Russfest

It's OK to talk

Words: Simon Paterson

Images: Sophie Marples

The fourth annual Russfest took place at the Holme Hall Inn on Saturday 1 July. This festival serves as a commemoration and celebration of the life of Mark Russell, a local family man who tragically took his own life due to societal pressures.

With Mark in mind, the primary goal of the event was to raise funds and awareness for Andy's Man Club, a support group that helps men facing difficulties in their everyday lives. It was a great honour for me to be invited to speak about men's mental health, as Mark Russell was a dear friend of mine.

The day was filled with live performances from renowned acts such as The Sheffield Community Choir, Luke Wall, and Arkanian. Additionally, there were activities like face painting and inflatables for the younger attendees to enjoy Russfest proved to be a tremendous success, with more than 400 people in attendance. They had a fantastic time while raising funds for an incredibly deserving cause. The organizers, Rachel, Russ, and Taylor, truly understand the power of community and did an exceptional job of bringing everyone together in a fun and inclusive event.

A heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone involved, and I'm already eagerly anticipating the next Russfest.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please visit the website below for assistance. andysmanclub.co.uk

When are too many books, too many books?

Words: Ed Fordham

When does your buying of a book mean you have to keep it? When is it appropriate to get rid of a book from your own collection? These are questions I know I have tried to ignore so let me share my strategies for coping.

When I buy them they fall into a few categories: browsers, keepers, readers and gifters.

Browsers are easy - I take them home - they go in a pile by my lounge chair where I sit in the evening. When I have time I sit, sometimes with a whisky, usually watching the Repair Shop on repeat, and I browse through them. I try and do this at least once a month and when the pile gets too high, I then force myself to sit down and go through them. Once they have been ‘browsed’ I can usually then get rid of them.

They go either to my shop in my case or to my favoured charity shop (usually the RSPCA). This process means I get through 4 to10 books a month that go home, but don’t stay.

Keepers are harder - invariably hard backs, usually on a specialised subject and frequently obscure or expensive. I set myself the challenge of making sure that in the first four weeks of owning it I have browsed it at least gently. If it’s one I'm going to go back to then I will place book marks and notes to highlight the section or pages of interest. The hardest ones are books that have been gifted to me at birthday or Christmas - these are hard, and it’s tricky to be ruthless, but I operate another system as well. If there is good keeper that's going onto my shelves then I set myself a target of removing five others. This way I reflect my changing interests - it also means I’m constantly thinning the collection and I do a second and third check with books that have previously survived a cull.

A few keepers have particular value - that book on railways from my grandfather for example, my mother's poetry book collection from her aunt and uncle. With these I make the time about every other month or so to write a note or a tag and place it inside the book to explain why I’m keeping it. No tag, no explanation, and the book goes into the 'charity and dispose of pile'.

Readers are for me the hardest books as I find I increasingly have too little time to sit and read for my own pleasure. Based on my own reading interests most of my ‘readers’ are biographies - and again - if after a few months of them hanging around the house I haven't tucked into them - then they have to go… given they are biographies they are often hardbacks too and so the amount of space they create is great. And, if I have failed to read them, but can’t get rid of them then I move them to my bedside to force the issue. This is very effective and they rarely hang around at this point - I either read it in full, dip into it or just move it on.

Gifters are perhaps the nicest set of books that come home with me. These are books where I have spotted them, made a connection to a friend and decided I should send it as a gift. All that is needed is my own commitment of writing a personal note or letter and dispatching it.

Now these methods might sound cold - but I believe from a collection of several thousand I have managed to halve the number in the house and still bring new and additional books home. Having this turnover means I can continue to enjoy book shops myself. Crucially it means I have space for new ones that catch my eye.

How do you cope? Pop down and let me know - the only thing I know is that doing nothing is not the answer. Don’t let the books be piled up untouched. They were written, designed and printed to be handled and read and enjoyed. Let’s make sure that you are the person to get the enjoyment from them. See you soon.

Ed. x

Brockwell Books, The Market Hall, Chesterfield S40 1AR.

You want value for money, quality finish and choice. You want time spent on quality designs.

You want to deal with a local, independent company you can trust with over 25 years experience.

You need the SKC Kitchens.

SKC Kitchens & Bedrooms, 29 West Bars, Chesterfield S40 1AG

T: 01246 208973

E: leigh@skc-kitchensandbedrooms.co.uk www.chesterfield-kitchens.co.uk

Compassionate & Caring

When Harold Lilleker & Sons are trusted with your loved one this is how we do things.

When a loved one passes away, your world turns upside down. During this time of grief, you need a compassionate helping hand that can take care of the funeral arrangements and help you bid a final goodbye to your dear one with respect and love.

Call: 01246 277095

Kitchens & Bedrooms