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Town to Commemorate Battle of Chesterfield

Volunteers are wanted to help mark the 750th anniversary of the Battle of Chesterfield next year.

Plans are already underway to stage a large medieval-style event in the town centre on Sunday, 15th May 2016 with plenty of entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.

Community group, Chesterfield 750 is looking for people with a range of skills to help from fundraisers and researchers to costume designers and musicians and asks anyone who is interested in getting involved to get in touch.

Publicity Officer, Colin Harrison, a member of the Chesterfield 750 group said:-

“In preparation of the anniversary there will be several separate events and projects – the first of which is the building of a cart to be used on the day. There are also proposals to make a series of videos about life as it would have been at the time, a miniature re-enactment of the battle and plans to involve schools – maybe with something like the design of their own banners. We also hope that as many local groups as possible will take part, in whatever capacity they will most enjoy.

“Actual historical details of events around the battle are slightly sketchy, which we will take advantage of to allow a wide interpretation of them.  We want this to be a fun event, rather than a strictly educational one, although we hope to provide some interesting information as a by-product of our research.”

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 28th April from 7.00pm at The Rose and Crown Pub on Old Road in Chesterfield and everyone is welcome.  For more information please email info@chesterfield750.co.uk or visit http://www.chesterfield750.co.uk/.

Battle of Chesterfield

 

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

Wingerworth Fencing Club Win Double Gold

Wingerworth Fencing Club is celebrating its fifteenth birthday with two gold medals secured at the British Championships, which were held at EIS in Sheffield last weekend.

In the individual events on Saturday, Hannah Lawrence became British Women’s Champion, a title which she last held in 2008. Hannah won all of her fights on the day and none more convincingly than when beating fellow England and GB team mate Amy Radford, from Malvern Fencing Club 15-6 to take the championship.

The second day of was the team event and the Wingerworth Ladies beat every team in the competition and trounced Truro in the play off final by 45 – 29.  The team had been strengthened this year with the addition of Mary Cohen who joined Hannah Lawrence, Jayne Crook and Caitlin Chang.

Wingerworth Fencing Club coach, Tony Klenczar, said:-

“This was a superb weekend for Wingerworth and the promotion of fencing in Derbyshire. All the people in the club who are competing at this level work extremely hard, along with their coaches, to achieve these results.

“We are always keen at the club to encourage new people to take up the sport. We want Derbyshire fencing to be bigger and better than any other club in the country!”

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

Chesterfield Meets Spain in Mi Casa Cook book

A tantalising new cookbook has been launched by local entrepreneur and Chesterfield’s four star Casa Hotel owner, Steve Perez.

The mi Casa Cook book, follows hot on the heels of Casa Hotel being voted 5th best hotel in the UK, in Trip Advisors 2015 Travellers Choice Awards. It draws on influences from Steve’s Spanish roots, and his passion for high quality local produce. Mi Casa, offers insights into dishes inspired by his Derbyshire upbringing as well as showcasing the skills of the two AA rosette kitchen team and Head Chef Andrew Wilson.

Featuring over 30 dishes ranging from simple Tapas dishes to ‘Something Special’ Cocina restaurant inspired recipes, Mi Casa has been written to suit the skills of the novice and adventurous home cooks alike with easy to follow recipes.

For Steve Perez, this book marks the latest venture into the food, drink and hospitality industry. Speaking of the book launch, he said: “I’m delighted to have a platform to celebrate my love of food in ‘Mi Casa’. Not only is it a great way to recognise some of the fantastic local food produce available in Chesterfield and surrounding areas, it’s also an opportunity to inspire readers to add a taste of Spain to their dishes too.”

“My late Father Santiago, originally from Barcelona, inspired me throughout my career. I grew up in the Derbyshire countryside with him cooking Spanish dishes in the home. When it came to building Casa Hotel, I wanted something which would reflect my Mediterranean roots and the same is true about the Mi Casa cook book.”

Central to Casa Hotel’s achievements are the quality of the ingredients and produce used in its menus.  Walton Lodge Farm, which is part of Steve’s Walton Lodge Estate, provides meat and eggs to Casa Hotel. Mi Casa features a behind the scenes look at the workings of the farm and its unique connection to the hotel. It also introduces other local key Derbyshire suppliers, Highfield House Farm and John Hattersley Wines, as well Yorkshire-based Grey’s Fine Foods, which brings the authentic Spanish tastes and ingredients to Casa.

Throughout the last 40 years Steve has successfully carved a career for himself in the hospitality industry. From Steve’s humble beginnings working in the kitchen of his father’s restaurant, moving from managing pubs to developing the hugely successful international drinks business Global Brands.

Mi Casa: Spanish-Inspired Recipes from the Heart of Derbyshire’ is available to purchase directly from Casa Hotel or through Amazon and is priced at £14.95.

