Melbourne Village Voice July 2017

SHOPS’ GHOST TOWN FEARS

By LUCY STEPHENS

MELBOURNE’s centre is suffering from lack of trade after the closure of the village’s last bank, a shopkeeper has warned.

Margaret Wheatley, who has owned Melbourne News in the Market Place for the past 25 years, told a public meeting that since the former NatWest bank shut last year, footfall in the village centre had dropped significantly, which had brought a knock-on effect on shops.

Margaret was speaking at a meeting of the Safer Neighbourhood Forum which met at the Assembly Rooms on June 19.

She said: “Trade is down considerably – Melbourne is becoming a ghost town in the afternoons, there’s hardly anybody about. Unless we want to see the jewel in South Derbyshire’s crown boarded up we’d better do something quick.”

Other central village shopkeepers, asked whether they had been affected by the closure of NatWest, agreed that footfall had dropped since it shut.

There were also fears that Melbourne residents were now travelling to nearby places like Ashby and Derby to go to the bank –which then meant they were no longer visiting local shops during the day.

Speaking in her shop outside the meeting, Margaret told the Village Voice: “I think people need to support local businesses. If people are complacent, all of a sudden they will wake up and see there are no shops here.

“What’s worrying me is that it’s going to get worse in the summer holidays, which are always quiet even though the village is open. Melbourne is a special place and it’s in danger of being decimated.”

Other nearby businesses agreed that the village had become quieter but pointed out that the Post Office offered banking services and was open for longer hours than the NatWest had been before it shut.

Shopkeepers also pointed to the need to adapt with the times when it came to opening hours, since modern profiles meant that people were more likely to be out at work during the day and therefore shopping at weekends and in the evenings.

They praised village events such as the arts festival and the carnival for drawing in visitors, and suggested that traffic wardens could be a valuable help in keeping cars moving during the daytimes when many people complain that there is nowhere to park in the village centre.

INSIDE STORIES

l The winning float at this year’s Melbourne Carnival, Puddleducks Pre-School’s Star Wars entry pictured with their trophy. Full Carnival report and pictures on Pages 12-13.

Melbourne Lets

Runner-up award for Assembly Rooms

MELBOURNE Assembly Rooms (MARs) is officially one of the most welcoming venues in Britain after coming runner-up in a national awards scheme.

The National Rural Theatre Awards were launched this year to recognise the best in touring productions and venues across the country.

Categories included best promoter and best rural touring newcomer, and Melbourne Assembly Rooms was nominated for Most Welcoming Venue.

At a ceremony in Nottingham hosted by playwright Stella Duffy on June 28, Melbourne Assembly Rooms took the runner-

up spot, with the category won by Felton Village Hall in Northumberland.

Assembly Rooms manager Andy Heafield said it was “great to be nominated”, adding: “It is an indicator of just how far MARs has come in the past five years as a community and (now) national venue for the community, sport and the arts.”

Director and National Rural Theatre Forum (NRTF) board member Elizabeth Freestone said: “We are delighted by the number of nominations we received for our first ever rural touring awards. It shows the interest and enthusiasm that exists among audiences, promoters, touring schemes and artists for this area of work.

“It’s thanks to the efforts of dedicated volunteer promoters, of hard-working performers, of committed touring schemes and of loyal audiences that rural touring is vibrant and thriving. The awards will allow us to publicly show gratitude to those individuals who have made a real difference to a community over the past year.”

MARs is run by a committee of local people who took over the running of the former school five years ago. It was previously run by the parish council as a leisure centre.

The venue, which has recently seen a refurbishment to its hallway and kitchen/bar area, estimates that around 1,000 people go through its doors every month.

... and two major honours for a local building firm

A YEAR-LONGrestoration project to a wellknown Melbourne house has garnered a local building firm two major awards.

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Alan Staley Building Contractors were crowned victors in two categories of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) regional awards in June for their work on the Dower House, whose gardens overlook Melbourne Pool.

The builders, who have previously won in the same awards for their work on Melbourne Hall and St Michael’s Parish Church, took away prizes for Best Heritage Project and Best Large Renovation at the Yorkshire and Trent regional ceremony.

In September the Melbourne-based building firm will travel to London where they are in with a chance of carrying off a national prize at a ceremony presented by TV building enthusiast Nick Knowles.

The project at the Dower House involved a new roof, the creation of a small classical extension in what was an unused yard, extending, improving and re-cladding in local stone a 1950s wing and much realignment and redesign of the interior arrangements.

But, because the house is grade two listed and dates back to the 1830s, there was a requirement to conform to historically accurate techniques such as the use of traditional lime mortar rather than cement, and to source slate from the Welsh quarry where the original 200-year-old tiles were from.

Alan said he was “very surprised” to have won not one, but two awards.

“To be honest, this is probably one of the nicest projects I’ve ever done,” he said.

“It was very rewarding. The preservation side of the job is very satisfying – conserving something that’s been there for hundreds of years.”

Steve Laurence, FMB North director, said: “The Master Builder Awards give the FMB the opportunity to celebrate a job well done and for clients to say thank you to their builders. For the building industry it is an opportunity to celebrate all that is good about small local builders and their importance to the UK economy.

“Time and time again we have been impressed with just how far these builders will go to ensure their client is happy.

“It is this dedication that we want to celebrate. Alan Staley Building Contractor Ltd should feel justly proud of this achievement in winning and we wish the company every success in the na-

company’s

PROPOSALS to redevelop a redundant reservoir on the outskirts of Melbourne into a contemporary family home have been sent to local planners.

The former water pump station and balancing tank caused a bidding frenzy when it was put up for online auction by previous owners Severn

tional competition.”

Griselda Kerr, from the Dower House, said she was “thrilled” to hear of the award, adding: “Working with them was a real joy.”

The Dower House project was designed and managed by Griselda and William Kerr’s son, Robbie, from Winchester-based ADAM Architecture, a firm which specialises in classical design.

Trent Water last year.

The site on Bog Lane attracted 120 bids and the new owners have now applied for planning permission to turn it into a two-floor home by adding on to the existing structure.

The plans are currently available to view on the South Derbyshire District Council website.

Derby-based Justin Smith architects, who have drawn up the designs, told The Village Voice: “We have worked extremely hard with the clients and local authority to ensure that the original structures are preserved and enhanced, to make a telling contribution to local sustainable and vernacular architecture.”

l Alan Staley (right) receives his

award for work on the Dower House (top) from the Federation of Master Builders.

LEFT: Lynn and David Watson from the Arioso Choir with their leader, Ellie Gregson, Elizabeth and Gary Hill, this year’s Well Dressing designers, with their children Edie and Polly, the Rev. Paul Hygate, Well Dressing Festival Co-ordinator and chairman Steve Hyde, the Rev. John Hartley and South Derbyshire District Council vice-chair, Cllr Beth Hall.

BELOW: Members of the Aston-onTrent WI with their Ladybird books themed well dressing.

AN ANCIENT Derbyshire tradition is still flourishing in Aston-on-Trent which celebrated its annual well dressing ceremony in July.

Reincarnated in modern times, the Aston Well Dressing festival is now in its 21st year and raised around £2,000 to be divided between two nominated charities – MIND and the Aston & Weston Bowls Club.

The origins of well dressing go back centuries and today more than 140 Derbyshire towns and villages celebrate the tradition from May to mid-September.

The highly decorative pictures are created with natural materials such as rice and flowers with many village organisations taking part, including school children, the WI, Guides and Brownies.

The main Aston well dressing, depicting the emergency services, was designed this year by newcomers Elizabeth and Gary Hill.

Organisers said a record number of people attended the blessing ceremony on the village green, which was officiated by chairman Steve Hyde, the Rev. John Hartley, the Rev. Paul Hygate and district council vice-chair Cllr Beth Hall.

Two days of music and entertainment were provided by Brookside Jazz, Unbound, JD Magic, Viz the Stilt Walker, Derbyshire Dragons, the Junkyard Angels with their guests Oliver Keane and the Hatters, Pinxton Puppets, the Red Dot Theatre Company and the Newhall Brass Band, while pubs The Malt Shovel

and the White Hart offered the Midnight Pumpkin Trucks, Inferno, the Rogues and the Real Deal.

A butterfly walk was conducted by Ken Orpe in Aston’s Brickyard Plantation and presentations were displayed in All Saints Church from many of the village organisations including the local history society, the art club and the Aston & Weston Branch of the Royal British Legion.

Police react to leisure areas vandalism

VANDALS have been smashing bottles and deliberately undoing bolts on play equipment at a Melbourne children’s park, a public meeting heard.

Melbourne Parish Council clerk Jacqui Storer told the body’s latest meeting on July 4 how vandals were causing trouble at Lothian Gardens, the children’s playground next to the doctor’s surgery and the Assembly Rooms.

“It’s low-level, but it’s a nuisance,” she said.

The vandals have been smashing bottles on the large stone plinth, which is causing broken glass to litter the area, and undoing bolts on play equipment.

The matter has been reported to police and one group of people has been spoken to.

Meanwhile, the fence between the toilets and the gates has also been damaged by a young man and girl who captured their behaviour on Snapchat – a mobile messaging app which, unfortunately for police in this instance, deletes material after a certain period.

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FINDERN residents turned out to see a plaque unveiled to commemorate a project which saved the parish rooms for the village.

