Voice Magazines - Ripley & Marehay - December 2024 by Voice Magazines and Artliff Design & Print

From the Editor

CanIhaveahorse,aMrFrostyIceDrinksMakerandamassiveboxofToffifee…hangonthat wasmyletterwhenIwas8!!ThisyearSantaIwouldloveitifyoucouldmakesureeveryone enjoysoursuper-duper,mega,fullyChristmas,Christmassyedition!!!Thisyearwe’vegoneall out, we wanted to embrace a slightly different direction from our features of previous years and really just celebrate with our readers, spread the ‘Shop Local’ message and make sure thatwewaved2024offwithallthetinselandglitterwecouldfind!!

So, to make sure we make it onto your ‘good’ boys and girls list, we’re giving away some fantabulous prizes via a couple of fun competitions, and they really do need to be won!!! We really hope everyone enjoys doing them as we put in lots of work and laughs into our little Christmas Movie skit, featuring the whole team (Sarah, Liam, Myself, David, Michelle, Lisa, Jay, Flake and Roger)! So Santa, can you make sure that everyone enters, it’s in the centre pagesofthemagazineandcanyouremindthemall,“you’vegottobeinittowinit!”

On a personal note Santa, it’s fair to say that Myself, Liam and the rest of the team haven’t hadtheeasiestyearthroughout2024,foranabsolutemultitudeofreasonsanddespitethere beingsomeverydifficulttimes,we’veworkedtogetherandgotthroughbecause,asI’msure you’llagree,badtimesdon’tlast!Iknowwearen’taloneinfeelinglikethisthroughout2024, we’ve had so many of our advertisers as well who have enjoyed better times previously and thisreallyhighlightedtoustheimportanceofgivingsomethingback.Afewofourwonderful advertisers have joined in with us, of their own volition, and offered some fantastic prizes to be won as well. So, please can you remind our readers to shop local, it won’t matter to Jeff Bezos if they buy another gift from Amazon but it will really matter to their neighbour who runsthelocalmagazine/shop/plumbingservice/electricalcompanyetc.

Finally Santa, I would like to truly wish everyone and their loved ones a wonderful festive periodfromallofusatVoiceMagazines.Andwewouldliketothankthemallfortheirsupport overthepastyear.We’llbebackin2025withashinynewlooktokeepshowcasingthebest, reliablebusinessesandgreatcommunitycontent.

MerryChristmasSanta(andeveryone),

PS:Don’tforgettomentionthe‘Voice’whenyouuseanyofthecompaniesinthismagazine

THE JOY OF WRAPPING!

It’s nearly Christmas, that special time of year to show loved ones how much they mean to you—by spending hours wrestling with cheap wrapping paper that tears if you so much as look at it.

If you enjoy a little arm workout with your gift-wrapping, flimsy wrapping paper is for you. Picture it: you carefully cut a piece, wrap it around your present, only to discover it’s torn on the corner. So, you try again, re-wrap, add more tape, and just when you think you’re done—it rips again. It’s as if this paper was designed by someone who enjoys frustrating people.

And this thin paper doesn’t just rip either; it rejects tape, too. It’s as if it’s saying, “You really thought I’d stick to that?” By the time you’ve mummified your present in enough tape to make it structurally sound, you’ve likely used up any money you saved buying the cheap stuff, plus lost a few hours of wrapping time. And then, to add insult to injury, as you move it under the tree, you stick your finger straight through one of the few areas you haven’t smothered in sticky tape.

Cheap wrapping paper is a bit like that one flashy friend — you know the one—looks great from a distance, but up close, the, errrm, flaws, are revealed. It may be glittery, shiny, and gorgeous in the shop, but the moment you roll it out, the illusion shatters. You might as well be wrapping with a festive paper napkin.

Dropping the humour for a minute, many of us are trying to be a bit more eco-friendly these days, so it’s worth noting that thin wrapping paper and sustainability are not exactly best friends. While you’re trying to use minimal paper, you will end up needing more of it just to get the job done! Plus, if it has glitter or shiny coatings, it’s headed straight for the landfill, as it is not recyclable.

