TALK OF THE DALES 16th June 2025
- peakadvertiser
- Jun 11
- 11 min read
A collection of stories from our 16th June edition.
Aged 4.5 years of age, I set out along the lane from my home, then down a quiet road to the main road, called Smedley Street, so named as it passed Smedley Hydro (now the County Offices). Walking along here, I came to another main road on which, years previously, trams were the main vehicles, and I crossed to East Smedley Street and walked along to the junction of Chesterfield Road, which as the name suggests, is the main road to Chesterfield. Crossing this, I made my way up the last path to school. At 12 noon, I reversed this journey to go home for dinner (no school meals then). And I repeated the walk again for the afternoon session 1-30-3.30pm or 4.00pm. The infants classes finished at 3.30pm and the older children finished their classes at 4pm, so many of the young children had to wait around for their older siblings to accompany them home.
Soon after I was 5 years old, my parents moved to a house at the top of The Cliff, which is on the road to Tansley, and there I found new friends of around my age in the area. So from here, I took a different route to school: this was more of a run than a walk as it was further away! A group of about six or seven of us set off down the lane, crossing over the brook to a stone-laid path, which led us through seven or eight fields, coming out onto a small road with a row of houses on each side. Beyond this was the last stage of our journey – the school playing field, which we cut across, taking us into the top entrance of the school. Again, we reversed this journey at 12 noon to go home for dinner and repeated it to be back at school for 1.30pm. Some of the fields, which were part of our way to school, no have a housing estate built on them.
At the end of the day, on our way home, we could meander at our leisure. In the evenings, our time was our own and we were out playing in the surrounding field to our heart’s content. I wonder now how many miles we children walked on a daily basis at such a young age.
If you were absent from school, the “School Bobby” would come to your house to find out the reason why!
Vera Wragg
(nee Hunter)
SCAM MAIL CRACKDOWN CAMPAIGN BACKED BY DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Trading standards officers at Derbyshire County Council are backing a campaign by Friends Against Scams to target scam mail.
Postal scams are letters sent with the goal of obtaining consumers’ money using deception or fraud.
The SCAMnesty campaign aims to encourage everyone in Derbyshire and the UK to send in any unwanted scam and nuisance mail that they receive into the National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team completely free of charge.
Scam mail is mainly targeted at people aged over 65. Criminals make scam mail personal and address people by name to make it feel as if they have been specially selected to receive the mailing.
Scams to look out for:
• lottery or prize draw scams
• psychic scams
health cure scams
• investment scams.
If residents have family, friends or work with people aged 65-plus, the county council is asking them to chat with them about scams and take a look together at some examples on the Friends Against Scams website. www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
Councillor Dawn Abbott, Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, said: “We all want to keep our relatives and friends safe from scammers, so please help by spreading the word about mail scams.
“Scams damage people’s lives and have a real impact on their health and wellbeing. Not only can victims end up losing money, but they can feel anxious and stressed in their own homes after being targeted by mail dropping through their door.”
Councillor Abbott added: “Everyone can do their bit to disrupt these criminals by sending any scam mail to the NTS scams team.”
Scam mail can be sent free of charge to:
NTSST,
Freepost,
Mail Marshals.
That is the whole address and there is no need for a stamp.
The NTS scams team's investigators want to see any scam or nuisance mail people receive. They use the mail to great effect through their disruption techniques, but the team would like to see more and put a stop to these mailings landing on consumers' doorsteps.
CROMFORD WI
PINS...PINS...& MORE PINS!...'RUMMAGING THROUGH A QUEEN'S WARDROBE' – LOIS WILKES
Cromford ladies were relieved to hear that Queen Elizabeth 1st had between 3000 & 6000 dresses! We all felt somewhat relieved at our guilty secret wardrobe's; stuffed and bulging at the seams – but perhaps not reaching that extent of lavishness!
We learned that hundreds of pins were used daily to fix ladies into their voluminous stiff gowns, not sewing as was assumed. Hence these items continue to be found in large quantities throughout the country, particularly around the London waterside due to Thames water travel by ladies of the time.
By the end of the evening we had absorbed an incredible amount of information allowing an insight into life and fashion of a wealthy lady in the 1500s.
An extremely knowledgeable Lois guided us through the secret's behind all aspects of dressing at the court in the Elizabethan period, covering such fascinating questions such as: Why so many? What happened to them? Who looked after them? Where did they come from? Who made them? How much did they cost? etc. Where did all this information come from and how do we know it is authentic? Although there is obviously no living proof, there is an abundance of evidence left behind in the form of portraits, diaries, letters, inventories and accounts which historians have used to piece together the visual reconstruction of these outfits and inform a wide range of documentation.
