Many thanks to Tim Yeomans for videoing last Saturday’s outstanding Strongman Competition. Tim has edited the whole three hour event down to a marvellous 10 minute film which captures the spirit of this event; the strength and determination of the competitors, the music of The A52s and the enjoyment of the crowds. Let’s hope that this event becomes a regular part of the village calendar.
Archive for the ‘People’ Category
The Strongman Competition – Video
Posted in A52s, Competition, Events, People, Photography on Wednesday September 7, 2011| 1 Comment »
Swimming underwater: Part Sixteen
Posted in Arts, Esther Underwater, People on Monday September 5, 2011| 4 Comments »
(To read all of Esther Tyson’s “Swimming Underwater” posts on one page, please click here.)
The Grand Finale.
Open Water 3 and Open Water 4, Swanage, Tanville Ledges! It’s 28ºC. I’m in a wet suit, hood, gloves and boots. I have 10kg of weights around my waist and 2kg of ankle weights. We are diving in salt water from a boat in a controlled environment. I have 230psi in my tank and we are about to do our giant stride!
Skills: Equipment preparation, donning and adjustment. Pre-dive safety check. Entry and weight check. 5 point descent. Buoyancy control/Oral inflation fin pivot. Full mask flood and clear. Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent. Cramp removal. Free descent. Underwater exploration. 5 Point Ascent with a 3 minute safety stop (hovering the correct way up for a change!) and a tired diver tow (I was the tired diver by the end of that!).
16º at the surface, 16º bottom temperature and 7.7 depth. Done, and it all went well.
This is when I make a big mistake. (more…)
Parwich Strongman Competition: a first glimpse
Posted in 2011, Events, People, Photography, Posts of Note on Saturday September 3, 2011| 6 Comments »
Congratulations to Andy Fletcher, the winner of this afternoon’s Parwich Strongman Competition. Andy, who hails from Belper, held off a determined challenge from Parwich’s Tom Slater, who was only one point behind him as the competition reached its final round. The two contenders eventually went head-to-head, in a nail-biting race to place an increasingly heavy series of tyres on top of oil drums. Although Tom came within a whisker of victory, Andy was just quick enough to see off his rival, claiming the title for the second consecutive year.
Ten contestants took part in this year’s event, which was the first to be held on the Nethergreen football pitch. The size of the field was perfectly suited to the event, giving spectators ample room to view the action, and allowing the organisers to construct an impressive looking arena. All in all, it was great to see this underused space being pressed into service.
As well as the contest itself, spectators were able to enjoy live music from The A52s, a bar and a barbecue, as well a delicious cake stall, an ice cream van, and Lucy Burlinson’s face painting for the children.
Many thanks to Shaun and Tracy Marshall, Rob Keeling and everyone else who helped to organise the event, and also to all those who generously contributed towards the prizes.
Full scores will follow, along with many more photos – but for starters, here’s a small gallery of images from the day. Please click on each image to enlarge it.
Wind Turbine – Noise Assessment
Posted in Farming, People, Sustainability on Friday September 2, 2011| 6 Comments »
Due to concerns raised about potential noise levels in the village, we conducted a further more extensive assessment which is quite technical but does conclude that noise may only be faintly audible under rare conditions, i.e. downwind at high wind speeds.
We hope to submit a planning application within the next 10 days.
Robert Gosling, Hill Top Farm.
To access the report, please click on the photo.
Open letter to the community about the proposed wind turbine – 5th May 2011.
Proposed wind turbine for Hill Top Farm: exhibition boards & questionnaire – 17th May 2011.
Update on proposed wind turbine – 1st June 2011
Wind Turbine – Reply to questions raised – 17th June 2011
Swimming underwater: Part Fifteen
Posted in Arts, Esther Underwater, People on Monday August 29, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Thursday 6.30pm
It is one month to the evening since I began training to scuba dive! I’m back at the pool side with Eileen, and we are about to finish off confined water 4 and 5. I feel calm and collected…?! On the cards tonight is the hover; I imagine Tom Cruise at the end of his line, but it doesn’t quite work out like that…
Heather is also going for her open water 3 and 4 on Sunday, and we are to do most of the skills together this evening.
