Melbourne Village Voice April 2018

VOLUNTEERS MAY RUN THE LIBRARY

By FRANK HUGHES

MELBOURNE may have to prepare to run and manage its own library.

Plans by Derbyshire County Council (DCC) have flagged Melbourne as one of 20 libraries which may not be staffed by them in the future and may be handed over for community management

The Public Service Library Strategy was approved at a council cabinet meeting and a period of 12 weeks’ public consultation will start on May 7 with implementation set for 2019 DCC has already agreed a £1 6million budget cut for the library service and this scheme aims to save £500k by transferring 20 libraries into community ownership

Staff cost reductions of £360k, reduced opening times in other static libraries, reducing the materials fund and transferring the mobile library to a community service will recoup the remaining deficit

n THE Easter bunny put in an appearance in Melbourne –despite the miserable weather.

Temperatures have hardly been spring-like over the past few weeks but the bunny nevertheless turned out to Melbourne Hall shops on Easter Saturday.

Young visitors were tasked with finding various objects around the shops to help the bunny go on holiday, and were given Easter eggs as a prize.

The event is an annual Easter celebration organised by the shops to give something back to customers, this being its third year.

Money raised in donations will go to the residents at Pool Cottage

Melbourne Library is ranked 33rd out of the county’s 45 locations in terms of usage and need.

It costs the county council £23,215 a year to run.

immune from the challenges we’re facing We don’t intend closing any libraries and are confident our new draft plan reflects our commitment to the service and will secure its future ”

Melbourne Library is ranked 33rd out of the county’s 45 locations in terms of usage and need, placing it into the lowest tier for future provision It currently costs the council £23,215 a year to run, according to the strategy paper

The stated aim behind the strategy is to keep all libraries open County Council Leader Councillor Barry Lewis said: “Like every council, we’re facing significant pressures on our budget and must look to do things differently, which is why we’re working to be an enterprising council, making bold decisions and big changes

“We acknowledge the value and importance of our library service, but this does not make it

Councillor Linda Chilton said: “Libraries are still important community hubs which is why we will not be closing any Derbyshire saw a reduction of 33% of books issued between 2012/13 and 2016/17; this is in line with a national trend

“If the council fails to implement a new strategy, this decline in usage could mean it has to look at other options which it hopes to avoid

“Melbourne is one of those tiered and some of those tiered may see reduced hours – just an odd hour here and there I shall be keeping a very close eye on our situation but would urge residents to utilise the library as much as possible and not just for borrowing books

“There is much information to be had from libraries, not to mention the social impact on those living alone ”

Animal farm has to shut – Page 5

Hitting Sport Relief target – Page 12

Dynamo lift the cup – Page 24

We plough the fields – Page 6

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A PACKED congregation at Melbourne Parish Church turned out to pay their final respects to Village Voice founder David Bellis on March 26, followed by a get-together at Melbourne Hall Tea Rooms.

In a tribute given by David’s friend, Alderman John Harrison, the assembled company heard of his love of the cut and thrust of debate, being a lover of its “inherent adversarial nature” – but which never led to a falling out

A rousing singing of three hymns was further interspersed with a reading by William Kerr of the famous Matthew Arnold poem Dover Beach, followed by a period of time to remember David while listening to Mifanwy, sung by the Treorchy Male Voice Choir from his beloved Wales

Here is part of John Harrison’s tribute to David: “The theme of this tribute to my dear friend David is a quote from Margaret Heffernan, a businesswoman and Cambridge academic who said ‘For good ideas and true innovation, you need human interaction, conflict, argument and debate’

“His many friends gathered here today will readily recognise that David had honed each of the words in that quotation into an art form

“He was never more in his pomp than when enjoying a good argument The subject matter was irrelevant The buzz for him was the sheer joy of the inherent adversarial nature of the dialogue, characteristically punctuated by the occasional outburst of passion, but never a falling out, just a mutual respect for each other ’s points of view

“The only hate I ever heard him express was for vegetables, which Anne, a superb cook, insisted he must eat regularly for his own good; I gained the impression that he was never totally convinced of that or even at all One thing is for sure, that without Anne’s TLC none of us would have enjoyed his company for as long as we did

“David had an insatiable mind that rigorously questioned everything around him and beyond, his curiosity was boundless, always enthusiastic and unrelenting, whether he was applying his high intellect to the vagaries of politics, current affairs, the NHS, education, or the traffic issues in and around Melbourne

“As a keen Remainer, he will be bitterly disappointed to miss out on the eventual outcome of the ongoing Brexit negotiations and to put in his four pennyworth in the meantime

“All of these vital and other issues of the moment were given an in depth airing when the socalled Brains Trust was in conclave in the chapel of rest, at the Swan, on most Sunday evenings

“David was a man of integrity, well read, cultured, who possessed a strong sense of duty He had a thirst for knowledge as well as for a pint or two of bitter He also loved a glass of good red wine

“He was a reliable champion

for those around him

He loved words, whether written or spoken, as evidenced by all of us, who for over two decades avidly pored over each month the pages of the Village Voice, surely his most fitting perpetual legacy to Melbourne and surrounding villages

“His editorial stamp and leadership did much to fine tune the inherit esprit de corps within the local community His reports, and in particular his obituaries, were always of a high journalistic standard

“The paper also made a meaningful contribution to the public awareness and interest in village life by reporting on the wide variety of local organisations

“David, a most welcome Welsh import into our midst, was himself a keen sportsman who naturally loved rugby

“He also played cricket in his younger days and retained an active interest by watching Derbyshire County Cricket Club, England Test matches, including an adventure with Anne, Stephanie and myself to the

Tributes to Village Voice founder A TRUE NEWSPAPER MAN

APART from his family, David Bellis had two great loves – Melbourne and newspapers

The idea for a new try for a newspaper for Melbourne came in 1992 from a meeting between David – a business executive and secretary of several local clubs – and Melbourne parish councillors Andrew Jackson and Mick Robey

After that meeting, Andrew Jackson by chance met Ron Ford, back home at Weston after years in newspaper editing and management in Sydney Ron joined the team and planning for Village Voice got underway with David as chairman David’s first wife, Barbara, was brought on board to look after the advertising Ron Ford said: “He will always be remembered for his tireless efforts – for his paper and for Melbourne

“Writing came naturally to David He was fast, accurate and comprehensive with his news reporting and he injected a special warmth of words in his contributions about people Most important, for a newspaper man, he was always on

Melbourne and Sydney Ashes

Tests in 2006/7 – the first whitewash of an England XI since 1920/1

“David was a gregarious man who fitted comfortably into the Melbourne Rotary and Probus Clubs where his natural charm, wit and bonhomie was well received

He characteristically played full and active roles in both

“We are assembled here today in sorrow and grief over his death but also to rejoice and celebrate David’s very full and active life and to recall the happiness and fun that went with him, wherever he went

“It is also an opportunity for us individually and collectively to express our sad goodbyes to a man of considerable presence, gravitas and public standing, who it was a real privilege to know

“But let us take comfort in the knowledge that David Bellis’s legacy, together with our treasured memories of his character and unique personality, will never be forgotten ”

time with his articles ”

David Finn, who is responsible for the editorial and layout of the Village Voice, said: “I worked alongside David for more than 25 years and enjoyed every minute of our time together

“Not from a journalistic background, he soon grasped what local newspapers are about He had his own inimitable style of writing and was a key factor in helping to make Village Voice so successful ”

He was a regular at the parish council meetings, informing readers of the latest plans and decisions

By the time David had retired from his official association with Village Voice he had seen it firmly established as a unique publication in the rapidly diminishing world of print media

“The Village Voice would not be where it is today without him,” added David Finn

“And Melbourne is a poorer place now he is not here to promote it and sing its praises ” n Obituary – Page 18.

£6m in the county kitty to battle potholes

HIGHWAYS teams battling to repair Derbyshire’s potholes now have £6million to tackle them, after the Government stepped in with an extra £2million for the county, specifically for the problem

In December last year there were 120 potholes across the county but this has increased to more than 3,000 following recent dreadful weather

The problem is caused by continual freezing and thawing, prolonged rainfall and heavy snow which leads to roads cracking

The county has been hit with its worst weather for 10 years and it has led to huge headaches for motorists caused by potholes

In response the local authority has mobilised extra roadworker gangs and new equipment including “hotboxes” which keep Tarmac warm and make it easier to transport, plus Jetpatchers for use on rural roads

Potholes can be reported at www derbyshire gov uk/reportit

Once reported, potholes – which in line with national guidance must be at least 40mm deep on the road or 20mm on a footpath to qualify – are prioritised for repair depending on the risk they pose to road and footpath users

Dawn walking to put the boot into cancer

IF YOU see a flash of pink walking through the fields around Melbourne this year – it may well be Dawn Aston.

Dawn is being treated for cancer and has vowed to fight the disease by walking 2,018 miles between now and December 31 wearing a specially designed fund-raising T-shirt

The Melbourne mum was diagnosed with breast cancer last December, but is refusing to take things lying down

Now a group of her close friends, including son Luke, are preparing to fight the disease by organising events to help pay for more vital research

“I can either lie down and die or I can get up and fight,” said Dawn, who works as cabin crew for British Airways and has lived in Melbourne for the past 13 years

“The bravery, the courage I have witnessed from other people when I go for a treatment is almost humbling – it’s such a wake-up call That’s what is inspiring me There are so many people worse off than me,” she said Dawn will complete her 2,018 miles walking over the course of the year in aid of both Breast Cancer Now and Prostate Cancer Research Centre, saying that she wants to see the money she raises benefit both men and women, along with raising awareness of self-checking

“I didn’t want this to be all about Dawn,” she said

“We have all got sons or fathers or brothers, mothers and daughters ”

Dawn’s walking began in earnest in February; in order to complete the 2,018 miles over the year she needs to average

W h anks...

