Last orders accepted
Final deliveries by
Participation • If you were part of last your details have changed, Product assortment • This year's sale features discounts of up to 50%. Sales support • Our social media platforms throughout the sale, targeted traffic to drive
• We will be updating
participating retailers!
Hello Readers,
So, Mr Emily thinks he can make it to the 2028 Olympics as a Break-dancer... The worst part is I actually think he stands a chance!!
I always had it in my head that August was a quiet month, especially as we don’t have kids to entertain for around 6 weeks (honestly, I take my hat off to you all!). Turns out not to be the case on many levels this August, not helped by myself, who seemed to have booked the diary down to the last millisecond, much to Mr Emily’s dismay!
To add insult to injury, in the month of August I had my first Over 40’s Women Health letter from the doctors – and so it begins! Obviously, there was a bureaucratic calamity which involved the surgery not having a diary going 3 weeks into the future and a blood test sheet not being supplied and me turning up at Ripley basically begging them to take blood for whatever, just to get it over with! (In all honesty, the staff were brilliant). Despite the fact that the appointment could have been done online, at home, at my own leisure, I am very thankful that we have an NHS and that these health checks exist. The alternative doesn’t bear thinking about when I consider how many people these routine check-ups have saved over the years.
Anyway, one of the highlights of August was when the Voice team went ‘Mad For It’ in Manchester for our Sarah’s Hen Do. It was a worry as to whether we were still going to be able to go after the week of riots, but after a difficult year for her we wanted to make sure we sent her into her forthcoming nuptials in the ‘right’ way and that we did! From a Steam Train Murder Mystery evening, to a fabulous Ghost Walk around the City, to a couple of nostalgic hours at the Crystal Maze and much more in between, we covered the best that Manchester had to offer in a weekend. We’ve had a turbulent few years like most businesses and had more than our fair share of difficulties for such a small, family run company but we are very fortunate with the team we have and that we are all able to do what we love. So raise a glass to Sarah and her impending doom….ooops, …I mean happiness! We certainly did!!
Happy reading,
PS: Don’t forget to mention the ‘Voice’ when you use any of the companies in this magazine
13th of September is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to celebrate the splendiferous (a very Dahl like word) Roald Dahl. This day honours the author, whose stories have captivated the hearts and minds of children and adults alike, transporting us to strange worlds where anything and everything is possible…like a giant peach that’s bigger than a house.
Roald Dahl is the creator of classics like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Matilda,” and “James and the Giant Peach,” to name just a few. He has given us stories filled with larger-than-life characters, and extraordinary adventures, all mixed up with more than a sprinkling of mischief and mayhem.
Dahl has also provided us with a litany of inspirational quotes…
“If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”
“We make realities out of our dreams and dreams out of our realities. We are the dreamers of the dream.”
“There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there, you’ll be free if you truly wish to be.”
Ah…the stuff great memes are made off!
Why do we celebrate him on the 13th of September, you may ask? Because it’s Roald Dahl’s birthday, of course!
Born in Wales in1916 to wealthy Norwegian immigrant parents, his first language was actually Norwegian. His father died when Roald was 3, leaving behind a fortune that today would be the equivalent of over £8mill.
Something I’ve only just discovered is that Dahl attended Repton School in Derbyshire from the age of 13 to 18. Whilst at the school, he was not considered by his teacher to be a particularly talented writer. Ironic, eh?
School did, however, provide inspiration for many of his novels. During his time there, Cadbury would sometimes send boxes of chocolate to the school for testing and Dahl would imagine inventing new flavours… “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” anyone?
After a stint working for the oil company, Shell, where he was assigned first to Mombasa, Kenya, then to Dar es Salaam, he returned to the UK as the war drums began to sound. He served in the Royal Air Force, becoming a fighter pilot and, subsequently, an intelligence officer, rising to the rank of acting wing commander.
Although we now remember Dahl as primarily a children’s author, he did in fact write several very dark adult themed stories and his short story collection, “Tales of the Unexpected”, became a TV show of the same name. He also invented over 500 new words by scribbling down his words before swapping letters around and adopting spoonerisms and malapropisms.
Love his books or not, no one can argue that Roald Dahl was a talented chap and worthy of a day to celebrate his life and works. He was also 6’6” tall – I wonder if this was part of the inspiration behind my favourite of his books,
Welcome to YOUR community noticeboard. A dedicated space for you to post notices, events and for not-for-profit community groups to advertise in.