The new plaque on the wall of the parish rooms was unveiled by Seymour Bell, who led the restoration project, which started in 2003. The rooms were originally two cottages which were bought by the parish council in 1895 for use by the community.

They fell into disuse after Findern opened a village hall. In 2002 the then parish council was

split as to whether to sell them, knock them down or save them.

It was Seymour Bell’s casting vote which saved the rooms and an £86,000 restoration project began, which saw the rooms extended by a storey and fitted with all mod cons. The building is now tea rooms.

Pictured (l-r) are: Pat Maddock, Erica Stewart, Di Wright, Robert Hudson, Vic Wright, Seymour Bell, Mary Goodall (P.C.chairman), Frank Davidson, Lynette Nash and Jean White.

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Country Living

with Robert Parker

JUNE could certainly be described as flaming this year with some very high temperatures. Despite this we have had a goodish grass growing season so far with some unusual twists.

Cattle and sheep always do well in hot weather providing they have some shade and plenty of water – even though they might not have a lot of grass.

The high temperatures have brought things on and we could be in for an early harvest, but we have a long way to go yet. Some combines have been cutting winter barley locally in the first few days of July, which is early.

I seem to think that in my lifetime we have cut in June before now.

These early crops will not be good ones as they will have suffered in the early spring drought which will reduce yields. Our own barley will not cut until at least mid-July, having been nurtured and bolstered by liberal amounts of cow manure.

Good old fashioned mixed farming I think you could say!

n Just walked down the garden and tripped over what I thought to be a dead swallow on the lawn. On closer examination it was well alive and as soon as I picked it up and held my hand open it flew unsteadily off, to be chased after by what I assumed was one of its parents.

I am very pleased we have a massive population of swallows but not so some other winged and feathered beings. An awful lot of jackdaws, rooks and, I think, crows are around the farm buildings all the time searching for food pickings.

The maize silage clamp is the major attraction and these birds are crazy for the grains in it. We have to net up the clamp every day after we have taken out the cows’ quota as, if it’s not covered, they make massive holes in it and truly mess it up.

Some friends like to come and shoot them and a few days ago one guy shot over 40 in a couple of hours.

Within half an hour of him leaving I swear there seemed to be more than ever flying around.

n ON the last day of June, Melbourne Civic Society held a Midsummer Event at Melbourne Hall, by kind invitation of Lord and Lady Ralph.

Members and guests were able to walk around the hall gardens in fine though rather cool weather, and greatly enjoyed a

buffet meal prepared by society members Claire Sturges and Barbara Simpson. Pictured (l-r) are: Mike and Tonia Bredhold (guests), George Hudson (member and Melbourne Parish Councillor), Paul Grimley (chairman), Heather Wheeler MP and Pam Adams (secretary).

Primary school shake-up

BREEDON pupils will be staying on for their final year in primary education for the first time next year, as part of a county-wide shake-up.

St Hardulph’s Church of England Primary School in Breedon-on-the-Hill is part of Leicestershire education authority – one of the last areas in the country still to have offered a three-tier system.

Up to now, that has meant pupils go to primary school up to year five, before moving to a new school in year six.

Under the two-tier system operating in most areas, primaries take children up to the end of year six before transferring them to secondary school.

Leicestershire is moving away from the system and this

year pupils about to reach the end of year five at St Hardulph’s Church of England Primary School in Breedon on the Hill will be staying on for year six next year, for the first time.

Before now, year five pupils would have travelled to school in Castle Donington at the age of 10.

The school has eight year five pupils in a school of 72 and they have taken on a new teacher for year six starting in September.

School parent and governor

Liz Guilford said: “I think the stability is great and I think it’s good that the children have another year here to grow in themselves and get ready for moving up to secondary school.”

Further changes at St Hardulph’s will see a new ‘Mon-

key Club’, providing early years provision for two to five year olds, plus before and after care for school-aged children.

The Monkey Club CIC (Community Interest Company) is taking over from the pre-school previously run at St Hardulph’s by parents and it offers wraparound childcare from 7.45am to 5.15pm for the first time.

Caroline Wenham, headteacher at St Hardulph’s, said: “The whole team at St Hardulph’s is looking forward to working alongside the Monkey Club to provide complete wrap-around care for children in Breedon and the surrounding villages.

“We have recently been declared a ‘good’ school by Ofsted and are committed to improving facilities at the school.”

Trip to see the Weeping Window

THESE Pool Cottage residents from Melbourne are pictured enjoying a day out in Derby where they went to visit the celebrated Weeping Window at the Silk Mill in the city centre.

Every month Pool Cottage hires the Melbourne Community Care bus to go on a trip, the venue being decided by residents.

In June, their outing took them to see the poppies at the Silk Mill – part of a national tour of the exhibit which was a hugely emotional popular triumph when it started life at The Tower of London in 2014.

Created by ceramicist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper, the poppies are on tour across the country where they are moving from location to location either as weeping windows or displayed in a wave formation.

Before they went to Derby, the poppies were on show at Hull Maritime Museum. They are set to stay at the Silk Mill until July 23 after which they will be shown at the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff.

Matthew Buckley, deputy manager of Pool Cottage, said residents were “…raving about it and saying what a beautiful sight it was”.

The trip was paid for out of the Pool Cottage residents’ amenity fund.

Christine Lee, who runs Melbourne Community Care with Alison Thornhill, said the charity was delighted to be working with Pool Cottage and that residents had enjoyed their trip to the Silk Mill.

The dangers of taking a dip

WHEN the sun shines it’s very tempting to take a dip – but police are now warning of the dangers at popular swimming spots including Swarkestone and Milton.

Derbyshire Constabulary have warned against swimming in lakes, reservoirs, rivers and canals and say they have had many reports from across Derbyshire of young people going into the water as the weather turned hotter in June.

Officers in the affected areas have been responding to reports, carrying out patrols, advising swimmers and raising awareness of the dangers.

Supt Michelle Shooter, who is the lead for operational policing in Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales, North East Derbyshire, Amber Valley and the High Peak, said: “We are urging people not to go in the water to cool down if the weather is hot, as they could endanger their own lives and the

Rings theft: man arrested

POLICE have arrested a 25-year-old man in connection with a burglary in Melbourne during which an elderly lady had rings stolen from her fingers.

The incident happened at a house on Derby Road on the evening of May 22.

Derbyshire Constabulary has now arrested the man, from Leicestershire, in connection with the incident.

He has been released under investigation while inquiries continue.

Fire safety issues raised at council

A DEBATE on the need to raise awareness of fire safety following the deadly blaze at London’s Grenfell Tower will result in Melbourne Parish Council writing to a local housing association to check the correct measures are in place.

The question was raised at the parish meeting on July 4 by new councillor Simon Green, who spoke of the need for local representatives to be seen doing all they could to ask questions on behalf of residents.

Cllr Jim Hewlett, South Derbyshire District Councillor for Melbourne, had already said none of the district’s properties was higher than 18 metres, or six storeys, and none was clad in the materials of Grenfell.

It was agreed that the parish council would write to the housing association responsible for the block of flats opposite The Lamb pub to check that fire safety measures are in order.

lives of others if they get into difficulty and need someone to help.

“Open water such as lakes, reservoirs and other sites like disused, water-filled quarries can be extremely dangerous even for experienced swimmers.

“While it might be tempting please remember that there are hidden dangers such as strong currents, sudden drops, steep sides, and things under the water that you might not see from the surface.

“It isn’t worth the huge risk so please stay safe and out of the water.”

United Utilities, a water company which manages recreation sites in parts of the Peak District, has recently updated a campaign around reservoir safety. You can find more information on the ‘About Us’ pages of their website: www.unitedutilities.com/help-and-support.

Police probe attempted robbery

AN ATTEMPTED robbery took place in Melbourne as a driver was on his way to pick up friends from the Download festival at Castle Donington. Police said the man had arranged to collect his friends from the music event and had stopped at the entrance of the industrial estate in Station Road, Melbourne, at about 11.30pm on Friday, June 9.

A black 4x4, which the victim believed to be an X-plate Mercedes ML, pulled up near him.

The passenger began asking for directions and, while they were talking, men got out of the Mercedes and approached the victim’s car, telling him to get out and trying the door handle.

The victim drove off toward Melbourne, hearing a loud thud at the back of his car. He later

checked and found a deep mark in the bodywork, possibly caused by a hammer.

He did not get a good look at the men, only to say they are white and in their 20s.

The Mercedes had blackedout windows.

Anyone with information should call DC Ton Barry on 101, quoting reference 17000243082.

MARs still ‘in the black’

ADDRESSING the annual general meeting of members at Melbourne Assembly Rooms (MARs), chairman Phil Dobby reported that it had been a “busy and successful year.”

He was pleased to report that the finances remained “in the black” and the commitment made in 2016 to complete the foyer and kitchen refurbishment had been fulfilled.

He paid tribute to John Robinson for the work he had put into managing the refurbishment project, and thanked both SDDC (South Derbyshire District Council) and The One Off for all the assistance they had given. He also reported on some of the successes as a community venue, which manager Andy Heafield had organised –notably the “MEL” community awards, the Concert by the Pool which had raised over £2,000,

and the Community Awareness Day.

The small attendance of the membership, with only a fraction of the 69 registered members there, were told that the next project was the refurbishment of the toilet facilities on the front of the building, due to take place in the near future. There was also a plan to engage with the users through a user survey, which it was hoped would help in the longer term with deciding priorities and obtaining funding.

