Author: Dom Stevens

Perez storms into Porsche ProAm lead at Knockhill

30th August 2018

Chesterfield’s Amigos Team Parker racing driver Seb Perez stormed to victory last weekend in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship at Knockhill Race Circuit in Dunfermline Scotland (25/26 August) for rounds 11 and 12.

The 18 year old racer took to a double Porsche ProAm podium success, winning both races over the weekend putting him in top spot in the Championship.

He overcame a race one impact and inclement weather throughout the weekend, to secure his second “double win” of the season, replicating his Monza victories earlier in the year. His sensational form sees him pull two points clear of his nearest rival with five wins to his name as the season heads towards the final two races of the series.

His weekends racing has been described as “one of his best drives of his racing career to date”

Four weeks ago he travelled to Snetterton circuit in Norfolk leaving with two podium slots and most certainly meant to carry on where he had left off.

Perez struggled for the start of the weekend’s Scottish round having only managed third quickest of the ProAm contenders in a dry qualifying session on Saturday afternoon, lining up on the grid in ninth spot.

Both Carrera Cup GB races would take place on Sunday and as the weather drew in overnight, the following day double-header would serve up an altogether different track for the 911 GT3 driver.

He was greeted on Sunday morning by persistently heavy rain and foggy conditions and a different approach was needed for round 11 of the season. Wet tyres and setups were the order of the day and Perez knew he would need to battle through heavy spray to make any improvement on his start position.

As the lights went out on race one Perez made a great start but contact early on in the race saw him drop back into fourth place ProAm driver as a battle commenced on the Scottish circuits narrow undulating and twisty track that gave the drivers very little chance to overtake.

By lap 15 the safety car made an appearance to Perez’s delight bunching the whole field together giving him the opportunity needed to fight his way through the pack with precision.

With the five minute board showing from the pit wall Perez made his way into third place despite off-centre steering problems caused by the earlier impact. It wasn’t long before another fantastic move saw him second.

With just two minutes remaining on the clock the Amigos Team Parker driver lunged down the inside across the start- finish straight to take the ProAm lead, a place he held onto until the flag.

Weather conditions worsened some four hours later for race two that saw a safety car start due to the weather and Perez starting as the lead ProAm driver. The conditions didn’t get any better but he saw a trouble free affair taking the chequered flag 32 laps later and taking his second win of the weekend.

After a fantastic race weekend in very wet windy and treacherous conditions an elated Perez said,

“To win both of these races here at Knockhill by such a considerable margin in weather like this is just fantastic”

“It’s been useful to come here with a bit of prior knowledge of the track thanks to my Ginetta days but essentially I’m really pleased with the way I drove today and I’d say it was one of the best weekends of my racing career so far. The car felt great and the set-up was just right thanks to the team who worked hard this weekend. Setting fastest lap time in both races is a testament to that. It’s a real confidence boost to take the lead of the ProAm category too, it’s taken long enough really but to finally be in that position with four races left is a great sign for my championship hopes.”

Perez leaves Knockhill leading the ProAm category, and second in the Rookie standings. Amigos Team Parker Racing are second in the Entrant Championship going into the penultimate meeting at Silverstone in September (15-16 September).

Editorial and Images by Paul Horton Motorsport Media and Photography

Posted in About Chesterfield

Visit Peak District website in Top 10 for UK Destinations

30th August 2018

New data released by official tourist board Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire reveals for the past six months, the tourist board’s website www.visitpeakdistrict.com has consistently ranked in the top ten most visited sites for around 150 UK destinations, alongside such places as Manchester, Liverpool, Brighton, Bristol, Dorset and the Isle of Wight.

More than a million user sessions were logged between 20 February and 19 August, a rise of more than 37 per cent on the same period in 2017.

The site now also outranks Trip Advisor when people enter the keywords Accommodation in the Peak District and Things to Do in the Peak District on Google.

In addition, the tourist board’s social media following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram has increased by 22 per cent in the past year from just under 75,000 in July 2017 to more than 92,000.

It was recently revealed that tourism’s value to the Peak District and Derbyshire economy rose to £2.15 billion in 2017 and annual visitor numbers rose to 40.45 million.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director, Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire said: “When we relaunched our consumer website our main aim was to put visitors right at the heart of our planning and offer them a much better, more streamlined experience”

“We’re delighted that, for the first time, we’re ranked in the top ten most visited UK sites out of about 150 UK destinations – previously the best position we’ve achieved has been 13^th.