We enter the pool with a giant stride. My mask is less tight, because I’ve been wearing a hood. (I leave it as is, in the hope that I have less of a mark on my face when we finish.) Making sure I hold the mask firmly as I hit the water, it remains in place and no water is leaking in… cool. We buddy up for a 5 point descent and all is well. I have to remember: part of ‘sorted’ is to elevate and equalise.
I’ve struggled a little with buoyancy this evening. Even with my BCD empty of air, my body wants to float and it’s difficult keeping both knees on the tiles. We watch Eileen do the hover, and then it’s my turn. In my attempt I turn turtle and hover upside down. Feet in the air and totally un-Cruise like; what is going on?! I can just see myself – what a picture! Hover complete and finally into an upright position (with help), I kneel on the bottom.
Swimming underwater: Part Fourteen
Posted in Arts, Esther Underwater, People on Monday August 22, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Wednesday.
Caught the Castello early this morning, then the chain ferry, and made my way to Studland. A short walk to the beach: lovely, calm and not many people!
Damon and Jim pulled into the car park five minutes later. We walked down to the beach for a recce, as neither have dived Studland before, then returned to the van to don our gear. It’s a longer walk to the beach all togged and weighted, and thankfully it’s downhill!
We discuss the dive ahead and make our way to the water. I have a real problem to begin with: my BCD isn’t tight enough (I’m a bit weak with the straps) and I keep turning turtle. It takes a while to sort it out, then we make our way out to look for eelgrass.
Being new to diving, the possible loss of control in buoyancy whilst drawing could be a real problem. I am mindful of this and remain a meter above the grass throughout the dive. I’m surprised by the abundance of small snakelocks anemones. They are attached to stems of grass: all healthy, and all like little children’s sunshines. The grass is cleaner, with some darker areas and some lighter.
I keep the boys in sight at all times. Damon looks back now and then, to check I’m still there, and sits cross-legged hovering above the grass – show off! If only it was so easy. I struggle to cross my legs out of water, never mind in the water! And the last time I hovered, it was upside down?!
I make two drawings of Damon as he leads the way. The 300lb paper no longer works; it’s breaking up as I draw. The 425lb holds up well and holds the graphite for the duration. There is a dark shore crab (not as large as the Brownsea crabs) and little sand fish. Damon and Jim see snails, but we don’t come across the seahorses.
The sun sends rays through the water as we swim toward shore. Damon’s computer reads 2.5m and Jim’s going one better, at 2.8m with a 50 minute dive. It’s been good to finally see the environment I hope to work in. I thoroughly enjoyed it – even the walk back to the van, which warmed me up!
Coffee and Green & Blacks white chocolate… cool!
Strongman Competition Returns
Posted in Events, People on Tuesday August 16, 2011| 1 Comment »
Swimming underwater: Part Thirteen
Posted in Arts, Esther Underwater, People on Monday August 15, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Sunday afternoon.
We had a group in over the weekend, so Vic and I took the landy down to the clock tower with all the bags and went to meet the boat. As the guys readied to leave, Shep (the skipper) spotted me and shouted over “Est, it’s a perfect time to snorkel!”
Oh heck, he’s right. The water’s pretty clear and the sun is in just the right position for a good look around. I’ve no excuse, even though my gear is at the Villa.
Decision made, I walk two students back to base with a short guided tour, pick up my box of bits (snorkel, mask, fins, wetsuit, hood, gloves, boots, towel) and make my way back to the castle jetty.
The harbour is crammed. There are speeding boats, jet skis, sailing boats and fishing boats, all running back and forth in the channel. I’m standing at the top of the steps looking at the swell as it comes in between the two jetties and up toward me.
Do I really want to go in there? I don’t feel nervous, but I’m a bit apprehensive about the depth and these waves. I sit a while and watch.
Shep has done a second run to Sandbanks in this time.
“Working yourself up to it?!”
How true!
The question is: do I really believe I’m getting in? I’m already talking myself out of it.
Y-Not Festival 2011 photo gallery
Posted in 2011, Music, People, Photography, Pikehall, Posts of Note, Y-Not, Young people on Sunday August 14, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Hanging Basket Competition – The Results
Posted in 2011, Competition, Flora, Gardens, People, Photography, Posts of Note, Societies on Friday August 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Mr Bill Whitfield, of Leatherbritches Nursery, has very kindly judged the baskets for us again. He looked at 29 baskets altogether and it was quite a task for him to decide which one to put in 3rd place. Here are the three winners.
