Melbourne Village Voice March 2015

BOTTOM OF CLASS FOR NEW SCHOOL

Village Voice No 268 March 2015

MELBOURNE looks unlikely to get a new secondary school, according to a consultation document that ranks it bottom of a possible four sites.

Derbyshire County Council is currently asking residents for their views on where a £25 million new secondary school for South Derbyshire should be built.

The school will be needed to educate around 1,500 extra pupils generated from large-scale housing development across the area.

Melbourne has been named as one of four possible sites, the others being Boulton Moor, Findern and

by LUCY STEPHENS

Wragley Way at Stenson Fields.

Education leaders from the local authority ranked all the sites according to various criteria, including how near they were to other schools; whether they could accommodate at least 750 pupils so as to offer a full curriculum; flood risk; access and land value.

According to the consultation document, Melbourne scored 23 – the lowest of all the sites.

However, when The Village Voice queried the figure with the county council, we were told this was a typographical error and the correct score was in fact slightly higher at 25, which would put Melbourne equal

Meredith starts up a hair band ...

A LITTLE girl with a big heart has had her blonde hair snipped off so she can donate it to children who have lost theirs while being treated for cancer - and she has started a trend in the process.

Meredith Cope, 5, from Aston-on-Trent, made the big decision to cut short her tresses so she could give them to The Little Princess Trust – a charity which makes real human-hair wigs for children with cancer.

And, because she was having a haircut for such a worthy cause, hairdresser Nathan Lloyd at The Salon in Aston gave his services for free.

Meredith’s mum, Helen, said her daughter’s nine-inch hair donation had inspired other local children to do the same.

Helen said: “She was wanting to cut her hair and we thought of something we could do; we decided it would be nice to give it to The Little Princess Trust.

“Since we’ve done it, two of our friends’ little girls have had their hair done and donated it.

Meredith has set the ball rolling a little bit!

“I think it’s a lovely thing that she’s chosen to do and we’re very proud of her.”

Melbourne & District

l Short cut ... Meredith (right) with Nathan Lloyd and (below) before the scissors.

with Findern, although still joint-last.

Education planners said Melbourne should score highly because it is a long way from other secondary schools.

But they added that a new secondary school in the town could also cause disruption as some families might still want their children to attend Chellaston School rather than a new secondary school because of its good reputation.

Another reason for Melbourne’s low ranking is the fact it would mean most pupils would have to travel further to get to school.

According to the consultation document, the preferred location would be at Stenson Fields, despite being in a flood-risk area – mainly because it is closest to most new housing.

Rose Minifie, from Education for Melbourne – a local group formed to try to safeguard secondary education for local children – said: “The papers seem to have been made to look like Melbourne isn’t a good place for a new school.

“The main concern is that our children may be split up – some would get into Chellaston and some wouldn’t. At that point the community gets split up and the community dies because none of the children know each other anymore because they won’t go to the same school.”

Local county councillor Linda Chilton said she could understand why Melbourne might not be a good place for a new school, with one reason being that it could well attract more housing development.

She said: “I would urge everybody to look at this consultation paper and put their feelings forward. We have got to get it Continued on Page 7.

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2 Village Voice March 2015

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PROPERTIES TO LET

3 THE HOLLIES, MAIN STREET, MILTON. 3 bedroom barn conversion in this much sought after village close to Repton and Foremarke schools.

Breakfast kitchen with white goods-separate utility. Dining room leading into good size lounge with wood burning stove-conservatory off. Downstairs cloaks. Upstairs are the 3 bedrooms –one with fitted wardrobe and one with en-suite shower. Large family bathroom with corner bath with shower over. Pleasant private garden plus garage and ORP. Freshly decorated and new carpets. £950 PCM

16 MANOR COURT, BARROW ON TRENT. Very spacious first floor maisonette set in private grounds with lovely views! 2 bedrooms, both with fitted wardrobes. Large lounge with sliding doors onto a small balcony overlooking the gardens.

Kitchen with white goods and newly fitted bathroom. Freshly decorated and new carpets throughout. GCH and DG. £495 PCM

30 HUNTINGDON COURT, MELBOURNE. 2 bedroom semi in very quiet corner with ORP. Kitchen/diner with patio doors onto large rear garden.

Front room with feature fireplace and stairs off leading to 1 double and 1 single bedrooms. Family bathroom with shower over bath. £525 PCM

29 CASTLE MILLS, MELBOURNE. 2 bedroom house in exclusive development for over 55’s. Kitchen with white goods and downstairs cloaks. Sunny lounge with French doors onto the private garden . Upstairs (stairlift installed) are 2 bedrooms both with fitted wardrobes and bathroom with walkin bath and shower. Freshly decorated and new carpets. ORP in front of the property. £550 PCM

26 COMMERCE STREET, MELBOURNE. Very nicely presented 2 bedroom terrace with long enclosed garden. Through lounge/diner leading to modern galley kitchen and breakfast area. Both bedrooms have fitted wardrobes and there is a smart modern family bathroom with shower over the bath. GCH and double glazed. Cellar. £575 PCM

35 CHAPEL STREET, MELBOURNE. Charming end terrace with beautiful long garden with veg plot. Large separate utility and kitchen with pantry. Living room to the front. 2 bedrooms one with large array of fitted wardrobes and cupboards. Fabulous bathroom with large separate walk-in shower and underfloor heating. GCH and mostly double glazed. £575 PCM

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Work starts on the old hospital site

A NEW chapter has finally begun for the former Aston Hall Hospital site after the old building was demolished last month to make way for a new care retirement village.

Developer Richmond Homes, part of the Bupa group, is now putting the ground works in for its major new development on the site, which will include independent-living apartments along with a care home, plus wellness spa, café, IT room, library, beauty salon and restaurant.

In a completely separate development, 74 homes are also due to be built.

The Aston Hospital saga has been rumbling on for years and last year permission was granted for the care home and 74 homes – despite fierce local objection.

Residents were not against the care village – with which the community has a strong tradition – but rather the scale of the housing development that was granted alongside it.

The argument reached a head last year over the Section 106 money – given to local communities by developers – after it was

Melbourne buzzes to a Bee

FOR everyone inspired by BBC2’s The Great British Sewing Bee, Melbourne Festival arranged The Great Melbourne Sewing Bee. The first workshop on February 21, led by Mig Holder, was a chance to dust off your sewing machine and hone your skills and was really popular.

There are two more sessions planned for Saturday, March 21, and Saturday, April 18, and there are still spaces for both dates. Mig will help you through every step. Just decide on what you want to make. Take along your fabric, pattern and sewing machine and it’s ready, steady, SEW! All levels of experience are welcome and you’ll go home with a unique piece you have made for yourself.

If sewing isn’t your style, other workshops are available.

Why not try oil pastel drawings at Laura Donaldson’s Spring into Colour workshop also on March 21 or Raku Pottery with Andrew Mason on April 18.

All the workshops run from 10.30am-3.30pm. For information and to reserve a space call the Festival Office on 07765 819428.

Mig Holder (seated) is pictured inspiring her group of students.

HAVE you heard about the health benefits of walking?

Just 30 minutes a day can help you maintain a healthy weight, increase your ‘good’ cholesterol, reduce blood pressure, build healthy muscles and bones, improve balance, and reduce the risk of falls.

It also reduces the risk of getting heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancer, and Alzheimer’s by 20-50%.

If you would like to start walking regularly in South Derbyshire, then why not join the SDDC free Walking for Health walks, which take place on a weekly basis. They are led by trained volunteer walk leaders, and usually last around 30-60

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106 money should be allocated to benefit the residents who are going to be affected by the development and we consider those to be the residents of Willow Park Way.” A South Derbyshire District Council spokesman said: “While the planning application process is the mechanism by which Section 106 contributions are collected from a developer, funds are then transferred to the bodies responsible for delivering infrastructure requirements.

“In this case Derbyshire County Council will make a final decision on spending in respect of education, and the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group on healthcare contributions.

“The district council has responsibility for outdoor play, recreation and built facilities.

“The Section 106 money from the Aston Hall Hospital development is not yet available to be allocated, but of course we would welcome discussions with both Weston and Aston parish councils on the matter and will consider all opinions.”

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thought that it was being spent on education in Weston rather than Aston. The hospital’s site is in Weston’s parish despite its location in Aston village.

Now both parish councils have put in their proposals as to how the money should be spent so as to best benefit each community.

Both parish councils said in their proposal documents to South Derbyshire District Council that any money allocated to education should be “shared equally” between Weston and Aston’s primary schools rather than it all being spent in one school or the other.

Both also said priority in spending the cash should be given to residents of the Willow Park Way estate which borders the development. Children from the estate attend both schools.

In addition, suggestions were made to spend the cash improving children’s play facilities and local paths.

Aston parish council vice-chair Ed Hicklin said: “Our primary consideration at the council was almost entirely that the Section

minutes.

The groups are all very social and finish the walk afterwards with a hot drink in a local pub or cafe. There is no need to book onto the walks, just turn up prior to the start time at the specified meeting point.

There are regular walks throughout South Derbyshire every day of the week and occasional special walks arranged at weekends.

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Tel: 01283 563483 Mobile: 07977439309 Email: tor@roslistonforestrycentre.co.uk

Why Melbourne crew did not attend town fire

by FRANK HUGHES

FIREFIGHTERS from all over the county were called to a serious blaze on Melbourne’s industrial estate in the early hours of February 19.

Six appliances were needed to tackle the fire, which broke out in offices at the rear of the premises of Quill International.

But local people are challenging why the fire crew from Melbourne, only yards away from the premises, were not on site – particularly given the recent campaign to retain the station.

Acting watch manager Andy Astle explained that the local officers were devastated that they could not respond.

“We had gone ‘off the run’ only minutes before the call came in just after 05.30, so the timing could not have been worse,” he said.

“With a retained crew it is necessary to have an adequate number of personnel, all trained with the required skills.

“Melbourne has been under strength and is working desperately hard to recruit. We have a target to be available 75% of the time, but we have not been achieving that lately with staff away on leave, one off injured and other staffing issues. However, from March we are in a much better position, with an officer transferring to us from Derby, and with new recruits coming through lengthy training.”

Photograph courtesy David Dore

But there does seem to be a reluctance for people to come forward. With the need to be able to respond within five minutes and a commitment to be available about 60 hours a week it might seem high, but in reality fire calls may account for approximately three hours per week, and drill training takes about two and a half hours every Tuesday evening.

A spokesperson for Derby Fire and Rescue Service said they have been undertaking a recruitment drive in several areas throughout the county, looking to recruit members of local communities as on-call firefighters. A recent ‘open doors’ event was

held at Melbourne station. Only two members of the Melbourne community came forward on the evening, therefore more are still needed.