A concern was raised about the condition of the car park, and in particular the abuse of it, by “outsiders” using it as free parking for the airport.

It was explained that the use of the public car park was wholly the responsibility of the district council and not of MARs Ltd.

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n PRIZE day is approaching at Melbourne Junior School and local businesses have stepped forward to lend their support.

Gary Dunne, manager of the Melbourne branch of Sainsbury’s, is pictured donating a cheque for £90 to sponsor the English prizes handed to pupils in each year group at the school’s end of year awards ceremony. Left is Brian Mayhew and on the right Jane Whirledge.

East Midlands Airport has sponsored the end of year maths prizes, also with £90.

Green spaces debate reopens

THE conflict between the demand for land for house building and preserving local green and open spaces is likely to come back into focus now that South Derbyshire District Council (SDDC) has opened consultation on its proposals for Local Green Spaces.

The consultation period began on June 12 and runs until August 7, with a number of drop-in events running in the area. The consultation is running in parallel with two others, one about affordable housing and another about design guidance, which aims to improve the design quality of developments.

Local Green Spaces are defined areas of land that are recognised as being of ‘true value to the local community’. The process of identifying potential sites within South Derbyshire began through the Local Plan, with sites put forward by members of the public in initial consultations.

Whilst there was clearly support for Local Green Spaces from local communities, with approximately 26 sites listed in Melbourne and King’s Newton, SDDC is now suggesting that “insufficient evidence as to why the spaces are special or particularly significant was provided”. This will be needed to enable the spaces to be designated and included in the Local Plan (Part 2).

One of the main aims of the current consultation is to enable local communities to provide that evidence in support of designating areas that are particularly important to them. The designations will be taken forward through a separate Local Green Spaces Development Plan Document.

The local Neighbourhood Development plan for Melbourne and King’s Newton originally identified 21 potential sites as Local Green Spaces, but it is likely that this number will be significantly reduced in the final plan as a result of land-owner objections or the restrictive criteria for designation.

The consultation document is available to view online at the address shown below and at all South Derbyshire libraries. Drop-in events have taken place in Swadlincote, Melbourne, Repton and Hilton, with the remaining events taking place in Rosliston (July 12) and Etwall (July 13).

More information about all three consultations can be found at www.southderbys.gov.uk/policyconsultation

– Frank Hughes

Double delight for shop owner Amy

A RECENTLY opened Melbourne fashion store is celebrating its first birthday in style, after the owner found out she had been shortlisted in two categories of prestigious national awards.

Eighty Seven, in Potter Street, has been named as a double finalist in the wellknown Drapers Independent Awards, which celebrate the best in the UK’s independent fashion scene.

The shop has been shortlisted for Best Customer Experience and Best New Business.

Owner Amy Cook said: “We have just celebrated the firstyear anniversary of the store, so to now discover we have been shortlisted for such widely-respected awards really is the icing on the cake.”

Amy left a high-profile career in London events management, where she managed multi-million pound accounts, to set up shop in Melbourne.

Having grown up in Church Broughton, she is returning to her roots – mum Sally manages Courtyard Beauty Salon around the corner.

Amy spent her 20s working in sports management and travelling round the world, until she reached a crossroads working in London and decided that owning a fashion shop in Derbyshire was where her heart lay – and she hasn’t looked back.

“I was living the London life, I was on a great wage, I was working hard and playing hard,” she said. “But I just sat down one day and thought ‘what is it I really want to do?’

“Now I come to work every day, but it doesn’t feel like I’m coming to work.

“I’m surprised but elated by being shortlisted for these awards. Looking at the people who have been shortlisted, I’ve got some stiff competition!”

She added: “There was no doubt in my mind when I made the decision to open a shop in Derbyshire that I wanted to start it in Melbourne.”

Amy, who aims to sell interesting, independent, affordable fashion, will find out if she has won either award at a black-tie gala dinner at The Brewery in London on September 13.

Drapers deputy editor Kirsty McGregor said: “These busi-

nesses never fail to impress us with their exceptionally high standard of customer service, store design, brand mix and the overall experience they offer.

“This year the calibre of entries was extremely high, which is remarkable given the tough trading environment. It demonstrates the wealth of talent and innovation across the independent sector.

“Congratulations to all those who have been shortlisted. Our panel of judges now has the tough job of choosing the winners.”

– Lucy Stephens

SMILES BETTER ... Amy Cook outside her Potter Street shop.

n THE “Weston Hideout” is officially open and the Village Voice was on hand to take a snap. Weston on Trent Primary School has been awarded £10,000 in Lottery money for its Forest Schools project – designed to get children enjoying the outdoors. In June the school opened the finished ‘hideout’ on its grounds. It includes a tepee, fire pit, hammock, willow tunnel and den building area.

Weston Primary offers a Forest Schools curriculum whereby children spend time in the grounds of Elvaston Castle learning outdoor skills such as knot-tying, climbing trees and lighting fires.

Egg boxes are a green bin no-no

LOCAL residents will no longer be able to recycle cardboard egg boxes in their green bin, a meeting heard.

Councillor Jim Hewlett, who represents Melbourne at South Derbyshire District Council, conveyed the news at the most recent parish council meeting at the Assembly Rooms on July 4.

He said egg boxes had been put into residents’ recycling for the past four years since current contractors had taken on the job. This was despite the fact the original contract had in fact specified no egg boxes – but the district council had been told this would not be effected.

Then, in June, some people from Hatton and Hilton had found their green bins were not being collected when egg boxes were inside.

Now everyone in South Derbyshire is going to be written to with new rules as to what can and cannot be recycled – and cardboard egg boxes are from now on a no-no.

This, explained Cllr Hewlett, is because of the glue inside the packaging.

Poppy Wood ‘flasher’

INQUIRIES are still ongoing after a man exposed himself to a dog walker in Melbourne.

The incident happened at Poppy Wood at around 10.15am on May 5.

Another chance to share in the Whistlewood dream

ON A warm midsummerish day, nearly 500 people went to Whistlewood Common in Melbourne for an afternoon of music, crafts, beer, and the occasional wheelbarrow.

This was the fourth year that Whistlewood has held its “Midsummerish” festival and this time the event was so popular it sold out.

On the day there was music from nine local bands – all living within 15 minutes of Melbourne – and Roots Community Choir from Newbold.

Visitors also enjoyed barn dancing, local food and beer, a children’s talent contest, shiatsu massage, storytelling, woodland crafts and, of course, the Whistlewood signature – wheelbarrow racing.

The team at Whistlewood are now calling on the community to invest in their current share offer to get a straw-baled community hub built – with the match funding deadline fast approaching on July 21. The minimum investment is £50.

They are also seeking corporate sponsors to invest sums of between £5,000 and £10,000 in the project, which will provide a roundhouse with a stage overlooking a grass bank to be used as a new community space for educational workshops, entrepreneurial activities, arts, theatre and music events.

Whistlewood now has around 250 members who have invested in the 10-acre piece of land.

Money they raise by August 31 – the target being £80,000 – will be Lottery match funded so that the community hub can be built.

Sarah Spencer, chair of Whistlewood Common, said: “It was fantastic to see so many local people buy shares on Saturday at the festival. We asked each person to write their reasons on a piece of bunting to decorate the site.

“The reasons included: ‘to have a legacy for my children or grandchildren’, ‘to support local wildlife’, ‘to create a piece of eco-heaven’, to bring the community closer together’, ‘to educate our children about where their food comes from’.

“Each motivation was unique to each person, and that is what is so fantastic about this project – it offers some benefit for absolutely every person in the area. It would be brilliant if more people can fill in bunting of their own, and ensure that the project is sustainable not just environmentally, but financially as well.

“The thought of missing out on so much free money for Melbourne is also a heart-breaking prospect when hundreds of local people have worked so hard to get the project this far.”

LS

n THE sun shone, the dancers danced, the cakes were baked – the very best of the traditional English summer was on show in Findern as the village held its annual fete.

Findern holds its fete every June and this year’s event featured a sell-out evening do for the first time, with families dancing the night away to Derby covers band Spaced.

TV auctioneer Charles Hanson opened the festivities and is pictured above with this year’s Miss Findern Emily Hall and her attendants James and Hanna.

The occasion is organised by a group of volunteers and the Village Hall committee.

Dawn Foote, who helped run the fete, said: “It was amazing; we did have feedback that it was one of the best organised.”

The fete raises funds for a community project, with last year’s event contributing funds to the newly refurbished children’s playground in the village.

BELOW LEFT: Harriet Martin shows off her gold medal from the wheelbarrow race.

BELOW RIGHT: ‘Teriffic Tom’ Smithard and sister ‘Abracadabra Annie’ at the Talent Tent.

New WI members are welcome

NEW members are welcome at the Breedon Women’s Institute, whose members enjoyed a pizza and paella evening for their June meeting at the home of vice- president Helen Hall.

Duncan’s helping hand for disabled

DANIEL Hardy punches once with his right fist, then quickly again with his left, wearing an expression of extreme concentration.

The 32-year-old has Down’s Syndrome and goes once a week to his free self-defence session in Milton Village Hall, where local instructor Duncan Hogg takes him and fellow classmates for an energetic session of Krav Maga – the self-defence system originally developed for Israeli special forces.

