Voice Magazines - Clay Cross & Surrounding Villages - April 2023

CLAY CROSS, DANESMOOR, LOWER PILSLEY, OLD TUPTON, PILSLEY

WE ARE NOW OPEN FRI & SAT TILL 11pm

1 hours bowling for up to 8 people for £30.00. These are subject to availability, only 1 voucher per visit and refer to our website www.chesterfieldbowl.com.

EXCLUDES DERBYSHIRE HALF TERM HOLIDAYS For further terms & conditions.

*Terms & Conditions apply to all offers

PLEASE QUOTE:“VOICECROSS”CLAYTOOFFERS!REDEEM

From the Editor

Dear Readers,

The clocks have changed and I can’t tell you how much happier I am!! I can’t be the only one? And can someone remind me why we send them back in the first place? As I understand it, it was originally something to do with when we were a country of production and we had farms & mills etc. I am also aware that we had a trial year, where we didn’t change the clocks back in the 60’s/70’s?? and those particular people, at that snapshot in time, didn’t like it – not sure what the reason was, with not being born and all!! So I suppose what my question really is, assuming all this is correct, is it time for a review?! Things have moved on so much as a society and I wouldn’t mind my snapshot in time, two penneth vote please! I mean, we aren’t trees, so why don’t we review things that would make our lives a little easier more regularly. Imagine a December where it isn’t dark at 3pm! Anyways, that’s my soap box for this month….

I have these little chats with you every month because I think some of you might have read my little message (which always surprises me to be honest – ramblings of a mad woman and all that). The reason I know you must have read it last month is because we had a couple of lovely emails and calls, praising both, our little magazines (not so little, there are 11 mags with over 500 pages, delivered to over 60,000 homes

currently - eeeekkk) and more importantly, a lovely bit of feedback for one of our distributors. I won’t embarrass her but the lady in question contacted us to tell us how polite, respectful & well-presented he was and that he was a credit to the magazines. Without our distribution team, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do, so we obviously passed this straight onto the distributor in question and this random act that took this kind lady 5mins to do, really truly made at least 5 people smile and walk with a spring in their step for the day. I ask myself, why wouldn’t you want to be more like that?!

In other news, we are finally launching our longawaited Matlock magazine! It’s never easy to launch new mags, particularly during turbulent times but we are doing such exciting things this year with our features (more to come) and we’re getting such great feedback. We have had quite a few requests for this magazine…….so here we are, working round the clock again, excited to bring you even more fantastic local businesses and information!

See you next month for our Coronation special!

Do You Love to Read?

Do you love to settle down with a novel and escape into a different world, a different reality?

One of my not so guilty pleasures, is to snuggle under a blanket with a cup of tea and a pack of biscuits - M&S almond thins if I’m feeling flush, or Aldi gingernuts if I’m feeling the pinch - and lose myself in a really great book.

It’s something I’ve done since childhood, and yet I don’t do it as much now as I used to. Somehow it is easier to switch the TV on, it’s less strain on the aging eyes, AND brain! TV is the equivalent of a comic book; it takes less brain power to follow pictures than read words on a page. If I’m honest, I am cross at myself for not spending more time reading - I am after all a writer and my craft is as much formed by the words I consume as the words I create.

Looking at a wider perspective, it seems that many younger people have lost - if indeed they ever had - the ability to enjoy reading.

With concentration spans apparently shrinking to an average of 8.25 seconds for an adult (although research is split on this) it isn’t hard to understand why committing to reading an 80,000 word novel may be too daunting for some. And that makes me sad.

There is so much to be gained by reading a book and absorbing the story as the author created it, not the way it was adapted for TV or film. I mean, how often do you hear people saying, “oh the film is SO much better than the book”? I would wager never. It is however common to hear the reverse. I suppose the exception to this adage is a certain series of “housewife porn” novels which were translated to the big screen - I’m sure you know the ones I mean!

With World Book Night heading our way on April 23rd, perhaps it is time to sort out some reading material and reaffirm a love of books. Even better, why not make a concerted effort to encourage younger readers to spend more time in the printed, rather than online world?

