Melbourne Village Voice October 2018

IT’S ‘NO WAY’

THE ONE-WAY Funding

by FRANK HUGHES

IT WAS a case of “No Way!” rather than One Way, at a public meeting called to discuss the county council plans for better traffic management in Melbourne

With a good representation of people from the village, the meeting on September 26 was badly hampered, however, by the noise from the adjacent Zumba class Without a public address system both speakers and audience found it difficult to be heard and the visual displays were simply too small to be seen from the back of the room

Nominated chairman of the meeting Cllr David Smith invited highways officer, Richard Handbury from Derbyshire County Council, to outline the proposed traffic management scheme

The scheme was broadly the same as outlined in the Village Voice in February, with a few minor tweaks

The issues he had been invited to look at were congestion, turning movements and access, limited onstreet parking and deliveries to businesses

His first proposal was to sign and re-route HGV lorries around the village to the Castle Lane industrial area

His second proposal was the one-way system taking traffic one way along Derby Road from Queensway to the Market Place,

up Chapel Street from the Station Road end, and down Potter Street towards Castle Square This scheme was accompanied by some double yellow lines to facilitate access, and parking on only one side of the affected streets

Residents living on the three most affected roads were particularly vocal that they did not want this scheme

It was felt it would result in excess speeding, longer journey times and inconvenience, and could indeed make the situation worse

There was some suggestion that it was a case of “back to the drawing board” to come up with a better solution, but as one speaker put it, there was not an easy answer and whatever scheme was proposed it would polarise opinions

Several suggestions were made for minor changes to the traffic flow including creating a passing place on Chapel Street, dealing with the “pinch points” on Derby Road, reducing overall speeds, and looking again at parking restriction times

Linda Iliffe also raised the more recent concerns of overflow parking from the Melbourne Sports Park coupled with excess speeding on Cockshut Lane

Whilst the one-way system did not achieve popular support, Richard invited anyone with suggestions to contact him at highways hub@derbyshire gov uk and he promised to look at the list of suggestions made throughout the meeting

CHILDREN enjoying themselves in Melbourne’s Lothian Gardens playground have been without their largest piece of equipment since July – now the parish council is looking at grant funding to help pay for a replacement

Melbourne Parish Council funded a weekly bouncy castle in August to make up for children’s disappointment at not having the large slide, climbing frame and ropes over the summer holidays.

An investigation by RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) had found the equipment was unsafe and it was decided it needed to be removed.

A parish council meeting at the time heard that the equipment was fairly elderly and had been patched up many times.

At a meeting of the parish council held in the Assembly Rooms on October 2, it was heard that a plea for parents to make suggestions about what they would like to see in its place had garnered only two responses.

Further attempts by a local parent on social media had not elicited much more response, although there was a general view that monkey bars would be a popular addition to the playground – the aim being to create suitable equipment for the five to 11 age bracket.

The parish council’s facilities committee had met to discuss replacing the equipment, and decided to investigate what grants might be available to help cover the cost

Members were advised that the parish council’s existing funds would in fact cover the cost of the equipment without the need for grant funding, but it was felt it would still be sensible to explore the possibilities of getting grant aid before going ahead

It was also suggested that liaison with schools and other parish councils on the best equipment would also be a good idea.

l Rosemary Braddy singing at the Festival of Remembrance in Castle Square, Melbourne. Full story and more pictures inside.

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Radio broadcasters on air in Melbourne

PRESENTERS from BBC Radio Derby were outside broadcasting locally as Melbourne Hall opened up its gardens on Derbyshire Day.

Derbyshire Day, run by BBC Radio Derby, was this year celebrating its 12th birthday with a dozen attractions across the county offering free admission to visitors for the day.

It was the first time that Melbourne Hall and Gardens had been included in the county-wide event, and we caught up with presenters Andy Twigge and Mark Smith from BBC Radio Derby after their broadcast

“It’s been fabulous, a great turn-out and I think everybody who’s been has appreciated the gardens – they are just awesome, they blew me away,” said Andy

“The amount of people who said they had never visited the hall and gardens – I feel really embarrassed that I’ve never visited before!” confessed Mark, gardening expert for the radio station

“We try to give somewhere to our listeners to go and visit that they may never have done before,” added Derbyshire Day co-ordinator Bernie Webster

Various local businesses were down at the hall’s Visitors’ Centre as part of the occasion, including Fortey’s Sweet Shop and Melbourne Deli

Other attractions in Derbyshire which opened up to visitors included Carsington Water, Derby County Football Club and Haddon Hall

Pictured are Andy Twigge (left) and Mark Smith of BBC Radio Derby

SARAH: 07770 769246

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Lollipop ladies are saved from the chop

MELBOURNE’S school crossing patrol service has been saved, after a council decision to continue with funding

Derbyshire County Council had been considering a review of its school crossing service in order to save money

But at a meeting on September 20 councillors agreed that they would not make cuts to the service after all

Melbourne’s school crossing patrol – in oldfashioned speak, the lollipop lady – operates at school drop-off and pick-up times at the busy Packhorse Road, outside the entrance to both schools

The road gets extremely busy in the mornings with some parents dropping their children off by car as they head into work, and buses and other large vehicles trying to get through There have been regular warnings to drivers to take care while doing so and not park too near the school gates, with some “near misses” reported

Derbyshire County Council’s deputy leader and Cabinet Member for Transport, Highways and Infrastructure, Councillor Simon Spencer, said: “We are looking at all of our services to see where savings can be made, and took a good look at the school crossing patrol service

“We wrote to schools, parish and town councils where there is a crossing patrol and asked them if they would be willing to fund the service or help find the money from local businesses or sponsorship

“The feedback was that while they valued the service very few of them were able to help find the funds for their crossing patrol

“I have decided that because it is clear that this is a service that is valued across the county we will keep the service as it is ”

Council officers will now look to find the savings planned, £300,000, from elsewhere in the Economy, Transport and Environment department – Lucy Stephens

n ASTON-on-Trent’s annual medieval market was held in the grounds of All Saints’ Church

Organisers reported that stalls were well attended by villagers and others from Richmond Village

Various goods and produce were sold with monies collected being given to the

church funds. Home produced fruit, vegetables and cordials were on display alongside jams and chutneys

An organiser said: “Members of the parochial church council provided teas and biscuits for both stall holders and visitors and a good old fashioned time organised by local villager, Loral Aynsley, was had by all.”

Green spaces that need to be protected

RESIDENTS are being invited to have their say on local green spaces as part of a wide-ranging consultation out now – including the old tennis courts in Melbourne’s Lothian Gardens and the grass triangle on Ashby Road, Ticknall.

Cllr Jim Hewlett, one of Melbourne’s two South Derbyshire District Councillors, advised the latest meeting of the village’s parish council on October 2 that the green spaces document was due to be out for consultation from the 8th of this month – and set to last not less than six weeks

The green spaces proposed for local villages are all listed in a document that has now been agreed by a district council committee, the idea being that these are areas valued by the community which should therefore not be built on, except in “very special circumstances”

The areas have all been arrived at follow-

ing another wide-ranging consultation earlier this year, which saw several options discounted because they did not meet the criteria under planning rules Melbourne and Kings Newton have one of the longer lists of proposed green spaces across the district, with the following areas recommended for protection: West of Packhorse Road (the Woodlands); North of Station Road (Crescent); the Washpit; space off Acacia Drive in Spinney Hill; Holy Well; Church Close; the bowling green on Church Street; the recreation ground on Grange Close; the old tennis courts and Lothian Gardens and Kings Newton Bowling Green

In Ticknall, the proposed green spaces include land north of Rose Lane and opposite the entrance to Calke Abbey on Ingleby Lane, while Aston-on-Trent has only two green spaces listed – ponds to the rear of Aston Hall and the bowling green

Under planning rules the council can designate green spaces for sites that are deemed reasonably close to the community and “demonstrably special” They must also be “local in character” and not “an extensive tract of land”

Residents who would like to offer any comment will be able to do so by visiting the district council website or their local library

The council has asked for comments to be made in writing

When the consultation closes there will be time for any changes to be made to the document, and there will then be another consultation in the spring, with the Planning Inspectorate not expected to take a look at the plan until next summer

A district council report says that suggestions by residents for other green spaces “are not being sought”

– Lucy Stephens

20 years of being Fit Fat Blokes ...

PROBABLY the longest running fitness group in Melbourne celebrates 20 years of exercising this October

Mark Rotherham set up his circuit training classes for a group of less-than-fit dads who used to meet at the school gates to collect their kids

Some thousands of lunges, squats, sit-ups, and press-ups later the group is still going strong

“I had just obtained my certificate as a fitness trainer back then, and just asked a group of friends if they wanted to do a fitness class,” said Mark

So unused to training were some of the original “class of ‘98” that crawling from exercise to exercise was not uncommon!