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Special thanks go to J. P. Springthorpe & Co., Marcus for the lovely service, Ladies Own at the U.R.C., Anne Thomson (Standard Bearer), Brendan O'Neill for playing the Last Post, Yvonne Young of Melbourne Royal British Legion, and all the brilliant staff at St. Werburghs Care Home, Spondon, you were all amazing. A huge thank you too for the donations to the Alzheimer's Society, total raised was £295.70. Jean, Jayne, Anne, Colin, Ian and families.

J. P.

168 miles a month and has already done 500

With her pink T-shirt produced by Victoria from local company Pennline, she hopes to raise awareness and funds and would welcome anyone who would like to join her along the way – “a bit of a Forrest Gump situation!” as she put it

Sometimes accompanied by golden retrievers Millie (grandma), Bella (mum) and Alba (the baby), she has been out walking daily despite regular cancer treatment, and her miles still to be completed this year will include taking part in the Race for Life in Rome in May and in Markeaton Park in

July Here she will be joined by her mum, Jennie Earlier this year she walked to Ashby-de-laZouch and back

For Dawn, it’s all about finding a cure for cancer, which is why she has selected researchbased charities, plus the MyDonate fund-raising platform as it takes no commission

“I want our daughters, our mothers and fathers to be able to take a tablet and it’s prevented,” she said

“You can’t put enough money into that research If it saves one life then it’s all worthwhile There’s so much research going on, it’s about time they found a cure ”

Meanwhile, Dawn is having regular meetings with her “warriors”, friends and family who have united together in fighting back against cancer

“When your family and friends love you, they just want to help you somehow and this is their way of contributing when you don’t know what to do to make something right,” she said

“This has united us It really makes you appreciate what you have got, the strength of friendship ”

If you would like to donate, you can do so here: https://mydonate bt com/fundraisers/dawnaston – Lucy Stephens

VILLAGE WATER SPILL INVESTIGATED

ENVIRONMENTAL health officers have been investigating a water spill at Stanton-by-Bridge which they have found has come from an old set of pipes

Melbourne Parish Council’s latest meeting on April 3 heard from South Derbyshire District Councillor Jim Hewlett, who provided the update He said there had been a problem in the village with water running up from the ground and over the roads.

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Environmental health officers had been out and “they found it was coming from a very old, disused” part of the water supply which used to serve the village before it was joined up to the main water system

The disused pipes had started to rot away but environmental health confirmed the leaking water was not being used by humans, which might have been a more serious problem.

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l A flood at Stanton Gutter that led to a large pothole which has since been repaired by the council

l Wendie Simnett, Donna Tuxford, Dawn Aston, Jane Rushton and Sammy Gilmour

Animal farm has to shut – because it’s too popular

MELBOURNE’S animal farm has been shut down by the council after only seven months of trading because it had too many visitors

But the owners are aiming to come back bigger and better than ever with ambitious plans to move to a much larger field with room for 40 cars

The Village Voice caught up with Carla Shaw, owner of the farm up on The Common between Melbourne and Ticknall

The farm, which has animals for children and adults to feed – including alpacas, rare breed miniature Southdown sheep and Lavender Pekin chickens – was served with a temporary stop notice by Derbyshire County Council in March

That was because it had been swamped with so many visitors over the February half-term that there was simply no room for everyone to park, which meant cars were being left dangerously on the grass verges on either side of the busy 60mph road

Carla said: “We ran a Peppa Pig event in half-term because we had got a new pig We advertised it on Facebook and we couldn’t believe how busy it actually was People came from all over, not just locally, but from the other side of Burton, Stafford and Chesterfield ”

The farm has room for around only 10 cars and, despite Carla and her husband Phil’s attempts to try to control matters by putting out cones, they were unable to stop cars parking on the road outside the farm A few weeks later, Derbyshire County Council served them with a temporary stop notice

“It’s disappointing, but I totally understand where they’re coming from after what we saw on that half-term week,” said Carla (pictured with alpacas Reggie and Rowley)

“Yes, it was great from a business point of view, but we have got to think about safety of children and the general public and, in that respect, I’m glad this has happened, to prevent anything bad happening on that road ”

The incident has now spurred Carla and her husband to work on ambitious new plans to move the whole animal farm over the road to a 10-acre field they own just next door to Whistlewood Common

The farm already takes on volunteers with different types of disabilities, and they hope to work with the council to expand this side of things by operating part of the farm as a Community Interest Company

Other ideas could include tractor rides and a vegetable and herb garden with a polytunnel –and, of course, much more car parking

“As far as we’re concerned, this is not the end, it’s just the beginning,” said animallover Carla, who also runs her own training business teaching health and safety

“We have had huge support, not just from Melbourne but from other people, and we have been listening to what people have been saying “I’m very excited, I can’t wait! Nothing’s guaranteed, I just really, really hope they will pass it

“We want people to get excited about it It’s not just for Melbourne, it’s about bringing business to the area, and jobs to the area as well We are going to be looking for people to come and work with us ”

The Shaws are currently gathering information to put together a planning application, which they hope to do in the summer

– Lucy Stephens

Calke Abbey pay kiosk plan to help traffic

PROPOSALS to put a new pay kiosk in Calke Abbey should help alleviate queuing traffic through Ticknall, a report submitted to planners says

The National Trust wants to knock down the existing pay kiosk, which is immediately after the Grade 2 listed Middle Lodge as drivers enter the estate, and put a new one further down the hill at Raggs Close

A design and access statement from Nottingham-based Allan Joyce Architects says:

“The existing entry point does not cope with visitor numbers during peak season periods and this has an impact on the heritage assets and neighbouring village of Ticknall, with vehicles queuing down the entrance driveway and into the village

An alternative layout is pro-

posed to alleviate this issue ”

The idea behind putting a new kiosk further down the hill is to enable “visitors additional time to filter into the relevant section of driveway and gain access in the estate”

If allowed, the new kiosk would be designed to accommodate two staff members – one on either side – with a new surfaced section of driveway allowing drivers to pay at both windows

The statement goes on to say:

“A new grass reinforced surfaced lane is proposed to the eastern side of the driveway to alleviate pressure at high season/peak times This will enable National Trust members to move freely into the estate and therefore have a significant reduction on queues ”

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The impact of traffic in Ticknall brought about by the popularity of Calke Abbey has been well documented

The matter was raised by South Derbyshire District Council’s Planning Committee in 2016, when councillors were discussing Calke’s then proposal to add a cycle trail around the grounds in order to help dissipate numbers away from the main house

Calke’s plans were aimed at preparing the estate for a forecast 100,000 extra visitors a year over the next decade, but councillors also heard how Ticknall was being “smothered” with extra cars

The application for the new kiosk is currently with district council planners with a target decision date set for May

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OUT LIKE A LAMB?

THERE’S an old saying that tells us that when March comes in like a lion it goes out like a lamb

But March 2018 has roared from start to finish and now in the early part of April it’s still roaring away Record cold and wet weather with some bursts of snow thrown in for good measure has made farming a very challenging occupation Worst hit have been those who are lambing a lot of sheep

Routine nowadays is to bring the ewes in to lamb, so they can be monitored in those stages; as soon as the ewes and lambs have bonded they are turned back out to some spring grass and fresh air.

This year the air has been a little too fresh and wet and the spring grass hasn’t appeared at all. Unfortunately, the animals have to go outdoors as accommodation is limited, and this year we have the double whammy of having to feed them out in the fields every day.

With the land so wet it’s been very difficult and messy to take that feed to them, but it’s had to be done.

On the crop growing side, things have also been badly affected Dressings of nitrogen to feed the crops which have come through the winter have been tough to get on in between the storms and when ground conditions are dry enough.

Nowadays a lot more crops are seeded in the spring for various reasons and I couldn’t tell you of any that have yet been planted. Every day’s delay now will mean the viability and yield will have been very seriously affected, and the backlog of work to be done when it does improve is truly daunting

You may suggest that this situation is another episode of farmers always moaning but believe me Spring 2018 is one which gives good reason I just hope that by the time you read this it’s changed.

What of the wildlife at this time?

I’ve noticed that birds visiting the farm are more numerous and tame which means they are hungry. This is a very good time to help them and keep the feed in your gardens as natural sources are very low.

Great Railway Tours with

l FIELDS at Swarkestone were filled with tractors as the Kegworth Vintage Agricultural Club held a ploughing match on March 25 Drivers were judged on various criteria including ploughing firm, well-packed furrows with no holes, with neat, accurate and regular ins and outs

A NEW weekly Thursday street market is to be trialled in Melbourne in May, after a proposal put forward at the most recent parish council meeting

At their meeting in The Assembly Rooms on April 3, parish councillors were addressed by Mike Roylance, economic development manager for South Derbyshire District Council, and Simon Wardle of Swadlincote market, as to the possibility of giving Melbourne its own regular market day

The meeting heard how there was an interest from Swadlincote street market, with its 27 traders – some of whom are from Melbourne – in the possibility of extending into the village one day a week

Councillors heard how the market had done much to boost economic vitality in the town with footfall considerably higher on market days, bringing a positive impact on existing shops

A planning application to the district council is now underway to establish a weekly street market in Melbourne on Thursdays

Under planning regulations, markets can be held for ten days in the year without planning

REDUCTION

IN BUS

SERVICE

BUS passengers in Melbourne and Barrow-onTrent are being hit with a reduced service, with the operator blaming lack of demand

Operator Arriva has said its Number 2 service, which runs between Melbourne and Swadlincote, will be reverting to hourly rather than halfhourly – and Barrow-on-Trent will now only be served by Arriva buses supported by the county council

A notice on the company’s website says the changes “reflect changing customer demand”

It says: “Service 2 will continue to operate every hour between Derby and Swadlincote with timetable changes to some journeys

“We’re reverting to the previous hourly frequency between Derby and Melbourne as, sadly, there isn’t sufficient demand to maintain a halfhourly service

“We will no longer serve Barrow-on-Trent other than on journeys supported by Derbyshire County Council ”

The news comes two and a half years after Arriva announced it was boosting its MelbourneDerby service

The current Number 2 service replaced the 61 bus which ran hourly between Melbourne and Derby between 10am and 4pm n Are you affected by the decreased bus service? Do let us hear about it by writing to letters@melbournevillagevoice co uk

permission, so the proposal is to hold a market on Thursdays while the process is underway

