Anyone can suggest a story, use the button below to submit your story! If you've had an event on our events page, why not send in a report of how it went.
You can include both pictures and text, our editorial team will wrap the whole lot up, format the layout and publish it.
Are available here!!
http://gallery.me.com/chrispyfur#100008
Last updated 14th of July
Value. Time; 10 am (plus a few minutes delayed for the inevitable late arrivals) Date; Wednesday 30 June, 2010. Objective; to take a Health Walk (for those in need of an occasional slightly challenging amount of exercise to promote deep breathing, joint mobility and strength).
Twenty-two of us, of both sexes, were mustered. We were all sorts of shape and size, and most carried some medically related disability, though these were never paraded as sufficient reason for seeking relief from our exertions. Rather, they might be bragged about as a sort of badge of honour that the elderly, and the not so elderly, are lucky to have survived. Age was not a significant factor in our determination to take part. Some forty or maybe fifty years separated the oldest from the youngest but in fact separation did not exist. We mingled freely as we ambled to the car park before stowing ourselves into cars driven by the willing volunteers from within our number.
A short drive to The Bear on the top road to “Arreslea” (known to incomers like myself as “Alder-was-ley“, where we parked by the side of the Shiningcliff Woods. Checked as we proceeded through the stile, and the full complement of twenty-two being accounted for, we began our stroll. Experience had taught us not to allow the fitness fanatics to rush us too fast from the outset. In any case it was a glorious day, with the makings of becoming a truly hot one. This was an event to be savoured, not slurped. There were tall trees and thick bush to be enjoyed. They cast a broken shade almost continuously along the route our leader had mapped out for us. This was far from the roar of traffic, and its frequent change of slope presented an enjoyable sustained physical challenge even to the most able-bodied of us. To the slower ones in the group it was severe enough. Their respiration rate rose inversely to their chatter, but failed to stem it entirely. This was an excellent guide to the fact that one of the aims of the walk was being achieved.
A pause at a suitable clearing in the woods saw the leader’s haversack being broken open to reveal three or four thermos type flasks of coffee, and a plentiful supply of plastic beakers. Ten minutes break was ample to enable us all to have a generous cuppa. Significantly, no one seemed to take sugar, or ask for it. Was this another hidden aim of these regular forays?
Walking resumed down stony track ways, always travelling with that same steady plodding pace. Sometimes this was dictated by the rough going of the path itself, and the need to watch ones footing to avoid a tumble. Stumbling onward, deep in conversation with whomsoever we happened to find ourselves. We mixed freely and frequently. Sometimes we plodded in single file when the route narrowed . At other times small clusters of us grouped together to walk, talk and co-operatively share the sheer beauty of the landscape around us. Spikes of foxglove lit the dells; elderflower umbrellas adorned trees at the edges of nearby fields. There was always something to note and wonder over. Where, for instance, did the water in that little rill which ran down the footpath come from ? We never discovered an obvious starting point, and it couldn’t have been surface water draining down from the fields as we have had no rain for several days. Well, at least the two dogs with our party were in their element with it. Their under-carriages soon lost their pristine whiteness as they trotted back and forth, gently shepherding their human charges into line and along the chosen route. Another clearing looking towards the hills of Riber, Dethick, Holloway gave us a panoramic view of fields dusted with the gold of this year’s crop of buttercup. Possibly not itself of great benefit to the farmer by way of a crop, but no doubt relished to the full by unseen cattle waiting somewhere to be allowed into the meadow to graze when the farmer knew the time was right.
Finally, once more through another stile as we left the woods. Still twenty-two of us, so all was well. We could return to town in the cars that brought us. Three and a half hours after we set off from the Leisure Centre car park. Our objective achieved. And the cost? Trifling! A few cups of coffee, a litre or two of diesel or petrol, and quite a few calories expended in satisfying activity, in excellent companionship. What could be better Value?
780KAM June 2010.
Last updated 1st of July
It sounds like the writings on the wall for the kingsfield pub.
Not a great loss i here most of you say, but it will be a loss, a massive loss not only to the folk that use it as pub but to the folk that use it for,weddings birthdays, funerals. It is the hub of the football teams and a venue for the local wrestling team, its a place where the folks are genuine and kids are allowed in, it can also brag that its the only pub in wirksworth with disabeled access, all this might be replaced by a massive H block style fla development.
This will not only affect the people living in that area but every body who drives past it and thinks "my this looks a grim place,wouldnt want to live here" so it could have a knock on effect to the rest of the community, people stop coming in and spending the money,which effects the economy, it sounds drastic but this is how it starts.
There will be a protest march on sat morn at 10 on the market place, to try and stop the building of the matlock style complex.
Last updated 23rd of June
Saturday 19 June between 1.0 and 4.0pm: Live music in the Gardens. In the evening, a Guitar Recital by Fiona Harrison in St. Mary's Church.
Sunday 20 June 1.0-4.0 pm more music in the Gardens. From 6.0 pm Solstice Eve Music at Arbor Low. It is Midsummer's Eve and all the angels and faeries want us to make music!
Thursday, 24 June 7.30 - 11.0 pm MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at Stoney Wood.
www.outdoormusicinwirksworth.org
Last updated 12th of June
With the promise of fine weather, Saturday's Farmers Market looks as if it is going to be a great occasion. There may be a couple of new stalls as well as your favourite meat, eggs, vegetable, cakes, pies, etc. And, for entertainment while you do your shopping, the programme is PACKED! Starting at 10.30, Raise Your Voices return with a repetoire of songs from all over. Then at 11.0, Brian Boothby plays his flute followed by Keyna - a cappella singing. At 12.30, Jimbo Henry performs alternative folk blues with an edge and finally at 1.0 pm, we'll hear an 'accordion vocal and beatbox duo' by Alphonso & James. WIRKSWORTH FARMERS' MARKETS ARE OCCASIONS NOT TO BE MISSED!
Last updated 2nd of June
Here is a very short visual reminder of the well dressing and carnival May 2010.
What are your thoughts on this year's Well Dressing weekend? Have your say on the forum.
http://www.wirksworth.net/forum/showthread.php?t=798
Last updated 7th of June
Click on the link to read the latest version of Wirksworth's own community newspaper
CF 153
Last updated 24th of May
Turn your home or business into an art gallery for the weekend with Wirksworth Festival. The Festival is looking for more places to display art of all kinds during the Art & Architecture Trail weekend 10-12th September. If you'd like to find out more, please contact the Festival office by email: info@wirksworthfestival.co.uk or phone: 824003.
Last updated 23rd of May
The April farmers'market was an amazing success...we had Raise Your Voices choir singing a lovely mix of songs, children taking part in a beautifully colourful Easter Bonnet parade, buskers playing lively music and a wonderful array of local produce and crafts.
This month we were delighted to welcome Choc Art who donated the main prize for the children's Easter Bonnet Parade--so thank them for that--they also did a roaring trade in their gorgeous chocolates.
The atmosphere at this event is just amazing..Wirksworth buzzes!
Last updated 13th of April
The Chair, Alison Clamp presented the Annual Report which can be read here.
In it you will see a report on the monthly Farmers' Markets that are proving to be highly successful and contributing to the economy of the town as a whole. The next one takes place on Saturday 3rd April when the new choir led by Lester Simpson entitled 'Raise Your Voices' will be singing a medley of international songs at 10.30.
Last updated 1st of April
Housing / Planning / Environment Issues discussed on focus table:
Last updated 28th of March
At the Transition Town Meeting I was asked to send the main points on Transport to this site:
Consider pedestrians in any transport policy for the town
Revise the bus timetable so that there is not a 2.5 hour gap in the Derby-Wirksworth service in the mid evening.
Make sure that the train from Wirksworth to Duffield (and on to Paris) will have provision to carry pedal cycles.
School cycle classes should be provided for all 11 year olds
School travel plans should be adopted by all schools in Wirksworth The "walking bus" concept should be encouraged for primary school pupils. Safe routes to school should be set up for secondary school pupils. Sustrans has funds for this.