Michael Hart, Secretary of the Horticultural Society.
First prize – Two of Jack Cundy’s three splendid baskets. (Main Street) (more…)
Strongman Competition – 3rd Sept
Posted in Events, People on Tuesday August 9, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Swimming underwater: Part Twelve
Posted in Arts, Esther Underwater, People on Monday August 8, 2011| 2 Comments »
Wednesday evening.
At Swanage pier, I have my second open water dive. Damon is my instructor for the evening and Jim is my buddy for the skills. I’m nervous as we approach the floating jetty, but as Damon pulls on his fin, the strap comes away. My mind is focused on his fixing it, and then on trying to stand solid as he leans on my shoulder for balance while donning his fins… so much so, that I’m calm and ready to take the first skill.
Damon steps off the jetty first. All’s well and he signs “OK”. I step over to the edge. “It’s a flippin’ long way down there”, Jim is happy to inform me that at only a metre “it’s not!” Right gloves heal on reg, fingers on mask, while left hand holds down any dangly bits. I step off the jetty, go under and surface. OK, but with a little water in my mask. Jim’s turn.
Move over, Feeder and Maximo Park…
Posted in 2011, Music, People, Pikehall, Posts of Note, Y-Not, Young people on Sunday August 7, 2011| 5 Comments »
…for there’s a new star in town! It was great to see Parwich’s Hazel B playing such a confident and well-received three-song set this afternoon, in the Acoustic Tent at this year’s Y-Not Festival. This was only Hazel’s second public performance, following her recent debut at the Miners Arms in Brassington, and PARWICH.ORG predicts that she will go far!
Parish Council Vacancy – Clarification of the process!
Posted in Parish Council, People on Friday August 5, 2011| 1 Comment »
The Parish Council needs one more member to have its full quota of Councillors. To fill this one vacancy a legal process has to be followed.
Firstly, the Parish needs to decide if a full election process is the way forward preferred by parishioners. To do this 10 people, or more (registered electors), from the Parish need to write to the Returning Officer in Matlock: The Returning Officer, Derbyshire Dales District Council,Town Hall, Matlock, Derbys, DE4 3NN by 1st September. When this has happened a full election process will go ahead. This has cost implications for the Parish Council, (approximately £1,000 if the election is contested) which will be met from the budget received each year .
If there are fewer than 10 people who want the election process to be followed, the Parish Council can go ahead and co-opt somebody from the Parish. This will mean that everyone (providing they are on an electoral role) will have the opportunity to volunteer their services to fill the one empty post.
To read the Parish Council Vacancy Notice, click here.
Swimming underwater: Part Eleven
Posted in Arts, Esther Underwater, People on Thursday August 4, 2011| 1 Comment »
Parwich artist Esther Tyson is working on a project to immortalise the seahorses of Dorset in art – but first of all, she has to learn to dive and swim under deep water. Esther’s project diary continues below…
6 days later.
There’s a big grin on my face right now, but I’m already starting at the end of my story and that won’t do.
Damon was Lou’s buddy tonight and my instructor for the evening. We talked about my experience of the dives to date, a brief history of my progress in swimming underwater and the forewarned mask problem. Why am I doing this? Work? Recreation? To overcome fear? Yes, overcome FEAR sounds about right! (more…)
JF-S in The News
Posted in Ornithology, People, Photography on Wednesday August 3, 2011| Leave a Comment »
JF-S, our talented ornithological photographer has finally hit the big time, as his photo of baby swallows feeding in Patti’s barn was published in the Ashbourne News Telegraph this week. But remember, you saw it here first!
Well done John.
Swimming underwater: Part Ten
Posted in Arts, Esther Underwater, People on Sunday July 31, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Click here to read all of Esther’s diary posts on one page.
Friday, 5pm.
Panic is irrational. Though kitting up when instructed, it was far too soon and sitting in a wet wet-suit for half an hour on a cold overcast evening wasn’t a good start. Already shivering, and the unexpected entry plan just about finished me off.
