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Open University.
A BOOMING property market is seeing big expansion for one Melbourne company.
Lemon and Lime Interiors, based in the Market Place, is a home staging firm: it specialises in preparing a property to attract buyers.
A property market that started to soar in 2020 has seen the business enjoy 50 per cent growth over the last year. That has meant expanding its team from eight to 12, as well as doubling the floor space of its 10,000 square foot storage space in Kings Newton.
Added to that, the company has won a slew of awards, including an international Best Bespoke Home Staging Transformation plus an Influential Businesswoman Award for founder Elaine Penhaul.
Through a staging partnership with Fine & Country, Lemon and Lime is also looking to expand its services overseas.
Elaine said that the property market was currently “very hot” for several reasons. One was pent-up demand: the market had begun to heat up in early 2020 following increased certainty over Brexit following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s election win.
Added to that has been the 2020 lockdown which brought about a widespread change in evaluation as to how people felt about their homes and lives.
Elaine said: “People have been looking at their own four walls for months. It’s a perfect storm for people wanting to move.”
Meanwhile, Melbourne itself has remained a highly desirable location for buyers and business people alike.
“Locally, there are a lot of very nice properties in very good locations,” said Elaine.
“Melbourne as a village has a prime market: it’s got residential; it’s got shops, it’s very conven-
ient.
“All the local villages around here have great outside space. Many of them have got substantial big houses.
“It’s a fantastically well connected place. We are up and down the motorways and we are connected to the A50, M6, M1 and M42.”
So how does Elaine see the property market moving in the coming months, and how does the current time compare with booms in the past?
She said: “In the late 80s and early 90s there was massive growth in the property market. I think what’s different this time is that we have all learned from the 2008 crash and lenders are still relatively cautious compared to then. I don’t think we have got the same boom and bust – I think we will begin to see a normalising. The real advantage at the moment is interest rates are still so low.”
Any advice on buyers looking to sell up in the local area?
Elaine has written a book on the topic, called “Sell High, Sell Fast – how to sell your home for the best possible price in the quickest possible time,” and has the following overall tip: “Think, ‘who is going to buy your home? What’s that family likely to be looking for?’ The more you can target to the people looking the more likely you are to sell quickly with a high offer.”
ELIGIBLE households in South Derbyshire are being urged to apply for grants of up to £10,000 to insulate their homes.
The grants are being distributed by South Derbyshire District Council as part of a Governmentbacked scheme to help people improve the energy performance of their home through loft and cavity wall insulation.
To receive a grant, successful applicants’ total household income must be below £30,000 and the property must have an Energy Performance Cer-
tificate rating of D or lower.
The work will be carried out by Trustmark-approved Westville Insulation Ltd and the homeowner will not need to make any contribution.
Applications are being accepted between now and January and grants will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
For further information and to apply visit: Apply for a Green Homes Grant or search for ‘Green Homes Grant’ on the council’s website: https://www.southderbyshire.gov.uk.
TRADERS at Melbourne Market have celebrated a year in business.
The market was started by Melbourne Assembly Rooms manager Andy Heafield and celebrated its first birthday on September 9.
Andy received a Beacon of Hope award earlier this year in recognition of the market’s particular value during Covid, as it enabled people to shop outdoors.
The market runs outside the Assembly Rooms every Thursday from 9am.
Many stallholders have gone every week since it started. Nick Sutherton, also known as ‘Nick the Fish’, has been taking his fish van weekly for the past year.
“I love it, it’s the highlight of my week!” he said. “I like the people. I like the camaraderie. It’s the
epicentre of Derbyshire for me. We’ve got a lot of customers coming here. It’s a team effort, it’s fantastic.”
“The market is superb,” said Melbourne’s Adrian Rose, who runs his coffee stall, Azorie Blue, every week.
“It’s helped people through Covid with shopping outside, but also it’s another way of people having some social time. It’s good for your wellbeing.”
Ben Pollard, who runs a fruit and veg stall there, said: “I love it. It’s one of my favourite markets: lovely, friendly people. It’s very successful.”
IT WAS a family occasion when relatives of Noel Newman gathered at Melbourne View Hotel to celebrate his 100th birthday.
As reported in the September edition of the Village Voice, Noel marked his century on September 12.
l The Lemon and Lime team in celebratory mood at Harpurs.
l Elaine Penhaul with the Influential Business Woman Award.
Flourishing lives, rooted in God, nurturing all.
