DRONFIELD POLICE SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM

January crime figures:

Criminal damage: 1, vehicle crime: 1, violence against the person: 3, burglary: 2, Total: 7.

During January, you have told us about several people trying to sell items door to door across our area. It’s important to consider when visitors/ salespersons attend your property unannounced. It’s advisable to consider the following information;

• If you are not expecting visitors, it’s okay not to answer the door

• Don’t let strangers into your home

• Some bogus callers say they need your help. They may say they need things like:

- To use your phone.

- To wash their hands.

- A drink of water.

- To find a lost ball or pet

• Water company staff don’t need to go inside your home to test water pressure or fix a leak.

• Check their identity carefully before letting them in. They don’t mind waiting.

• They may say that they are from a gas, water, or electric company. When their staff visit you can set up a password. They will say the password, so you know they are real. This doesn’t cost money

• Never let strangers asking for help into your home.

• They may tell you that urgent work needs to be done on your home. Never agree to have any work done by someone who knocks on your door. Further information can be found in a leaflet on Derbyshire County Council’s website: www.derbyshire.gov.uk/site-elements/documents/pdf/social-health/adultcare-and-wellbeing/disability-support/learning-disabilities/keeping-safe/ visitors-to-your-home.pdf

You can also request signage from Derbyshire County Council and Derbyshire Police via Dronfield SNT Team. These signs and other crime prevention items will be available at some of our events.

PCSO 12853 Jonathan Flower, Dronfield SNT

E-mail: Jonathan.flower@derbyshire.police.uk

SPEEDING CHECKS - PENNY ACRES SCHOOL

At the end of January, Dronfield SNT Team were fortunate to spend an afternoon at Holmesfield Penny Acres School with the children who help remind road users about their driving behaviours and checking vehicles’ speeds as they travelled past. Some students spoke to speeding motorists with officers, about how speeding past the school impacts them and their friends. We look forward to repeating the sessions in the near future.

Dronfield SNT are currently supporting and working with other agencies with concerns relating to the speeding traffic outside the school in the following ways; Holmesfield Speedwatch Group run sessions in the location and other places around Holmesfield. If anyone would like to join this group please get in touch with Phil Reaney on 0114 289 1167 to find out more.

The Derbyshire Police enforcement van attends the location issuing fines for people caught speeding.

PC Matthews from Dronfield Safer Neighbourhood Team, along with Road Policing colleagues and other Derbyshire Police Officers attend the location monitoring speed and taking appropriate action.

Energy Bill Scam Texts

Action Fraud has received hundreds of crime reports relating to fake text messages purporting to be from the UK government. The texts state that the recipient is “owed” or “eligible” for an energy bill discount as part of the Energy Bill Support Scheme. The links in the emails lead to genuine-looking websites that are designed to steal your personal and financial information.

How to protect yourself: Energy Bill Discount : £400 off energy bills for households in Great Britain from October 2022. You do not need to apply for the scheme and you will not be asked for your bank details.

Spotted a suspicious text message? Forward it to 7726 (it’s free of charge). If you forward a text to 7726, your provider can investigate the origin of the text and arrange to block or ban the sender, if it’s found to be malicious.

For more information on how to stay secure online, please visit www.cyberaware.gov.uk

• NHS approved laser hair removal and skin rejuvenation

• Manual and Electrical Facials

We offer a full range of Beauty treatments along with: Please

• Aquapure hydra dermabrasion facial

• LVL lash lift and SVS lash extensions

• Electrolysis and skin tag removal

• HD Brows

• St Tropez Spray Tanning

Thefts Of Catalytic Converter S

The high prices for precious metals is resulting in increasing thefts of catalytic converters (CATs) which have been fitted in the exhaust of the majority of petrol cars manufactured since 1992 and, by chemical reaction, substantially reduce harmful pollutants from the exhaust.

Thieves simply cut the catalytic converter from the exhaust pipe of a parked car and sell them on to scrap metal dealers.

Taller vehicles such as 4x4s are vulnerable as the converters are more accessible and because they tend to have larger engines, they contain more of the precious metals too.