It is hoped this will allow time to see if it does bring more footfall into Melbourne and to assess any problems

The market is scheduled to start in mid-May with traders setting up at 6am, starting trading at 8am and finishing no later than 4pm – with the expectation they will clear their own rubbish and keep the area tidy

Local businesses are to be offered the opportunity to have a stall, initially free but then paying the going rate so they can be involved in the market as well as having a shop

Traders are being allowed to park their vans up at Melbourne Sports Park

At the parish council meeting, several members said they would like to see market traders selling goods not currently available in Melbourne, rather than directly competing with existing shopkeepers paying business rates by selling the same things

Anyone with queries or concerns can contact Simon Wardle at simonwardle@gmail com

– Lucy Stephens

WHAT A YEAR FOR THE U3A

IN JUST under 12 months the local U3A (University of the Third Age) group in Melbourne has built up a membership of 135, has 12 activity groups meeting regularly and is looking forward to its first Annual General Meeting

Marjorie Tunnicliffe, who is chair of the committee, said: “It has been really successful It’s great to see so many people joining and getting involved in the groups ”

Now there are weekly sessions in Italian, German, photography and bridge, fortnightly groups doing family history and medieval history, knit and chat, monthly walking groups, a book group, an art appreciation group, and French country dancing

The idea of the U3A is for those of the ‘third age’ to have opportunities to be involved in lifelong learning through self-help and there are now well over 1,000 groups set up across the country Whilst there is no specific age criteria it is primarily for those who are retired or semi-retired

“As well as the groups, we have a monthly meeting on the first Thursday every month, with an activity or a talk included At one recent meeting Emma Thompson from the National Trust at Calke was the guest speaker ”

Marjorie added: “I am looking forward to us setting up even more groups, and the hope is that people will come forward with even more ideas ”

THE weather outside may have been frightful, but was perfect for doing a spot of knitting!

That’s the message from Melbourne Festival, which has launched its PopUp Poppies event as part of the commemorations of the end of the First World War.

The festival team says: “Melbourne Festival’s PopUp Poppies got off to a great start with a launch event attended by over 30 knitters.

“Over the next few months knitters are invited to come to Knit & Natter sessions at St Michael’s House (behind Melbourne Parish Church) on the first Thursday afternoon of the month; Melbourne Library on the second Friday morning of the month;

Busy knitting poppies Street market a possibility

and at the Senior Citizens Centre on the third Tuesday morning each month to knit or pick up patterns and wool ”

A big thank you is due to all the people who have taken up their needles and already knitted over 637 poppies by Easter

With a target of 4,680 poppies to represent all of the Grenadier Guards killed in WW1, there is still a long way to go but if anyone would like to help this is definitely a project where “the more the merrier” applies so please contact Viv Toon on 07765 829428 if you would like to get involved.

Pictured are Barbara Robey, Jane Orgill, Ann Harrison, Viv Toon, Viv’s mum Shirley Gadsby, Cheryl Hampstead and Brenda Bancroft.

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Play swing vandalised

NEW play equipment installed by Melbourne Parish Council after it won lottery funding has suffered vandalism, after being up and running for less than two months

The council won a £10,000 Awards for All grant which was used to pay for a new basket swing in Lothian Gardens playground, replacing the old trim trail in that area

The money also paid for the playground’s hopscotch area to be re-painted

Parish council clerk Jacqui Storer reported to the latest meeting at the Assembly Rooms on April 3 that the new basket swing had already been targeted by vandals, who had managed to pull the guards off the bolts

The incidents had occurred over the course of two evenings in March

Witness plea over burglary

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a burglary in Elvaston

Between 6 20pm and 9 45pm on Friday, March 9, a home in Woods Meadow was broken into and a gold eagle necklace, Thomas Sabo charm bracelet, Michael Kors smart watch, silver Michael Kors watch and a gold ring with blue stones were stolen Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call Derbyshire Constabulary’s dedicated burglary unit, Operation Vigilance, on 101, quoting reference 18000110014

Market gardening memories

MELBOURNE’S market gardeners are hardy folk and more than 300 visitors turned out in the snow to visit Melbourne Festival’s “For the Love of Lettuce” Exhibition at the Senior Citizens Centre

The exhibition, celebrating Melbourne’s market gardening heritage and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, included a collection of memories, anecdotes and hundreds of photographs

The exhibition also marked the end of a fascinating year during which photographer Christopher Mear was a fly on the wall in Heaths, Jacksons and Sharps market gardens His stunning photographs were contrasted with the hundreds of old photos on show

There was also a packed room for seven showings of the film “A Year at O J Hattons” by Roger Hatton in 1966 and narrated by Barry Nadin, who

loaned the film for the exhibition The film brought back lots of happy memories for the audience as they spotted familiar faces

During the weekend several people came forward offering to share photographs and be interviewed so the project will continue

If anyone would still like to support the project, contact Sharon Brown on 07765 819428

For anyone who was snowed in and missed the exhibition it will be in the restaurant at Swarkestone Nursery from April 9-23, a very appropriate venue as the land was once part of Samuel Jackson Growers market garden, Melbourne’s biggest

Although the Jackson family have now moved from vegetables to flowers their nursery still has a very healthy stock of vegetable plants for local gardeners to grow their own

‘One-way system intended to help the parking options’

PROPOSALS for a one-way system and double yellow lines in Melbourne are intended to facilitate parking options – not diminish them, a public meeting heard.

County council leaders responsible for coming up with possible solutions to Melbourne’s traffic and parking problems have responded to extensive coverage in last month’s Village Voice

Our March edition carried articles in response to Derbyshire County Council’s (DCC) proposal as to how traffic issues could be alleviated in the village

Their suggestion for a one-way system plus double yellow lines in much of the village centre was included in our February edition

As well as coverage in our main paper, we also received nine letters on the topic which we published; these illustrated the range of diverse opinions as to what people living in Melbourne think should be done about the problem of vehicles, parking and helping

boost trade

Now the county council’s highways team has looked at the Village Voice and responded to local comments –as reported by county councillor Linda Chilton at the latest meeting of Melbourne Parish Council

Responding to one idea raised by a parish councillor that perhaps a parking levy could be introduced in the main car park – which would be a district council matter rather than a county one – the county council said this could result in an increase in all-day or longerterm parking on the street as drivers tried to avoid the charges

“The front page of the Village Voice talks about the need to assist the operational aspects of the local businesses in parking turnover and the prevention of allday commuter parking,” the meeting heard

“This is one of the reasons why DCC initially came up with the preliminary proposal idea

“However, this is in direct conflict with those who

don’t want parking restrictions and made the comments to Richard Handbury, the highways officer, of ‘where can the residents park when they come and go about their business if it is changed from the current arrangements’?”

Officers also felt that some comments made in another of our stories were “not quite accurate”, saying they were looking at increasing the amount of on-road parking spaces not reducing them

They also pointed to the diverse opinions expressed by readers on our letters page and the possibility of providing a greater degree of waiting options to suit different businesses – for example, two hours limited waiting for a hair salon, while a newsagent may prefer half an hour

A public meeting is planned this year to which everyone will be invited to go along and give their views to county and district officers – Lucy Stephens

l Photographer Christopher Mear alongside his work at the For the Love of Lettuce exhibition.

Podiatry service under threat

ELDERLY patients using podiatry services at Melbourne Health Care Centre may face longer journeys under proposals to move the clinic elsewhere.

Podiatry is currently provided in Melbourne one and a half days a week – all day Monday and on Wednesday mornings

But now patients using the service in Melbourne have been contacted by letter asking for their views on a proposal to move podiatry outpatients out of the village and access it instead at one of four other clinics: in Derby’s Coleman Street or Browning Street medical centres; Swadlincote or Sinfin

Elderly residents of Swarkestone have voiced their concerns about the suggested move, saying it would be very difficult for them to get to any of the other proposed centres with Melbourne being by far the most convenient – especially as they already go to the village’s health centre for other medical treatments such as blood pressure checks

They say they really value having a podiatry service in Melbourne, it being harder when older to perform such tasks as cutting toenails by yourself – especially when other health problems start to set in such as COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) making breathing a problem

Melbourne is easily accessible by bus from Swarkestone whereas the other four options on the table are all either a much longer bus ride away, would involve a walk at the other end

tricky for people who are less mobile – or are not accessible at all via public transport

The residents spoken to by the Village Voice are still driving but would rely on the bus service if they were to stop getting behind the wheel – also

DOCTOR BLACK’S PEAK PRACTICE

DR IAIN BLACK, who retired from General Practice in Melbourne in 2014, has some unfinished business with mountains He has decided to take on one of the highest in the world and to fundraise for charity at the same time

He has a life-long love of mountains and when he retired set himself the goal of walking all the Munros in Scotland – which was a tall order as there are well over 200 of them Unfortunately, some health issues over the last three years interfered with that plan, and having had a knee replacement operation last year, he decided to set himself a challenge walk

“This is a way to see if I can cope with challenging walks, and to give something back to those who have helped me resume my ambitions,” he said

“Treetops Hospice are well placed to cover the Nottingham and Derby communities that I spent my life in medicine working with ”

The walk itself, the Annapurna circuit, is about three weeks in duration starting from Pokhara in the foothills of Nepal up to the Thorong La pass, some 26,000 feet above sea level

“It’s a classic trek,” he said, “and a great place to clamber about for a bit It is 131 miles of walking – mostly uphill!”

