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Tickets for Chatsworth Country Fair 2021 now on sale

4th September 2020

Early bird tickets for Chatsworth Country Fair 2021 will be released today (Friday 4 September) on the weekend that would have been the 39th anniversary of one of England’s most spectacular annual outdoor events.

With the three day extravaganza normally attracting tens of thousands of people to the Derbyshire parkland for the celebration of rural life, it fell victim to this year’s Covid related cancellations.

Held in the Chatsworth Park in the heart of the Peak District in Derbyshire, the three days normally attract visitors from all over the country for a family fun day out. Now Chatsworth has put tickets on sale for the 2021 event with a 20 percent early bird discount in place for a limited period.

With planning well underway, visitors can expect a packed programme of grand ring entertainment, a star-studded cookery theatre, stunt teams, military bands and aerobatic displays, as well as the chance for the whole family to have a go at a multitude of fun activities.

Previous grand ring entertainment has featured daredevil Cossacks on horseback, motorbike stunt teams, dancing diggers, breath-taking parachute displays and the Red Arrows.

Jonathan Fish at Chatsworth said: “We are of course hugely disappointed not to be welcoming visitors this weekend to such a popular event, but the health and wellbeing of all our visitors, staff and exhibitors is our number one priority.

“It is however exciting to look forward to staging the event in 2021 and we can’t wait to reveal the plans we have in the coming months. Watch this space!”

Without a doubt, Chatsworth Country Fair offers a fantastic experience for all the family with plenty of fun and games around the showground situated along the banks of the river Derwent.

Clay pigeon shooting, fly fishing and archery are just some of the activities that visitors can try out. Foodies can sample the delights on offer in the Fine Food Village or pick up tips from the professionals in the cookery demonstrations. A traditional fairground, marching bands and a myriad of dog-related activities make it one of the best summer days out.

Super early bird tickets start at £20, and under 14s go free.

For more information and to book tickets, click here.

Images by Chatsworth House Trust

©GeraldineCurtis

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Derbyshire residents asked to raise a mug for Macmillan

4th September 2020

Macmillan healthcare professional, Maria Leadbeater, is calling on the people of Derbyshire to get involved in Macmillan’s Coffee Morning and support the charity to care for people living with cancer.

Maria provides vital cancer information, practical and emotional support to people living with cancer at the Macmillan Information and Support Centre at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

The countdown to the charity’s annual fundraiser begins as Macmillan Cancer Support announces a predicted loss of around £100million in voluntary income as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

This year, the 30th anniversary of the fundraiser, the charity is asking Derbyshire to find a way to keep the tradition going.

Maria said: “Being diagnosed with cancer is frightening at any time, but even more so now when cancer is in danger of becoming the ‘Forgotten C’. More than ever, people with cancer need practical, emotional and financial support and to know that they will be able to have the treatment they need when they need it.”

“With charities like Macmillan facing huge drops in donations I’d like to ask everyone to do whatever it takes to get involved in coffee morning this year. It may have to be a little different this year but whether you host a socially distanced event in your local park, a virtual get together or something completely different – it all makes a huge difference to the lives of people living with cancer.”

Nationally, Macmillan had expected to bring in about £235m in voluntary donations, but now expects the figure to be closer to £140m.

Hannah Lumb, Macmillan’s fundraising manager, said: “Demand for our cancer support services is greater than ever, but, due to coronavirus, we are facing a significant drop in our income. The truth is that we can’t continue to be there for all the people who need us without your support. That’s why this year it’s so important to not let anything stop your Macmillan coffee morning.”

“Whether you host a coffee morning at home or at work, in the morning or evening, bake a showstopper or buy one of the limited edition products from our partner Marks & Spencer – the money you raise will enable Macmillan to continue providing these vital services. Every Coffee Morning changes lives.”

Macmillan’s work is almost entirely funded by donations and every penny raised at a Coffee Morning helps provide vital support to people with cancer.

Those looking to get involved can sign up at macmillan.org.uk/coffee. The official Coffee Morning is on Friday September 25 but supporters are encouraged to hold their Coffee Morning whenever suits them.

Whether it’s in the garden, the office kitchen, outside the community hall, at school, or on the street for your neighbours to enjoy, make sure to have plenty space and easy access.

Throughout September, Macmillan’s headline partner Marks & Spencer will be selling a selection of Coffee Morning products in M&S food halls – including a bespoke Macmillan Colin the Caterpillar cake and a specially designed travel cup and mug – with 10% of proceeds going to Macmillan.

There will also be a 5p donation from M&S for every hot coffee and slice of cake sold throughout September at the M&S Cafés.

