Voice Magazines - Matlock, Wirksworth & Cromford Edition - May 2023

From the Editor

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 . 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.

Your local award winning photographer

Spring is the perfect time to get out into nature with your loved ones. Walking amongst daffodils or woodland bluebell flowers lifts your spirits and the sun’s warmth banishes those winter blues.

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A qualified Master of Photography, Lindsey is currently offering shoots amidst bluebells in May, and sunflowers in July at set locations for families, couples, dogs or even horses. Other seasonal mini-photoshoots run throughout the year.

Each shoot is just 30 minutes long, costing £60 including 3 digital images which you can choose from a gallery of your photos. Prints start from £35. Visit Lindsey’s webpage to book.

Not comfortable being photographed? Well don’t worry, Lindsey is an expert at making clients feel comfortable and relaxed, allowing her to capture the best images of you.

Lindsey also offers bespoke photoshoots where the only limitation is your imagination! Contact Lindsey to discuss your ideas.

Ladies

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CORONOVIRUS STATEMENT

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

BRITISH COACHING

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 HB £412

HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW 10-12 JULY HB £175

CHESTER AND THE WIRRAL PENINSULA 11-16 JULY HB £450

SCOTLAND, ORKNEYS AND THE CASTLE OF MEY 19-24 JULY HB £642

LAKE DISTRICT STEAM & CRUISE 25-30 JULY HB £446

COLCHESTER AND CONSTABLE COUNTRY 25-30 JULY HB £410

EUROPEAN COACHING

IRELAND CAUSEWAY COASTER 27 JUNE-02 JULY HB £568

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

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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

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All Around the Shire

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

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.

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

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

Does it ever end? That’s what often comes to mind when I think of menopause.

I began with hot flushes, followed most annoyingly almost immediately by a cold one, when I was 46. They became so debilitating so quickly that I zoomed through every ‘natural’ remedy the internet could throw at me and ended up on a double dose of HRT that I had to go to a specialist clinic to get (my GP couldn’t prescribe that big a dose). I had to weigh quality of life with the enhanced risk of cancer and believing I had run out of other possibilities; I took the risk.

And I got hormone related Breast Cancer 7 years later, but I don’t regret my decision, that’s how bad it was trying to live with literally 10 plus hot and cold flushes an hour, I couldn’t think, I couldn’t function. I am thankful to have survived and I am also sad that no one told me about the option of using Ear Acupuncture to manage those hot flushes. Being told by your Oncologist that the treatment is offered by most Breast Cancer Charities because it is highly effective in reducing or even eliminating them, is rather like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted! Because of the Pandemic I missed the chance of getting

this treatment and so in 2011 I trained to become a NADA Ear Acupuncture Practitioner myself, which was a pretty pricey way of treating my own issues! But now having sorted myself out, I can offer that support to others. I’m often working with ladies in menopause who are renegotiating how they operate in the workplace. Other joyous little menopause symptoms like anxiety, brain fog and fatigue can leave you feeling so detached from your former working persona, that a slight shake of the tree in terms of stress or change in conditions or environment can rock you to the core. It might be the first time in your life when YOU are the one that’s not offering support but needing it yourself. For more information visit my website www.sarahkallend.com.

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

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.

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Book Review

There’s been an outpouring of affection following Paul O’Grady’s death. He was of course best known for his “blonde bombsite” Lily Savage character, his numerous TV shows and for his championing of dogs, especially rescue dogs. But Paul also wrote books.

Most of them have been autobiographical – there’s four in that series, and a great place to start is at the beginning – taking us up to age 18, and titled At My Mother’s Kneeand other low joints.

Paul wrote as he talked, very funny, warm, dry and very human. The characters in his life are people you feel you know – his ear for the way people talk is magic. He said that a lot of Lily was based on the women he encountered, particularly in his childhood and you can see that from his tales about his Aunty Chrissie, aka The Pride of Birkenhead Buses (she was a bus conductress) and from his descriptions of the slanging matches in the local shop.

We get to see Paul as altar boy, boxer, barman, civil servant and club goer on the Liverpool scene. Its brilliant stuff and some parts are so funny you might well end up crying with laughter.

A great way to remember a lovely bloke.

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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.

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.

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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