The Air Ambulance for Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland  (DLRAA) has been announced as the official charity for this year’s Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials which takes place from 15-17 May.

The DLRAA, which provides a vital life-saving rapid response helicopter service, relies entirely on donations to keep the service flying. At a cost of £1,700 for each mission, it is hoped the partnership with the Horse Trials will help support the ongoing fundraising and raise awareness of the important work carried out every day.

Just last year, the DLRAA attended 22 equestrian-related missions in Derbyshire alone. In many cases, the crew is the first on the scene providing vital medical care before either flying the patient to hospital or transferring to a location where they can be reached by land ambulance.

DLRAA flew a total of 1032 missions in 2014 which included 442 road traffic collisions, 186 medical emergencies and 195 sports related injuries, 90 of which were equestrian-related.

Sophie Burt, National Partnerships Manager for Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA), said:

“It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to be involved in such a prestigious event and we would like to thank the Duke and Duchess and all the team for choosing DLRAA to be the Horse Trials Charity for 2015. DLRAA are a charity that receives no government funding, so we rely entirely on donations and fundraising opportunities like this to keep our vital service flying. It costs around £1,700 for each mission, and we fly an average of three a day.”

The charity will have a stand at the event and will be out and about talking to visitors about their work and accepting donations over the three days.

As well as thrilling cross country action featuring the world’s leading riders, the Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials has fun for all the family with entertainment including the British Scurry and Driving Trials; Pony Club Mounted Games and Falconry displays. Dog lovers will be in for a treat with the gun dog displays; have a go dog agility; dog show and Hound parade.

The event has lots for children to enjoy from meeting the Chatsworth Farmyard animals to Punch and Judy shows; face painting; Mini Land Rovers; bouncy castle and giant slide.

Tickets for the Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials start at £10 for adults and £4.50 for children aged five and over. For more information on the Dodson & Horrell International Chatsworth Horse Trials, visit www.chatsworth.org.

A band formed by staff at BRM Solicitors and Cheetham Jackson will appear at Real Time Live in Chesterfield on Friday 27th February.

Rock, Stock, and Gavel, were the surprise entertainment at a function hosted by BRM last summer. After their set of classic and modern rock covers proved a hit with guests, the band continued and the gig at Real Time will be their public debut.

Tickets are only £2 and are now available to purchase from BRM Solicitors or Real Time Live. All proceeds will be donated to Breast Cancer Care.

Doors will open at 6.30pm on the night.

To book email andrew.robinson@brmlaw.co.uk or realtimemusic@hotmail.co.uk.

Amelia Lily is set to bring yet more X Factor to the Winding Wheel in this year’s production of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat as she steps into the role of Narrator alongside fellow X Factor finalist Lloyd Daniels, who plays Joseph.

Amelia, who was mentored by former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland, finished third on The X Factor 2011, and then went on to have chart success with her debut single You Bring Me Joy, which got to number two.

No stranger to the bright lights, the star was also the support act for Girls Aloud’s farewell tour in 2013, and for Olly Murs at the INTRO Festival.

Coming to Chesterfield in April, the colourful retelling of the biblical story about Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours stars will once again star Lloyd Daniels as Joseph.

Lloyd became the X Factor’s youngest contestant in 2009 and got to the final five out of 250,000 contestants to perform in front of 10 million TV viewers. Since then he has performed to sold-out arenas on a 56 date X Factor tour and released his popular single Suburbian Girl.

The musical also sees the welcome return of Matt Lapinskas who will be donning his Elvis outfit once more to reprise the role of the Pharaoh. Best known for playing Anthony Moon in BBC EastEnders, Matt was also runner up in the penultimate series of Dancing on Ice. He joined the Joseph cast in 2014 for the UK, making his first musical theatre role.

Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat will be at Chesterfield’s Winding Wheel from Tuesday 14 to Sunday 19 April 2015. Tickets can be booked via the Chesterfield Theatres Box Office by calling 01246 345 222 or visiting chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk.

Two dragons will be paraded down Steeplegate and Vicar Lane next week to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Currently being designed and made by pupils at Mary Swanwick Primary School, the dragons are part of a School and Community Project suggested by Vicar Lane Shopping Centre in Chesterfield.

The children and their dragons will be at Steeplegate and Vicar Lane at around 11.00am on 19th February 2015. Visitors are encouraged to join the parade or cheer them on.