DFRS wanted to encourage employers to recognise the importance and the benefits both for themselves, as well as the Fire service that these individuals can and do provide.

“This incident may alert everyone to the very real threat of the outbreak of fire, and hopefully it will make both businesses and individuals think if they could do more,” Mr Astle said.

Quill Managing Director David Dore said the fire had damaged one of the production offices and a canteen, but it had been well contained. He praised the work of the Fire Service in bringing things quickly under control: “It was masterful, a very crisp operation – they did a great job.”

The fire had been reported by local residents including ex-firefighter, John Tivey and by Tim Hyde, from a neighbouring business. The first appliance was on site within 13 minutes. There are systems in place to contain any fire, which worked, with some appliances remaining at the scene throughout the day.”

Early investigations suggest it was caused by an electrical appliance, probably a storage heater; fortunately no-one was hurt and the damage was not expected to impact on day-to-day business.

Perry excited to be new recruit

PERRY Clayton is the latest recruit to the Melbourne firefighting crew having joined up only last year and now through initial stages of his training.

Perry, aged just 19, describes himself as a bit of an adrenalin junkie but it was the desire to do “something worthwhile” which attracted him to apply to be a firefighter.

“The training was not as physically demanding as I expected,” he said, “but there is a lot to remember, learning all the parts for the breathing apparatus, for example, and you can’t make mistakes.”

Nor was it the frightening thought of entering a claustrophobic smoked filled room which bothered him – “the worst part of the training was being on parade with all your kit in perfect order; standards are very high”.

Since completing the first part of training to become a Firefighter in Development it has been quite literally a baptism of fire. One of his first jobs was a call-out to a bungalow fire in Chellaston.

“The call came in at 4am and I woke with a shock when the bleeper went off. My kit is by my bedside, so I jumped into that and ran down to the station. After minutes we were on the scene as the second pump at the incident.

“Our first job was to get some lights up so we could get a hose on the rear of the property, and after that it was about half an hour before we got the blaze under control.”

Colleague Andy Astle said that Perry was also given the responsible role of entry control officer, when it was decided to send in officers in breathing apparatus to tackle “hot spots” inside the property. That is a big responsibility as the lives of colleagues depend upon the entry officer to communicate with them and to ensure their lifeline exit from the building is secured.

No sooner was that job finished, and he was about to climb back into bed when the bleep went off again, and the crew were being called in as cover for Ascot Drive. A previous job he attended was to a road

traffic incident where a lorry carrying beer had overturned.

“Sadly, there had been no spillages,” he quipped Away from work Perry is a qualified personal trainer building up a client base.

After staving off threats of closure the local team is on a mission to recruit more firefighters. There is a wealth of information about the role at www.derbys-fire.gov.uk/jobsand-careers/firefighters/on-callfirefighters or, alternatively, pop along to the station on any drill night (Tuesday from 7.30pm) when the crew can give you the lowdown on the job.

– Frank Hughes

HELP YOUR BUSINESS GROW By reaching 15,000 readers of the Village Voice!

We can help with marketing, promotions and recruitment needs ffor or businesses big and small. To discuss your advertising requirements or how we can help you, please contact Nicola Mortimer on 07584 025852 or email ads@melbournevillagevoice.co.uk Publiccation dates ffor or our neexx t two editionss... ...

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4 Village Voice March 2015

Country Living with Robert Parker

WE’VE just finished our first day’s TB testing our cattle for this year and now we have three days of finger crossing until we get the results.

For the uninitiated I will explain. Every year in our area all bovines must be tested, although in some areas the interval can be four years.

The procedure is to inject two small doses of tuberculosis under the skin of each animal and monitor the reaction three days later. If there is a high reaction each animal recording such could be retested in 60 days or, if the vet deems it a problem, it could be destroyed.

All other animals on the farm will also be retested until such time that there is no reaction.

This can take a long time and some farms in bad areas have not been clear for a number of years.

The workload and upset caused by retesting every two months has to be experienced to understand. Cattle on a lot of farms may be taken to grazing fields many miles from home during

the summer and, if there are no pens to collect them in, they may have to be brought back indoors.

This will be at a time when all farmers are busy making hay and silage and other harvesting.

TB must be controlled and, although there is no risk to human health through drinking milk because of pasteurisation, animal health is paramount. n Currently farmers are being pursued by developers who are wanting land to construct solar farms for electricity generation. The offers being made will yield up to 10 times the returns of conventional farming.

We have been singled out as having a very suitable site for various reasons and have several developers asking us to sign on the dotted line. Whatever you may think of this, the country needs energy and some of it must come from ‘renewable sources’ and for ourselves it’s a very difficult decision to make. For the moment we have said no.

l AFTER an absence of around 13 years, the Quorn Hunt met at Melbourne Hall at the invitation of Lord and Lady Ralph Kerr.

Around 30 horses and riders enjoyed a warming stirrup cup before setting off across the Melbourne Estate. A crowd of people gathered to watch the horses and hounds as they disappeared along Pool Road and beyond, making for a spectacular sight reminiscent of days gone by.

Carving a career

FOLLOWING the success of a woodworking course at Calke Abbey a couple of years ago, the National Trust has decided to stage another.

Taking place on Thursday/Friday, March 12/13 in the Riding School (9.30am-4.30pm), the course will be run by Ray Stevens, Estate Joiner for Calke.It will be an opportunity for people to learn the basics of woodworking from an expert.

“I always get a great sense of satisfaction when I make something from wood,” says Ray. “This course is a fun introduction to woodworking and hopefully will be the start of a new hobby for people”.

At the end of each one-day course, attendees will have produced a useful solid wood bread board to take home.

You can book a place by calling 01332 863822.

Tea and photos

AN outdoor event for residents of Melbourne and further afield to look forward to is a new idea from Melbourne Photographic Society – an afternoon cream tea photographic print exhibition.

Committee member Lorraine Dowell said: “We've had plenty of successful coffee morning photographic print exhibitions and I thought this would make an interesting change.”

The exhibition takes place at The Thomas Cook Memorial Hall, High Street, Melbourne, from 1pm on Saturday, April 18.

As well as a wide selection of images from many genres to view, visitors can also enjoy an afternoon cream tea with delicious home baked fruit scones in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome. The exhibition finishes at 4.30pm.

Bell ringers in ap-peel for new members

MELBOURNE Handbell Ringers are seeking new members. Everyone is welcome, although the ability to read music is an advantage but not essential.

Full training will be given. Time: 6.30pm-7.30pm Tuesday evenings. Venue: the vestry of Melbourne Parish Church.

To express an interest please contact Pam Starkey on 01332 694633.

‘Eventful’ year in office for Wendy

THE March Parish Council meeting was preceded by the Annual Parish Meeting and council chair, Wendy Earp delivered an upbeat report on her first year in office.

“It has been an eventful year,” she said, “with a number of contentious issues, not least of which has been the number of planning applications from developers.”

She offered thanks to the district and county councillors for their efforts on behalf of Melbourne and to the lengthsman, sexton and clerk for fulfilling their roles so well.

She also thanked the organisers of all the magnificent events that have taken place in Melbourne during the year including but not only the Carnival, the Festival and the Christmas event and to all the volunteers who make these things happen.

Cllr Earp reported that the parish precept had increased by £22000 to £63026, equivalent to 53% or 21p per household for a band D property.

She confirmed that an election for the parish council will only take place if more than 15 people stand.

Following the opening report, the presentation of the Brendan Freeman Award was made. This year it went to Dave Worrall for his ongoing contributions to Melbourne life including providing the electrical supplies for the Carnival, the Town Band and the annual Remembrance Parade.

TOM MILLS reports from the March meeting of Melbourne Parish Council

His connections with the operatic society also received a mention including a call for him to return.

The award was presented by Elizabeth Freeman. In response Dave said he had been overwhelmed when he received the letter notifying him of the award and now being presented with it “I’m almost speechless”.

David was accompanied at the presentation by his wife Sue and is pictured (below) with Elizabeth Freeman and Cllr Wendy Earp.

The meeting continued with generally upbeat reports from the cemetery, highways and facilities committee chairs and the chair of the new Neighbourhood Development Plan working party.

The meeting segued into the normal monthly meeting with comments from the public regarding potholes and a request on behalf of the Civic Society that the council makes contact with BT with a view to improving the appearance of the frontage of its depot in Chapel Street which is overgrown.

County Cllr Linda Chilton updated the council on issues previously discussed or outstanding including the Gateway

project adjacent to the M1 and the consultation concerning a new secondary school in the district. A representative from the county council will attend the parish council meeting in April to discuss the consultation outcome.

District Cllr Jim Hewlett announced that South Derbyshire District Council has agreed to freeze its content of the Council Tax for a fifth successive year.

There will, however, be an increase of 2% due to increases by the fire and police authorities.

There was an unusual announcement that SDDC has accumulated a surplus in un-earmarked reserves which will result in an efficiency dividend to all qualifying Council Tax households of £6.20 per dwelling on July 18, subject to ratification.

SDDC has banned the launching of Chinese lanterns from its land and has requested parish councils to follow suit.

Retailers have been asked not to sell the lanterns, which have been the cause of fires to crops and buildings and have also been the cause of distress and the death of some animals.

Plans are underway to introduce some new play equipment at the Lothian Gardens. Junior swings, a new rocking item and new stand-up see-saw are on the cards with the costs being covered by a grant.

As chair of the Neighbourhood Development Plan group, Cllr Jane Carroll requested that the group is approved to have its own Facebook page. The use of social media is recommended as a way forward in order to communicate with greater numbers of people, especially a younger generation.

The council approved the request with the proviso that it be monitored to ensure that unsavoury language and inappropriate comments are not used.

The council objected to the latest planning application for 24 houses on Station Road, for reasons previously tabled for other applications.

Village Voice March 2015 5

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Your parish council needs YOU

BUSINESS people, opinion formers, community groups and even parish councillors themselves recognise that each local area needs enthusiastic people to stand for election as parish councillors.

As a result they are encouraging residents of Melbourne and the villages to consider running for the parish councils when the elections take place on May 7.

This invitation is also extended to current or previous councillors.

No experience is necessary, so if you would like to get involved, submit a nomination form which

can be obtained from South Derbyshire District Council at www.south-derbys.gov.uk or by ringing the returning officer on 01283 595723.

Candidates must be over 18; be on an electoral register; have lived or worked as a British/Irish/Commonwealth/European citizen or owned property in the area for the last 12 months.

Timing is important with applications required to be submitted by 4pm Thursday April 9, 2015. m Village Voice profiles on the General Election candidates for the South Derbyshire constituency – Pages 18 and 19.