The idea behind the system is swift and aggressive defence against attack and Duncan’s students are taught to quickly punch and kick their way out of any trouble they may come up against.

Daniel has been going for five years, progressing through nine levels to become a red belt, as has fellow student Mitchell Hendley, who has learning difficulties.

So how did it all start?

Duncan was inspired to set up the free classes while in his role as chauffeur to the mayor of Derby. It was about five years ago that he visited a disability meeting with the then incumbent of that role, Lisa Higginbottom, where he “… heard the horrendous stories they told about disabled people being victimised, bullied, spat at”.

Shocked by what he had heard, he spent the next six months planning how to deliver free classes for the disabled, which involved sitting in a wheelchair while his co-coaches attacked him.

He’s been delivering the classes ever since.

“I’ve made some amazing friends,” he says, grinning at Daniel.

“I think it’s really good, it helps me to know what I can do if someone tries to attack me – I’ll know what to do in that situation,” says Daniel, who works for the NHS as well as in Sainsbury’s and McDonald’s in Swadlincote, adding: “Duncan gives us a work-out!”

All the students say how much the classes have improved their fitness and confidence, as well as co-ordination.

“When these guys started, they couldn’t catch a ball,” says Duncan. “It gives them that confidence to think that, actually, you don’t have to be a victim.”

THE FLOORING AND BED COMPANY ..…the

At the moment the free disabled classes in Krav Maga have around three or four regulars, but Duncan would love to train more people.

Anyone of any age with any kind of disability is welcome to come along and find out more.

“It’s for anybody: amputees, people having anger management sessions, who’ve got ADHD – anyone,” Duncan says.

The classes run on Tuesdays at Milton Village Hall from 7-8pm. Anyone with a disability who is interested in going along can just turn up or phone Duncan first to talk it through on 07973 663601.

–Lucy Stephens

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PUT ’EM UP ... Daniel Hardy (above) ready for action.

RIGHT: Duncan Hogg puts Mitchell Hendley and Nicky Suarez through their paces.

Pictures by TINA BAKER.

HUNT John Richard (Richard)

Evelyn and family wish to thank everyone for their cards, messages of sympathy and for their support at his funeral. Also for the donations received in memory of Richard. Special thanks to Richard's sisters and brother, my sister and brother-in-law for all their help and support at this very sad time. Thank you to Rev. M. Harris for his lovely Service of Thanksgiving, and to J.P. Springthorpe & Co for all their help, caring and professionalism.

Melbourne Hall

Those good old days at secondary school

HAPPY school memories came flooding back for many people as the Melbourne Historical Research Group put on its annual summer show at the Assembly Rooms.

Melbourne secondary school shut its doors in 1977 and to mark the 40th anniversary of its closure the group held a special exhibition showing reports, film footage and photographs over the weekend of July 1 and 2.

Former teachers and pupils turned out to reminisce, with the organisers saying it was their best attended summer show ever.

On the first day it was a time for meeting old friends when Sue Lakin (nee Spare) and Sue Dunhill (nee Adcock) clapped eyes on former friend Jayne Hatton – whom they had not seen for 40 years.

The trio spent a happy time remembering how the old “big school” used to run and what happy days they were.

Sue Lakin, whose mother Jean Spare taught hundreds of school children to swim

at the old training pool on Church Street, said the school had been “brilliant fun”.

“We’d be able to walk home from school, you couldn’t skive because somebody would see you and your mum would know before you got home!” she said.

“If you were given the cane your mum knew before you got home, too.”

Jayne added: “Coming here was just a big family, there was no nastiness, no bullying.

“I didn’t want to pass the 11-Plus because I didn’t want to get on the bus –I wanted to go to the big school and I still call it the big school!”

School has changed greatly since the days when Melbourne’s secondary was still open – in the 1970s girls were making much of their school uniform, stitching their summer pinafores and summer dresses at home.

All three women remembered cookery lessons: “You’d make rice pudding and run home with it,” said Jayne; and recalled going home for lunch between the end of morning school at noon and the start of the afternoon at 1.30pm.

“They often said Melbourne changed when the school shut,” said Sue Lakin.

But some things are still unchanged, with school trips and reports still as much a part of secondary education as ever they were.

Also at the exhibition were former fire station chief Dave Astle with wife Chris, and a selection of their vintage toy collection – including 1930s Bisto kids models, Sindy dolls in their original boxes plus Tri-ang wooden toys.

Teresa Johnson, minutes secretary of the historical research group, said: “It went really well; everybody was so pleased and there were hugs and so much happiness around.”

WALKS

MELBOURNE Footpaths Group will be holding four guided walks over the next few months, with the first one on July 20.

The July walk will be an eight-mile circular route starting at 10am from Melbourne Assembly Rooms and taking in Staunton Harold and the Calke Estate.

It will last four to five hours, including a break en route.

On Saturday, August 26,

the group will be leading a 1.5-mile circular walk starting at 9am from the Senior Citizens’ Centre, where breakfast will be on sale after the walk.

At 11am on September 9 there will be a special circular five-mile walk from Melbourne Assembly Rooms to St Mary and St Hardulph Church in Breedon, with all donations put towards urgent church repairs.

And then, at 10am on Thursday, October 12, there

will be a five-mile circular walk to Stanton-by-Bridge starting at Melbourne Assembly Rooms.

Melbourne Footpaths Group requests a donation of £2 from walkers to help towards its work and running costs. For more information on the group see www.melbournefootpathsgroup.org.uk.

More on the Breedon church fund-raising appeal can be found at www.breedonchurches.co.uk

THIS year children are being urged to turn detective when they sign up the annual library Summer Reading Challenge.

Derbyshire County Council’s libraries run the challenge in conjunction with the Reading Agency.

The challenge has a different theme each time and this year detectives is the name of the game.

Children who sign up are encouraged to read up to six books over the summer holidays, so their literacy skills do not lapse over the break.

l Girls learning to swim in Melbourne in the early 70s.

l Teacher Dave Archer, Sue Johnson, Valerie Dixon, Janet Rodgers and Duncan Grain on a school trip to Ireland in 1963.

ABOVE: Sue Dunhill (left) and Sue Lakin.

BELOW: Chris and Dave Astle with some of their vintage toys.

l Netball players of 1974: Christine Miller, Christine Robey, Helen Gates, Rosie Smith, Jackie Maydew, Julie Crossley, Lorraine Adcock and Lorraine Samways.

Everything’s coming up roses for Griselda

ONE of the many delights of Derbyshire life is the opportunity to take a stroll through the select gardens taking part in the National Open Garden Scheme. And, here in Melbourne, there is a particular gem – at the Dower House.

The garden belongs to Griselda and William Kerr, who have lived in the house since 1988 and on the recent open day Griselda talked to Village Voice about her extensive collection of roses.

Asked what got her started, Griselda said she looked out on the garden one day in 2002 and thought “this is just awful”. Many of the plants which had been planted but not properly cared for during the years she and William were living abroad had died and the garden was smothered in brambles. She resolved to do something about it.

After three years of what she described as “nerdy study” she began to plant in earnest, and started the transformation into the varied and fascinating pleasure it is now.

Her collection of over 100 different species of roses was not really deliberate, as such.

“There was a bit of a tradition of roses in the garden going back to the 1950s and 60s, but the vast majority have been planted in the last few years,” she said.

“In fact, when recently I made a list of them all I was astonished there were so many!”

With a very long list of favourites to choose from she mentioned particularly

Rosa Bonica, which flowers in multitudinous clusters and continues to do so right into November; the evergreen Macmillan Rose; the climbers – A Shropshire lad, Malvern Hills and The Pilgrim – which she has trained up metal obelisks; and Chevy Chase, which has rambled completely over the boathouse by the pool.

Someone recently remarked to her “…the trouble with your garden, is that you have too many roses”, which she said was a bit sad.

“But I do love them all the same.”

And she has many handy tips for wouldbe rose growers: “Feed them – just before bud burst is best; keep the ground clear of fallen leaves – blackspot is a spore which will splash up onto the rose with raindrops; spray them twice a year – most roses are best pruned from the base when they are well established.

“Don’t be frightened of them,” she advised. “Control them; if they get too big, cut them down.”

What is particularly striking in the Dower House garden is the variety of views and perspectives from all the different areas of the garden.

From the edge of the pool as you look across the lawn your focus shifts through a lavender border, up the bank where Damask roses tumble, over to the house covered with a climbing rose.

Elsewhere you wander through the rose tunnel and a dozen varieties will hold your interest.

Up in the ‘woodland’ recent plantings of species roses offer a promise of colour and fragrance in years to come.

If you would like more hints from Griselda, you can now follow her on www.instagram.com/griselda.kerr and she is in the process of writing a book on plant care due to be published by Pimpernel Press in early 2019.

It is also good to know that visitors to this garden have so far raised this year more than £2,300 for the charities supported by the scheme – almost all cancer charities which are close to Griselda’s heart.

– Frank Hughes

THE sun shone Melbourne turn year’s Fete and The 1980s … th inal Star Wars fil of this year’s even lenge.

The annual pro ing outfits and th provided by Pudd ing Princess Leia

Second placed w bourne M’Eightie 80s.