We should object to the worsening provision for cycles on many local and inter-city trains.
Electric cars and charging points should be encouraged.
Bikes on buses should be encouraged as in Portland Oregon where each bus has a cycle rack on the front.
Bus routes should be better promoted - why is the 411 so neglected?
Cycle routes should be created in and around Wirksworth.
Shared car schemes should be encouraged.
Fewer car parking spaces to encourage use of feet, public transport and cycles. Cycle pool and cycle hire.
Electric bikes and trikes to cope with the hilly terrain.
How about a bus from Wirksworth to Whatstandwell station?
Is a cable car from the centre of Wirksworth to Bolehill a good idea?
Jeremy Taylor
Last updated 26th of March
On Monday Evening at the Red Lion, a small group of us invited Wirksworth people to come and explore whether we wanted to become a TransitionsTown, and lots of people came along, the room was packed. We saw a DVD about transition - which is all about preparing for the time when cheap oil runs out and developing local resilience so that we can still have a good quality of life. I hosted the Local Food discussion table , and lots of exciting ideas and themes of great interest to WIrkworth emerged:
1. Urgent need for Allotments, and great demand for them.(Some attempts already under way to procure a field - local council v. supportive.
2. Guerilla Gardening - growing food on neglected land ,e.g. The Meadows - legally OK to do this.
3. Garden shares - people who can't do their gardens any more offering them to people who want to garden in exchange for some of the produce. Electronic forum to pass on information.
4. Food bartering- people offering excess of produce (Remember last years bumper plum and damson harvest !!!) in exchange for other produce. Beer for food.
5. More Community Woodlands and Orchards, and nut trees in particular- lots of protein which we will need if we can't import so much food.
6. School involvement.
7. Community garden - skill development - people can learn about gardening and have a go and build their confidence.
8. Community gardening - help each other dig each others gardens in exchange for a meal and some drinks.
9. Wormeries - brilliant way of dealing with compostable waste - develop knowledge and skills, and pass on spare worms!
10. Encourage wildlife gardening - planting for bees and other insects, homes for wildlife, etc.
11. Establish a WIrksworth Organic Gardening Group - would have more impact in planning applications, etc.
All these ideas could be acted on straight away if we can harness our energies. Please come along to the next Transition Meetings on 26th April and 7th June also at the Red Lion. See you there! Rosemary
Last updated 26th of March
to add to list for Transition Towns Local Economy table:
Get all businesses together to see what revenue stream mapping there is.
What causes the ups and downs of trading?
How can they work together to maximise farmers' market and festival etc?
Credit Union:local bank that invests back in town. Chesterfield has one.
Use our projects to bring in intermediate labour from amongst youngsters in town. Establish skills base so we know who does what and what is available in town.
We need a shop window to use as a showcase for new lines/products available in town. We could also use it for swaps.
Last updated 26th of March
The first open meeting towards making Wirksworth a Transition Town was a roaring success! The upstairs room at the Red Lion was packed and the evening started with excerpts from an inspirational DVD on what a Transition Town is. This was followed by discussions based on: local economy/transport/recycling/planning and development/improving the natural environment/developing community and having fun/renewable energy/local food. Everyone put forward ideas and lists were made! The next public meeting is on 26th April at the Red Lion.
The rest of the "hosts" of the tables will put their results on Wirksworth.net but here are some of them:
Local Economy list of issues to be discussed was as follows: Stop shops closing; Community newsletter Noticeboard in Market Place; Tuesday market- move to Memorial Hall? ( possibly not now that Sure Start have taken over whole building); European opening hours maybe once a month; encourage local shopping: find out why people go to supermarkets and see if we can get local shops to provide. Loyalty scheme: report back from Ashbourne; How to get people to put money where their mouths are; Deliveries: co-ordinate deliveries amongst shops: maybe one van driver to pick up at all points and deliver. Letts’ Scheme: relies on an organiser but many people keen on skills exchange: do we need insurance? Freecycle and swapping. Peter Booth from Red Lion would be keen to take local produce from allotment holders and gardeners..would swap for beer. Also, he uses the potato rumbler from the fish and chip shop for his Sunday roast dinners.He thinks there is more scope for sharing facilities like this. The Recycle/Reuse Table: No cardboard recycling in W’worth – need to drive to Matlock or Ashbourne. What does it cost to recycle glass/metal/paper etc and how can we find out? Why do we use new poly bags for rubbish? How about a swap day every month in front gardens – walk around visiting. Need for a waste wood dump; Old tyres, how could we use them? In Africa used for shoes etc . We could use old/disused quarries for composting. Could use an empty shop for a local ‘freecycle’ depot . What happens to our rubbish? Could current recycling areas be made to look a little less bleak? Empty buildings and spare rooms could be offered for rent, or free Clothes/fabric swaps. Workshops to demonstrate ways to use. Offer of manure to share (lots of worms) Call 823856 to arrange collection. Unmanned Environment table. Support local tidy-up (litter pick) sometimes. Helping people get out into the countryside in all seasons; and sharing knowledge/wonder of it. Some way of buying from farmers locally who are good stewards of the land. Post-its: I want some nice vegetable: home-grown, organic, local. Robert Watts is a self employed furniture maker; there are many others in W’ worth. Submit a bid for a project officer for WIT ie a funding bid to Local Authority, also include a web to enable sharing {Phil Bramhall} Need for communication – need a separate site on Wirks.net Develop community enterprise centre to include AFFORDABLE ACCOMODATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. A new style of accommodation that gives people a percentage of ownership {Phil Bramhall} Buy in Bulk as a community, and the community can refill containers from a central point, reusing containers over and over Recognise there is a thread that (could) run through the Transition/ sustainable agenda, and which links young people through the ages to the older generation - a powerful tool to use when in contact with Local Authorities {Phil Bramhall} Can the energy produced by health freaks in the Leisure Centre be used? Create a community Enterprise Centre (The Enterprise Factory) – art, education, business; creative space and cinema. {Phil Bramhall} Invite a local PR company to mock-up a slogan – work with young people to develop this. Plan a competition for example {Phil Bramhall} Create/organize a Young Person’s Transition Club. Use a slogan ‘It’s Cool to be in Transition. {Phil Bramhall}. Identify Young People Ambassadors.
Last updated 26th of March
Wirksworth Twinning Association is celebrating victory having been named one of three overall winners at the town’s renowned community quiz, only a few years after picking up the sack of potatoes for achieving the worst score at the same event! The annual quiz, which took place at Anthony Gell School on Friday, saw 34 teams tested on a whole range of general knowledge . The twinners secured the top spot in joint first place with The Wam Bam Band and the Glee Club. Central to the Twinning Association’s success was input from Ines Kubat (20), a visitor from Wirksworth’s German twin town Frankenau, who is currently undertaking a 10 week placement in the town. She attended the quiz as part of her programme of activity organised by the association, which also includes work experience at Ashbourne Radio and Wirksworth Nursery School. Ines and Bryony Pollock collected the trophy on behalf of their team mates Judith and Jim Hickman, Andrea and Dave Pankhurst. Judith Hickman, chair of Wirksworth Twinning Association, says: “Our success was extra special as it was shared with our German visitor who was able to experience a legendary event in Wirksworth. “Ines’ visit to the town is typical of the projects the association arranges to provide people of all ages with the opportunity to enjoy a cultural and language learning experience either by helping to host visitors to the town or by organising visits to one of our twin partners in France or Germany.” Barry Foster, organiser of the Wirksworth Community Quiz, says: “Congratulations to all three winners of this year’s quiz, which was a really successful event with a fantastic turn out of teams. “We introduced the annual quiz to the town twelve years ago to create an event that would bring a whole host of groups and organisations in the town together to embody the community spirit that is rife in the town and it has since gone from strength to strength. “I hope the twinners enjoy their time with the Grand Challenge Community Quiz trophy, that they will hold for four months until it is passed on to one of the other first prize winners.” Wirksworth Twinning Association always welcomes new members, for more information about what they do and how to get involved contact judith.hickman@w3z.co.uk
Last updated 19th of March
The 2010 operating season at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway will kick-off with a diesel gala this coming weekend, 20-21 March. We have revamped the schedule this year, offering more services to Idridgehay and Ravenstor and promising a great way of spending a few hours exploring the valley away from the comfort of a train and not the B5023 race track.