Call 01332 694 890 to book or email hello@amalfiwhite.com 50 DERBY ROAD, MELBOURNE, DERBYSHIRE, DE73 8FE WWW.AMALFIWHITE.COM

SEE WHAT’S ON THIS SPRING

The broadband box that just won’t be budged

6 Village Voice March 2015

DISTRICT Councillor John Harrison organised a meeting with a representative of the Derbyshire County Council Highways department, the body responsible for pavements, to discuss the siting of the BT Green Broadband box located in Potter Street, Melbourne.

The box was located at the current site following a survey by DCC Highways and in accordance with agreed national guidelines.

All efforts to persuade the county council to instruct BT to relocate the box failed due to the guidelines not allowing the box to be relocated against the wall of Harpur’s for

THE spring edition of What’s On in South Derbyshire and the National Forest features a programme of events covering the period to the end of June.

It features details of how to get involved in each activity, many of which are completely free, and there really is something for everyone.

Copies of the spring edition can be downloaded at www.south-derbys.gov.uk/swadlincotetic, and hard copies are available at Swadlincote Tourist Information Centre, based at Sharpe’s Pottery Museum in West Street.

The tourist information centre can be contacted by calling 01283 222848 or emailing tic@sharpespotterymuseum.org.uk

technical, practical and safety reasons.

The outcome will not please the Civic Society, who recruited the assistance of the district councillors to challenge BT in the first place.

The councillors haven’t given up completely in their efforts. They will continue to lobby for the box to be moved if even only to be sited centrally agaist the stone pillar behind it.

Pictured right are Cllrs John Harrison and Jim Hewlett, Julie Collyer, Bob and Simon Parkinson surveying the BT box in Potter Street.

THE BAY TREE Tnew world cuisine

School a class act again

n DERBYSHIRE County Council’s Countryside Events brochure is also now available. Packed full of events across the county, copies are available at DCC countryside centres, library or tourist information centre. Also available at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/countryside.

01332 863358 4 Potter Street, Melbourne, Derbsyhire DE73 8HW

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The Bay Tree Restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy a casual drink, a delicious luncheon or dinner in our elegant cool blue and grey dining room, from an expertly crafted menu using ingredients available locally and from around the world. Or perhaps to Celebrate a Special Occasion with a bespoke menu. We are Melbourne’s Original Champagne Breakfast. Our skilled bar tenders will create an impressive selection of cocktails to order, and there is also a range of quality bottled lagers, fine wines and Champagnes.”

SALE & Davys Primary School is top of the class after its 2014 leavers were named some of Britain’s brightest – for the second year running.

Every Year 6 pupil at the Barrow-upon-Trent school scored a “level 4” or above in reading, writing and maths in their Key Stage 2 SATs tests.

Level 4 is the standard at which the Government judges 11-year-olds ready for secondary school.

Sale & Davys was one of only 149 primary schools in Britain to have achieved the 100 per cent pass rate, which puts it in the country’s top one per cent.

Head teacher Sarah Briggs found out the good news this term in a letter from Schools Minister David Laws, in which he congratulated the school on its “excellent performance”.

Mrs Briggs said: “We’re delighted by the results; they’re absolutely fantastic.

“That’s a reflection on the hard work of the children, the staff, a very supportive governing body and parents as well.”

This is the second year running that the 114-pupil school has achieved the full 100 per cent for its Key Stage 2 SATs. And the good news did not end there, with 87 per cent of Sale & Davys pupils achieving a level 5 or above in maths and a quarter managing a level beyond that – putting them years above national expectations. One of the school’s pupils even managed a level 6 in reading – a remarkable achievement considering the national average for 11-year-olds reading at this level is zero.

At Melbourne Junior School, 84 per cent of pupils were judged at level 4 or above; Aston-on-Trent and Shardlow primaries both scored 92 per cent while the figure for Weston-on-Trent was 85 per cent. This puts all local primary schools above the national average of 79 per cent. n DERBYSHIRE County Council is to joint-fund projects at 28 schools as part of its initiative to help improve and modernise buildings. Melbourne Junior School will receive £5,000 for replacement of windows.

– Lucy Stephens

Rotary Charter lunch

THE Rotary Club of Melbourne celebrated its 62nd Annual Charter with lunch at The Bay Tree, attended by 56 members and friends.

President Margaret Sharp welcomed her principal guests, including the Rotary District Governor, Steve Lawes, from the Vale of Belvoir club, the District Governor Elect, Roger Summers, (Amber Valley), the District Chairman of Inner Wheel, Rachel Cooper, and the President of Melbourne Probus Club, Terry Harrison.

Rachel Cooper responded on behalf of the visitors and guests, and the toast to the Rotary Club of Melbourne was proposed by the District Governor. Each of the 14 Rotary Clubs with members present was welcomed in turn, drawing suitable responses from their nominated representatives.

Police office felled by budget cosh

MELBOURNE’S police building on Ashby Road is to shut in the next few years, due to budget cuts.

But Derbyshire Constabulary has given assurances the closure will not affect policing in Melbourne, saying the building is merely used as a “drop-in office for officers on patrol” and is not open to the public.

The building’s closure was agreed by a Strategic Governance Board meeting of the county’s Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

It is just one of dozens of similar police buildings that are being shut across the county as part of a plan to save £26million in five years.

A report handed to the board said: “Our estate is one of those areas where we are proposing a significant reduction. Most of the buildings that we are closing have few officers located within them and are not visited regularly by members of the public.

This does not mean that the public won’t be concerned about their closure but we have

had to prioritise the people who deliver a policing service over the buildings that they operate from.”

Derbyshire Constabulary has said it is hoping to find somewhere else for the Safer Neighbourhood Team’s PC and PCSO to use before the Melbourne office shuts in 2017/8.

The force has also said it will also have to reduce the number of police staff because of the amount of savings needed, but hopes to keep cuts to a minimum by saving as much money as possible on police buildings such as the one in Melbourne. It is hoped as far as possible to redeploy affected staff, offer them voluntary redundancy or early retirement.

Chief Constable Mick Creedon said: “We realise that some members of the public will be disappointed that their local police station or office, enquiry office or front desk will close. We have to compare the costs of them remaining open to the benefit they provide to people who use them and found that this is the best plan available to us.

“The important thing to remember is that police officers will be on patrol even if their local base has closed.”

He added: “Policing is changing, both in the way that the public interact with officers to report crime or ask for help, and in the type of crime offenders are now involved in.

“The growth in cybercrime, child sexual offences, human trafficking, modern slavery and other types of organised crime places different demands on the police.

“Similarly, the way members of the public choose to contact the police has changed.

The most popular methods are now telephone or internet. People who want a visit from a police officer can now book an appointment either at their home or the nearest police station.”

Derbyshire Constabulary is hoping to save £700,000 a year and potentially make between £3million and £4million by selling off buildings.

– Lucy Stephens

New secondary school

Continued from Page 1

Holiday fun for this year’s Carnival

WE’RE all going on a summer holiday – we wish! But the good news is that “holidays” will be the theme of this year’s Melbourne Fete and Carnival.

The 2015 carnival committee is already working to make the annual summer bonanza a success and hoping plenty of people will step forward to put together a holiday-themed float for the traditional opening procession.

The carnival’s website goes on to say that the theme can include everything from “summer, winter, tropical, around the world, camping, caravanning, hi-de-hi-style holiday camps and all other mini-breaks in between ...”

This year’s carnival will be

held on its traditional spot on the school playing fields on Saturday, July 11.

The carnival committee has asked for anyone who wants to form a group to take part in the procession to be in touch, along with anyone who would like a stall and groups to take part in the tug-of-war competition.

You can check for details on the carnival website: www.melbournecarnival.co.uk.

Those who want to get involved can ring Tracey on 07866 689 971.

The Melbourne Fete and Carnival Committee pictured above (l-r) are: Julia Kinsey, Emily Starkie, Rachel Hill, Gemma Bettelley, Andy Parrish, Tracey Ridley (chair) and Sarah Stainthorpe.

Time for a cuppa with Emma

FANCY a cuppa? The Senior Citizens’ Centre in Melbourne on Tuesday, March 10 (10am-noon) will feature Emma Guest delivering a talk on personal and home safety.

Admission is £1 for tea/coffee and £1 for homemade cake.

St George’s Day barn dance

ST GEORGE’S Day will be celebrated with a barn dance on Friday, April 24, at Calke Abbey, with the Derbyshire Ranters Ceilidh Band.

Starting at 7.30pm there will be a real ale bar and locally sourced burgers to purchase. There will be a raffle in aid of the St George’s Church, Ticknall, restoration fund.

right, now, for these children. A decision has yet to be made.”

District councillor John Harrison said he had long “held out the hope” that Melbourne would get its own secondary school if Chellaston Academy ran out of room.

But, like Cllr Chilton, he too feared in the current rush of housing applications, a new school could “trigger a massive explosion in housing development”, which he did not believe local people would want.

He added: “I would also be interested in the views of local residents and in particular parents, whose views will be extremely helpful – there will be more children being bussed into Melbourne if the school was in Melbourne than if the school was on the A50.

“All those things should be taken into consideration before a final decision is made.”

You can take part in the consultation, which ends on April 3, by visiting: http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/council/have_your_say/consultation_search/Consultation_search_index/south_derbyshire_secondary_education_strategy.asp

Village Voice March 2015 7

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CAROLS BOOST FOR CHARITY

8 Village Voice March 2015

THE Melbourne Charity Band, made up of players from various bands in the area, visited local inns and restaurants in the two weeks prior to Christmas, culminating in playing carols in Melbourne Market Place on Christmas Eve morning.

Their chosen charity is Cancer Research for which they raised £3,250 to bring the total to £56,550 in the last 10 years.

The members of the band would like to thank all the local people who gave so generously and the proprietors of the restaurants for making them so welcome.

All our beef and lamb is grass fed and reared at Park Farm on the Melbourne Estate. We believe that the animals’ lifestyle has an important effect on the quality of the end product and we therefore take much care in rearing our Longhorn cattle and rare breed sheep. A peaceful and stress-free upbringing creates relaxed muscles and it’s those relaxed muscles that equate to tender, supple meat. Our dry aged on the bone for 35 days, gives you the taste and tenderness that is hard to find anywhere else. We have complete control, from field to fork, that results in our beef and lamb having a wonderfully, buttery, nutty taste. Our pork, chicken, eggs and other goodies are sourced from friends who farm with our passion, provenance and responsible farming.

We are farmers first and foremost, passionate about producing livestock resulting in flavoursome meats for you. We skilfully create cuts for you to use for day to day meals or for special occasions. Pop in to our new butchery, meet our team and see for yourself.