Reduce The Risk

• Garage your car whenever possible

• Park in well-lit busy areas

• Be aware of people looking under cars

• If the car is high risk consider marking the metal shell of the converter with a unique mark, so that if it is removed by thieves it will be easier to trace back to your vehicle

• Fit a catalytic converter clamp or security cage

For more information please contact Dronfield SNT or visit: www.derbyshire.police.uk

Any queries please contact Robin Greetham: 01246 412767

January 2023 Weather

In my mind, January is memorable for wind. We had a period of several days of strong wind at the beginning of the month and then a similar period at the end of the month. On the very last day the wind blew all day and reached a maximum on my anemometer of 48 mph. The average for the day was 23 mph and indeed the average for the whole month was 10 mph. All this wind made it feel rather cold even though the temperature was average for January with a mean temperature of 4.1°C. The warmest day was the 10th when the temperature reached 11.2°C and the coldest was the 17th when the temperature fell to -4.2°C. As well as being windy, January was also rather wet with 94mm falling, about 40% more than normal.

Houses also feel the cold when the wind blows and our central heating was struggling at times in January. We are all rather conscious of the cost of our heating this year. If you have a ‘smart meter’ you can see the number of kilowatt hours (kWhs) – and the cost – rising through the day. The ‘W’ in kWhs is the unit of power that is named after James Watt, the Scottish Engineer. Watt started his working life by making astronomical instruments for Glasgow University before starting a business making musical instruments and toys. Subsequently, he became interested in steam engines and he obtained patents on them. He married his cousin Peggy but sadly she died after bearing five children. At about this time, the business that Watt had started to exploit his steam engine patents went bankrupt and Watt sank into depression. However, a wealthy engineer call Matthew Boulton in Birmingham offered to finance his work on the steam engine, if Watt would move down to Birmingham. This partnership continued for most of the rest of Watt’s life. Watt and Boulton became members of the Lunar Society of men with wide interests in science, philosophy, the arts and engineering. The society included men such as Josiah Wedgwood, Joseph Priestly and Erasmus Darwin (the grandfather of Charles Darwin) and as a group it is argued that they began the industrial age that has shaped all of our lives. They were all born around 1730.

I apologise for my diversion into James Watt and the Lunar Men. However, it is true that James Watt was one of the small group who discovered the composition of water in terms of Oxygen, Hydrogen and water vapour. Weather forecasting of course depends upon an understanding of water, whether it be falling as rain, producing clouds or evaporating from the oceans.

Brian Brown

Friends Of Gillfield Wood

Practical Conservation Morning. Sunday 12th March, 10.00am.

These are held monthly all year, either at weekends or midweek, with dates advertised on the website. Members can join the mailing list by contacting the Secretary at fogwsecretary@gmail.com.

Sessions are open to anyone who would like to join in. Everyone needs to provide their own gloves along with suitable clothes and footwear. Everything we do supplements the work carried out by the Council’s woodlands team, meaning much more can be done to improve the wood for its flora, fauna and visitors alike. Typical activities are coppicing, fencing and walling, tree and undergrowth management, path repair and drain clearance and all sorts of miscellaneous jobs.

We meet either at the Baslow Road bus terminus, the Scout Hut on Aldam Road, Totley or at the end of Totley Hall Lane. The work mornings are advertised on posters around Totley, in the local press and nearer the date are emailed out. Due to Covid precautions there are no drinks or biscuits provided so we recommend you bring along your own refreshments.

Monday 13th March: Birds of the Moorland Fringe: An Illustrated Talk by Tom Aspinall, RSPB Conservation Officer for the Dark Peak. Free to members, £3 to non members. Totley Hall Library, 7.30pm

Please reserve a place as numbers will be limited by emailing the secretary at: fogwsecretary@gmail.com www.friendsofgillfieldwood.com

For any clarification, please email Paul Hancock : paulhancock1954@gmail.com

Please check out and ‘like’ the Facebook page for Friends of Gillfield Wood. There is also a Twitter feed: @GillfieldWood - please take a look !

Mobile Library

Derbyshire County Council’s mobile library service operates on a 4-weekly cycle. The mobile library will be at 6 Park Rise, Holmesfield between 10.25am and 10.50am on Monday 20th March.

The staff look forward to welcoming you on board to browse the stock and access their services.

The mobile libraries have a lift if you use a wheelchair or have mobility problems.

For further information call 01629 533444, or email: ask.library@derbyshire.gov.uk

3rd HOLMESFIELD SCOUT GROUP

Scouts and Explorers:

Meet Tuesday nights at the usual times.

