December 2019

Keep Your Business Moving This Christmas with GT Couriers

Our Christmas availability is as follows:
December 23rd and Christmas Eve it's business as usual, but with limited cover on the evening of the 24th.
We are closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day with emergency cover only – pre-booking is highly advised.
From the 27th onwards it's business as usual until New Year's Day, where we're closed with emergency cover only. Again, pre-booking is highly advised. From January 2nd we're back to full strength and business as usual.

Derbyshire farm shop and café Croots puts the environment in the spotlight for 2020

Popular Derbyshire farm shop and café Croots is pledging to make 2020 its most environmentally friendly year ever following a top-to-bottom review of its activities.

From asking customers to bring their own containers for fresh produce and reducing use of cling-film as far as possible to cutting out plastic water bottles and straws completely, the family-owned farm shop says everyone has a part to play in reducing the impact we have on the planet.

BEAR's golden touch

Bondholder BEAR Coffee Company has been announced as a winner at the prestigious Revo Gold Awards for the UK retail industry - having secured the Re:tale award for its recent strategic partnership with fellow Bondholder intu Derby.

Revo sets standards, recognises achievement and sparks ideas across the UK retail sector, and the independent coffee brand was up against some huge industry names such as Primark, IKEA and JD Sports.

Wathall’s Memorial Service Gives Families Time to Remember Loved Ones

More than 800 people are expected to attend a special early evening Service of Remembrance and Hope at Derby Cathedral on Thursday December 12 organised by family-owned funeral directors, Wathall’s.

Wathall’s, which is Derby’s longest established independent funeral directors, organises the memorial service every year – inviting families who have lost loved ones during this and past years.

They will be joined by members of Dandelions Bereavement Support groups in Derby and Ashbourne as well as representatives from local churches, hospitals and nursing homes.

Wathall’s Further Expands Support For Bereaved Families

Wathall’s, Derby’s longest-established independent funeral directors, has teamed up with The Salvation Army to collect unwanted clothing that will make life easier for bereaved families and help people in need.

A free collection service is available for textiles, clothing, accessories and shoes when families are ready to sort through the clothes and possessions of a loved one who has passed away.

Alternatively, families can drop off bagged items at one of Wathall’s offices in Derby city centre, Ashbourne, Alvaston, Borrowash and Burton-on-Trent.

New Public Art Celebrates Ilkeston’s Heritage

Art and Design students at Derby College Group (DCG) have created a striking obelisk which stands proudly near the entrance of Ilkeston Community College.

The 2m high polished concrete public art celebrates key aspects of Ilkeston’s roots as an Anglo Saxon settlement and its industrial and cultural heritage from iron and coal to lace and the annual charter fair.

25% Christmas Discount on all Ltd Edition Prints by April Young

April has created a range of beautifully hand finished prints in small runs of 9 each that capture the energy and personality of some of natures most adored creatures.

Whether you consider yourself a Cheeky Hare or more of a Wistful Fox these beautiful prints would be a very welcome gift under anyone's Christmas Tree this year.
In the run up to the big day you can buy these prints at a 25% discount to add a little bit of Christmas Cheer to your celebrations.

First authors announced for sixth Derby Book Festival

The first authors are revealed today (27 November) for the sixth Derby Book Festival, which will be held from 29 May – 6 June 2020 in venues across the city.  The Festival is now a well-established part of the city’s cultural calendar and celebrates the joy of books and reading.  It has just held its first successful Autumn Edition in October and will return next Spring with over 90 events across nine days with some of the very best writers in the country.

FORMAT goes to China

FORMAT Director Louise Fedotov-Clements and a team of curators and artists attended the Lishui Photography Festival, taking with them the FORMAT group exhibition Sleight of Hand, which opened to record visitor numbers.

Get your hooves on! Less than ten Rams left to sponsor!

A unique world-class art sculpture trail in Derby for summer 2020

Businesses that have not yet signed up to be part of the Derby Ram Trail are being urged to ruminate no longer, as less than ten Rams remain available for sponsorship.

To date, over 20 businesses have registered to take part in the project which will be one of the largest mass-participation art events ever to be held in the city.

Art Workshops 2020 at St John Gallery in Ashbourne

Are you a serious artist who is looking for inspiration or want to explore new techniques, or do you just want to have fun trying out your creative skills? You are sure to find something that will suit your needs perfectly amongst the exciting variety of art workshops we have lined up for 2020.
 

Peak District & Derbyshire scores success at prestigious travel awards!

Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire’s quest to promote the area as a world-class destination has been given a huge boost after it was recognised in three of the travel industry’s top awards.

It has been revealed that the Peak District and Derbyshire has won bronze in the prestigious 2019 British Travel Awards, which are considered the benchmark for excellence in the travel industry and are voted for by the travelling public.

Fringe enjoys carols with Carol!

Buxton Festival Fringe (July 1-19 2020) celebrated being open for entries at a lively Christmas a party on December 7th. The event featured traditional Derbyshire Village Carols and was held at The Green Man Gallery where Kaleidoscope Choir leader Carol Bowns organised a successsful afternoon rehearsal followed by group singing at the party in the evening.