Next year promises to be the ‘Big One’ with the grand opening to Duffield pencilled-in for next April. In the meantime, we are ramping-up for operating a railway twice the length of today’s and this includes tie-ins with ‘Big Railway’ operators and bringing in more rolling stock to the line, much of which is intended to work with steam locomotives. Do come down to Wirksworth station and treat yourself to a return ticket. Take a look around and see how even from last season, the railway has changed a little bit more. Your railway is growing and adapting to an exciting new future. Come and be a part of our rebirth!
Last updated 15th of March
Proposed at Ashleyhay Near Wirksworth. The horrified residents of Ashleyhay, Idridgehay and Kirk Ireton find themselves in a planning nightmare. A proposal has been submitted to build an industrial sized pig rearing unit at land adjacent to Barnsley Lane, Ashleyhay in an area designated “Special Landscape”. You may think you do not know this road but if you travel on the B5023 from Wirksworth to Duffield then you pass it. If this site is to go ahead you will all too aware of the impact this will have on your journey.
Barnsley Lane is just before the “S” bend near the Kirk Ireton turn off the B5023. There have been numerous accidents including fatalities by this junction on this very busy stretch of road. There will be substantially increased traffic through Wirksworth & surrounding villages.
This site is 15 metres from the Eccelsbourne Valley Railway line.
All the hard work & effort put in by local volunteers and enthusiast will be ruined. The three buildings which are each 60 metres x 15 metres to house 6,000 pigs per annum, plus feed silos & residential property will be visible from the B5023 and a five mile radius.
The stench could reach further!!
Object now before it is too late to your local councilors & planning officers.
You can file an objection online on the Amber Valley Website
Planning Application No. AVA/2010/0173
Amber Valley Borough Council
Town Hall
Ripley
Derbyshire
DE5 3BT
enquiry@ambervalley.gov.uk
Last updated 8th of March
At the Farmers' Market this coming Saturday, 6 March, Wirksworth's Fairtrade Group will be handing out samples of Fairtrade Tea to shoppers. The Fairtrade Fortnight began on 22 February and closes on Sunday, 7 March. So popular are the Wirksworth Farmers' Markets they are now the second BIGGEST in the whole of the Derbyshire Dales. Sponsored by Local Foods to promote healthy fresh food, this is indeed an achievement. Outside Memorial Hall, from 9.0 until the goods sell out.
Last updated 1st of March
On February 4th and 5th, former Anthony Gell pupil Richard Hodkin attended a Model United Nations conference in Paris. Meeting in the prestigious UNESCO headquarters, which overlook the Eiffel Tower and École Militaire, around 180 students from France, Germany, Morocco and England met to debate in official conference rooms to discuss the topic of ‘Maintaining Biodiversity in Business and Government Policies’. Richard attended the conference with two fellow students from the University of East Anglia, Norwich, the only British university present, and were representing Italy for the conference. The Model United Nations format offers students the opportunity to experience an authentic simulation of the UN General Assembly. There are several held around the world each year, with between 30 and 2000 delegates present; the largest conference is held in New York in March and several delegations in Paris were using it as practice for the New York event. Students represent a nation, which isn’t their own, to discuss a given topic and negotiate resolution on which the whole assembly votes. This was the first time the trio of Environmental Sciences from Norwich had attended one of these conferences and were actively engaged in the debates from the outset, demonstrating knowledge, energy, confidence and charm. Ten awards are offered on the final day for delegations that had shown great and continued skill throughout the conference. Richard’s delegation were awarded one of the three Outstanding Delegation awards, the highest there is, chosen by a jury of geopolitics lecturers, for their involvement in the debates, sense of initiative and original ideas on biodiversity. Overall the team were very happy with the result and are already making plans to attend another MUN.
Last updated 22nd of February
If you know lots, a little or nothing at all about Fairtrade please read on, don’t stop here. Many of you will know that Wirksworth achieved Fairtrade Town status in January 2009. Wirksworth, as a Fairtrade Town, involves local people and organisations selling and buying Fairtrade products to enable positive change for farmers and workers in developing countries.
Globally, consumers spent £1.6 billion on Fairtrade certified products in 2007; a 47% increase on the previous year, directly benefiting 7 million people – farmers, workers and their families in 58 developing countries.
Fairtrade Fortnight ran from 22 February to 7 March. The Wirksworth Fairtrade group and other willing volunteers were geared up for a series of well supported events. This year the theme of Fairtrade Fortnight was ‘swapping’, focusing on tea and encouraging people to swap their existing cuppa for a Fairtrade cuppa.
On Tuesday 23 February Wirksworth volunteers were involved in a very successful free tea session outside the Traid Links shop. Fairtrade tea bags were given away to encourage local people to ‘swap their cuppa’ and to raise awareness about the importance of ‘swapping’ and the impact of achieving a fairer deal for the tea growers and pickers. Swapping your usual stuff for Fairtrade products is a brilliant, small step to making the world a fairer place. A Fairtrade hamper and other prizes were raffled, with donations kindly given by local shopkeepers and businesses. In view of the success of this event another 'swapping' session was held on Tuesday 2 March which also produced excellent results.
Continuing with the food theme, a very successful coffee and cake morning was held on Saturday 6 March in the Country Kitchen restaurant at Waltham House, with other tempting foods made from Fairtrade products on the menu.
Le Mistral and Peli Deli also supported Fairtrade Fortnight offering menus planned using Fairtrade products.
Two exhibitions were displayed at Waltham House highlighting the involvement of the local infant school and Anthony Gell School in the support of Fairtrade initiatives.
A very interesting challenge was achieved by Geoff Green from Wirksworth Brewery who produced a fantastic new beer named democratically as ‘A Fair Brew’ using Fairtrade honey as the key ingredient; this gave it a delicious and subtle flavour. The beer was officially launched on 19 February and featured in the Matlock Mercury. It was available in the Hope and Anchor in Wirksworth and direct from Wirksworth Brewery.
A most instructive and thought provoking talk was given by the Reverend David Downing on "Fairtrade Making a Difference in Costa Rica" hosted by the United Reformed Church. We heard first hand about the positive impact of Fairtrade on farmers, workers and their families in Costa Rica.
The raffles and cake sales raised a total of £255, half of which is being donated to Traidcraft Exchange, a charity that works with small tea producers in East Africa, Uganda, Malawi and Tanzania to give them confidence and a ready market for their tea. Many thanks to all who donated cakes for the coffee morning or helped in any other way.
The Wirksworth Fairtrade group continues to record all its activities on this website as an important account of the developments of Fairtrade in the town. New volunteers are always welcome. The next meeting will be held on 17 May 2010 at 7.30pm in Le Mistral.
Updated 22/3/10
Last updated 22nd of March
The christmas market, the snow, the supermarkets, local produce, the choir, it's all here!!!!
The picture on the left (kindly taken by NOW Director, Bill Lansdowne) shows the stalls setting up for the Christmas festive market before the crowds arrived.
Last updated 19th of January
Stay & Play Baby & Toddler Group has now finally moved to the new Wirksworth Surestart Children's Centre after months of planning!
The group for babies and preschool children was originally set up by three mums three years ago and was based at the Creche Room at Wirksworth Adult Community Education Centre. The new Surestart Centre has finally opened up for business at the Memorial Hall and Stay & Play is the first children's group to move in!
There are now lots more new exciting toys for the little ones to enjoy in the newly refurbished large Memorial Hall.