Maria and Sian from Macmillan. Image by Steve Smailes Photography

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Derbyshire writers encouraged to sign up for online workshops

4th September 2020

Writers in Derbyshire are being offered the opportunity to sign up for online workshops that we are supporting this autumn.

The workshops have been organised by LoveLit, an Arts Derbyshire project that Derbyshire County Council fund and support.

LoveLit brings opportunities for writers to access high quality workshops aimed at expanding their writing skills and helping their professional development.

The autumn programme aims to support writers writing for fun or profit and offers a range of subjects ranging from writing a ghost story to plotting a novel or how to gain an agent to represent you.

Councillor Barry Lewis, Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, Culture and Tourism, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for experienced or aspiring writers to take their writing further with expert help. We are delighted that we can foster local talent in this way, even during a time of pandemic and social distancing.”

Tutors include talented local writers Sophie Draper, Alex Davis and Joanna Courtney. Workshops are priced at £12 to £14 and last between 90 minutes and 2 hours. Early booking is advised as workshops get booked up quickly.

Workshops on offer include:

‘Writing Psychological Thrillers’ with Sophie Draper
‘Structuring your Novel’ with Joanna Courtney
‘Editing’ with Sophie Draper
‘Putting the Story into History – Writing Historical Fiction’ with Joanna Courtney
‘Writing Ghost Stories’ with Alex Davis
‘Submitting to Agents’ with Sophie Draper
‘The Art of a Good Plot’ with Joanna Courtney

Alex Davis said: “October is the perfect time for ghost stories, and I’m really excited to be running this online session for Derbyshire Arts Services and LoveLit. I’m a lifelong fan of the form, so can’t wait to share a range of examples, tips and exercises to get participants writing their own terrifying tales!”

Sophie Draper said: “I’m delighted to be working with LoveLit to offer workshops this autumn. Writing a novel is such a lonely process, and workshops are a great way to connect, to meet other writers and learn about publishing.”

To find out more or to book, click here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure

Cashless parking coming to Chesterfield

3rd September 2020

Paying for parking in Chesterfield has just got easier as Chesterfield Borough Council partners with PayByPhone, the global leader in mobile parking payments, to offer drivers the option of cashless parking when visiting the town centre.

Cashless parking payments will be introduced to all of the council’s pay and display car parks from 7 September 2020 and will mean motorists no longer have to search for the right change.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The new car-parking system will offer you a quick and convenient way to paying for your parking. You’ll no longer need to queue at the ticket machine, and you’ll be able to pay from the comfort of your car.

“Over recent months, we have been encouraged to make cashless payments where possible to help reduce the spread of Covid-19, and we think that this new way of paying will help to do this.

“This new system will help to ensure that we continue to play our part to stop the spread of the virus, as well as offering more flexibility for people who are visiting our town centre and supporting our local businesses.”

PayByPhone will be available in the following car parks: Holywell Cross, Durrant Road, Devonshire Street, Theatre Lane, Spa Lane, St Mary’s Gate, Station Road, Queen’s Park Annexe, Queen’s Park North, Queen’s Park South, Coach Station, Derbyshire Times and Albion Road.

Drivers will be able to pay for parking on their phones through the PayByPhone app which is available to download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, meaning that they can pay for parking from the comfort of their car. The app is quick and easy to install and use. It also gives drivers the added benefit of extending their parking sessions remotely.

Adam Dolphin, Sales Director for PayByPhone UK, said: “We are very excited to launch PayByPhone in Chesterfield and we encourage everyone to download the PayByPhone app so they are ready to take advantage of this new service.

“With one in 10 adults in the UK now choosing to lead a largely cashless life, and seven in 10 using contactless payments, the shift away from using notes and coins is not only the smart and safe choice, but also one that should be relatively easy for most.”

Frequent visitors can also purchase parking at a reduced rate on a weekly, monthly or annual basis through the PayByPhone app.

Motorists can continue to pay by cash if they prefer by visiting the pay and display machines as usual. The scratch card parking will also continue to be valid and visitors can continue to purchase these from the Visitor Information Centre.

More information on car parking in Chesterfield and how to use the app can be found at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/pay-for-parking-by-phone

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting

Heathcotes Group appoints Regional Manager for supported living

3rd September 2020

Chesterfield-based care provider, Heathcotes Group, has appointed Tim Elliott as Regional Manager for its supported living services.

Heathcotes Group is one of the UK’s most experienced providers of specialist care for adults with learning disabilities and complex mental health needs.

Tim joined Heathcotes’ supported living management team in February 2019 and has played an important part in the regional development of the company’s supported living for service users who no longer require full-time residential care.