Beavers and Cubs:

Meet Wednesday nights at the usual times.

Holiday Dates:

Scouts and Explorers will be closed on Tuesday 28th March 2023 and recommence on Tuesday 18th April.

Beavers and Cubs will be closed on Wednesday 29th March 2023 and recommence on Wednesday 19th April.

Please note that all four sections have a waiting list. If you have children you would like to join the group, please get their names on our waiting lists as soon as possible – don’t wait until they are the right age, to avoid disappointment.

Please contact Richard Wilkinson on 01246 412576, or email : thirdholmesfieldscoutgroup@hotmail.co.uk for further information.

Need some support this Winter ?

We know this winter will be difficult for many of us –The Trustees of the Penny Acres in Need want to help . Now anyone can apply if they need support by contacting Mrs Geraldine Austen on 0114 2890686 if they live in the village. The trusts were formed due to donations specifically meant to benefit village people and are not means tested. So if you are a family or a single person, please don’t hesitate to apply and we will do our best to help.

Hello all students under 25 who live in Holmesfield or whose parents do... It’s time to study again !

Do you need equipment or any other assistance related to your studies ?

Did you know you can apply to the Holmesfield Educational Trust by contacting the Secretary – Mrs Geraldine Austen on 0114 2890686 even if you have made a previous application?

The Trust is not means tested and was specifically designed to meet the educational needs of everyone under 25 who lives in the village or whose parents do.

If you think you fit the description please apply.

Treatments Include:

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ST. SWITHIN’S CHURCH

All are welcome to come to our Sunday services at 10.30am. The type of services varies each week - those with children might find the fourth Sunday family service suits them best, but everyone is welcome at all services.

Visit our website – www.holmesfieldchurch.org.uk – to find out about events and activities, and for the latest news join our Facebook public group. Online services and programmes for the parish are available at www.youtube.com/dwhparish

We would be delighted if you would like to hold your wedding or christening service at St. Swithin’s. Please contact the Parish Office on the number below in the first instance. You do not have to be christened or live in the parish to be married at St. Swithin’s Church. For enquiries about funerals, burial of ashes, or anything else related to the churchyard please contact the vicar.

St. Swithin’s Church Hall is the venue for many different community groups. It is an excellent, modern, well equipped hall with kitchen and meeting room, available to hire for your one off event or regular activity - please contact Jenny on the number below. St. Swithin’s Toddler Group is held on Thursday mornings, 10.00am to 11.30am.

J-Cafe is held on the 2nd and 4th Fridays, 10.00am to 1.30pm.

Our J-Cafe is proving very popular and we have just received a 5 star food hygiene rating! We look forward to welcoming people to the Holmesfield Local Market where J-Cafe will be serving refreshments.

Please check out the St. Swithin’s Church, Holmesfield page on Facebook.

Contact numbers for St. Swithin’s Church

Rev. Ian Webb Vicar 0114 299 1714 / 07743 927458 ian.webb@dwhparish.org.uk

Christine Taylor Toddler Group 0114 289 1402 christine.taylor42@hotmail.co.uk

Priscilla Naggita Kavule Treasurer

Jenny Banks Church Hall bookings 0114 2890326

Parish Office 01246 412328

Please do get involved with and support your Parish Church - a place of worship and community gathering for at least 1,000 years!

Cowley Mission And The Vine Fellowship

Our service commences at 10.30am each Sunday at Cowley Mission. Everyone is welcome to come and visit/join us.

Dates for March are as follows:

5th Dorothy Higgins (Communion)

12th Terry Irwin

19th Lyn Richards - Mothering Sunday (Communion)

26th Steve Richards

Until 10th December 2022. We are awaiting a revision!

Timber Window and Door Manufacturers

Since 1908

WINDOWS

• High performance timber

• Stormproof and traditional flush casement

• Spring balance sliding sash

• Traditional box sliding sash with cord and pulley

• Bespoke

• Pre-glazed

DOORS

• Panel, bespoke, bifold and prehung doors

• Frame ledge and brace

BWF Product Design of the Year Award

Holmesfield Sawmill, 18 Main Road, Holmesfield, Dronfield S18 7WT

T : 0114 289 9384

E : pearson@holmesfieldsawmill.co.uk