A small publishing house I work with has just published two books written by a four year old, and they are incredible. Proof to me that if we imbue our children with a love of the written word from the very beginning, they will continue to be readers…and maybe even authors! My own grandson has been surrounded by books since he was born, and now, at the age of 20 months, he can already recognise his name, letters, colours, and numbers.

Love words. Love books. Love reading!

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.

To find out more visit www.landgassociates.co.uk or contact Laura on 07736 351 341

Are you a reader - I mean other than this magazine, which you are obviously reading right now, or you wouldn’t have seen the question

GREEN PRESCRIBING!

Kenning Park Forest School is now working with the NHS and the Green Social Prescribing programme to provide sessions for adults on a Friday afternoon. We have information to direct you to the local services that are right for you. If you would like to make use of our beautiful park to boost your mental and physical health, then come down and join us. The sessions are free with hot drinks and lunch included.

Have a go at a craft, learn a new skill or just relax and chat by the campfire for an hour or so and feel the many benefits of being outdoors with friends. Future activities will include fully accessible guided foraging walks around the park and surrounding areas, and we are always open to ideas if there is something you would like to have a go at.

We run every Friday afternoon from 12:30PM3:30PM from the car park off Newmarket Lane and toilet facilities are available.

HERE TO HELP!

If you need help and support maximising your income along with making sure you are receiving all the benefits you are ENTITLED to, come along to Clay Cross Social Centre every Monday from 10AM – 1PM (excluding bank holidays) and see a friendly face from the Derbyshire Unemployed Workers’ Centres and they will do everything they can to help you. A warm space will also be available in the Social Centre lounge area where FREE toast, biscuits and hot drinks will be served.

THE LITTLE RED HEN HOUSE NORTHUMBERLAND

STUNNING HOLIDAY COTTAGE IN WARKWORTH, NORTHUMBERLAND

Enjoy your next family holiday with a stay at the delightful Little Red Hen House. An elegant and cosy holiday home just a 7 minute drive from award-winning and dog-friendly Warkworth beach.

✽ 2 spacious en-suite bedrooms

✽ A fully enclosed garden

✽ 3 small to medium dogs welcome upon request

✽ Fully equipped kitchen including an American style fridge freezer

✽ Perfect for exploring the stunning Northumbrian Heritage Coastline

✽ Walking distance to a range of dog friendly pubs, cafes and restaurants

✽ We have fast fibre Wi-Fi and smart TV’s

Search ‘The Little Red Hen House’ at:

Food & Retail

2023 BROCHURE AVAILABLE

2021 BROCHURE AVAILABLE

CORONOVIRUS STATEMENT

BRITISH COACHING

Please note that all vehicles will be thoroughly disinfected prior to every trip and new air purification systems have been installed

BRITISH COACHING

- 04 JUNE HB £346

GARDENS OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND 04-06 JUNE HB £266