Cheap wrapping paper might save a few quid up front, but by the end, you’ll probably find yourself asking, “Was it worth it?” Quality paper, on the other hand, sticks to tape, doesn’t rip every five seconds, and makes wrapping easier. Not that there is any guarantee you won’t manage to poke a hole in it as you pile the presents under the Christmas tree.

Beautifully wrapped presents under the tree are the stuff of magazine photo shoots and “influencer” videos. At the end of the day, the recipients, particularly children, are far more interested in what the wrapping paper is concealing—not how aesthetically pleasing the bow and ribbon is, or how well the colour of the paper matches the room décor.

So, spend less time on prettifying those gifts. After all, the paper is only going to be ripped off and screwed into a ball (unless you are really, really, good at carefully flattening out used gift wrap!). But perhaps for your own sanity, give the flimsy wrapping paper a miss?

Feeling tired of trying to figure it all out alone? Tired of sacrificing your own needs to care for others? What if you had professional guidance on your caring journey? Give the gift of support this Christmas

Ripley & District Heritage Trust

DECEMBER 2024

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER

On the 22nd of December 1944, the local newspaper ran an article which announced that, after four years and seven months away from their families, the last evacuee children were to return home for Christmas. They had arrived in June 1940 from Birmingham and Southend-on-Sea. Although evacuation wasn’t at first compulsory, most people on the South coast were well aware of the dangers of bombing and even invasion, and recognised that their children would be safer in the country. Parents were given only 48 hours to make the decision.

So, it was that 476 evacuee children from Southend arrived in Ripley by train, clutching cases and rucksacks, holding gas masks and with ID tags round their necks, to be greeted by the local welfare committee and allocated to their host families in Ripley, Heage and Ambergate. Most were of primary school age, but there were some as young as three who had to

be accompanied by an elder brother or

All the classes from Hamstel School, with their teachers, were relocated to schools in the area, though there were apparently some “open air classes” in Ripley until accommodation could be found.

The schools returned to Southend in August 1942, their headteacher Mr Fortescue praising the Ripley foster parents: “They have made our children happy and without their goodwill and golden hearts all our schemes would have been empty as bubbles.”

Some of the last children to leave were the Outten family: Tony, Joyce, Doris and Cora, who had spent the whole of the four and a half years with the Murfin and Pells family in Heath Road.

Imagine that Christmas: after four and a half years away, the children were finally back with their family. What a present!

Southend evacuees

The newspaper article in 1940

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With December in full swing, RASCALS is gearing up for our much anticipated yearly Presentation evening – a special festive event that recognises the hard work, dedication and accomplishments of our athletes throughout the year and at our Club Championships. Despite the approaching festivities, RASCALS lifesavers showed no signs of slowing down with a string of challenging competitions to wrap up the year.

Late October, the Liverpool Aquatic Centre played host to the second annual RASCALS Lifesaving Open Meet. The event attracted thirteen clubs from across the UK as well an international team from Norway.

With the RASCALS squad doubling in size from last year’s event, this two-day competition saw top athletes, including many who have represented their countries, competing fiercely in heats and finals across several categories. Having heats certainly tested the athletes’ strategy as they calculated how much energy to extend while ensuring enough reserves for the finals. While all the individual events were thrilling to watch, the relays showcased team spirit at its best. The atmosphere was electric with teams racing neck and neck, frequently ending with a fingertip victory. The finals saw athletes parading to

the starting blocks, called out by name with background music carefully selected to motivate the athletes and their cheering supporters. RASCALS Head Coach Daniel Woodthorpe was keen to commend his squad’s dedication commenting that, “Our athletes put in so much hard work for this event and it’s amazing to see such talent from so many clubs competing”. Following the success of this year’s event, RASCALS has already announced plans to hold the competition again in 2025, solidifying its position as a key fixture on the lifesaving competition circuit.