To place a notice, from a super-low rate of £6.30 +VAT per square
Contact us on 01773 549035 or community@voicemagazines.co.uk
Bakewell Silver Band are looking to fill seats across the team
We are a friendly local band based in the centre of Bakewell, rehearsing Wednesdays at 730pm
Please ring 07859806769 for info or contact us through the website:
Pitcherwits® are crossword puzzles where some of the clues are in pictures. Sound easy? It’s not called “Pit-your-wits” for nothing! The mixture of cryptic and picture clues, combined with Professor Rebus’ unique sense of humour, will keep you entertained for hours.
Soapy rucksack? Such a pain to open! (6,4)
Sounds signally a must for Ada to take in the Loire air (5,6)
Stall, to compose a poem about frailty (4,3,4) 16 Sets in place plans to omit fluids from diet (4,6)
Across
7 Dragonfly, not any more in Indiana, sadly (5)
8 Bush is just the sort to push rubbish out! (5)
14 ‘twill, say, be in much inorganic stuff (5)
15 It rankles a bit as a leg joint (5)
Down
2 A curtain to tie round a long lead? (5)
3 Boy, that’s some accolade! (3)
5 Criteria to eat out and about in the clouds? (5)
12 A reason for absence from central Ibiza (5)
13 Irritated by dire mess around the weekend (5)
15 Back on board with a bit of craftmanship (3)
Crank put out by being flat broke (10)
Old French milkman following Louis? (7)
Holding off for more, but not up to par (3,4)
There’s a burglary - a fire - what do you do? Ring 999 of course, easy. But what if we lived in Bakewell a hundred and fifty years ago, or more. Back then there was no such thing as a police or fire service, no local council to contact. So, what then?
During the 1800s Bakewell and the surrounding area prospered. Management in rural areas of England lay mainly in the hands of minor gentry, clergymen, squires and the Parish Vestries. Parish Vestries were formed to look after the spiritual and physical welfare of parishioners, to oversee the parish’s financial health and to uphold law and order.
From 1796, a local deterrent called the Society for the Prosecution of Felons had been in operation. This scheme offered cash rewards for assistance in apprehending villains. Apparently, it worked well in Bakewell.
By 1829, Robert Peel had established London’s Metropolitan Police, with policemen known affectionately (or not) as Bobbies or Peelers. Derbyshire was slow to take up this initiative. But eventually, in 1844, Bakewell’s first policeman, a chap called James Dove, was appointed. The ‘newly built’ police station in Granby Road was equipped with cells and living accommodation, this became his home. The building still remains, sadly, now empty and its future uncertain.
Though the Parish Vestry still held much responsibility for the town, in March 1863 a meeting was held which saw Bakewell’s ratepayers take the decision to set up a Local Board. The new Local Board would assume many of the duties previously run by the Vestry. The new board consisted of the Duke of Rutland’s agent, a general practitioner, a bookseller, a banker, a farmer, a grocer and a landlord.
As far as Bakewell was concerned, one of the most urgent issues raised was fire prevention. For many years a small four-wheeled pump had been kept a Lumford Mill, it had proved utterly ineffective in tackling a large blaze. The new Local Board decided to address the problem. Hose-pipes and ladders were purchased, then a handcart. By 1881 Charles Glossop, a bank clerk, had taken charge of a uniformed volunteer fire brigade. The Board then purchased a new (handpump) fire engine for the grand sum of £100. The carriage was housed beneath the old Town Hall on King Street. Pulled by two horses, the carriage remained in service in the town until 1912.
Bakewell Old House has a wonderful display of the original equipment used all those years ago along with a picture of the first brave volunteer firemen in their uniforms, proudly posing for a photograph.
Don’t forget our popular group tours of the town, tours of the museum and ghost tours are all available as are museum tours for schools. Please see the website for opening hours and prices. Alternatively contact the museum to book or for details of tours.
“Due to medical issues, we had a home visit to discuss and choose new carpet. This service was exemplary, and made choosing new carpet so easy and stress free. We picked a carpet that was exactly what we were looking for, and a couple of weeks later, was fitted to three bedrooms, landing, stairs and hall way. The fitting was first class, those carpet fitters certainly know their craft. The fitting in all the corners is 100% perfect, it is incredibly neat and looks amazing. Really appreciated the home visit, and I hope T Nutt continues to offer this service. A very big Thank You to T Nutt for providing a first class customer service and quality carpet.”
