Our informed and interesting speaker, Dave Berry talked us through Arkwright's life – from his very lowly beginnings in a poor family from Lancashire to his wig making apprenticeship, his famous water powered cotton spinning machine, factory building and finally to finding fame and fortune as one of the richest men in England. At one time declaring he could 'pay off the country's debt' – which he declined to do incidentally! We learned about the court battles and rivalry in

L-R: Steve Maybury and Club Chairman, Paul Davies To judge by the popularity of television and radio programmes devoted to the subject, crime thrillers are a source of continuing fascination to the public. Most of these are based on fiction but, in contrast, an actual murder committed in 1931 was the topic of a recent talk to the Bakewell and District Probus Club by member, Steve Maybury. The story, as related by Steve, was about an apparently contentedly married couple, Jul

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

The picturesque village of Tissington lies embedded into a historic landscape fashioned and farmed by man going back centuries and beyond. A surrounding gridwork of drystone walls enclose rich pasture with evidence of medieval ridge and furrow field systems. The village itself is a time warp of quintessential Englishness that melts my heart with its prettiness and character. And so it was that Nellie and I headed off from Tissington station car park for a wander along the tr

Believed to be the Peak District’s only hotel and restaurant with this status, the Hope Valley venue doubles down on inclusive, seasonal, locally-sourced dining.  The Maynard, one of the Peak District’s most popular hotel and restaurant destinations, has been officially accredited by Coeliac UK - a milestone that recognises the team’s dedication to safe, inclusive and flavour-led dining for guests who are coeliac and those who eat gluten-free.   The Coeliac UK Gluten Free Acc

– ADVERTORIAL – EDS Homecare (Eyam Domiciliary Service Ltd) is a local family business providing professional care services for people living in the Peak District, North Derbyshire and South Yorkshire for over 20 years. If you are looking for care at home you can be confident in receiving the very best service, delivered by our team of highly trained, compassionate carers. We have a dedicated Compliance Team whose first priority is to ensure the care you need is provided in

15th November to 14th December 2025 – ADVERTORIAL – Wildlife artist Richard Whittlestone has been a professional painter for over 40 years and selling his work from here in the Peak District since 1986. Earlier this year he acquired one of his early paintings, dating from 1989, which he had sold many years before. "I was struck by my attention to detail and tightness of brush-work", says Richard. "I paint in a much looser style than I used to and work in acrylics rather than

Sunday 23rd November, 10.30-12.30 “Isn’t jazz played in seedy basements late at night?” Yes – but you can also immerse yourselves in the cool sounds of mellow jazz whilst enjoying an amazing breakfast at The Medway Centre in Bakewell! The Jazz Breakfast is deservedly one of Oxfam’s most popular annual events. Come with your family and friends to relax, chat and read the Sunday newspapers, which we provide, while enjoying a sumptuous buffet of cheeses, cold meats, eggs, smok

Wyns Tor Singers invite you to their autumn concert in St Helen’s Church, Darley Dale. The choir will be singing a wide range of lively and thoughtful choral music from the renaissance to the 21st century, picking up themes of Autumn and Advent. Our guest artist will be our favourite Welsh harpist Elfair Grug, who will bring us several solo pieces from the harp repertoire. Elfair has joined us on several occasions in recent years, and has always been a joy to listen to – don’

A reminder that the seventeenth Christmas Tree Festival at All Saints’ Parish Church, Bakewell will take place between 11 and 21 December 2025. After the festival’s opening during a short service at 7pm on Thursday, 11 December, the church will be open from 9.30am to 4pm daily (12 noon to 4pm on Sundays). Delicious home made refreshments and light lunches will be served in the Open Door Café each day between 10am and 3.30pm (12.30 to 3.30 on Sundays) There will be music to

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

Derbyshire Open Arts is an annual event that promotes the work of artists and makers across the county. Next year will be the 20th anniversary of the event which has grown into Derbyshire’s largest open studio event and will take place over the Spring Bank holiday weekend, Saturday 23rd to Monday 25th May 2026. There are many benefits to artists of being part of Derbyshire Open Arts including: • promotion of your work and venue via social media platforms, newspapers and maga

When wondering where to go for a walk, the Goyt Valley sprang to mind, and so Nellie and I headed off to park the car beside Errwood Reservoir where I was pleased to see the water level was recovering from its drought inflicted low back in July this year, said to have been the lowest in decades. Opened in 1968, when full, Errwood Reservoir has a maximum depth of 114 feet and a surface area of 78 acres. It cost some £1.5 million to construct. We headed up a glorious path on t

Matlock Music Society continues its exciting 2025/26 season with a concert on 28th November given by PIVA, the internationally acclaimed early music ensemble. Returning by popular demand, the group will help ease us into the Christmas spirit by celebrating the Yuletide season, performing seasonal music and songs from Tudor times. Since forming in 2002, PIVA has become established as one of the UK’s leading early music ensembles specialising in the popular dance and ballad mu

Waxwing In winter, the UK becomes home to hundreds of thousands of visiting birds. Travelling from northern areas such as Iceland, Scandinavia and northern Russia, many species undertake long and gruelling journeys to the UK in search of food and a warmer climate. Wrapping up in warm clothes and heading out to spot these birds is a lovely way to spend a winter afternoon. Take a walk in the Peak District’s woodlands, moors or dales – and look out for winter visitors along the

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

Wirksworth Community Choir are a small, but perfectly formed, four part choir and we are looking for new members. All voice parts are very welcome….especially tenors. We have a variety of abilities and our well known musical director, Adam Green, encourages everyone’s best, to produce great choral singing. We have no audition but the ability to read music is a plus, though not a necessity. We have performed in and around Wirksworth for 40 years and sing anything from Britten

Imperial Rooms, Matlock – Wednesday 26th to Saturday 29th November, 7.30pm Pay What You Can Matinee: Saturday 29th November, 2.00pm The High Tor Players return to the stage this November with Arthur Miller’s timeless classic The Crucible, performed at the Imperial Rooms, Matlock, from Wednesday 26th to Saturday 29th November at 7.30pm each evening. Founded in 1937, the High Tor Players are a long-established Matlock-based theatre group known for their high-quality, community