There is some mystery as to how the name Fit,

Fat Blokes was adopted, but when someone came up with it, it just seemed to fit both the aspiration and the profile of the group

Now Mark’s class has a regular weekly attendance of well over 20 at the assembly rooms every Tuesday, and he has a second group immediately following “Fit Fats”

“It is as much a social group as anything,” said Mark

“We have a regular Christmas do every year, and we are all friends Wouldn’t it be nice, as many of us are now either approaching or over 60, to think we could still be doing this in another 20 years’ time ”

– Frank Hughes

IT’S TIME FOR JAZZ AT THE CHURCH

NOTHING goes together better than a venerable church and a spot of jazz introducing October ’s Jazz at Melbourne Parish Church is Gordon Hughes, from the friends of the church:

“Jazz at Melbourne Parish Church started three years ago, with the Gascoyne O’Higgins Quartet, featuring Derbyshireborn saxophonist Dave O’Higgins, bassist Geoff Gascoyne,

Graham Harvey on piano and Seb de Krom on drums

“Last year another phenomenal line-up performed to a sellout audience in the wonderful surroundings of the 900-year old church, as the Dave Newton Quartet took to the stage, with Dave Newton on keyboards, Alan Barnes on sax, Dave Green on bass and Steve Brown on drums

“This year we are fortunate to have persuaded another set of brilliant musicians to play for us, right here on our doorstep

“On Saturday, October 27, we will be treated to the best in jazz and world music by trombone virtuoso and composer Annie Whitehead, Steve Lodder on keys, Jennifer Maidman on bass and Liam Genockey on drums ”

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History of the Wakes

MELBOURNE Wakes will be arriving this month – but there is also a chance to find out all about the history of the long-running local institution with a special free exhibition at the Assembly Rooms

The Wakes exhibition, celebrating 100 years of Hollands amusements, is happening over the weekend of October 13-14, with an official opening by Linda Holland at 11am on the first day With an exhibition of working fairground models on Sunday, October 14, the show has been put on with the help of Melbourne Parish Council working with the National Fairground and Circus Archive

Frank Heath dies, 81

FRANK Heath, well-known market gardener of Woodhouses, Melbourne, died on October 2 He was 81 An appreciation of his life will appear in the next issue

Melbourne Infant School

OPEN DAYS

Prospective

n A CHARITY birthday bash held for Dawn Aston – previously featured within these pages with her self-challenge to walk 2018 miles for breast and prostate cancer this year – raised more than £3,000 for the cause

Dawn, from Melbourne, was diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2017, and has now walked a grand total of 1,701 22 miles, leaving her with a mere 316.78 to go to reach her full 2018 miles by the end of this year

Dawn’s charity birthday bash held

at the Royal British Legion pushed the total amount of money she has raised this year to more than £7,500, with a grand total of £3,016 20 raised on the night.

Businesses which donated to the raffle included Harpur ’s, Breedon Priory Gym, Toni and Guy from Burton-onTrent, and Incognosis, a band from Diseworth who performed for the birthday crowd before donating £650 raised from their golf club

A holiday cottage break was also

auctioned off on the night, which sold for £460 to Monica Heath, from Kings Newton

You can donate to Dawn’s charity fund-raising on the following website: https://mydonate bt com/fundraisers/d awnaston

The next event she is holding is a “Festive Pink Panther Fund-raiser”, with “luxury goods and fashion brands”. It is being held at the Royal British Legion from 11am to 4pm on November 17

Gypsy site plan decision on hold

THE decision on a “very contentious” planning application to convert agricultural land in Aston-on-Trent into a residential caravan site for six gypsy families was deferred at the last minute, so that a site visit could be undertaken.

The public spaces at the South Derbyshire District Council’s chamber were filled with concerned residents from Aston, and Albert Willow, vice-chair of SAVE (Save Aston and Weston Village Environments), was poised to be the representational speaker at a meeting of the council’s Planning Committee on September 25

But then Cllr Peter Watson unexpectedly moved a motion to defer the decision

The application had extensive objections raised against it, notably from Aston-on-Trent Parish Council, Shardlow Parish Council, local MP Heather Wheeler and 281 local residents, who be-

tween them had over 100 listed concerns

Only one letter of support had been received

Despite these concerns and the level of objection the council officer ’s report for the committee had recommended the application should be granted

The lack of a rolling five-year supply of gypsy pitch provision needed in the district was a “significant material consideration which adds weight to the acceptability of the scheme”, his report concluded

Cllr John Harrison added that he had received a letter from an Aston constituent who had raised concerns about highway safety, which should be remitted to the Highway Authority to review their position

Undeterred by their wasted journey, the residents from Aston vowed to return to Swadlincote on October 16, after the site visit, when the matter will be reconsidered

EVERYONE knows the disruption that snow can cause – so Derbyshire County Council is asking for volunteers to help clear snow and ice from the county’s roads and pavements this winter

The council wants to hear from residents and farmers willing to help keep their communities safe when bad weather hits Town and parish councils and

other community groups are being asked to gather together local people to join the Snow Warden Scheme

For helping out each council or group will get a free delivery of up to a tonne of bagged grit, training and advice on how to clear snow and ice safely, and specialist weather reports

Farmers and others with ploughing or gritting equipment are being asked to help

keep the county’s roads on the move from October to next April

Anyone taken on as a contractor will get £200 for signing up plus extra payments for call outs

Groups and local councils interested in volunteering can find out more and sign up to the Snow Warden Scheme at www derbyshire gov uk/snow or call 01629 538074

Lottery hope to save listed chapels

THERE are fears that Melbourne’s Grade II listed cemetery chapels of 1859 are at risk of falling into serious disrepair and dereliction if comprehensive repairs are delayed for much longer

But a successful Lottery bid would safeguard the interesting architectural structure for the future, plus provide useful facilities and opportunities for local groups, writes Philip Heath Melbourne Parish Council has teamed up with the Melbourne Historical Research Group to see what can be done to raise money for the work and, just as importantly, to see how the chapels can be of renewed usefulness to the community in the future

Entering the cemetery gates on Packhorse Road, all looks well; in fact the cemetery is well-known for its high standards of maintenance But the twin chapels are its dramatic centrepiece, and a closer look at them reveals a different, and alarming, story

The decorative green and grey chequered roofs are in need of total reslating, and the leaded windows require complete re-glazing and stonework repairs Add to this some structural movement, erosion of

stonework and a need for extensive repointing, plus a new requirement for basic lighting and heating etc , and a bill of half a million pounds is likely to be no exaggeration

Melbourne Parish Council Burial Committee chairman Mick Usher said: “The parish council and the group are looking at ways to make more use of the north chapel both for religious and non-religious services and as a quiet place for remembrance

“In the other chapel we’d like to insert a mezzanine floor so that it can be used by both organisations for archive storage, a meeting room (also available for use by others), kitchenette, and better office facilities for the sexton There are also opportunities to add to the cemetery’s wildlife potential as a green space which will soon be surrounded by housing, and there will be a need to re-house the sexton’s grounds maintenance equipment ”

Historical Research Group chairman Philip Heath added: “The aim is to secure Heritage Lottery funding, but at the current time Lottery funds are going down, and applications for funding are, therefore, increasingly competitive; it’s just not possible for the Lottery to fund all deserving projects

“Our initial application for a small first stage of work was turned down

earlier this year, but review, adaptation and persistence are equally as important as the quality of a project, so we have agreed to have another go and see if the ball starts to roll We think we have a good project, and there is community support, so we are staying optimistic ”

The cemetery was laid out in 1859 to replace the previous burial grounds of the parish, and the old Castle Street graveyard in particular The design of the buildings was put out to public competition, won by a rising young architect of Alfreton called Benjamin Wilson

There are two chapels because the cemetery had two halves: the northern half was consecrated, for Church of England burials, and the southern was unconsecrated, for the nonconformists

Until the 1980s there was a lodge for the sexton too, in a matching style Melbourne, like other places, took great pride in its new cemetery, because the Victorians thought of cemeteries as a kind of public park

The Church of England chapel still has its “catafalque” – a revolving table for the coffin – and some of its pews It is open to the public during weekdays, so readers are invited to go along and take a closer look at these under-valued buildings and their potential

Celia’s Froome mission

MELBOURNE watercolour artist and triathlete Celia Brookes undertook an unusual quest when she spent two years trying to get one of her paintings to top cyclist Chris Froome

Celia had, in the summer of 2016, travelled with husband Chris to France on their Harley Davidson motorbike to see Froome complete his historic third win of the Tour de France

Inspired by Froome’s performance, she set about creating a large watercolour with a series of small paintings depicting the most memorable moments of his famous win

After many hours of searching through TV footage and her own personal photographs of the race, Celia produced nine separate paintings of his success The painting took several weeks to complete but then the challenge was how to contact the cyclist and present him with the painting

First contact was made with his race team, Team Sky, who loved the work but advised on the potential difficulty of contacting Froome as he is based in Monaco

Contact was then made with his management company but that still elicited no response So, two years later, Celia saw that Chris was competing in the Tour of Britain, of which stage seven was starting from West Bridgford in Nottingham in September

Arriving early in the morning she was able to determine from race organisers exactly where the Team Sky bus would park, so she could wait there

The bus duly arrived just after 8am but still no Chris Froome Celia had to wait a further two hours for the bus doors to open and for the man himself to come out

Having spoken earlier in the day to one of the

Team Sky back-up personnel explaining all about the painting, he took it and left it for a while in front of the team bus next to the bikes belonging to Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas and where the race team, back-up team and fans were able to view it

And then success Chris Froome was brought over to Celia where she was able to chat with him and explain all about the scenes in the painting, which she said he immediately recognised – especially the extraordinary incident when he crashed his bike and continued the race by running up the mountain

“He showed his appreciation of the painting and said that he really liked it,” said Celia’s husband, Chris

So one watercolour painting presented to one famous cyclist: mission accomplished!

n FANCY giving someone a trip down memory lane this Christmas?

Melbourne Historical Research Group reports that copies of their ‘School’s Out’ book are now in Melbourne Library for anyone who would like to buy one – perhaps to remind a friend of the good old days.

The group says: “This 140-page book is full of memories, facts and photographs about the people, life and times which took place within Melbourne County Secondary School, originally Melbourne Board School, until its closure in 1977 and now known as Melbourne Assembly Rooms.

“There’s also a very interesting

chapter about the school's design and architecture, written by group chairman, Philip Heath ”

Visitors to Melbourne Library can also now see a copy of the panoramic 1977 final photograph from the school, copies of which were available for every pupil and staff member to buy at the time

The photo now on display in the library was featured in last year ’s “School’s Out” exhibition at the Assembly Rooms.