November brought further success for RASCALS lifesavers at the National Traditional Lifesaving Finals in Leeds. Harry Pollicott and Tobi Watson took third place in the Youth category, while Rachel Healey claimed another podium finish with third place in the Masters section.

As the year draws to a close, RASCALS would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our coaches, poolside teams and volunteers for their consistent encouragement and support this year.

A special mention goes to our club’s Presidents, Chris and Tim Dening, who have been proudly supporting our athletes at competitions throughout the country. Merry Christmas RASCALS – see you back with a splash in 2025 !!

If you would like to expand your swimming activities or try something new, please contact us. contact@ripleyrascals.org.uk • www.ripleyrascals.org.uk

RASCALS Yorkshire Speeds squad 2024

AMBER VALLEY RUGBY CLUB

AMBER VALLEY RUGBY CLUB: HIGHLIGHTS AND COMMUNITY

The Senior Team have displayed impressive resilience and teamwork despite a challenging month. They secured a hard-earned victory against Dronfield 2s, demonstrating growth and determination. Every match was an opportunity to refine skills and build synergy, with the coaching staff’s guidance boosting morale. Contact Stuart at 07966 867 946

The AV Tigers are excelling, bringing energy both on and off the field. Despite a tough match, they showed heart, and their recruitment social in Ripley was a great success.

Contact Gareth at 07595 520 537.

Minis and Juniors first matches in new kits with a Halloween-themed party. Players also joined Ripley’s Memorial Day parade, honouring the day with pride and embodying the club’s values of community and respect. For those interested in joining, call Paul at 07790 403 043.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas Happy New Year, as we look forward to more memorable moments in 2025!

More than just a club, we are the #ValleyFamily. You can visit our website www.ambervalleyrfc.co.uk, Facebook & Instagram pages to contact us or follow what we do. You can find us at Lower Somercotes, Somercotes, Alfreton DE55 4NQ

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Thursday 19 Dec, 1pm - Lunchbreak Carols a short 40min carol service with refreshments after

Sunday 22 Dec, 6.30pm - Carols by Candlelight with refreshments after

Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24 Dec, 4pm - Crib Service a service for families, telling the Christmas story

Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24 Dec, 11pm - Midnight Holy Communion

Christmas Day, Wednesday 25 Dec, 10am - Family Christmas Celebration for all ages, including Holy Communion

Voice Magazines were delighted to be invited to an Afternoon Tea treat at The Orangery at St Elphins Park this month. Many of us had experienced ‘The Orangery’ so we knew that we had a treat in store for us.

As is always the case with this truly superb restaurant, set in picturesque surroundings, the team were incredibly attentive and never missed a beat. Firstly, we were offered a selection of 10 teas to take with our Afternoon Tea, presented quirkily in test tubes. Once the teas had been chosen, a fresh pot for each person was brought out along with our food. With delicious finger sandwiches of, Ham and Tomato, Mature Cheddar and Pickle, Egg Mayonnaise and Salmon and Cream Cheese, homemade scones (fruit and plain) and a selection of delicious homemade cakes. There was ample food and if you can’t manage it all (unlike us), there is an option for a doggy bag for later!!

Whether for a special occasion or a relaxing afternoon, Audley Villages provides a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable experience. We certainly found that there is more than meets the eye with Audley Villages. Whilst it does offer luxury retirement living, there are many facilities open to members of the public, as we found out. Of course,

we already knew about the restaurant but there is also a gym/beautician/swimming pool and much more. In addition to this, we also discovered that the team at Audley Villages can offer a venue for low key special occasions and set in those beautiful grounds with sensational food at your fingertips, why wouldn’t you consider this location as a celebration destination?! Contact them today to find out more.

Thanks again for having us Team Audley, we can all say that we had the best time and we will be back! Don’t take our word for it though, you can WIN an Afternoon Tea Experience for yourself, enter our competition on the back page of the central Christmas pull out.

