Organisers at the Proact Stadium are hoping to break a world record this Friday – for the number of people attending a first aid lesson.

The event, which will start at 10am, is backed by the British Heart Foundation’s ‘Heart Start’ campaign, in association with the Community Safe a Life Scheme and Bolsover District Council.

Anyone of any age can attend and join in the lesson at the Proact for FREE to learn the skills that one day could save someone’s life.

Commenting on the expected number of attendees, organiser Deborah Watson said: “We think we’ve got in the region of 1,800 school children alone and the current record is 1,700, which was set in Abu Dhabi.

“We’re fairly confident we’re going to beat that record. We’re hopeful other members of the public will come and we’ll have over 2,000 people on the day.”

Cheryle Berry, who is also part of the organising team, added: “When people come on Friday morning they can look forward to an exciting day but also one where they can learn skills which could help them save a life – we think that’s pretty unique.

“We want every single participant to feel proud of themselves because they could literally save a life from the things they learn here on Friday.”

Oldham Athletic fan Melvin Kenyon, whose life was saved after he collapsed while watching his team at the Proact last November, is expected to be in attendance.

(Image courtesy of Tina Jenner.)

The popular Rail Ale Festival at atmospheric Barrow Hill Roundhouse is set to celebrate its 15th birthday in style this weekend. Supported by CAMRA, this year’s festival takes place over three full days, with over 300 beers and ciders on offer, making it the biggest Rail Ale yet.

The of number of beers on the Craft & Continental Keg bar has also increased substantially to reflect the growing popularity of this way of serving beer. There will be a wide range of bottled beers from around the world, a comprehensive selection of fruit wines and several gluten-free beers too (subject to availability).

Classic steam and diesel locomotives will once again form the dramatic backdrops to the bars. Steam trains will run until 5pm on Friday and Saturday and there will, of course, be plenty of great live music and good food.

This year’s musical treats include New Orleans Heat Jazz Band, Shaun Byrne Open Mic, The Shaydes, Redwood, The Moode and Facsimile (Friday) and Ashover Brass Band, Shaun Byrne Open Mic, The Shaydes and Red Ruff, Flint, Moore & Byrne, Danny Smart and Doc Marten & The Ill Fitting Suits (Saturday).

Steam trains will run throughout the day on Friday and Saturday until 5.00pm and visitors can also take a ‘brake’ in one of the Roundhouse’s restored brake vans on the platform.

The Rail Ale Festival takes place at Barrow Hill Roundhouse in Chesterfield on Thursday 19th May, Friday 20th May and Saturday 21st May and will be open from 12 noon to 11pm on all three days.

Further information, including details of the free bus service from Chesterfield Railway Station can be found at http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/rail-ale-festival/.

(Images courtesy of Paul Bigland)

Residents and visitors are encouraged to show their support in the town centre this Sunday 22nd May for more than 1,200 people expected to walk, jog and run in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.

Starting at Chesterfield Town Hall at 10.30am, the route will lead through Knifesmithgate, Elder Way, around the Crooked Spire church and sections of West Bars, New Beetwell Street, Boythorpe Avenue and Park Road.

Parking will be available at several car parks in the town centre including: Saltergate multi-storey, Holywell Cross (Donut), Ashgate Road and Queen’s Park South. Soresby Street car park will be open for event participants only and will reopen to the public once the race has finished.

As usual, some car parks and roads on the route will be closed for periods of the day while the race takes place in the town centre.

To enable the event to run smoothly Chesterfield Borough Council will temporarily close Queen’s Park North car park, Rose Hill car park and Albion Road car park.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centre and visitor economy said: “We are pleased to once again support Chesterfield’s Race for Life event because it is such a worthwhile cause.

“All of us will have been touched by cancer at some time in our lives either through having the disease or knowing someone who has.

“There may be some disruption in the town centre during the race but we will keep this to a minimum. Roads and car parks will open as soon as possible after the race participants have passed.

“Good luck to everyone in the race.”

Visitors to Chesterfield Museum are invited to learn about the town’s medieval past in a new exhibition.

Cestrefeld – Medieval Town is an opportunity to discover how the local medieval community lived, handle replica objects and enjoy playing some popular games of the period.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centre and visitor economy said:

“Chesterfield was a thriving town in the middle ages and this exhibition allows our visitors to find out what life was like for people who lived in the town during that period.

“With activities suitable for all ages, it’s ideal for families to visit and learn together.”

Cestrefeld – Medieval Town runs at Chesterfield Museum from Saturday 14 May until Saturday 2 July. The museum is open each Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm and admission is free.

Three players whose contracts with the Spireites are due to expire are being offered new deals while seven have been told that they are not being retained.

New deals will be put to Rai Simons, Jake Orrell and Jake Beesley, but Drew Talbot, Chris Herd, Jordan Slew, Byron Harrison, Mani Dieseruvwe, Michael Onovwigun and Aaron Chapman will all be leaving the club.

Simons scored five goals in 22 appearances in his debut season for the club after signing from Ilkeston last summer while Orrell, who was recruited after impressing on trial in pre-season, made one start and three appearances as a substitute. He also had a spell on loan at Matlock Town.