“It’s also great to see that our social media following has grown substantially over the past year, thanks to our emphasis on posting engaging, image-led content – particularly on Instagram, where our following has increased by 46 per cent.

“I’d like to thank everyone in the team for their hard work and commitment to putting the Peak District and Derbyshire where it belongs – as the UK and overseas visitors’ destination of choice, regionally, nationally and globally.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Chesterfield residents invited to name new Mccarthy and Stone development

30th August 2018

The UK’s leading retirement housebuilder, McCarthy and Stone, has announced construction will soon get under way at its site in Saltergate, Chesterfield, which is set to be transformed into a collection of one and two bedroom Retirement Living Plus apartments, designed for people aged 70 and over.

Ahead of the build programme commencing, McCarthy and Stone is appealing to local people to enter a competition to name the scheme. The winning entrant of the ‘What’s in a Name’ competition will be granted the opportunity to attend the official opening of the development, as well as receiving a cheque for £200.

Fiona Brooks, Regional Sales and Marketing Director for McCarthy and Stone North West, said: “We are inviting people from the local area to suggest an appropriate name for our new Chesterfield development. We are looking for a name which will be relevant to the local community; and it can be anything from suggestions honouring local landmarks or scenery, to names that incorporate elements of the town’s rich history. Simply submit your ideas by Monday 3^rd September to be considered for the prize, and to put your stamp on a little bit of future history in the town.”

To be in with a chance of naming McCarthy and Stone’s new development and to win £200, all you have to do is email mccarthyandstone@mccann.com with your suggested development name and the reason behind it. Please include ‘Chesterfield’ in the subject header and also include your name and contact details in the email. The competition is open to people of all ages from the local and surrounding areas and the deadline for entries is Monday 3^rd September.

The Chesterfield development will consist of 65 one and two bedroom apartments, along with a stunning homeowners’ lounge, ideal for socialising with friends; beautifully landscaped gardens in which to relax; and a convenient guest suite should homeowners have friends or relatives to stay. The development will also benefit from its very own Estates Management team on-site 24 hours a day; while a security entrance system and emergency call points will provide added peace-of-mind for homeowners and their families.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Approval for sports pitch on former sports centre site

29th August 2018

Councillors have approved plans for an artificial turf sports pitch on the site of the former Queen’s Park Sports Centre in Chesterfield.

Members of Chesterfield Borough Council’s planning committee approved the plans for the site of the former sports centre on Boythorpe Road at their meeting yesterday, Tuesday 28 August.

This will see a 61m x 43m sports pitch built on the site suitable for seven-a-side football games built to Football Association requirements. The pitch could also be split to be used for two five-a-side games.

Councillor Chris Ludlow, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Queen’s Park is a key park in Chesterfield and the new sports pitch will meet a need identified by Sport England to increase the number of pitches available in the borough.

“Chesterfield has some of the worst health inequalities and providing extra opportunities for people to exercise, get fit and enjoy themselves is a priority for us.”

The pitch would be sited to minimise the visual impact from within Queen’s Park and nearby properties. The floodlights will be designed to reduce light emissions, with the fencing and lighting columns in dark colours to blend in with the park environment.

The remaining area would be landscaped with trees, shrubs, bedding plants and grass so it is closer to the original park design by William Barron that was in place before the old Queen’s Park Sports Centre was built in 1968.

Councillor Ludlow added: “With the heritage nature of the grade II* listed park, it is important that any development fits in with its surroundings, which is why time and effort has been put into making sure that the plans are sympathetic to the nature of the park and the original landscaping restored.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development, Leisure

Chesterfield organisation named in UK’s top ‘Small Biz 100’

29th August 2018

Chesterfield’s Monkey Park has been named as one of the UK’s top ‘Small Biz 100’ by Small Business Saturday. Monkey Park on Chester Street has been selected as a trail-blazer in the official count-down to Small Business Saturday, which takes place across the UK on 1 December 2018.

Monkey Park’s achievements and contribution to the local community will be celebrated and spotlighted on 3rd September 2018. This is part of the campaign’s mission to celebrate small business success, and encourage the nation to ‘shop local’ and support British small businesses.