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2nd Tuesday of each month 9am - 1pm | South Normanton Market Place

2nd Friday of each month 9am - 1pm | Ripley Market Place

3rd Thursday of each month 9am - 1pm | Alfreton Severn Square Car Park (Outside B&M)

3rd Friday of each month 9am - 1pm | Sutton-in-Ashfield, Portland Square

Merry Christmas Everyone!

We wanted to spread a bit of extra Christmas cheer this year, so we have produced this special pull out, filled with Christmas fun, including recipes, events, puzzles, competitions and some very special prizes to be won!

The sharp eyed amongst you may notice some unusual characters dotted around… these are our special Christmas cartoon characters and more will be explained over the page. These are just part of the fun we had putting this special feature together and we hope you have as much fun too!

SHOP LOCAL THIS CHRISTMAS

Although this Christmas special is advert free it doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten the importance of supporting local businesses… and neither should you.

If you make a special effort to buy some of your gifts, or stock up on Xmas supplies from local shops instead of online or from big chain stores it can do wonders for the local community. That money goes straight to local people and families, who in turn will spend a proportion of that money again in the local community and that cycle goes around again and again and again!

And as everybody who shops local already knows, local business are always the best, giving you better service and better products at better prices. So, let’s all do something good this Christmas and shop local!

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CHATSWORTH ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS HAMPER LTD

Competition Competition GUESS THE MOVIE GUESS THE MOVIE

We’ve created a showreel of our favourite Christmas movies, starring cartoon characters of the team here at VOICE HQ. We’ve put ourselves in iconic images from nine famous films. CAN YOU GUESS THE MOVIES?

*Down

You can play for fun or you can enter the prize draw for a chance to win one of the fabulous prizes on the Christmas Tree, including our star prize, A LUXURIOUS CHATSWORTH HOUSE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS HAMPER! Here’s a clue… Home Alone doesn’t feature twice.

To enter the prize draw, simply send your 9 movie names via email to community@ voicemagazines.co.uk with the subject line: ‘Christmas Competition’. Please provide your full name, address and telephone number, so all winners can be notified. Closing date: Friday 13th December 2024. Competition winners will need to collect their prizes from the Voice Magazines office at 81 High Street, South Normanton, Derbyshire, DE55 2BP between Monday 16th – Friday 20th December.

CHRISTMAS OREO (BAU)BALLS

Shareyour(bau)balls withus!! Wewouldlovetoseethem!

Get ready to make some super tasty Christmas Oreo cookie balls that are as fun to decorate as they are to eat! With just a few simple ingredients and loads of toppings, you’ll be whipping up a treat everyone will love!

What You’ll Need:

28 OREO COOKIES – regular ones

150G CREAM CHEESE – full-fat and soft (room temperature)

200G MELTING CHOCOLATE – white or dark chocolate.

TOPPINGS – coconut, crushed nuts, cookies, sprinkles.

Let’s Get Started!

Prepare Baking Sheets: Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.

Crush Cookies: Crush Oreos into fine crumbs using a food processor (or put them in a bag and smash them with a rolling pin!).

Add Cream Cheese: Mix the softened cream cheese with the crumbs until it forms a dough-like ball.

Roll Into Balls: Scoop out 1-inch portions and roll into balls; place

on the baking sheet.

Chill the Balls: Pop the tray in the fridge for 1 hour to let them firm up.

Melt Chocolate: Melt the chocolate in the microwave or on the stove until smooth.

Dip & Decorate: Dip each ball in chocolate, then decorate with your favourite toppings, like sprinkles, crushed cookies, or you can roll them in coconuts or crushed nuts.

FIND FLAKE Win An

FIND FLAKE

Where has Flakey gone? The team at Voice Mags have lost Flake amongst a pile of presents. Can you help us find him?

To enter the draw for the Afternoon Cream Tea circle where you think Flake is on the picture and send it back to us as a picture via email, to community@voicemagazines. co.uk by Thursday 19th December 2024 with the subject: Afternoon Tea Competition.