Also taking par mon themed vehi actment of the fa John McEnroe an Four of the lor based DG Light H move through Me as the immortal W

The annual be Birds, who produ teenager going to Kevan Hind, w and opened this y a great honour to and Carnival. We goes into making you to all those in Also visible on ture plus the Roll

Words: LUCY STEPHENS Pictures: TINA BAKER and PETE CLOUGH

ABOVE: Visitors enjoy the Punch and Judy show.

LEFT: The Chesterfield Musketeers marching brass band.

Dressed as Swedish tennis star Bjorn Borg is Luke Sherriff with son Charlie.

ack to the 80s in ome style

e, the music blared, the costumes were neon –ned back the clock 30 years as it celebrated this Carnival.

he decade of big hair dos, shoulder pads and the origlms (OK – the first one was in 1977), was the theme nt, and local residents rose magnificently to the chalocession of floats usually captures the most eye-catchhis year’s did not disappoint with the winning entry dleducks Pre-School with its Star Wars theme includand a lot of mini storm troopers.

were Oakden School of Dance and third were the Meles, who dressed as TV and film characters from the rt in the float were the WI with their Greenham Comicle, and Melbourne Table Tennis Club with a re-enmous 1980s Wimbledon men’s singles final between nd Bjorn Borg. ries for the floats were provided by King’s NewtonHaulage, and crowds gathered to watch the procession elbourne accompanied by pop hits of the decade such Wake Me Up Before You Go Go and Beat It.

est dressed shop window competition was won by uced a great display along the theme of a 1980s a disco.

who helped to organise the carnival in days gone by year’s event with his wife Chris, told the crowds: “It’s o have been asked to open the 2017 Melbourne Fete e know from past experience how much hard work this event and making it successful, so a big thanknvolved.”

the day were the DeLorean car from Back to the Fulerworld Roller Boot.

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LEFT: Guests of Honour, Kevan and Chris Hind, in the carnival procession.

VINTAGE & CONTEMPORARY

Saturday & Sunday 29th - 30th July

10.00am - 4.00pm

ABOVE: Crowds gathering at Melbourne Junior School playing fields.

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ABOVE: (left to right) Madison Whetton, Emilia Rowe, Ava Miller, Ruby Bradbury, Iman Willmore (Miss Melbourne), Lilly Copeland and Isabel Brown.

LEFT: Children joining in the fun.

VE: Lauren Minifie waves at the crowds.

T: Tracey Ridley, Carnival Chair, as Marty McFly ont of the DeLorean ‘time machine’.

Bowls club is staying put

AT A recent meeting held between the Melbourne Sporting Partnership (MSP) and Melbourne Bowls Club, it was advised that no funding was available towards the construction of a synthetic outdoor bowling green on the Cockshut Lane development.

All the £2.5million given to the MSP for building works had been spent and any future funding would likely be spent on extra drainage to the rugby pitches, car parking, play area, trim trail and landscaping.

The MSP also confirmed that the tennis club had expressed its wishes to build three new courts next to the ones they already had. Any new building works would have to be funded directly by the club themselves.

The bowls club feels that an outdoor allweather bowls green would be a big asset to the sports already on offer and attract players from all around the area. When the weather deteriorates most traditional grass greens become almost unplayable but on a synthetic one only snow would stop play.

Another good reason for a new green is that there aren’t any sports currently available for the older person. With an ever-increasing ageing population, bowls can offer the opportunity to enjoy active sport well into your eighties. Melbourne has a population where nearly 50 per cent are aged 45 and over, and there comes a time when

your body won't let you run after or kick a ball.

The huge amount of money needed to fund a bowls green makes the project seem almost unattainable but the bowls club has appointed a member to investigate possible grants. It should also be mentioned that the club is very grateful for the small green they have the use of at the Senior Citizens’ Centre (SCC).

The club has been based there for 47 years and hundreds of players have enjoyed bowling and socialising there in that time.

The SCC is leased from the Melbourne Hall Estate and has to compete with other establishments offering similar facilities. The centre is run by a volunteer committee and is keen to promote its availability to groups and clubs wishing to hire its main hall, two meeting rooms and kitchen. It has recently benefited from a new central heating system.

So, it looks very much like the bowls club will be staying put, playing on its old green for the foreseeable future. With recent rule changes by Bowls Derbyshire, the club is now eligible to join the league and is seriously considering it for next season. So anyone wishing to play bowls is welcome to visit on a Wednesday evening or Saturday afternoon from 2pm and enjoy a couple of hours playing on one of the most scenic greens in the East Midlands.

Melbourne Bowls Club

Outstanding church concert

AT 7pm on Sunday, June 25, courtesy of the Revd. Steve Short, Rector of Melbourne Parish Church, I attended with my wife, her sister and husband, a concert at the church.

This was to be an evening of outstanding music by the visiting St John’s Choir, from Newfoundland, Canada, who were guests of and joined by the excellent Cantabile Choir from South Derbyshire.

Both choirs alternated their presentations throughout the evening, giving the audience memorable, high quality music. Some examples of the varied selection were: Wade In The Water, Amazing Grace, Hallelujah, Fields Of Gold, I Only Have Eyes For You and a perfect rendition of the famous Vicar of Dibley version of The Lord Is My Shepherd.

There was no intermission at the halfway stage, but did we really mind because two highly talented musicians of the Cantabile Choir, who played a violin and cello duet of the highest quality as their welcome gift to St John’s Choir, surprisingly entertained us.

Following the concert, refreshments were pro-

vided on the rectory lawn, giving audience members the opportunity to meet and chat to the visiting choirs, which included for our family group a little of the history of Newfoundland, their involvement in World War 1 and how they became a province of Canada, from some of the St John’s Choir members.

This memorable event was very professionally organised by a local group of people, known as The Friends of Melbourne Parish Church. Their mission is to raise funds for the parish church and they have previously and continue to organise many events covering a wide spectrum of topics, including concerts, lectures and debates for all of the community, district and South Derbyshire. They provide an extremely valuable community service.

To conclude, this concert was of the very highest quality and enjoyment and I express sincere thanks particularly to St John’s and Cantabile choirs for giving their time, energy and voices to provide super enjoyment for an appreciative audience who filled the parish church.

Colin Barker

Shed loads of thanks

THE newly formed Melbourne Garden Club would like to express their thanks for the generosity of Melbourne folk who donated two sheds and greenhouses for use on their allotments.

A rotavator was also given to the club by a kind allotment member so, along with a "tool amnesty" at a recent meeting, the club is set for a successful growing season.

The allotments are doing well with a shed and greenhouse already erected. Some of the produce will be entered into the new Melbourne Produce Show taking place at the Senior Citizens’ Centre on Saturday, September 2.

So once again, a big thank you to all those who helped. You know who you are! Entry forms for the produce show will be available from early August from various places around Melbourne.

Melbourne Garden Club

FACEBOOK EXERCISE

YOUNGSTERS at Melbourne Infant School were put through their paces by renowned exercise guru Joe Wicks in a global fitness session conducted over the airwaves.

The social media fitness sensation, also known as the body coach, was holding his second Facebook Live fitness session for schools on June 14, and all the children in the infant school took part.

The 20-minute workout saw hundreds of schools across the UK and beyond tune in to participate in classic Joe Wicks moves such as mountain runners and ‘burpees’ – a manoeuvre which takes the participant from a prone position to jumping as quickly as they can manage it.

Head teacher Charlotte Gibbs said: “We wanted to take part in the Joe Wicks live Facebook work-out to raise the profile of healthy eating and exercise for both children and adults in school.

“The children and staff absolutely loved every minute of it, some even asking to carry on for longer! We look forward to his next live session.”

SEEING the photograph of The Chip and Pin in your June edition prompted me to compare the conversions of Melbourne’s two closed banks.

The former HSBC building has a restrained frontage with etched glass windows and low-key advertising. In contrast the recently converted

NatWest bank has prominent company branding with bright blue windows which, in my view, are out of keeping with the surrounding premises.

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A MESSAGE FROM HEATHER WHEELER

A GROUP of trustees who manage the trust of Melbourne’s famous son, Thomas Cook, have held their 125th Annual General Meeting – with descendants of the man himself all present and correct.

The board of Thomas Cook’s Trust run the alms houses on Melbourne’s High Street, and included on the board is Tom Cook (pictured far right) who is a direct descendant. Also present was another member of the family, Charles TempleRichards (pictured far left).

It is an honour and a privilege to represent the constituency of South Derbyshire for a third term as its Member of Parliament and I would like to thank all of those who put their trust in me again and voted for me on June 8th. It is quite humbling to receive anyone’s vote and to get almost 31000 and an increased majority is quite something.

As MP I am here to help all of my constituents should they need it and I hold regular surgeries by appointment.

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Thomas Cook founded the modern-day tourism business which goes by his name, when he held his first “package” holiday - a temperance trip from Leicester to Loughborough by train. He set up the alms houses in the village of his birth to provide accommodation for the elderly, shortly before he died in 1892. They have been going strong ever since.

RICHARD HUNT

1939-2017

RICHARD Hunt was born in King’s Newton to Richard and Lily Hunt, just before the Second World War. His father always quipped that his eldest son actually started the war!

The Hunts moved from Ilkeston in the mid-30s to set up their business of specialist warp knitters in Melbourne. Their business – Hunt Brothers – was a fixture in the town, in Castle Street, until its closure in 2003. Hunt Bros were a fine exponent of the ideal small efficient business, and were still in business well after most UK textile production had succumbed to international competition.