PENNINE EXPLORER 07-11 JUNE HB £403

GREAT YARMOUTH 10-14 JUNE HB £424

WARNERS CRICKET ST THOMAS 14-18 JUNE HB £480

HAMPSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS 17-21 JUNE HB £408

ISLE OF MAN 22-27 JUNE HB £514

BABBACOMBE, TORBAY 25-30 JUNE HB £342

SIDMOUTH 04-08 JULY

EUROPEAN COACHING

GERMANY ROMANTIC RHINE 29 JULY-04 AUG HB £807

PORTUGAL PORTO AND DOURO VALLEY 05-14 SEPT HB £1057

IRELAND COAST TO COAST 12-19 SEPT HB £759

ITALY DOLOMITES 25 SEPT-05 OCT HB £956

BELGIUM BRUGES XMAS MARKETS 29 NOV-02 DEC B&B £308

DAY EXCURSIONS

EARLY BOOKINGS ADVISABLE *ADMISSIONS INCLUDED ADULT OAP/CHILD NT MEMBERS

SAT 22 MAY HARROGATE £26

SAT 29 MAY WHITBY £28

WED 2 JUNE CHESTER / CHESTER ZOO (ADMISSION NOT INC) £25

SAT 5 JUNE LLANDUDNO £28

SAT 12 JUNE YORK £26

SUN 13 JUNE HARRY POTTER TOUR  £77 £69

SAT 19 JUNE  BBC GARDENERS WORLD £49

SAT 26 JUNE WHITBY £28

SAT 3 JULY COTSWOLDS MYSTERY £27

SAT 10 JULY LIVERPOOL £25

SAT 17 JULY WINDSOR £30

SAT 24 JULY TATTON PARK FLOWER SHOW £50

K.V.&G.L SLACK LTD. THE TRAVEL CENTRE, UPPER LUMSDALE, MATLOCK DE45LB www.slackscoaches.co.uk

K.V.&G.L SLACK LTD. THE TRAVEL CENTRE, UPPER LUMSDALE, MATLOCK DE45LB www.slackscoaches.co.uk

Slimming World Recipe

Piri-piri Beef Noodles

Method

1. Cook the noodles following the pack instructions, then drain and cover to keep them warm.

2. At the same time, spray a non-stick wok or large frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and put it over a high heat. Working in batches, stir-fry the beef for 1-2 minutes or until browned, then tip into a bowl and cover to keep warm.

3. Spray the wok with more low-calorie cooking spray and stir-fry the garlic and chilli flakes for 1 minute.

For more information visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk

Quick? Fresh? Tasty? Healthy? And filling? Check, check, check, check & check!

Stir in the paprika, passata, soy sauce and sweetener and cook until heated through. Return the beef to the wok and keep warm over a low heat.

4. Spray another non-stick wok or large frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and stir-fry the veg over a high heat for 5 minutes or until tender.

5. Divide the noodles, veg and beef between shallow bowls and spoon over any sauce left in the wok to serve.

Serves: 4 Ready in: 20 mins

Ingredients:

• 4 dried noodle nests

• Low-calorie cooking spray

• 400g lean thin-cut beef steaks, visible fat removed, cut into thin strips

• 2 garlic cloves, sliced

• ½-1 tsp dried chilli flakes, to taste

• 1 tsp paprika

• 500g passata

• 2 tbsp soy sauce

• 1 level tsp sweetener granules

• Large bag of mixed stir-fry vegetables

Syns per serving: FREE

INSTANT CASH PAID FOR...

COACH TOUR HOLIDAYS

ALL HALF BOARD INCLUDING

POTTERS - ESSEX Five

WARNER LEISURE - SOMERSET

BOURNEMOUTH

WEYMOUTH

SKEGNESS

EASTBOURNE

FOR A 2023 BROCHURE OR TO BOOK:

PHONE: 01773 590 808

01246 604 764 or 07483 357 958

Go online WWW.CLAIRSCOACHES.CO.UK

NEW BOOKING OFFICE: Parkvilla,124 Market Street, Clay Cross, Derbyshire S45 9LY

All Around the Shire

RECOLLECTIONS OF A SIMPLER TIME: SPRINGTIME TRADITIONS

As part of our reminiscence sessions, at this time of year we like to celebrate Spring and some of the traditions from the past. Simnel cake being one of them.

It is a light fruit cake with a layer of marzipan on the top and eleven marzipan balls to represent the number of apostles minus Judas. At least that is what I made. I was told in no uncertain terms by several ladies that my recipe was wrong and it should have a layer of marzipan running through the middle as well as on the top. That was me told.

There are many theories about the origin of the cake. The consensus is that during medieval times, it was a yeasted bread made with fine white flour. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the recipe had changed into a fruited, spiced batter pudding which was boiled then wrapped in pastry, rather like the Scottish black bun.

MOBILE

Sutton-in-Ashfield, Portland Square

By the 20th century, a cake with marzipan was established with disciples for decoration and the top then toasted. Regional variations have some towns boiling then baking the cake, some with a pastry crust made to look like a crown. Regardless of the differences, a Simnel cake is conventionally eaten at Easter time.