Activities include messsy play, craft activities, music...and a home corner is on its way.
Visit Stay & Play every Thursday afternoon during term-time from 1.30-3pm. Costs £1 per family.
Last updated 8th of January
Click on the image to access a pdf file of the latest.jpg)
Community Fayre- Wirksworth community newspaper
Last updated 8th of December
At a meeting of NOW, we were talking to Chris Booth of the Carnival Committee and we agreed the way forward for the town might be to have someone who could look for funding for the town as a whole. We are aware we are all chasing funding and that, really, we should be making a co-ordinated approach so that we aren't all applying to the same pots. We would love to hear from any other organisations in the town who would like to discuss the possibility of finding someone who could co-ordinate funding bids. The sort of organisations we are thinking of include: Festival, Civic Society, Glee Club, Skatepark, Film Club, Scouts, Carnival, NOW, IndepenDANCE,orchestra, choir etc. We are sure there are others so please pass the word. Please contact anyone from NOW or email: now@w3z.co.uk as soon as possible.
Last updated 21st of November
‘ORANGES AND SUNSHINE’ HARROWING ACCOUNT OF AUSTRALIAN CHILD DEPORTATION FILMED AT WIRKSWORTH STATION Wirksworth, 16th November 2009: As Australian Premier Kevin Rudd apologised publically for the ‘Lost Generation’ of thousands of British children sent to Australian orphanages and children’s homes between 1930 and 1970, the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway’s filming arm, RailFilmLocations.biz has been participating in the production of a major new film on the subject. ‘Oranges and Sunshine’, an Anglo-Australian production by See-Saw Films Pty Ltd and Sixteen Films has been funded by Screen Australia and is directed by Jim Loach. The film tells the story of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker from Nottingham, who uncovered one of the most significant social scandals in recent times: the organised deportation of children in care from the United Kingdom to Australia. Filming took place at Wirksworth Station on Friday 13th November and is the fifth major production to be filmed at the railway this year. The company has provided authentic rolling stock to reproduce an Inter-City train in the early 1980s and has been used for a major scene where the film’s main character returns to the city following a journey to Australia. Ends.
Note to Editors: The BBC’s story concerning the Australian deportations can be found here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8361389.stm Details of Sixteen Films’ production ‘Oranges and Sunshine’ can be found here: http://www.sixteenfilms.co.uk/films/film/oranges_and_sunshine/
Last updated 17th of November
To open doors in our mind – Wirksworth and Die visit Frankenau A group from Wirksworth voyaged to the autumnal Germany on Thursday, 22th.
They planned to visit Wirksworth’s twintown Frankenau. Several Germans welcomed then warmly at the guildhall in Frankenau, where friends remet friends. But the German host-families didn’t only accommodate the british guests: also a group of the French town Die had arrived in the morning. The triangular partnership between Wirksworth, Die and Frankenau exists since 2006. “This town twinning opens doors in our minds for other people and cultures”, depicts a French visitor on Sunday.
On Friday the hosts showed their guests the famous ski-jump in Willingen and took them for a little snack to “Siggis” cabin. Despite the foggy and rainy weather on Saturday, everyone enjoyed the tour to the lovely town “Bad Wildungen” and the visit of the lake “Edersee” , which doesn’t contain a lot of water at the moment. In the evening the host-families and the visitors celebrated together the 25th anniversary of Frankenau’s twinning association in the new festival hall. With beer, wine, a manifold buffet and entertainment time flew away. Luckily, Betty took a lot of photos during the three days, which can be seen on Wirksworth.net very soon.
After the church service in Louisendorf on Sunday, the German friends presented their “Schulscheune” - a house, that serves nowadays as a historical museum. About noon, the visitors enjoyed a typical German meal in their host-families. Reinhard Kubat, mayor of Frankenau underlines that it was a great personal pleasure for him to welcome the two delegations. “Due to the twinning I met such friendly and open-minded people and.
Twinning associations become even more important in a globalised world, because they enrich every community.” Too soon, the groups took leave of Frankenau on Monday. But all are looking forward to see each other again soon in Wirksworth or Die.
Last updated 29th of October
Are you concerned about litter?
Are your neighbours too noisy?
Is it safe for you and your toddlers to walk on the footpaths?
Does anything in the town cause you offence?
Have you experienced unsociable behaviour?
If any of these questions are important enough for you to wish discussed with BOTH the Town Council AND the police, then why not attend a SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD meeting in the Town Hall at 5.30 pm on Thursday 15 October.
Last updated 8th of October
Fruit and vegetable growers across Derbyshire are expecting healthy crops of fruit this summer because the combination of heavy rain and dry, sunny periods has provided good growing conditions, but much of this is likely to go to waste. Allotment holders and gardeners in the Wirsksworth area are being urged to exchange surpluses of fruit and vegetables to prevent them going to waste.
‘The Vegetable Swop Shop’ on Sunday 26th September at Wirksworth’s Stoney Wood will provide an opportunity to exchange surplus produce with other gardeners growers and cooks. Each year, everybody who gardens ends-up with more home-grown vegetables and fruits than they can use themselves, much of this fantastic food can go to waste.
The organizers of the swop shop want local people to bring along any fruit, veg, home made county wines , chutneys and jams along to Stoney Wood on Sunday 26th September and swap them. Andy Pollock one of the organizers of the project said; “The scheme is very simple, anybody with a surplus (be-it spuds, onions, apples, pickles) can bring them along to the ‘swop-shop’ market stall, and help themselves to a mixture of every-body’ else’s surplus”…“The ‘swap-shop’ should help to reduce energy-use and increases the availability of healthy food, but above all it should be great fun”
Readers who have a surplus of fruit, vegetables, jams, chutneys, free range eggs, herbs or late-flowering flowers can bring them along to the Swap Shop market stall at Stoney Wood on Sunday 26th September between 10am and 2pm.
For More information call: 01629 826412
Last updated 21st of September
TV INTERIOR DESIGN SERIES WANTS TO HELP YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR HOME!
Have you fallen out of love with your home? Are you planning to improve it but lack the confidence, inspiration and ideas to get things off the ground?
Love The Place You're In, UKTV HOME's top interior design show, is returning for a third series and we're looking for homes to feature. We want to chat to homeowners who are planning to renovate rather than move house; who want to stay put and get creative by making their existing home the haven they’ve always dreamed of.
How to apply If you're about to embark on a plan to turn your home into your dream space and would like our know-how to help you achieve it, please email your contact details and a brief description of your plans to makeover@talkbackthames.tv or call 0207 861 8133.
Last updated 21st of September
Outdoor Music in Wirksworth has really taken off this year thanks to hard work of Dave Smith.
He has so far coordinated free outdoor music at Stoney Wood, for the Open Gardens weekend and during the September Arts Festival.
Hear what Dave has to say about Outdoor Music on this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2OvOSaKq40
Last updated 26th of September
Wirksworth Festival, 11-26 September, has ambitious plans to involve everyone in the local community. The popular series of Festival workshops have a focus on music and singing this year, with sessions in plainsong, choral and orchestral work as well as a chance to sing with the popular women’s chorus, Dale Diva.
All workshops last for a day followed by a performance in the evening. All workshops must be pre-booked. Every school has taken up the opportunity to put children to work alongside a Festival artist, following on from last year’s success workshop sessions in key venues.
Artist Kate Genever is creating a body of work that investigates the ingenuity of Derbyshire farmers in the way they invent and make their own tools. She will be working at Parish rooms with schoolchildren, encouraging them to share in this inventiveness. School children and community have had the opportunity to produce work to be exhibited in windows in the centre of town.
Jeni Smith has worked with residents from Waltham House, Wirksworth C of E Infant School as well as having a stall for community to visit at NOW Farmers Market to produce ‘Tiers Of Life’ Community cake sculptures. The sculptures will be on show in Waltham House and The Old Bakery windows. Wirksworth primary schools have all worked with artist Louise Evans to create work for McMurtry and Harding Vets window.
