News from producers around Derbyshire

The big, bold and beautiful production of the much-loved musical comedy Hairspray will visit more than 30 venues across the length and breadth of the UK, including Buxton in October.

A star cast has been announced including Norman Pace as Wilbur Turnblad with Matt Rixon returning as Edna. Also returning is Layton Williams to play the role of Seaweed alongside musical theatre star Brenda Edwards as Motormouth Maybelle. Newcomer Rebecca Mendoza will make her professional debut as Tracy Turnblad.

Are you looking to expand your small business? Help is at hand through a free business health check from the D2 Business Advisory Growth Service.

Find out more here: http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/council/news_events/news-updates/2017/augus...

More than 20 representatives of businesses in Derby’s St Peters Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) took part in an early-morning litter pick around the area to highlight their commitment to keeping to area tidy.

The Business Tidy event was the first under the new St Peters Quarter five-year BID programme which includes activities to improve the environment and visitor experience in the area.

Derby College has hosted the national final of the Guild of Bricklayers’ annual skills competition at its Derby Construction Academy.

Eighteen students and apprentices from throughout the UK attended the competition organised by the Guild of Bricklayers.

The National Skills Academy for Rail (NSAR) has announced the launch of the National Training Partnership, a new skills initiative to help solve the growing demand for new talent across the rail sector. 

More than 600 athletes of all ages and experience enjoyed a day of sport in Derby on Sunday (July 23) as part of the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon.

400 individuals and teams of three competed twice during the day with an open-water swim in Markeaton Park lake, a closed-road cycle route in and out of the city’s Cathedral Quarter and then a run route around the picturesque park.

Meanwhile 200 youngsters and accompanying adults joined the family triathlon in the lunchtime break – covering a shorter course before crossing the main finish line.

Healthwatch Derbyshire, the independent consumer champion for health and social care in Derbyshire, has been appointed to ensure that people who use mental health services and their carers are given a greater voice in how health and social care services are run, and changed.  

The public watchdog, based in Milford near Belper, is setting up a new Mental Health Service Receiver and Carer Engagement Service on behalf of Derbyshire County Council and the Clinical Commissioning Groups across the county.

A bereavement support group will expand into Ashbourne in September – holding monthly meetings to help people who have lost a loved one.

Derby Dandelions was set up in October 2014 by family-owned funeral directors G Wathall & Son Ltd who have offices in Ashbourne, Derby, Borrowash and Alvaston.

There are already many members who attend the twice-monthly meetings in Derby city centre.

The first Ashbourne Dandelions group will meet at Cornerstone Café in Church Street on Wednesday September 6 between 1.30pm and 3pm and then on the first Wednesday of the month.

Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust have bought six derelict cottages overlooking a stretch of disused canal in Draycott that it is planning to restore.

The cottages are at the start of the Draycott ‘Golden Mile’ between Hopwell Road and Derby Road which will be the first stretch of the former 13 mile waterway that the Trust plans to restore into a visitor attraction.

Detailed plans and feasibility studies will now be drawn up for the future use of the cottages near Hopwell Road which have cost £175,000 to buy. 

Wednesday 11^th October

10am-12noon

KNIT AND NATTER

Location: Arkwright’s Café

FREE ENTRY

Join us for a morning of knitting and nattering. This drop in session is suitable for anyone who wants to knit, learn to knit or just fancies a chat!

For further details please visit www.cromfordmills.org.uk or phone 01629 823256.

Thursday 12^th October

7pm (includes cheese and wine 7pm-7:30pm)