For more information about the book, you can call Teresa Johnson on 01332 864598 or Jean Grimley on 01332 863385

Pictured above are library assistants Jane (left) and Julia with copies of the book

The first and Original Champagne Breakfast

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Country Living with

Robert Parker

WHEN you’re a child in the playground, adulthood seems a lifetime away Which, of course, it is

When you’re moving towards three score years and 10, childhood seems not long ago Which, of course it, isn’t. Why am I pointing this out?! Well, I’ve been walking some of my childhood haunts, which had me deep in thought –and these places are usually under water Staunton Reservoir must be as low as it’s ever been since it was flooded, and if this drought continues it’s likely to go lower

The reservoir, as most people know, is not filled naturally but is supplied with water taken out of the River Dove near Burton, and I believe the EA (Environment Agency) control this extraction

As the river is low itself, water cannot be taken in large amounts.

About once a week I walk along the reservoir banks to see what is being revealed and I start to recognise familiar features

Below Calke Lodge lies Calke Mill Farm, still covered in H2O, but the whole of old Calke Road is still visible except where it was excavated to drain Big Dog Kennel pond

The road then goes up Mill Hill to

join the popular circular car park accessible through Calke village. Dog Kennel pond is fully visible as is the island which can be seen near the waterfall where water comes in to the reservoir

I don’t have any prior information but would suggest that the reservoir is a good deal under half full

For me it would be good to see the ruins of Calke Mill Farm before I leave this world, but I think it would have to drop the water level well over 10 feet, which would only leave a little duck pond near the sailing club

Friends and I had wonderful swimming and fishing in that brook below the bridge The time between childhood and adolescence when you didn’t seem to have a care in the world. That’s what it seems like looking back from old age anyway

n We’ve had to start using the milking machine again Some of the dairy young stock have started to have calves and these milking heifers will go to other dairy farms after a few weeks

We will rear their daughters and start the process over again – “maybe”

It’s fairly easy to milk two or three of them and some will say you may as well have one hundred and two or three to milk while you’re at it

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Photo: Anthony Freeman

Anniversary festival a day to remember

THERE were war-time classic songs such as Keep the Home Fires Burning and Pack Up Your Troubles; music from all three of Melbourne’s brass bands; poetry and dramatic readings from St Michael’s Players; performances from professional singers and other bands … all rounded off with falling poppies and the ringing of the church bells at sunset

This was Melbourne’s very own Festival of Remembrance, commemorating a centenary since the close of the First World War and was a truly memorable occasion

Melbourne Town Beginners’ Band, Training Band and Town Band all performed at the free concert, which was staged with screens, as did Melbourne Male Voice Choir and A Choir ’d Taste, plus children from both school choirs along with further performers such as opera singer Rosie Braddy and acoustic South Derbyshire group Open Road

Taking place on a cool Saturday afternoon on September 22 in Melbourne’s Castle Square, the unique Festival of Remembrance was organised by the Royal British Legion and was rounded off with a highly moving finale with a rousing salute beautifully performed by Melbourne Corps of Drums That was followed by the church bells rung at sunset, hymns and a short church service

Children from Melbourne schools laid poppies in memory of the fallen, before a blessing by Rev Steve Short of the parish church

Opening proceedings, parish council chair Sheila Hicklin said councillors were very proud to be sponsoring the event, saying it was bound to be one of the highlights of various other local occasions they were supporting in the run-up to the armistice centenary

Brendan O’Neill, who runs Midlands Music Services, is branch secretary of Melbourne’s Royal British Legion and organised the concert, said afterwards: “I was very proud; it’s the biggest thing that we’ve ever done as a branch

“It was a massive undertaking but to have it timed to the perfection that we had it with the church bells ringing at sunset I still have a pang of pride now when I think about it

“We had one shot at doing something for the 100-year anniversary of the close of World War One, that’s why it was so important

Mrs. Eileen Miriam Shaw

Born 26 February, 1929 in Shirebrook - Died 8 September, 2018 at The Royal Derby Hospital. Eileen Shaw leaves her son Derrick Shaw, partner Kerry and two grandchildren, Lewis and Addie, who reside in Melbourne, Australia; daughter Susan Howell and son-in-law Rex Howell, of Melbourne, Derbyshire.

Our sincere thanks to all who attended the funeral on 25 September, and also to the staff of The Bay Tree Restaurant, Melbourne, where refreshments were held. Many thanks to Springthorpe Funeral Directors and Bretby Crematorium, for their professional care throughout; and to the Reverend Margaret Jacques who conducted the lovely service for our beloved Mum.

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“The Legion started in 1921 in Britain and it was begun for veterans of World War One

“I thought that having the children involved to carry the poppies was a very important part of it ”

As not as many people turned out to enjoy the concert as the Royal British Legion had expected, there was a small loss on the concert – if anyone would like to help make up the balance they are welcome to pop into the Royal British Legion to make any donation or to buy a commemorative programme –

Lucy Stephens

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RIGHT: Kevin Iliffe.

LEFT: The Melbourne Corps of Drums

ABOVE: Poppies descend at the finale of the concert.

Dash cam footage catches out lorry

DASH cam footage sent to council officers showing an overweight lorry on Swarkestone Causeway has resulted in a fine for the driver

The footage was sent to Derbyshire County Council on March 15 of the Eddie Stobart lorry exceeding the weight limit

on the causeway

The driver was fined £300 with costs and a victim surcharge of £145 for the offence, which happened during a journey from Swadlincote to Hulland Ward

The driver had been prosecuted by the council’s trading

standards team using the footage sent in by a local resident

This footage enabled officers to prove the case, which was heard at South Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court in Derby on September 19

Derbyshire County Council

Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Carol Hart said: “The weight restriction orders on Derbyshire roads are in place for good reason – to improve safety for residents, pedestrians, other road users and, in this case, to protect a local heritage site

“We take these offences extremely seriously ”

Helping hand for fund

A FUND-RAISING trek in aid of a young woman diagnosed with an incredibly rare form of cancer saw an overnight stopover in Melbourne – and it was given for free to help support the appeal

Susan Bishop stayed in Harpur ’s on her first overnight stopover on a 225km walk from Leicester to Lancaster to raise funds for 21-year-old Amanda – who’s the partner of her son, Sam.

“Amanda’s Appeal” is aiming to raise £100,000 for the young woman who has been diagnosed with Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma (FHCC), a rare form of liver cancer which affects fewer than 200 people worldwide every year

While taking part in the walk during September, Susan was aiming to meet up with Amanda’s mum, Pat, to finish the long trek together

Harpur ’s let Susan stay the night for free to help support the appeal to pay for private immunotherapy treatment for Amanda, after an application by NHS doctors to give her the treatment was rejected

To find out more about the appeal and donate, log on to Justgiving com/campaigns/charity/just4children/amandasappeal

Susan (right) is pictured outside Harpur ’s with assistant manager Ashleigh Woodhall.

Pippa’s novel way of writing her first book

MODERN parenting is certainly a juggling act – but one Melbourne writer has managed to get her first novel published along with working as a teacher and being a mum-of-two In fact, she’s used it as an inspiration!

“I Will Survive” is the first novel penned by Pippa Seago, or, to use her nom de plume, Pippa James

Published by Bookouture on Amazon on September 19, it is an ebook, but is also available as a Print On Demand paperback

Dubbed “a laugh out loud, feel good romantic comedy about surviving love, life and parenting, one gin at a time!”, Pippa’s novel follows the journey of three women who meet on the first day their children go to primary school

“It’s set in a little village,” she explained “So everybody knows everybody else They feel like outsiders and they don’t really know what they’re doing ”

If this may sound to parents living in local villages in any way familiar, Pippa says her novel is not in fact based on her current geographical area or her own experiences

So how did she come to write it?

An RE and psychology secondary school teacher four days a week at Littleover Community School, Pippa has always been a keen writer, with “drawerfuls of books I’ve been writing for years”

She said: “I’ve always written, I remember as a child writing – but life sort of gets in the way, doesn’t it, especially having children ”

Speak

A writing event as part of Melbourne Festival got her started seriously on her long-held ambition to get a novel written, as did regular sessions with Phoenix Writing Group

But it’s one thing to harbour an ambition as a novelist and quite another to get those 80,000 odd words actually written, but through the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writer ’s Scheme Pippa had managed to get the courage to approach agents and publishers through her writing circle Once in touch with a publisher who liked her work, it was then a matter of getting the thing down on paper

As to that, she did the majority of her work in the traditional venue beloved of artists over the centuries: she wrote it in the pub – drinking tea, not absinthe, we

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Every Thursday evening, Pippa and her writing circle friends would sit in the back of the Chip & Pin in Melbourne tapping away, and she would also regularly stop in a convenient watering hole whenever she possibly could: on the way back from work –having arranged childcare with her parents or in-laws – or in the hour and a half window while one of her children was at a party

When you’re a busy parent with a job and a novel to write, you don’t wait for the muse to strike, you’ve got to reach out and grab that muse in any spare minute you have

“I got through a lot of tea ” she said “But it gets easier once you’ve told people, and they ask how you’re doing ”

Now Pippa is working on a sequel to I Will Survive; she enjoys the characters and would like to explore their lives a bit more As to any more books she may write in the future: “I think all the books I am going to write will be funny, because life’s funny,” she said

So what advice would she give to any other aspiring writers out there? After all, they do say there’s a book inside all of us “Just sit down and do it,” she said “Also, do reach out to other writers There are great communities of writers There are crime writers’ groups, romantic novelists’ groups, other groups that you can find, either locally or on Twitter – they are having the same doubts, the same thoughts and difficulties that you are ” –

Lucy Stephens

MINIATURE models really don’t get any better than this – Melbourne couple Dave and Chris Astle have created a love letter to the town where they were born and bred in the form of a perfect mini replica, complete with a car parked outside the Welcome Café, cars and lorries moving down the roads and even night-time street lights!