We had our briefing. Listening to what Lee had to do for the end of his open water put my head in overload. Lou and Eileen would be concentrating on his efforts; Lou would move between Lee and myself; Steve (the Dive Master) would keep an eye out for me. This again conspired against my rational thought. To my mind I’m hearing: one or the other will keep an eye on me, but they are watching how Lee progresses, so they will be distracted and that is when things can go wrong…
Next, we trudge to the pier where we are to step off the floating jetty. A boat pulls in just as we arrive. A quick change of plan and we are stepping off the back of this boat, just like stepping off the edge of the pool. But my head is crowded. I stand on the edge of the platform, don’t want to bang the tank as I step off. 3,2,1 – go. A giant stride (with a helpful shove, once I step out) and it is OK.
I surface and I’m too buoyant. I need to let air out of my BCD, but I don’t; I feel unbalanced and my feet are up. I feel like I did when I first got in the pool with an oversized BCD. My weights feel unbalanced and I am starting to panic. I won’t signal OK. I don’t thrash around in panic, but mentally I’m freaking out. Tears fill my eyes. Lou is facing me the whole time, but I am not able to verbalise how I feel, and why I feel panic. I can write it here, after the fact. She is calm and helps me work through it. It takes so long to calm down. I want out, but I won’t let myself, not after the age it’s taken to get in! (more…)
Swimming underwater: Part Nine
Posted in Arts, Esther Underwater, People on Friday July 29, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Click here to read all of Esther’s diary posts on one page.
Wednesday evening.
51 minutes is not bad for my first open water dive. I was (not literally!) holding my breath the whole time, waiting for the dive to be over. Is this good for a first dive? It’s not exactly the Red Sea or the Indian Ocean, but there is a certain macabre charm about the murky depths.
First the briefing, then we kitted up.
On my first ‘try dive’ with Matt, he said that setting up the tank, the buoyancy control device (BCD) and the regulators would become easy. I wasn’t convinced, but now it’s the one skill I’m most confident with.
With fins in hand, we walked over to the steps… and down, one by one, holding the guide rope to steady myself. Standing in the water we donned fins, inflated the BCD, walked backwards and then sat back, in the sea. Done.
I’m getting nervous again, writing this!
We get to our position under the jetty. Lou must have decided against a buoyancy check, because she indicated straight away the 5 point descent. It took me a while to get under the water, even with deflating my BCD; it seems that when you’re uneasy, your lungs are packed full of air and this keeps you buoyant. I’m now weighted to the hilt and given a helping hand in the form of a tug from Lou below. I’m sinking, equalizing my ears as I go and trying to breath slowly, hoping to fool my brain into feeling calm…
We begin to fin. I hold tight to Lou’s hand. I’ll probably cut off her circulation before long, but it’s a huge comfort.
It is so alien down there; the light is a cool green and everything has a grubby feel, possibly due to the sand and the algae. A crab is my first sighting; they are also the creatures I have found remains of on the shore at Studland. This spiny spider crab is covered in algae and is massive! It’s walking along the sea bed below me. The next is a Cuckoo wrasse, although not with the colours in the book; I saw pale and darker browns. I remember stripes from head to tail and a little iridescence in the stripe under torch light… My mind is concentrating on breathing rather than good observation.
The visibility is poor, thick with sediment hanging in the water. From nowhere, a dark shape appears before us… a pillar. Slowly we pass by, and before long the next ominous shape looms. At this depth I’m in limbo, neither able to see the ground nor the reassuring light from above. Here is obscurity. There is a shimmer of light caught in the flanks of bass and small mackerel, but no other life. I shudder. I am feeling the cold and I signal Lou.
Five minutes more?
We arrive at the Tompot Blenny’s pillar. Lou places a stone in its hole and we wait. A moment later the stone is propelled out and I see it drop from the ledge. Repeat… I see the stone, I see the stone fall from the edge, but I don’t see the Blenny. We move on.
A five point ascent goes well and I surface, holding high my snorkel rather than the buoyancy control device with low-pressure inflator on my BCD. Fool! We flip onto our backs and have an agonizing swim from the end of the pier back to the steps. I can see how exhaustion can kick in; we rest for a moment, then continue.
Back on dry land, and relief that my first sea dive went well in their eyes. My memory will be: “keep going, just a bit longer; you’ll be back on land in thirty minutes.” Does it sound bad? It was an experience; I am glad I’ve done it… but I was lost, had no idea of my bearings and felt claustrophobic.
Thursday evening, Rockley Park.
Two hours in the pool with Steve. He is calm and methodical and it helps. Step by small step, mask clearing… and almost there?
