March 2016

Get Creative At St Peters Quarter Live

St Peters Quarter Live’s season of monthly variety events returns to St Peters Cross on Saturday 2nd April and will also feature in the BBC Arts Get Creative Campaign – a worldwide celebration of arts, culture and creativity.

School Pupils Complete Construction Skills Challenges

Twenty six pupils from six local schools competed in four different construction skills challenges organised by staff and students at Derby College.

Pupils from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Ashbourne; John Flamsteed Community School, Denby; Ecclesbourne School in Duffield, Bennerley Fields Specialist Speech and Language College, Ilkeston; as well as Murray Park Community and Allestree Woodlands schools in Derby competed in Brickwork, Painting and Decorating, Carpentry and Joinery and Plastering challenges.

Pep & Co Expansion To Feature In New Documentary

Pep & Co will open their expanded store in Albion Street, St Peters Quarter, at 9am on Friday 25th March. The expansion of family fashion retailer Pep & Co in Derby’s St Peters Quarter is earmarked to be featured on a new ITV television series which is due to be screened this Spring.

Tapton Lock Celebration Event 17th & 18th Sept 2016

Derbyshire County Council Countryside Service and Junction Arts, supported by Arts Council England, Chesterfield Borough Council and local businesses, have hosted successful weekends of activities at Tapton Lock Visitor Centre on the Chesterfield Canal, over the last 3 years.

TAKEOVER RADIO JOIN FORCES WITH DERBY COLLEGE TO OFFER A NEW CONCEPT IN EDUCATION

A Leicester based radio station is to offer practical training for a Higher National Diploma in Creative Media Production (Radio) at Derby College.

Takeover Radio 103.2fm will be offering an HND course starting in September, working with Derby College to offer students a more hands on approach to learning. The students will gain valuable experience in how to work at and operate a radio station as well as the academic education needed to achieve a higher education qualification which ultimately could lead to a degree.  

Derby College Students Raise Money For Rainbows

Students at Derby College’s Ilkeston campus have presented a cheque for £86 to Rainbows Children’s Hospice in Loughborough.

The students, who are all on the Pathway to Working Life programme at the College, organised a pool tournament for staff and students. Three learners – Jazmine Bosworth (19), Sophie White (17) and Stephen Holmes (16) also completed the Ice Bucket Challenge and they presented the cheque to Rainbows Ambassador Mick Coe who visited the Ilkeston campus to learn more about the students’ efforts.

Former Derby College Student Named Electrical Apprentice of the Year

Former Derby College Electrical student Mitchell Shore has been named Apprentice of the Year for 2016 by national training provider JTL.

Mitchell, who is 22 and from Chaddesden, fought off competition from more than 6000 apprentices  across the UK to take the title at an awards ceremony at London’s Drapers’ Hall, attended by 150 people. He and his fellow finalists were judged on their practical electrical installation abilities as well as their knowledge of industry regulations during a technical theory test.

Wathalls Teams Up With Hope Centre for Easter Egg Appeal

Funeral directors G Wathall & Son Ltd has launched its annual Easter egg appeal to support the foodbank, which is one of the services offered at Derby’s Hope Centre.

The family-owned firm will be collecting chocolate eggs donated by members of the public, local businesses, staff, family and friends. Donations can be collected at the firm’s offices in Macklin Street in Derby’s St Peters Quarter and at Union Street in Ashbourne and then delivered to the Hope Centre in Curzon Street.

The Peak Pilgrimage

As part of the commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the plague, the people of Eyam Church have created a permanent new pilgrimage route for walkers through the Peak District National Park – the 35 mile Peak Pilgrimage route from Ilam to Eyam ‐ opened in July 2015. This initiative is supported by the Diocese of Derby and the Peak District National Park.

Local Businesses Support Derby Spring Classic Sportive

Two Derby businesses have pledged their support for Derby’s major cycling sportive events this year. 

Geldards and Radleigh Homes, both based on Pride Park, will be the main sponsors for the Spring Classic Sportive on Sunday May 1 and then the North Derbyshire Challenge on Sunday September 18. Both companies will be working with organisers Cycle Derby and HUUB Events to stage the events. Staff from both companies will also be competing in the event – joining hundreds of cyclists of all ages and abilities who will be taking to the roads around the county.

Ashbourne Festival 2016 art exhibition - call for artists

After record entries in 2015 the organisers of the Ashbourne Festival 2016 Summer Art Exhibition are on the look out for local artists to submit work for this year’s event. The exhibition is always a highlight of the Festival and, the quality of submitted work gets better and better every year.  As usual the exhibition will be a mix of excellent invited artists from Derbyshire and the region, plus local artists submitting their work. 

The invited artists confirmed for this year are:

Young People to join Manchester Camerata Orchestra for Uniquely Local Tour

Four fun, friendly evenings of well-loved classical music with a local twist. 

First Art and Orchestras Live have teamed up to invite world-class chamber orchestra Manchester Camerata to work with local young people in creating a one-off tour of Eckington, Mansfield, Shirebrook and Sutton-in-Ashfield. Throughout March and April young people are taking part in creative workshops with professional musicians, composers and theatre artists to create 4 musical and theatrical performance pieces inspired by the people and places where they live. 

Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust Carsington Water Walk – Sunday 8th May 2016

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust supports, empowers and inspires young people aged between 8 to 24 who are in recovery from cancer, through sailing. Through our sailing trips we provide the opportunity to try something new and exciting with others who have experienced a similar journey, to rebuild self confidence which is vital to their long term recovery and full engagement with future life.