Dave and Chris spent a year painstakingly creating their incredible model of Melbourne out of one millimetre thick cardboard to make the buildings and clear plastic for the windows

But the attention to detail goes much, much further than that with lovingly made reconstructions of the local street scene such as a Laban’s lorry

a big part of Melbourne heritage – and an accurate model of an Arriva bus with a proper number plate and the correct bus number for the

Melbourne really is a model village

School

PTA appeal

PARENTS and grandparents of children at Melbourne Junior School are being asked to go to an emergency meeting to help continue raising money for the school

Melbourne Junior School’s PTA (Parent Teacher Association) last year gave more than £8,000 to the school, which paid for a new sound system in the hall, cricket nets, books, magazine subscriptions, workshops and courses for the children plus a visit from an anti-bullying theatre group

But, due to other commitments, the current committee of the school’s PTA have all stepped down and no new members have come forward

In order to maintain its charitable status, the PTA committee needs people to fill formal positions such as a chair, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer

There will be an Extraordinary General Meeting to try to find a new PTA committee at the school on Friday, October 12, at 3 30pm – and anyone who would like to try and help is asked to go along

Childcare will be provided for school age children

Melbourne service

Dave, who worked for Melbourne Engineering and Rolls-Royce before he retired, wired up the model so that at the touch of a button, cars and lorries can move along the roads, powered by an invisible network

Well known locally for their remarkable toy collections and vintage cars, Dave and Chris showed their model as part of Melbourne Festival, where it attracted a sea of visitors throughout the weekend

“We have done the festival for five years, and every year we like to do something a bit different,” said Chris

For last year ’s festival Dave made a model railway and when the idea came to create a miniMelbourne the couple took many photographs of the central streets so they could make accurate representations of the shops and buildings

Dave would make scale drawings of the houses and shops which they would then make up into 3D cardboard models

Trickiest was the handsome building which is home to Blatch’s electrical shop, with the elegant balustrade on top of the building crafted from cocktail sticks

As for the awed reaction from the crowds at the festival, the couple modestly said they could not believe it

“We always do everything together,” explained Chris “We just did this ourselves and then when they started coming in, we couldn’t comprehend what people were saying to us!”

Another great part of putting the model together, Chris said, was how it allowed them to admire close-up the lovely architecture of Melbourne itself when they were recreating the period details

“We take it all for granted,” she said “But Melbourne is beautiful – I hadn’t realised it was so beautiful ”

Lucy Stephens

–

BEACON TRIBUTE

THE final Melbourne event in this year ’s commemoration of the close of World War One will be a fiery one – the lighting of a special beacon at Melbourne Sports Park.

The beacon will be lit just after 7pm on Sunday, November 11, and will be followed by a firework display.

Melbourne’s beacon is part of a nationwide tribute called “Battle’s Over” with 1,000 beacons to be lit across the length of the country at the same time – a full

WHAT A STAR PUPIL

ONE pupil at Chellaston Academy has had good reason to celebrate this summer having scored a perfect run of nines in her GCSE exams.

This year the GCSE system changed to numerical scores with wide claims the new exams were far more stringent The pupil, from Chellaston, is one of only around 700 in the whole of the UK to have achieved straight nines, out of some 300,000 teens sitting the new-style GCSEs

Melbourne Junior School head teacher Jane Whirledge said: “The PTA have always supported the children and school extremely well If we have no PTA, we will not be able to run any of the after-school activities such as film nights and our fund-raising will be restricted The PTA have paid for so many ‘extras’ – unfortunately we may no longer be able to afford to pay for these ”

century after the guns fell silent, marking the close of the First World War.

The beacons are being lit in memory of the millions who died, with the free event spearheaded by parish councillor Andrew Jackson, who was inspired by a similar beacon he had seen on a visit to Austria.

Because of the height of the beacon, Cockshut Lane will be closed between 6.45pm and 8pm on the evening

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CARNIVAL AGM DATE

THE committee of Melbourne Carnival will be holding the annual general meeting on November 8 in The Melbourne Inn, at 8pm All are welcome

The final committee members for next year ’s event will be decided by vote

Airport again looks at keeping the noise down

LEADERS at East Midlands Airport

(EMA) are re-drafting their Noise Action Plan after receiving repeated calls to make further efforts on cutting down aircraft noise, especially at night, with nearly 100 people from Melbourne sending in their comments on the issue

The airport is currently the UK’s busiest for dedicated freight: it operates 24 hours a day, a critical factor for logistics companies to meet their commitments

A Noise Action Plan is produced on a fiveyearly basis and this year ’s version went out for consultation over the summer

Now EMA has said it is re-drafting the plan after receiving more than 250 responses, of which The Village Voice has learned 99 were from Melbourne Ward, including 33 from Kings Newton

Responding to the plan, South Derbyshire District Council has said the airport should “ take extra steps to further reduce noise levels, particularly at night, over the coming years”

The council set up a cross-party working panel of four councillors to consider the plan, which has raised concerns that East Midlands has become noisier at night between 2006 and 2016 “ a trend that is forecast to continue up to 2025”, the council said

“It has also been noted that, despite EMA previously setting a target for the withdrawal of older, noisier aircraft movements at night by 2012, they still accounted for 11 per cent of night-time operations in

2016,” said a spokesperson

Now the council is calling on the airport to produce: clear estimates of the reduction of people affected by noise at the end of the plan’s period; separate forecasts for the growth in air traffic movements at night, evening and day times, plus a strategy explaining how individual actions will contribute towards long-term noise reduction with timescales

Working panel member Cllr Andy MacPherson said: “EMA’s efforts to engage with local communities, including the district council and affected parish councils, are very much appreciated

“The council supports the airport’s growth and the employment opportunities and inward investment it brings to South Derbyshire and beyond

“Through our response to the action plan, we are aiming to strike a balance to reduce aircraft noise and the impact it has on residents

“It is recognised the airport has already introduced and is proposing further technical and operational measures, but we believe even more can be done ”

The airport has said it is now re-drafting the plan following feedback and will publish the amended version later this year

It has said that over the last 10 years noise levels have remained stable despite an increase in cargo and passengers, and that this is because of the introduction of more modern and quieter aircraft – encouraged by charges and fines imposed on operators if aircraft exceed noise restrictions

“The NAP (Noise Action Plan) clearly states that the noisiest aircraft cannot be scheduled to fly at night,” said a statement from the airport

“This is a long-standing commitment EMA proposes to make the noise penalty scheme even more stringent, and to review charges so that they encourage daytime rather than night-time flights

“Steps are also being considered to identify smarter ways of flying that keep aircraft higher for longer, thus reducing the level of noise on local communities as they land or take off ” –

Lucy Stephens

Lesley

at hall

RENOWNED historian Lesley Smith will be taking her one-woman portrayal of Mistress Swynford to Staunton Harold Hall this month

Curator of Tutbury Castle, Lesley is well known for her historical performance-portraits of well-known characters from history and, on October 25 at 2pm, she will be at Staunton Harold bringing to life Mistress Swynford, the daughter of a Flemish knight who had a passionate affair with John of Gaunt

One of the great characters from history, John of Gaunt is vividly portrayed in Shakespeare’s Richard II and also has an interesting Melbourne connection, having owned the castle in the village during the 14th century

l Cordelia Kerr, of the Dower

with her father William Kerr, on the way to Melbourne Parish Church to be married to Edward Brown. The service was conducted by Rector Steve Short Photo: TINA BAKER

Red letter days for the Festival

IT WAS a bumper year for Melbourne Festival, with record numbers attending and a big boost for local business

With weather over the two days warmer than average, the festival brought out the crowds to enjoy the Art and Architecture Trail and create a party atmosphere

Just a few shy of 4,000 trail guides were sold this year, breaking last year ’s figures with an alltime record high attendance

This year ’s visitors were given wristbands rather than stickers, with Chellaston Academy students selling about a quarter of all the wristbands sold, raising around £600 for their next Uganda trip

Adding in the free trail guides given to sponsors, artists, helpers and hosts, the number visiting will have been around the 5,000 mark

Melbourne was ‘buzzing’ over the entire weekend, and local shops have reported some record sales, too

Festival organiser Sharon Brown said: “PopUp bars did a roaring trade as did the official food stands and Melbourne’s cafes, restaurants and bars

“Charities have also benefited significantly; the trail’s ‘tea stop’ at 56 Potter Street raised £200 for Community Care and £550 for the Senior Citizens Centre while the bakers at Melbourne Parish Church raised an incredible £1,800 The British Legion raised £834 from donations and selling knitted poppies ”

A popular highlight in this WW1 Commemorative Year was the “paint the town red” poppy project The completed knitted poppies exhibit, hung to great effect next to Melbourne Pool, drew crowds of interested visitors

In a project initiated by the festival team and Viv Toon – whose step-father, Frank Green, of Pool Cottage, had been a Guardsman – the 4,680 poppies were crafted by more than 70 local knitters to commemorate that exact number of Grenadier Guards who died in World War 1, and were displayed close to Grenadier Guard Daniel Blinco’s Bench

A moving ceremony was held at the close of the festival, with Grenadier Guard Kelly Stretton playing The Last Post Festival organisers reported that, remarkably, with so many visitors in the village, there were hardly any incidents with the on-call St John’s First Aider having to deal with only one injury – a wasp sting

Organisers also reported fewer complaints

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than in previous years about parking and traffic flow, but there were more grumbles about the toilet facilities, with locals querying the parish council’s decision to close the public conveniences just before the village’s busiest weekend of the year Summing up the festival weekend, Sharon said: “May I say a big thank-you to all our hosts and helpers for making it another fantastic festival When we have paid our bills, we will start planning the 15th festival next year – September 14 and 15

“We are always looking for more volunteers and new ideas, so please do come forward if you would like to help ”

n As reported in last month’s Village Voice, Melbourne Parish Council took a decision at its meeting on September 4 to close the toilets ahead of work to knock them down and build new ones –due to start this month – as the feeling was their condition was “not showing Melbourne in the best light”

It was discussed in the parish council meeting that the toilets were not fit for purpose and no longer complied with legislation, and that it was not economically viable to undertake the necessary repairs when they would be demolished anyway in a short space of time – Frank Hughes

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ABOVE: The Last Post at the close of the Festival with the wonderful poppy display behind.

