Former boyband star turned award-winning farmer, with a passion for educating children about the origins of their food has been announced as the president for this year’s Chatsworth Country Fair.

JB Gill (30) rose to fame as a member of one of the UK’s biggest boybands – JLS. They dominated the charts for five years, boasting five number-one singles, over 10 million record sales worldwide and a multitude of awards.

Four years ago, JB set up a farm in the Kent countryside, where he lives with his wife, Chloe, and two-year-old son, Ace. Their smallholding successfully produces award-winning, KellyBronze turkeys and free-range Tamworth pork.

Now an established member of the farming community, JB has used his success within the entertainment industry to highlight his passion to educate children about the origins of their food and he is the lead presenter on CBeebies’ BAFTA-nominated television series, ‘Down On The Farm’ created for children aged 0–6 years, teaching them about life on a farm and outdoors. He also works closely with The Prince’s Countryside Fund, which seeks to celebrate and promote the value of family farms, rural affairs and the countryside to British society.

JB said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be named as president of the Chatsworth Country Fair 2017. The countryside is such an important part of our British society and I’m excited to represent, support and meet the many contributors and guests the fair will welcome over the weekend.

“I’ve always heard of the incredible beauty of Chatsworth Park and I was able to witness this incredible place whilst filming recently with BBC Songs Of Praise. Needless to say, I am overjoyed to have been asked to be Country Fair President 2017, joining the esteemed list of past presidents, who have all shared the same admiration that I have for this stunning countryside venue. My family and I are also looking forward to exploring the fair and getting stuck into everything it has to offer. It’s going to be an exciting weekend!”

In 2014, JB launched a diploma course at Sheffield College, ‘JB’s School of Entertainment Industries’, which teaches those enrolled a vast array of skills required to embark on a career in the entertainment industry.

He will be out and about exploring the country fair throughout the opening day (Friday 1 September).

As well as the thrilling line-up of Grand Ring entertainment, running from 10.45am to 6.30pm each day, the Chatsworth Country Fair also offers lots of shopping, fun and games for all the family, animal antics and much more. Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome, and there’s even the chance to enter the family pooch into a dog show!

The three-day celebration of the countryside set in the beautiful Chatsworth parkland is offering a feast of family entertainment, from the whirlwind that is Dzhigitovka! – The Way of the Cossack Warrior, to what is set to be one of the last displays by the army’s world famous motorcycle display team The White Helmets.

Sir Peter Luff, Chairman to the Board of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund will visit Barrow Hill Roundhouse on Thursday 21^st September 2017 to view the comprehensive National Lottery-funded restoration and officially open the new entrance building at the unique Midland Railway roundhouse.

The celebrations to mark the completion of the £1.2 million restoration, made possible by National Lottery players, will continue as the Grand Reopening Gala commences on Friday 22^nd September, continuing on Saturday 23^rd and Sunday 24^th September. 

The gala will star two icons of steam, the National Railway Museum’s A3 60103 “Flying Scotsman” and A1 60163 “Tornado”.  This will be the first visit to the Roundhouse by “Flying Scotsman” since a Barrow Hill Roundhouse Open Day in 1974.

It will also be the first opportunity for many to get up close to the locomotive alongside her sister East Coast racehorse, the 100mph “Tornado” – recently the subject of a BBC4 documentary – against the unique and authentic backdrop of the Roundhouse.

Tickets are now also on sale for “Down the Line”, a professionally produced play commissioned as part of the celebratory events to mark the reopening of Barrow Hill Roundhouse and supported by The Arts Council.

The show will involve a cast of professional actors and hundreds of local people, including a community choir and Ireland Colliery Chesterfield Brass Band.  The audience will be an integral part of the play as they follow the drama in and around the Roundhouse building. The Roundhouse team is delighted to announce that the play will include a guest appearance by “Flying Scotsman”.

Mervyn Allcock, General Manager of Barrow Hill Roundhouse, said:-

“We are very honoured that Sir Peter Luff has agreed to open the new extension building and lead our celebrations.   We are looking forward to welcoming him to our unique Roundhouse and showing much we appreciate the financial assistance the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us.”

Sir Peter Luff, Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said:-

“As the last surviving operational roundhouse, Barrow Hill has a unique role in telling the evocative story of the UK’s dazzling railway heritage. There’s no better way to learn about this history than getting up close to the buildings and locomotives that survive from that time, and that combination is what makes this place so special. That’s why I’m really excited to open the new extension, and see the finished restoration, all made possible thanks to National Lottery players.”