A free community talk by two of the Festival key venue artists Kate Genever and Raphael Daden) will take place at Waltham House on Thursday 17th 7.30- 9.00. YAPs, young adult people, who exploded onto the festival scene last year with their series of videos (still viewable via the website), will be around town again this year.
A group of young people are working with artists Sally Lemsford and Sarah Bradnock to curate an exhibition in 2010. They will start by exploring Festival 2009 and then work through the year developing a whole range of skills from creating concepts, fundraising, commissioning, budgeting, working with professional artists, promoting and celebrating. A large-scale community extravaganza is already being planned for 2010.
Festival organisers hope it will take place over the Festival’s third weekend next year, and that it will involve as many people as possible. To help kick-start preparations, the Festival has advertised for artists to act as external facilitator to inspire and support local talent. This project will start in the autumn and everyone is welcome to get involved.
Keep up-to-date with everything happening at Wirksworth Festival by visiting the website www.wirksworthfestival.co.uk. You can book tickets and pay securely by Paypal, or visit the Festival Box Office at the Post Office in the Market Place. For information contact Wirksworth Festival on 01629 824003. Festival Office, Memorial Hall, 39 St John's Street, Wirksworth, DE4 4DS 01629 82
Last updated 9th of September
Kicking off with Invocal at the Red Lion or T in the Pub at the Hope & Anchor on Friday night, the Festival offers an exciting and varied mix.
From classical music with Beate Toyka's piano recital, Christopher Dixon';s organ recital, and the Apollodorus Ensemble, to the exotic sounds of La Xula - the complete programme of comedy, dance, music and drama can be found on the festival website,or in the printed Festival brochures around the town. You can book tickets by post to the Festival Office, Memorial Hall, St John's Street, Wirksworth DE4 4DS; in person from the Post Office or on the website. www.wirksworthfestival.co.uk
Last updated 9th of September
This weekend brings an ambitious and exhilarating mix of cutting edge contemporary art, music, crafts and performance to fill every space in the town.
Modernism and Architecture, Illumination and Animation are the focus for visual arts. Using traditional and new media, there is an emphasis on contemporary art in public spaces. As dusk falls lightworks and illuminated work in shop windows will bring work excitingly to life. Derbyshire artist Charles Monkhouse makes spectacular lightworks, and his Market Square Horizon installation consists of 360 lights fixed to buildings surrounding the square.
Video work includes the vibrantly colourful Spatial Weaves video by Martyn Blundell, which will be projected onto a gable end in the Market Place, alternating with video work by Lorenzo Madge. An illuminated shed of lightworks by Nottingham based artist Raphael Daden will occupy the Memorial Gardens, and shop windows all over town will be displaying new illuminated works specially commissioned by the Festival from rising young East Midlands artists.
Michael Branthwaite has made a radical Modernist intervention to a field barn at the National Stone Centre. With over 100 artists exhibiting, there will be new and exciting things to see in every corner of the town this weekend. Private homes of every shape and size, churches, gardens, and streets will be filled with art. Main Galleries will be open throughout the Festival period, showing new, specially commisioned or curated work. They include the large gallery space of Newbridge Works where Matthew Houlding will be exhibiting architectural models of imaginary Modernist Utopian buildings, alongside work from emerging new artists, the best of the Fine Art graduates from across the region.
Also in Newbridge will be a retrospective of work by local artist Peter Hoon, who died last year. The new Carpet Shop Gallery on St John’s Street will show Alec Finlay’s ongoing project word-mapping the Peak District alongside Maxine Hall’s photos of local people taken last year.
In the Parish Room Ben Cove will be showing recent work ranging through sculpture and painting to video installation, and new graduates from Nottingham Trent University Decorative Arts programme will be exhibiting work that includes millinery, glass, porcelain, ceramics, fabrics and wall-coverings. St Mary’s Church has Glossop-artist Ghislaine Howard’s powerful paintings, while at the Heritage Centre Kate Genver celebrates the skill and ingenuity of Derbyshire farmers with a body of work investigating homemade tools and technologies.
The Makers’ Market crammed with lucious covetable craftworks returns to the Town Hall and the Memorial Hall, accompanied this year by a specially-selected exhibition of contemporary ironworks. There’s a performance programme to rock your socks off running throughout the Festival, and a second weekend of guided art walks and artist talks.
Full programme and online box office on the Festival website www.wirksworthfestival.co.uk, or enquiries to the office on 01629 824003
Last updated 9th of September
Are you a keen reader but unable to get to the library due to ill health or infirmity? Do you know that you can arrange for books to be delivered to you, in your home, once a month by a member of the library staff or a volunteer, completely free of charge? If you or a friend would like to contact Matlock Library on 01629 582480 and ask for Irene or Alison, we can have a chat about what you would like and then, if it seems that this service is right for you, come and visit you at home. People with sight problems can be provided with large print or with audo books, and we can either choose books for you or you can put in requests.
Last updated 26th of August
We have had a BBC film crew at a transformed Wirksworth Station
(masquerading as somewhere in West Yorkshire) for five days earlier this
month. They have been filming a drama entitled "Five Days" and featured
several familiar faces. Importantly, it is believed the crew's presence in
town must have had a reasonable effect on local the economy from patronising
certain French-themed bistros in town to purchasing flowers in an abundance
for one of the big scenes.
Meanwhile, if anybody has been following Jimmy McGovern's 'The Street' on
BBC1, they might have seen our railway and not realised it. The recent
episode following the return of an injured soldier (Jonas Armstrong, the
BBC's Robin Hood) from Afghanistan included several long scenes on our
railway with the suburbs of Manchester bring portrayed by the rooftops of
Bournebrook Avenue! A link which should work for the next two days can be
found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lwdb8
We seem to get one or two filming contracts each year and owing to their
taking several days to film, they inevitably have an effect on the local
economy as a large team remains in town for several days.
On September 11th (just in time for the Festival), we shall be running
another trade exhibition, with a number of rail engineering companies
exhibiting their products at Wirksworth Station. Very gently, we have
built-up our reputation as a test site for Britain's Railways and the fact
that major players are willing to invest time and resources to exhibit at
Wirksworth has to speak volumes for our tenacity.
Details of this can be found http://www.mytesttrack.com/event.html. Hopefully, this should generate some good publicity for our industry activities.
We have a packed schedule of events for the rest of the summer and the
autumn. Some noteworthy activities include supporting the opening weekend of the Festival and the model railway exhibition on 17th and 18th October. As some will know, this event is at venues all over the town and brings in visitors from all over the UK. We are now well and truly 'on the circuit' for this kind of event and as the line gets longer, so the attraction to railway enthusiasts tends to grow.
One very significant event in early October is the convention of the Railcar
Association on the 3rd and 4th. Amongst the world of railcar preservation
this is the annual event and we have a confident expectation of receiving around 2,000 visitors over the weekend.
Next year is the 'big one' for us. In addition to it being the tenth
anniversary of staring clearance work on the line (can it really be a
decade?) we expect to have our first resident steam engine operating from
Easter and, of course, by the beginning of October we shall be running
passenger trains down the whole length of the line to Duffield. The grant
from the East Midlands Development Agency gave us a huge boost and it has
allowed us to fund all the remaining work on the tack, including sidings at
Shottle and a loop at Duffield. However, we still have much work to do to
provide a rebuilt platform at Duffield, parking and an interchange with
main line services. Part of the plan includes through ticketing, so it will
be possible to buy a Wirksworth to London ticket for the first time since
1947, while it will also be possible to buy a ticket to Wirksworth from
anywhere in the UK.