A couple of local news stories
Posted in Farming, Local Links, News, People, Sport, Wakes on Monday July 18, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Spotted in the news: an informative write-up of the Hill Race in the Ripley & Heanor News, and a curious tale of painted sheep in the Stunner, furnished with quotes from Parwich’s Ben Chadfield.
Swimming underwater: Part Eight
Posted in Arts, Esther Underwater, People on Thursday July 14, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Click here to read all of Esther’s diary posts on one page.
Dorset: day four.
More Theory, and a very long day. I crammed the last section, and I was still late leaving. Review #5, an exam and a further written examination: done and passed. My brain is fried!
I’m staying at The Villa on Brownsea Island, in Poole harbour. Walking back along the board walk, I saw deer in the edge of the marsh and a tern whilst waiting at the jetty. I’m tired… will write more tomorrow.
Rockley Park and my first confined dive.
Tomorrow is tonight and I dislike diving intensely! I fought back tears in the pool; it’s tough. Almost drowned at the bottom, trying to clear my mask; coughing and spluttering at two and a half meters is not funny. On surfacing, I’m emotional. Lou asks me if I want to continue with the course, “because you don’t seem to be enjoying it”… (more…)
Swimming underwater: Part Seven
Posted in Arts, Esther Underwater, People on Tuesday July 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Click here to read all of Esther’s diary posts on one page.
Dorset: day two.
I found my way to the medical centre over in Parkstone with one minute to spare. Blood pressure, pulse, heart and lungs. The result: fit for diving, with no restrictions. The Doc examines guys that dive to a depth of 200m – and here I am, thinking 2m is too deep!
There was light mist this morning and drizzle the rest of the day. I took a detour via Studland on my return, but didn’t stop. There are National Trust car parks everywhere, which makes things expensive on the ‘recce’ front.
On to the B&B and more study. The dive manual, chapter 4… and an afternoon nap?! I must be tired.
This evening I was invited to a bbq at the PADI centre. I met Eileen, the instructor who will be teaching me tomorrow evening, and chatted with a couple of ladies.
I need an Ordnance Survey Map, National Trust membership, and to work out where I can store my materials on the mainland to make it easier traveling back and forth to the island…
Dorset: day three.
Swimming underwater: Part Six
Posted in Arts, Esther Underwater, People on Sunday July 10, 2011| 2 Comments »
Parwich artist Esther Tyson is working on a project to immortalise the seahorses of Dorset in art – but first of all, she has to learn to swim underwater. Esther’s project diary continues below…
Dorset: day one.
I’m tired; it’s been a long day starting with a drive around Holton Heath Trading Estate looking for a PADI sign. In actual fact it began earlier with a full English breakfast, but that was an unexpected treat due to a double booking on the accommodation front.
9.41am, a cup of tea and we jump right in to Chapter One of the dive manual: The Underwater World, followed by Dive Equipment, Scuba Systems, The Buddy System and Confines Water Dive Preview. At the end of each chapter there is a two page knowledge review and I’m tested.
Chapters Two and Three are long. They cover: Adapting to the Underwater World, Respiration, Dive Equipment, Buddy System: Communication and Procedures, Confined Water Dive Preview, The Dive Environment, Dive Planning, Boat Diving, Problem Management, Confined Water Dive Preview, General Open Water Skills, Open Water Dives 1 and 2.
The objectives are covered; I fill out the self-assessment and take three short exams.
I’m done in. Lunch, another mug of tea and we plough on with the practical side of things. We look at the different masks on show and check for fit, the snorkel, boots and fins. I try on a semi-dry wetsuit. Boy, it’s tough to pull on. How I’d fasten it on my own, I don’t know! My suit may be a cerise/purple, rather than the red of the dive center. I had hoped to be coordinated – but just when I’d pondered the red and black theme, I’m now red, cerise and yellow! Where’s the pot of gold?
We stand side by side to set up our gear. In front of me is the tank filled with compressed clean air, a BCD and some regs. I copy the routine of putting the equipment together then pack up. It’s now my turn to set up without help; did it all sink in? This was one of the steps I thought would be difficult, but having repeated the process a couple of times it now seems quite simple. This is good!
We finished at 6pm, and I’ve spent the last two hours walking in the edge of the surf, along the beach in Swanage. Revitalizing! And there is so much pink along the tide line…!
Click here to read all of Esther’s diary posts on one page.
Wakes Week – The whole photo story
Posted in 2011, British Legion, Church, Competition, Events, Films, Memorial hall, Oddfellows, People, Photography, Posts of Note, Pub, School, Societies, Sport, Wakes, Young people on Saturday July 9, 2011| 2 Comments »
Another extremely successful Wakes Week is over and thanks must go to everyone who took part, spectators, participants, organisers and helpers, but without the hard work of the committee who meet, plan and co-ordinate the events we wouldn’t have this amazing week. So special thanks to Kerry Allsop, Janet Bainbridge, Sandra Chadfield, Roger Cundy, Liz Edge, Denis Laycock, Alan & Barbara Lowes, Paula Lynam, Sharon Swindell and Karen Wigley.
Next year’s Wakes begins on Saturday 30th June 2012.
The rest of this article contains all the Wakes posts and is a shortcut to any event or photo you may have missed. (more…)
Lewis Noble’s Summer School
Posted in Arts, People on Thursday July 7, 2011| Leave a Comment »
LEWIS NOBLE STUDIO
SUMMER SCHOOL 1-5 AUG 2011
A full week of drawing and painting tuition with Lewis Noble in the glorious Derbyshire landscape.
The session will be a complete course involving drawing and painting direct from the landscape. Developing the use of sketchbooks to boost your creativity and working with drawings and sketches to produce finished studio work. (more…)
Hill Race – Start & Finish of the Adult Race
Posted in 2011, Competition, People, Photography, Posts of Note, Wakes on Wednesday July 6, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Sandra & Janice – Local Mother’s Race
Posted in 2011, People, Photography, Posts of Note, Sport, Wakes on Wednesday July 6, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Pre Race Prep
Posted in 2011, Competition, People, Posts of Note, Wakes on Wednesday July 6, 2011| Leave a Comment »
On and Off Parade – Wakes 2011
Posted in 2011, People, Photography, Posts of Note, Wakes, Young people on Sunday July 3, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Message from Afghanistan – Number 5.
Posted in 2011, Afghanistan, People, Posts of Note on Friday July 1, 2011| 2 Comments »
Major Benjamin Ingham writes:
I have been deployed for just over five months now and have been keen to try to explain what a typical day might entail. A single day feels like a week back in the UK, however very soon the hours blur into days and days into weeks. Regardless, I dare not count for fear of ‘wishing my life away’. Instead, I set small goals each week such as 30,000 meters on the rowing machine or 15 laps of camp. To put time into perspective, two weeks of R&R goes by quicker than a single 24 hour block of time in Afghanistan.
Living.
I share a tiny room with three other guys from my headquarters in a utilitarian ‘hardened accommodation’, so called because they are designed to protect against rocket and mortar attack. Bunk beds are used to save space and we share two wardrobes and a desk between us.
Our beds are shrouded using old sheets; if you are night shift, it keeps the light out when trying to sleep during the day and although small, it is the only truly private place available. With space at a premium, kit is stored in any available nook and cranny: under beds, on beds, behind the door, stuck on the wall, taped to the site of wardrobes… you name it, there is a piece of kit sitting, lying, stuck or draped on under or over it.
I avoid the morning shower rush and in order to save time, shower and shave in the evening. Water is also at a premium so we ‘ship shower’: water on – water off – soap on – water on – soap off – water off. All water is pumped from the natural Kabul sub-surface water supply and is therefore not drinkable and incredibly salty. It strips the skin of any moisture in just one short wash.
Feeding.
There are two DFACs (Dining Facilities) on camp run by a large civilian contractor. The cheapest contract wins and thus we lose out on food quality. For breakfast: sausage ‘things’, semi-cooked bacon and a choice of cereal is accompanied by 1 x serving of fruit, all served from an industrial sized food counter.
(more…)
Jane Harris – Thank You
Posted in 2011, People, Posts of Note on Sunday June 26, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Jane Harris moved to Ashbourne last week, after 36 years in the village. With her ex-husband Peter she had her three children Penny, Phillipa and Katie. She has always been a vital and active member of the community. In the early years when her children were small she always worked enthusiastically in any activities that involved her children, ran stalls for school events, helped out at Guides and Brownies and was always ready to volunteer whenever help might be needed.