Beesley, who turned professional 12 months ago, has not made an appearance during an injury-affected season.

Talbot’s departure brings an end to his seven-and-a-half-year association with the Spireites. He initially arrived on loan from Luton Town in January 2009 before signing permanently the following summer. The 29-year-old scored 19 goals in 277 appearances for Chesterfield.

Spireites manager Danny Wilson said: “It is a difficult time when players come to the end of their contract, with all the uncertainty. I hope the players who are leaving us have enjoyed their time at the club and I wish them all the best. Hopefully they can kick on and enjoy future success.”

Chesterfield welcomes its 376^th mayor as Councillor Steve Brunt takes up the reins for the coming year.

The new mayor was sworn in at Chesterfield Borough Council’s annual council meeting this week.

Councillor Brunt was elected as a Labour member serving Brockwell ward at the local elections in May 2015. He had previously served as a ward councillor for Holmebrook ward serving from 1987 to 1999.

He worked in mining before a career in further education, retiring from Northern College in Barnsley after 21 years last summer.

He will be supported in the role by his wife, Jill Mannion-Brunt, who will serve as mayoress.

Councillor Brunt said: “This is such an honour for us. Chesterfield has such a history and is a great place for people to live and work.

“I will do my best to represent this historic town and fulfil the role of mayor proudly.”

Residents are invited to attend the civic service at St Mary and All Saints’ Church, the Crooked Spire, on Saturday 14 May from 11am.

The service will be led by the mayor’s chaplain and the church’s incumbent, Revd Patrick Coleman in the presence of Rt Revd Dr Alistair Redfern, the Bishop of Derby.

There will be a civic procession from the Town Hall to the church.

Anyone attending the service is asked to be seated for 10.40am before the procession arrives at the church.

The service will be followed by a further procession from the church to the Town Hall. There is likely to be congestion in the town centre and the car parks around the Town Hall will also be closed until after the service.

The mayor and mayoress will support two charities during their year of office:

• The Macmillan Cancer support appeal for the new Macmillan Cancer Centre at Chesterfield Royal Hospital
• Accessible Derbyshire

Councillor Brunt and Mrs Mannion-Brunt replace Councillor Barry Bingham and his wife June who served as Chesterfield’s mayor and mayoress in 2015/16.

A Dementia Friends Roadshow will be held in Staveley in Chesterfield on Monday 16th May to help promote understanding, raise awareness and create as many Dementia Friends as possible.

The event is part of a series of information sessions taking place across Derbyshire in support of Dementia Awareness Week which runs from the 15 to 21 May 2016.

Around 10,600 people aged over 65 are estimated to have dementia in Derbyshire − a number that is expected to double by 2030.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Councillor Paul Smith said:

“In Derbyshire the number of people with dementia is higher than the national average and with an ageing population, that number is set to rise.

“That’s why it’s important we do all we can to provide support, advice and information to people and help those with the condition to live safely and well.”

The Dementia Friends Roadshow takes place on Monday 16 May 2016 from 10am to noon at The Staveley Centre, Calver Cresent, Middlecroft. For more information please see http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/dementia-friends-roadshow/.

Derbyshire County Council also funds a dementia support service run by the Alzheimer’s Society to help people with dementia and their carers to access information, help and advice.

The service also organises memory cafés, information programmes for carers and ‘singing for the brain’ sessions in various locations across Derbyshire.

Residents can get in touch with the dementia support service, tel: 01246 223366 or find out more information about dementia and council-run support services.

Work to restore Chesterfield Canal has reached another milestone with the installation of new gates at Staveley Town Lock ahead of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) National Trailboat Festival later this month.

The new lock gates were installed on Thursday 5 May 2016 as part of a long-term project led by Derbyshire County Council and Chesterfield Canal Trust to restore the canal and boost tourism.

Up to 30 volunteers from the trust have been working to prepare the area where the new lock gates have been installed in time for the National Trailboat Festival.

Around 8,000 visitors from across the country are expected to flock to the IWA festival which is being held jointly with the trust’s annual festival at Staveley Town Basin on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 May 2016.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, Councillor Dean Collins said:

“We’re committed to helping to improve Derbyshire’s economy and tourism has very important role to play.

“By restoring the canal, we can bring more fantastic events like the IWA National Trailboat Festival to Derbyshire bringing more visitors to the area.

“A lot of hard work has gone into restoring 37 miles of the canal so far and we’re very grateful to the many volunteers who have given up their time to help make the project a success.

“We look forward to welcoming the boating community to Derbyshire to enjoy our beautiful county and all it has to offer.”

The lock gates were manufactured and installed by Hargreaves Foundry Ltd in Halifax using £50,000 from Derbyshire County Council and £37,500 from The Veolia Environmental Trust through the Landfill Communities Fund.

The Landfill Community Fund is a national scheme which uses money from landfill tax for community and environmental projects.

Malcolm Marshall, a trustee of The Veolia Environmental Trust, said:

“It was great to see the closing stages of this ambitious project.

“We hope that the new gates mark the start of an exciting new era for the canal and Staveley.”

The admission for the festival will be £3 and free for under 12-year-olds. For more information see www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/iwa-national-trailboat-festival-and-chesterfield-canal-festival/