One aspect of fascination was the intentional symbolism and hidden messages behind certain colours of clothes chosen by the ladies of the court – as now we may read meaning into various jewellery, flowers, choice formal or casual wear in our present day Royalty. Queen Elizabeth 1st chose her gold brocade and ermine coronation gown carefully; intentionally shouting, wealth, richness, power and status, holding a sceptre and orb as ruler of the nation.
At other stages of life the gentry wore colours to convey how they wished to be viewed. Purple shouted riches, black, power and respectability, red, mercy and power, white, innocence and purity, yellow, warmth and turquoise, jealousy and so on.
As Shakespeare said 'What I wear makes me what I am.' The evening certainly gave us a nudge to consider our outfits more closely in future!!
Cromford W.I meet on the first Wednesday of the month at Cromford Institute/Village Hall at 7.15pm.
All welcome as everything is organised to suit all interests and ages.
We have a guided walk, an afternoon tea, a clothes swap event, Celebrating Cromford stall, an evening amble and supper and more – all in the next few weeks so come and join us!
Next meeting is Wednesday 2nd July.
further information from Christine Levasseur, President Cromford WI – 01773 306155.
CHORAL EVENSONG – ST PETER’S CHURCH, EDENSOR
The Voluntary Choir of Derby Cathedral will lead a service of Choral Evensong in St Peter’s Church, Edensor DE45 1PH on Trinity Sunday, 15 June at 6:00pm.
Directed by Ed Turner and accompanied on the organ by Robert Webb, the choir will sing Herbert Brewer’s setting of the evening canticles (the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis). The service will open with the Introit ‘Laus Trinitati’ by Hildegard of Bingen and the anthem will be John Stainer’s ‘I saw the Lord’.
Do come along to hear beautiful music in a delightful setting and join in heartily with the hymns! A warm welcome awaits and we look forward to seeing you.
A BIG THANK YOU TO VISITORS
Derbyshire Open Arts 2025 would like to thank all the visitors to every one of our 68 venues this year. Over 240 artists and makers took part in this, our 19th year, across the length and breadth of Derbyshire.
The event is an opportunity for local artists to display their skills and talents to the public and they really enjoy meeting old friends and new visitors to show, and discuss, their work.
Visitor numbers were good this year at most venues. People loved seeing the artists’ unique works, and whether they bought a big piece or a card, or just had a great time looking and chatting, there was something for everyone.
Next year will be the 20th anniversary of Derbyshire Open Arts, so please continue to support us, follow us on social media and look out for what comes next…
WINSTER ART EXHIBITION
We are pleased to announce that the Winster Art Exhibition will once again be held at St John the Baptist's Church, Winster, from the 29th June until the 20th July 2025.
This year’s exhibition promises a diverse, enjoyable, and thought-provoking collection of artwork created by local artists.
We warmly invite you to come along and explore the displays at your leisure.
Additionally, on the evening of Tuesday 1st July 6-8pm, there will be a special opportunity to experience the artwork in this wonderful setting whilst enjoying a glass of wine and some excellent jazz music by Steve Salfield and friends. Hope to see you there.
A NIGHT WITH THE STARS
In support of Cancer Research UK
To be held at ‘The Cow Shed’, Beltonville Farm, Miller's Dale, Buxton SK17 8SS. Doors will open at 6/6.30pm and food will be on sale and served until 8pm. The bar will be open all evening and tables to be seated, as Danny Jewell, a close-up magician will be circulating, entertaining with his amazing magic until the show starts at 8.30pm – ‘A night with the stars!’
Rick Sheehan a fantastic comedian, impressionist and vocalist will have folk laughing all evening, as well as dancing the night away. There will also be a raffle with some great prizes.
Background
Violette Mycock, more generally known by her middle name Karen, has helped to raise funds for Cancer Research UK since she was a little girl. She fondly remembers helping her next door neighbour, Mrs Ramczyk (Aunty Mary as she affectionately called her) with the annual jumble sale held at Buxton Town Hall, it was a big event – a huge success and always great fun!
Karen has continued to support this charity throughout her life and even more so as she lost her father to cancer and then more recently her brother, followed by her father-in-law. Karen’s husband, Paul is a throat cancer survivor, ringing the bell in October 2022.
Karen says, “We have lost many friends and relatives to cancer and I have therefore chosen to dedicate the event I am organising to Cancer Research UK because I feel that it will touch each and every one of us at some point in our lives. We need to support this important research, in the hope that one day cancer can be cured for good”.
PG tickets are on sale for £10 per person from Karen: 07891 199204 or Thomas: 07943 994807 at ‘The Cow Shed’.
TIDESWELL ART COMPETITION
This is a new event for Tideswell Wakes 2025, This will take place on Saturday 21st June from 10am- 4pm based at Fountain Square Church Tideswell.