Come
Wednesday 13th October 10am - 12pm
Friday 29th October 9am - 11am
Tuesday 9th November 1:30 - 3.30pm
Please call or email the school office to book a place or arrange a visit at a time that suits you.
We pride ourselves in being a school that nurtures the seeds of potential in every child, enabling them to grow and flourish into their own unique contribution to the world within a happy, caring and supportive learning environment with small class sizes, an abundance of space and before and after-school provision.
St Hardulph’s C of E Primary School, Main Street, Breedon on the Hill, DE73 8AN Email: office@st-hardulphs.leics.sch.uk Website: www.st-hardulphs.leics.sch.uk Tel: 01332 862572 Headteacher – Mrs Kelly Ellis
SEPTEMBER marked 60 years that Melbourne’s Margaret Loydall has been a church secretary … and she is not planning on giving up any time soon!
“I don’t think they are ready to get rid of me yet,” said Margaret.
And that is not the only service Margaret has given the United Reformed Church. She has also been an organist there for 65 years.
Margaret’s many years of service were marked with a Service of Worship and Praise, followed by a party in the Church Hall.
“It was a most wonderful afternoon,” she said, “Everyone was so happy and friendly – it was absolutely incredible.”
Now in her 80s, Margaret has been going to the church since she was baptised there at five weeks old.
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Formerly known as the Congregational Church, she was a regular at its Sunday school as a child, and then a teacher. In her youth she was taken by a neighbour, who is still a member of the church.
“In those days, most children went to Sunday school,” said Margaret, whose parents, Wilfred and Evelyn, were members of the congregation.
Margaret was elected to take on the role of church secretary aged 23 when the minister at the time, the Revd Fred Hurst, moved to another church in Anstey, Leicestershire.
At the United Reformed, it falls to the secretary to find people to lead worship during periods when a full-time minister is not available. The secretary, at the time, decided he could not cope with another interregnum, so that was when Margaret took over.
Over the past 60 years, she has seen nine ministers come and go. There have been 38 years when the church has had a minister and 22 years when the post has been vacant. The longest serving minister was the Revd Reg Manchester ,who was there from 1968 to 1984.
As secretary, Margaret has had a hand in all aspects of church life, including children’s and youth work, helping in the organising of fundraising and social activities, arranging day trips and even continental holidays.
“It’s evolved more and more,” she said. “In periods when we have not had a minister it has been up to me to make sure we have someone to lead Sunday worship. If you are not successful you do it yourself!”
The recent pandemic has brought some unforeseen challenges with groups in the church unable to meet during lockdown. But Margaret says she still greatly enjoys the job she has done for so many years.
She said: “I have been privileged that I have been brought up in the Christian faith, which has carried me through the difficult times in my life, and the church family has always been very supportive to me. Through the 60 years it has been a real privilege to know and work with so many wonderful people, to service in a church which has, and continues to, welcome all who wish to share in our worship and activities, and to encourage everyone to use the opportunities and talents which they are given to make God’s love known.”
l Margaret Loydall (seated) with (l-r) Cliff Crawford, Marion Dunnicliff and Janet Crawford.CAN anyone remember the music festival held in Melbourne around the 1950s?
This was a weekend event. Friday evening was in Wesley Hall, Potter Street, for elocution and drama. The school in the High Street (now the Assembly Rooms) for young people of six years and upwards, vocal and instrumental. The male voice choirs were in the Methodist Church on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday was a full day of vocal classes, piano classes – both single and duets – which continued throughout the day with a break for lunch. The afternoon commenced with vocal classes and set test pieces: operatic, Gilbert and Sullivan solos and oratorio works.
On Saturday evening all prize winners were invited to come along and perform their festival pieces and receive their reports and any trophies won.
The prizes were presented by our president, ‘Lady Florence Paget’, of Kings Newton Hall, a most gracious lady who enjoyed listening to the entrants’ performances.
As you can see we would require quite a few people to help run the event, so the next stage was to gather friends around us and offer various appointments. First we needed two people to choose the music for all the musicians requiring set test pieces. This was, of course, a three-month job, going through three or four boxes of music sent by the music publishers. Lois and Alfred Collyer took on this role; they did a sterling job and they were many times congratulated by the adjudicators for the standard of their choices.
Next, two secretaries were required to sit with the adjudicators, making sure the results forms were properly filled in with the required details.
Two people monitored the entrances and welcomed the competitors and their parents or friends. They also answered questions as quite often children were here for the first time and didn’t know what to expect. Some children needed a cushion on their chair so they could sit at the piano and some had forgotten their music (yes, it does happen!).