The 2018 Small Biz 100 are drawn from every corner of the UK and reflect the vibrancy of the UK’s 5.5 million small businesses. Reflecting the latest in innovative start-up trends, from ethical shopping, through to Artificial Intelligence, this year’s Small Biz 100 features a range of unique independent businesses. This year’s cohort joins hundreds of previous Small Biz 100 alumni champions, which have been celebrated by the iconic campaign since its UK launch in 2013.

Kevin Walker, Director of Monkey Park CIC said:

“We are extremely thrilled to be announced as one of the ‘Small Biz 100’ for 2018. Monkey Park is a not for profit organisation whose purpose is to improve the local community by bringing people together & supporting their efforts to change the area. We employ local people and buy our teas, coffees and other ingredients locally to make sure we are enhancing the local economy. We have created six part time jobs and all profits go back into the business or into community projects. We fully support Small Business Saturday’s mission to encourage more people to shop locally and support ventures such as ours”.

Director of Small Business Saturday UK, Michelle Ovens said:

“The launch of the Small Biz 100 marks the exciting count-down to Small Business Saturday 2018. We are thrilled to highlight the dynamic, creative and inspiring small businesses from across the country, as part of our campaign to celebrate and champion the success of the UK’s small businesses. The Small Biz 100 showcases the companies at the heart of the UK’s economy, which we need to support now more than ever.”

In its sixth year Small Business Saturday is the UK’s most successful small business campaign, which last year saw an estimated £748m spent with small businesses across the UK on Small Business Saturday.

A grassroots, not-for-profit campaign, Small Business Saturday was originally founded by American Express in the U.S. in 2010. American Express remains the principal supporter of the campaign in the UK, as part of its on-going commitment to encourage consumers to shop small.

The #SmallBizSatUK campaign trended at number one in the UK on Twitter during 2017, reaching over 115 million people globally. The Prime Minister and the Mayor of London were among those publically supporting the campaign. Over 87% of local councils also supported the campaign.

Small Business Saturday also benefits from the backing of leading business organisations including the Federation of Small Businesses and Enterprise Nation. The campaign is also supported by Amazon, Indeed, Royal Mail, Vistaprint, Xerox, and Square.

Small Business Saturday 2018 is open to all businesses to participate in, and will commence its regional bus tour roadshow across the UK during the autumn, to drum up further support.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Volunteers required for community poppy cascade

28th August 2018

The organisers of Chesterfield’s community poppy cascade are looking for volunteers to prepare the spectacle which will be on display this autumn.

People from Chesterfield and north Derbyshire – including ex pats from across the world – have smashed the original target to produce 15,000 knitted, crocheted or felt poppies to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War with more than 40,000 produced.

Now, the organisers are asking for people to come forward to help attach these poppies to nets to cascade from buildings in Chesterfield. These will include Chesterfield Town Hall, which will provide a fitting backdrop to the remembrance services held at the war memorial on Rose Hill on Sunday 11 November.

Councillor Steve Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of people who have taken the time and effort to produce these poppies to mark the 100^th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

“People have been extremely generous and we hope people will come forward to make sure we are able to display poppies across Chesterfield to mark this special anniversary.”

Sessions will take place from Tuesday 18 September to Friday 26 October 2018 in the Drill Hall of Wallis Barracks, Boythorpe Road, Chesterfield.

People can volunteer on the following days and times:

Mondays, 10am to 2pm (four hours)
Tuesdays, 10am to 2pm (four hours)
Thursdays, 10am to 2pm (four hours)
Fridays, 10am to noon (two hours).

They are looking for 20 volunteers per session who, for security reasons, must book a place to allow them access to the Wallis Barracks.

To book for a session please email Rob Nash, the project lead, by email nash364@outlook.com. He will confirm your booking and provide additional details of the work.

Posted in About Chesterfield

Bowling Club support Mayor’s Appeal

28th August 2018

Members of Chesterfield Bowling Club have raised vital funds for the Mayor’s Appeal thanks to the annual charitable Mayor’s Cup Competition held at the historic bowling green on Beetwell Street on Wednesday 22 August 2018.

Bowling club president Bob Meakin presented a cheque for £350 to the Mayor of Chesterfield, Cllr Stuart Brittain, who also competed in the fund-raising competition. The Mayor’s Appeal this year is supporting two local charity projects:- Chesterfield Citizen’s Advice Bureau, and Ashgate Hospicecare’s Sponsor a Nurse.