Coping with altitude sickness and the weather will be the biggest challenge “but the secret to dealing with altitude is acclimatisation, and to go downhill once you start to feel unwell; this walk rises steadily at about 500 metres at a time

“I have also got myself a better jacket,” he said, “as I expect it will be cold and windy

“The family are all for it and my wife Hilary will be pleased that I will be out of the house for a bit ”

a fact of life the older you get

Pat Mason, 76, of Swarkestone, said: “I would like the service to stay in Melbourne – or I could get to Chellaston (not one of the options)

“I couldn’t afford a taxi Melbourne is more convenient and it’s the surgery where I go to the doctors anyway

“I know it’s difficult for the NHS and they can’t do everything – funds are getting more tough But it’s a good service, especially when you’re older and diabetic and you need treatment on your feet I would be quite happy to pay an amount towards it if that helped to keep it where it is ”

The letter to patients said the advantages to moving podiatry from Melbourne was that the other places offering the service had “up to date purpose built clinical facilities” with greater and more flexible opening times, plus disabled access close to the car parks

Danny Connor, general manager for podiatry services at Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’ve been in touch with patients who receive podiatry services from us in Melbourne to invite feedback about what people think of the service and one of the things we are looking at is whether it could be better provided elsewhere No decision has been made about any changes and we’re looking at all factors, including travel

“We’d encourage everyone to send us their feedback either via the patient questionnaires we have distributed or via our other patient feedback channels which can be found here: h t t p : / / w w w d c h s n h s u k / h o m e / p a t i e n t e x p e r ience/how-to-get-in-touch or email: DCHST patientexperienceteam@nhs net ”

– Lucy Stephens

n FIREFIGHTERS in Melbourne organised a last-minute car wash as part of a large fund-raising effort for a colleague battling a brain tumour.

Melbourne Fire Station raised £1,030 with the car wash held on March 24, to help Stefan Hawcroft, a firefighter based in Dronfield Fire Station, pay for special immunotherapy treatment in Germany

After fighting the brain tumour for five years with lots of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, while still fighting fires in Lincolnshire, Stefan was given only four weeks to live earlier this year. He had been told no further treatment was available on the NHS.

He married his fiancé on February 21, the wedding having been brought forward by 18 months

You can still donate here: https://www gofundme com/stefan-hawcroft-the-bravest-man

Bowls green fear

KINGS Newton Bowls Club has reported being targeted with anti-social behaviour

The club says this has mainly been youths hanging around in its shelter, smoking and drinking and riding their bikes around the green, which is now open for the season “To maintain the green costs a lot of money and man hours every year – if it becomes unplayable that’s the summer ruined for the 60-odd members; plus we would have to withdraw from all the leagues the club are in,” said a club member

The club’s noticeboard has also been ripped down The matter has been reported to police

He was looking forward to the prospect of just seeing high mountains

“I just love mountain walking and being out in them It’s also an opportunity to show that you must not give up on things on retirement; if you keep yourself fit you can do all sorts of things ”

Iain has set a fund-raising target of £1,000 and hopes that supporters will donate on his Just Giving page (www justgiving com/fundraising/iain-black01)

Teeing up a new future for old golf club

AMBITIOUS plans to knock down the Breedon Priory Golf Club house, build six new holiday lodges and a spa, graze rare breed sheep and highland cattle on former fairways and create 50 local jobs in the village of Wilson are up for debate this month

The owners of Breedon Priory Health Club have put forward the proposals to South Derbyshire and North West Leicestershire District Councils’ planning departments, telling how their new plans for a spa, holiday lodges and 119-space car park – up from the current 50 spaces – are merely building on their existing successful business

The application lodged with planners says the scheme would create 10 full and 40 parttime jobs

A design and access statement says: “The proposed development is situated on land which forms part of the existing golf course The club house has recently fallen into disrepair, and requires extensive modernisation

“This proposal will make a positive contribution to the local area with the provision of new facilities The facilities within the new health spa would be available to village residents at a reduced rate

“There would be a small retail area incorporated into the scheme which would be available also to residents and this would

provide everyday essential grocery items ”

It goes on to say: “The applicants own and run the successful Breedon Priory Health Club on the adjacent site already They purchased the health club in February 2013 They have completely refurbished the building and renewed all the equipment

“They have shown a strong commitment to the business with an extension in 2016, adding a fitness studio and new free weights area

“When the applicants first took over there were approximately 250-300 members; there are now approximately 1,000 members and they employ 11 members of staff

“The proposal for the spa and holiday lodges builds on the existing business, with an established client base also keen to see further facilities provided

“The spa and lodges will help generate more tourism for the local area, and will bring more visitors into North West Leicestershire This will have a positive effect on the nearby businesses, such as the public house in Wilson and shops and eateries in Breedon and Melbourne ”

The proposed spa would be located in the footprint of the existing club house, while the lodges on the former fairway to the 18th green of the decommissioned course would be timber-clad with livestock able to graze right up alongside them

Lucy Stephens

–

Assembly rooms team receives award

A PRIZE in memory of a much-loved local doctor has been handed to the group responsible for Melbourne Assembly Rooms (MARs)

The Dr Brendan Freeman Award is given annually, and was presented by Dr Freeman’s widow, Elizabeth

The ceremony took place in the assembly rooms ahead of Melbourne Parish Council’s AGM

Presenting the award, Mrs Freeman said: “It’s six years since Brendan died and in that six years there have been fantastic improvements all around Melbourne – and we are standing in one of them ”

Mrs Freeman said she was sure her husband would have approved of the prize going to MARs, adding that she thought he would have been “astonished” so much had been achieved

The award was accepted by Phil Dobby, chairman of the MARs board of directors The assembly rooms were taken over by the MARs team six years ago with

the aim of creating a well-used community building for Melbourne It has recently seen a facelift in the front hall, toilets and kitchen areas, with more work planned for the future

Mr Dobby told the meeting how the assembly rooms was now used regularly by around 40 local groups – around 1,000 individual regular users With lots of plays, films and other live performances now going on, around 5,000 people had attended events at the assembly rooms in the last 12 months

“It really is becoming quite a hub,” he said

“We now have a reputation of being a great venue, particularly for the visual and performing arts ”

Mr Dobby paid particular tribute to assembly rooms manager Andy Heafield, and Rose Minifie, who he said worked very hard to keep the place clean

He said: “It’s still the community centre of Melbourne and we are determined to keep it that way ”

PRESENTATION (l-r) Margaret Sharp (chair of Melbourne Parish Council), Phil Dobby (chairman of MARs board of directors) receiving the award from Elizabeth Freeman, with John Robinson, Jane Carroll and Margaret Gildea

Kate wants all your old drugs

KATE Dumelow is the most unlikely drug dealer you are likely to come across, but through her efforts people with the worst health in the world in parts of Africa are now benefiting from better medical provision

Kate has continued the good work she did when in Rotary, collecting medical supplies for Inter Care, and she is after your unused medications and healthcare products

“Inter Care are based locally in Syston, and they have been going for some 35 years,” she said “They collect unused and unwanted medical supplies in their warehouse and then ship it for distribution across Africa, reaching some of the most under-privileged in the world

“Doctors make assessments of all the products coming in to monitor and evaluate items donated, but there are consignments being sent out all the time ”

Kate is appealing to everyone not just to throw away any out of date drugs, or healthcare products but to call her so that she can pass them on

“Patients can still receive items after operations which are not needed and it is such a waste to put them into the bin – this is a way of recycling anything which can be re-used ”

Dressings, tablets like pain killers, sterile (packaged) needles that are lying around in your bathroom cabinet might just go to save lives in Africa

Last year Inter Care sent £700,000 worth of surplus medical aid to around 100 clinics in Africa

So, Kate is urging us all to check our cupboards and if we have any healthcare products surplus

to requirements – or even if it is just out of date –to get in touch with her (telephone 01332 862666) She will gladly collect from you

Kate also mentioned that since Rotary finished in Melbourne, some of the good work they undertook is still continuing under the umbrella name of Rotex

“The school writing competition and the free dictionaries are things we are still sponsoring ” Rotex does need financial support to do that, however, and the organisation is having two car boot sales at Quarndon Cricket club on April 15 and 22 to raise some funds If you have any items to donate, she would love to hear from you

– Frank Hughes

Label firm merger

A MELBOURNE labels company will be expanding to a £2million annual turnover after a merger with a Devon firm

Positive ID Labels, based on Melbourne Industrial Estate, has been in the business of making labels since 2000

In February the firm acquired Devon-based Limbus Labels whose MPS EB370 printing press was installed at the Melbourne premises on March 19

The merger is set to increase group turnover by 25 per cent to more than £2million a year, with the management of the two firms joining forces

Tennis club’s net profit

GENEROUS bidders and local businesses helped boost Melbourne Tennis Club’s fund-raising efforts by more than £7,000 at a promises auction

The event, held at Melbourne Sports Park, was hosted by local TV antiques expert Charles Hanson and was attended by more than 80 people who bid for a wide range of 77 donated “promises” while enjoying wine and cheese

The occasion was held in aid of the club’s bid to increase the number of courts at the park, for which they need to raise £120,000

“Charles Hanson was amazing and filled the room with his larger than life personality!” said fund-raising committee chairman Sallie Allen

Lots big and small all raised more than their face value, with some notable highlights being wine tasting for 16 people either at their home or business Donated by Melbourne’s Pierre Hourlier

Wines, it raised the highest total on the night of £700

The chairman of Burton Albion, Ben Robinson, also turned out to the auction – having promised four tickets to the club with a pre-match meal He then kindly gave the same promise to the bidder who had come runner-up by £10

Charles Hanson also donated three pairs of tickets to Bargain Hunt, filmed in Derby on Thursday, March 15

Meanwhile, two lessons with Melbourne tennis coach Howard Cheshire went for £115

As for Federer and Nadal themselves it seems the Swiss is the more popular with his cutout fetching a princely £55 while the Spaniard lagged behind, being taken home for £25

Melbourne Tennis Club’s fund-raising total now stands at £73,000

l Members of Melbourne Tennis Club’s fund-raising committee cuddling up with cardboard cut-outs of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer

Cycling, kicking, hoola-hooping our way for funds

GOAL shoot-outs, hoola-hooping, non-stop cycling, and a wh school relay – these were the ways that sporty Melbourne rai vital funds for Sport Relief.

Sainsbury’s manager Gary Dunne headed down to Melbou Infant School on March 22 as children were given the chance try to get a goal past him, along with other teachers.