A treasurer is required to look after any money transactions; finally there is one free person to answer any questions.
To complete this group of helpers two accompanists were required for the whole festival. Dorothy Callow and myself held this most important position. For all the years we had many slips and slides along the way and it didn’t always go to plan but, with a little negotiation, a smile and a hug (children only) things were soon put right.
And so the festival was running for another year.
There were some tears, but many smiles as many contestants were looking forward to next year, seeing friends and, of course, making new ones.
Everyone is going home with a happiness that they have done their personal best and also the adjudicator, tired but happy, that they have had a good day too.
Best wishes to all my Melbourne friends, Noreen Travers Rykneld View Nursing Home Littleover
IT’S now barely four weeks until the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow and very possibly the last chance to obtain the international co-operation required to keep global warming to below two degrees Celsius (Most experts believe that a 1.5 degrees target is no longer achievable).
The big question is: will the recent dramatic rhetoric be matched by meaningful and urgent action?
The signs are not good, already the Australian Prime Minster has indicated he may not attend (Australia is one of the world’s largest miners of coal), and Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific advisor has said the conference will focus on science and technology.
Important as these technological aspects are it is all too easy to see these as providing ‘silver bullets’, when in reality they cannot of themselves sufficiently control global warming in the little time left to us. It is dishonest to pretend otherwise.
In order to keep global warming below two degrees and remember, this is an average figure, and because 3/4 of the globe is covered in ocean, the figure for land will be closer to seven degrees, it is necessary for us all to change the way we live, use fossil fuels and consume. Currently we are taking too much from the earth and massively polluting it and destroying its ecosystems on which we ultimately depend.
This will be difficult for us and especially for our politicians as it involves the abandonment of the doctrine of perpetual economic growth in an overcrowded world with finite resources.
In practical terms this means a lot of self discipline encouraged by responsible government so that we eat a lot less meat (currently 2/3 of agricultural land is used for animal feeds, and not directly for human food, so in actual fact we have more than enough land to feed us without destroying forests and continuing to use non sustainable destructive agricultural practices).
We also need to reduce our consumption of fish as the oceans are currently being seriously over fished, curb our consumer addictions and buy less manufactured goods that are not strictly necessary, drive less, fly less, insulate our homes adequately, ensure all new builds are carbon neutral and have solar panels and heat pumps.
‘Pie in the sky’ I can hear many people say, and sadly this it may prove to be, but if it does the future for the human race particularly in the globe south and tropics within the next couple of generations is nothing short of catastrophic. So let’s hope that we as individuals and governments around the world step up to the plate and act now before it is too late.
Christian Murray-Leslie, MelbourneON September 23, courtesy of The Friends of Melbourne Parish Church, the church was the venue for a delightful performance of classical music by Graham Oppenheimer and Friends.
For such a performance, the church was a perfect setting and ambience for such a cultured sound.
The musicians, Graham Oppenheimer on viola, Kate Stillman and Owen Cox on violin, Paul Grennan on cello and guests, Jamie Howe on viola, and mezzo soprano Grace Crocker performed classical music of the highest quality.
For the first half of the evening, with guest singer Grace Crocker we were treated to three Franz Schubert musical pieces followed by four Antonin Schubert musical pieces.
During the interval, the church was a ‘buzz’ and alive with the large audience discussing what they
had just heard.
In the second part of the evening, guest viola musician Jamie Howe joined the ensemble to listen to four more pieces of music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and, as with the first part, we were not to be disappointed.
In summing up, this was a highly enjoyable evening, being entertained by a group of highly talented musicians playing exquisite music to the delight of a very appreciative knowledgeable audience.
The Friends of Melbourne Parish Church are to be congratulated for arranging a super enjoyable evening and it is to be noted that they set up a variety of variable events during the year, to provide something for everyone’s taste, so many thanks to ‘The Friends’ for all they do.
Colin Barker, MelbourneI AM writing in response to the series of letters from anonymous readers in recent editions concerning airport night noise. I normally don’t rise to such exaggerated and inaccurate speculation but some of the ridiculous and misinformed ‘facts’ being quoted recently in print and local social media need to be challenged.
Having lived in the area all my life, I find it baffling to read complaints about an airport that has had residence here far longer than most of us.
We all have a choice whether to live near an airport or not. House prices continue to reflect the appeal to live in Melbourne. Comparable properties in many local areas outside of the flight path are available at significantly lower prices.
