International cricketer Niall O'Brien has visited Derby College’s Broomfield Hall Campus to run a special coaching session for members of the Andrew Flintoff Cricket Academy at the College

Niall plays for Ireland and Leicestershire and recently returned from playing in cricket’s Inter Continental Cup in Zimbabwe.

He said: “I am very impressed with the set up at Derby College.  I did not have these opportunities as a youngster in Ireland but cricket is now the fastest growing sport there and I thoroughly enjoy coaching to bring out the potential in individual players.

Derbyshire farm shop Croots has come up with a novel way to display its Christmas trees – a hanging forest in one of the farm’s barns.

The set-up means that customers can walk amongst the firs, as they hang from the ceiling of the barn, and see exactly how the tree will look when it finds its place in the home.

“Everyone has their own idea of what makes the perfect tree for their home,” said Steve Croot, who runs the farm shop off Wirksworth Road, Duffield, with wife Kay.

Derby College has been awarded the top Career Mark accreditation in recognition of its consistent quality in providing careers education and guidance for learners at its campuses in Derby, Ilkeston and Morley.

Career Mark is awarded by the Quality in Careers Standard Board (QiCS). It measures good practice in a number of areas – management, curriculum, information, guidance and outcomes in helping young people develop life long career management skills.

Derby North MP Amanda Solloway has praised an initiative to boost young people’s job opportunities and meet the recruitment needs of local employers.

Mrs Solloway recently visited the Hodgkinson Brickwork Academy at Derby College’s Ilkeston campus to find out more about the initiative to link students with local employers to address current and future skills shortages.

Around 600 people are expected to attend a special memorial service at Derby Cathedral on Thursday December 10 – organised by Derby and Ashbourne family-owned funeral directors, G.Wathall & Son Ltd.

Wathalls hold the memorial service every year – inviting families who have lost loved ones during this and past years as well as representatives from local churches, hospitals and nursing homes.

Peak countryside campaigners, Friends of the Peak District, are once again supporting the people of Hartington to prevent the former Dove Dairy site being developed into an inappropriate, suburban housing estate.

Mayfield Bowls Club’s successful crown bowls season has results in more silverware for their trophy cabinet and the chance to support a local charity.

The crown bowls club, which is sponsored by family-owned funeral directors G.Wathall and Son Ltd in Derby and Ashbourne, won another batch of trophies in the Uttoxeter League this season.

This included the singles title for Dave Mitchell, best averages for Mark Jennings, mixed doubles title for Doug Jennings and Winnie Fernyhough with runners up going to Mark Jennings and Rita Blood.

Derby Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) has launched a high-quality prospectus as part of its objective to attract new businesses and increased investment into the city centre.

The Cathedral Quarter Derby Prospectus showcases the strengths of the Cathedral Quarter and includes details of development and investment opportunities as well as providing an overview of the wide range of office and retail accommodation available to businesses in the area.

Television star Nick Knowles has visited Construction students at the Hodgkinson Brickwork Academy at Derby College’s Ilkeston campus to thank them for their involvement in the recent BBC DIY SOS Big Build project.

A group of nine students joined Ian Hodgkinson from Hodgkinson Builders in Derby for the recent televised project which renovated a street of houses in Manchester for former services personnel.

Mr Knowles was working on a new project nearby and visited the students to thank them and see them in action at the College.

Derby College has teamed up with Microsoft’s UK Country Partner of The Year 2015, risual Limited, to open the East Midlands’ first risual Microsoft Academy.  This will offer Microsoft qualifications for learners across the College, IT apprentices and employees at businesses across the region.

The risual Microsoft Academy at Derby College will offer digital skills training for students and business employees using the latest Microsoft technology and industry experts in order to improve digital literacy skills and bridge the gap between industry and education.