Aire Flamenco by Synergy

A “Live & Local” show at Crich Glebe Field Centre on Saturday 12th March 2016– 7:30 pm

Synergy is a hugely talented trio, from Spain and the UK. Juan Casals Mendoza (Granada) on guitar and vocals, and Glenn David Phillips (Alicante) on vocals, cajon and guitar, are joined by David Shepherd (UK) on guitar. Together, they bring scorching, rapid-fire guitar flurries, passionate vocals and exotic driving percussion to an absolutely entrancing blend of dramatic traditional flamenco pieces and irresistible South American rumbas and tangos.

Poem a Month for March 2016

We thought Being a Woman by Parminder Kaur was a brilliant way to celebrate International Women's Day on 8th March. We enjoyed the lively language and spirited approach to both poetry and being a woman.- Ali & Priscilla

This poem describes what it is like to be a modern woman in the twenty first century and celebrating this uniqueness with the world.- Parminder Kaur

Being a Woman

Once upon a Time Craft and Play Workshop at Sharpe's Pottery Museum this April

Join Helen from The Sunflower Plot for this Fairy Tale themed workshop workshop at Sharpe's Pottery Museum this April!
 
Packed full of activities including make your own fairy tale creature puppet, build a fairy/elf door and create magical creatures with Play Doh and finger paints! Sessions run at 10.30am and 1pm and last one hour.
 
Children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: £4 per session (includes materials), siblings £3.50. Places are limited and booking is essential – please contact the museum on 01283 222600.

 

Join this Animal Antics Craft and Play Workshop at Sharpe's Pottery Museum this April

Join Helen from The Sunflower Plot for this fun animal themed workshop at Sharpe's Pottery Museum this April!
 
With something for everyone and packed full of fun activities including Play Doh, Finger/hand painting, sand play, making your own animal puppet and more! Sessions run at 10.30am and 1pm and last one hour.
 
Children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: £4 per session (includes materials), siblings £3.50. Places are limited and booking is essential – please contact the museum on 01283 222600.

 

Ceramic Flowers Course in conjunction with Glossop Arts Project

In conjunction with Glossop Arts Project Deiniol will be running a course on 15th, 22nd and 29th April from 12.30pm to 2.30pm, where participants will make a small selection of ceramic flowers. These ceramic flowers are designed to fit onto bamboo cane or can be permanently fixed onto metal rods so that they can be placed out in the garden and provide all year-round colour!

Smith Cooper Supports Jenson Button Trust Triathlon Team Challenge

Midlands based business advisors and accountants Smith Cooper have announced that they will again sponsor the Team Challenge as part of the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon in Derby on Sunday 17th July.

Teams of three will have the chance to race twice during the day with each member tackling one of the three Triathlon stages. The Team Challenge consists of a 200m swim in Markeaton Lake, followed by a 10km cycle on a closed-road circular route into the city centre and back to the park and finally a 2.5km run.

Wathalls MD Appointed To National Board

The managing director of Derby and Ashbourne funeral directors G. Wathall & Son Ltd has been appointed to the board of Golden Charter – the UK’s leading provider of funeral plans in the UK.

Lifeguards Qualify at Lonsdale Pool

The first group of 2016 have successfully gained their National Pool Lifeguard Qualification after a week-long course at Lonsdale swimming pool in Mickleover, Derby.
Lonsdale Pool organise regular training programmes for lifeguards throughout the year – training people who want to work at Lonsdale, its sister pool Gayton in Littleover and other facilities across the county.

Dance Students Masterclass at Déda

International contemporary dance artist Jorge Crecis recently held his first masterclass with University of Derby BA Hons Dance degree students who are based at regional dance house Déda in Derby to help develop their performance presence skills.

Pep & Co Announce Further Expansion of St Peters Quarter Store

A family fashion retailer in Derby’s St Peters Quarter has marked its six month anniversary with the announcement of plans to double the size of its store.

Pep & Co opened in August specialising in value ranges of clothes for men, women and children and homewares on the 4,000 sq ft ground floor of the former Next store in Albion Street. Store Manager Andy Cheetham confirmed today that the first floor of the building will be opened on 22nd March, initially as a clearance department.  This will create one new sales assistant job in addition to the ten staff already employed.

Broomfield Hall Lambing Sunday

Visitors at an open day at Derby College’s Broomfield Hall campus in Morley on Sunday 13th March between 10am and 3.30pm will have the chance to meet the new-born lambs and other animals who are cared for by students at the College.

Broomfield Hall’s working farm and animal unit will be open throughout the day where visitors can join hands-on sessions to learn how to care for and handle some of the resident animals and exotic species.

These range from the donkeys and meerkats to the spiders, reptiles, skunk and porcupine.

Derby College Celebrates Higher Education Successes

Higher Education students at Derby College came under the spotlight at an awards ceremony at the Roundhouse to celebrate their success.

As well as certificates for completing their courses at the College, there were several special awards, sponsored by the Derby College Students’ Union (DCSU) which were presented by President Charlie Baker.

Sinfonia Viva Player Receives National Award

Graham Hall, long-standing timpanist of Sinfonia Viva has been awarded the prestigious RPS/ABO Salomon Prize for orchestral musicians.

Graham, who lives in Pinxton, is a founding member of Derby-based Sinfonia Viva. He has been awarded the RPS/ABO Salomon Prize, for his “hugely dedicated service to Sinfonia Viva over many years: as a timpanist, player and Musicians Union rep; and also as highly skilled arranger who has supported the orchestra’s extensive outreach work, and in doing so has inspired his fellow musicians to join him in going the extra mile”.

St Peters Quarter BID Launches Renewal

St Peters Quarter Business Improvement District has launched its renewal  to continue the work underway in the area of the city centre between the Cathedral Quarter and Intu Derby shopping centre.