Mi Casa Cook Book Steve Perez

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Leisure, Visiting

Arts Festival Something to Shout About at Chatsworth

Chatsworth is set to launch a major new arts festival this September.

‘Art Out Loud‘ is a three-day event featuring a stellar line up of more than 20 speakers drawn from the literary world, art, tv, museums and journalism.

The festival, which runs from 18th to 20th September, has been inspired by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire’s passion for the arts.

The Duke said:-

“Over the past few years Chatsworth has developed a fantastic programme of arts-related exhibitions and events, which has been very well received.

“We are delighted that the Chatsworth Festival will be joining this programme in 2015, giving our visitors the opportunity to hear some of the world’s best authors, journalists and artists share their thoughts and experiences.”

‘Art Out Loud’ is the latest addition to a burgeoning arts scene at Chatsworth and the event will run alongside the 10th anniversary of the ‘Beyond Limits’ monumental sculpture exhibition in the garden starting in September.

Speakers include Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry CBE; author and filmmaker Hannah Rothschild; BBC Arts Editor, Will Gompertz; and the Duke of Devonshire who will be talking about the Devonshire Collection, one of Europe’s most significant art collections.  A full programme for the festival will be announced in June.

Chatsworth

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Spireites Prepare for True Blue Day

Chesterfield’s game at home to Bristol City on Saturday will be ‘True Blue Day’, with Spireites fans urged to wear blue to show their support for the club.

The aim is to be as many fans as possible wearing blue at the Proact Stadium on Saturday 25th April, whether it be a replica home shirt, t-shirt or scarf.

The dress code in the corporate areas of the stadium will also be relaxed on the day, allowing those in the lounges to wear replica shirts.

Spireites Chief Executive Chris Turner said:-

“We want to generate a party atmosphere to celebrate what has been a fantastic season and it would be fantastic to witness a sea of blue in the stands when the teams run out.

“There is a limited stock of home replica shirts on sale in the Club Superstore and we also have some blue t-shirts and scarves available. The players and management have done superbly well to put us within touching distance of the play-offs so let’s make True Blue Day an unforgettable occasion.”Chesterfield Football Club Chester the Field Mouse

 

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

Daredevil Stunt Team Joins Chatsworth Country Fair

Three exciting new acts have been announced for this year’s Chatsworth Country Fair – including the energetic Ukrainian Cossack Stunt Team which is set to wow visitors with mind-blowing stunts – from balancing on a saddle whilst galloping at full speed to hanging from a stirrup with just one leg.

The world-famous group will be joined at the event by The Band of the Corps of the Royal Engineers, who will perform a medley of traditional army marches, as well as a selection of well-known hits and current chart toppers.  Appearing at numerous state occasions, the band continually achieves wide public recognition through its many broadcasts, recordings and concert performances, most notably playing at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and, to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

The Essex Dog Display Team will top off the action-packed schedule of new talent, with 10 various breeds of dogs and their handlers carrying out an exciting display of ambitious exercises and agility obstacles, which may even see them jumping through flaming hoops!  A big hit with royals and celebrities alike, the team has performed in venues ranging from the grounds of Blenheim Palace and Windsor Castle to the studios of Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.

Held in the beautiful Chatsworth parkland surrounding the house in the heart of the Peak District, the popular three-day event will feature all three acts in the prestigious Grand Ring, along with many more performers yet to be announced.

This year’s Chatsworth Country Fair promises bigger and better entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. For more information visit http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/chatsworth-country-fair/.

The Ukrainian Cossack Stunt Team coming to Chatsworth Country Fai

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

Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre up for Prestigious Award

Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre has been announced as a finalist in the prestigious VisitEngland Awards For Excellence 2015.

The centre, based in Rykneld Square and owned and operated by Chesterfield Borough Council, is in the running for Visitor Information Provider of the Year and faces competition from the City of London Information Centre, Durham Visitor Information Network, Simply Staffordshire and The Welcome People in London.

Alyson Barnes, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Tourism, Museums and Events Manager said:-

“We provide a welcoming atmosphere for all our visitors both prior to and during their stay in Chesterfield, delivered by enthusiastic, knowledgeable staff.

“The staff are ambassadors for Chesterfield, promoting the town and the Peak District to allow visitors to get the most from their stay, increasing visitor spend and supporting the local economy.”

The winners will be announced at a ceremony held on Monday 11 May 2015 at the Sage, Gateshead and all finalists are guaranteed to receive either gold, silver, bronze or highly commended.

James Berresford, Chief Executive of VisitEngland said:-

“It’s been another successful year for our excellence awards as we’ve received hundreds of applications of an extremely high standard. That’s why all the finalists should be incredibly proud that they’ve been short-listed against such tough competition.