Although it has fallen out of favour, the Simnel cake makes a colourful, symbolic and historic addition to Springtime celebrations. So, whether you celebrate Easter or not, let’s make some room in between the myriad of hot cross buns and chocolate eggs, and indulge in a little slice of history.

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

Vintage Rambles with rafaand Flake

This month we head to Denby for a fantastic walk that takes you past the famous Pottery Centre and through some lovely countryside for some cracking views. As ever there are plenty of opportunities to let your dog run off the lead.

4 1/2 MILE CIRCULAR WALK AROUND DENBY

A moderate walk for you and your dog. The route should take around 2 – 2 1/2 hours. There are some uphill sections and the terrain is varied with some uneven and muddy parts, which will worsen in the winter months so a good pair of boots or wellies is highly recommended. And, as always, follow the countryside code.

1. Park in the car park by the park off Church Street in Denby. Exit the car park onto Church Street and turn right before taking a right up Pottery Lane. Continue until you reach a kissing gate on your left with a ‘public footpath’ sign.

2. Take the path across the field to a gate, keeping the fence on your left. Cross two more fields and through two more gates to pass through the hedge at the top. Head diagonally across the field along the path, heading for the gap in the corner.

3. Continue ahead before passing through a gate on your left, halfway up the field then turn right and continue with the hedge on your right. Pass through a gate at the top of the field. Turn left then immediately right onto a wide grass path.

4. Continue along this track as it brings you to Denby pottery. Walk through the car park and past the factory and at the road turn right to walk past the factory. Carry on along the road past two houses and then take a lane on your right marked with a footpath sign before a third house.

5. Carry on along the lane past the houses on your right and continue ahead until you meet another path. Turn left here passing through a gate and walk past a pond on your left. Follow the track as it jinks right, then bends sharply to the left before taking another track on your right, crossing a stile by a metal gate.

6. Follow this track, with hedges on either side, for a fair distance until the hedges end. Pass over a stile and continue straight ahead with the hedge on your left.

7. At the bottom of this field cross a stile and keep ahead on the path through a wooded area, then cross a footbridge and head across another small field then through a wooded area. This will bring you to the back of the cricket club. Carry on past the clubhouse and pitches until this brings you to High Bank road.

8. Turn left and carry on along the road past one set of houses. The road becomes Denby Common and you walk by another set of houses. Before the last house take a track on your right called Dumbles Lane, which is marked with a footpath sign and a gate.

9. Continue along Dumbles Lane until the track ends. Carry on ahead along a path through a wooded area. At the end of the woods cross a stile to meet another path. Turn right to walk around a pond on your left. Continue around the pond to meet a farm track, turning right to follow the track as it passes through a gate and along the bottom of a field.

10. Pass through another gate and turn left along the track towards Flamstead House Farm at the top of the hill. Pass through a gate and over a stile on your right. Pass through the farmyard to take a path beside the house. Head diagonally across the field to a waymark post and then head downhill towards a footbridge over a stream.

11. Keeping the hedge on your left walk around the outside of the field to cross a stile on your left. Follow the path around to the left to cross a stile and join a farm track.

12. Walk along the track as it bends around to the right and keep ahead for a fair distance before turning left to join a tarmacked road called Flamstead Lane. Carry on downhill on the lane, then as the road bends round to the left take a footpath sign on your right by passing through a wooden gate by a larger metal gate.

13. Head diagonally left along the path downhill and across a small concrete bridge before heading towards the church to join a path beside the church that brings you back out onto Church Street, just across the road from where you began.

Smalley

This walk is for illustrative purposes only. Voice Magazines Ltd takes no responsibility for anyone who chooses to follow this route and encourages all walkers to obey all byelaws and signs and to respect the area they are walking in, ensuring they pick up all dog mess and obey the countryside code at all times.

Denby Village

Denby Pottery Ripley Kilburn

KICK OFF YOUR CHILD’S FOOTBALL ADVENTURE.

Is your son or daughter an aspiring Jude Bellingham or Millie Bright? Would they like to start playing football? Most professional footballers started off at grassroots clubs and it is a brilliant introduction to the sport.

