Photograph courtesy of Ross Sneddon The Farming Life Centre (FLC) is opening a series of warm, welcoming community spaces in Ashford-in-the-Water and Bradwell this winter, offering residents a place to relax, connect, and enjoy good company during the colder months. Thanks to funding from Derbyshire Voluntary Action, the warm spaces will run from 12:30pm to 3:30pm at Ashford Village Hall on 21 January and 18 February and at the Bradwell Sports Pavilion on 18 December, 22 Jan

Henry and his Mum, who is a teacher at the school Henry Donovan, a pupil at Bakewell Methodist Academy, led the way in a challenging fundraising event at school. Last year, Henry was diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an auto immune condition where the body can’t make insulin. Insulin acts as a key that lets sugar from food go into the body’s cells to give them energy. In type 1 diabetes the body’s immune system accidentally attacks the cells in the pancreas t

L-R: President, John Hopkins, David Ensor and Secretary, Peter Huttable At the evening meeting on 26th November at the Rutland Arms, Bakewell members were delighted to welcome speaker, David Ensor. He had travelled from the Cotswolds to be at the meeting and tell more of his fundraising for Alzheimer’s Research UK with several walks and over £70k raised so far – and he’s off to do the via Francigena camino from Lucca to Rome next year. The club had donated some £500 to his re

Stan and Lilian Barnes A couple who have dedicated 42 years of their life to looking after children are retiring as foster carers for Derbyshire County Council. Lilian and Stan Barnes have been reflecting on their decades-long commitment to providing stable, loving homes for Derbyshire children. Over the years, the couple have cared for around 45 children, taking them into their home for between one and three years before they either went back to their families or were adop

Our final excursion for the year was a daytime river cruise along the River Trent with Princess River Cruises on which we enjoyed a Christmas lunch. After arriving at the River Lodge at Colwick for refreshments, we boarded the cruise and settled into our journey. Sadly it was a wet, miserable day outside so views were at times limited but the atmosphere inside the vessel was by no means disappointing! As soon as we were seated and the journey commenced, we were served very

The Matlock G&S Singers present a Come & Sing Seasonal Songs evening...under the baton of Mel Gilbert. The choir will also be performing a selection of songs. Friday 12th December 2025. All saints Church Hall, Smedley St. Matlock DE4 3JG. 7.30 doors open 7pm. Admission £5 Tea Coffee and Mince pies will be provided but please feel free to bring your own drinks and nibbles if you would like. Free parking at Hall/on road.

The Mayor of Wirksworth, Councillor Andy Pollock, had a successful, if not entirely enjoyable skydive in September and has raised £5,000 for his chosen charities… so far! Andy hopes to carry out more fundraising events in coming months and to push his total during this year long-term to over £6,000. The funds will be split between children’s charities Wirksworth Young Futures Fund and Seashell Trust.

Once again at Bakewell Methodist Church we are celebrating the Christmas story with a Festival of Nativities. The invitation is to everyone to come and see the meaningful story of Christmas pictured through beautiful Nativity crib scenes, including a life-size scene with all the characters around the crib. Come and discover again how the birth of Jesus came about and why that brings so much to celebrate in this season! The Festival is open every day from 1st to 22nd December

The Wirksworth Fairtrade Town Team celebrating at the town sign and Siddhraj and Rukvi Odedra showing some of the Fairtrade products in their shop, Dip's Place The Wirksworth Fairtrade Town Team is delighted to announce that Wirksworth has won back its Fairtrade Town status. The town was first accredited as a Fairtrade Town back in 2009, but in recent years this status has lapsed. Now, however, the Fairtrade Foundation has updated Wirksworth’s Fairtrade status for a further t

Baslow St. Anne’s CE Primary School Tiger Class Reception and Year 1 and Leopard Class Year 1 and 2 put their enterprise skills into action and managed to raise a phenomenal grand total of £2,724.70 for Children in Need. The children worked together as a team and collaborated in deciding to hold a sponsored walk into Chatsworth, where they had a hot chocolate and Pudsey biscuit before returning to school. They also used their financial and literacy skills, deciding to ask f

On Sunday 9th November, Darley Dale came together with an impressive turnout for the annual Remembrance Parade and Service. Residents of all ages gathered to honour those who served and sacrificed, reflecting the town’s deep sense of respect and community spirit. The event was marked by solemnity and gratitude, with heartfelt tributes paid throughout the afternoon. Darley Dale Town Council would like to extend their sincere thanks to everyone who attended to pay their respec

A truly wonderful afternoon was enjoyed by all members and visitors who braved the terrible rain pouring down like stair rods to listen to guest speakers Janet and Paul Barrass, who spoke and sang with passion and laughter about one of their special subject lectures ‘Past Traditions of Christmas’. To back this they brought along an extensive array of vintage festive items which took everyone back to their childhood memories of bygone christmases. All in all this was one of t

Zink CEO, Paul Bohan with Akshata Murty A Derbyshire charity that’s transforming lives across the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales has won one of the country’s most prestigious charity awards. Zink, which supports local people out of poverty and into work, as well as providing holistic support services including a foodbank, eco-café and health activities was selected as a winner from 600 charities around the country in this year’s Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) Awards, which

The River Network Woodland Project is proud to announce its latest initiative aimed at supporting homeless shelters and supported housing projects through the creation of planters and raised beds. A dedicated team of service users recently came together to lend their skills and expertise, fostering community development and leadership along the way. This project not only addresses the immediate need for green spaces in urban areas but also empowers individuals facing homeles

The Eco Council at Youlgrave All Saints Primary are leading initiatives to drive the school’s Climate Action Plan. The children are working with the school cook to reduce food waste by adapting lunchtime menus and are ready to submit their RHS Level 2 Gardening Award to improve our outdoor spaces and provide microhabitats. In a true show of pupil power, they met online with their counterparts at Biggin School to share ideas. Together, the two councils decided to take part in

Thread Your Way Along the Steel Cotton Rail Trail, the brand-new station to station walking trail from Sheffield to Manchester which was launched on 27th September. Created by the High Peak and Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership and the South East Manchester Community Rail Partnership, the Steel Cotton Rail Trail allows walkers to explore the Peak District and canals from Sheffield to Manchester along the Hope Valley railway line, discovering the area’s industrial past a

L-R: Club Chairman, Paul Davies and Stefan Andrejczuk To many people in this country, the name of Marks & Spencer suggests the traditional British business but, in fact, it was founded by a penniless immigrant, Michael Marks who, in 1882, arrived in England unable to speak the language but who was determined to work hard to earn a living. The story of the famous retail business which bears his name and that of his partner, Thomas Spencer, was related to the Bakewell and Distr

L-R: Prof. Roger Clough with Rotary members, Margie Stuckey and Dr John Burn We were delighted to welcome Prof Roger Clough to our evening meeting on 29th October at The Rutland Arms, Bakewell for a very stimulating presentation and discussion based on his book Oldenland – how to grow old gracefully, understand others and enjoy your later years! Roger is a retired academic from Lancaster University who has written numerous books on ageing and social care – and widely spoken p