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EMA cargo record

l VALENTINE’S Day saw Shawn Cranwell pouring the Champagne at Harpur’s in Melbourne for Kate Morris and Richard Leveland.

EAST Midlands Airport, the UK’s busiest pure freight airport, saw its best year ever for cargo in 2014, handling more freight than any other period in its 49-year history.

In 2014, 308,935 tonnes of flown cargo were handled, up 3.6%, on 2013’s volume. It also beats the previous all-time best calendar year by nearly 2,000 tonnes, achieved in 2010.

Andy Cliffe, Managing Director of East Midlands Airport, said: “Underlined by a record year for cargo throughput and confirming its status as the UK’s pure freight hub, the airport continues to play a vital role as a provider of jobs, connectivity and economic benefit to the wider region.

“We are located centrally between the North of England, London and the South, as well as Wales, Ireland and Scotland – meaning we are wellplaced to provide a dedicated convenient and costeffective solution in supporting UK businesses engaged in high value sectors of the economy.

“Buoyed by a strong 2014 and the green shoots of economic recovery, we will continue to develop

further air cargo and operational facilities to support the continued growth of a broad range of air cargo activities at East Midlands.”

The figures were welcomed by the Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin on his visit to the airport.

He said: “Today’s record cargo figures are great news for East Midlands Airport. This is further proof of the importance of our regional airports and their key role in our long-term economic plan for the nation's future prosperity."

The airport is the main UK hub for DHL, UPS and TNT, who between them offer regular direct connections to the USA as well as numerous points in Europe, Ireland and the UK. East Midlands Airport is also the UK's busiest airport for flown mail. It is the UK hub for Royal Mail, handling over two million 1st class items a night, and is the UK's busiest airport for ad-hoc charters with over 200 flights handled a year from small Cessnas to the giant Antonov AN-124 and 225.

*VTL HUK ÄUK V\[ ^OH[ SPML ^PSS IL SPRL H[ [OL UL^ YL[PYLTLU[ village at Richmond Aston-on-Trent. As well as information on HSS [OL MHU[HZ[PJ MHJPSP[PLZ WYVWLY[PLZ H]HPSHISL HUK WYPJL YHUNLZ ^L ^PSS IL OVZ[PUN [OL MVSSV^PUN WYLZLU[H[PVUZ!

RICHMOND ASTON-ON-TRENT RETIREMENT VILLAGE

INFORMATION DAY Saturday 21st March | 10am – 4pm The Priest House, Castle Donington, DE74 2RR

11.00am – Never a dull moment A presentation about the social side of living at a Richmond Village including the daily events and activities arranged by the Richmond Villages’ activity team.

12.00 noon – The families perspective An interview with a family member of a Richmond Villages resident who will give their perspective of Richmond Villages, followed by audience questions.

1.30pm – My life at a Richmond Village An interview with a current Richmond Villages’ resident, followed by audience questions.

2.30pm – Richmond Aston-on-Trent – the latest Richmond Village A presentation by a director of Richmond Villages explaining all the on-site facilities, available accommodation and how a Richmond Village can help people retain their independence.

For more information, please call the Village Advisers on

01332 895749

or visit www.richmond-villages.com/aston

New plan for yet more homes

ANOTHER application to build more houses in Melbourne has been submitted – for 24 new dwellings on Station Road.

This is in addition to those already built on Sweet Leys Way and the 22 approved recently on the adjoining Hatton Gardens site. They would be built on the land adjacent to the east of the previous application, but not approach Carr Brook as closely to avoid the flood plain.

The application includes eight affordable dwellings and spaces for 62 cars.

The application on behalf of Alexander Bruce Estates, describes Melbourne as a sustainable settlement and this site a suitable setting for the proposed modest residential development.

Referring to the emerging Local Plan it suggests developments of up to 25 units should be promoted and considered as a windfall to support

the continued growth of Melbourne. It suggests there will be no significant impacts on the landscape or existing natural features, such as hedgerows or trees. Access arrangements and drainage will have no discernible impact on the existing residents, it claims.

Local residents have already been reacting to this development on social media, asking “When will this development stop?”

There are concerns about the impact on school and health provision, flooding and transport arising, not solely from the smaller scale development proposed but by the overall impact of incremental development.

Whilst the Local Plan indicates no large scale development for Melbourne, developers have been successful in seeking approval for smaller sites, notwithstanding the cumulative impact.

Village Voice March 2015 9

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Ladies with very caring hands

SINCE the Caring Hands Group began in September 2014, the wonderful ladies who meet each week to knit/crochet for various charities have so far made over 2,000 items.

These include knitted squares that have been sent to Africa to make blankets, clothing for Special Care Baby units throughout the country, and knitted Christ-

mas tree decorations for Pool Cottage.

The group was delighted to welcome guest speaker Jan Lee, who had taken items, jumpers, hats and knitted teddies that had been made by the group, to children in villages and refugee camps on the Turkish/Syrian border.

Jan spoke of the plight of the children and families

THE remarkable life and times of Joseph Wilkes was the subject of a talk given by Keith Elliott to Melbourne Civic Society in February.

In the latter half of the 18th century the small, sleepy village of Measham underwent its own industrial revolution thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit of a local farmer called Joseph Wilkes.

He opened several coal mines; built cotton mills to produce hemp, lace and tape; built a carding mill and one to bleach cotton and established brickworks. He was involved in canals and road building to transport his goods more easily.

He opened a bank to transact

money and raise loans. He also built many new properties and although some of his buildings still exist, few remain in their original form. His interest in farming led to new techniques in breeding animals and irrigation of land. By 1790 he employed two thirds of the local population and Measham was entirely self-sufficient.

Keith Elliott had painted a picture of a thriving area which is hard to imagine today.

The next meeting of Melbourne Civic Society will be on Monday, March 30, at 7.30 pm in Melbourne Assembly Rooms when the Annual General Meeting will be followed by a talk on The Air Ambulance Service.

What Joseph Wilkes did for Measham

over there and how grateful they were to receive these lovingly knitted items.

If anyone would like to join the group, which meets on Mondays (2-3.30pm) in Melbourne Church House, contact Rev'd Angela Plummer on 01332 863592.

Pictured are the ladies of the Caring Hands knitting group with guest speaker Jan Lee.

Celebrating local talent

PLANNING is underway for Astonbury 2015, the annual celebration of local talent to be held over the weekend of May 1 and 2. Visitors are invited to attend one of the evenings or take advantage of a discounted ticket for both.

Carol singers’ £670 effort

BELATED news from the Melbourne Carol Singers, who once again toured Melbourne and Kings Newton on Christmas Eve: The weather was kind, everyone (singers and audience) enjoyed themselves and £670 was raised for the National Children’s Homes.

Enjoy a fabulous ‘Best of English’ 4 Course Dinner £29.95 Classic English dishes with a Harpur’s Twist!

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10 Village Voice March 2015

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Keeping the district attractive for all

AS the district councillor responsible for waste and cleansing, I wish to comment on the article in the ‘Country Matters’ section of the February Village Voice.

The district council exercises its responsibility to clear 'fly tipping' on public land, at a cost in excess of £40,000, which is paid for by monies collected from Council Tax payers.

This is done through our Clean Team, available on freephone 0800 5872349. Private landowners have the same responsibility to protect their land and clean up waste as ourselves.

After discussions with the tenant and landowner, which involved advice, help and support, it is expected a gate will be securely fixed to substantial posts.

Our aim is to maintain our beautiful district and we will always advise landowners who are being targeted on security and protective measures they can take.

Working in partnership, we can make South Derbyshire an even more attractive place to live, work, enjoy leisure time and visit.

Peter Watson South Derbyshire District Councillor

Giving the good dog owners a bad name

P O S T B AG

TODAY I witnessed two women walking their dogs along Spinney Hill. They paused while one dog fouled the pavement, and then walked on without clearing up the mess.

Now I'm willing to give these particular dog walkers the benefit of the doubt and accept that perhaps they were chatting and didn't notice what the dog had done. They may well be responsible dog owners who are mortified to read this.

However, someone else with a larger dog is deliberately allowing their pet to foul the 'twitchell' between Spinney Hill and George Street virtually on a daily basis, leaving the most disgusting mess.

When walking through the twitchell you have to tread very carefully indeed, stepping from right to left to avoid piles of dog mess.

For any parent pushing a buggy it must be virtually impossible to dodge the mess because there is simply so much of it.

I shudder to think of children walking home from school, too busy chattering to scrutinise the path ahead. The same dog fouling problem continues along the pavement in George Street until the junction with Moira Street.

Whilst the vast majority of Melbourne dog owners are careful and responsible, it is sad that a tiny minority spoil things for everyone. I suspect the person whose dog uses the twitchell as a toilet will not stop unless caught and fined, as they clearly have no conscience.

A fed-up resident Name and address supplied Letters for publication with name address supplied (not necessarily to be published) should be sent to: Village Voice, 72 The Woodlands, Melbourne DE73 8DQ or email to letters@melbournevillagevoice.co.uk

Village Voice March 2015 11

FERRERS ARMS

Nottingham Road . Lount, Ashby De-La-Zouch LE65 1SD 01530 412982 Ferrers.lount@ marstons.co.uk

n A PACKED audience attended an evening with Charles Hanson hosted by Melbourne Photographic Society at the Melbourne Assembly Rooms.

The television celebrity and local auctioneer delivered an amusing and fascinating talk about his career with tales and anecdotes that captured the audience.

There were stories of the most random items that came to auction, for example a

piece of toast left by Prince Charles on the morning of his marriage to Lady Diana!

Following his talk, Charles discussed and valued items brought by members of the audience including the bowler hat being modelled by the event organiser, Gavin Lake. All in all it was an excellent evening's entertainment by a very talented gentleman.

Pictured are (l-r): Lorraine Dowell, Ian Pettit, Charles Hanson and Gavin Lake.

Last chance to ‘buy your brick’

SOME years ago Recreation in Aston, (RIA) gave residents the opportunity to ‘Buy a Brick’ as a way of supporting the building project at the Recreation Centre.

With the extension and adaptations nearing completion, RIA is offering residents a final and

unique opportunity to be a permanent and lasting part of this initiative and Buy a Brick.

Each brick will cost ÂŁ30 and will include a name or names containing no more than 18 characters. It is planned to have the completed ‘brick’ display produced and installed before

the official opening scheduled for June.

If you have previously paid for a brick and wish to claim Gift Aid on your donation or for any other details about the scheme, please contact Barbara James, Posey Cottage, Posey Lane, Aston. Tel 792061.

CHURCHES

TOGETHER

in MELBOURNE

Easter Join the Celebrations!