At New Tupton Ivanhoe F.C. we have opportunities for children to make their first kicks into the game in a friendly, family atmosphere.

Little Ivanhoes is the first step for children in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire to start playing football.

The sessions are for children aged 3, 4, 5 and 6 to experience football in a fun environment.

Players will learn football skills, make new friends and develop ready to progress to our Under 7 teams.

Michelle Briddon, Little Ivanhoes Coach said: “Little Ivanhoes is the best part of my week. Watching the kids develop is amazing to see, not only in their abilities but their confidence and characters.

Dave Hoult, Club Secretary said “Little Ivanhoes is for boys and girls from 3 years old. It’s fantastic to see the kids get involved with sport through

football creating memories, making new friends and starting their football journey.”

The club also runs a Wildcats Centre. Wildcats are the FA’s Girls Football Centres for girls aged 5 – 11 who want to get involved with football for the very first time or want the opportunity to play with other girls their own age.

As players develop there is the opportunity to play in teams from U7’s up to U16’s including a girls team at U12’s. If you would like to find out more visit the club website at www. newtuptonivanhoefc.co.uk or contact us via our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ newtuptonivanhoefc

If you are interested in Little Ivanhoes, The Wildcat Centre or joining a team please message the clubs facebook page at: www.facebook.com/newtuptonivanhoefc/ visit: www.newtuptonivanhoefc.co.uk or contact the Dave Hoult, Club Secretary on 07759 048 037

The Two Faces of Stress

Stress...We’ve all experienced it.

Usually, when someone says, “I feel stressed”, we think only of the negative. The very word is inextricably linked to depression. ”Stress and depression” - often cited on sick notes (or fit notes as they are now, somewhat meaninglessly known).

But there are two sides to stress - some stress is actually necessary in order for us humans to survive, the “fight or flight” reaction, and some stress can also be “good stress”!

This type of stress, or eustress, is the kind the body experiences when excited, perhaps slightly fearfulfor example when you’re on a rollercoaster or thrill type ride at an amusement park. Your heart pounds, you may feel sweaty palmed, there are butterflies in your tummy - you’re scared, but you also know you’re going to be OK. We can also feel this way on a first date, or when attending a job interview.

Once you step off the rollercoaster, when the date goes well, or when the interview is over, our hormones (see below) and heart rate return to normal levels.

The hormones involved in a stress reaction are adrenaline, which increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure and boosts energy supplies and Cortisol which increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream and enhances the brain’s use of glucose whilst also increasing the availability of substances that repair tissues.

In the days when humans were at danger of being eaten, or otherwise damaged by sabre tooth tigers and the like, this combination of adrenaline and cortisol would ramp up our bodies abilities to run like the clappers to escape!

Modern living means we no longer face that kind of visceral danger, but that doesn’t mean our bodies

have lost the ability to produce the stress hormones, and that can cause us problems.

Manageable short term stress (eustress) is actually GOOD for us. It increases our alertness and performance, whilst also encouraging the growth of stem cells that become brain cells - so stress can increase our brain function.

The problem is that these days we are often in a low level state of stress, the bus is late, the coffee shop sold out of our favourite treat, the cat has puked on the stairs, etc, etc. Our stress hormones thus stay at high levels - we don’t revert back to normal levels, instead we stay in a permanent state of “flight or fight” and this isn’t healthy.

This type of stress is known as “chronic stress” and it impacts almost every system in our bodies leading to long term health problems.

You can learn to reprogramme your brain’s reaction to situations and thus reduce the body’s automatic stress responses. Try reframing things…the bus is late, OK, so perhaps walk and enjoy the time outside. Coffee shop doesn’t have the treat; try something different! As for the cat…ermm, get someone else to clean up!

Finally, if you’re really not coping, go and see your GP, better safe than sorry.