Richdale Sofas has overhauled the Cheltenham’s manufacturing process to ensure sustainability. The result is a stylish, comfortable, and eco-friendly sofa.
Customers can choose from natural fibre fabrics or those made from recycled materials, offering various eco-friendly options in colours and patterns.
Celebrating 20 years of service, we are proud to announce our BEST EVER OFFER WITH 20% OFF ALL BESPOKE FURNITURE.
For more information, visit www.richdalesofas.co.uk/green-sofa or see us at 51a Wharncliffe Rd, Ilkeston DE7 5GF
The Cheltenham sofa features FSC-certified hardwood frames with a lifetime guarantee. Instead of traditional foam, it uses natural fibres like cotton, wool, felt, and feathers. The locally manufactured springs are recyclable, reducing waste. Each sofa is handmade in Derbyshire and customisable to any size.
1. Soak the gelatine in a bowl of cold water for 10 minutes until softened. Spray a 20cm springform or loose-bottomed square cake tin with low-calorie cooking spray, then line it with cling film, leaving some overhang.
2. Put the vanilla yogurt, Greek-style yogurt, quark and vanilla extract in your food processor. Set aside 1 level tsp sweetener for the topping, then add the rest to the food processor. Pour 100ml boiling water into a jug. Squeeze the excess water from the soaked gelatine and stir the gelatine into the hot water until it completely dissolves. Add to the food processor, then pulse until smooth and well blended. Scrape the mixture into the tin and chill for 2 hours.
Cheesecake was recently voted the UK’s favourite dessert. With this recipe, swapping the biscuit base for a yummy cinnamon crumb means you can indulge whilst still staying on plan.
3. Dissolve the jelly crystals in 150ml boiling water, add the lemon juice, then leave to cool. Scatter the blueberries over the cheesecake then pour over the cooled jelly and chill for a further 1-2 hours until set.
4. Preheat your oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas 6. Put the flour, oats, cinnamon, egg and remaining 1 tsp sweetener in a bowl and rub together using your fingers to make a crumble mixture. Spread this out on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake for 10-15 minutes until crisp.
5. Remove the cheesecake from the tin, discard the cling film and evenly scatter the crumble mixture over the top. Slice into 9 equal portions to serve.
• 6 sheets leaf gelatine
• 11.5g sachet blackcurrant sugarfree jelly crystals
• Low-calorie cooking spray
• 350g any no-addedsugar, fat-free vanilla yogurt
• 200g fat-free natural Greek-style yogurt
• 250g plain quark
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 level tbsp sweetener granules
• Good squeeze of lemon juice
• 225g fresh blueberries
• 25g plain flour
• 10g plain porridge oats
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 large egg yolk, plus 2 tsp egg white
Ready in: 25 mins, plus 3 hours 10 mins cooling and chilling time
Your local, reliable garage for over 25 years
• Boiler repairs & maintenance (Gas or Oil)
• Grant G1 certificate on Oil & Air source heat pumps
• New oil tanks & bases
• Radiators & under floor heating
SUDOKU #50 Fill in all the numbers!
This is a sudoku
1 square grid 81 cells 9 3x3 blocks
1 simple rule: Use all the numbers 1-9, with no duplicates allowed, in any row, column, or block.
These puzzles are devised by the brilliant Professor Rebus. For more of his puzzles visit www.pitcherwits.co.uk
• Valliant accredited (10 years Guarantee)
• Worcester accredited (10 years Guarantee)
• Boiler upgrades & installation
• LPG service & installation
My early memories of telephones were of using a red telephone box two streets away which contained dusty books giving people’s phone numbers and addresses and always had a peculiar smell. You had to press button A or button B to make a call.
As children, we were drilled in how to make an emergency call and always had to carry a tuppenny piece “just in case”. I kept mine in my sock.
When we finally got one in our home, it had a party line where you could hear neighbours’ conversations. We had fun ringing the speaking clock and dialling prank calls. There was always a money box next to it in the hallway to collect coins for National Children’s homes and an egg timer so you could tell how long your call was.
We now own a 1938 Bakelite telephone which was in use until the 1960s and has been converted to modern use. It has been interesting trying it out on young people. They can work out how to use the dial but cannot grasp the notion of putting the handset to their ear.