For the second year running, the winner of the prestigious Mayor’s Charity Cup was bowling club member, Geoff Mitchell. The cup was originally presented to Chesterfield Bowling Club by a former Mayor of Chesterfield, W B Taylor, in 1944, and has been competed for ever since over the last 74 years.

Chesterfield Bowling Club President Bob Meakin, Mayor of Chesterfield Cllr Stuart Brittain, cup competition winner Geoff Mitchell.

Posted in About Chesterfield

Godleman signs three-year contract extension

24th August 2018

Billy Godleman has committed his future to Derbyshire by signing a three-year contract extension to keep him at the Club until the end of the 2021 season.

The 29-year-old joined Derbyshire in 2013 and has been Club Captain since 2016, leading the county in both first-class and List A cricket.

Godleman has played 67 first-class matches for Derbyshire, scoring 3,882 runs at an average of 33.17, with 11 centuries and a top-score of 204.

In total, the opener has scored 7,329 runs in 136 first-class matches at an average 31.72.

Godleman has also been a consistent performer in white ball cricket for Derbyshire. The left-hander has hit 1,684 List A runs at an average of 48.11 and a top-score of 137 achieved in May this year.

He has also scored 782 Twenty20 runs for Derbyshire, including a top-score of 77, also recorded this year.

Chief Executive, Simon Storey, said: “We’re delighted that Billy has committed his long-term future to the Club.

“As Club Captain, he plays an integral part in our cricket strategy both on and off the field moving forward.

“He has shown for many years that he can perform consistently across all formats and we look forward to many more successful years ahead.”

Godleman added: “I really enjoy playing cricket for Derbyshire and it’s an honour to be Club Captain.

“We have a great group of guys here in the dressing room and behind the scenes who are all passionate about Derbyshire, and I couldn’t be happier to commit my future to the Club.

“We have a core group of experienced players and some very talented youngsters. We need to continue to encourage the development of our young guys, these will be the backbone of the Club in years to come.

“Together, we must now build on the progress shown over the last couple of years, continue to improve and compete for major honours.

“All the players are grateful for the support we receive from Members, supporters, sponsors and the local community, and we hope we can reward them in the years to come.”

Pictures by David Griffin

Posted in About Chesterfield

Derbyshire students perform well in GCSEs

24th August 2018

Students in Derbyshire have done themselves and the county proud by doing well in their GCSEs. Just over 7,000 students across the county’s 45 secondary schools received their results yesterday.

The traditional A* to G grades have been replaced with a nine to one system, with nine being the highest mark. A seven is equivalent to an A under the old system and a four is equivalent to a C.

Provisional results show that 75% of Year 11 students in Derbyshire achieved grades 4 to 9 in English and 59% achieved grades 5 to 9. In maths, 70% of Year 11 students achieved grades 4 to 9 and 50% achieved grades 5 to 9.

Councillor Alex Dale,Cabinet Member for Young People said:

“We’re delighted that early indications show our GCSE students have done really well in their exams and I want to congratulate them all for their hard work and dedication.”

“I’d also like to say a big thank you to heads, teachers, staff, governors, parents and our school improvement service for supporting our young people through this important time in their lives.”

“We wish all students the very best of luck as they make the next step in their career.”

Further education or training options open to Year 11 students are:

full-time education such as sixth form, college or work-based learning
an apprenticeship
part-time education or training if they are employed, self-employed or volunteering for more than 20 hours a week

Councillor Dale added:

“Whatever results students may have received it’s important they know what options are open to them as they stay on in education or training.

“Even if students don’t do as well as expected in their GCSEs, schools can put them in touch with advisers who can go through all the options open to them. These include a wide range of vocational qualifications and apprenticeships which will be showcased at our Derbyshire Skills Festival.”

The Derbyshire County Council Skills Festival is Derbyshire’s largest careers event for young people and is aimed at students aged 13 to 19, including those in Year 11 who are considering their options after school. This year’s Chesterfield event will be held at:

Proact Stadium, Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, S41 8NZ on Wednesday 26 September 2018

Lots of training providers, larger employers and community adult education services will be on hand to talk to young people. They will also be invited to take part in a range of have-a-go activities.

Click here for more information on the Derbyshire skills Festival.

Posted in About Chesterfield

Chesterfield’s Food Producer of the Year finalists announced

23rd August 2018

The finalists have been selected for this year’s coveted Chesterfield Food Producer of the Year title, which is part of the prestigious Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with Chesterfield College.