Amanda Thomas from Vicar Lane Shopping Centre said: “The pupils at Mary Swanwick school have been involved in several artistic projects which have been displayed at Vicar Lane in the past, including making bunting, Christmas decorations and recycling projects. They are always enthusiastic and produce some fantastic work, which the public then get a chance to see at Vicar Lane.

Claire Rumsey, ART HLTA from Mary Swanwick Primary School said: “As always, we are delighted to be involved in a Vicar Lane event. The children are eagerly anticipating their work being on display for the public.”

Head teacher, Joy Nunn said:

“Claire and the children have given up many lunch times to create their dragons. I’m delighted and very proud of their efforts.”

Chatsworth is opening its doors for a fortnight of pirate and princess-themed fun on the high seas of the farmyard and adventure playground this February half term.

Children will be given water shooters as they ride on the tractor and trailer ‘galleon’ to blast those pesky pirates hiding out in the ‘high seas’ of Stand Wood.

The Oak Barn will ensure no self respecting pirate or princess will be without their hat or crown as they take part in the fun and craft activities will run every day.

It’s a great time to visit the farmyard as young guests will be able to get up close to creepy crawlies from around the world in sessions running Monday to Friday inclusive each week.

There will be also be opportunities to cuddle a guinea pig in one of the frequent sessions running every day of the half term.

A visit to Chatsworth’s newest additions – a litter of piglets born on 6 January – is also recommended.

As ever, the woodland adventure playground will provide the perfect setting to let children run, jump, slide, swing and bounce, with sand and water play for little ones too.

As well as the indoor picnic room, the cafe will be open throughout half term serving hot food and kids’ lunches for a great day out this half term.

For more information and ticketing options, visit www.chatsworth.org

Chesterfield Manager Paul Cook has signed a one-year extension to his contract.

Cook, whose previous deal was due to expire in 2016, is now tied to the club until the summer of 2017, together with his assistant, Leam Richardson.

Cook joined the Spireites in October 2012 and has overseen the club’s rise from League 2 as champions in 2013/14 and their stabilisation in League 1 during the current campaign.

The contract extension comes in the wake of the January transfer window, which saw the Spireites bring in five new players and sell striker Eoin Doyle to Championship side Cardiff City for a seven-figure fee.

Cook is delighted to commit his future to the club given the volatile nature of football management.

He said: “Along with the rest of the coaching staff, I was brought in to do a job and in football it’s always a difficult job in an ever-changing world.

“I’ve been here now for two years and four months and I think I’m in the top 20 longest-serving managers, which is quite amazing.

“I’d just like to thank the chairman, Chris [Turner], the board of directors and all the supporters for all the faith they’ve shown in me.”

The manager described his feelings for the club and the importance of displaying togetherness and loyalty.

“We feel we have a very strong unity here together as a club,” said Cook. “Any manager will be clamouring for time, but in football today we don’t get that.

“The club is very important to us all. Loyalty in football now is a very hard thing to come across and as a manager or a player I think you need to show that.”

Chesterfield chief executive Chris Turner, who emphasised the need to continue the club’s forward momentum, feels strongly that Cook and his staff are the right people to ensure that happens.

Turner said: “It’s important that we keep this project going forward. After the developments of the transfer window, where we brought in five new players and Eoin [Doyle] left the club, we’re showing that everything’s positive at the club.

“In the two-and-a-half years that Paul’s been here, the progress has been there for all to see. Out on the field of play we’re fifth in League 1, challenging for a play-off spot and we’ve just sold our first million pound Chesterfield player.

“For the first time in a long time there’s a very positive and bright looking future in front of us.”

The Christians, who had a string of hits in the late 80s/early 90s, will perform at Chesterfield FC’s Player of the Year dinner.

They will perform well-known tracks such as Harvest for the World, Forgotten Town, Born Again and Ideal World at the event on Bank Holiday Monday, May 4.

Commenting on the news, Spireites Chief Executive, Chris Turner said: “We were keen to include live music from a well-known group to add something extra to the event and The Christians certainly fit the bill.

“It promises to be a great night. Around 75 per cent of the places have already been filled so I would urge anyone who wants to attend to make a booking as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.”

It will be the club’s biggest-ever Player of the Year dinner, with a marquee on the pitch at the Proact Stadium accommodating 500 people. In the event of the club being involved in the play-offs, the marquee will be erected on the stadium car park.

Tickets for the dinner are priced at £50 and £75. To book, phone Janice Kew on 01246 209765 (ext 4153) or email janicekew@chesterfield-fc.co.uk.