RIGHT: Visitors milling around the food court during the record-breaking event.

Artists agree: One of the best events yet

A CRIMSON cloak of poppies gracefully overlooking Melbourne Pool, a buzzing food court, live music, familiar, muchloved artists to new faces, ceramicists, jewellers, sculptors, children’s story stops, bellringing all were agreed that this year ’s Melbourne Festival was one of the best yet

There was much else to admire in this year ’s festival with artists reporting a busy atmosphere and good sales

Photographer Ian Daisley, of High Stone Gallery based in Bonsall, who was exhibiting his work in the Senior Citizens Centre, said this was his first time back at Melbourne Festival after an absence of a few years “It’s a really nice, terribly friendly and well organised event,” he said

Also in the centre was Repton-based ceramicist Susan Olumide, whose work uses natural elements such as cabbage and wood to create interesting gnarled textures

Speaking of the festival, she told The Village Voice: “It’s brilliant, very busy – I love Melbourne ”

Potter Mary Johnson, of Derby, who was

Words: FRANK HUGHES and LUCY STEPHENS.

Pictures: TINA BAKER.

showing her work at a venue in Castle Street, said this was the second year she had come to the festival: “I just think it’s a really lovely town, the surroundings are great, the houses are beautiful and it’s a really friendly crowd ”

Melbourne milliner Joanne Rost, showing her work in her home, has been involved in the festival for around a decade “This year, the people who have come in have been incredibly positive about the atmosphere, the quality of the work, the displays and how it

fits well within the community, and how it fits in with the retail community too,” she said “In the early days of the festival, people didn’t know what to expect – now, they are coming more with intentions to buy or commission work ”

Over in Melbourne Assembly Rooms, one artist, Alicia Hollis, was “live painting”

Alicia could be seen capturing the colour, the movement and the fun of the exhibition in the Melbourne Assembly Rooms in a painting she constructed over the weekend

The former Chellaston Academy pupil, who works at an architect’s practice in Nottingham, is already well known in the Nottingham and Derby area for her local Fine Lines colouring books and she is increasingly moving towards commission work

Her idea is to create a live painting during events, like wedding ceremonies, to capture a bespoke record of the occasion

She also recorded her progress on video which will be available to watch on her website www lissieart com

Make a note of next year ’s trail dates: September 14 and 15

ABOVE: Ross Danby.

RIGHT: Alicia Hollis “live painting” in the Assembly Rooms

LEFT: Helen Domleo

A CAPACITY crowd at Melbourne’s Royal British Legion saw this year ’s festival events programme get off to a flying start with this year ’s Comedy Night FRANK HUGHES was there for the Village Voice.

Opening act Ignacio Lopez, bridging the cultural divide between Spain and Wales, treated us to a sardonic view of Brits abroad from the Spanish point of view. He also played to the ladies in the audience, complimenting the UK for the number of beautiful women in the country – sad, he said, they will all have to leave after Brexit

Middle act, Bolton-based Chris Kehoe, is certainly one with

a promising future He looks the part, has good timing and a sharp satirical wit Compere James Cook was fabulously engaging with the audience, and with a wealth of funny material was able to weave stories around banter with the crowd.

Headline act, Johnny Awsum, of Britain’s Got Talent fame, was making a welcome return to Melbourne, as he originates from Barrow-upon-Trent and was very warmly received. With a brilliant repertoire of funny songs, his improvised country and western song “I want to go dogging” was one of the most memorable occasions I think Melbourne has seen

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RACHEL LIFTS EMERGING TALENT TITLE

HIS year ’s festival saw the fifth merging Talent competition with 13 tries all based around the theme “Elments”

The contest enables young artists ed 18 to 25 from the East Midlands ea to exhibit their work in a public ace, and earn a top prize of £500 and cond prize of £250, with the opportuty for further mentoring and a place next year ’s festival trail

The winner this year was Rachel exandre, who had produced a work sed around the start of life with a sine elemental cell, to create a complex neycomb organism, supporting life

Phil Dobby, speaking on behalf of the dges of which he was one, said achel’s win was a unanimous decision

This was in fact the second year that achel, who is studying geography at niversity in Nottingham, had entered e competition She said she was “a bit rprised” to win “ because they are l so good!”

Second prize went to a student at the

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University of Leicester, Jessica Munday, for her work “Flores” which portrayed the effect of natural elements in a flower display The work was remarkable for its treatment of colour, light and shade

Also commended by the judging panel were Aredee Pericleous and Emily Arnold, who had created stunning pieces of work

Organiser Frank Hughes said: “It remains a struggle to get artists to submit work every year, but the final exhibition is always worth it With 13 entries this year, a high standard was maintained and when one entrant wrote to say the competition had given her encouragement and confidence to continue in her art practice it makes it all worthwhile ”

Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony, festival director Sharon Brown said: “We’ve always felt that at the Melbourne Festival it’s important to support young emerging artists as well as established artists ”

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l Sharon Brown (left) presents Rachel Alexandre with her top prize.

l Drumming up support ... members of Pure Steel entertain.

ABOVE: Karen Brenchley of All My Sins Cakes.

FAR LEFT: Joanne Rost.

LEFT: Kay Taylor of Rhubarb Tree

10am –

Village club finds a recipe for success

CHAMPAGNE and gateaux were on the menu to celebrate 10 years of providing fortnightly meals in Ticknall

The idea of a Ticknall lunch club grew from the village’s very first Scarecrow Trail, when organisers were deciding what to do with the money raised Mary Magson stepped up and said she was interested in doing something for the retired community in the village

“With the £500 from the trail, and with a grant from East Midlands Airport for a cooker we were able to purchase all the crockery, cutlery and utensils, and it started from that,” Mary said

Since then they have provided about 10,000 meals, with an average of 40 to 50

people going along every two weeks – with just a short break in the summer months

“It is a community lunch,” Mary added, “ so it is only for people from the village, and we do our bit by using local produce and supporting local suppliers”

It is a well organised event, too, with a small dedicated band of helpers taking on the roles of cooking, serving, decorating, laying tables and so on

“We all get a buzz out of it,” said helper Jenny Hollingsworth, “and we are all committed, without a committee!” as it is all very informal

On the menu for the 10-year celebration was prawn cocktail, Beef Bourguignon, gateaux, home made chocolate, coffee and

Champagne or elderflower cordial A bargain meal for just £6!

In addition to feeding the Ticknall community, the lunches also help children in Malawi

With the small profit that the lunches make, the group is able to support Mary’s Meals Charity, which provides children with a meal at school, to encourage attendance and address poverty

Asked if she would be keeping it going for another 10 years, Mary said she hoped so, and she wished to thank all of the helpers over the years, and to the drivers from Melbourne Community Care who pick up some of the less mobile diners –

Frank Hughes

OBITUARY VICTOR EDWARD (‘TED’) HALLIFIELD

7 May 1948 – 12 August 2018

TED was a Ticknall man through and through having lived in the village his whole life Born and raised at Basford Hill to a farming family – parents Victor and Florence (Vera) – Ted was one of eight children with two sisters: Pauline and Rosalind, and brothers Roy, Will, Les, Joe and Steven, who sadly passed away in early childhood

Farming was Ted’s life and he was well known in the local community and further afield for his lime spreading business It was through his work that he met Viv in rural Leicestershire and the two were married in 1982 at St Martin’s Church, Stapleton

The couple moved to their current home at Woodside Farm in the mid-1980s where they raised their only son Victor (Vinny)

Ted worked hard in the week lime spreading and then would spend weekends catching up doing his farm work at home Semi-retirement was taken by Ted in his early 60s when an accident left him with a broken neck Despite a full recovery, Ted stopped lime spreading and concen-

GREEN fingered residents, schools and community groups are being invited to branch out and apply for a free tree South Derbyshire District Council is once again giving away over 1,000 trees with the aim of helping “the area to bloom in the heart of The National Forest”

Applicants can choose from a variety of two-year old trees, in-

trated his time on doing farm work at home and could be regularly seen driving his tractors around the farm with his companion, his dog Basil, next to him

Ted was a quietly spoken gentleman who was quick witted and had a dry sense of humour Despite ill health in his later years, he had many cherished memories including UK breaks away with Viv and being present at the marriage of his son to Louise at the family farm in September 2017 Also, Ted was proud to know that he was to become a grandfather for the first time

After a long battle with ill health, Ted passed away at the Royal Derby Hospital on Sunday, August 12 The family were grateful for the wonderful care that Ted received from the Royal Derby, in particular the Combined Day Unit, and are also indebted to the generosity of those who donated blood, and continue to do so

A packed church attended the funeral at St George’s, Ticknall

Ted’s family would like to thank John Springthorpe and company for their support and guidance, also Rev John Dawson for conducting a comforting service and to the many kind words expressed by everyone

cluding Common Pear, Alder Buckthorn, Rowan, Guelder Rose, Bird Cherry and Field Maple up until 5pm on Thursday, October 25

Households can ask for up to six trees, which are between 30cm to 60cm high Schools and community groups can apply for up to 60 trees

Cllr Martyn Ford, Leader of

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Applications for the free trees can be made online at www south-derbys gov uk/freetreescheme

Ruby couple renew vows

GREAT things can come from inauspicious beginnings – and when David Cox first plucked up courage to ask out a young woman in a shop, she turned him down.