Cream Tea

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THE CHRISTMAS SIDEBOARD

When I was a child visiting family homes around Christmastime, there was always a display of seasonal goodies on the sideboard. First, there sat a Christmas cake, iced and decorated with fat robins, deer, Santas, sprigs of holly and proudly surrounded by a frilled tartan collar. Other goodies involved boxes of chocolates, jellied orange and lemon slices, Turkish delight, liqueur chocolates, Scottish shortbread and after dinner mints. There was always a bowl of nuts with a nutcracker.

These were offered around after a meal. Some rather rich and not really to a child’s taste. The not-so-popular delicacies would be the last to go.

This might also be the place where the Christmas trifle might stand, decorated with silver balls, dribbling with too much sherry, and containing a can of tinned fruit cocktail with its two halves of cherry. But the best you’ve ever tasted.

There might also stand bottles of Christmas tipples: Ginger wine (my particular favourite), Advocaat for making snowballs, a small jar of maraschino cherries for finishing off the snowball, Sherry, Port and Babycham. The best glassware would be

available, including sherry schooners and the posh cutlery would come out of its hinged box.

A box of Hamlet cigars would also grace the sideboard, an annual treat for the men.

We also were able to entertain in the front room which was only ever heated and used at this time of year.

Everything was special and memorable. Heartwarming memories made.

I WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY AND PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS

Janet and Paul Barrass are All Around the Shire. Find us on or email: oldfield512@btinternet.com for more information. Janet

Guess the words and Fill in the crossword !

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.

Across

1 Pup, muddling its way to a Crimble treat! (4,7)

5 Non-brew recipe is for the seasonal king (7)

14 Sheared off sticks, but not stones (7)

16 Truckers can be prepared for getting colonels, say (11)

Down

Across

9 Drink, about to be brewed for leader Douglas-Home (4)

10 Only fair? (4)

11 Bigwig looking in Inuit quarters (5)

12 Tighten a nut for a relative who’s a great one (4)

13 Practiced finally for the state of the Christmas cake (4)

Down

2 Tea store removed from the backburner (3)

3 Fell-running, ending up back in the pub? (3)

7 Direct approach, in order to wish away the wheelie bins (7)

14 Cunning way to express oneself! (3)

1 Christmas dinner requisite presented on an iron parapet (11)

4 Adding gilts to your equity plan is Carol’s good news (4,7)

6 Fired up by deceit that’s a little dodgy! (7)

8 Wild trajectories start off with what to do this season (7)

Down: 1 Buddleia, 2 Caps, 3 Ache, 4 Dress sense, 5 Going to sea, 8 Plaza, 9 Radiator, 14 Drew, 15 Held.

Across: 1 Back-dated, 5 Gnu, 6 Dip, 7 Spheres, 10 Nil, 11 Encased, 12 Ire, 13 Obadiah, 16 Eat, 17 One, 18 Arc-welder.

15 Bishop’s place in the greenhouse effect (3) ANSWERS FOR LAST MONTHS PITCHERWITS

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BOOK REVIEW

Lewis is the largest island in the Outer Hebrides. It’s a dark, beautifully rugged place, with more than its share of social problems and a culture which reflects the landscape. Tradition still rules. It is appropriately insular and secrets lie buried deep.

The Black House is the first thriller in a trilogy set on Lewis by Scots writer Peter May. Our protagonist CID detective Fin Macleod is called back to home turf which he thought he had turned his back on by a murder similar to one he was investigating on the mainland.

But this is so much more than a murder mystery. The crime unfolds through Macleod’s memories of a brutal and troubled upbringing. As he says - he feels like a ghost haunting his own past.

It’s a story of grim family secrets and betrayal and is admirably direct in its language – and you may even know a few Gaelic words by the end of it. And overlying the tale are wonderful descriptions of the atmosphere and culture which draw you in and hug you tight. A dark story for dark nights.

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Gardener’s Calendar

It can feel like there’s nothing to do in the garden at this time of year, but a few plants can give you colour through the dark days.