No one could have foreseen the way that telephones have developed so rapidly over the past century. From the cup and string through the switchboards and “hello girls” (who were not completely phased out until 1960), to the ubiquitous mobile phone. Telephone boxes have become repositories for unwanted books and defibrillators.
I will pose a question: have our lives been made any better by this instant communication? I do hope so. But for now, I will enjoy the feel of my Bakelite telephone and treasure the memories it evokes.
Ask
Tank
&
• Specialists in accessible bathing
• Free home visits and quotations
• Full design and installation service
•
• Reduced costs for over 60s & less abled clients
• From walk-in showers, easy clean wall panelling to toilet lifters & bidets
• DFG and SSAFA Grant work undertaken
• Helping people regain independence since 1999
There’s times when by chance you find a book written more than a century ago that takes you up and transports you to a different time and place and makes you realise while society and conventions may change, people’s passions and feelings don’t.
Summer, by Edith Wharton is the tale of Charity Royall who lives in a small town in New England, she was rescued as a child by lawyer Royall – hence her name - from a dirt poor family in the back of beyond and brought up always knowing the shame of her real family.
Charity is 17 when we meet her, rebelling against the stifling boredom of a tightly
restricted society and against the strange man she is forced to live with. Her life begins to change with the arrival of a visiting architect who lodges with the lawyer.
But this is not a simple love story. There are some very dark unsettling undercurrents which echo the ongoing story of societies where women have little power to influence their own fate. In some ways it’s strangely modern.
There are different perspectives on the characters too which adds to the absorbing complexity of the tale. A very satisfying story from a Pulitzer Prize winning author.
Although the birdsong across the countryside and in or around gardens has largely ended, the bird activity has not. Across the Peak District and beyond, there is a host of baby and juvenile birds roaming around and seeking out bird-feeders in wildlife gardens. The young blue tits, coal tits, and great tits are especially noticeable at present, with numbers building over recent weeks. In my own garden the flocks are growing to twenty or thirty birds, mostly juveniles. Adults with childcare duties completed, are now trying to re-gain strength and condition for the winter ahead, though not all have survived. Rearing a brood of demanding blue tits for instance, is a stressful and exhausting business, and potentially fatal.
The local blackbirds are probably on their third or fourth brood of youngsters and the offspring can be seen in the garden and also in woodlands around the area too. Their dark plumage is rather like the adult female blackbird but with neck, belly, and breast somewhat speckled almost like a thrush, (and of course the blackbird is one of the thrush family). Young robins, also closely related, also sport speckled plumage and lack the red breast of the adults. The reason for the latter is that if the juveniles did have the red breast, it would trigger the adults’ aggressive reactions to an intruder. Indeed, simply placing a red sphere in a robin’s territory will often make it go into attack mode! Anyway, going back to the blackbirds, one of my youngsters appeared this week and seemed to be a newly-fledged bird. Its behaviour was completely different from
that of the older juveniles, which now seem quite independent, and was pursuing the female parent around the garden and ceaselessly demanding to be fed. Calling, gaping, and fluttering all at once, I wonder how long this will continue before the adult sends the baby on its way. Very soon these birds will be flocking up and heading for hedgerows and the woodland edges of the wider countryside were they will feast on hawthorn berries and blackberries, or perhaps the rowan trees of the moorland fringes with their rich pickings of bright red berries. Then, once these are exhausted, the birds will return to gardens for pyracanthas and cotoneasters, and by November into December they will be joined once again by wintering flocks of European blackbirds, along with redwings, and fieldfares too. The hedges along disused railway lines, now access trails, are rich hunting grounds for these wintering birds, and I wonder if we will experience another wonderful influx of waxwings as we did last year. The Monsal Trail at Hassop was definitely the place to be last winter!
Tawny owls have been very vocal in recent weeks, and it is the newly-fledged young owlets that are causing all the fuss. The parents will have two or maybe three young birds stationed in the treetops and calling to each other and to the adult birds as they learn how to survive and to fend for themselves. But it will be a good while before the juveniles are able to cope alone in the big, wide world. In the meantime, the parents will be kept busy feeding themselves and their growing youngsters.