Chesterfield’s first botanical gin room is set to feature in a new Italian restaurant for the town, Cipollini Ristorante Italiano.

The new restaurant, which specialises in homely traditional Italian cuisine, is set to offer a new experience in the already booming Chesterfield Food and Drink scene.

The restaurant will be situated on the mezzanine above the The All Saints Tap – a new food, drink and live sports venue, specialising in craft beers, cocktails, artisan burgers and pizzas which opened its doors last weekend.

A spokesperson from Cipollini said:-

“Our concept is simple, we’re not messing about with the classic recipes and ingredients that’s been served in Italy for century’s – no twists, nothing but fine Italian food done right by our chef Fabrizio.

“We pride ourselves on staying true to our Italian roots and recipes, and serving them with a smile.

“Our Gin room will be open at weekends for pre meal drinks and available to hire out for celebrations with your own bar tender and music of your choice.”

With a focus on the Italian tradition of families dining together, the restaurant are offering all children under 12 to dine for free at all times. Every Sunday they will also be offering half price pizza and pasta between 12pm-8pm.

The prominent building on St Mary Gate now home to The All Saints Tap was previously occupied by York House, in the buzzing and vibrant Real Ale Quarter just 50 yards away from the famous Crooked Spire.

The restaurant joins an number of new businesses that have recently opened in the town over the last year – including Odyssey, Spire by Stephenson’s and Bottle and Thyme – who are nominated in the Best Newcomer category at this years Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards.

Thousands of people flocked to Chesterfield town centre for the annual medieval fun day on Tuesday 25 July.

The popular event, organised by Chesterfield Borough Council, saw a host of activities to celebrate the middle ages.

There was a medieval encampment in the grounds of the Crooked Spire church with troop marches and skirmishes.

Chesterfield market place hosted a market with charity stalls, street food and traders from Chesterfield’s general and flea markets.

Traders got into the spirit of the event by wearing traditional costumes and crowds were entertained by a court jester, medieval beggars, goblins and dragon.

Chesterfield Museum also opened specially with an event entitled ‘A day in the middle ages’.

Visitors to the museum found out about medieval arms and armour, religion and battlefield surgery and learn about the diseases, illnesses and curses the people suffered from in the middle ages.

St Mary and All Saints’ Church, the ‘Crooked Spire’ hosted an open day featuring tours of the tower.

Councillor Steve Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy said:-

“Each year, the medieval fun day brings thousands of people into Chesterfield – and this year was no exception.

“Not only was this a great day out and a chance to learn about history together but also a great boost for businesses in the town centre.”

The Dronfield Arts Festival will take place over four days from the 4th-7th May 2018 and will be packed with not just art, but also live music, street performance, street vendors, markets and more. You’ll find Dronfield buzzing with excitement and full of people.

The festival will bring amazing and captivating arts experiences to Derbyshire focusing heavily on local talent. With over 60 events planned they’ll be a fantastic mix of performances and workshops including; music, drama, poetry, visual art, dance, crafts, food, talks, literature and much more. The festival is designed to appeal to all ages and tastes; to local residents and bring visitors to Dronfield’s vibrant community.

Alan Powell Chair of Dronfield Heritage Trust, said:-

“The festival will have an accessible and lively programme that embraces the wider performing arts, with broad appeal for Dronfield, engaging the wider community and our valued visitors. The events will take place across the exciting range of social and community spaces that Dronfield offers. The festival will also provide the perfect platform for the community and those further afield to engage with the arts.”

The Arts festival is a requisite part of the Heritage Lottery Fund project to restore Dronfield Hall Barn and will be a big catalyst to making the Barn fully self-sustainable once the project finishes in 2018. Due to this, the festival is more of a community project, managed in conjunction with FWD Motion (a local digital design agency, and Chesterfield Champion) using volunteers in and around Chesterfield, with the majority of the entertainment and performances made up of local talent.

In addition to income from ticket sales and national and local funding partners, the festival is also heavily reliant upon the help and support from its army of volunteers, and the ongoing generosity of its friends and sponsors.

To find out how you can get involved and benefit from the festival’s promotional activities visit
www.dronfieldartsfestival.co.uk

The Festival will be supported by a widespread media campaign, targeting press, radio and online sources across the bordering counties. The full programme of events will be announced at the end of January 2018.