“I’d like to congratulate all the finalists who now represent the top five in their category in England and wish them all the very best of luck on awards night.”

Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre

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

Queen’s Park named as one of the top ten Cricket outgrounds in the Country

Queen’s Park in Chesterfield is one of ten outgrounds to visit this year according to the Independent.

The picturesque setting at the ground and the enchanting old-school pavilion makes it a must visit destination for Cricket fans this summer.

The Chesterfield Festival of cricket  which returns this summer, will feature three Derbyshire matches, to mark a tenth successive year for the festival.

Queen’s Park will play host to the visit of Northampton Steelbacks in the NatWest T20 Blast on Sunday 5 July, before Glamorgan arrive the following day for the start of the LV= County Championship fixture.

The festival concludes the following Sunday, with Derbyshire meeting Yorkshire Vikings the NatWest T20 Blast, in a clash that is expected to draw in a huge crowd.

The ground will also host international cricket in the summer with England U19’s taking on Australia U19’s

Read more about the Chesterfield Festival of Cricket

Read More about England U19’s V Australia U19’s

Chesterfield Festival of Cricke

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Visit England Chooses Chatsworth For Excellence Awards

Chatsworth has been chosen as a finalist in the ‘Large Visitor Attraction’ category of Visit England’s Excellence Awards – a celebration of the cream of English Tourism.

The winner will be announced at a glittering Awards Ceremony at the Sage Centre in Gateshead on 9 May 2015.

Chatsworth has seen significant investment in recent years. More than £14 million was invested in upgrading the visitor experience as part of the Masterplan programme of improvements while major events like the ‘Beyond Limits’ monumental sculpture exhibition in the garden, the ‘Chatsworth Country Fair’ and the ‘Chatsworth Festival – Art Out Loud’ draw in thousands of visitors.

The Large Visitor Attraction category covers visitor attractions of all kinds, with over 50,000 visitors per annum, including attractions that offer pre-booked tickets, museums, interpretation centres, theme parks, historic houses and castles. Chatsworth is facing competition for the top prize from Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust in Shropshire, Liverpool Cathedral, The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall and the Roman Baths and Pump Room in Bath, Somerset.

James Berresford, chief executive of VisitEngland said: “It’s been another successful year for our Excellence Awards as we’ve received hundreds of applications of an extremely high standard.

“That’s why all the finalists should be incredibly proud that they’ve been short-listed against such tough competition. I’d like to congratulate all the finalists who now represent the top five in their category in England and wish them all the very best of luck on Awards night at the Sage Centre in Gateshead – a spectacular venue to celebrate the industry’s best.”

Chatsworth House West Front

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Spireites Sign International Striker

Chesterfield have signed Bermuda international striker, Rai Simons from non-league Ilkeston Town.

The 19-year-old has been on Chesterfield’s radar for some time and manager Paul Cook is delighted to have clinched his signature.

Cook said: “Rai is someone we have tracked for a while. We feel that he will develop as time goes on and have a bright future.”

After agreeing a two-year deal at the Proact, Simons said: “I’m excited because I’ve been looking forward to this moment since moving to England at the age of 15. The set-up sounds brilliant and it is everything I could ask for.”

Simons scored on his full international debut for Bermuda and set up the other goal in a 2-2 draw against Grenada.

Spireites Sign International Striker

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Young Spireites Duo to Sign Professional Deals

Chesterfield FC has offered professional contracts to youth team duo Laurence Maguire and Jake Beesley.

Maguire, who plays in central defence, has captained the high-flying Spireites youth team this season while striker Beesley has scored 20 goals so far. Both youngsters have a footballing heritage.

Maguire’s brother Harry is with Premier League club Hull City and Beesley’s father, Paul, starred for the likes of Sheffield United and Leeds United.

Commenting on the decision to offer contracts to the pair, Academy Manager, Gerry Carr said:-

“This is without doubt the most difficult part of my job. We have had an excellent season with the youth team and all of the players have played a huge part in that.

“Mark Smith and I have assessed all of the second years over a two-year period and Laurence Maguire and Jake Beesley have been the most progressive over that period. Hopefully they can both go on to represent Chesterfield in the first team. For those two the hard work to become a successful professional footballer is just starting.

“Those that have been unfortunate enough not to be offered a professional contract will hopefully go on to prove us wrong. We as a club will do our best to help them out in the next stage of their lives and careers. I wish them all the very best of luck in the future.”
Maguire expressed his delight at the news. He said: “It feels very good. When I got the news from Gerry and Mark, I was just relieved – now it’s onwards and upwards.”

Beesley added:-

“I’ve been at the club since I was 14-years-old. It’s nice to come all the way through, get my scholarship first and then after those two years I’m delighted now to get my first pro contract.”Spireites Duo

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

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