Food and drink producers located within 10 miles of Chesterfield served three of their best products to Chesterfield Champions at a special judging event held at Casa Hotel. More than 20 judges sampled sweet treats, tasty meats and delicious drinks at the food tasting event.

The shortlisted businesses for the Chesterfield Food Producer of the Year title are:

All Things Brownie Beautiful
Cup & Saucer
Original Recipes

The three finalists join a total of 34 businesses which have been shortlisted across 12 categories in the sixth annual awards.

While Original Recipes has been shortlisted for and won the title in previous years, All Things Brownie Beautiful and Cup & Saucer are both newcomers to the awards line up.

Commenting on the nomination, Chelsea Hawkes, Baker and Owner at All Things Brownie Beautiful, said: “As a self-taught baker and young entrepreneur, I am elated to discover that we have made finalist status for the Food Producer of the Year Award. It is such a celebration for our small family business that our produce has been recognised locally.”

Based in Clowne, All Things Brownie Beautiful prides itself on baking its range of brownies using locally-sourced ingredients. Its products are sold online and in cafes and tea rooms throughout the area.

Established last year and based in North Wingfield, Cup & Saucer selects, blends, packs and sells loose teas and tisanes both direct to the public and through cafes and tea rooms throughout Chesterfield.

At the tasting event, owner Gail Hannan presented her range of infusions inspired by the Peak District, including flavours such as Bakewell Hart, Charming Chatsworth and Calming Castleton.

She said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been nominated for this award, and to find out I am one of three finalists is incredible. I am really looking forward to attending the awards evening and meeting other local business owners from my hometown.”

Original Recipes puts a real focus on high-quality natural products. Its company ethos is to make sure there is ‘Absolutely Nothing Artificial’ in its bespoke range of pates and terrines.

Craig Maxfield, Sales Director at Original Recipes said: “We are delighted to be nominated for the 2018 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards for the fourth year running and even more excited to reach the final again this year. To receive recognition from the Chesterfield food and drink arena is a testament to the hard work, dedication and determination of our team.”

Organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with Chesterfield College, the prestigious awards recognise the very best food, drinks, service, venues and now apprentices and apprentice employers in the town’s growing hospitality sector.

The winners of all fifteen categories including Chesterfield’s Food Hero will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony, hosted by celebrity chef, Lesley Waters, which is being held at Chesterfield College’s Heart Space building on 31 October later this year.

Details of all finalists announced so far in the 2018 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards can be found at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards/finalists/.

Category sponsors of the awards include the Apprentice Town initiative led by Chesterfield Borough Council, Banner Jones Solicitors, BHP Chartered Accountants, Casa Hotel, Chesterfield Borough Council, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), Kier Group, Jumble Creative Design, MSE Hiller, Owen Taylor & Sons and Shorts Chartered Accountants.

Other supporters of the awards include the Derbyshire Times, Elder Way (Jomast), Hoods Florist, Juxta-Post Media, Peak FM and Reflections.

The Food Producer of the Year judging event for Chesterfield Champions was held at the Casa Hotel in July.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Destination Chesterfield

Value of Peak tourism hits new heights

23rd August 2018

The value of tourism to the Peak District and Derbyshire economy exceeded all expectations in 2017 – rising by six per cent to £2.15 billion.

New research released by official tourist board Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire reveals that the increase on 2016 was double the average annual rise of three per cent since 2011.

Annual visitor numbers rose to 40.45 million, an increase of more than 1.3 per cent, while the number of full time equivalent jobs supported by the visitor economy is up by almost 2.5 per cent at 28,630.

The latest figures also reveal a trend for more visitors to stay in non-serviced accommodation such as self-catering and at camping and caravanning sites.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire said “This is excellent news for the Peak District and Derbyshire economy, and for everyone who lives, works and comes to stay here”

“The significant rise in tourism’s overall value over the past year signals that our long-term policy to run innovative and targeted marketing, PR and social media campaigns to encourage more people to come and stay for longer and to spend more money here is really paying off.”

“The latest figures also show that our efforts to attract more visitors at quieter times of the year to extend the season from February to November are also effective, with more people staying for three or four nights rather than two.”

Vote for the Peak District and Derbyshire in the ‘Best Holiday Region or County’ category as part of the British Travel Awards 2018. Click here to find out more and cast your vote!

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting