Project Launch - Wirksworth.Net

Saturday 20th November

Official Opening by guest speaker - Simon Berry

We were particulalry fortunate that the project was formally opened by Simon Berry - Chief Executive of Rural Net UK. Simon has a long track record of supporting rural develoment projects and in particular in promoting the appropriate use of Information Technology to support rural needs. We thank for Simon for agreeing to travel from Warwickshire for this special event.

Timetable

The chair for the day was Paddy Turner who gave a brief background to the project and introduced the speakers.

Eilen Kirk and Ian Foulds from the Steering Group described and showed how individuals and groups can get involved with using the site. 

Barry Foster from Community Fayre discussed the potential for cooperation between the Community Newspaper and the site. Martin French from local wireless broadband provider -  Zycomm electronics. He endorsed the efforts of all involved

Concillor Irene Ratcliffe also offered her support for the project and conveyed the good wishes of the mayor - Mike Ratcliffe who had a conflicting engagement.  She introduced Simon Berry and welcomed him to Wirksworth and the Derbyshire Dales.

Simon described how Wirksworth was certainly seen as being 'ahead of the game' in getting broadband into a rural area. He went on to identify the benefits of te project as being benefits to people's lives and finally set the challenge to Wirksworth to maximise the benefit of having a fast local network and to think big! Wirksworth online TV was his parting thought! He cut the cake to launch to project and a new front page to the site miraculously appeared behind him.

Cake was enjoyed by all and the Dot Net raffle won by Marie Paurin!  

Tuesday evening workshops

There are weekly workshops for anyone wanting to find out more and have ago at being a content contributor. No need to book - just turn up at Anthony Gell community wing any Tuesday (except school holidays) between 7.30 and 9.00 - stay as long or as little as you like.