Accessible panto shows for everyone from Derby LIVE

The traditional Christmas pantomime has something to offer the whole family. Accessible performances of Peter Pan at Derby Arena aim to make the magic and mayhem enjoyable for everyone.

Derby LIVE is pleased to offer a range of relaxed, British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted, captioned and audio described performances of the city’s biggest and brightest panto.

Give a special gift this Christmas - Your name in the NEW Museum of Making

Looking for an incredible gift to give to your friends or family this Christmas, whilst supporting the work of Derby Museums? Look no further - we have some amazing gift ideas below!

Your name in the NEW Museum of Making

Celebrate a special person by having their name permanently displayed in the entrance hall of the new Museum of Making. This is a one-off chance to be permanently remembered in this fantastic new museum, which is due to open in autumn 2020.  Suggested minimum donation from £250.

Deep -Buxton Opera House

Written by Rob Young, Deep tells the story of Jan, a Buxton teenager rejected by his peers and is unable to cope with his father's illness. Jan finds solace in a voice that speaks from the deep. The voice is kind, but is it a trap? Or psychosis? Or love? And how do you date a girl who lives underwater when you can't swim? A performance about Buxton, for Buxton, performed by a local cast aged 16-30. Directed by Kitty Randle.

Looking for something new to do in 2020? Why not volunteer at the Barn?

We'll be soon be reflecting on another highly successful year here at Dronfield Hall Barn - but before we do, we'd like to invite you to become a member of our volunteering team - if you aren't one already!

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Barn, and we're so reliant on them to help us coordinate events such as our Artisan and Producers' Markets, steward and welcome first time visitors, help out in our gardens, assist in research for for future exhibitions, and so much more.

Matlock Storytelling Cafe Present Sleeping Beauty and Other Happily Ever Afters

On Friday the 3rd of January 2020

Nell never knew that she would fall utterly in love with Sleeping Beauty but she has been woo’d.

Nell has been seduced by all the tellings and re-tellings that span continents. She has unearthed the stories and re-vived them in the search for a true happily-ever-after and the reason why Sleeping Beauty got spiked.

R&D on translation processes at 1623 Theatre

1623's artistic director Ben Spiller, and associate artist Oliver Alvin Wilson, spent a week in London with a team of artists working on Shakespeare-to-BSL translations of scenes from MACBETH with The DH Ensemble (Deaf & Hearing Ensemble).


The week was an important step along the way to the making of FAIR IS FOUL a bilingual adaptation of MACBETH, next year. 

1623 Theatre Tour planning for QUEER LADY M

We are in the final stages of planning a 2020 nationwide tour for QUEER LADY M. By the time our next newsletter is out, we should be able to give you all details of the dates and venues.

Workshops with LGBT+ groups, performances at scratch nights and audience feedback have played a key role in shaping this show, which combines the autobiography of gender-fluid artist Shane Gabriel (who performs the show) and the story of Lady Macbeth.

INFLUENCE AND ADVOCACY FOR CHANGE - 21 January

Leadership Development Day with Clore Leadership; 21st January 2020 at Derby Museum, 10 am - 4 pm.

The Happy Museums Project’s frame of wellbeing for people, place and planet has supported positive change since 2011 through their work with over 70 UK museums and cultural organisations. Join Happy Museum and Clore Leadership to explore what it means to be an effective change-maker, how to bring your individual passions and concerns around the environment to your workplace setting and have meaningful impact and influence through advocacy.

Derby’s Penguin PR agency steps up to the hotplate as its staff lay on lunch for the community

Staff at a leading Derby PR agency, who are used to cooking up a media storm, swapped their pens for pinnies when they volunteered to cook for more than 70 people at a city charity’s community lunch.

The four members of Penguin PR spent the day chopping, boiling and baking, after the agency, based in Ashbourne Road, agreed to prepare the YMCA Derbyshire’s monthly free lunch event last week.

Derbyshire farm shop and café Croots puts the environment in the spotlight for 2020

Popular Derbyshire farm shop and café Croots is pledging to make 2020 its most environmentally friendly year ever following a top-to-bottom review of its activities.

From asking customers to bring their own containers for fresh produce and reducing use of cling-film as far as possible to cutting out plastic water bottles and straws completely, the family-owned farm shop says everyone has a part to play in reducing the impact we have on the planet.

Be part of the Derby Ram Trail

Only ten Ram sculptures remain available for sponsorship as part of the Derby Ram Trail planned for 2020.

To date, over 20 businesses have registered to take part in the discovery trail which will run from June to August 2020 and be one of the largest mass-participation art events ever to be held in the city.

The Derby Conference Centre put on a free Christmas lunch for local community

The Derby Conference Centre held a free Community Christmas lunch on 9th December - and it was such a great hit, it’s set to be a permanent feature on Derby’s festive calendar.

The invitation to the lunch was extended to a number of community groups and charities, including Re-engage (formerly Contact the Elderly) and a popular care facility for the elderly based in Derby itself. From 12pm to 4pm the 70 or so guests enjoyed some wonderful festive fayre, socialised with friends old and new and were thoroughly entertained by the Rolls Royce Ladies Choir.