Jane has battled against continuing ill-health with stoicism and cheerfulness. As a single parent her children and then grandchildren have been the hub of her life, but she still found the energy to run the bar at the British Legion, to be a school govenor and to take her role as Parish Councillor and then Chairman of the Parish Council very seriously. When there was no-one to clean the village toilets, she kept them open for two years by cleaning them voluntarily – typical of Jane’s community spiritedness. One of her great achievements has been her energetic involvement in the building of the new Memorial Hall and despite her many commitments she would still find time to deliver leaflets and newsletters to keep everyone informed.
Jane Harris will be greatly missed, although surely she will be a regular visitor to the village. Best Wishes to Jane for her new life in her new home.
Feeling pretty!
Posted in 2011, Music, People, Posts of Note on Monday June 20, 2011| 2 Comments »
Here’s a clip of the Terra Nova School Staff Choir, performing a well-known selection from West Side Story on Sunday afternoon.
Belgian biking club visits Parwich
Posted in 2011, Church, News, People, Photography, Posts of Note on Monday June 20, 2011| 1 Comment »
A group of Belgian bikers – members of the Belgian BMW Club – paid a fleeting visit to Parwich as part of their Midlands and North Wales 2011 tour.
Nearly forty enthusiasts from Flanders, on more than twenty motor bikes, took a look at the village and church.
Pictured are some of them posing outside St Peter’s Church on Sunday morning, while vicar Andy Larkin led Matins.
Terra Nova School Staff Choir at Open Gardens
Posted in Gardens, Music, People, Photography on Monday June 20, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Thanks to Ed L for sending us a photo of this prize-winning choir, captured in concert at the Drummond residence yesterday afternoon.
Please click to enlarge.
Strongest Man Competition Postponed
Posted in People, Wakes on Wednesday June 15, 2011| 5 Comments »
Shaun M has informed the blog that the Strongest Man competition will not be happening during Wakes Week because of Health & Safety issues.
Shaun and Rob hope to organise the event independently at a later date.
Thank You
Posted in People on Saturday June 11, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Janet & Steve would like to thank everyone for the cards and generous gifts received after the birth of their daughter Rosie Elizabeth Conway.
Catering 4 Parwich
Posted in Memorial hall, People on Friday June 10, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Flaxdale Garden & Art Exhibition
Posted in 2011, Arts, Gardens, People, Posts of Note on Friday June 10, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Flaxdale Garden and Art Exhibition
Saturday 18th June, 10am to 6pm
Every year we make a great effort to try and get our gardens presentable for visitors to the village on Open Gardens day. This year we have decided to make the most of all our hard work and open our garden the day before Open Gardens day as well, i.e. on June 18th, to help raise funds for the DRCS, a local charity.
In the current climate DRCS (Derwent Rural Counselling Service) like many other charities, is finding it increasingly hard to make ends meet and risks having to cut the service it offers local people. We do hope you will be able to come, any time between 10am and 6pm to enjoy yourselves and at the same time enable DRCS to keep on with its good work supporting people in the area.
There will be an exhibition of original paintings by Gill, Gill Evans, Dorothy Littlewood, Evie Burlinson and Janis Castledine, who have all very kindly agreed to donate 25% of any sales to the charity. In addition we will have stalls for bric-à-brac, books and plants. There will also be a raffle.
The entry fee of £3 will entitle visitors to their first drink (tea, coffee, fruit juice or ‘bubbly’) plus a slice of cake. (We will not be doing cream teas!)
We have no idea how many will turn up, but we are promoting this event widely around the county and hope to attract a possibly different range of visitors from those who come regularly each year to the village Open Gardens event. Maybe some who visit Flaxdale garden on the 18th will be tempted to return the next day to visit all the other Parwich Open Gardens.
Thank you so very much for your support. If you can’t visit us on the 18th then you are most welcome to come another day to see the garden and paintings and any small donation to DRCS would be gratefully received.
With best wishes,
Mike & Gill R at Flaxdale House
Emeritus Professor Peter Alexander Young
Posted in 2011, People, Posts of Note on Wednesday June 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Emeritus Professor Peter Alexander Young
An appreciation by Michael Radcliffe
I first met Peter Young when I moved to Parwich just over twelve years ago. We were both Cambridge Natural Science graduates, we had both worked in the nuclear power industry, we both loved sacred music, so we had much in common and we became firm friends. We dined together in each other’s houses, we went to concerts together and we went to church together. We talked a great deal about science and music and many other things. With my father dying when I was a youngster and Peter having no family, the relationship became more like father and son, though in reality it was like teacher and student. He took a keen interest in me and my studies with the Open University. He enriched my life in many ways.