Children took in cash donations to guess how many go their class would score

Over at Melbourne Juniors, pupils paid a pound to go school in sporty kit on March 23, and spent the whole week various activities such as hoola-hooping and a skip-a-thon This culminated on the final day of the week when the wh school completed a non-stop relay of the playing field wh lasted the whole day.

Different classes took turns to run laps, finishing with the tire school completing the final circuits at the end of the da Meanwhile, staff at Sainsbury’s took it in turns to pedal aw on an exercise bike throughout the day, raising £278. That brought the store’s total to £830 for the month throu sales of merchandise, scratch cards and in-store fund-raisin

Mr Dunne said: “The colleagues got behind the event spending the whole day amongst themselves riding the bi After six hours and some sore bums and legs we had cove 178 miles!”

Across the country, this year ’s Sport Relief raised £38.2m lion.

Egg treats for elderly

MORE than 300 Easter eggs have been donated to isolated elderly people in Derby and South Derbyshire by kind-hearted locals near Richmond Villages in Aston-on-Trent Richmond Villages advertised they were collecting Easter eggs for elderly people on their own and said they had an “overwhelming response”

The retirement village operator worked in partnership with local befriending services and other groups to distribute the donated eggs

Richmond Villages community relations manager Rosalind Nicklin said: “As soon as we advertised we were collecting Easter eggs for isolated elderly people, we had an overwhelming response

“Our residents, staff and the local community and businesses donated hundreds of Easter eggs

“Some of our residents also volunteered to help give out the Easter eggs It is wonderful for us to be able to make a difference to the lives of elderly people in Derby and South Derbyshire who faced Easter isolated from the community around them ”

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VOLUNTEERS WANTED

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There has been an increase in the demand for lifts and it is becoming difficult to meet that demand

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EASTER PAST AND PRESENT

ABOVE: The Easter bonnets of the 1970s and BELOW Melbourne Infant School pupils show off their 2018 creations.

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SOME things change, others stay the same these two photographs are of children showing off their Easter bonnets in Melbourne, with around 40 years between them!

This month’s picture-from-the-past shows Melbourne Junior School children wearing their Easter bonnets And, judging by the faces in the crowd and the clothes they are wearing, here at Village Voice Towers we think it was taken some time in the mid-1970s

Our photographer Tina Baker then took the other photograph of pupils at Melbourne Infant School showing their Easter creations in the school hall on March 23

Pupils were asked to decorate their bonnets in time for a special Easter assembly on the last day of the spring term before the holidays

Plus ça change, although it does have to be said that today’s infant school children do look distinctly more cheerful about their bonnets than their counterparts in the 1970s Maybe the Easter bunny didn’t come that year

If any of our readers can tell us more about the photo from the 70s, we’d love to hear from you

Are you one of these youngsters in the photo? Would you like to share your memories about the occasion? Get in touch on letters@melbournevillagevoice co uk

NEW FRIENDSHIP INITIATIVE

GO ALONG to “meet friends, take friends and make friends” at a new initiative being tried by Melbourne Community Care from May onwards

Alison Thornhill is behind an idea to have a social meeting on the first Tuesday every month at Melbourne Assembly Rooms as a way of just providing another opportunity for people to meet up

“There will be free tea, coffee and cake,” she promised, “and the first event will be on May 1 ”

Alison explained that in part she had the idea

after her mother first moved into the area: “It is difficult for new people to get to know others and this is an idea which is not for any particular age, gender or group, but for everyone

“There are some people who don’t get out of the house much, there are new mothers who just want a break ”

It will be from 2pm to 4pm, so might suit parents going to collect children from school or taking them to the play area

Village Voice Postbag

Confused by money statement

I AM writing this letter as I remain confused following the recent statement issued on the Love Business East Midlands website (February 22) by Miller Homes claiming they are investing over £250,000 into the ‘local community’

This investment is being made as Miller Homes continue to construct new houses on the Jawbone lane development

My understanding (from that article) was that Melbourne Junior and Infant schools would be receiving a substantial sum of money to improve the school infrastructure, money that would be spent at the discretion of the school governors

As I speak to various members of the surrounding Melbourne community, everyone seems to have a different understanding of who actually gets that money and how much they get

For my benefit and others, would it be possible to ask the local/county council to clearly explain just how much money is being invested within our community and where please?

There is a large billboard on the Jawbone Lane building site purporting the figures the developer will be or has already contributed, so it should be a simple case of confirming what the billboard says is true

Does the developer pay these sums of money in instalments? Who does the money get paid to and when?

Most people who live in Melbourne and Kings Newton will be well aware of the ongoing plans developers have for more new housing in the area, so having answers to these questions I'm asking will help set expectations for the future in the event further developments have applications approved

Can we try to get some straight answers from the powers that be, so I and everyone else interested in this subject have facts rather than playground talk and hearsay?

Andy Owens Melbourne

n WE asked Derbyshire County Council to respond to these questions as to the funding for schools Here is their response, together with additional information we have discovered Derbyshire County Council says: “The figures quoted on the billboard do relate to the sums of money we requested as part of this development

“Before asking for a financial contribution from the developer we work with the school to come up with a suitable project and, generally, these would increase the school’s capacity to deal with an expected increase in pupil numbers

If the county council is granted a sum of money as part of the planning permission given by the district or borough council, the amount and timing of this money forms part of a Section 106 agreement

When the district or borough council tells us the money is available we will seek cabinet approval to claim it from the district or borough council In the majority of cases the funding arrives in instalments so it is necessary to wait until all payments are made before the project can start ”

The county council is allowed to pool up to five section 106 agreements paid by different developers, in order to reach the larger sums that are generally required for capital works – for example, building classrooms (work currently in progress at Melbourne Junior School)

The county council is also allowed to use other sources such as capital or basic needs funding to finish any work until they get the section 106 money

In February’s Village Voice, we outlined the terms of the Jawbone Lane section 106 agreement – which state that half the money due to the bowls’ club; Melbourne Sports Park; schools and the South Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG, responsible for Melbourne Health Care Centre) must be paid before any of the homes are occupied, and the remainder before half of them are

The district council administers the money, then pays it to the county council and the CCG when those organisations come

Thanks for the memories

THANK you for sharing photographs of the school yacht, as sent in by Tim Shone and printed as February’s history pictures

Readers may be interested to know that Melbourne Historical Research Group (MHRG), since their ‘School's Out’ exhibition last year, have continued their research into Melbourne Senior School activities and intend to publish their findings very soon as a book, which it is hoped will become a lovely keepsake for all ex-pupils of the school

With regard to the yacht, we can tell you that it was named Olympic, and was built by 4th year woodwork students in 1956 as their own great achievement in honour of the Olympic Games taking place in Australia

Tim rightly pointed out that Harold Pipes was in attendance Other school managers, including Lady Paget, Ron Loake, headmaster Bill Shone and Canon Bob Honner, gathered with over 200 pupils to watch the good ship Olympic ceremoniously unveiled by Lord Lothian before its launch onto Melbourne Pool Such was the importance of the occasion an Australian journalist went along to witness the event

The full details, complete with other photographs, will be in our ‘School’s Out’ book along with many other photographs, reports, old school

memories and so much more The book attempts to reinforce the history of the building and reminisce about the life and times that took place within its walls

To enquire about or reserve a copy of the forthcoming publication, please telephone 01332 864598 or send a message through our FB site

We hope to have the book on sale at our next exhibition: ‘Melbourne Misdemeanours: Murder, Mayhem and Malefactors’, which will be held at Melbourne Assembly Rooms on June 2 and 3 Teresa Johnson, Minute Secretary, MHRG

You can write to us with your comments, views, ideas, questions etc at letters@melbournevillagevoice.co.uk or to The Village Voice, 11 North Street, Melbourne DE73 8FZ

You must include your name and address, not necessarily for publication

School reunion?

MY NAME is Margaret Cox (Kinsey), born in Blanch Croft and I attended Melbourne schools

May I through the Village Voice enquire if there are any of my old classmates who would like to get together for a reunion?

My classmates were, to name but a few: Ann Worral, Joan Turner, Gill Greatbatch, Sylvia Griffiths, Angela Warren, (maiden names) and the boys: Clifford Heath, Harold Heath, Paddy Adcock, to name a few Headmaster at the time was Bill Shone

I moved from Melbourne in 1968 when my husband Bob and myself took over The Waggon & Horses at Griffydam, but I now live in Swannington Leicestershire

What do you think? My contact details are 01530831371; Mobile 07966486407; email: marg cox38@virginmedia com

Margaret

Fair history plea

I AM a fairground historian living in Belper and am currently investigating the history of Melbourne Fair, especially during the 1914-18 war years and prior, for a possible exhibition to be held later in the year

The fair has been presented in Melbourne by the Holland family since the late 19th century and I do know that the fair was held at least once during the First World War (1916)

up with a “fully costed scheme” as to how it will be spent

Section 106 money not spent within 10 years can be claimed back by the council and repaid to its source

I would love to hear from any readers who might have memories, photographs and information on the fair during its long history (charters go back as far as 1252)

I can be emailed at neilcalladine@aol com or my telephone number is 01773 826124 or mobile 07971 439490

Neil Calladine

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CONCERT A MUSICAL TRIUMPH

THE CORY Seznec concert at Melbourne Assembly Rooms in March demonstrated the very high standard of artists now visiting the venue

This four-piece band were as solid a set-up and as diverse musically as anyone could wish to see The music strayed from the Deep South of USA, with blues, gospel and bluegrass, right across to Ethiopia, with African themes and beats

The packed set took you on a world tour, from the fictitious East Virginia somewhere in the USA to a sleazy bar in Ethiopia in the company of a 21st Century Travelling Man, to quote one of their tracks

Underpinned by Renauld Ollivier on percussion, totally immersed in African Rhythms, the band comprise David Chalameua on Harmonicas, Daniel Mizrahi on guitar and vocals and Seznec himself playing a lovely old 1965 Harmony acoustic guitar and banjo

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The set included tracks from his latest two CDs, Backroad Carnival and Beauty in the Dark, along with some new material The tour promoting their latest CD takes them across the UK and three prestigious dates in Paris

Frank Hughes, one of the directors at MARS, said: “The live and local organisation is enabling us to bring artists and

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shows to Melbourne which would normally be well out of our budget, and the Cory Seznec concert was just fabulous; we need to spread the word just how good these Live and Local shows are ”

The next event will be The Wind in the Willows presented by Box Tale Soup on April 12, with a 5pm start, aimed at families

Society appeal for young blood

THE 44th Annual General Meeting of Melbourne Civic Society heard that it had been business as usual for the group, that funds were relatively healthy but there was a plea for more members and for some younger villagers to become actively involved.