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Baptist Church - Chapel Street (865215) Good Friday Easter Day

6.00 pm Good Friday Service 10.30 am Easter Sunday Communion

Catholic Church - Church Street (862631) Good Friday Holy Saturday Easter Day

3.00 pm Celebration of the Lord's Passion (at Castle Donington) 9.00 pm The Easter Vigil (Melbourne) 10.30 am Mass of Easter Day (Melbourne)

Methodist Church - Church Street (405286) Good Friday Easter Day

7.00 pm 6.30 am 8.30 am 10.30 am

Reflective Service â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sunrise Serviceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on Breedon Hill Easter Day Communion then Church Family breakfast Easter Day Family Celebration - with the Puppet Team!

Parish Church - Church Square (864741) Good Friday

2.00 pm 7.30 pm 8.00 pm 8.00 am 10.30 am 6.30 pm

Holy Saturday Easter Day

The Liturgy of the Cross Sung Compline - at Ticknall Church The Easter Vigil Holy Communion Parish Communion Choral Evensong

United Reformed - Church High Street (862175) Good Friday Easter Day

7.00 pm 8.00 am 10.30 am 6.00 pm

After the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Now go quickly and tell his disciples: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Now I have told you.â&#x20AC;? Matthew 28 v 1-7

An Hour at the Cross Easter Communion Easter Morning Worship Easter Songs of Praise

Churches Together in Melbourne invite everyone on Easter Day to decorate our bare wooden cross with flowers. The cross will be near the Methodist Church off the Market Place

12 Village Voice March 2015

Mr Smith’s class back in ‘

Julie’s

Open Wednesday - Sunday 11.00 - 4.00

Melbourne Hall Craft Centre, Church Square Tel: 07958 618281 AUTENTICO CHALK PAINT STOCKIST ILIV FABRICS AND WALLPAPER Curtains and blinds made from your own fabric Curtains altered, remade or lined Patchwork bedspreads Table lamps Large stock of furniture Stunning large mirrors

Garden tables and chairs and benches Ladies and gents tailoring alterations

We paint customers furniture and do light upholstery

IN 1959 at Melbourne Secondary School, teacher Peter Smith's class assembled on the playground for a school photograph, (featured in February’s Village Voice and reproduced on the right) and 56 years later they were together again in the Melbourne Assembly Rooms, which was the former old school, for a reunion.

And, almost unbelievably, Peter Smith, now aged 80, returned for the event to meet up with some of his former pupils. Old friends who had not seen each other since leaving school greeted each other and exchanged hugs and life stories at what was both an enjoyable and emotional gathering.

Former pupil David Smith first had the idea and started the 'ball rolling' but he says that “Marion Dunniclff (nee Elliott), Pat Gates and Brenda Sharrat (nee Illiffe) put in the effort that made the event such a success”.

David presented each of these ladies, his former school friends, with a bouquet and told the short story of how, at the Christmas

school dance of 1961, he had plucked up the courage to ask Brenda Sharrat (nee Illiffe) – a girl he thought was very pretty – for a dance.

David says that he had never danced

with a girl before and had no idea of what to do. In the event, the song was Moon River, and to David's surprise, Brenda agreed. Instead of the dance being really romantic, he got all the steps wrong and

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PLAYING FIELD BENEFITS FROM COUNCIL

A PROJECT centred on improving a village playing field and its facilities is just one of the success stories made possible by a South Derbyshire District Council grants programme.

The Community Partnership Scheme, which offers financial

support to community groups and the voluntary sector, handed over £10,000 to Recreation in Aston (RIA) to allow it to unlock further money from the Landfill Communities Fund.

Thanks to the money, refurbishment work and an extension to a

brand new pavilion at the village playing field has just been completed, while new play equipment has also been installed.

District Councillor Jim Hewlett, chairman of Housing and Community Services at SDDC, said: “We are all very proud of this scheme

and, since it was re-launched December, it has received an e cellent response.

“It’s really all about improvi the lifestyle and health of loc people, as well as increasing t level of investment in the distri and the Recreation in Aston app

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Front row – Dorothy Lunn (Brown), Pat tes, Susan Carmichael (Hodgkinson), vid Smith, Judith Lakin (Andrews) and rion Westwood (Lakin).

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cation was particularly attractive in both respects.

“For each pound the district council put in, RIA was able to attract a further £9.”

An official opening date for the new Aston pavilion has been scheduled for June.

more parents than ever have got their first choice of school.

“The small number of parents who have not got a place at their preferred school have the right of appeal to an independent panel.”

Information on how to appeal is available online by visiting www.derbyshire.gov.uk/admissions Alternatively parents can get information from the school admissions and transport team on 01629 537479.

This year, a record 99.9% of parents made their secondary application online. Only five parents completed a paper form.

Parents who have applied for places at infant, primary or junior schools for their child will be notified on Thursday, April 16.

Cheap Rams’ tickets

THE vital role played by volunteers in South Derbyshire will be celebrated during the fifth annual South Derbyshire Day. Some of those who freely give up their time will be recognised in a presentation at Derby County Football Club’s iPro Stadium on Tuesday, March 17, during half-time of the Rams’ clash with Middlesbrough.

It promises to be an evening to remember as two high-flying teams go head to head in a 7.45pm kick-off.

Cllr Bob Wheeler, Leader of South Derbyshire District Council, which has been working with the club to arrange the event, said: “We know that volunteers are the very people who make our society tick, but their exceptional work often goes under the radar. What better way to thank them and highlight how highly we regard them than in front of 30,000 people at the iPro Stadium. Our sincere appreciation goes to Derby County and Toyota UK for raising the profile of the work of the voluntary sector.”

Derby County President and Chief Executive Sam Rush said: “Derby County is pleased to be working with South Derbyshire District Council once again to stage South Derbyshire Day at the iPro Stadium. The event has been popular during the last few years in the local community and we’re very pleased to be involved in this initiative.”

There are some significantly discounted tickets available for those living and working in the area priced at £14.50 for adults, £9.50 for over-65s, £7.50 for under-18s and £4.50 for those aged under 12.

The tickets must be booked by calling Swadlincote Tourist Information Centre, based at Sharpe’s Pottery Museum, in West Street on 01283 222848.

As part of the day the services offered by South Derbyshire CVS, which works with community groups, voluntary organisations and individuals to improve the quality of life in the area, will be promoted in the match day programme.

Firm’s driving force

BIRMINGHAM City University (BCU) has honoured a King’s Newton man with an honorary doctorate.

Julian Turner is the boss of a pioneering company at the very edge of technology, in the field of advanced sports car development.

He is the son of Frank and Byrnece Turner, who have lived in King’s Newton for many years. Following in the footsteps of his father, who was a director of Rolls-Royce, Julian, after schooldays in Melbourne and Repton, achieved a degree

in engineering at Nottingham University.

After a spell with an international engineering conglomerate, Julian is now the boss of Westfield Sportscars, based in Solihull.

Westfield, working closely with students at BCU, combined to develop the first build-

at-home electric racing car.

This newly designed car kit is at the forefront of the growing demand for zeroemission racing vehicles.

BCU handed the honorary doctorate to Julian in appreciation of the close cooperative links Westfield has built up with the students at the university.

Julian (pictured in one of his cars), who is 37, and has two daughters, said he was "honoured to receive the award, and his company would continue to provide support to the university engineering faculty and to the students".

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PARENTS across the county should now have heard about their child’s secondary school place, and for the majority of families it’s good news.

The authority made offers of places to 7,953 Derbyshire children on Monday, March 2.

Of those who applied by the closing date, 95.4% have been offered their first choice school. Overall, 98.9% have been offered a place at one of their three preferred schools.

This is the 10th year the county council has acted as a central clearing house to deal with admissions to all secondary schools, including voluntary aided, academy and foundation schools.

Derbyshire County Council’s deputy cabinet member for children and young people, Councillor Jim Coyle, said: “I’m pleased the requests of the vast majority of parents have been met and

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FORGET Bake Off – the Melbourne Assembly Rooms played host to some top-notch baking at a large-scale fund-raising coffee morning at the end of last month.

There were cakes of every description at the baking bonanza.

The event was held by Melbourne Churches Together and raised £370 for “tearfund”, a charity which aims to stop the shocking problem of child trafficking.

Lol Robinson, from Churches Together, said: “Melbourne is such a lovely place to live, but within 10 miles, in Derby city centre, there are people who are trafficked.

“In every city in England there are women who are trafficked; it’s just modern-day slavery. There is more slavery in the world today than there has ever been.”

Also at the coffee morning was a fairtrade chocolate stall, manned by Lol’s grand-daughter Lola, 9, and Naomi Lister, 13 – to highlight the problems of child labour involved in the international chocolate trade, to which the answer is to buy fairtrade.

Tearfund has people working in countries like Laos – where trafficking is a huge problem – to try to work within communities raising awareness of the dangers.

ALL Saints’ Heritage Centre at Aston on Trent has been awarded a grant of £300 from the East Midlands Airport Community Fund.

The money will allow the centre to purchase a digital projector to enhance the facilities available to community groups, organisations and families who use the centre for meetings, training sessions or social occasions.

John Holloway, funding volunteer, said: “We

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OBITUARIES

IAN GANGE 1957-2014 IAN passed away peacefully on December 15 aged 57. He was the much loved and cherished eldest son of Jean Gange (nee Bradbury) and Barrie Gange.

Ian lived in Melbourne when a small boy, later to live in many parts of the UK whilst his father served in the RAF. Ian’s passion was travel and he visited many parts of the world.

Married to Ann, he had a happy and successful life. He went to see his beloved Derby County FC whenever he could, being a lifelong season ticket holder.

The funeral took place at Fradley Crematorium and was attended by family, many

friends and work colleagues.

Ian was a true gentleman and role model and will be greatly missed by Ann and their two children. Donations were made to St Giles Hospice, Wittington, Staffordshire.

MURIEL ANNELLS 1926 - 2014 MURIEL Annells (nee Tivey) died in a care home in Somerset on December 24. Muriel was born in Melbourne on April 17, 1926, the elder daughter of Frank and Kitty Tivey of North Street, before moving to Windsor Avenue in 1937.

Muriel went to Parkfield Cedars School in Derby, then to Teacher Training College in Leeds. She started work as a primary school teacher in Chesterfield.

She married Hugh at Melbourne Baptist Church on April 5, 1952, where her father was Hon Treasurer for 49 years. She had a younger sister Margaret, who became a Baptist Missionary in The Congo, and a younger brother Alan, who worked for Westminster Bank.

Alan started the Carol Singing group in Melbourne on Christmas Eve in 1947 and still joins in every year. It is now organised by Alan Dunnicliff.

Muriel and Hugh moved to live at Cropwell Bishop in Nottinghamshire in the 1980s to be nearer to her family in Mel-

bourne. They attended services at Friary United Reformed Church, West Bridgford, until Hugh became unwell and was not able to drive.