Best, easiest and cheapest are winter pansies which are bred to withstand the worst of the cold and make the most of low light. Cyclamen are also shiny happy plants and have the added advantage of naturalising over the years, particularly among shrubs and trees. But make sure you buy hardy cyclamen – the smaller variety. Big super showy ones won’t survive the cold. Hellebores can flower as early at Xmas and they and winter flowering heather are great for providing pollen for bumblebees which may be buzzing around on warmer days.

Protection is also important – bubble wrap your best terracotta pots as they absorb the wet and will crack with the frost. Tender shrubs can be helped through the cold by being wrapped in old fleece and straw or sacking. Remove if we get a warm spell to stop rotting and replace when it’s colder again. If you’ve bought a fig tree be careful to bundle up any tiny buds of fruit, figs are usually advertised as hardy but the buds are tender. Japanese maples should be pruned now if needed – any later and they will bleed and become weakened. Succulents and rockery plants have been popular in garden centres this year. Now is the time to put fresh grit round them to stop them rotting in wet soil.

JAYS AND MAGPIES IN ABUNDANCE

Autumn and winter are seasons when members of the crow family form flocks and also roam the countryside in search of easy pickings. Oak trees with abundant crops of acorns draw in jays and magpies from across the area. Jays in particular, have specially adapted claws to carry a number of acorns at once. They gather these up and take them up to a mile or perhaps more, to plant them in the ground. These food caches are hidden away for when the cold weather comes, and supplies are scarce. However, although the jays remember most of the hidden acorn sites, they do forget some. These forgotten acorns will survive to germinate and maybe grow into new oak trees. The jay is ‘nature’s forester’, and this is how oak woods and oak forests spread in the wild. You don’t need to plant trees, simply let nature and the jays plant the acorns for you! Carrion crows and magpies will also do this, but they lack the ability to carry so many acorns at once.

It seems that this autumn, the jays have been very abundant and are coming to garden feeders much more frequently than they once did. In part, this is because of our changing attitudes to these very pretty birds. A few decades ago, they were ruthlessly persecuted by gamekeepers and in urban areas, by park-keepers too. Because of this troubled existence they quickly learned to avoid contact with people whenever possible. In larger tracts of

woodland, you might hear a jay in the distance, and even catch a fleeting glimpse, but that would be all as they disappeared into dense cover. Today they are doing well, and you see them frequently flying out from woodland to plant their acorns and flying also between woods. In the garden now, they will come to feed on peanut holders, but also on fat-balls and on suet dumplings. These also prove irresistible for the magpies which are also on the up, although not everyone is keen because of their predation of nestlings and bird’s eggs. At this time of the year the magpies tend to flock up and go to communal roost sites, which is typical ‘corvid’ behaviour, the corvids being the crow family. Jackdaws, carrion crows, and rooks, often form vast winter flocks, especially during cold weather. Having gathered at a number of select ‘pre-roost’ sites, the birds then move into a favoured, usually warm and sheltered location for the night. Numbers can be up to ten thousand or more. The biggest of the crows is of course the raven, and they too may gather in decent numbers and sometimes join up with carrion crows and other smaller cousins. One of the big advantages of a large winter roost site is that the birds can learn from the behaviour of their peers, where to go for the best foraging for food. At the start of each day, if a bird has fed well the previous day, then it will probably head back out directly and confidently. So, if the other birds are unsure then they just follow!

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Managing your personal affairs is important

matter what twists and turns life throws at you, our legal team are here to help. But we are more than legal experts, we love to help people.

It’s all about finding a local expert that you can trust, that will keep your best interests at heart, whilst giving you straightforward advice.

Wills & Property Trust Wills

No matter what twists and turns life throws at you, our legal team are here to help. But we are more than legal experts, we love to help people.

Lasting Powers of Attorney Injury or Illness Claims > Divorce or Children Matters

> Wills & Property Trust Wills

> Lasting Powers of Attorney

> Injury or Illness Claims

> Divorce or Children Matters

> Employment Advice > Financial Disputes

> Employment Advice

> Financial Disputes

Appointments by voice-call, video-call, in-person at one of our offices or if you are unable to leave the hospital our staff are happy to visit you at your bedside.