The airport, airlines, cargo and related industries employ many people in and around the area, and these businesses stimulate and benefit the economy.
More than ever, it is vital that our island now maintains transport links with Europe and the rest of the world.
During the recent global pandemic, one of the industries that continued to keep things running was the air transport and cargo industry. We are all likely to have benefitted from this during the last year, whether from deliveries of fresh food, internet shopping or vital medical supplies and vaccines.
To now complain that night flights have increased seems hypocritical to me.
Cargo airlines follow the same strict rules and regulations as any other operators whilst aiming to satisfy the needs of their customer. The aircraft fly through the night so the couriers can get on the road and deliver to our doors during the day, avoiding any disturbance while we are sleeping or when businesses are closed. This world-wide approach seems very sensible to me.
Reading the writers’ opinions about the operators’ disregard for our health and well-being I can only assume they have not done any research into the ‘green’ policies these businesses are adopting to reduce emissions.
Looking at the DHL website for example there is an interesting section about the order they have placed for all-electric aircraft. We can go to the correct official channels for complaint so can we draw a line under the whole topic now and give some space for others?
Personally, I’d be very happy to have my name in print for something I believe in.
James Lakin MelbourneMELBOURNE’s “fantastic community” was highlighted at an awards evening held by Derby County Community Trust.
Angie Cooke and Teresa Ayre were invited to the event at The Pedigree suite, held to recognise volunteers for making a difference during the pandemic.
The pair were nominated for the Community Champion award for their work collecting food from people in Melbourne to be delivered to the food bank organised by Derby County Community Trust.
The trust said: “On opening the food donation hub in partnership with Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance back in April 2020, we began to receive weekly donations ‘from a street in Melbourne’.
“This commitment did not falter throughout the months to come thanks to Angie and Teresa, who have spearheaded the movement in their community, setting up boxes at the end of their driveways, posting leaflets through doors and promoting their campaign.”
The winner of the award was Monika Hoffmanova, part of the New Communities Achievement Team at Firs School.
Monika made sure donations of winter coats and children’s footwear went to the right children.
A special recognition award was also presented which was shared between eight people, including Angie, Teresa and Sara Adcock, who also worked on the project.
l Angie Cooke and Teresa Ayre with the special recognition award.
Angie said she had spoken at the awards event about “how fantastic our community are, how much they are still helping us to help others”.
MELBOURNE’S Soup and Pudding Club is starting back again this month. Everybody is welcome to go for lunch and choose from home-made soup, jacket potatoes and pudding as well as coffee and tea. The club returns at Melbourne Assembly Rooms from 12-2pm on Wednesday, October 20.
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SIGNS are positive for 2021 being a good year for Autumn colour, experts at The National Trust predict. Pamela Smith, national gardens and parks specialist at the trust, said warm sunny days in September plus rainfall in some areas had helped many tree species build up additional sugars in their leaves.
The trust is expecting strong displays of autumnal colour across its Midlands properties, including Calke Abbey in Ticknall where there are some of the oldest trees in Europe, including the 1,200-year-old oak, The Old Man of Calke.
The National Trust is urging people to get outside this Autumn to raise funds for its tree planting ambitions.
The virtual challenge, Move for Trees, asks people to cover 31 miles during October. Every £5 raised will plant a sapling which, the trust says, could remove a tonne of CO2 from the air over its lifetime.
Your County and District Councillors surgery is on Saturday 6 November, at The Assembly Rooms, Melbourne They are also available on phone or email:
JIM HEWLETT (District) - 07979 976860/01332 863927
jim.hewlett@southderbyshire.gov.uk
DAVID MULLER (County) - 07415 720360/01283 384112
david.muller@derbyshire.gov.uk
MARTIN FITZPATRICK (District) - 07710 030187/01332 862323
martin.fitzpatrick@southderbyshire.gov.uk
WOOD carving, willow weaving, bushcraft, Viking re-enactment – it was all there at the Derbyshire Woodland Festival.
The popular event, back this year after last year’s was cancelled due to the virus, took place at Elvaston Castle Country Park on September 18 and 19.
A celebration of traditional and contemporary woodland crafts, the Derbyshire County Council organised event featured a wide variety of stalls, food and activities, with the Green Man himself putting in an appearance.
There was campfire cooking, fire lighting workshops, chainsaw carving, Viking activities, a performance from Smoking Apples Theatre plus a wide variety of traditional crafts such as besom making and clog carving.