After Hugh's death in March 2013, Muriel continued to live alone at Cropwell Bishop and Alan would take the Village Voice to show to her as she was always interested to hear about Melbourne. But her health declined and she moved to Somerset to be nearer to her daughter Christine and grandchildren.

Muriel was brought back to Friary United Reformed Church for a commemoration service.

Ralph Hawksworth Margaret, Julia and family would like to thank relatives and friends for their kind messages, cards, letters and flowers in memory of Ralph.

Thank you to everyone who came to the funeral and for the donations to the British Heart Foundation.

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Village Voice March 2015 15 RALPH HAWKSWORTH 1934-2015 RALPH was born on October 8, 1934 and lived at Hall Farm Sutton on the Hill.

As a young man he worked on the family farm, joining Derby Young Farmers and particularly enjoyed the hedge laying competitions.

It was at a Young Farmers dance that Ralph met Margaret and after a year they were engaged and then married six weeks later in 1962. They moved to Foxholes Farm, Hanbury, Burton on Trent, where daughter Julia was born three years later.

In 1969, due to ill health, Ralph decided to give up farming and got a job selling animal feeds to farmers. His farming knowledge was invaluable and he was well respected by his customers. It was at this time that Ralph and Margaret moved to Kings Newton House, which they shared with Margaret’s parents Daisy and Cuff Collyer.

After a successful career with Tithebarn Products, Ralph started his own business in 1984 selling animal feeds and anything else that farmers needed.

He continued the business until retiring in 1998.

As a young man Ralph was a member of Burton Abbey Round Table and then Melbourne Round Table. He was a founder member of Kings Newton Bowls Club and worked very hard to establish the green as it is today. He and Margaret

enjoyed many happy times playing bowls at Kings Newton and other clubs around Derbyshire. In the winter they played short mat bowls at Willington for a number of years.

Ralph was a member of the Melbourne wine circle, a past President of Melbourne Probus Club and a member of Melbourne Conservative Association.

He had a great love of football and was a lifelong supporter of Derby County. For many years he had a season ticket along with Margaret and Julia and it wasn’t unusual for Ralph and Margaret to watch two or three football matches on the telly on a wet Sunday afternoon.

As well as a loving husband to Margaret, Ralph was adored by his daughter Julia, son in law Stuart and grandchildren Rachel and Andrew.

For his many friends Ralph will be remembered for his kindness. If they needed help he was always there for them.

Village Voice is happy to be able to publish obituaries for local people. However, we must ask relatives or friends who supply them to please restrict the obituaries to a maximum of 200 words.

We reserve the right to edit the articles where necessary. – Editor

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ELIZABETH MICHELLE BURNEY 1942 – 2015 LIZ Burney died at home on February 2, shortly after her 73rd birthday.

She was born in Nottingham, and christened “Elizabeth Michelle”, but disliked the full name, and always insisted on being called “Liz”, which is how she was known in her 28 years in and around Melbourne.

She was trained in agriculture, and her early working life was spent tending dairy cattle and chickens; she loved animals, and all aspects of the outdoor life. She was an expert gardener, (a member of Ticknall Garden Club), and her love of horticulture can also be traced back to her time at agricultural college.

Her efforts in creating a small garden display in the limited space in front of her house in Potter Street were much appreciated by neighbours, and always attracted favourable comment from passers-by.

Liz’s other great love was dogs – they had always formed a big part of her life.

By the 1980s, Liz was displaying her caring nature by working as a nursing assistant at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, where she met John, and moved to the Derby area.

They married in 1986, and had been together for 29 years.

Liz had always wanted to express her artistic and creative talents more fully, and when she married John, the opportunity arose for her to start a craft business. She specialised in making little fabric clowns, trade-named Picolo, which became very popular locally, and even appeared on the shelves of Harrods and John Lewis stores.

Sadly, around this time, Liz’s health had begun to deteriorate and so the business had to be sold.

The onset of osteo-arthritis was compounded by a knee replacement operation which left her with considerable pain, and

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a motorised disability scooter became her normal means of getting about. Liz also had constant breathing difficulties since childhood, and needed ongoing treatment for bronchiectasis, leading to repeated bouts of pneumonia, and sadly she became a regular hospital patient.

Liz was a well-known figure around Melbourne, being involved in many clubs and societies over the years. Her love of church music was channelled into several years singing in the church choir, running the junior choir, and introducing children into the senior ranks. More recently, she became an Air Ambulance volunteer collector, looking after collecting boxes in Melbourne and the local villages.

One of her proudest recent memories was when she and husband John were invited to be guests of honour at the Melbourne Carnival three years ago.

Liz had two children from her first marriage, five grand-children, and recently, a first great grand-child, of whom she was very proud.

Liz’s health worsened over the years, but she managed to remain relatively active and cheerful but the cumulative strain on her heart over the years must have taken its toll, and broncho-pneumonia finally led to her sudden, and unexpected, death.

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16 Village Voice March 2015

VOLUNTEERS from the sports clubs in Melbourne linked to the Melbourne Sporting Partnership gave up their Saturday morning to help plant 250 native species of trees on the Cockshut Lane site.

The trees have been funded by a grant from A Million Trees Derbyshire, which is part of the Government sponsored Big Tree Plant Project administered

by South Derbyshire District Council, who applied for the grant.The trees will grow to create a new woodland and complement existing woodland on the periphery of the site.

In other news from the Melbourne Sporting Partnership, tenders for the club house have now been received from contractors and are currently being assessed.

The publication of the first quarterly newsletter has been postponed until a decision on the selection of a contractor has been made, which will impact on the date for starting work on the project and the creation of a calendar of activities for 2015/16.

MAISY Hayward,17, a student at Chellaston Academy will be joining other students on their visit to Uganda this year and needs to raise funds to finance her place.

She is planning to hold a social event in Aston on Trent Memorial Hall on April 25 from 7.30-11pm.

Local barn dance duo 'Double Capers' have volunteered to host the evening with Maisy and a hot sit down meal is included in the ticket price of £10.

Admission will be by pre-sale tickets only with no tickets on the door.

The invitation is for those attending to wear themed ‘Barn Dance’ style dress, with no heels recommended.

Dr Black’s medical notes

DR IAIN Black, recently retired from his duties in the medical practice in Melbourne and Chellaston, came to talk to a full house of Probus Club members about the history of medicine and the changes that have taken place in the lives of General Practitioners in the time before and after the creation of the NHS in 1948.

He sketched the early days of medicine, from the first mention of the Society of Apothecaries, who were incorporated by Royal Charter as the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London in 1624.

It was from these first chartered

apothecaries that there was developed the modern role of GP, given in the Apothecaries Act of 1815. This act gave the society the statutory right to grant licences to practice medicine.

Dr Black sketched the development of general practice over the last century, which most of the members recognised, being reminded of Dr Finlay's stories on the TV, and the novels of A J Cronin.

He outlined the reforms in National Insurance brought in by David Lloyd George, from 1911, which gave some free cover for employed men, but it was the passing of the NHS act in 1948 which heralded the NHS practices that

we know today.

Dr Black reminded the club that the medical profession did not welcome the introduction of the free service. The doctors were only reluctantly brought on board by the Health Minister, Aneurin Bevan "stuffing their mouths with gold".

General practice has changed hugely since the 1940s. Individual doctors then had practices which gave a round-the-clock service, but over time larger practices became the norm.

Dr Black reminded the meeting that when he came to Melbourne in the 1980s to assist Dr Freeman, there were only three doctors serving the

town, working from small premises.

But the demands on the service have increased hugely with demands from an ageing population, and increased responsibilities laid down by Government with a GP workforce which is struggling to recruit into their ranks.

Dr Black was quite open, accepting the fact that half the outputs of medical schools are women, and it is a fact that many women doctors prefer to work fewer hours than their male colleagues.

Hospitals are overcrowded, and it is important to provide service for patients nearer home.

Dr Black envisaged larger practices, with more specialist work being done in GP practices to reduce the hospital load. In addition, to reduce the load on GPs, an increased nursing staff was recruited.

The use of nurse practitioners, who had the ability to issue prescriptions and deal with the increased volume of minor ailments, had been very successful in the enlarged practice.

The medical centre at Chellaston is a large building, with room to do operations, and to offer over time a much widened service, which was undoubtedly going to be way forward.

– DOB

Henry’s weather eye on 2014

MELBOURNE’s unofficial Weather Man, Henry Dunnicliff, has given Village Voice an overview on the climate in Melbourne during 2014.

“Contrary to what our friends at the BBC weather service keep telling us (they like to sensationalise everything to make a story) January 2015 was certainly not a wet month in Melbourne, neither was 2014 a wet year.

At 1.56 inches January was well below average as was 2014 with 27.62 inches. Had it not been for a freak storm on July 19 when 2.23 inches fell in about half an hour it would have been an exceptionally dry year.”

Henry has kept weather records since 1963 and over the last 40 years since 1975 the average rainfall has been as follows (in inches): February – 1.95, March – 1.96 April – 2.01 May – 2.16 July – 2.44

Village Voice March 2015 17

January – 2.48 September 2.50 August – 2.51 June – 2.57 November – 2.64 October – 2.79 December – 2.86

The average is 2.41 per month and 28.87 per year.

No true pattern can be drawn from the above figures except late winter and early spring tend to be the driest time of the year and late autumn and early winter the wettest.

Even the driest months can be very wet with 8.02 inches recorded in February 1977 (the wettest month in over 40 years) and the wettest month can be dry with 0.94 inches recorded in December 2010.

The wettest year he has recorded in the last 40 years was 2000 with 37.63 inches and the driest 2011 with 15.99 inches.

n KING’S Newton Social Group held a German Bier Keller evening at the Scout and Guide Headquarters.

The entertainment was provided by Robert Burton, playing the accordion, who soon had everyone singing and swaying to the music.

The Scout HQ had been transformed with flags, balloons and bunting with long tables to recreate the atmosphere. Quite a number of people dressed up, some men even sporting lederhosen!

Two of the committee ladies, dressed in German costume, served drinks. Everyone enjoyed the singing and the traditional German food.

MARK REALLY IS A MAN OF MANY TALENTS

MARK Smith, manager at Swarkestone Nursery, faced his audience with a surprisingly long list of talents at his presentation to Ticknall Garden Club.

What a CV he offered: horticultural consultant, writer, broadcaster, TV presenter and movie star. He could also have added crime advisor and school governor.

His daily routine at the nursery in-

volves reviewing and ordering stock, arranging displays and advising clients. His long-standing contacts with fellow horticulturalists help him to be at the forefront of new plants and innovations.

