Voice Magazines - Broadmeadows, South Normanton, Blackwell, Newton & Hilcote Edition - May 2023

SATURDAY 6TH MAY 2023

Dear Readers,

Here we are in May, the month of all the Bank Holidays! Did I mention it is my most favourite month?! And as a super bonus, we’ve got an extra one for the Coronation. Whether you are a Royalist or not, as a working person, I am more than happy with that, especially since I’ve had a super busy month, so the bank holidays are always good to catch up with the ‘adulting’ chores for me.

Speaking of the Coronation – what do you think to our Coronation special? Our very talented designer Lisa has spent a good deal of time in the last few months to create the front cover but I hope you agree, it looks pretty spectacular. We’ve also got some other lovely articles relating to the Coronation, The King and all things Royalty (including another wonderful humorous verse via Mike’s Musing – this is your last call to purchase Julie’s poems via Mike’s page and help raise some much-needed funds for a wonderful charity). I hope you enjoy it as much as we’ve enjoyed creating the mags this month & we hope that it lands in your collection of keepsakes that can be referred to in years to come.

Also, because we weren’t busy enough (hence the need for some additional sales support), our Matlock magazine has launched!! We had some lovely discussions with the advertisers, so we’re hopeful that it will be as well received in the community as all our other editions.

In other news, our rescue dog Flake has been in for a small lump removal this month, on his ear. The bandages make him look like a cosmonaut from the 1960’s (see pic!), which is very funny. For anyone that has endured the ‘cone of shame’ on their beloved furry friends, you will feel my pain as he charges into every piece of furniture at full pelt and walks around the house in the middle of the night, boshing into everything – please send fast healing well wishes and all the coffee if you see me! I’m considering a ‘Gofundme’ page for the coffee

actually, as it is now a luxury item in our house due to the daylight robbery that occurred when picking up the bill! It’s a good job we love our boys!

Anyways, I’m off to walk past some coffee shops for the smells!

See you next month,

Long Live the King!

The coronation on May 6th in Westminster Abbey will make Charles the 62nd monarch in the last 1,200 years to serve these isles. At the age of 73 he will be the oldest ascendant to the throne. Born in 1948, Charles became heir apparent at the tender age of three when his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne in 1952.

It could of course all have been very different. Had Charles’ great uncle, Edward VIII not abdicated in December 1936 the line of succession would not have passed to Charles’s grandfather, and thus to his daughter Elizabeth and ultimately to Charles.

Charles was the first heir apparent to attend school instead of being home tutored. He was also the first heir to the British crown to earn a bachelor’s degree. He studied archaeology, anthropology and, history at Trinity College, Cambridge.

I can’t help but wonder how different Charles’s life would have been without the yoke of the monarchy around him. He seems a rather gentle man, maybe not the most intellectual of people, but one who cares deeply about nature. Perhaps he would have been happier pottering on a country estate somewhere, instead of tending to the affairs of state.

We have such a long and rich history in the UK, but even so, it may be hard to comprehend that the first king of a, more or less, unified England was Æthelstan in 927! His territory covered most of what we now define as England, but not Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. It wasn’t until 1603 when King James VI of Scotland ascended the throne as King James I that a single monarch reigned in the United Kingdom. Staying with the history of the monarchy, who knew that William the Conqueror was the first king to be crowned in Westminster Abbey? Well, at least his was the first documented coronation to take place there.

Until relatively modern times, and in particular since the advent of televised ceremonies, the average person would have no knowledge of the proceedings at a coronation. A process that has remained pretty much unchanged since the late 14th century. Since that time, every coronation ceremony has basically followed the same order of service laid down in the Abbey’s magnificent medieval illuminated Latin manuscript, the Liber Regalis.

The coronation of King Charles III will presumably stick with this age old tradition - but unlike our ancestors we will be able to watch live coverage of the proceedings. I know I will be watching - will you?

Whether you are planning a “watch party” with friends and family, hosting a street party, or a village green gathering…be aware of the history unfolding in front of you - 1,200 years of tradition in “these sceptred isles”.