Chairman Paul Grimley’s report was given by Neil Wright, vice-chairman He reported that the society had been involved in 123 planning applications over the past year, some of which they had objected to, and they had frequently made suggestions to improve otherwise poor-quality designs

The group still closely monitored noise levels from airport traffic and were anticipating the forthcoming Noise Action Plan from EMA, to cover 2018 to 2023, due out for consultation soon

The profile of the society had been raised during the festival, with the photographic archive on the arts trail, which had generated some new members

Of concern was the poor state of the Holy Well in Kings Newton, where the platform had collapsed It was thought substantial funds would be needed in the very near future to repair the damage

The society was also contributing to the parish council to help fund a commemorative bench by the war memorial, and to Melbourne Historical Research Group for a publication

Secretary Pam Adams announced that membership had now reached over 200 She mentioned the excellent work the group do in the

regular “litter picks” not just in Melbourne, but in Stanton, Kings Newton and Wilson; in planting daffodils around the Woodlands and the main car park, and she hoped that the damage caused around the wash pit would be put right soon by the contractor

For the second year running no new buildings or projects had reached the high standard for the society’s annual civic award but two builds – 1a Ashby Road and Melbourne Assembly Rooms –were highly commended Both Blatch’s refurbishment of the façade and the remodelled bungalow at 86 Ashby Road were commended

The meeting paid tribute to Ian Turner, who had stood down after 25 years on the society’s committee and to his wife, Hilary, for all the support she had given

They were made honorary life-members of the society

Japan

JAPANESE pottery making and food will be the order of the day up at Whistlewood Common over the weekend of May 5-6

Potter Andy Mason will be leading a workshop on the Sat-

urday, which will involve a Japanese tea ceremony, buffets, making tea bowls and raku firing

Then, the next day there will be a raku pottery workshop

The team at Whistlewood say

there will be opportunities to camp plus attend the whole weekend’s events or just a single workshop

For more, contact Helen Saunders at bookings@whistlewoodcommon org

Michael paints a picture of hope for peace

KINGS Newton artist Michael Cook has produced a powerful piece of imagery as part of the WW1 Commemorations which will be unveiled on May 11

The neo-romantic image takes its theme from the Book of Isaiah the Prophet: “And they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore ”

Sadly, it is a prophecy yet to come true, given Isaiah was believed to have lived around 800BC – but Michael’s art is full of hope it will His work is packed full of imagery, memory and spiritual inspiration

The rifle, with bayonet fixed is being trampled into the crumbled earth; tree stumps are shell-blasted into crudely shaped crucifixes; the fallen soldier cradling and nurturing seedlings; leaves and autumn debris trampled underground, like so many million lost lives; barbed wire twisted and spiralled like a crown of thorns, and above it all the constellation of the plough shining on a clear bright night Light hits the picture from a distant sun with glimmers of hope for the future

“A number of themes do recur in my

Police appeal

POLICE are trying to trace a passer-by who intervened in an attempted robbery at Elvaston Castle

work,” said Michael “and I wanted the image to connect very closely with the market gardening history of the area ”

Michael grew up on Kings Newton Fields in a market gardening family, although “ by the time I came along, it had mostly finished”, he said

He trained and worked in graphic design and illustration until he returned full-time to his first love of fine art about 10 years ago, although he has been exhibiting work for over 20 years

As well as having his own studio, he now has a small gallery, The Manger Gallery, open by appointment adjacent to the house in the restored 19th century stable

He is hopeful that the work will eventually be turned into a stained glass window and placed in the chapel in Melbourne Cemetery

“It is designed around the three window sections there,” and glass artist Juliet Forrest has been lined up to transform it into glass

The work, which is acrylic and oil pastel on canvas, will be unveiled at Melbourne Assembly Rooms on May 11 and 50 limited edition prints will be on sale for £60 each It is planned that the original will go “on tour” around the village – to schools, churches etc – Frank Hughes

Officers said that around 6pm on Wednesday, March 21, a 13-year-old boy was outside the castle café with two friends The group saw two youths who started throwing small stones at them

The friends decided to walk off but the youths followed them They threatened to steal the victim’s bike A third youth joined them and they punched the victim and tried to take his bike

A passer-by approached the group and the three youths ran off Two youths are aged about 16, 6ft tall and slim They wore black hooded tops and black bandanas with a white skull on the front The other boy is about 13, slim and wore a bright red hooded top Witnesses or anyone with information should call police investigator Jason Beardsley on 101, quoting reference 18000129717

Dumping bid

VIEWS are being sought on proposals to clamp down on fly-tipping at a wellknown hot spot

South Derbyshire District Council is proposing to introduce a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to prevent vehicles from gaining access to land near Staker Lane, Findern, which has been blighted by illegally dumped household and construction waste in recent years

Historical exhibition

ON JUNE 2 and 3, Melbourne Historical Research Group’s main exhibition of the year will concentrate on sinister goings-on in our area and is entitled ‘Melbourne Misdemeanours, Murder, Mayhem and Malefactors’

It will be held at Melbourne Assembly Rooms, admission is free and refreshments will be available

You can learn about such events as the ‘Melbourne Bank Sensation’ in 1906 – an attempted robbery and subsequent chase – or the Melbourne doctor called out to attend a schoolboy stabbing after a classroom altercation

The Loake Bros’ strike started in February 1913 and lasted for 12 months Prompted by the employers refusing to employ union members at the factory, the strike became aggressive and violent at times If readers have any anecdotes or family memories, the group is very interested

Following last year ’s high turnout for the ‘School’s Out’ exhibition, prompted by the 40th anniversary of Melbourne Secondary Modern School’s closure, and the huge amount of input from former pupils, the group will be publishing a book featuring the history of the building and life and times in the school

The group is hoping to launch the book at the June exhibition, but copies can be reserved on 01332 864598

Members of the Parish Council

Chair Margaret Sharp 01332 862471

Vice Chair

Sheila Hicklin 01332 865726

Highways, Facilities and Amenities

David Smith 01332 862699

Burial Grounds

Sheila Hicklin 01332 865726

Planning & Strategy

Jane Carroll 01332 863269

Finance & HR

Margaret Sharp 01332 862471

Nigel Collyer 07831 540538

George Dunnicli 07780 806267

Wendy Earp 01332 865019

Carol Fearria

Tom Gates 01332 865718

Simon Green 07889 924925

George Hudson 07503 247953

Andrew Jackson 07931 541387

Robert Parker 07973 297404

Terry Summerlin 01332 864643

Michael Usher 07791 605861

Jacqui Storer - Clerk 07734 939292

Useful Numbers

Aircraft Noise & Complaints 0845 1088540

Clean Team ( y tipping) 0800 5872349

Street Lighting Faults 0845 6058058

Potholes 0845 6058058

OBITUARIES

ARTHUR WRIGHT

1951 – 2017

HUSBAND to Jayne and father to Peter, Arthur was the only son of Jem and Cyril Wright

Following schooldays in Melbourne, he went on to do an apprenticeship at International Combustion Derby in Non-Destructive Testing This discipline in engineering took him all over the world

Arthur ’s skills in NDT led him to work on power stations and oil rigs and later as a partner in a small research and development company Technic Systems His experiences in his work equipped him with many memorable and amusing stories

Melbourne Parish Council

Quarterly Report - April 2018

The Annual Parish Meeting was held on the 12th March when all the Committee chairmen gave their reports of the past years work.

The Dr Freeman award was presented to the "MARS" board for all the improvements they have made to the Assembly Rooms by Mrs E Freeman.

The on going plan to refurbish the Cemetery Chapel hit a snag when one of the two grant applications was unsuccessful so the one we had received had to be given back but the P.C . will re-apply in the near future.

The Parish Council was awarded grant funding for new play equipment at the Lothian Gardens so a new multi-person basket swing has been installed and very favourable comments have been received.

The Parish Council's big project for the year will of course be the commemoration of the end of W.W.1 in November. Our clerk and a few members are working hard to make it a huge success.

This will be my last quarterly report as Chair of the Parish Council. I have had a busy and successful 2 years with the long awaited opening of the Melbourne Sports Park and all the invitations to represent the Parish Council and the Melbourne Community at various functions.

I would like to thank all my fellow Councillors and the Parish Clerk for their help and support they have given me over the last two years and wish my successor all the best when they are elected in May.

Margaret Sharp, Chair, Melbourne Parish Council

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In 1975 Arthur met Jayne at a friend’s wedding; he was the best man They married in 1979

DAVID OWEN BELLIS

1933-2018

DAVID was born in Llanfairfechan, Wales, the third son of the village’s GP Thomas and Jane

in Bridgnorth, Jayne’s hometown, but set up home in Melbourne Several years later, when Peter was born, the family moved to Breedon on the Hill, but still had close friends and family ties in Melbourne

Throughout his life he had a passion for motorsport, in particular F1 Described as a “petrolhead” he enjoyed building replica cars and mechanics Always had a practical streak and an ability to turn his hand to most things

Suffering a stroke in early 2017, Arthur ’s health worsened in September He died in the Royal Derby with Jayne and Peter at his bedside

His funeral was held at

Although he only began to read at the age of seven - and then voraciously - he acquired a lifelong love of history, English literature and cricket at Friar ’s grammar school in Bangor Pretty sporty in his youth, he also enjoyed athletics, football, tennis, swimming, badminton and hockey He achieved a top second in history at Bangor, then a college of the University of Wales, and was offered a research fellowship, which he had to decline National Service made him think hard about the world, made him less idealistic and massively more street-wise He saw Germany in 1953-5; career soldiers showed him the value of esprit de corps and taught him how to drink but, often bored, he decided to pursue a career in business

David loved serving customers in Lewis’s, then buying at Littlewoods helped train him in commercial realities; he was the first manager at Tootal in 1964 who hadn’t been to Cambridge

From 1968 to 1990 he worked for Courtaulds, including Sales Directorships – a great period in his life: “very busy; very productive”, and a year with his family in Germany 1974/5 was extremely educative His final position in textiles was as Chief Executive of a London based business that made about 70% of the UK’s strapping for bras One taxi driver said: “Cor, Guv, so you hold up the tits of the nation?”