His standards are high and he aims for quality both in the annuals and perennials home grown at Swarkestone or when he travels to Italy for

large specimens or topiary. When selecting from trade shows he has to second guess the future trends and admits to some disasters.

A 10-minute feature for Radio Derby on gardening has now expanded to an hour’s garden programme.

An obvious highlight of his year is when, in the company of Andy Potter, he mingles with the celebrities on

media day at Chelsea Flower Show.

He has even entered the world of internet television when he appears on Burton TV. Together with gardening articles for magazine and newspapers he can truly say he is media savvy. And the movie star? Well, he finds time to act as an extra in movies too.

The audience felt his whirlwind of activities truly qualified him as a Man

for all Seasons!

Ticknall Garden Club’s meeting on Tuesday, March 10, will feature Peter Hall, ex-head gardener at Powis Castle, talking about his career working with the National Trust.

The meeting on Tuesday, April 14, will feature Brian Ellis of Avondale Nursery, Coventry. All meetings are in Ticknall Village Hall at 7.30pm.

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MAY’S GENERAL

HEATHER WHEELER (Conservative Party)

HEATHER originates from Norfolk but moved to Putney in London when her father, a civil servant, was transferred. She was educated at Grey Coat Hospital School. After school she went into Insurance at Lloyds in the City and she remained there a further 10 years and qualifying as an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute.

After a “whirlwind engagement and marriage” to husband Bob, they moved to Bretby in South Derbyshire in 1986, when he took up a job with Bass Brewery in Burton. Daughter Harriet was born in the local hospital in 1987.

In any spare time she is a great sports fan, enjoying both rugby and football at the Tigers, Burton or Derby, or just on the TV. It was her schooling which first spurred her into politics. Around 1974 the comprehensive education policy threatened her own school and a conversation with her father made her realise the only way to change things was to get involved.

Her grandmother also advised her to “set a trend, dear” so she has always been a “do-er not a follower!”

She was elected to Wandsworth borough council aged only 22. She has always been interested in politics, and cherishes a picture of herself outside 10 Downing Street aged 5. With personal beliefs in a free market, low taxation and law and order, she found a natural home with the Conservatives.

After moving north she stood as District Councillor for Repton

in 1995, mainly because she did not like what the Labour council were doing.

The big step came in 2001 when she stood for Parliament in Coventry and “cut her teeth” in elections that year and 2005. Although unelected she secured swings to the Conservatives in a Labour stronghold. Asked why, she said “she had always wanted to do it; I feel there is a group of people who need to have a champion, someone to lead the area.”

She has a deep sense of public duty and for getting things done.

In 2006 she was selected in an “Open Primary” to stand for South Derbyshire and was elected in 2010.

Turning to issues raised on the doorstep, she said that immigration and defence keep cropping up. On immigration, she noted that 10,000 individuals in S Derbys are resident but not entitled to vote; they are here for work.” It is a conundrum,” she said, and her solution is to ensure that local children get the education they need to get a good job so we do not need to send abroad for skilled

people. “On Defence, there is a very close link with the Mercian regiment and people are worrying about another foreign conflict.”

Europe is another issue and her views on the EU are well known.

She hopes Mr Cameron will remain as PM after May and he can successfully renegotiate terms before a referendum. If he cannot negotiate better terms, she is clear she will be campaigning to leave the EU. The election will also focus on the Economy, Education and the NHS. On the economy she is proud of the coalition government’s record and for her the choice is between “competence or chaos.” She believes there are interesting developments in Education, particularly in this area, with the expansion of University Technical Colleges, like Burton.

She is working closely with both Derby and Burton hospitals to really understand the worries and concerns and how to make things better.

On housing, she is hopeful that the adoption of the Local Plan will clarify where planning applications should be refused. She also said if re-elected a priority would be to work for a bypass bridge at Swarkestone.

There is no doubt that Heather has been a hard working constituency MP, fighting in Westminster for the area and she is resolute and committed. Whether she can persuade enough of the electorate of South Derbyshire to return her and the Conservatives for another five years remains the mystery of the ballot box.

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ELECTION PROFILES ALAN GRAVES UKIP

ALAN is 51 years of age, married to Ann and they live in Barrowon-Trent. In fact if you live in Barrow, he has delivered your copy of the Village Voice!

He is a businessman, who for the past 30 years has been running Norcon based on Pride Park, Derby, which supplies a computer software till system for newsagents and other small businesses nationwide.

Outside business and politics, “two full time jobs” as he put it – he enjoys football, supporting both Derby County and Gresley Rovers, and being with his four grandchildren.

He describes himself growing up as an “army child” living wherever his father was posted. He came to Derby aged 16 to stay with his mother’s relatives and studied at Wilmorton College. He then did a series of odd jobs until going into business.

He didn’t set out to go into politics either; he sort of “accidentally fell into it”. A problem with one of his children’s schooling led him to get onto the board of governors; that got him into the Labour Party, which in turn led him into local government.

“I was so angry with faceless people making decisions which affected me I decided to do something about it.”

He has been involved in politics ever since, and he was first elected as a city councillor in 1995 and at one point was a cabinet member.

Disillusionment with in-house party politics crept in, however, and he described his frustration at an early meeting when two members were arguing over the Kashmir situation, not local matters. The expenses scandal further disillusioned him, as did the decision by the party not to offer an EU referendum. He reached the point where he decided to resign the Labour Party whip and remained as an independent, out of respect for the electorate.

He first stood under the UKIP banner in 2012 and lost, and again in 2013 he stood in district elections and lost. In 2014 he stood again and was elected for Alvaston ward.

He believes that UKIP can win the South Derbyshire seat. He thinks that the main issue most local voters are concerned about is Europe – “it is becoming a bigger and bigger issue each year” he believes and people will be looking at how the country will be part of Europe for the future. This is linked to the concerns over im-

migration, “a big issue for everyone in the country. Despite being a tolerant society which has welcomed newcomers over many years, the open door policy and lack of control is causing significant problems.”

Only leaving Europe, in his view, enables us to control our borders. Related is the issue of budgets – the £55million per day the EU costs - could be given back to the country to help overcome austerity. Similarly UKIP wishes to slash the foreign aid budget by about £10billion, leaving £2bn for the most deserving cases.

Locally the issue of immigration is impacting on housing, infrastructure and the NHS, in his opinion. “SDDC has earmarked plots of land for 30000 homes,” he outlined “and people just don’t want it.” UKIP has pledged to overturn the Planning rules which favour developers ( Section 49 of the NPPF.) Alan believes it will be a tight race but he has confidence that the electorate will repeat the performance of the European elections where “they achieved 35% more of the vote than any other party”.

Alan does not come over as the “loony, fruitcake UKIP candidate” described by David Cameron, but as someone who believes politics should be about issues people care about.

It remains to be seen in May if enough voters share his concerns over the issues he believes are rooted in membership of the EU to send him to Westminster.

Village Voice March 2015 19 FRANK HUGHES has been speaking to the declared Parliamentary candidates for South Derbyshire in the May General Election, profiling the personality behind the politics.

CHERYL PIDGEON Labour Party

CHERYL has lived most of her life in the East Midlands and most of it in Derbyshire. Her father and grandfather were coal miners, although her father left mining to join the Royal Air Force. She was educated in the Far East, Lincolnshire and then at Long Eaton Grammar School.

After school she went to work first for the Ministry of Defence in Chilwell and then Raleigh. She had four children within five years and bringing them up was her main priority.

After her first marriage broke up she had to return to work, resuming employment with Raleigh and became Head of Materials Planning, Exporting and Importing. She married again in 2002, to Philip, who works for the Department of Work and Pensions.

Her politics were forged bringing up a family on a limited income, seeing hardworking people not getting the rewards they deserved and observing the worst social costs of the Thatcher years.

She joined the Labour Party in 1992, first stood for election in 1995 and then succeeded as county councillor for Sawley. She now represents the Nottingham Road Ward on Erewash Borough Council.

Cheryl has a long, proud record of representing people, not just as a councillor but also on union and other regional organisations. She was Parliamentary Assistant to Graham Allen, MP for Nottingham North. She was also the Midlands TUC Regional Secretary,

speaking out for millions of workers across the Midlands and working alongside organisations such as CBI and ACAS. She sat on the former Regional Assembly and the Regional Development Agency and was the first ever female Regional Secretary in the history of UCATT – the union for the construction industries.

Asked what skills would benefit her as an MP, Cheryl highlighted that foremost she is a good listener. “Without listening to people’s hopes, fears and aspirations it is impossible to represent them with passion and understanding.”

She also considered her negotiation, representational and solution finding skills, built up through various roles would be essential.

“I will have only one job as MP for South Derbyshire and I promise to be credible, visible and available to serve my constituents.”

Talking of issues raised on the doorstep she said: “There is a lack

of trust in politics and people are looking for something different – for someone who can understand them and their challenges. People have different concerns depending on their circumstances.

“If you are elderly and live in a rural community, it may be about health issues or transport to get vital support.

“As a parent you want quality education for your children – the impact of new houses on education and on health are serious concerns. “ If you are young, the opportunity to have a good education and a job at the end of it are paramount. If in business you want to be able to grow and expand your business so a strong economy is vital.”

She wants communities to come together to make a difference. “My role will be to work together for the many not just for the few.”

Her vision is one in which people reconnect and work alongside politicians, where people realise they have a powerful voice and can really change things.

Speaking to Cheryl one is struck by her sincerity and her optimism for a change in the relationship between voter and MP. There is little doubt that her varied career and roles, both within and beyond the political sphere have given her a strong platform for a role in Westminster – her task now is persuading enough people to vote for her and demonstrating that she is their preferred candidate.

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Ellie sails away with award again

22 Village Voice March 2015

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PROMISING young Staunton Harold Sailing Club sailor Ellie Craig, 15, is celebrating after being revealed as the winner of the East Midlands’ Royal Yachting Association Youth Champion for the second year running!

Ellie is one of 13 regional winners of the 2015 RYA Youth Champion Awards, which were created just last year to recognise the outstanding achievement and performances of young people across the range of activities that boating’s national governing body, the RYA, represents.

Having won the inaugural regional RYA award last year, Ellie, from Norton-JuxtaTwycross, capped another impressive year in 2014 landing no fewer than 35 trophies in total. She also achieved her aim of being selected for the RYA Laser, Radial Transition Training squad as she progresses from Junior to Youth sailing.

Ellie said: "Winning the regional RYA Youth Champion Award the first time was surprising so to win it for a second time is

pretty unbelievable!

"The highlight of the past 12 months has to be getting into the RYA Laser Radial Transition Training squad because there were over 30 great applicants and only 12 got in.