Peter was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, on Dec 23, 1924, an only child of Scottish parents. They realised that they had a very bright boy so they moved home to make sure he went to the right primary school to get him into Boston Grammar School. At the age of 4 his parents recognised his musical talent and took him to the choirmaster at their local church to see whether he might join the choir. Looking at this young 4 year old in disbelief, the choirmaster thrust a bible into his hand, and opening it at random with his finger pointing to verse 9 from Psalm 108, asked Peter if he could read. Peter read “Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philis’ti-a will I triumph.” Whether Peter understood what he was reading did not matter, he proved to the choirmaster he could read and duly joined in the choir; and so began a passion for music and singing which he kept up throughout his life. While studying at Cambridge he sang in the Chapel Choir at St Catherine’s and was President of the Music Society. While he was living in Harrogate he was a long-standing member of the Harrogate Chamber Singers. Until quite recently he was still having singing lessons and singing in the choir to keep his voice in practice at choral evensong each Sunday at St Mary’s Church in Wirksworth. (more…)
A Fourth Message From Afghanistan
Posted in 2011, Afghanistan, People, Posts of Note on Saturday May 28, 2011| 1 Comment »
Major Benjamin Ingham has sent us this latest post having recently returned to Afghanistan following 2 weeks rest and recuperation. Ben says it was great to return to Parwich and was delighted to receive positive comments on his posts to us.
Summer is finally upon us and over the space of a few weeks the heat has risen considerably. Summer also marks the arrival of ‘fighting season’ when the insurgent fighters return to Afghanistan from their winter bed-down locations, usually within the security of the mountains and valleys hills of the Pakistan border region. Eager to demonstrate their intent to continue the insurgency campaign the rise in attacks increases considerably and, therefore, no coalition camp is exempt from increased security measures. The only time you are not within arms distance of your issue rifle is when you are in the gym or running within the relative security of the camp perimeter. Unfortunately, a rifle does little to deter the insurgents from mounting IDF (indirect fire) attacks against us. Additionally, in a separate attack the tragic death of 7 US members of camp came as a great loss.
Although it took a while to track him down, I finally managed to meet up with another Parwich villager, Nettle (Jonathon or Larry) Foden, for a brew and a chat. Tucked away in a small compound in the bowels of one of the largest, dustiest military camps in Afghanistan, over 2500 thousand miles from Parwich, we swapped tales of village life and our respective military experiences to date. We had originally made contact through Parwich.org but had we walked past one another in uniform I am sure we would never had recognized one another. Although he has spent a majority of life within the military, on numerous operational deployments, Nettle is still passionate about Parwich and village life in general. Despite us both being ‘outsiders’ we agreed that him having spent 40 years and me 30 years living in Parwich that we could almost categorise ourselves as Parwich ‘locals’. We marked the occasion with a photo for Parwich.org and a promise to meet again when the opportunity arose.
Over the last few weeks I have been making a concerted effort to try and put on some weight. The change of location, monotony of the same meals, irregular working hours and heat and general stress had all taken their toll on my eating habits and I have been steadily losing weight for the last 3 months. For the first time in many years I have been able to see my ribs and the arrival of a homemade fruitcake was gladly received which, between the members of the office, was quickly devoured – thanks Mum!
A weekend full of art around Derbyshire
Posted in 2011, Arts, Memorial hall, People, Posts of Note on Friday May 27, 2011| 1 Comment »
Derbyshire Open Arts is an event that takes place in various venues across Derbyshire this weekend.
There will be over 100 Artists and Craftspeople displaying their work in separate venues. The public are invited to come along and enjoy the art and talk to the artists themselves, in many instances it is possible to purchase pieces as well. Details of participants and their venues can be found on line or brochures are available on the day from exhibiting artists.
This year there are two artists from Parwich exhibiting at the Arts Festival.
Dana Venetiarose will be exhibiting her work for the first time in the Memorial Hall, and Ruby Hickmott‘s work will be on show at 4 Church Walk.
Click here to view Ruby’s website.
Click here to visit Dana’s website (with additional works here and here).
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