Highly experienced in working with adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs, Tim has also managed supported living and community support services in previous positions at The Wilf Ward Family Trust and the Avalon Group.

In his new role, Tim will oversee operations in support of four general managers across five services in in Yorkshire and Humberside. The accommodation enables individuals to make a progressive step down from a hospital or residential setting to a self-contained environment that benefits from the availability of support 24/7.

Tim said: “I will be working with the general managers to maintain the quality of our existing services to the highest standard. Earlier this year, we completed our largest supported living development, offering eight new apartments in Leeds which have been widely praised by care professionals, families and commissioning groups. It has become a very successful model of care provision and I will be working with Heathcotes’ Director of Business Development, Natalia Lysiuk, to expand our unique supported living portfolio across the organisation.”

“Heathcotes’ supported living services are a separate model of care to our core residential services, but together they form part of a full care pathway, from full-time care to semi-independent living. Our support packages are tailor-made for each service user, focusing on encouraging and empowering them to recognise their self-identity and develop their independence. We support individuals who have progressed through their care pathway, but we also support individuals who require a single-person service due to their complexity and inability to live with others.”

With expertise in providing living environments that closely resemble typical family homes, Heathcotes Group currently has 72 services nationwide. The company offers a wide range of specialist support for individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome, autism, Down Syndrome, learning disabilities, personality disorders, physical disabilities, Prader-Willi Syndrome, sensory impairments, speech difficulties and severe epilepsy.

Heathcotes Group supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home

Local residents asked to share views on Staveley’s future

2nd September 2020

Residents are being invited to have their say on the future of Staveley through an online consultation organised by Chesterfield Borough Council.

The feedback will contribute to the development of a new vision for Staveley that will be used to support the Staveley Town Deal.

The Staveley Town Deal is aiming to secure up to £25m of funding to help build a stronger economy for Staveley. This consultation will be used to support a new ‘place vision’ for Staveley; Chesterfield Borough Council want to know what makes the Staveley area special, how you feel about the area, and how you would might like to see it develop in the future. The consultation is open until Tuesday 15 September.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “It’s vital that local residents and businesses have their say on the future of Staveley. We need to work together to ensure that we are delivering the projects that matter most to the people of Staveley.”

Ivan Fomin (pictured), who is chairman of the Staveley Town Deal Board and Managing Director of local business MSE Hiller, said: “It is a great chance for local people to be involved in deciding how this funding should be used. A key measure of the success of the project will be the level of local benefits that can be achieved for the local community.”

The Town Deal will allow Staveley the opportunity to build on the foundation of previous regeneration activity. For example, the council previously worked with Staveley Town Council on the refurbishment of Staveley Hall which was funded by Heritage Lottery and European Regional Development Fund. This has enabled the renovation of the listed building and the creation of managed workspaces and a community café.

There are also plans for the development of the Chesterfield Staveley Regeneration Route and work is progressing on the remediation of the Hartington site.

The new ‘place vision’ will be used to support the Town Investment Plan which the council aims to submit to Government in the Autumn. It has already submitted a bid for accelerated funding to help kickstart several projects that will have an immediate impact.

A total of five projects were put forward for consideration from this accelerator funding including new CCTV equipment for the town centre, sports pitch development at Staveley Miners Welfare Football Club and new play equipment for King George V Playing Field.

A Staveley Town Deal board has been established and this will help oversee and guide projects that deliver the most value for residents of Staveley. The board is composed of elected members from Chesterfield Borough Council, Staveley Town Council and Derbyshire County Council, both local members of parliament, representatives from local charitable organisations, Derbyshire Police, education leaders and representatives of the local business community.

The Town Deal Board is also appealing for project ideas to be submitted to be considered for inclusion of the bid. Some projects have already been identified, but more are welcome.

Find out more about the Staveley Town Deal and share your views here: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/business-and-economic-growth/regeneration-and-economic-growth/staveley-town-deal/get-involved-in-the-staveley-town-deal

You can also make suggestions for projects here: https://mytown.communities.gov.uk/town/staveley-derbyshire/

Staveley Hall

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield

Greatest Hits Radio goes live in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, with applications now open for ‘Back to Work’

1st September 2020

Peak FM has been rebranded as Greatest Hits North Derbyshire, part of the largest commercial radio network in the UK.

The station has also launched local content campaigns today, celebrating the voices and music of North Derbyshire and promoting local job opportunities.

Greatest Hits Radio North Derbyshire. will bring feature upbeat classic hits from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s and will be delivered by well-known broadcasters including Simon Mayo, Mark Goodier, Janice Long, Paul Gambaccini and Pat Sharp.