Mark your calendars, because on the 8th of September, we get to celebrate one of the most powerful tools humanity has ever known: literacy. This day isn’t just about dusting off old classics or memorising grammar rules; it’s a time to recognise the power reading and writing have in our lives. Can you imagine a world without books? I can’t!
It’s like imagining a world without chocolate or weekends. Books have been our companions, teachers, and access to other worlds for centuries. From the stories of childhood to the twists and turns of a thriller novel, literature has the power to shape our thoughts, dreams, and conversations.
Try to think back to the first book that had a real impact on you. For me it was Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House on the Prairie”. Dropped off at my house by school friends when I was an elevenyear-old with chickenpox and unable to go to school. They picked it purely because the author and I shared a first name, and I read it because I was bored. It wasn’t my usual kind of book, I was a sci-fi girl, but I loved it. The way she brought life to people and places stirred my soul and inspired a lifelong love of reading.
But National Literacy Day is more than simply a tribute to books. It’s a reminder of the fundamental role literacy plays in our daily lives. Reading and writing are the keys to unlocking endless opportunities, from personal development to career advancement. And the benefits don’t stop there. Studies show that reading regularly can improve mental health, reduce stress, and even increase empathy.
And what about you?
Well, you could start by picking up a book you’ve been meaning to read or revisit an old favourite. Share a story with your children or grandchildren. Better yet, donate books to local schools or literacy programs. Even minor acts like these can ignite a lifelong love for reading in someone else.
For those looking to socialise, why not start a book club? It’s a fantastic way to share your love of reading with others, and you may even meet some new friends who will introduce you to some authors and books you wouldn’t ordinarily have picked up.
Or check to see if there are any community events like book fairs and literary festivals. These gatherings are not just about books; they’re about building connections and sharing stories. If you can’t find any, set one up yourself with the aim of having something ready by this time next year.
And don’t forget that in today’s digital age, literacy extends beyond traditional books. So, why not learn to love e-books, audiobooks, and online articles? The goal is to read, regardless of the format. Remember, a reader today is a leader tomorrow…or at least that’s the hope.
Go on, pick up a book, an e-reader, or plug in your earbuds, and celebrate the joy of reading this National Literacy day and EVERY DAY.
These articles are researched and written by Laura Billingham, a local content writer and author. Laura moved to the Peak District several years ago to pursue her passion for writing.
Our Services include:
• Septic Tank Emptying & Repairs
• Drain Jetting
• Drain Repairs
• Groundswork
• Road Sweeping
• Gully Emptiying
Top Tip:
• Dust Supression
• High Pressure
Drain Jetting
• CCTV drain inspection
ESTABLISHED OVER 25 YEARS NOW OFFERING A NEW SERVICE! DRAIN INSPECTION CAMERAS
Andy: 07831 310731
Ashley: 07787 074414
email: jandasweep@tiscali.co.uk
office: 01629 815222
Ashford in the Water, Bakewell, DE45 1PY
Divide perennials which form in clumps – unless it’s been very wet in the last few weeks in which case leave till spring.
Lift plants with a garden fork and shake off soil. With big clump plants you often need two garden forks back-to-back to split them and they can then be pulled into smaller chunks of root and re-homed elsewhere in the garden. Smaller plants can usually just be teased apart. If you’re going to plant some roots back into the same soil add some compost to improve the nutrient value and help them recover from the shock. Make sure to continue watering after replanting.
Pick seed pods of any flowers you want to grow again next spring. Wait for a dry day and make sure the seeds are dry. Shake the seed head onto a piece of paper and remove any detritus. Empty seeds into a paper bag, label and store in cool dry place. Dividing perennials and collecting seed equals new plants for nowt!
Keep feeding and deadheading containers and bedding. They’ll keep going till the autumn frosts.
Hardy annuals like calendula, love in a mist and any of the lovely starry ammis can be sown directly into prepared weed-free fine soil now to give them a head start for earlier flowering next summer.
Pot up strawberry runners to make more plants for next year’s crop. Again, more for nothing.
We work in Ashford in the Water, Bakewell, Baslow, Chelmorton, Cressbrook, Flagg, Great Longstone, Little Longstone, Litton, Monyash over Haddon & all surrounding areas
Highly Experienced
Boiler Breakdowns
Boiler Servicing
Radiators & Pipes
Tanks & Cylinders
Toilets & Taps
Leaks & Bursts
Showers
Clearing Blockages
Pipework Replacement
Gas Safe Certified