That was in Germany while Melbourne-born David was stationed in the Army over there, in the 1970s – but luckily Gisela thought better of it and, having initially refused a date with her future husband, she then pursued him out of the shop and, a very expensive taxi bill later, eventually caught up with him

Now, decades later, the couple celebrated their ruby wedding anniversary by renewing their vows in the United Reformed Church in Melbourne where they came back to settle in 1993

David and Gisela married in a Reformed church in Germany in 1978 when both were 21, but the path to their togetherness had not run smoothly, David having already been posted to Northern Ireland while they were still going out

Having got married they still could not live together as there were no married quarters available at the time

But, as Rev Marcus Hargis told the congregation at the service where they renewed their vows:

“They got through their time of separation and we are here today to celebrate their t o g e t h e r n e s s , their marriage which has been a blessing to them as well as their two sons, Andrew and Wayne

“Not that the

Evening goes with a fizz

FIZZ and puddings what’s not to like, and that’s what people thought when they went to the latest fund-raising evening run by Maisy Hayward, of Aston-on-Trent

Maisy’s Prosecco and Puddings Night was held in Aston’s Recreation Centre, with more than 70 people going along for a spot of fizz and a bowlful of pud

Event organiser Maisy said the occasion was a “massive success”

Local businesses contributed in the form of Melbourne Hall Tea Rooms who gave cakes, along with Christies Cakes, PipTree Café, Bluebells Dairy and “Baked by Holly”

The all-important Prosecco came from Amalfi White, The Coopers’ Arms, the White Hart, The Malt, the Post Office and the Spar Shop, with Melbourne Print Shop donating all posters, and Imagine Events decorating the venue with their table cloths

The evening raised £787 77 for Macmillan Cancer Support

family lived in any one place for very long Service families are always on the move and it wasn’t until they came to Melbourne in 1993 that they truly settled here, in this community

“So, it’s right that we’re here today at Melbourne United Reformed Church at the heart of the place which David and Gisela call home

“It’s also fitting because their wedding was in a Reformed church in Germany our cousins within the same tradition though today we shall not be speaking any German ”

On leaving the Army when the couple moved to Melbourne, David switched careers to become an HGV driver, which he has done ever since

He has also been involved for many years with the Royal British Legion in the village, serving in various roles including vice-chair, chairman and standard bearer for some of that time

He is currently the branch’s assistant standard bearer

Now full-time grandparents, the couple chose to renew their vows to each other, because, as David put it: “It just seemed like a nice thing to do

“We’ve been married for 40 years, and we’re still young enough to appreciate it ”

The day of c e l e b r a t i o n ended with a party at Allenton Victory Club where a good night was had by all – Lucy Stephens

MELBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL

The Finale of Melbourne’s WW1 Commemoration events will take place at Melbourne Sports Park with the lighting of a beacon.

‘Battle’s Over’ Beacon of Light

Together with over a thousand beacons across the length and breadth of the country the beacon will be lit on Sunday 11th November, 2018 a century after the guns fell silent, to remember the many millions killed, or who came home injured or had their lives irrevocably changed.

The gates will be open from 6pm, and the short ceremony will start at approx 6.40pm.

The beacon will be lit at 7pm followed by a fireworks display.

PARKING WILL BE SEVERELY LIMITED SO PLEASE WALK TO THE EVENT IF YOU ARE ABLE COCKSHUT LANE WILL BE CLOSED AND A DIVERSION IN PLACE AT 6.45PM FOR APPROX 1 HOUR

l Young visitors Elizabeth Pyrah and Mary Pollard, have a go at quill writing in the Viking village

Woodland Festival pulls in 10,000

AROUND 10,000 visitors were at Elvaston Castle Country Park for the 18th annual Woodland Festival – which this year included an 18-foot-tall tree puppet and a recreated Viking village

The event was held over two days on September 22 and 23 A poor weather forecast had initially caused the second day of the festival to be cancelled – but then things brightened up and day two went ahead as planned

As well as meeting the tree puppet, appropriately enough called Arbor, visitors also got the chance to enjoy a weekend of traditional and contemporary woodland crafts, wild food demonstrations and survival crafts in the Derbyshire County Council organised event

The county council’s cabinet member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, Councillor Simon Spencer, said: “Once again our Woodland Festival has been a great success and we’ve had

lots of compliments from the public and stall holders

“We’re already planning for next year ’s event and anyone who missed out this year may want to get the date in their diary ”

John Holloway, of Aston-on-Trent, said: “For many years my family has visited this two-day event and again this year the quality of event organisation, exhibitors and displays has been excellent

“The woodland festival continues to delight and inspire without the need for loud music! We enjoy the whole environment and the focus on simple craft activities It is little wonder that it is so popular ”

Next year the Festival will be on Saturday and Sunday, September 21-22

Meanwhile Elvaston Castle Country Park continues to be open all year round

l Gisela and David Cox

Kids show their artistic talents

THESE children were getting into the artistic spirit of Melbourne Festival by taking part in their own art contest organised by the town’s shops

In keeping with the “Painting the Town Red” poppy-related theme for this year ’s festival, the recently fledged Melbourne Retail Group decided to organise a competition for children, encouraging them to come up with their own designs along the same theme on specially created postcards

They paid £1 to enter, with the proceeds split between the PTAs at Melbourne Infant and Junior schools

The winners are pictured, and there were also two more children who came away with prizes – six-year-olds Evan and George Shops across Melbourne who supported the event by donating prizes and selling postcards were No 33 Lifestyle, Eighty Seven, Melbourne Deli, Duck Duck Goose, Forteys, Jacks, Studio Home & Interiors, Lily & Lime, Melbourne Print Shop, Melbourne Florist and Habit

Entries were judged by festival director Sharon Brown

Organiser Corin Hollingworth said she had come up with the idea to hold an art contest for children after a little girl came into her shop and asked if she might be able to sell some of her paintings there during the festival

Corin said of the postcard entries: “We were very impressed; they were all at such a high level – their personalities came out in their art works ”

l ART PRIZE WINNERS (l-r) are (back row) Joe, Abigail, DaisyMay and Jacob; (front row) Florence, May and Elsie.

Discover Roald Dahl at his old school

A BRAND new festival to be opened by Lord Roy Hattersley and featuring story-telling and insights into children’s author Roald Dahl is happening this month – at the school Dahl himself attended

The Repton Literary Festival is the first of the new annual festivals which organisers say will bring “telling stories and bringing engaging speakers to this historic Derbyshire village”

The three-day programme from October 26-28 will be opened by politician, journalist and writer Lord Roy Hattersley

The venue is Repton School grounds but the not-for-profit festival is not connected with the school

Donald Sturrock, artistic director of the Roald Dahl Foundation and Dahl’s biographer, “will share a unique and personal insight into Dahl’s journey into becoming a children’s writer”

Also on the line-up are MP Heather Wheeler, sharing stories from her parliamentary career, and Sir Michael Pownall, who joins the festival to discuss working in the House of Lords as Clerk to Parliament

Authors joining the festival include number one bestselling romantic novel authors Christie Barlow and Bella Osbourne and award-winning beer writer, Pete Brown, who will present a history of the drink Best-selling crime writers, Lisa Hall and B A Paris will discuss why the Peak District makes a perfect setting for a crime novel

For families, there are “spooky storytelling” sessions, creative writing workshops and a short story competition judged by children’s author Michael Molloy Actor and Strictly winner Tom Chambers, who attended Repton School, and has been on Holby City and Casualty, will read excerpts of Road Dahl’s best-loved stories

The festival has local support from popular pub and restaurant

The Boot and East Midlands Trains

Nick’s charity ball raises £75k in a night

NEARLY 500 people danced the night away, serenaded by Heather Small of M People fame, at a huge charity bash in Wilson that raised an astonishing £75,000 in just one night

The charity ball was in aid of the Nicholas Humphreys Charitable Foundation and was held in a luxury marquee in Nick’s own garden

This was not the first charity ball Nick has held – his lettings company has raised £160,000 for local charities over the years – but it is the biggest single fund-raiser he and his charity have ever organised

A large proportion of the money raised – £50,000 – went to Rainbows Children’s Hospice in Loughborough, where it will be used to build a new kitchen and conservatory Various other smaller charities in the area also benefited

Kate Golding, from Rainbows, said they were over the moon with the donation and that the money would enable the new kitchen plans and new conservatory to go ahead forthwith

Nick explained that he had met Heather on holiday in Barbados and later invited her to play at the ball – which she accepted

Also on the night there was a charity auction which raised more than £35,000 with lots including boxes at football clubs; shooting prizes; a meal for 10 to be cooked in the winner ’s home; and holidays in the south of France

But the biggest auction lot was two tickets to see the Jeremy Kyle Show being filmed,

including a chauffeur-driven car journey to the studios in Manchester; a stay in a five star hotel plus lunch with the host himself – who Nick had also met on holiday in Barbados – which was auctioned off for just under £6,000

Later, Nick said: "I knew we would raise more than previous nights, but to make a profit of £75,000 in just a few hours was unbelievable I couldn’t be happier with all the hard work by Head of NHCF, Leanne Robinson

“She did a superb job and the night ran like a Swiss watch –not least as she is over seven months pregnant!

“We've been raising money for charity for 20 years but only set up the foundation five years ago We organise two golf days a year, one in Loughborough and one in Burton on Trent, and this is the fifth charity ball we ' ve organised Previously we ' ve had around 240 people but this year it was double ”

The ball was sponsored by wealth management advisor Adrian Wagstaff of Wilson, and Charnwood Brewery of Lough-

borough, with the Bull’s Head of Wilson providing the food

The evening was finished off with Nick's youngest son, 12year-old Henry, on stage with Heather Small singing the 1993 hit, Moving on Up

For more on the Nick Humphreys Charitable Foundation, see https://www justgiving com/nhcf

TOP: Heather Small wows the audience.

ABOVE: Nick Humphreys.

Brick by brick Assembly Rooms hall facelift

FORMER school pupils, local organisations, societies, councillors and residents are being asked to help refurbish the main hall in Melbourne Assembly Rooms – one brick at a time.