Guess the words and Fill in the crossword ! Pitcherwits®

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

5 Bishop’s parking spot, understand? (3)

7 Hue’s partner is part encrypted (3)

10 Font-style antennae, say? (7)

14 Swop player on way back to the lane (3)

15 In the evening, she ate discerning fruit! (3)

Down

2 Discount outside, as far as can be seen inside (4)

3 Long ago, you held back the technique (4)

9 Plot end at the disco? (5)

12 Novello’s a bit herbivorous (4)

13 Ripping sound is good for container weight (4)

4

5

16

10

This puzzles has been devised by the brilliant Professor Rebus. For more of his puzzles visit www.pitcherwits.co.uk

FLAMECARE’S FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN IS ON FULL HEAT!

A years’ fundraising initiative by Chesterfield-based heating engineers, FlameCare, has paid huge dividends for Ashgate Hospice

FAMILY-RUN, independent and local, FlameCare certainly ticks all the boxes in terms of ‘going over and beyond’ the call of duty. In terms of local charities, the commitment is as strong and wholehearted as ever. For instance, during the past year or so, for any new customer signing up to a central heating maintenance plan, FlameCare has donated the first month’s subscription to Ashgate Hospice.

With soaring energy bills and the need to have peace of mind for boiler maintenance and servicing, there has been a surge in take-up for FlameCare’s competitively priced plans. This has been good news all round, and especially for Ashgate Hospice, who have received a grand total of £4288.83 for all the first months’ subscriptions.

“Ashgate Hospice is close to our hearts,” said FlameCare Managing Director, Simon Fletcher. “Many of our staff have experiences of family members receiving the marvellous endof-life care, which they deserve from this amazing charity. Having the privacy and space to spend precious time with loved ones at the end of their lives is so important and special. We are thrilled to contribute to this exceptional service.”

Rachel Broughton, Senior Corporate and Community Fundraiser at Ashgate Hospice, said: “We’re so grateful for the kind and generous support of FlameCare over the last year.

“As only a third of our funding is publicly funded, we rely on the goodwill

and kindness of our supporters in order to provide our vital services to the North Derbyshire community.

“Without businesses like FlameCare choosing to support us, we simply wouldn’t be able to continue caring for the patients and their families who need us most.”

In addition to the subscriptions’ donations, FlameCare has also assisted Ashgate Hospice with the Treecycle initiative just after Christmas, and with leaflet distribution.

Simon is keen to point out that FlameCare’s commitment to Ashgate Hospice is on-going, and that the subscriptions’ donations from the maintenance plans will continue for the foreseeable future.

FlameCare bears all the hallmarks of a successful family business – longevity of staff, meticulous attention to detail, unrivalled personal service, and uncompromising integrity. On March 16th, they celebrate their twentieth anniversary. There has certainly been great progress since those days in 2003, when Simon and a colleague started out on their own.

Simon still remembers the first customers, who signed up for a boiler and central heating maintenance plan. It’s great testament to the value and efficiency of the plans that those first customers, Mr. and Mrs. Baxter, are still subscribing to the plans to this very day!

Over the years, the staff and maintenance plans have mushroomed greatly. There are now ten staff and over 2000 plans! Many of the staff, like Sam

Hudson and Sean Jones, have been there virtually from the start. Many others, like Kate Bower, have been employed there in excess of ten years. The staff is headed by husband-and-wife team, Simon and Vicky Fletcher, and all the rest are either family or close friends. They can, therefore, all rely on each other to achieve excellent results time and time again.

With the current spike in fuel bills, there has never been a more relevant time to get rid of an old inefficient boiler and replace it with a brand-new superefficient one. At Flame Care, they use Ideal Heating boilers, all of which achieve band A levels of efficiency. The good news is that all Ideal Heating boilers attain at least 93% ERP rating as standard and have a full range of controls to suit every possible need. Boilers start with a 7-year warranty and go up to a 12-year warranty. The current superb offer from FlameCare is that, for all new boiler installations, customers will also get a free Halo WiFi. The Ideal Halo Wi-Fi is an internet connected wireless programmable room thermostat, designed to work specifically with the Ideal Boiler. Halo Wi-Fi allows heating control anytime, anywhere through the flexible and intuitive Halo app. T: 0800 0855 518 E:

Above L-R: Rachel Broughton - Senior Corporate and Community Fundraiser at Ashgate Hospice, Simon Fletcher - Managing Director FlameCare, Kate Bower - Office Manager FlameCare and Vicky FletcherSales and Business Development FlameCare.