The Art Competition is open top everyone. Come and join us for a fun day using your artistic flair and creativity!
Artists are to bring their own medium and papers, to create an inspirational piece from in and around Tideswell on the day.
The categories are Professional, Amateur and under 16s. Cash prizes and art materials for under 16s
Registration is between 10 and 12. All work must be submitted by 4pm. Judging will take place from 4-5pm.
The entry entry fee is £5. All entrants must provide their own materials.
The Artwork will be displayed at Fountain Square Church 21st - 29th June.
For those wishing to donate their pieces to raise money for local organisations, then your artwork can go forward to a blind Auction. (bids to be opened from 11am on Sunday 29th June)
Collection of artwork 1200 noon Sunday 29th June. Please let us know at hand-in for those wishing to take their artwork home.
BAKEWELL CHORAL SOCIETY SUPPORT YOUNG SINGERS
At their recent concert, Bakewell Choral Society presented a showcase for eight young singers from Derbyshire. These singers ranged in age from 11 to a third year student at the Royal Northern College of Music, and were pupils of local singing teachers Nicola Hunt, and Kate Huddie, who much valued the opportunity for their pupils to have the chance to perform in public.
Singing is well known as being of much benefit to ones mental health and sense of well being,and singing in a choir provides a most enjoyable experience. Bakewell Choral Society’s next concert is on November 8th,when they will be performing Mozart’s very popular Requiem. New singers are always welcome, and rehearsals take place at Bakewell Methodist Church on Monday evenings from 7.15-9.30. If you would like to join please contact bcsmembers@gmail.com
CHATSWORTH PLAYERS OPEN-AIR PRODUCTION OF SHAKESPEARE'S MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR
Award winning local theatre company, the Chatsworth Players, are presenting Shakespeare's hilarious ‘Merry Wives of Windsor’ in an open-air tour of the region from 10-19 July. Why not come and see the only Shakespearean comedy set in England, in some of England's most beautiful countryside? Bring your camp chairs or blanket and a picnic. What could be more English?
This is the Players' third open-air Shakespeare tour (‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in 2023 and ‘Twelfth Night’ in 2024). They won a National Drama Award for ‘Midsummer’ and have been nominated again for ‘Twelfth Night’, so the pressure’s on to keep their award-winning run going!
Double-meanings, disguises and dirty laundry abound as the financially embarrassed Sir John Falstaff sets about improving his financial situation by wooing the wealthy Mistresses Page and Ford. But the ‘Merry Wives’ quickly cotton on to his tricks and decide to have a bit of fun of their own at Falstaff’s expense…
‘Merry Wives’ is full to the brim of scams and hoaxes. Falstaff tries this romantic scam on Mistresses Ford and Page; Master Ford tricks Falstaff with a disguise; Anne Page deceives her various suitors; and Mistress Quickly scams everybody! In Shakespeare’s Windsor, you need to keep your wits about you…
‘Merry Wives’ was written in around 1597 and tradition has it that it was written at the request of Queen Elizabeth I. After watching Henry IV Part I, she enjoyed watching Falstaff so much that she asked Shakespeare to write a play showing him in love… He is often described as one of Shakespeare’s most lifelike, lively and outrageous characters.
Get your tickets now – the Players routinely sell out! www.chats worthplayers.com
NEW GRANT FUNDING OPEN NOW FOR APPLICATIONS
Derbyshire Dales District Council has launched the 2025/26 extension to its business and community grants programme, funded by the UK Government.
The District Council has been awarded more than £1 million for its UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) programme.
Applications for capital or revenue funding are now open for businesses in all sectors, particularly those with growth potential and incorporating decarbonisation measures. Free 1:1 business support and advice are also available to help identify potential growth and energy cost savings and reduce carbon footprint.
Funding is also available for charities, voluntary sector organisations, and parish and town councils to access support to become more resilient.
Businesses and organisations should initially register their interest at www. investinderbyshire dales.org/grants The scheme runs until March 2026, but businesses and organisations are advised to register their interest and apply as soon as possible. Funding is currently subject to confirmation and agreement from the UK Government before funds can be released.
Examples of successful projects previously funded can be viewed online at www.investinderby shiredales.org/case studies
The Accelerator business advice project run by East Midlands Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the District Council has also been extended to March 2026. Anyone operating a business in the Derbyshire Dales can benefit from free 1:1 business support and workshops.
Funded energy audits are also on offer to help identify energy efficiencies and cost reductions with Growth Vouchers available towards the costs of specialist training and consultancy to improve business processes or introduce new technologies. Eligibility criteria apply.
For more information see www. investinderbyshire dales.org/grants or email economicdeve lopment@derbyshire dales.gov.uk