The Assembly Rooms’ team have been running the venue for six years and are this month launching a new “Brick by Brick” Appeal with the aim of raising £50,000 to renovate the main hall

They have rebuilt the foyers, toilets, kitchen and bar area along with adding a hearing loop, Wi Fi, better acoustics in the main hall and tiered seating for the venue’s many events

The plan is to redecorate the walls and ceiling plus clean, sand and re-varnish the maple parquet wooden floor, which is now 111 years old and has not received any attention for the past four decades

Cleaning and replacing the broken cast iron floor grills around the perimeter of the hall is also in the plans, along with addressing ventilation and cooling by creating “clerestory” (high up) window openings; cleaning and re-varnishing the hall’s beams and high-level woodwork, and replacing the school-era strip lighting with a modern lighting system

As well as appealing to the community to sponsor the work, MARS is also applying for grant ap-

plications to raise funds

MARS manager Andy Heafield said: “We think this is the next stage of developing the facility, having done the foyers, the kitchen and the bar Working backwards, the hall is the next step to creating a performance venue

“We owe it to the people who perform here to bring the hall up to the 21st century ”

All sums are welcome, and anyone who donates to the appeal will get their own personal cardboard “brick” which they are invited to include with their donation and a message, to be placed initially in the building as a thank-you for the contribution

So far, Melbourne Parish Council has donated £1,000 and there is a further £2,400 which was raised from the Assembly Rooms’ concert in The Dower House last year, plus £380 from a recent Prosecco Brunch at Melbourne’s Bay Tree Restaurant MP Heather Wheeler has also supported the appeal with a brick

Anyone who would like to contribute can get in touch with the Assembly Rooms by phoning 01332 863522 or emailing info@melbourneassemblyrooms co uk

You can also donate via a Just Giving page: j u s t g i v i n g c o m / c r o w d f u n d i n g / m e l b o u r n e a s s e mblyrooms – Lucy Stephens

Village Voice Postbag

MELBOURNE and district communities, as a poignant tribute to the centenary of the end of World War 1, will always remember Saturday, 22nd September 2018

From the outset, the day was dogged by a number of obstacles that did their best to thwart the work of the dedicated organisational team Heavy rain, cool temperatures and temperamental generators were just a few issues that they had to contend with

However, with a high degree of determination, the occasion was a wonderfully huge success, brilliantly organised and ‘pulled off ’ with performances by many local musicians, singers, performers, young groups and military associations

It would be unfair to single out any one person or group, as all contributed so much

I sincerely hope that the community who were part of this thought-provoking tribute occasion will allow me, on their behalf, to give sincere and heartfelt thanks from the whole community

The First World War started on 28th July 1914 and lasted until 11th November 1918 Great Britain entered the conflict on 4th August 1914

There were many millions of military and civilian deaths and casualties, but all suffered

“At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning, We Will Remember Them ” Colin Barker, Melbourne

01530 244552

Freephone: 0800 0111 222

Email: ashby@greenthumb.co.uk

Members of the Parish Council

Chair Sheila Hicklin 01332 865726

Vice Chair

Terry Summerlin 01332 864643

Highways

David Smith 01332 862699

Burial Grounds

Michael Usher 07791 605861

Planning and Strategy

Jane Carroll 01332 863269

Finance & HR

Margaret Sharp 01332 862471

Facilities, Recreation and Events

Andrew Jackson 07931 541387

Nigel Collyer 07831 540538

George Dunnicli 07780 806267

Wendy Earp 01332 865019

Carol Fearria

Martin Fitzpatrick 07808 001479

Tom Gates 01332 865718

Robert Parker 07973 297404

Jacqui Storer - Clerk 07734 939292

Useful Numbers

Aircraft Noise & Complaints 0845 1088540

Clean Team ( y tipping) 0800 5872349

Street Lighting Faults 0845 6058058

Potholes 0845 6058058

Melbourne Parish Council

Quarterly Report - October 2018

We are pleased to welcome on to the Council, Martin Fitzpatrick who joined the Parish Council in July. There is still a vacancy on the Council, if anyone is interested in joining please contact the Clerk.

Work on the new memorial wall in the grounds of the Cemetery began at the start of September and will hopefully be completed soon. The new wall is in keeping with its surroundings and will be a tting place for tributes to loved ones. The Cemetery Chapels were open to the public on the weekend of September 8th /9th. As a council we are working with the Melbourne Historical Research Group to try to source funding for the much needed structural repairs to both Chapels.

The hanging baskets have been a feature in the Market Place and Derby Road during the summer with their patriotic colours.

It was very unfortunate that at the beginning of the holiday the largest piece of play equipment had to be removed from the Lothian Gardens due to health and safety reasons. The Clerk was quick to react to a suggestion from a grandparent and a bouncy castle was hired for children to use and enjoy during the 6 week holiday. If there are any further suggestions as to the type of replacement play equipment which could be installed, please let the Clerk know.

The Summer Sports Scheme was as popular as ever and many children took part in the activities provided. The sessions took place every Monday afternoon in August on the Junior School Playground. The Parish Council sends its thanks and appreciation to both schools for allowing the sessions to run.

The public toilets are now closed in preparation for their demolition and for a new toilet block to be erected.

The Parish Council was proud to be the main sponsor of the Branch of the Melbourne Royal British Legion's Concert of Remembrance and Festival of Remembrance, which took place in Castle Square in September. A fantastic line up of singers, musicians and actors took to the stage to provide an afternoon to remember.

"Swords into Ploughshares", the painting that the Parish Council commissioned for the armistice is on tour in the village at di erent venues until November. It was on display at the Parish Church during the Festival weekend. Many events are now taking place to commemorate the end of World War 1: the nal event will be hosted by the Parish Council at the Sports Ground on 11th November 2018; this is part of the national event whereby beacons are to be lit across the country.

Dates for the diary:

Wakes Exhibition at the Melbourne Assembly Rooms - 13th and 14th October from 11am onwards. Melbourne at Christmas, lights will be switched on Friday December 7th at 6pm.

Sheila Hicklin, Chair, Melbourne Parish Council

● Short or long term

● Commercial & domestic storage

● 24-Hour access

● 24-Hour on-site security/CCTV

01332 863729

Trent Lane, Kings Newton, Melbour ne, Derby DE73 8BT

l Andy Heafield (left), Sheila Hicklin and Martin Fitzpatrick with their ‘bricks’

Melbourne site for:

Light assembly workers

Full and part time shifts available. Flexible hours and overtime availability.

To apply, please contact our reception on: 01332 862241

DGS Hardware Ltd, Castle Lane Melbourne DE73 8JB

FRENCH TUITION

MUSIC TUITION

UKULELE CLUB

French taught to all ages and abilities

Guitar, ukulele, ddle, keyboard & melodeon

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

THEY say your school days are the best days of your life – that may be true for some, and not for others, but there’s no doubt that the first day in reception class is a milestone in the life of any child

For some years now at The Village Voice we have established a local tradition of recording those precious early days by taking pictures of all new reception classes for schools in our circulation area

We hope that families and perhaps even the children themselves will enjoy seeing these class photos in our pages, and we are very grateful to our photographer PETE CLOUGH for keeping the tradition going

Ahhhh aren’t they sweet?

FIRST DAYS AT SCHOOL

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

FOLK DANCE

Melbourne Dental Practice

TEXT MESSAGING SERVICE

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

Naomi Fry BDS & Associates, Helen Baker BDS

Castle Street, Melbourne, Derbyshire Telephone 01332 862942

LEFT: Aston on Trent Primary School reception class with (l-r) Mrs Donaldson (teacher) and Mrs Boja-Bates (teaching assistant)

RIGHT: Weston on Trent Primary reception class with (l-r) Mrs Minto (teaching assistant) and Miss Stacey (teacher)

Due to increasing demand, we have vacancies at our

OPPOSITE PAGE LEFT: Sale and Davys, Barrow, reception class with class teacher Catherine Hetherington and teaching assistant Sue Winter

OPPOSITE PAGE BOTTOM: Dame Catherine Harpur School nursery with teacher Deborah Bates

RIGHT: Breedon School class one reception with Miss Lakhman (class teacher).

BELOW: Findern School’s new intake with Mrs J Gregory, Mrs M Hall and Mrs S Johnson

RIGHT: Melbourne Infants School’s Penguin Class with (l-r) Mr Simpson (class teacher), Mrs Walker (teaching assistant) and Miss Driver (teaching assistant)

LEFT: Melbourne Infants School Zebra class with (left) Mrs Emma Martin (class teacher) and Angie Dolphin (teaching assistant).

LEFT: Melbourne Infants School Koala class with (left) Mrs Smith (teaching assistant) and Mrs Howell (class teacher)

HARDWOOD LOGS

l Action from the match at Kings Newton with the two teams lined up above

Kings Newton hosts a bowls International

KINGS Newton Bowls Club played host to some young bowlers during September for an international match pitting under-16s from Derbyshire against Wales.

This was the second Sunday in a row that the club had hosted a junior match; the first was a Derbyshire junior cup competition won by Owen Sheriff, of Washlands Club in Burton

Then came the match between Derbyshire and Wales juniors which was won 9-3 by Derbyshire.

A spokesman from the club said: “There was some tremendous bowling on view, all played with great sportsmanship. A good crowd attended, including a bus load of

players and supporters from Wales

“The players and officials were very happy with the Kings Newton green and the hospitality shown to them; in fact the president of the Welsh association said it was one of the best places they had played at ”

Meanwhile, at Kings Newton Bowling Club the season is almost over and two more teams have now gained promotion: the Monday night mixed second team and the Friday night men’s first team.

The club reports a very successful season on and off the green with hopes of being chosen to host more representative matches in the future.