One of the stall holders was the South Derbyshire Badger Group, which had badger themed gifts, a lucky dip and tombola for visitors to
enjoy.
The group does a range of work including responding to reports of injured badgers and managing a woodland on behalf of the county council.
Group chairman Richard Thornewill said the group had been going to the festival for the past few years, and this year’s was the busiest yet.
“We have never seen it busier!” he said. “Everyone was in a great mood and it was great to get out.
“It was a very good festival. We look forward to the next year. Hats off to the people who organised it because we thought it was top notch.”
Picture: National Trust, John Hammond.MELBOURNE Town Cricket Club
first team finished their 2021 season with the disappointment of relegation – despite a strong start to September as they won their first two games of the month.
At home to Etwall 1st team a devastating spell of 5-25 by youngster Sam Jenkinson destroyed the visitors’ top order and, with skipper Alex Slater mopping up the tail with 3-13, Etwall were bowled out for just 84.
In reply, a superb 51 from opener Tom Shearsby took Town to victory despite a middle order collapse as they won by four wickets with 21 overs to spare.
The firsts made it two wins on the trot a week later away to Barton. It was inform Jenkinson again in the wickets, this time taking 5-34 aided by two wickets apiece from Matt Briers and Hamayan Wahid. The home side were shot out for just 78 and 31 not out by Marc Towell took Alex Slater’s men to a six-wicket victory, this time with nearly 28 overs to spare.
A disappointing performance away to Elvaston 2nds saw the home side score a huge 294-7 off their allotted overs. In reply Town were shot out for just 91 – a defeat which confirmed the team’s relegation in their first full season in division three south.
Melbourne then entertained league champions Tutbury 1sts in their last league game of the season. Town amassed
KINGS Newton Bowls Club has held its annual internal competition finals’ afternoon.
The sunny day’s events were well attended and it was reported to have been very pleasing to see new members Scott Standing and Alan Tarpey winning trophies in their first year of bowling at the club.
Apart from the Burton and South Derbyshire floodlit leagues, all other bowling leagues in which the club takes part have finished for the year.
The club’s Saturday afternoon Burton side finished third in their competition.
a creditable 232 all out as Ash Elwell (67), Bruno Rost (35) and Alex Slater (30) all scored well but, despite two early wickets for Alex Blackhall, the champions eased home by seven wickets to complete the first team’s 2021 campaign.
The club’s second team ended up in a creditable third place, missing out on promotion by 30 points. They started September with a winning draw away to Ilkeston Rutland 3rds. Fraser Radcliffe’s side scored 271-3 batting first as opener Marc Towell led the way with 97. He was well supported by Ash Elwell (72), Sam Adcock (42) and Julian Humpidge (32 not out). Despite 4-25 from Humpidge plus 351 by Cory Jones the home side held on for a draw on 205-9.
In their final game of the season the seconds entertained Elvaston 4ths, bowling them out for 121 with Ash Elwell taking a season’s best 5-31 ably supported by leading wicket taker Ranjit Rathore, who took 4-27.
They limped to victory by just two wickets with four overs to spare.
The club’s third team had already completed their 2021 league campaign at the end of August but other results meant they finished in their highest position ever in a creditable fourth place.
With the club’s ever growing junior section contributing many new players to Tony Papas’s team, the future looks bright.
l Award winners at Kings Newton Bowls Club: Club Champion and Men’s Singles - Neil Hill; Ladies’ SinglesCynthia Bailey; Handicap Singles - Alan Tarpey; Galley Jackson Cup - Scott Standing; Mixed Doubles - Gill Hazard and Peter Balfour; Open Doubles - Cynthia Bailey and Steve Raine; Handicap Doubles - Roger Timmins and Alan Tarpey.
Most leagues did not have promotion or relegation this season due to uncertainties regarding Covid earlier in the year.
Club members are hoping to have two teams playing in most of the leagues again next year.
MELBOURNE Dynamo FC’s first team moved up to second in the table as they went through September unbeaten.
They began the month with a convincing 5-1 home win against Linby Reserves thanks to Ben Cooke, James Smith, Matt Savage, Harry Foxon and an own goal.
The first team actually moved to the top of the table a week later.
They travelled to Castle Donington, coming away with a hard fought 2-1 thanks to James Smith and Ben Cooke in what was Melbourne’s last league game of the month as they ended September with a cup game.