News bulletins will carry locally gathered stories, local traffic bulletins and local information to reflect the interests of Chesterfield and North Derbyshire. For local advertisers, the move will provide significant scale and a broader range of advertising opportunities.

Applications have also opened for Greatest Hits Radio North Derbyshire’s ‘Back to Work’ campaign, providing free advertising of local job opportunities to North Derbyshire’s employers and job-seekers.

Local employers are encouraged to submit vacancies for inclusion, allowing them to reach a wide audience of local job-seekers free of charge. Job vacancy bulletins will be broadcast four times a day to local audiences and will be promoted on the Greatest Hits Radio North Derbyshire website.

Greatest Hits Radio North Derbyshire will kick off with a Top 500 countdown of the country’s most popular songs, ahead of new local content programmes to run over the autumn:

‘Cities of Sound’ – A weekly documentary series celebrating the musical heritage of towns, cities and regions across the UK, including North Derbyshire

The station has been launched alongside a major marketing campaign across TV, print media, radio and digital and social platforms. Central to the campaign is the idea of ‘music bringing good times’ to our lives. It will feature some of Greatest Hits Radio’s favourite artists, including David Bowie, Tina Turner, Madonna, Queen and Bob Marley.

Graham Bryce, Group Managing Director, Hits Radio Brand Network, comments, “We are excited about the role for Greatest Hits Radio North Derbyshire in giving local communities and listeners in North Derbyshire the music, content and local connections we know they value highly, as well as a platform for a future of digital listening. We are committed to retaining our local relationships and look forward to engaging closely with local listeners and businesses as we launch our airtime initiative.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Local MP praises innovative Derbyshire manufacturer

1st September 2020

Bolsover MP Mark Fletcher has praised a Chesterfield manufacturer for its resilience and hard work amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit.

Mr Fletcher, who is campaigning to bring more jobs to Bolsover, made his comments while visiting Blachford UK, which designs and manufacturers acoustic insulation products for industrial vehicles.

Since resuming production post lockdown, the company has created more than 20 brand new full-time roles at its Holmewood site thanks to a booming order book.

Commenting on the visit to the company, Mr Fletcher said: “It was fantastic to visit such an innovative and brilliant manufacturer based in the heart of Bolsover and a real pleasure to meet so many of their team and to understand how passionate they are about their work. Blachford pride themselves on the quality of their products which makes them global leaders in their industry. To have them here is a source of pride to our communities and our constituency.”

Jason Lippitt, Managing Director of Blachford UK, commented: “I am delighted that Mr Fletcher was able to find time in his busy schedule to visit us. We were really keen to show him first-hand that it is not all doom and gloom in the UK right now. There are challenges, but I believe we should face these head on and with positivity. Our parent company fully supports us and sees its UK arm as being central to delivering solutions across Europe.”

Blachford UK is part of the global Blachford group, benefitting from an extensive supply chain and distribution options. Formerly TMAT, Blachford Acoustics Group acquired the Holmewood-based business in 2014 from former owner and current Managing Director Jason Lippitt.

The acquisition of the business enabled Blachford to provide common, coordinated solutions in both North America and Europe. The business was rebranded to Blachford UK in 2017.

Serving Bolsover since 2019, Conservative MP Mr Fletcher is for unlocking the untapped economic potential of Britain, particularly in the Midlands and the North; a desire Mr Lippitt also shares.

Jason added: “We have a strong business here in Derbyshire. Our expertise and products are world-leading and in demand. There are many other companies like Blachford who are doing well, however we just hear the disaster stories right now. We need to move forward, celebrate success and send the message to Europe and the world that Britain’s manufacturing sector is in business and doing well and will continue to do well regardless of Brexit or the pandemic.”

Since July 2020, the company has increased its workforce by 20 per cent. People interested in working at Blachford, should email recruitment@blachforduk.com

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

Chesterfield Museum to host virtual Local History Day

1st September 2020

Chesterfield Museum will be hosting a virtual Local History Day on Saturday 12 September.

The Chesterfield Local History Day is an annual event that normally takes place at Chesterfield Museum with a variety of local and family history societies hosting stands where you can find out more about the societies and hints and tips to help you with your own research.

However, due to the museum being closed, this year’s event will instead be hosted online on the Chesterfield Museum Facebook page: www.facebook.com/chesterfieldmuseum

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The Chesterfield Local History Day is a great way for anyone to learn more about the history of our town and to discover some great resources that will help them research their family history. I’m proud of the work the team have put in to bring this event online and help make these resources available to everyone because it’s really important that we know our own history.”