For anyone born after 1953, King Charles’s III coronation in May will be the first in their lifetime - without sounding maudlin, I suspect that for a lot of younger people it won’t be the last.

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.

PINXTON & SOUTH NORMANTON: HISTORY GROUP

PINXTON’S OLD MINE SHAFTS

By 1780 mining operations had gradually come to a halt. All the coal lying near to the surface had been extracted. The easily extractable coal had been got and that which hadn’t couldn’t be extracted as the drifts and ‘bell’ shafts quickly became waterlogged.

These coal deposits would have been worked by or on behalf of farmers on a part-time basis following the harvest being safely gathered in. Fuel would have been required for the coming winter months and the country had long since been mainly deforested since the early 1600’s.

The expenditure required to work the coal measures required would have been beyond the means of all but the richest people.

The first deep shaft was probably around twenty to thirty yards deep (this same coal seam was 108 yards deep just west of The Toll Bar). It was sunk about forty yards due South of Wharf Road (formerly New Close Lane) opposite the junction with Pool Close (New Close Lane). The bottom three blocks still in existence were built prior to 1835 to house mineworkers required to work the new mine - the first major influx of people into the village - colliers (coal workers).

The coal reserves to be extracted from this mine were divided between The Reverend D’ Ewes Coke and two brothers by the name of Hodgkinson. The coal was extracted from east to west; the extracted coal being hauled down the slope to the shaft bottom.

This was the first Pinxton shaft to be served by a steam (or fire engine as it was called in those days). This was the first instance of serious coal mining in Pinxton and would have required serious financial investment.

Steam Engines were a new phenomenon at this date and consequently were unpredictable. Nevertheless it does indicate the seriousness of Reverend Coke’s future intent. Coal mining was an industry which served the population of the village very well until the closure of Brookhill and Langton Colliery in the 1960’s.

Not to sit on his laurels Reverend Coke founded Coke and Company in 1788 when he sunk another shaft further west (Sleights No.1) to coal reserves below the ‘Top Hard Coal Seam. This was the first of six shafts that would eventually be sunk in a line on a south to north axis and were known as ‘Sleights’ or ‘Plymouth. Pits. The last (No. 5 pit) was just south of the A38.

The last of these pits to produce coal was Sleights No. 2 in 1948. After 1908 it become the upcast shaft for Brookhill Colliery.

From the nationalisation of the pits in 1947 to closure, Pinxton pits produced over twenty million tons of saleable coal. Following the cessation of coal turning at South Normanton Winterbank Colliery, responsibility for the pit was assumed by the Manager of Brookhill Colliery. In 1957 millions of gallons of water was pumped out of Winterbank WEEKLY to keep Brookhill and Langton Colliery workings dry – where is the water now and how big is the lake beneath us?

WHY NOT GIVE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE A VISIT? PINXTON AND SOUTH

Norman Taylor, on behalf of The Plnxton and South Normanton Local History Society

The History Society meets at the Post Mill Centre on 3rd Monday monthly at 7.15 pm. Parishioners welcome.

1880’s image of Sleights number 1 and 6 shafts

25 Interesting Facts About King Charles III

1. King Charles III was born at Buckingham Palace on November 14, 1948,

2. He may be the last ruler of England not to be born in a hospital.

3. His full name is Charles Philip Arthur George.

4. He was christened in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace on December 15, 1948.

5. He is a descendant of both Queen Victoria and King James VI of Scotland

6. Charles became heir apparent to the throne at just three years old.

7. He ascended to the throne on September 8, 2022, following the death of his mother and was the longest-serving heir apparent in British history, a position which he held for 70 years.

8. At the age of 73, Charles is also the oldest person to assume the British throne.

15. Charles is a staunch environmentalist and recently took on a role previously held by his father Prince Philip and is now the ranger of Windsor Great Park, one of England’s oldest landed estates.

16. Charles is also a licensed pilot and has flown various aircraft throughout his life.

17. He is a published author and has written several books on topics such as architecture, history, the environment and even a children’s book.

18. He is a patron of numerous charities and organizations, including the British Red Cross, the Prince’s Trust, and the National Trust.

19. He is a member of numerous royal orders and societies, including the Order of the Garter and the Royal Society.

20. Charles is a keen polo player and has played for various teams throughout his life.

9. Charles was the first royal heir apparent to be educated outside of the palace. The young prince first attended Hill House School in London before attending Cheam Preparatory School in Hampshire, and then subsequently Gordonstoun in Scotland. Both of the latter were also schools that his father Prince Philip had attended.

10. He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge, with a Bachelor of Arts in 1970.

11. In 1969, was made the Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester by his mother, the Queen.

12. Charles broke royal precedent by being present at the births of his two children.

13. Diana and Charles reportedly disagreed on what their first son should be named. Charles originally wanted William to be named Arthur.

14. He is a passionate supporter of traditional architecture and has been vocal in his opposition to modernist architecture.

21. He is a fan of classical music and has attended many operas and concerts throughout his life.

22. He is a collector of art, including paintings, sculptures, and other works of art.

23. Charles could be considered one of the UK’s most successful living artists. Like his great-great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, the former Prince of Wales is an avid artist. He prefers watercolours and paints scenes of natural beauty, like mountains and lakes. Though he describes himself as an “enthusiastic amateur,” he is an honorary member of the Royal Academy and the Royal Watercolour Society, and his paintings have sold for more than $2 million.

24. Charles speaks several languages, including French and German.

25. He has visited over 130 countries during his official travels and is well-travelled around the world.

SUDOKU #34

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.

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

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All Around the Shire

RECOLLECTIONS OF A SIMPLER TIME “THE

One of the most popular reminiscence sessions my husband and I perform to people in residential homes and other social groups is called “Happy and Glorious”. We developed it for the late Queen’s platinum jubilee and it has evolved to now become a celebration of King Charles’ coronation.

We have collected a number of items of royal memorabilia: mugs, medallions, books, plates, biscuit tins and coins. Perhaps you have some too. In this coronation year, schoolchildren will probably be receiving commemorative items by which to remember this historic event. They may keep and treasure them for many years. It never ceases to amaze me how many of the people we come across met the Queen during her reign and what a powerful impact that short meeting of perhaps a couple of words had on them as they recount the stories many years later. Whether they met at a garden party, during a factory

or town tour or have been presented and decorated by her, the meeting remains a significant milestone in their lives.

I wonder what memories our schoolchildren will have of this event when they are 80, 90 or 100 years old. They may still treasure the coronation souvenir they receive. They may have met King Charles during their lifetime and remember that encounter.

Whatever the Coronation has for you, I wish for long and happy memories for you, your family and your friends to share for many years to come.

GOD SAVE THE KING!

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

Slimming World Recipe

Teriyaki Salmon

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas 6.

2. Separate the white and green parts of the spring onion, then roughly chop the white parts and put in a bowl. Add the garlic, lemon juice, Marmite, soy sauce, chilli powder and 90ml boiling water and blitz until smooth using a stick blender or liquidiser.

This is one of my favourite dishes. Salmon and teriyaki is just an amazing combination. I love it with noodles and pak choi but it goes great with rice and other tasty green veg such as tenderstem broccoli.

3. Arrange the salmon fillets in an ovenproof dish, then finely slice the green parts of the spring onions and scatter over the fish. Pour the sauce over each fillet. Bake for 15 minutes or until the salmon is cooked and the sauce has thickened slightly.

4. Serve hot with vegetables and rice or noodles.

Ingredients:

• Small bunch of spring onions

• 2 garlic cloves, peeled

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• ½ tsp Marmite

• 4 tbsp dark soy sauce

• ½ tsp chilli powder

• 4 large skinless and boneless salmon fillets

For more

visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk

Serves: 4 Ready in: 25 mins

Syns per serving: FREE

Vintage Rambles with rafaand Flake

This month we head to the area around Hardwick Hall. The countryside around the hall is beautiful and varied. This time of the year there is often lambs, so if you take your dogs, please take extra care.

6 MILE CIRCULAR WALK FROM HARDWICK INN AND AROUND HARDWICK HALL

A fairly easy walk for you and your dog which is relatively flat but has a few short stretches on country roads. The route should take around 2.5-3 hours. The terrain can be a little uneven so as usual a good pair of boots will help. And as Ever Follow the Countryside code!

Keeping

Inn on your right, cross the cattle grid and walk up the road into Hardwick Park. Stay with the road until it bends sharply left. At this point, go straight ahead to pass through a gate and into a field.

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Hardwick

2. Follow the well-trodden path across the field to pass through another gate. You will begin to enter woodland. Follow the path up hill to a T-junction and turn right. Follow the path ahead and then down into a dip and up the other side. At the very end of the woodland, pass through a gate and onto a lane.

3. Follow the lane straight ahead passing a cottage on the left. Further on you will reach ‘Norwood Barn’ on the left. Here take the sign posted footpath through the large wooden gate to the left. The path will take you between the buildings, through a gap in a stone wall and on into an open field.

4. Go straight across the field and into a wooded area. Head down hill, cross a small footbridge and into another open field. Follow the path for a short distance and then into a small wooded area. Just inside the trees you will cross ‘Rowthorne Trail’. Take the path straight ahead signposted for ‘Rowthorne Village’.

5. Continue straight, passing through 3 hedgerows and eventually onto a road. Turn left along the road to reach a T-Junction and then turn right into Rowthorne Village.

6. Continue along the road until you see a footpath to the left signposted for ‘Ault Hucknall’. Take the path through a wooden gate and after a short distance through a metal gate into a field. Go straight ahead and then turn towards the bottom right hand corner of this field to pass through another metal gate. Keeping the hedgerow on your right, cross this field to pass through a wooden gate and onto a road.

7. Cross the road diagonal left and then go through a wooden gate into a field. Cross the field, then through a hedgerow into another field and eventually through a wooden gate onto a road.

8. Turn left on the road to pass Ault Hucknall Church on your right. Just past the church take the bridle path on your left signposted for ‘Hardwick Park’.

9. Continue straight along the bridle path passing a signpost reading ‘residents vehicles only’ and then onto a blue wooden gate. Pass through the gate and in a short distance where the bridle path bears right, go straight down to a road.

10. At the road turn left, cross the cattle grid and turn immediately right and head down hill, keeping a fence on your right. After a short distance turn right through a wooden gate. Follow the path passing four ponds on your left before turning left to pass between two ponds, heading for a kissing gate.

11. Pass through the gate and keep ahead across an open area to then pass by a wooded area with a metal fence. Keep the fence on your right and continue until you have reached the Hardwick Inn.

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.

SWIMMING CLUB

ONE HOUR MEGA SWIM

The Belper Marlin Swimming Club One Hour Mega Swim, a fundraising event returned this year with a new cause: supporting the Laura Centre, a Midlandsbased charity that offers free bereavement support to parents who have lost a child and children who have lost a parent or significant person in their lives. The event took place on March 26th, 2023, at Belper Leisure Centre.

The Laura Centre provides holistic bereavement support, including bereavement counselling, in a family-oriented, approachable, and welcoming environment. They respect the uniqueness of each individual’s experience of bereavement and consider the spiritual, cultural, and emotional aspects of grief.

Belper Marlin SC One Hour Mega Swim has previously raised funds for various charities, and this year, participants were encouraged to set up individual sponsorship pages to raise funds for the Laura Centre.

The swim was divided into different time slots for different age groups, with Mini Marlins also invited to participate and gain Rainbow distance awards. One participant, Oliver Henshaw, swam an impressive 184 lengths in a 25-meter pool within the hour-long event, showcasing his swimming prowess and dedication to supporting the cause of the Laura Centre.

Belper Marlin SC One Hour Mega Swim for the Laura Centre was a resounding success, raising a total of £6,639. Gail, co-founder of the Laura Centre, personally expressed her gratitude to all the swimmers for their incredible efforts. The Laura

Centre was founded by Gail and her husband 35 years ago after the loss of their 5-year-old daughter Laura to leukemia, which highlighted the lack of support available for grieving parents and siblings. The funds raised will directly support the Laura Centre’s mission of helping families come to terms with their loss.

The generosity and hard work of Team Marlin and all the participants in raising the significant amount for the Laura Centre are overwhelming and greatly appreciated. The Laura Centre continues to provide invaluable support to countless families, and the success of the Marlins One Hour Mega Swim is a shining example of how individuals can make a meaningful difference in their communities by dedicating their efforts to a worthy cause.

If you are interested, please go to our website www.belpermarlin.co.uk and click “Join Us” or email us on info@belpermarlin.co.uk.

CORONATION WORDSEARCH

Firstly, find all the words listed below in the grid. They can be found vertically, horizontally, forwards, backwards or diagonally. (Letters can be used more than once and words may overlap).

Once you have found all of the words listed, the 9 remaining letters will spell another word. Anne

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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

9 Give out over time (4)

10 Use of shirt splattered with cooking fat (4)

11 Confused by a teas-made! (2,3)

12 False god said to be inactive (4)

14 Said to be smart but he’s also a lace maker (4)

Down

3 Moose (from Selkirk) (3)

4 Look in Cheyenne territory (3)

6 Miscue a trial of radioactive stuff (7)

7 Is one sounding a bit sheepish, lady? (3)

13 Have a breakdown finally (3)

16 It’s mandatory to have a plus! (3)

17 May a peace surround terrier talk (3)

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

Preparation is one of the most important things I pride myself on. A clean work space and good time keeping is essential. I would like to think I am polite, pleasant and professional at all times. I have many happy customers from the past 20 years!

Mike’sMusings

Mike has kindly stepped aside to allow for a special coronation creation of rhyming verse, or a poem to you and me Enjoy!

Mike is always glad to hear from you at : mike.musings@outlook.com

A Chaotic Coronation?

You’ll recall – providing you’ve been paying attention of course – the poems that Julie Sheldon kindly allowed me to reproduce, in January & February. Well, I’ve cheekily ‘commissioned’ her, requesting something amusing and topical to commemorate what, for many, will be the first British regal coronation of our collective lifetimes. I think she’s surpassed herself. What do you think?

A corgi threw up on the doorstep…

The King was then totally blinded

The King didn’t see and he slipped

He’d barely got out of the palace

But thought he had fractured his hip

Camilla’s hand reached out to help him

But she lost her balance and fell

The morning of their coronation

Had really not started too well

They set off for Westminster Abbey

The carriage looked fit for a king

But suddenly they were lopsided

Because of an old rusty spring

They struggled to keep their composure

Whilst feeling a right pair of fools

For everything had become shaken

Including the King’s own Crown Jewels

From thereon, the plans did run smoothly

Until it was time for the crown

When put into place by the bishop

It started to slowly slide down

He’d dreaded this moment for years

The crown was now wedged in position

And couldn’t be prised from his ears

The Abbey was in a commotion

Whatever were they going to do?

There really was just one solution…

A call to the local fire crew

A firefighter came to the rescue

By bringing a bucket of grease…

He smeared it around the King’s temples

Which offered a slimy release

At last, they were back at the palace

They went out to wave to the throng

A face like a chip, and bones aching They didn’t stay out there for long

The King then did suddenly waken… He managed to stifle a scream…

At last came the realisation

That it all had been just a bad dream!

Of course, this is only a poem… A snippet of light-hearted fun

1 6 2 7 3 8 4 9 5 10 11

So here’s to King Charles and Camilla I wish them the best from now on!

If you’d like to have your own copies of Julie’s poetic gems – they’d make a wonderful gift – her self-published (at her own expense) trilogy of titles viz. Lockdown Lyrics, Rocky Road Rhymes and Pandemic Pondering remain available with proceeds going to The Brain Tumour Charity.