Richard went from Melbourne School into the family business, as did his brother, Robert, and learned their trade from their father, no doubt a hard taskmaster. The Hunt family, living in King’s Newton, consisted of two brothers and three daughters. Richard did National Service in the Royal Navy, but did not venture abroad after that. He and his wife, Evelyn, holidayed and weekended in the UK.

Richard married Evelyn Wileman at the parish church in 1964. It was a very happy marriage, blessed with two sons, Michael and Peter, and two daughters, Carolyn and Michelle.

Richard drove the business with hard

JOAN MARGERY POPE

1923 – 2017

JOAN Pope, a Melbourne resident for more than 50 years, passed away peacefully at Beaumont House, Derby.

Joan was born and grew up in the Cavendish area of Derby and was educated at Parkfield Cedars Girls School followed by teacher training in Bolton.

She met Ronald, her husband to be, while playing tennis in Derby and they married in 1943. They set up home at Knowle Hill, a remote cottage between Ticknall and Ingleby, which had no running water or electricity, and lived there for about 16 years.

When Ron studied art at the Slade, from 1945 to 1948, Joan taught at a London primary school. Their two children, Neil and Jane, were born after they returned to Derbyshire.

In the early 1960s the family moved into a new bungalow on Robinsons Hill, Melbourne, and, while Ron progressed his art career in sculpture and painting, Joan supported and encouraged him all the way.

She resumed her teaching career, until finally retiring from Melbourne Junior School in the early 1980s.

OBITUARIES

After his long day's work, Richard liked to relax with a pint and a game of dominoes with his mates in the adjacent White Swan. He loved the camaraderie of pubs, the banter, the jokes, the gossip. He talked to all and sundry, and certainly one customer – a newcomer to Melbourne – was grateful for his friendliness and guidance regarding the customs of their new hometown. Richard's quirky humour, never aggressive, was relished by all.

Although Richard had this huge workload, he did not neglect his family, and revelled in his four children and seven grandchildren, all devastated by his very sudden death. He was delighted that all his family remained in or near Melbourne. He enjoyed his retirement – being at the beck and call, as the family taximan, who delighted in his role.

work. He was renowned in the town for being at the factory at 5.30 each morning, and working through to 6pm.

The brothers worked five and a half day weeks, and gained the regard of their customers because of their technical expertise. Hunt Bros kept up to date with the huge technical changes in the industry. One customer said they were the best knitters in the industry.

He was a lifelong member of the Baptist church, as were all his forbears. He was the church’s boiler man for 40 years. The large congregation who attended his funeral at the Baptist church gave witness to his popularity across the community. He had been, for many years, a trustee of the King’s Newton Bowls Club.

He was a man who loved a joke, but he was a happy man, happy in his work, happy with his friends and acquaintances in the pub, and obviously happiest with his family. In short a good man. – DOB

An accomplished pianist, she also taught piano from home.

She had a lifelong love of horses and enjoyed riding. With Ron, she shared a deep love of the countryside and they spent a lot of time walking on the Derbyshire Peak trails as well as in the Lake District and Yorkshire.

When Ron died in 1997, Joan moved to the new development at Castle Mills and became a fa-

miliar figure walking around Melbourne Pool for her twice daily ‘constitutional’.

Sadly, a minor stroke followed by the onset of dementia put an end to this activity, and she moved to Beaumont House about five years ago.

The care and support she received there has been outstanding and Joan’s family are eternally grateful for this.

l Joan (far right on the front row) with fellow teachers at Melbourne Junior School in 1982 and also pictured right.

Present at the meeting were (left or right): Charles Temple-Richards; Terry Statham, Henry Dunnicliff; Alan Dunnicliff; Robert Hunt (treasurer); Richard Heath (chairman); Jim Hewlett (secretary); David Worrall; Terry Summerlin; Nigel Collyer (vice chairman); Gordon Frearson; Tom Cook.

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£6k boost for history project

HISTORY is happening every moment – and that is the idea behind a new local project which has just won Lottery funding.

The Aston-on-Trent Local History Group has been awarded £6,100 for its new community project, which will involve local people recording their memories of how the village has changed within living memory.

Established in 2004, the voluntary group has been focusing on developing a multi-format, freely accessible archive for recording the history of Aston from over 1,000 years ago.

Mentioned in the Domesday Book, the village has grown from a small pre-historic settlement to the thriving community it is today.

The history group is in the process of digitising its archives for all to enjoy.

Committee member John Holloway said: “We have more than 3,000 historic documents, photographs and artefacts in hard copy and electronic formats, but for some time we have wanted to record the stories and memories of long term residents who have seen the social, economic and lifestyle changes since the mid-twentieth century.

“We also want to capture the views and perceptions of young people and families about how they see Aston today. Their views will become the history for future generations of Astonions.”

The project will see older residents being asked to write or record their reminiscences of village life – daily living, buildings, events, school days, employment, celebrations, characters – so that the archive becomes what the group hopes will be a “treasure store of personal memories”.

Younger people will be asked to comment on aspects of village life today, including images and social media.

Group chairman Fred Hinds

Pupils grow their own

THE spirit of “grow your own” was being explored to the full at Melbourne Infant School as part of this year’s arts festival.

The team from the festival spent a morning at the school helping children plant a ‘salad wheel’ – a tractor tyre with beans, lettuces, beetroot, tomatoes and spring onions outside of each classroom.

Arts festival organisers have been encouraging local children to grow vegetables this summer as part of their ‘For the Love of Lettuce’ project, funded by the Her-

Wakes timing change

MELBOURNE Wakes in October looks set to change its timings slightly this year, after parish councillors agreed it would be a sensible move.

The latest meeting of Melbourne Parish Council heard how the family who put on the historic fair – now in their fourth generation of running the event – had asked to be able to run the last day of the celebrations on the Sunday afternoon rather than on the traditional Monday.

The family had asked to keep the Wakes going on Sunday afternoon from 1pm to 6pm – when it has up to now not been open – at which point the organisers would pack up and leave rather than staying on until Monday, as they have been doing.

Parish councillors thought this was a good idea.

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said: “History is not just about dates and important people. History is life seen through the eyes of ordinary people who all have a tale to tell.

“There is nothing so fascinating as a human interest story and this project gives us a great opportunity to record a soon-tobe forgotten account for the future.”

Jonathan Platt, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund East Midlands, said: “We are delighted that, thanks to National Lottery players, we’ve been able to support this fascinating project to allow young people and families to look at the history of their community.

“Projects like this allow ordinary people to define their own heritage, and explore the stories that are important to them.”

Meanwhile, history group member Bob Read has been given a national award in recognition of his contribution to Aston’s local historical researches.

Bob, who has lived in Aston for more than 50 years, is a founder member of the history group and acts as the village’s genealogical expert for those researching their family history in the area.

He jointly managed the group’s World War One project which attracted more than 1,500 visitors, has published books on the village and has delivered many history talks to local primary school children.

Bob said: “Obviously this is an honour, but I regard it as an award to the group rather than me individually.”

–Lucy Stephens

itage Lottery Fund. The children have been nurturing the plants ready for the Melbourne Festival Art Workshops in school on July 12 when the children will be able to taste some of their produce and create

artwork inspired by local vegetables and Beatrix Potter’s immortal vegetable-loving star character: Peter Rabbit.

Festival director Sharon Brown is pictured with some of the pupils.

l Bob Read receives the award from Professor Caroline Barron, president of the British Association for Local History.

l The Old Post Office, corner of Derby Road and The Green, circa 1911.

l Blacksmith Thomas Porter outside his smithy. Photos courtesy Aston-on-Trent Local History Group.

HOMEOWNERS have been urged to be on their guard after reports of a rogue trader driving a red Transit van in the Hatton area.

A public police meeting in Melbourne heard how the trader had charged money but had done a “botched job” by not coming back to finish what he’d started.

People have been advised to get two or three

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Members of the Parish Council

Chair Margaret Sharp 862471

Vice Chair Sheila Hicklin 865726

Highways, Facilities and Amenities

David Smith 862699

Burial Grounds Sheila Hicklin 865726

Planning & Strategy

Jane Carroll 863269

Finance & HR

Margaret Sharp 862471

Nigel Collyer 07831 540538

George Dunnicli 07780 806267

Wendy Earp 865019

Tom Gates 865718

Simon Green 07889 924925

George Hudson 07503 247953

Andrew Jackson 07931 541387

Robert Parker 07973 297404

Terry Summerlin 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

quotes for any job they want doing, and go to Trading Standards if they have any concerns.

n POLICE in Derbyshire have halved the “abandonment rate” for non-emergency calls, the Melbourne meeting heard.

Called the “abandonment rate”, in December 2015 this stood at more than a fifth of calls, but this had dropped to 8.87 per cent in April 2017.

Levels

your

Melbourne Parish Council

Quarterly Report - July 2017

At the Annual Parish Council Meeting in May I was again elected as Chairman for the coming year. In the last two months we have had two Councillors resign for personal reasons and commitment to work Thank you to Ian Casson and Paul Willmore for their contribution and service to the Parish Council. At the June meeting we welcomed Simon Green as a new Councillor and hope he will settle in to his new position but we still have a vacancy for one more member. Please contact the Clerk if you would like details on be being a Parish Councillor.