My sailing has progressed hugely over the past year but the biggest improvement has been in my Laser Radial, which I only started sailing full time after the Topper Nationals in August. I have learnt so much from everybody who has given me help and coaching."

Ellie was nominated by her club Staunton Harold SC in South Derbyshire and selected as a winner by the RYA East Midlands regional committee.

She added: “I cannot emphasise enough how much support I get from the club. Everyone is so keen to give me advice and encouragement, it has really helped me to stay motivated and I am extremely grateful. It’s also great fun and I have made so many friends in the sport.”

Walking football scoring a hit

DERBYSHIRE is leading the way in the development of Walking Football sessions, with Village Games officers helping to set up eight sessions across the county.

The low intensity, high enjoyment sport has proved extremely popular in the last few months, particularly in the wake of the Barclay’s Bank TV advert.

Before June 2014, there were

Village Voice Photos Photographs appearing in the Village Voice are available to purchase online at www.melbournevillagevoice.co.uk Alternatively pick up a form from Melbourne News, fill in and return to Melbourne News with your payment and the photos will be posted to you.

just four walking football sessions across Derbyshire; now there are 15. Village Games officers work with a number of partners to ensure successful Walking Football sessions.

There’s no age limit for people to take part because anyone can play the game – men and women.

In 2015, the current Derbyshire groups will be invited to monthly walking football festivals taking place at central venues in Derbyshire. This will be an opportunity for the groups to play against the other groups, whilst also ensuring that walking football remains informal, fun and enjoyable.

Village Games-led Walking Football sessions take place at Swadlincote Green Bank Leisure Centre on Mondays, 78pm.

SHOPPING TRIPS/SOCIAL OUTINGS

Telephone: 01332 862744

For further information, cost of trips, or to book a seat, either call in the Community Care Office, Mon-Thu 9:30am-1:30pm; Fri 9:30am-12:30 or telephone 863585 (answering machine when office is closed). All journeys subject to number of booked passengers, minimum number required is 8, maximum 12.

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WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUEST A LATE CANCELLATION FEE. TRIPS ARE OPEN TO ALL but please note Community Care do not provide escort assistance.

For information on our “escorted trips” please contact the Community Care Office (863585).

EVERY FRIDAY MORNING WE PROVIDE A DOOR-TO-DOOR SHOPPING SERVICE TO SAINSBURYS SUPERMARKET, MELBOURNE. Escort assistance is provided, if required.

Telephone the office for more information or to book a seat on the bus.

PLANS for the Recreation in Aston 10k and two-mile fun run are now well under way thanks to the very kind offer of sponsorship from Richmond Village Aston-on-Trent, East Midlands Airport and Springfield Cattery.

The event will take place on Sunday, May 17, with the fun run starting at 10.15am and the 10k at 11am.

Please contact 01332 799312 for further information regarding the Fun Run and 10k event.

Pictured (l-r) are: Gay Evans, community relations manager, Richmond Village, Aston-on-Trent, and Barbara James, chairman Recreation in Aston.

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Top of table Matlock make their point – just MELBOURNE RFC 1st XV took the trip up the A6 to play top of the table Matlock on a pitch made soft after all the recent snow.

Melbourne played with a stiff breeze slightly behind them and up the slope in the first half and weathered the early Matlock storm.

On their first visit to Matlock’s 22, they scored. From a line-out the ball was recycled and Michael Lowery took it, reaching out for a fine finish. Euan Holden converted for a 7-0 lead.

Matlock hit back and soon reduced the deficit with a try in the corner. Holden extended the lead with a penalty to see the score 10-5 at half time.

The second half continued with defences dominating. Holden extended the lead with another penalty to 13-5. Chris Purce was harshly yellow carded and, from the following scrum, Matlock scored a converted pushover try to make the score 12-13 with 20 minutes to play.

The game ebbed and flowed with Melbourne trying to play a bit of rugby. Tony Day was yellow carded on 69 minutes for hands in the ruck. Melbourne held on for nine minutes before conceding a penalty in front of the posts to see Matlock take the lead for the first time.

With a minute to go Melbourne could not find the opportunity to score again. Final score 15-13, but a bonus point gained in a game that Melbourne should probably have won. MOTM – Theo De Vies.

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l Melbourne RFC 2nd XV (back row): Ian Masters, Chris Purce, Jordan Sparkes, Rich Woodburn, Sean Moran, Rob Foster, Pip Day, Chris Williams, Tony Day and Jack Pearce; front: Tim Awbry, Kurtis Robinson, Dale Bilson, Scott Buxton, Joe Bancroft, Will Cresswell and Dave Porter.

Melbourne went to West Bridgford keen to avenge the earlier defeat in the season. With three changes, Ash Stringer and Jake Walker started with Kier Biggins and Matt Derbyshire on the bench.

In another close game, Melbourne came out winners despite conceding three tries. Rob Hollingsworth scored Melbourne’s try with Euan Holden slotting five penalties as West Bridgford continuously fringed offside.

Yellow cards for Theo De Vies and Chris Purce (again) were not enough to stop Melbourne winning 20-18. Euan Holden was Matt Derbyshire’s MOTM. The final game of February saw the arrival of Notts Casuals, who sat one point and one place below Melbourne in the league.

The match ball was sponsored by SP Photographics.

Melbourne went behind to an early penalty before two quick tries, the first from Theo De Vies, by cutting a good line to score under the posts, and then Olly Page making a blind side break after a catch and drive off a lineout, to score in the corner. Euan Holden converted one for a 12-3 lead.

Casuals hit back with a converted try before another brace came for Melbourne. Jack Fisher was next to score under the post after a fine break before Michael Sinclair scored in the corner. Holden converted one for a 24-10 half time score. Defences tightened up in the second half and just a solitary try came for Notts Casuals, to leave the final score 24-15. MOTM Jack Fisher.

The Second XV sent a scratch team to top of the table Paviors 3s and performed well against a strong outfit. Webb and Ed Whitsun from the colts played for the 2nds as well as Ian Masters. Dale Bilson and Tom Line scored tries with Will Cresswell converting one in a 31-12 defeat.

The arrival of East Retford 2s saw Melbourne put in a very strong performance, winning 51-3 with tries from Kurtis Robinson, Scott Buxton, Chris Purce, Dale Bilson, Chris Williams, Joe Bancroft and Sean Moran together with various penalties and conversions. The game was sadly marred by the dismissal of Kurtis Robinson.

Finally Melbourne went to play the students at Sutton Bonnington and ended up losing 34-0.

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Teams have a terrific Fab-ruary

24 Village Voice March 2015

SPORT

UNITED U16S STAY AT TOP OF TABLE

THE Melbourne United U16s team secured a 1-0 victory over Gad Khalsa to maintain their position at the top of their league, a position they have held since September.

Their style of football has proven to be a successful formula this year with 73 goals coming in just 15 games – and only one defeat. Supporters have witnessed some freeflowing attacking play and the team is looking forward to bringing its unique brand of football back to Cockshut Lane for next season.

In a competitive league, the mighty Melbourne United U14s have played with flair and commitment this season. The brand of football has been excellent and has thrilled the attending parents throughout.

Elsewhere in the buoyant club the U15s finished their season with two wins and a draw and the U12s continue to grow in stature week by week with a 2-1 victory, this time over Uttoxeter.

The U10s have topped their Champions League qualification group and eagerly

await the quarter-final draw in their march towards Ilkeston. The ‘non-competitive’ lower age groups continue to play "the Melbourne Way".

Pictured are MUFC U16s (back row, l-r): Marcus Radcliffe (head coach), Ollie James, Adam Poyser, George Simpkin, Michael Rennocks, Adam Smith, Sam Adcock, Joe Dale and Ed Sutton (manager); front row: Liam Chapman, Max Winter, Ellis Radcliffe, Adam Lomas, Robert Sutton and Daniel Hill.

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LOCAL teams had a superb time in February with Melbourne Dynamo first team and the Reserves ending the month top of their respective divisions while Ticknall Rangers won through to the divisional cup final.

Melbourne Dynamo first team kept up their title hopes by winning all four of their league games starting with a convincing 7-1 home win against Little Eaton.

Leading goal scorer Michael Tristram fired home a double together with goals from Tim Adcock, Matt Brian, Dave Brough, Danny Guild and Tom Niewiarowski to complete the rout.

This was followed by another stunning win away from home against Wirksworth Town. This time Danny Guild and substitute Dave Brough both grabbed doubles with Matt Brian, Tom Niewiarowski and skipper Carl Allsop also getting on the score sheet.

A much closer game at home to Allestree was finally won 2-1 with a Danny Guild goal and a superb header from Carl Allsop earning a vital three points for Gavin Salisbury's men. They ended February with another 2-1 home win, this time against Pastures.

An early Ben Blackburn goal was soon cancelled out and it took a stunning strike from in-form Danny Guild to claim victory in a bruising encounter. It leaves Melbourne's first team with plenty to play for going into the final two months of the season.

Melbourne Dynamo Reserves also had a fabulous February, winning three of their four league games. A superb 3-2 win away to fellow title rivals Sherwin began the month with strike duo Jack Goodband (2) and Paul Swallow earning the vital points.

The following week Dynamo Reserves went goal crazy, scoring seven in the first half of their game away to Pastures Reserves.

Ryan Mclauglin led the way with a quite brilliant hat-trick; a double from Goodband plus strikes from Swallow and a screamer from Ben Dale completed an 8-2 win.

Away to Little Eaton Reserves, who fielded a very strong side – their first team game being postponed – was a hard fought affair and it took a last minute tap-in from veteran Alex Slater to earn a 1-0 win.

Greg Salisbury's men ended the month away to another of their title rivals, Chesterfield Town. A first half finish from Callum Cocker earned them a well-deserved 1-1 draw which leaves the title in Dynamo Reserves own hands.

Ticknall Rangers continued their rise up the Burton League division two table. Although their unbeaten eight game run did come to an end, they did win two of their three league games in February as well as winning through to their first cup final in three years.

They began a semi-final win as Craig Hall continued his good form with a sublime hat-trick. Supported by a double from Steve Byram plus strikes by Matt Archer and Ian Hall, Rangers beat Ashby Ivanhoe 7-2 at home to claim a cup final place.

Back in league action the following week, a hard fought 2-1 home win against Team Wild saw Steve Byram and a Craig Hall header earning the three points.

Ticknall's unbeaten run came to an end when a poor team performance saw them go down 4-1 away to Alrewas Athletic with Jonny Ball getting the consolation.

They were back to winning ways in the final game of the month as they crushed Midway 5-2 again at home. Steve Byram led the way with another double to go with cool finishes from Matt Archer and James Armishaw and a superb header by Mark Archer completing the win for Dave Archer’s men.

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