Charity number: 700636

FLAMECARE

Most will have heard of the Women’s Land Army but few have ever heard about the boatwomen’s training scheme that was an initiative in the United Kingdom during the Second world war to attract women to work on Britain’s canal network. Initiated by the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company (GUCCC) in 1942 the scheme was taken over by the Ministry of War Transport in 1944. The scheme closed after the end of hostilities in 1945.

Nicknamed the Idle Women due to the Inland Waterways badge they wore in lieu of a uniform, it is estimated that approximately 100 women joined the scheme but only about 45 completed the training and only six are recorded as having participated throughout the length of the scheme. In the early part of the Second world war Britain’s canals suffered from a labour shortage, caused mostly by military service (although until 1942 being a waterways boatmen was a reserved occupation) and the higher wages available in other employment. A recruiting drive in 1941 did attract some men to the waterways but the GUCCC noted that they also received 47 applications from women, offers they refused stating that unless the women were members of boating families already employed on the canal, their services could not be utilised.

Late in 1941, the Ministry of War Transport wrote to boaters Daphne March and Frances Traill who had been using March’s own boat, Heather Bell, to transport cargo since 1940 to see if the pair would work with the GUCCC to train women to work the boats. March and

SCHEME

Traill agreed and brought in Eily “Kit” Gayford to help. The GUCCC was one of two companies the ministry had approached and while the GUCCC has responded positively the other company, the Severn and Canal Carrying Company declined the opportunity stating that “to work canal boats by female labour entirely was not a practical proposition.”

During their training each woman was paid £2 per week rising to a minimum of £3 per week once qualified. The actual amount depended on the earnings of the boat based on tonnage carried split between the three women crew members. No uniform was provided, the GUCCC provided a list of items needed but the women had to provide this themselves. The only indication of their status was a National Service badge with IW for Inland Waterways on it. It was this IW badge that led to the women being called Idle Women by boatmen but the nickname stuck and the women proudly adopted it. Once qualified unpaid leave of 3 to 6 days was allowed after every second trip. No additional rations were provided, in contrast to other national service organisations such as the Women’s Land Army but arrangements were made for the women to be able to use their ration books at any shop rather than being tied to shops in a particular location.

Working seven days a week and often for 18–20 hours a day the work was considered hard and arduous by most of the women.

Work on the Grand Union canal continued until after VJ day but shortly after the women found that there was no further work for them and they were unemployed and free to go. It is estimated that at its peak 45 women were working on the Grand Union canal crewing between 15–30 boats.

In response to International Women’s Day here is a story that is perhaps unheard of to many people.

Book Review

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus is such good fun. It makes you feel good about life and reminds you what is best about being a human being who stays true to themselves.

It’s set in the 1960s, a time when women’s lib was slowly starting to emerge from the kitchen and the typing pool, although the idea that a woman could be a chemist was enough to shock society to its core.

But chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. As she would have pointed out, there is no such thing. However she works with an all-male research team with a decidedly antediluvian approach to equality.

No future there, so exit Elizabeth, pursued by the need to earn a crust. Bizarrely, out of desperation, she accepts a job hosting a minor channel TV cooking show aimed at the bored housewife. But Zott doesn’t do boring. Her scientific and straightforward approach soon wins her an avid army of female viewers and her fame grows. A step along the road to revolution one scientific formula at a time.

Elizabeth is an irresistibly wonderful hero. She isn’t going to be limited by other people’s hang-ups. She doesn’t fit the mould and she sees no reason to change that.

This book is funny and generous and joyful. It’s Bonnie Garmus’ first book. I hope she writes another one fast.

With over 20 years’ experience in designing, manufacturing and installing bespoke garden buildings throughout the UK, you can trust that Cabin Master will deliver the perfect space for your garden. And the possibilites are endless...