The improvements for the Cemetery Chapel are still progressing slowly with a few new ideas in the pipeline. The problem of dog fouling in the Packhorse Road Cemetery is getting worse and I would ask anyone who takes their dog into the Cemetery to please clean up if their dog makes a mess. It is polite to do so and to have consideration and respect to others who use the cemetery.

The Council is hopefully going to make some improvements to the children's play area at the Lothian Gardens in the near future.

The plans for the new Public Toilets have been granted by S.D.D.C. with the condition that the contractors build the toilets before they build the house. Surveys have been carried out at the end of June with results expected around early/mid July; at present no rm date has been set for the building works to commence.

Margaret Sharp, Chair, Melbourne Parish Council

n IT’S not often that a Roman soldier gets to meet a Tudor and a British 1940s evacuee – but they all got together at a local school as it celebrated a special history day.

Aston-on-Trent Primary School held its first ever British History day on June 22 and the Village Voice was invited along to

take a snap of the children’s outfits. Children were allowed to go to school dressed as characters from Britain’s history and donned costumes ranging from the Queen to Charlie Chaplin to a Suffragette. The school said the day had been a great success.

Melbourne set for its own university

WITH an overwhelming endorsement from the assembled group, Melbourne now is on track to set up its own University of the Third Age (U3A).

A meeting to gauge whether there was sufficient interest in forming a new U3A was well attended, especially for a sweltering mid-week afternoon, and there was a presentation from three officers from the regional and national U3A.

“It is a self-help, self-organising group who come together to learn, laugh and live,” said Andrew Hawkins, who is secretary of the Derbyshire U3A network.

Muriel Webster told how she had become involved in her local U3A, and Jane Pavier outlined the role of the national and regional support network.

In a question session, it was explained that the U3A targeted those who were retired or semi-retired from work or from full-time child rearing.

There is neither an upper nor lower age group, and it is not about formal educational qualifications.

Also there is no limit to the sort of interest groups which may form, and each U3A has a great deal of freedom in how it organises itself.

A sizeable number agreed to form an initial steering group and it will meet during the next

two months to decide on how to take things forward.

There will be an inaugural meeting, already set for 2pm on September 7 at Melbourne Assembly Rooms, which will be the formal launch.

All those who are interested, and those who missed the first meeting, are welcome to attend, listen to the early plans the steering group has, and there will be the opportunity to sign up.

The steering group would particularly like people with interests and skills in specific topic areas to come forward, too.

– Frank Hughes

VILLAGE FUN DAY FOR CHARITY

MODEL boat racing, bouncy castling, apple bobbing, coconut shying, treasure hunting – all of that and more will be on offer at the free barbeque and fun day in Milton on July 16. And it’s all for a great cause.

The annual family fun day is

organised by local self-defence teacher Duncan Hogg and every penny raised goes towards the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre (DCHC).

Established in 1891, DCHC provides Derbyshire children who have troubles in their

home life with a holiday in Skegness. At the moment, the charity provides 660 holiday places per season.

Duncan’s fun day and barbeque is being held at the Swan Inn car park in Milton from 11.30am till late.

l Andrew Hawkins, regional volunteer, with Jane Pavier, regional trustee, and Muriel Webster, volunteer.

Choir sings out for new members

MALE singers who would like to experience the camaraderie of singing in a choir can take part in a special taster session in Melbourne this month.

Melbourne Male Voice Choir is celebrating its 40th birthday this summer and to mark the occasion new singers are being sought.

The choir was formed in May 1977 and some of the inaugural members are still regulars.

The group sings a range of material from traditional Welsh male voice choir music to musical numbers from shows such as Les Misérables and South Pacific, plus hits by Elvis and Frank Sinatra.

Melbourne Male Voice Choir sings in four-part harmony but leaders stress that newcomers “don’t have to have a brilliant voice” or be able to read music.

During its 40-year history the choir has sung in the Albert Hall, Sheffield Arena, De Montfort Hall in Leicester and has welcomed four visits from its twin German choir, the Mulheim Concor-

dia. Choir chairman Peter Dawn said: “With a choir you have got the camaraderie of other choir members and it has actually been proven to be good for your health. I couldn’t get up and sing on my own but singing with a group is something totally different, when you have got the support of fellow members.

“It can make the hairs on the back of your head stand up; it’s one of those feelings that makes you just feel great when you’ve done it.”

The choir rehearses on Friday evenings at the Wesley Hall from 7.30m to 9.30pm. At that time and place on Friday, July 21, there will be a taster evening to give anyone who is interested in joining the chance to meet members and have a sing, with classics on the cards such as Danny Boy and American Trilogy.

For more information contact melbournemalevoicechoir@yahoo.com, log on to www.melbournemalevoicechoir.org or contact the secretary, Charlie Whyte, on 01530 483043.

–Lucy Stephens

Community Awareness Day success

WITH more than 30 community groups involved in the Community Awareness Day, the hall at Melbourne Assembly Rooms could easily have been mistaken for a university in Freshers Week!

All the groups had set out their pitches to inform the community what they did and to attract new members.

The idea was the brainchild of Angie Cooke at Melbourne Community Care. She had been approached several times by people asking about various groups, and she could not usually provide the answer.

Angie had approached Andy Heafield at MARs to “do something together” and the event had taken off from there.

As one visitor put it: “The face to face contact was really the most useful, finding out what the various groups did and how you can be involved. Some groups had a leaflet of what was going on and it was amazing to see just how much there is going on in the village.”

Another visitor said it was “a bit of a ‘who’s who’ of the Melbourne societies and groups”.

Organiser Andy Heafield said: “It really was great to see many of the social, sporting and community groups coming together under one roof.

“I hope people enjoyed the event, mainly, but

Ceremony steeped in history

THE old world and the new combined at church in Barrow in a re-dedication ceremony involving members of the St John Ambulance – whose forerunners left the building nearly 500 years ago.

St Wilfrid’s Church in Barrow-upon-Trent is historically significant because it is one of only two in the country which is still as it was when the Knights Hospitallers left it in 1540 –the year of the order’s abolition by Henry V111.

The Knights Hospitallers was a military and religious medieval order that was revived in the 19th century to form the present day St John Ambulance.

Members of the St John Ambulance went to St Wilfrid’s on June 25 to give a thanksgiving and re-dedication service “For the Family of St John in Derbyshire”.

also that all the groups got something out of it. After all, MARs is our community centre and, with our recent improvements on show, this is just the sort of event it is ideal for.”

Angie was also delighted: “I loved every minute of it; it was a really good event and I have had some positive feedback from people. A highlight for me was being able to have a game of table tennis with the police, and we have signed up now for some table tennis sessions!” –FH

Bowls club’s status success

KING’S Newton Bowls Club is celebrating its recent successful application to HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs) for CASC status.

CASC stands for Community Amateur Sports Club. To be granted CASC the club had to provide evidence that it would remain a not-for-profit sporting facility for the whole community.

Also needed is to commit to keeping membership fees low (the maximum is currently only £52 per year).

There are also some benefits to the club such as claiming gift aid against any donations given and also being able to apply for some Sports England grants.

The main reason for applying, however, was to formalise and secure the future as a community club.

Meanwhile, on the green theclub’s teams have been busy in their respective leagues.

The vets are having the most success with the first team sixth in division one and the second team fourth in division four. The remaining teams are either midtable or, unfortunately, near to the foot of their leagues.

There is still half the season left, though, so plenty of time for improvement.

Connie a soaring star as Swifts spread their wings

MELBOURNE Swifts Table Tennis club continues to grow apace with new premises, four teams in the league, and a bright young star who is now a county champion.

Connie Dumelow, 10, has been playing the game for only seven months, but she is already the Derbyshire Schools under-11 girls champion, going on to represent the East Midlands for her age group in the inter-regional competition where she came runner-up for both team and individual events.

Connie, a year five pupil at Melbourne Junior School, said she loves playing the game because “…you don’t have to rely on anyone else, you don’t blame anyone else if you lose the game”, adding: “I’d like to play table tennis as a living.”

Connie’s mum, Mel, said the whole family was “incredibly proud” of Connie.

“The thing that has surprised me the most is the sheer determination she has,” she said.

Melbourne Juniors, which invested in table tennis tables last September, also said they were very proud of Connie’s achievements. Connie attends Melbourne Swifts Table Tennis Club once a week and also receives one-toone coaching from former English table tennis champion Desmond Douglas – the famous attacking left-hander from Birmingham –with whom she is pictured.

Melbourne Swifts is a thriving club, which has now re-purposed the disused former squash court next to the Assembly Rooms for use as a match

room and training facility for its 30 adult members and around 20 juniors.

Next season the club will be playing one team in the Derby and District League premier division, one team in division two, one in division three and three teams in the fourth division.

Chairman Nigel Webster said: “The club is not just about the league or competitive table tennis. I want the club to be a community club – most of our players are from Melbourne and district. I want the club to be inclusive in age, gender, ability. Our spread is quite good but I would like to have more female players.

“Table tennis is exercise, it takes you out, it keeps you active both mentally and physically and it takes you to different places.” –LS

17th crown in a row!

ATHLETIC children from Melbourne Junior School triumphed in a county-wide sports day and were crowned victors for the 17th year in a row.

This year pupils from nine South Derbyshire schools came to Melbourne Sports Park on June 16 to take part in the annual area sports day.