I hope this will be of interest to you; I plan to publish a more detailed
newsletter in the next couple of weeks and should anybody want to receive a
copy, they can sign-up here: http://www.e-v-r.com/newsletter/signup.htm
Signed: Neil Ferguson-Lee, Director, WyvernRail plc
M +44 (0)777 572 0045; O +44 (0)6129 823076; H +44 (0) 1629 822806
nferguso_wyvern@hotmail.com
Correspondence Address - Wirksworth Station, Station Road, Wirksworth,
Derbyshire. DE4 4FB Tel: +44 (0) 1629 823076
WyvernRail plc is a company registered in England and Wales with company
numer 02754846
Last updated 24th of August
In 1680 a family of shoemakers called Peale moved into Wirksworth. In 1791 Samuel Peale discovered how to waterproof leather using the newly introduced rubber latex from Brazil, and turpentine, and patented the idea. His waterproof boots became immensely popular, he made a fortune, and moved to London. The firm, called Peal and Company, continued to do well by hiring the best craftsmen, and sending salesmen round Europe, America and the Far East. They soon became known as the best shoemakers in the world. Alas, the world was changing, craftsmen were harder to find, and the firm closed in 1965. Shoes bearing the Peal name are still sold today - £500 a pair! Read more on www.wirksworth.org.uk/D25-PEAL.htm
Last updated 20th of August
Local volunteers and professional archaeologists have teamed-up to investigate a buried remains of an engine house on the High Peak Trail. This is second year of an archaeological dig at the site of the Cromford Engine House half way up (down) Sheep Pasture Incline on the High Peak Trail. The engine was removed in 1857 when the two inclines were amalgamated into one and the site (a large depression) has been left untouched since. Working with archaeologists and members of the public, Derbyshire Countryside service has uncovered some of the walls, the place where the chains entered and left the building and the base of the chimney where the underground flue has also been discovered. Head Ranger Andy Pollock told Wirksworth.net 'This is all very exciting as we had no idea that most of this was there.' The dig finished on 26 July and Andy has been encouraging people to visit and take pictures.
Last updated 27th of July
Despite the poor weather on Saturday 6th June, many people braved the elements to attend the Derbyshire Festival at Alton Manor, organised by Lady Winifred Hilton & her family and were rewarded for their optimism with a very welcome break in the rain. This allowed the schedule of most of the arranged events to be completed. Thanks to all those who attended, organised and took part in this very worthwhile event.
Last updated 27th of July
In conjunction with the Town Council, The Stoney Wood Group and a newly formed steering group, artist and sign maker Aidan Shingler, who lives and works in Wirksworth, is developing a project that will function as a community resource and education facility.
Conceived to inspire, entertain, engage and educate, The Star Disc is a 40ft (12m) diameter star chart that mirrors the northern hemisphere night sky, carved into black granite, surrounded by twelve stone seats that denote the twelve months of the year to allow orientation to the stars. A temple without walls, where people from all walks of life can connect to, commune with, and be moved by the mystery and magic of the stars. A 21st century stone circle that represents and evokes Heaven on Earth.
To be sited in Wirksworth’s Stoney Wood Community Woodland, a reclaimed quarry donated by Tarmac to Wirksworth’s Town Council, commanding views over the Ecclesbourne Valley.
The Star Disc will provide:
Aims:
The first Star Disc Steering Group meeting was held on 8th June 2009.
Steering group comprises: Rosie Rennie - Architect
The Rennie Partnership Kevin Mann - Landscape Architect Project Manager of The John Flamsteed Memorial Park
Phil Richards - Photographer - School Library and Information Manager
Chris Bristow - Treasurer of The Stoney Wood Group
Aidan Shingler - Artist and creator of the Star Disc
The Star Disc will be realised when funding for the project is secured. For more information: www.stardiscenterprise.co.uk
Last updated 11th of June
Gyms have a reputation for being places only for the young super fit, but this is no longer the case! Referral sessions are held where the Health Referral Instructor and Health Trainer are there to specifically support and encourage people on the Health Referral programme throughout their 20 sessions and beyond.
Wirksworth is renowned for its walks for Health but less have heard of the ‘Derbyshire Dales Active’ Health Referral Programme aimed at people (16+) whose health would benefit through exercise, such as those who are overweight (BMI 30+), have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, in recovery from a stroke, experiencing osteoporosis, asthma, controlled COPD, osteoarthritis, chronic joint and muscle pain or those in recovery from mental health issues or experiencing mild anxiety/ depression.
You do not have to wear special leisure wear, just comfortable clothing and flat sturdy shoes, preferably trainers.
Taking part in regular physical activity will help improve your medical condition, help you feel fitter and healthier, improve your heart and lung efficiency, develop stronger muscles and bones, help you lose weight and leave you with more energy and feeling more confident.
The programme is heavily subsidised with sessions costing only £1 after the initial £5 induction.
If you are interested and think that you might be suitable talk to your GP or Practice Nurse who can refer you or for more information contact the Health Referral Administrator on 01773 525000
Last updated 1st of June
East Midlands Trains announced today that they will introduce Cromford & Whatstandwell stops in all hourly services from December 2009.
This is great news as up until now the Matlock to Derby line has one train an hour but only half of them stop at Cromford and Whatstandwell - the two most popular staions for Wirksworth residents! This follows a successful review of the service since the introduction of the new timetable last December.
Friends of Derwent Valley Line welcome this move by East Midlands Trains and encourage all members to help promote the line and publicise the enhanced timetable. The announcement was made at the ceremony to open the refurbished Cromford Station and Cromford Station Waiting Room by the Duke of Devonshire. For more details of the Derwent Valley line http://www.fdvl.org.uk/
Last updated 29th of May
The May editiopn of the New Opportunities Wirksworth newsletter is available here to download, keeping us abreast of all the developments from the NOW team.
Features include:
Last updated 28th of May
Over the Well Dressing weekend, a small party are visiting and staying with Wirksworth families from Frankenau, our German twin town. the party includes Gerhard the Mayor of Frankenau.
Meet them in Stoney Wood at 1pm on Saturday for a picnic!!
Last updated 22nd of May
As part of the NOW Farmers' Markets commitment to healthy eating, there will be a FREE show by a national theatre company for children and their parents at the Memorial Hall on 6th June at 11am. It's called "Captain Cholesterol" and is a fun-filled mystery that brings home the healthy eating message in an entertainment packed show.
The show's story goes like this...
At the Much Merrydown fete Granny Smith celebrates 1st prize in the apple growing competition. But triumph soon turns to disaster when one of her rivals collapses with a bad case of the colley-wobbles. What is causing this appalling reaction? Doctor Dickie Gripes is darned if he knows. When the FBI (Fruit Bureau of Investigation) becomes involved it's obvious there's more to this than meets the eye… X -Files meets Hetty Wainthrop in this mystery thriller. The brains of Fox Mouldy and Dana Scullery are pitted against alien fruit and an evil plan to take over the world.
If you want to eat more healthily and you want your children to be inspired to eat a better diet, then come along at 11am on 6th June. Seats are limited so it will be first come, first served. The show is suitable for primary and junior children and their parents. And bring your shopping basket to buy some lovely goodies from the farmers' market at the same time!
More information, contact Shirley Mann 01629 822375/shirleymann@hotmail.com
Last updated 18th of May
The Scouting Movement has been in Wirksworth since the forties and has seen many generations of young people grow into adulthood carrying fond memories with them; after a few years absence, we are now pleased to announce that a new generation of children and young people will have the opportunity of sharing the fun and excitement.
From June 1st a small team of volunteers will be running a Beaver Colony (boys and girls from 6-8 years) in the Parish Rooms, St Mary’s Gate, Wirksworth -5.45 - 7.00pm, from which they will eventually move to Cubs followed by Scouts. If you would like to enrol your child or offer assistance, please contact Richard on 01629 826 402.
Another team will be starting the Cub Pack and Scout Troop in the New Year.
We are looking to refurbish the old Scout Headquarters on Cemetery Lane, Wirksworth and work is afoot to secure funding to bring the building up to the needs of modern day Scouting.