Content will be posted on the museum’s Facebook page from 10am throughout the day (Saturday 12 September). Some of the highlights include before and after photos of Chesterfield Canal from Chesterfield Canal Trust, photographs of the old Royal Hospital from Chesterfield Photographic Society and a ‘Hidden Nature’ self-guided tour between the rivers, Hipper and Rother which is a collaboration between Friends of Spital Cemetery and the Don Catchment Rivers Trust.

The Hidden Nature Tour begins at Riverside Retail Park and follows the river Hipper to where it meets the river Rother at the bottom of Spital Cemetery. There’s lots of information about the hidden nature in the cemetery as well as a look of the industrial history along the route and how this links to the cemetery.

Chesterfield and District Family History Society will be also be explaining how to start researching your own family history, which will hopefully inspire you to have a go yourself.

The event has a selection of activities for the whole family and there will be various children’s activities provided by Steamworks. This includes ideas to help build a model of Chesterfield Parish Church Spire, making and testing different bridge structures inspired by Horn’s Bridge, creating a boat to sail on the Chesterfield Canal and exploring how train wheels stay on the track like at Barrow Hill Railway.

The museum staff will also be posting various local history videos and challenging you to guess some mystery objects. One of the museum’s collection officers has created a Historic Walking Trail around the town centre which you can print out and follow to learn about how Chesterfield has changed over the years.

The Museum team are currently appealing for members of the public to share stories, memories, images and items from lockdown, in order to add to the collection and help remember this unprecedented crisis and the impact it has had in Chesterfield.

To find out more and share your stories please contact the team via the Chesterfield Museum Facebook page: www.facebook.com/chesterfieldmuseum or email: museum.collections@chesterfield.gov.uk.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Live theatre returns to Chesterfield

28th August 2020

Chesterfield Borough Council is pleased to announce that Chesterfield Theatres will again be hosting live performances from October.

The first three live shows scheduled to take place are part of the Autumn Play Season, which takes place from Tuesday 13 October until Saturday 14 November at the Pomegranate Theatre. Customers will be able to purchase tickets to all three plays for the price of two. The tickets will go on sale from Friday 4 September.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The return of live performances to the council’s theatres represents another step forward in Chesterfield’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.”

“I know the team have worked hard to make this possible and we very much look forward to welcoming our regular theatregoers as well as lots of new customers to our Covid-19 secure theatres.”

The three plays for the Autumn Play Season are Love Upon The Throne, Dead Certain and Live Bed Show. Each play will feature two different performers, drawn from the same social bubble, in order to help limit contact with other performers and audiences.

The Pomegranate Theatre is already open for cinema screenings and council staff have received lots of positive comments from customers about the safety measures that have been put in place.

The council has also followed the latest Government and UK Theatres guidance on how to re-introduce live performances to ensure the safety of performers, theatregoers and staff.

Tickets for the first three live shows and for other live performances as well as tickets for cinema screenings can be booked on the Chesterfield Theatres website: www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk

When booking tickets online, customers can also spoil themselves by pre-ordering tasty treats including ice creams, sweets and drinks at a reduced price. Snacks and drinks can also be purchased when attending the Theatres, but staff will only be accepting card payments.

The Pomegranate Theatre and The Winding Wheel Theatre are owned and operated by Chesterfield Borough Council.

Chesterfield Borough Council has secured £35,000 from the Arts Council Emergency Response Fund to support the re-launch of the Pomegranate and The Winding Wheel theatres.

Please note our images were taken prior to the Coronavirus pandemic

Posted in About Chesterfield, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Featured, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Elliot Mather raises thousands for Ashgate Hospicecare

27th August 2020

Elliot Mather Solicitors has raised a total of £14,000 for Chesterfield charity, Ashgate Hospicecare.

The impressive fundraising figure is the result of a year of company raffles, as well as many team members taking part in the Sparkle Night Walk and local events such as the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon. The money will help Ashgate Hospicecare to offer a vital range of therapy and support services on site for patients with life-limiting illnesses, as well as family members.

Alan Grant, Chief Operating Officer at Elliot Mather Solicitors said: “As a company, we believe that it is important to give back to the local community. Our Chesterfield office has been supporting Ashgate Hospicecare for several years and we find it amazing how their events bring people together in solidarity.”

“We are thrilled to have raised such an amazing amount of money for such a worthy cause and it is because of the dedication of our team that we have been able to do this.”

“Although the coronavirus pandemic has affected many fundraising events, this will not affect their determination to continue fundraising. They are looking forward to what the next 12 months will bring for them!”

Elliot Mather Solicitors and Ashgate Hospicecare support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Home