• Garden Bar

• Home Gym

• Office Space

• Family Room

• Arctic Cabins BBQ Huts

• Hot Tub and Swim Spas

Spring Arrives Across the Region

From January onwards, the signs of spring have been in the air and all around us. The days are getting longer and warmer, and the nights shorter. The first snowdrops were out in midJanuary and since then, in both garden and in wilder places, other flowers have followed. Celandine and coltsfoot being two of the earlier flowers to come through along with hazel catkins coming into bloom. Willow catkins also burst into life and woodland edge and smaller copses are full of early birdsong from blue tits and great tits in particular, but with blackbirds, mistle thrushes, and song thrushes joining in. In woodlands and hedgerows, there are early bursts of song from blackcaps, chiffchaffs, and from the finches such as chaffinch and greenfinch. In ancient woodlands, the great spotted woodpeckers and nuthatches announce their presence from the upper canopies of larger trees whilst treecreepers sing a high-pitched sibilant song and then creep mouselike up the bark of bigger oak trees. The persistent loud calls of nuthatches ring out across woodlands and old parks like Chatsworth or Haddon, where veteran trees provide excellent habitat.

Along bigger streams and lower-lying rivers, pied wagtails and grey wagtails have established breeding territories, and nearby, a Peak District special, the dipper produces its rattling song. The dippers fly up and downstream setting out and defending territories along the linear watercourses. Each territory ends abruptly as the neighbour’s patch starts, and the birds stop, sing and bob, and then

head back along their own stretch. The patch is marked out by good rocks or tree roots and stumps serving as song-posts. Dippers sing whilst bobbing to show off their white bib, whilst every so often dropping into the stream and going underwater to feed on small invertebrates. The aptly-named dipper both bobs and dips.

On sunny days in woodlands and in local gardens, early butterflies emerge and display along glades and rides. Green-veined white, orange-tip, peacock, small tortoiseshell, and brimstone are all species out and about early in the year. The food plants of these species are important and dame’s violet, garlic mustard, and honesty are irresistible to orange-tips and green-veined white butterflies for feeding on flowers and egg-laying. Other nectarfeeding and pollen-feeding insects are also active on warmer days with bumblebees, honeybees, and hoverflies for instance, all in search of flowers on which to feed. In the wildlife garden, part of the plan is to ensure a good supply of suitable flowers and mini-habitats to draw in and support these species. Spring is hopefully the season to enjoy the fruits of planning and construction work from the previous autumn. Indeed, flowers like honesty are great for the wildlife garden but being biennials it is a two-year project to bring them to flowering. As temperatures continue to rise, then wildlife and flowers of late spring and early summer will also be joining the early spring activity. Migrant birds will soon arrive to compete with local residents for territories, and this is reflected by the growing dawn chorus and evening chorus rising to a crescendo across the area.

Professor Ian D. Rotherham, researcher, writer, broadcaster on wildlife and environmental issues in the Peak District and elsewhere, is contactable on info@hallamec.plus.com.

Lawns should be starting to grow. If you do want to mow, put the cutters on the highest cut so you don’t damage growing shoots.

It’s also tempting to think about reseeding or laying patches where your lawn has got worn and bare over winter, but make sure the weather is starting to warm up otherwise you may be wasting your seed and effort - germination needs a bit of warmth in the soil.

Sweet peas can be planted outside now, three to each support. Field seeds such as cornflowers and poppies can also be sown, as can sunflower seeds, although the latter are susceptible to slugs so it may be worth growing in pots and transplanting them.

If you’re turning the compost ready for use make sure there’s no frogs or hedgehogs still hibernating there before you stick the spade in. If you think you have hedgehogs in the garden, try to encourage them –they’re great slug snafflers. They appreciate an offering of wet dog or catfood and kitten biscuits.

Nurseries may be full of tender bedding plants but it’s too early to risk them outside, so unless you have warm cover for them, resist.

Tel: 01773600078

Email: shop@rockfall.com

Mon-Fri 08:00-16:00

Sat:08:00-14:00

Mammut Sapuen

Keen Targhee III Mid

Keen NXIS Evo Mid Wms

Keen NXIS Evo Mid

Mammut Nova

Scarpa Rush TRK Pro