As we embark on re-starting the movement in Wirksworth, we also thought it would be a nice idea for the new Beavers, Cubs and Scouts to be able to look back and see what a rich historic group they were enrolling into.
We are hoping to set up a web page, linked to Wirksworth.net, featuring audio dialogue, photographs etc from former Wirksworth Scouts and Guides, archiving their memories of the group. If you would like to contribute please contact Richard on 01629 826 402.
Last updated 6th of May
The Red Lion Hotel are proud to announce the opening of their fully refurbished three en-suite bedrooms. The three rooms are all fitted with showers, tea and coffee facilities and offer views of the marketplace and town hall. Each room is individually designed with its own unique style.
This building's many listed features are on display including the grand staircase by which the rooms are accessed. There are twin, double or triple rooms on offer and breakfast can be made to suit dietary requirements.
To book or for more information please telephone 01629 822214.
www.redlionhotelwirksworth.com
Last updated 28th of April
Wirksworth has been served for many years by BBC local radio along with several commercial regional station which have come and gone (anyone remember GEM AM?).
It seems that now really local commercial radio is taking off. The web site of Wirksworth wireless broadband supplier W3Z carries a link to Amber Sound radio and we hear that Ashbourne launched its own station in July last year, Chesterfield has peak FM and Derby has Ram FM.
Ashbourne radio claims on its web site to be planning an internet based radio service for Wirksworth. This would work through our broadband networks to our computers but reliable sources do tell us there may be plans for Ashbourne radio to offer a full blown radio service to our Wirksworth. One local commentator said she had doubts that Wirksworth would identify with an Ashbourne station but then invited others to jon the discussion on the Wirksworth.net forum.
Last updated 16th of April
The Incline Race attracted a record entry of 143 last Sunday. The race went round a new course taking in the Trig Point on top of Middleton Moor, yes, there is one! The Infants Race for under 10s attracted nearly 40 youngsters for a second year. See the Incline Race's own page under 'Communities' for all results
Last updated 7th of April
New Singing Group
In response to requests from the local community, it is intended to form a singing group based in Wirksworth.
All are welcome from the most timid beginners to experienced singers.
The repertoire will be an eclectic mix of styles in three and four part harmony, predominantly in English but also using material from the rest of the world.
The group will be led by Lester Simpson, who sings with the internationally acclaimed acapella trio Coope Boyes and Simpson.
Lester also teaches two harmony groups for Adult Education in Derby and Derbyshire, and has lead harmony workshops in the UK, Europe and America.
Contact Lester Simpson; 01629 820256
Last updated 6th of April
Ellen MacArthur paid an a impromptu visit to her old school last week. In the area visiting her family, she called in at Anthony Gell for an informal chat with Headteacher, David Baker and then spent half an hour in the school library with a surprised group of sixth-formers. Whilst there she took a look at the two books on sailing which she borrowed from the school library in the early 1990's and which now have pride of place in the school's collection.
Staff and students were delighted by Ellen's visit and Mr Baker said:" It was a great pleasure to see Ellen again- she is a charming,person and our students felt easy in her company we are very proud of what she has achieved - she is wonderful role model for our young people"
"It was fantastic to have the opportunity to come back to Anthony Gell and to reminisce with Headteacher David Baker - in particular, we were remembering a school trip to Paris which was really good fun! I was glad to have a chance to chat with some of the pupils too - they all seem very motivated and happy there, which is great to see."
Last updated 3rd of April
On March 28th, about 60 people, from infants to senior citizens, gave up their Saturday morning to help give the town a clean sweep. Volunteers went round in teams to clear and clean pathways, in addition to which they cut back overgrown hedgerows. In particular, they picked up a staggering amount of litter as well as removing various items of debris right across Wirksworth. Among those taking part were residents of Wirksworth, various local organizations including Churches Together, the Wirksworth Colts Under 18 Girls Football Team, members of the Wirksworth Fairtrade Group and even our community policemen, PCs Doug Eyres & Jamie Millard. Support was given by the Campaign to Protect Rural England. The Town Council expressed their thanks to all those who helped with the clean-up. Town Councillor Mike Ratcliffe said: "We want to treat our own environment with respect. This event certainly has made a big difference to the area and will be greatly appreciated by all who come to visit this beautiful part of the county." He added: "We are hoping to make this an annual event, to make Wirksworth an even better place to live in." Andy Pollock, Project Leader, said: " The project was a marvellous community effort and a great success. It was typical of Wirksworth to pull together like this."
If you were part of the clean-up team click HERE to see the other photos
Last updated 3rd of April
Now the clocks have changed it must officially be Spring and Wirksworth WEA have organised two short courses to encourage us all to get up off the sofa and out into the fresh air.
So why not make the credit crunch the final push you need to have a go at growing your own vegetables? You don't need a huge garden or an allotment: any sized patch can give you fresh, delicious and healthy produce. And the exercise comes as an added bonus.
Local gardening expert Jan Forrester will be revealing the secrets of successful sowing, planting, harvesting and storing, as well as many other tips of the trade in a course of 5 meetings including a local garden visit.
Grow your own veg! starts on 21 April. And underlying the soil in our gardens are more fundamental roots than those of plants. There must be many of us who have lived in Derbyshire for years without really understanding how our amazing rocky scenery was formed. The story the land can tell us is a fascinating one and is revealed in the course of four out-and-about visits, including Masson Hill and Bradford Dale.
Exploring "The Roots of the Landscape" is led by Judy Rigby and begins on 23 April. Find out more about both these short courses by phoning Wirksworth WEA on 01629 825010. Who knows, there may even be sunshine!
Last updated 31st of March
Click on the cover to read the latest AGS newsletter
Last updated 27th of March
The site is intended to help us share the highpoints in the life of the school with the wider community and to provide key information to potential students and their parents.This new site is easier to update and offers opportunites for students to get involved in its development.. A group of students are currently working on a revamped Sixth Form page and Philip Whitehead from Year 11 has done a lot of work on the site.
The site is photo-rich, with links to web-albums of photos of key events. It has a news-page, an events diary and links to all the school's Newsletters and key publications.
Library Manager, Phil Richards who looks after the site said " We have tried to make the site both attractive and easy to navigate and we welcome feedback from parents ,students and the wider community."
The website is designed to complement ( and to link to) the school's Kaleidos Learning Platform which will be open to current staff students, parents and governors. As well as providing a way of publishing learning tasks and resources to students, Kaleidos will enable parents to access information about their children's progess electronically.
In addition Kaleidos will offer staff and students the opportunity to develop Interest Spaces ( like websites) which can contain news, images, calendars and document libraries for school trips, clubs and other activities. This will also enable trip letters and other letters to parents to be published online.
Kaleidos is due to be launched with Year 7 students and their parents early in the summer term
Last updated 27th of March
Staff, students and governors at Anthony Gell School are celebrating the outcome of their recent Ofsted inspection which took place on 11th and 12th March 2009.
Four inspectors visited the school, led by David Simpson HMI who has led a number of inspections around the County. The team observed many lessons, held meetings with groups of staff, students and Governors and interviewed members of the school's Senior Leadership Team. They also examined lots of evidence including detailed analysis of recent exam results, our curriculum, the systems in place to protect and support students and the effect our Sports College Status has had on the whole school.
Their conclusion was that Anthony Gell is a good and improving school. They were awarded a grade of 'Good' in most categories and 'Outstanding' in all the others. This shows strong progress from the already good position at the time of the last report in March 2006. The school is particularly pleased that the inspectors said that it was rightly ambitious to be an outstanding school by the time of the next inspection.
Headteacher, David Baker, said he was absolutely delighted with the Ofsted report. "I think the report sums up the school perfectly," he said. "The inspectors really understood how Anthony Gell works and saw all that it provides for its students and the wider community. I am really pleased that all the hard work put in by staff, students and governors over the past three years has been recognised. I would like to thank everyone who has put in so much effort to support the school and to drive it forward."