First XI disappointment for Melbourne CC

MELBOURNE Town Cricket Club had a disappointing end to their 2018 season as the first team ended up in eighth place and the seconds secured fourth place

However, it’s hoped this should be good enough for promotion into division seven south; so, along with Melbourne’s third team finishing in second place, the club had a successful season overall

The first team began September with a convincing 82-run home victory against Alvaston and Boulton seconds Melbourne scored 235-8 off their allotted overs with new skipper Matt Briers leading the way with 98 in a stand of 119 with Adam Swain (45) There was also some late order hitting from Faren Price (32 not out)

A superb spell of 6-50 from spinner Waseem Sajid plus two wickets from Alex Slater saw the visitors bowled out for just 153, giving Town an easy win

A week later away to Risley firsts, Mel-

bourne were thwarted by the rain as a superb 92 from Muhammad Tayyab helped Town to 202-7 as they declared after 39 overs

In reply the home side were struggling on 73-4 after Price had taken two quick wickets when the rain came and forced the match to be abandoned

The first team fell to a huge 152-run defeat to league champions Rolleston 2nds in their final game of the season The home side scored 277-4 as they declared after 42 overs and Town were bowled out for just 125, despite 32 from Matt Briers and 39 by Muhammad Tayyab

Town Seconds saw their 2018 fall away as they lost two of their last three games in the final month They began September with a narrow six-run defeat away to Walton-on-Trent seconds, with the home side scoring 202-8 off their allotted overs Alex Blackhall (4-63) and James Hogwood (357) bowled well

In reply Melbourne were going along

nicely with Mark Hirons (49) and Simon Fletcher (46), but a late order collapse saw them to 196 all out

A week later, at home to Quarndon 3rds, Melbourne secured a convincing eightwicket win thanks mainly to a superb 103 not out by opener Julian Humpidge He hit 12 fours and three sixes as the seconds chased down Quarndon s 151-7

Earlier, Alex Blackhall took 3-44 and Ranjit Rathore 2-44 had bowled well to keep the visitors to a lowly total Dan Marshall’s men ended their 2018 season in disappointing manner as they fell to a 77-run home defeat to eventual league winners Burton Seconds

It was all going well as leading wicket taker James Hogwood took a remarkable 6-18 supported by 4-43 from Alex Blackhall to bowl the visitors out for 121 But in reply the seconds were skittled for just 44, leaving them in a creditable fourth place in the table

Bubbly double for Ticknall

IT WAS a time of celebration for Ticknall Cricket Club’s first team when it won the Premier League and so completed the double, having won the Premier League Cup on September 1

This was the first time the feat had been achieved since 2006

The last three weeks of the season were a close contest between Ticknall and Spondon

Spondon beat Ticknall on the last ball of the 50th over, the ball going to the boundary for four leg byes and so bringing the teams level on points with two matches to go Scores were 177-8 to 180-8

The following day Ticknall took their revenge in the Premier Cup final, when Ticknall scored 292-9 in 50 overs, with Wayne Madsen scoring 137 helped by Joss Morgan 28 and Richard Brown 25

Spondon replied with 276 all out in the 49th over with Rigg scoring 81 and Maddeley 48 Waseem

Fazal took 3-43 and Tom Wood 335

The second weekend in September saw Ticknall play local rivals Swarkestone at the Grange Ticknall batted first, making 255-2, declaring at 44 overs in a

rain-affected match

Paul Borrington scored 129 not out, with Wayne Madsen 41 and Joss Morgan 54 not out Swarkestone replied with 88 all out, Waseem Fazal taking 5-39 This gave Ticknall 27 points and with Spondon’s game finishing with a no-result Ticknall went 15 points clear at the top of the table

The last match of the season Ticknall entertained Rolleston, who batted first, scoring 109 with Waseem Fazal taking 3-30 and Aidan Wheeler 3-8 Ticknall made short work of making the runs, finishing on 113-1

This brought the season to an end, Ticknall winning the league by 10 points

Paul Borrington topped the league batting averages with 1,130 runs at 80 71; Aidan Wheeler was top of the bowling with 59 wickets at 12 78 while Waseem Fazal took 55 wickets at 14 95 to finish third James Sookies was the top wicketkeeper with 32 victims Paul also won the Order of Merit award for being the most valued player in the league

The second and third teams have had a testing season and at times struggled because of players

being unavailable But they avoided relegation and have given the club a base to build on for next season

The Juniors have enjoyed a successful season with both the U12s and U14s qualifying for the county final next year

Tennis club teams are on the up

MELBOURNE Tennis Club completed a hugely successful 2018 season with four teams claiming a promotion spot.

The Ladies B Team led the way as they won the Burton League division four title, while the Ladies A team claimed second place in division three and a promotion spot

l Ticknall captain Paul Borrington receives the premier trophy from league sponsor Beechwood Motors Director, Rob Wood.

WANTED: an experienced goalkeeper and other keen football players to take part in Melbourne’s very own Walking Football team But only over-50s need apply!

Melbourne’s Walking Football team is made up of over-50s who no longer want to run but still want to experience the enjoyment and exercise of the beautiful game, at a slightly slower pace that’s kinder to knees and hips

The team has now entered the local Walking Football league and is doing well but would still like to attract more local players, in particular, a goalkeeper

Peter Hass, from the Walking Football team, says: “Currently, we are in desperate need for an experienced goalkeeper for our league games due to the competitive nature of these games and the size of the goals in particular!”

The Walking Football league games

Not to be outdone, Melbourne Men’s A team finished in second place in the Burton division five to earn a second successive promotion

A full round-up of the month’s results will appear in November ’s Village Voice

take place twice a month on Wednesdays at the Powerleague Arena next to Derby Football Club Stadium at Pride Park, with kick-off at either 7pm or 7 30pm

They also have regular home and practice games at Melbourne Sports Park on Friday evenings from 6pm to 7pm

Anyone interested is asked to get in touch with Peter on pkhhasshh@gmail com or by phone on 01332 862011

Yo u c o u l d w a l k i n t o t h i s t e a m . .

Tennis club fund boost

YOUNG tennis players in Melbourne are benefiting from a donation of £2,290 from the Matthew Sanders Sports Foundation

Established to encourage local young people to play and excel at sport, the foundation was set up in 1999 in Matthew’s memory

The tennis club said they would be using the donation to promote the junior section through coaching and other activities

Mick and Jan Sanders presented the club with the cheque after visiting a Tennis Holiday Camp in the school summer holidays

Further cheques were donated from the foundation to other local sports clubs, and there will be a full report in the next edition of the Village Voice

l Champagne moment Ticknall Cricket Club’s players celebrate lifting the Derbyshire Premier League title for the first time

Full report on Page 23

Mixed starters for Dynamo big boys

MELBOURNE Dynamo FC has four adult sides for the first time in over 30 years, but they began their 2018-19 season with mixed results.

Melbourne’s Saturday first team has made an indifferent start but began with a 4-3 away win against Rolls-Royce Leisure with a Michael Tristram hat-trick along with a goal from new signing Tom Niewiarowski

This earned Dynamo three points, but a 2-1 away defeat to Derby Singh Brothers followed, with Jack Goodband getting the consolation

A disappointing 1-1 home draw came against a depleted Willington with Ed Burton getting the goal This was followed by a moraleboosting 6-0 home victory over Little Eaton, with strike duo

Tristram and Goodband both scoring braces along with goals from Jake Peverley and Will Lupton

The first team ended the month with their worst performance of the season so far as they were beaten 2-1 away to Tibshelf Seniors with James Smith getting Melbourne’s consolation

Dynamo’s Saturday Reserves have made a better start to the season and currently sit second in Division One They started with a comfortable 4-1 away win at Wirksworth Ivanhoe with goals from Harry Foxon, Vinny Hallifield, Finn Charles and Toby Foxon

This was followed by another comfortable away win, this time 51 against Asha Seconds as Bradley King led the way with a hattrick supported by Joe Shadbolt and Josh Burton

The in-form King completed another hat-trick a week later away at Holbrook St Michael’s Juniors as Dynamo again won 5-1, a double from Shadbolt completing the scoring

The Reserves’ first defeat came at the hands of Sherwin Despite goals from Toby Foxon and Joe Shadbolt they were well beaten 4-2 but soon got back to winning ways the following week with a convincing 6-1 home win over Burton Town Reserves Another double from Joe Shadbolt along with goals from King, Josh Burton, Reuben Gosling and Callum Hill completed the scoring

A 3-3 away draw at Bargate Rovers was thanks to a double from Brad King along with a Joe Shadbolt finish, with Dynamo ending the month climbing to second place as they beat Little Eaton Reserves 4-1 at home Leading goalscorer King netted two with Shadbolt and Finn Charles completing a good start for the team

Melbourne Dynamo now has two adult Sunday sides, both sponsored by Stadia Utilities The first team made a solid start to life in Division One of the Derby Taverners, although they did begin with a 5-1 away defeat to White Horse in the cup with James Payne getting the consolation

A much improved performance a week later saw Ash Smith s men earn a 2-2 draw against Old Talbot Rangers with Harry Foxon and veteran Paul Lakin getting on the scoresheet

A brilliant second half performance by Dynamo saw them turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 victory as Derby Singh Brothers were well beaten with goals from Jack Scothern, Jack Goodband, Toby Foxon and Jack Weston This was followed by a convincing 4-1 home win against Field Lane Reserves with goals from Dan Toon, Callum Horton, Scott Harris and James Payne

The first team ended the month with a 4-1 away defeat to AFC Mickleover Vine as, despite a Callum Horton strike, Dynamo conceded two late goals to give the scoreline a flattering look

Dynamo Sunday Reserves have begun their season in division two in a solid way as they drew their first ever game 2-2 away at Corinthians with Brad King and Andy Butterworth getting the goals

But this was followed by a 4-2 away defeat against Willington FC with James Payne and Joe Dale scoring the consolations The Sunday Reserves ended the month with a home 1-1 draw as a Jacob Vella screamer earned a point versus CAB Athletic

l (l-r) Mick and Jan Sanders with Tim Shone, Carolyn Crocker and Marjorie Tunnicliffe with the cheque.