David married Barbara Glynn in 1962 and came to King’s Newton in 1975 with their two sons, Antony and Jonathon Sadly, Barbara died in 2000

In 2004 David married Anne Roberts Together, they enjoyed travelling, concerts, theatre, cinema, Repton club and social bridge They also fulfilled David’s lifetime ambition to watch cricket in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia David loved reading the Guardian each morn-

CEDRIC RICHARD BENTLEY

1944-2018.

CEDRIC Richard Bentley, known as ‘Kerry’ was the son of Mr and Mrs R Bentley He was born at St Bride’s Farm, Stanton by Bridge on March 5, 1944, the eighth of 10 children and twin to Celia

He attended Melbourne schools and afterwards was apprenticed to Ronald Barker, plumber in Melbourne, working with Terry Potts and Roy Dolman Later he moved to a firm in Derby where he often worked on churches, sometimes repairing lead, high up on the towers

In 1968 he left for Australia, he travelled widely, working in Perth, Darwin, Canberra, Brisbane and even Indonesia There is something of the pioneer spirit in the Bentley family; ancestors worked on the gold

Bretby Crematorium attended by his family and friends

Jayne and Peter would like to thank J P Springthorpe for their kind and professional services and Susan French, the Celebrant who conducted the service and Eulogy

Many thanks for the generous donations made in lieu of flowers which were divided between four charities: the Stroke Association, Age UK, Psoriasis Association and the British Liver Trust

Thank you for the kind words, condolences and the cards received at a very difficult time Arthur will be deeply missed by all who knew him

ing and talking on the telephone, “expressing strong and technicolour opinions, forceful to the point of being hilarious,” explained a school friend

Founder secretary of King’s Newton Bowls Club, opened in 1981, David was chairman for two years, a committee member for more than 20 years, then a trustee He was a member of Melbourne Male Voice Choir, founder trustee of A Choir ’d Taste and trustee of the Friends of Melbourne Parish Church He joined PROBUS in 1997 and was Secretary during Terry Harrison’s term as President “We shall miss David; he always had something controversial to spark off a discussion – a stimulating and interesting man!” said Terry

As a founder director of the Village Voice, he took a leading role in the business for 20 years He loved to glean information for background to his stories, reports and personal profiles

David greatly enjoyed political, historical or economic debate David Adams described Bellis as a man of scholarly pursuits

“He was widely read and had a lifelong interest in history and politics David was a fervent believer in democracy, the rule of law and holding power to account He was a man of principle Indeed he enjoyed questioning conventional wisdoms, prejudices and preconceived notions Somehow he always managed to do this in a good natured and good humoured way He could laugh at himself and light up a room by walking into it There was never a dull moment when David was around ”

Alderman John Harrison said: " David could be volatile and challenging while paradoxically being kind, full of charm, wit and spontaneous good humour; he has left an indelible mark on Melbourne and surrounding villages and will be sorely missed by his family, many friends and acquaintances, but never forgotten ” David leaves wife Anne, two sons and five grandchildren whose lives he followed with great interest, pride, pleasure and love

Jean Grimley

called it paradise

Many of the Bentley family visited him, sharing his love for the wonderful coast, rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef He enjoyed deep sea fishing; he also took a great interest in the natural world and was very knowledgeable about the fauna and flora, he kept up to date on world affairs too

He was a great character, a much loved brother and uncle and he has certainly left a legacy in North Queensland of which the family is very proud

fields at Ballarat

With his Hungarian wife Elaine, he eventually settled at Millaa Millaa on the Atherton Tablelands in tropical Northern Queensland, 60 miles inland from Cairns and 3,000 ft above sea level He bought a 450-acre dairy farm which he had to clear and develop He always

He died at his beloved home surrounded by his family on February 28, 2018, five days before his 74th birthday

He is survived by his wife, three children and six grandchildren; he will be greatly missed not only by his immediate family but also by his many relatives here in the UK

‘Horrifying’ prospect of going back to Zimbabwe

HARROWING tales of life in 1960s and 70s Rhodesia –now Zimbabwe – formed the sombre basis of a packed out talk in Melbourne given by local couple Yvonne and Clive Karusseit as they fight to stay in Britain

As has been previously reported in the Village Voice, the Karusseits from Melbourne are battling for the right to remain in this country after their application for indefinite leave to remain was turned down by the Home Office in 2016, the Government having said they did not know enough about life in this country

A support meeting was organised by Melbourne’s John Williams and took place in the Thomas Cook Hall on March 26 It was standing room only as people gathered to hear how horrifying events in former Rhodesia and violence in South Africa had “washed them into Melbourne”, as John put it, adding: “These are not standard refugees ”

Yvonne (pictured giving the talk), lives with her husband and elderly frail mother, Eileen – who has got indefinite leave to remain in this country and is looked after by the family She spoke for nearly an hour to a rapt audience explaining how turbulent history had brought the family back to these shores

She told the room how her mother had married Peter Ford –Yvonne’s biological father having left the family when she was very young – who was British and had a son, Terry

The family lived in Rhodesia where Peter had been given a farm by the British Government as a reward for fighting for his country in the Second World War, which he had given up his job in order to do

But in the 1960s and 70s the Rhodesian Bush War broke out, seeing horrific atrocities as three forces battled for the country, a conflict which eventually concluded with the signing of the Lan-

caster House agreement in 1979 and then Robert Mugabe becoming the first Zimbabwean president the following year

Yvonne described tales of awful violence, recounting one occasion when her mother had come back from work “covered in blood The attacker had hit her so hard she lost the hearing altogether in one ear”

When Yvonne’s father ’s name was found on a death list, the family decided to flee and Yvonne’s parents moved to England while she left for neighbouring South Africa – only Terry remained behind on his farm

In 2002, his brutal murder at the hands of the Mugabe regime hit headlines all over the world Yvonne and Clive eventually moved to Melbourne from South Africa in 2010, where they had continued to experience violence with Yvonne saying she had carried a firearm everywhere she went

Their current troubles began because of an unfortunate misunderstanding over whether or not they needed to sit the English Test – but having not done so, they found themselves turned down with no right to appeal

The couple were granted a Visa extension which runs out in February 2019 and have been told that they must return to South Africa to begin their application process all over again – but fear that if they do so, they will return to abject poverty and may never make it back to Britain It would also mean abandoning Yvonne’s mother

“The prospect of us being forced to go back to that way of life is in a word – horrifying,” said Yvonne

A fighting fund has been set up to pay for an immigration lawyer to help the couple You can sign a petition urging the Government to re-consider here: goo gl/423ker

n ANOTHER year, another Melbourne Village Quiz and this year it was the rugby club which proved to be the brainiest of the bunch

The quiz reached its grand finale with The Rugby Club VPs emerging triumphant, beating theatre group St Michael’s Players into second place

The whole event, which takes place over several weeks, saw a grand total of £1,600 raised for this year ’s chosen charity, Treetops Hospice

LOCAL MOLLY MAID CROWNED NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

MOLLY MAID, the UK’s leading professional home cleaning company, has just returned from their National Convention entitled “Excel and Exceed” following an inspirational three days where Gill Dawson, from MOLLY MAID Burton upon Trent truly shone. This year, MOLLY MAID turned Rookery Hall Hotel in Nantwich, with its impressive setting, into its home for three days.

The Convention was concluded with a MOLLY MAID star-studded Gala dinner and awards ceremony where Gill Dawson, who runs MOLLY MAID Burton upon Trent, was awarded the prestigious title of New Franchise of the Year Award 2017. Gill acquired the business in April 2017 and within her first six month she grew the average weekly sales by over £500. She is also growing phenomenally in 2018 and has done so by providing local customers with a high standard of service and quality customer care as well as comprehensive marketing activities creating brand awareness in her area.

Gill said, “I am thrilled to be winning this award. Our teams do a fantastic job at keeping homes sparkling, and our loyal customers are a testament to that. I believe in the strong brand of MOLLY MAID and am determined to continue in my quest to become even more successful in the future.

SITUATIONS VACANT

Jake’s a judo gold star

THIS 18-year-old showed he had all the moves when he took gold at the Amateur Judo Association’s championships in Birmingham – and now hopes to go on and represent his country abroad at the world event in May

The job is varied and involves all aspects of office administration including:

• Invoicing

• Inputting Purchase/Nominal ledger transactions

• Preparing quotations

• Maintenance of ACT database.

• Dealing with telephone enquiries.

• Support to our sales/service team.

A knowledge of SAGE and ACT would be an advantage but training can be given. Monday to Friday. Approximately 30 hours per week, can be agreed to fit in with school hours if necessary. Salary commensurate with experience.

Apply in writing to:

Peter Hawkins Ltd., Castle Lane, Melbourne DE73 8JB Or email sheila@phawkins.co.uk

FRENCH TUITION

MUSIC TUITION

UKULELE CLUB FOLK DANCE

French taught to all ages and abilities

Guitar, ukulele, ddle, keyboard & melodeon

The ukulele club is a fun, sociable evening of song and playing.

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

Melbourne & District

Delivery persons required for...

Derby Road

(Queensway to Spa Shop) and Castle Street, Melbourne

If you are able to help please phone...