A bargain at £5 each (or £12 for all three), you can secure your own by contacting Julie directly via email at juliesheldon50@gmail.com or by phoning 07890 989868. She’ll be delighted to hear from you. Alternatively, you can contact me, as always, via mike.musings@outlook.com

Gardener’s Calendar

Most spring bulbs will have gone over by now, but a good way to encourage them to return next year is to give them some tomato feed now.

Some species of tulips are unlikely to flower year on year, but others will, so be sure to deadhead them and even if they look messy, don’t cut back the leaves until they have died.

Don’t Mow May has become quite a thing – the aim being to leave your grass to grow so wildflowers come through and help pollinators such as bees. But if you find it a hard rule to stick to, you’ll still get daisies and clover surviving and leave your grass looking pretty tidy if you raise the height of the cutters on your mower. You can always lower them again later.

Top Tip:

There are lots of small starter tomato plants in nurseries and they are a great way of growing your own. Just remember that they don’t like sitting in loads of compost and if you try to transplant straight in large containers they may well rot. This is why you can put them in grow bags rather than proper pots - they like their roots crowded. So just keep potting on to the next size until they look well grown.

Weeds are growing like there’s no tomorrow. Pick a dry day to hoe. Drag the hoe through thoroughly and leave them on the surface to dry out and die – saves the bother of hand removing every one with a trowel.

Time to enjoy the ancient woods

Springtime brings new life to the countryside after the long winter chill and so this is a wonderful season to enjoy the woods, and especially the ancient woodlands of the Peak District and nearby areas. These landscapes, so rich in wildlife species are good all year round, but particularly in spring. The tree canopies echo with songs and territorial claims of great tits, blue tits, and the warblers, chiffchaff, and blackcap. The blackbirds, robins, and tawny owls are well ahead, and many have already nested. In woods with ancient beeches and parks such as Chatsworth or Haddon for instance, the songs and calls of nuthatches ring out. Nearby, expect to hear the high pitched territorial calls of great spotted woodpeckers or else their drumming from the treetops. Leaf-burst changes the atmosphere of the woodland as bright green leaves suddenly brighten the canopy. If all goes well, and with climate change you just don’t know, the myriad insects (particularly caterpillars) that will feed on these leaves in May and June, provide essential food for the baby birds in the nest and then once again when they fledge.

From April through into May, the hazel catkins have died away but are replaced by other tree flowers such as the ubiquitous pussy willows, and not so far behind, the erect white flowers of bird cherry. This is one of our rarer tree species and more common in upland and western zones, but also one of the more striking flowering trees in our ancient woods. Indeed,

many tree flowers are hardly noticed perhaps because they are small and often, they are hidden high in the tree canopy. Some like birch catkins make their presence felt through hay fever! However, tree flowers can be especially important for pollinating insects such as honeybees, and the seeds produced in autumn and winter support birds such as siskins, lesser redpolls, and many others. Birch and alder are especially important along woodland edges in the former case and especially riversides in the latter.

The woods in springtime are also good for many butterfly species as they emerge from hibernation or from pupae and seek the warmth of sheltered, sunny glades. Small tortoiseshells, peacocks, and commas are amongst the first species to appear. They are soon joined by speckled woods, orangetips, green-veined whites, and holly blues. Males display against each other to establish territories and then, hopefully, to attract suitable females. The females once mated will seek out the right foodplants for their larvae and on which to lay their eggs.

In nearby gardens, these butterflies will explore these human landscapes as merely clearings in the wood, the treescape. They come in search of rides and glades and their flowers and sunlight. Plants such as the garden honesty or dame’s violet in a garden border will prove irresistible attractions for some species like the pretty orange-tips. Similarly, in a damp lawn, pond edge, marsh or meadow, cuckoo flower is an excellent flower to grow. Spring bulbs and early flowering shrubs all help support wildlife under pressure and your garden makes a difference.

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. Follow his

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