The event has been running in its current format since 2000 and Melbourne Junior School has won it every year since then.

This year pupils took part in five different athletic disciplines: javelin, sprint, distance running, long jump and relay.

At the end of the day Melbourne Junior School was declared the winning school with close rivals Pennine Way Junior Academy in Swadlincote coming second. Newhall Community Junior School took third place.

l Members of the Swarkestone Cricket Club 1st XI pose for the Village Voice photographer before their recent clash with Ticknall.

Tennis club serves up a month of successes

MELBOURNE Tennis Club had a superb month with all their league teams continuing a good run of form and the men’s sides leading the way.

The Melbourne men’s team who play in the Derbyshire League won their fourth match in a row as they beat David Lloyd 7-2 in their only game of the month to keep Ian Ward’s side top of the table and with a real chance of promotion.

The Melbourne men's side who play

in the Burton League moved up the table into second as they won both their matches in June. First up they beat Ashby Castle and then Netherseal B. Roger Spencer’s team also has a good chance of promotion.

The mixed team in the Burton League also mirrored the men’s form as Karen Brenchley’s outfit beat Denstone 4-0 and repeated the same scoreline against Spittal to move into third place.

Town’s winning run is ended

MELBOURNE Town Cricket Club 1st XI had a difficult June with their unbeaten run coming to an end.

They lost that unbeaten run away to RollsRoyce 1st Xl who, batting first, scored a respectable 213 all out with Lee Tallis (3-8) and Anthony Wagstaff (3-56) being the stand-out bowlers.

In reply Melbourne’s batting failed for the first time this season to collapse to 100 all out with only Russ Allaway (50 not out) having an answer to the home attack as Town fell to their first defeat.

A week later Melbourne took full points as their opposition Sandiacre Town third team conceded, but this was followed by a disappointing losing draw away to Trentside 1st Xl.

The home side batted first and scored a huge 299-8 and, in reply, Melbourne just fell short on 248-9 with Muhammed Nadeem hitting a superb 112 supported by 39 from Matt Briers and 37 by Mark Rossi.

THE popular “Brooksie Bash” 10-mile trail race starting from Foremarke Hall on July 16 has sold out. A waiting list is available on the website: https://www.peakrunning.co.uk

/brooksiesbashhome

There is also a 5k fun run/walk on the day.

The first team ended the month with a disappointing defeat at home to Winshill 1st Xl, which saw Town bat first. They could only post 155 all out but a brilliant spell of 6-47 from Marc Towell left the visitors struggling on 87-8. However, the lower Winshill batting order stood firm and sneaked to a one-wicket victory.

In contrast, Melbourne Town 2nds have had a good run of form and ended the month level top of the table. They began June with a close 34-run victory at home to Brailsford 3rd Xl.

Melbourne’s innings was held together by Ranjit Rathore, who scored a brilliant 53, supported by James Hogwood (23) as they posted 151 all out. But a stunning spell of 6-23 from Sam Barker saw Brailsford bowled out for just 117.

Away to high-flying Burton 2nd Xl, Town batted first and only Simon Fletcher (49) and Siv Sirapalan (40) made significant contributions as they were bowled out for 165. Burton reached their target with just five balls to go.

Melbourne 2nds got back to winning ways a

SOUTH DERBYSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL

Councillor Linda Chilton

Councillor John Harrison

Councillor Jim Hewlett

ADVICE

SURGERIES

at the Assembly Rooms, High Street, Melbourne, 11am to 12 noon

Saturday 5th August

Saturday 2nd September

Saturday 7th October

week later at home to Hartshorne 2nds as 6-42 from Ranjit Rathore helped dismiss the away side for 152 – a target which Melbourne cruised to, losing just one wicket with Simon Fletcher (53 not out) and Phil Maddocks (62 not out) doing the damage.

Dan Marshall’s men ended the month joint top thanks to an away win at Elvaston 4ths where the home side batted first and posted a respectable 214-3. Town eased to victory as Rathore (66), Ian Roberts (64 not out) and Ashley Elwell (40) all batted well in a six-wicket win.

Melbourne Town 3rds had an indifferent month as they slipped down to fifth place, but they do have games in hand on those above them.

They began June against a strong Rolleston 4th Xl and were bowled out for a paltry 83, losing by eight wickets.

It didn't get much better the week after, away to Castle Donington 2nd Xl, as this time they lost by 10 wickets. Town posted a total of 153 with Sam Adcock (40) and Tony Papas (33) the main

contributors, but the home side won at a canter without losing a wicket.

Andy Holden’s men had a superb victory the weekend after away to Breadsall 3rd Xl as the home side were bowled out for just 99 with Alex Blackhall (4-21) and Ashley Elwell (4-45) doing the damage; Elwell completed a useful match by scoring 63 as Town won by seven wickets.

The month ended in agony for the third team as they lost by just two wickets against West Hallam with four balls to go as the home side chased down the 163-8 that Melbourne had posted. Elwell (61) and Blackhall (31) batted well and Adam Poyser (3-35) along with Blackhall (3-56) kept West Hallam at bay until the final over.

The club would like to thank all its match ball sponsors in the month of June, which were Melbourne Dental Practice, Doves Garage, Albert Wood, Melbourne Royal British Legion, J.P. Springthorpe & Co, Slater's Salon and Whelan’s.

– Alex Slater

“Listening to local people”

IT WAS full throttle action at Staunton Harold as the sailing club played host to the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship Midlands Area Final for the first time.

Thirteen of the region's most skilled young powerboat drivers in two agegroups –8-12 years and 13-16 –went headto-head for the right to represent the Midlands at the championship national finals at

Power boat kids take to the water

the Southampton Boat Show in September. RIBs are light, manoeuvrable craft and the boats driven in the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship can hit speeds of up to 35mph.

With the emphasis on swift, efficient and safe manoeuvring, Honda RYA Youth RIB events see drivers compete in time trials around sets of marks with the fastest time

over two rounds winning. Each competitor has to master a slalom, a stop exercise and a 360° reverse around a buoy manoeuvre, followed by a sprint to the finish.

In fair weather with a consistent light breeze in South Derbyshire, South Staffs SC’s Aga Czartolomna (8-12 years) and Girton SC’s George Baxter (13-16 years) took the Midlands titles in their respective age-

groups to both qualify for the nationals for a fourth time.

This was also the first year that Staunton Harold SC had trained young drivers and entered the competition, too, and the local representatives – Sam Nugent (8-12 years) and Ellie Rush (13-16) – did their club proud on their debuts. Both youngsters improved as the day went on to secure faster times.

Dynamo win £6k grant for barriers

MELBOURNE Dynamo Football Club

has been handed a £6,500 grant to help install pitch surround barriers.

The grant from the Premier League and the FA Facilities Fund has enabled the club to put spectator barriers around its main pitch at Melbourne Sports Park, to ensure spectators are kept at a two-metre distance away.

Not only will the money help Melbourne Dynamo on match day but it also helps Melbourne United, whose under 15 to under 18 teams play on the same pitch.

Melbourne Dynamo has been promoted to the Midland Regional Alliance Premier League, with hopes that the quality of the facility will enable the club to attract more adult players.

A statement from the grant providers says Melbourne Dynamo is already acting as a “lock-in” for Melbourne United players who reach the end of youth football. Last year six players made the transition from United to Dynamo – that is to say, from

youth to adult football.

The Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund is funded by the Premier League, the FA, and the Government, via Sport England, and is delivered by the Football Foundation.

Gavin Salisbury, first team manager of Melbourne Dynamo, said: “To get this fantastic support from the Premier League & FA Facilities Fund puts us in a strong position to both retain adult footballers but also attract those players who are reaching the end of youth football and are not sure where to play next.

“The standard of our facility is second to none and we are looking forward to growing the club into the future.”

Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “I am delighted that a grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund has enabled Melbourne Dynamo to enhance its playing facility further. This development will provide a real boost to football in the local

area.

“Since 2000, the Football Foundation has supported grassroots projects worth more than £1.4bn, investing into areas where the need is greatest and where it will have the biggest impact in terms of getting more people playing football and a wide range of other sports.

“With this funding, provided by the Premier League, The FA and the Government, through Sport England, we are helping to improve community sports facilities across the country and thereby the playing experience of those who take part.” n The Dynamo club is already planning towards the 2017-18 season with numerous new club sponsors almost ready to be announced.

Pre-season training continues every Monday and Thursday through the month of July. These are open sessions so anyone is welcome to go along. For further details contact Gavin Salisbury on 07813932420 or Alex Slater on 07966933583.

Melbourne to host a disability cricket match

MELBOURNE Cricket Club will be hosting a disability game this August.

Disability cricket is a growing game nationally and Derbyshire are the current national champions at the Super 9s format, played with an “Incrediball”, having also won the national title last year.

On Sunday, August 6, Derbyshire will be playing Northamptonshire in a friendly game in Melbourne.

Derbyshire Disabled Cricket Club was formed in 2005 and aims to provide opportunities for anybody with a physical or learning disability to play cricket and to develop their personal game to the highest standard they can.

Anybody interested in finding out more about disability cricket, either as a player, coach or just a general spectator wanting to watch great cricket, is asked to go along to Melbourne CC at noon on August 6 to find out more about disability cricket in Derbyshire.

l Sam Nugent (left) and Ellie Rush (right) on the course.