News from producers around Derbyshire

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.

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.

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 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.

A student at Derby College has been selected to play for her native Latvian table tennis national team in the world championships in Kuala Lumpur next week.

Diana Rusinova (19) came to the UK from Latvia with her family in 2012 and is studying Travel and Tourism at Derby College’s Roundhouse campus in Pride Park.  She is a member of Draycott and Long Eaton table tennis club and has represented Derbyshire in UK competitions.

 Young players from Mickleover Cricket Club will be donning their kit to take part in the ‘Great Northern’ running event in the Derby suburb on Sunday 6th March.

Do you have an event you'd like to be included in the New Mills Festival 2016 programme?

Work has begun on the cultural extravaganza that will be New Mills Festival 2016 and this year's theme is "Inventions".

Derby College has launched the risual Autodesk Academy at the Roundhouse to upskill teachers and students in the latest Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology software.

IT software and hardware has been installed in a dedicated learning suite at the College to support the study programmes for further education and higher education Professional Construction and Engineering staff and students as well as apprentices and employees at local and regional businesses.

Dance groups from across Derbyshire will perform in the county U.Dance competition – Interface - on 24rd & 24th February – hosted for the first time at regional dance house Déda in Chapel Street, Derby. They will perform in front of a panel of judges who specialise in different dance styles from contemporary to hip hop to vie for a place in the next stages of the U.Dance national performance framework.

Family-owned funeral directors G. Wathall & Son Ltd teamed up with Age UK Derby & Derbyshire to organise an event at Derby’s Eagle Centre to encourage local people to take simple steps to make their end of life plans.

Wathalls were on hand with information about pre-payment funeral plans, bereavement support and options available for funerals, cremations and burials. Age UK had a wide range of advice and information about support available to older people.