The inspection came in the same week that David gained his long service award for working for Derbyshire County Council for 25 years. He joined Anthony Gell School's maths department aged 21 in 1983 and has worked here ever since. He was appointed Headteacher in January 2006. David said "I am immensely proud of all the staff and students at the school and see it as a real honour to be the Head of the school. I am confident we can improve still further in the next few years."
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT
Last updated 27th of March
A campaign encouraging people to shop local and support traders is being launched by Derbyshire County Council and is applauded by NOW (New Opportunities Wirksworth).
The `Near-Buy, Shop Local’ campaign is just one way the county council is trying to help people during the credit crunch and will be launched over the coming weeks across Derbyshire. 
Posters and window stickers will be displayed across towns and in shop windows carrying the Near-Buy, Shop Local logo, urging people to spend their money in local shops, keep their towns alive and boost the local economy.
As NOW has always maintained, the reasons to shop locally include the fact it is easy and convenient, keeps and creates local jobs, can be a sociable experience and shoppers can get a friendlier and more personal service. Thriving local shops and buzzing towns can also attract other businesses and services to run alongside them in the area.
Last updated 3rd of April
As usual, it promises to be packed with lots of interesting information, news and interviews with people who have stories to tell. What's more...it's FREE!
The electronic version of Community Fayre, the newspaper for local folk living in Wirksworth and surrounding areas is now online in PDF format.
Click on the image to download it, or use this link.
If you cannot open the file, please download a free PDF reader like Foxit PDF
Last updated 24th of March
On the 16th March, work will begin on the Puffin Crossing outside Mondo Bello and the Memorial Garden. This should provide much safer passage across the main road for the dozens of people that cross there in a blind spot every day!
Last updated 11th of March
Saturday March 7th was a day of celebration for Wirksworth, after being granted Fairtrade Town status by the Fairtrade Foundation. The day started with a coffee morning at Mondo Bello in Waltham House, and was highlighted by a Fairtrade Fortnight lunch at Le Mistral, the unveiling of a new town sign incorporating the Fairtrade identity, followed by cutting (and sharing!) a celebration cake by Reg Dean (106), and presentation of the Fairtrade Town certificate to the town Mayor, Cllr. Frank Bark. A Celebration Party in the evening rounded off the events with a quality line-up of entertainment and dancing in the Town Hall. See the Wirksworth Fairtrade Group page for full details.
A Fairtrade Town has made a commitment to supporting Fairtrade and using products with the FAIRTRADE mark. Any area can work towards Fairtrade status and everyone needs to be involved! Businesses, community organisations, faith groups, schools and individuals all contribute to making their area a Fairtrade Town by pledging to do what they can to support Fairtrade and promote the FAIRTRADE mark.
By choosing to support Fairtrade, our community can add its voice to demands for a trade system that puts people, not profit, at the heart of the transaction. The Wirksworth Fairtrade Group hopes that by achieving Fairtrade Town status we will bring together neighbours, groups, the local authority and businesses towards a common goal and a shared achievement. The town was awarded its prestigious status after all five ethical goals had been met, requiring businesses, workplaces and community organisations, together with the Town Council, to support the cause. The Fairtrade Foundation gave Wirksworth a glowing testimonial in which they praised the town's efforts over the past two years. They were particularly impressed by the town's Fairtrade logo, the presence of the Traid Links shop and the dedication of the Wirksworth Fairtrade Group. A spokesman for the Group said: " 'Well done' to all the businesses, organisations and supporters in Wirksworth whose help made this award possible. Becoming a Fairtrade Town involved hard work but was good fun and has proved to be a great way to bring people together. It is also an achievement everyone can celebrate and sends out a powerful message about how our community wants trade to work. Now begins the task of consolidating and expanding on this major success and maintaining our accreditation in the future."
Last updated 8th of March
At Kirk Ireton Primary School we are launching a charity challenge called ‘Marathon-In-A-Month’. This will involve the children walking or running a mile a day for 26 school days – ending on the Friday before the headteacher runs the London marathon.
We are raising money for the NSPCC and are asking children to try and raise money by getting sponsored. Our launch day will be on Friday 6th March at 11.30am on the village field. We will have press coverage and a very special guest running alongside us for our first mile. Every other day, we will be aiming to do the mile during the lunch-break, but if anyone misses a session for any reason, they can catch up by coming to the ‘Morning Jog’ or there will be some catch-up sessions after school as required.
If you would like to find out more, or to see how things are progressing, please visit the school website at www.kirkiretonprimary.co.uk or www.justgiving.com/pj2009challenges where you can also make an online donation.
Last updated 2nd of March
Why not add your photos to this new Flickr group and share them with the world
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1028413@N23/
Last updated 9th of February
Wirksworth resident Louise Champion will for the first time this April be running the London Marathon on behalf of Asthma UK. Louise is hoping to raisevital funds to improve the health and wellbeing of the 5.2 million people suffering with Asthma in the UK. This will be a real challenge for Louise who has lived with Asthma and Ezcema for over 30 years but her condition has not stopped her training and running.
Fundraising for Asthma UK is really important for Louise, as she knows she will be helping others to take control of their Asthma and reduce the effect that it has on their lives. Her target this year is to raise £2000 for Asthma UK with events including a charity jumble stall on Wirksworth Market on Tuesday 10th February and Tuesday 21st April. Louise also has a Marathon Quiz available for £1 where you can win a £20 prize. More local events are being arranged for the coming months and Louise hopes as many local individuals and businesses as possible can support her in this worthwhile cause.
People who have any recollection of "the real Louise" will surely appreciate "the struggle in heaving my unfit; untoned; heavily abused body around 26.2 mile in under 12 weeks time". Louise has already raised £300 by sending out letters on behalf of Santa Claus and hosting a Body Shop Party, she is well on her way to acheiving her goal but appreciates there's still a long way to go.
Louise also has a social networking site on Facebook "PLEASE Support Louise Champion running the 2009 London Marathon" and a charity donation website www.justgiving.com/louisechampion. Any financial support however small would be greatly received. Louise is still looking for donations of jumble/bric a brac/car boot style item and from businesses donations of services for a auction style event.
We wish Louise all the best in her challenges ahead.
Last updated 4th of February
As usual, it promises to be packed with lots of interesting information, news and interviews with people who have stories to tell. What's more...it's FREE!
The electronic version of Community Fayre, the newspaper for local folk living in Wirksworth and surrounding areas is now online in PDF format.
Click on the image to download it, or use this link.
If you cannot open the file, please download a free PDF reader like Foxit PDF
Last updated 5th of January
WIRKSWORTH has two new community policemen. PCs Doug Eyres and Jamie Millard are assigned to the town, which also has Sue Lester as a police community support officer.
They can be contacted at the police office in Oat Hill.
Last updated 5th of January
Over 200 children entered a competition to design a new logo for Wirksworth’s community woodland, Stoney Wood. Local people voted for their choice of the top twenty when they went on display recently in Wirksworth library. The winning logo, by a clear margin, was designed by 10 year old George Peck from Wirksworth Junior School. George is pictured receiving his prize tee shirt and certificate from Mayor of Wirksworth Frank Bark at a special assembly. “We are absolutely delighted by both the number and the sheer quality of the entries we received” said Denise Bristow, the group’s chairperson Stoney Wood was given to the people of Wirksworth as a millennium present in 1999 by Tarmac Plc. Consisting of Stoneycroft quarry, suitably filled in and landscaped, the wood was planted by local adults and school children. Owned by Wirksworth Town Council, and managed on its behalf by the Stoney Wood Group, the site is extensively used by local people. For more information on the Stoney Wood Group, and how you can become a member (£1 per annum) please contact Denise on 01629 824258
Last updated 19th of December
Derbyshire County Council are planning to build the country’s first adult community education eco centre in Derbyshire after they were awarded almost £900,000 from the Learning and Skills Council for full details go to http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/education/adcommed/eco_centre/default.asp
Last updated 19th of December