At home to a young Harworth Colliery Reserves in the President’s Cup, Dynamo went goal crazy, eventually winning 13-0 as James Smith, Jack Goodband and Ben Cooke all helped themselves to hat-tricks along with a brace by Jack Bodill plus strikes from Macaulley Jones and a rare Matt Jones finish to complete the rout.
Melbourne Dynamo Reserves moved up to fourth in MRA division one as they began the month with a 2-1 away win at Acorn Albion.
Rich Conway and Adam Smith got the all-important goals but a disappointing result followed a week later as Adam Dolman’s men were beaten 4-0 by Mickleover Athletic at home.
Melbourne went quickly 2-0 down away at Sherwin but came back resoundingly to record an 8-2 victory as a very rare Jack Scothern double led the way. Joe Shadbolt, Owen Morrell, Oscar Supple, Harry Foxon, Charlie Tovell and Ryan McLaughlin all got themselves on the scoresheet. The Reserves finished the month with a 6-3 away win against Hilton Harriers Reserves. Melbourne twice came from behind to eventually run out 6-3 winners as all the Dynamo goalscorers were 18 years of age or under as Charlie Tovell scored four along with finishes from Jacob Dusroth and Alex Walsh to cap a fine team performance.
AFTER two football seasons when Melbourne Dynamo’s activities have been significantly impacted as a result of the pandemic, a review of the management structure and volunteer requirements for the future running of the club and teams is proposed. Despite restrictions associated with Covid, the club continued to grow over the past two seasons, and now that restrictions are lifted and the season commenced, members hope to enjoy a full campaign of uninterrupted football.
However, ensuring the club remained solvent and compliant with government and FA requirements brought significant challenges to the committee and team management. Additional volunteers are now urgently required to ensure the future smooth running of the club and help reduce the reliance on existing volunteers.
Having guided the club through this difficult period a number of committee members including chairperson, welfare officer and operations representative are looking to relinquish their existing position and hand over the opportunity for new volunteers to take the club forward.
A meeting with club representatives and parents was arranged for Monday, October 11, at the Melbourne Sporting Partnership where an overview of the club’s current status is being provided along with details of volunteer support roles covering committee and individual teams’ needs.
If you enjoy football and wish to support the community and local youths in the running of the club then please contact the existing chairman or a member of the committee team. Contact details can be found via www: melbournedynamo.co.uk.
MELBOURNE Rugby Club has made a strong start to the season with five senior teams being fielded on a regular basis and all winning their respective Saturday games.
Saturday, October 2, saw the club’s 1st XV, A XV and social side all emerge victorious, while two Academy games also saw wins for the green and golds, who have started their league campaigns in excellent form.
The first team squad have had two comprehensive victories over Coalville and Ilkeston on the first two Saturdays of their league campaign. Last weekend’s final score line of 5010 to the home side was all the more impressive given that Melbourne were reduced to 13 men in the first half.
The A XV’s friendly away to Melton Mowbray seconds saw Melbourne win 29-5, with tries for Ballington, Beech and Lucas and two conversions for Hamilton.
Melbourne’s social team also came out on top on the same super Saturday with a final score of 29-7 in their league game away to Belper as the final whistle blew. There were tries from Dudley, Foster, Bilson and Wilson, with Foster also contributing three conversions and a penalty.
The club’s Academy also performed well on the same day. Playing at home, they beat Burton 19-8 in a league game, while a friendly away at Long Eaton also saw the Academy players win 33-12 in wet conditions against a Long Eaton and Derby combined side.
The previous month, on September 25, the second team lost 33-19 to the Paviours second side in a friendly away game.
The Academy, meanwhile, smashed Dronfield with a final score line of 36-0, with tries from Lucas, Pearch, Tiwana and Bates, plus three conversions by Bates.
At the time of writing, Melbourne Rugby Club is sitting at the top of the Midlands 2 East (North) League with 10 points from the two five-point victories over local rivals Coalville and Ilkeston.
On Saturday, October 9, the first team were due to play against Lincoln in their next league game, while the second team were also expecting to meet the Lincoln seconds in a friendly.
Melbourne Seniors train every Tuesday and Thursday from 7pm at the Cockshut Lane pitches.
Melbourne is a local family friendly club that welcomes all players of all abilities and experience. The club says: “Why not come along and give it a try?”
ABOVE: Melbourne player Tom Warren runs with the ball, and (below) Melbourne’s Sam Smith is tackled and lays off the ball to the left.
Photos: Marshall Payne.