Andrew Jackson on 07931 541 387 or Tina Baker 07523 239 487 for more details. Thank you

Jake Whitby, a member of Ashby Ivanhoe Judo Club, took to the mat in the senior men under 66 kg weight category at the championships on March 11 Grading up to blue belt the previous week, having had three years away from the sport, the Smisby teenager faced an uphill battle to get to the medals

Dad Darren – who is also a senior instructor and secretary at the club – provided the following report from the championships: “His first contest was evenly matched against the favourite of the group, but the Ashby judoka attacked from the start and threw his opponent with a fine Uchi mata to win by ippon

“His second fight was the same as his first, attacking from the off and Ashby player threw his opponent backwards with OUchi-gari to win by ippon; the third fight was to secure his gold medal, against a very tough

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physical brown belt who came on the attack from the start, but Jake kept himself moving out of the danger

“Both players were looking and fighting for the correct grip that suited them but Jake turned in and threw his opposing player with yet again a fine Uchi Mata to win He took the gold medal and was crowned National Amateur Judo Association (AJA) champion, in a very hard group of judokas ”

Darren added: “For Jake to

have three years away from the sport, then turn in a performance like that, is truly fantastic!”

Minibus trips in May

Wednesday 2nd May

Ashbourne and Fairways Garden Centre

Tuesday 15th May

Solihull, Touchwood Shopping Centre

Monday 21st May

Bakewell

For

l Jake Whitby (right) and (above) practising moves with coach David Garris

We are recruiting an Assistant Office Manager to work in our modern office in Melbourne.

Injuries mar matches

FOR Melbourne Rugby Club, the first weekend of March was lost to the Beast from the East, the second to flooded pitches

The 1st XV travelled to Camp Hill on a cold March day The game was played on a muddy pitch with blizzards on a regular basis It was Melbourne’s first game in three weeks

Camp Hill took an early penalty lead, but from the resulting play, Joe Livesey collected a kick in his own 22, made 50 yards before feeding to brother Charlie for the first try of the game

Melbourne suffered with the referee penalising them continuously, unable to deal with their line speed and competition at the break down Melbourne were down a man with a yellow card and CH’s big pack took advantage, scoring 15 unanswered points

With the wind behind them, Melbourne dominated the opening 20 mins of the second half with a try from Jack Pearce after a fine clean break CH scored a penalty in

front of the posts and Melbourne went down to 14 men again with Charlie Livesey yellow carded for a perceived deliberate knock-on

Despite this Melbourne scored another converted try from Jordan Goddard With the score at 19-21, the last 15 minutes were a tight affair With three minutes to go Alex Nightingale was red carded for an accidental tip tackle So down to 14 men again Melbourne held but the final score was 1921 which secured a losing bonus point at least MOTM Joe Livesey

The long trip to Hereford saw Melbourne come away empty handed and with an increasing injury list again Despite tries from Jack Pearce and eight points from Euan Holden, Melbourne lost 22-13 Chris Purce suffered a broken leg MOTM Devon Iliffe

The weather yet again caused havoc and saw the postponement of the Dudley Kingswinford game Melbourne 2nd XV finally got a game

Taking to the water

A MAJOR programme to get more people sailing saw over 330 local youngsters afloat at Staunton Harold Reservoir in its first year –and now it’s set to launch again for 2018

Sailability is a national project run by the Royal Yachting Association, which gives people of all abilities the chance to sail regularly

The Staunton Harold Sailability Trust is preparing to give more people with disabilities the chance to take to the water this year

Having run a successful annual Sailability Day for more than 20 years, two years ago Staunton Harold Sailing Club – the 2014 RYA Club of the Year – decided to expand its disabled sailing activities

It is holding its annual Push the Boat Out sailing day on May 6, followed by the Sailability Day on Saturday, May 26

and travelled to Paviors, coming away with a 33-13 win Tries were scored by Ballington (2), C Ilott, Bilson and Travers, plus four conversions for Bilson

Melbourne 3rd XV had a mix of old and academy players and had a fine game against West Bridgford, drawing 12-12

Melbourne Academy played Sheffield in the last 32 of the National U18 Cup at Derby’s Uni Artificial Grass Pitch A fantastic performance by the Academy players saw great skill and passion shown by both teams

Everyone in the squad showed magnificent intensity and commitment Sadly the match was finished early (and correctly) after an injury to a Sheffield player when the score was 12-17

The U17/16 then had a triangular with West Bridgford (loss) and Long Eaton (win) They then sent a mixed 18,17 and 16s to Chesterfield and came away with a comfortable win

Peter Ilott

Normal service?

IS spring finally on the way? Melbourne Sporting Partnership says that after a long few months of weather disrupted sports activity at the Sports Park they expect that normal services can resume in April

Now that the snow has cleared and the pitches are drying out the football and rugby teams hope to finish their seasons in winning ways

As the winter sports seasons come to an end so the summer sports begin The cricket club spent the weekend of March 24/25 getting its pitch ready for the start of the new season and the tennis club has finalised its fixtures for what should be another successful summer

Netball will be restarting on Mondays at 7pm on April 9 and new/returning players are always made to feel very welcome

To support the summer activity the pavilion will be open each night of the week from 6pm, as well as every weekend for drinks and refreshments

Catch of the day

THE fly-fishing season started back at Foremark Reservoir in March, and our photographer Pete Clough caught this picture of brothers Glyn and Paul Cooper (left to right) during the opening week

They enjoyed a good day’s fishing with 20 trout between them

The season started in early March but was affected by the chilly weather Towards the end of the month, however, conditions improved with numbers of fish caught rising to a daily rod average of nearly 11

l Staunton Harold Sailability sailor Leo Tivey taking control of a Hansa dinghy.

Cricket club signs up to All-Stars initiative again

MELBOURNE Town Cricket Club will once again be taking part in the new ECB initiative called All-Stars in the 2018 season

Last year was the first year for the scheme, which sees 5-8 year olds taking part in an eight-week programme in which they are taught the basic batting, bowling and fielding techniques in a relaxed and friendly manner to encourage the children to enjoy themselves

This year ’s all-stars co-ordinator will be Fraser Radcliffe, and the course begins on Saturday, May 12 Anyone interested in joining the 2018 All-Stars at Melbourne should contact Sue Potts on sueandtelpotts@hotmail com

The club will also be running teams at kwik, under-11s hardball, u13s and u15s, so if any children would like to join the club they should contact Sue on the above address

The senior sides start their 2018 season with home friendlies against Grace Dieu and Ibstock on April 14 and 15, and the league starts for all three senior sides a week later

The club has arranged a very full and varied fixture list for the 2018 season from midweek 20/20 friendlies to league games right through to mid-September Anyone wanting to play for the club should contact Alex Slater on alexslater72000@yahoo co uk

Hurry-up Harry gives Dynamo cup lift-off

MELBOURNE Dynamo Football club secured its first silverware of the 2017/18 season as the Reserves won a thrilling divisional two cup final 4-2 against Wirksworth Ivanhoe Reserves

It was played at Clay Cross’s ground on a cold Wednesday March evening and kicked off with a bang

Young Dynamo striker Harry Foxon opened the scoring after just 32 seconds and then, for good measure, scored his second after just three minutes

Ivanhoe went straight up the other end to pull a goal back just 20 seconds later

After three goals in the first four minutes the final settled down but on the half hour a wicked James Bennison cross was touched in by Harry Foxon to complete his hat-trick and leave Dynamo 31 up at half-time

The start of the second half saw chances for both sides Dynamo spurned a great opportunity for a fourth as substitute Alex Slater won a penalty, but Toby Foxon saw his spot kick saved But the same player soon made amends as he scored the Reserves’ fourth with a stunning strike from the edge of the box

A couple of great saves by Melbourne keeper Andy Mackin kept Wirksworth at bay and, although they pulled a goal back in the last minute, Duane McLlelans lifted the trophy in front of a healthy crowd, many of whom had travelled the hour ’s journey to support Dynamo

A week before, it was heartbreak for Dynamo s first team as they were beaten 2-1 in a closely fought Premier Divisional Cup final against local rivals Castle Donington Cobras

An Adam Ross strike in the first half gave Gavin Salisbury’s men a deserved 1-0 half-time lead Dynamo missed several gilt-edged chances to further their lead and this was to come back to haunt them as Cobras scored two goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half

Despite their best efforts, Melbourne couldn’t quite find an equaliser, even having an effort cleared otf the line in the final minute

The first team did, however, have a good March as they won through to the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup, destroying Derby Athletic 11-1 Adam Ross led the way with five goals ably supported by braces from skipper Carl Allsop and Daniel Charlesworth with Gavin Spencer and Michael Tristram completing the scoring

In the next round, Dynamo won a closely fought game away to Shirebrook Rangers 1-0 with Gavin Spencer getting the all-important goal

Dynamo had just one league game in the month and climbed back up to fourth place in the league as they beat Newhall United convincingly 7-1 with Jack Goodband hitting a hat-trick

Two from leaving goalscorer Adam Ross, taking his total to 30 for season, plus another for Gavin Spencer and substitute Dan Charlesworth completed the rout

Melbourne Dynamo Reserves also had a superb March, although their run of 19 consecutive wins came to an end as Wirksworth Ivanhoe from two divisions above beat them 4-2 in the Challenge Cup with Harry Foxon and Toby McCabe getting what turned out to be the consolation strikes

The reserves fared better a week later as they won through to the semi-finals of the Junior Cup, beating Willington Sports from the division above 3-2 with Toby McCabe scoring two including a penalty, plus a rare thunderbolt from veteran Vinny Hallifield securing the win

A week later a dramatic 2-1 home victory against nearest rivals Little Eaton Reserves left Dynamo close to winning the Division Two title An early Dan Toon header gave the reserves the lead which they held till five minutes to go when the visitors equalised

But in the final minute a superb move involving Slater and McCabe set up Toby Foxon to smash home the winner to earn three valuable points

They ended the month in some style, beating Derby Athletic 5-0 away from home A double from left back Josh Burton along with a Jack Scothern strike and two contenders for goal of the season from Toby Foxon and Alex Slater left the reserves needing just two wins to secure the league trophy

SILVER STARS the Melbourne Dynamo players celebrate their cup success