News relevant to the village is somewhat light this week, so here are some stories that are almost on our doorstop. Remember that you can buy your News Telegraph at The Sycamore or read it on-line.
p4 & P5 – “This fiasco over fungi is a marriage made in hell – Not much fun-gi!“- Sir Richard at Tissington Hall hits the headlines twice in his dispute with the National Park over rare mushrooms which are stopping Ashbourne & Tissington’s tourist industry – the dispute is over planning permission for a marquee for weddings on his grass, which may harbour these rare fungi.
P4 “MP demands action against illegal road racers on A515” & “Black Spot claims another rider’s life”. Concerns are being expressed by our MP about the speed safety measure on the A515. We have all seen the multitude of signs that adorn the roads warning motorists of bikers, but Patrick McLoughlin wants to know what Peak Park are doing to tackle the problem. Also on the A5012 near Via Gellia, a biker was killed on Sunday.
p9 “Overall crime is down in Dales – but burglaries rocket in last 12 months”. Supt Paul Rouse says “That the statistics prove that Derbyshire really is a relatievely safe place to live. However I would advise people not to become too complacent.”
If you fancy a very cheap, almost free flight, now is the time to book. Ryanair have alot of flights at £2.50 per person including taxes. There are lots of choices from East Midlands & Birmingham & even more from Stansted. For example you could fly for 3-7 nights in June to Santander in Northern Spain and within an hour be walking or climbing in the Picos Mountains for £5 return. You only have until midnight tomorrow to get this deal and it is only valid during May & June (excluding holidays). There will always be other offers, but this is probably the cheapest ever.
Our series resumes with a “two for the price of one” selection. The junction sign indicates the turning to the Alsop road, while the school sign reminds drivers to keep a look-out for younger pedestrians.
We’re going to poll each sign separately, starting with the junction sign. Is the Alsop turning an obvious one – or could it easily be missed, sending traffic further towards the school? And how much danger is presented by traffic joining the road from the left? (Once again, there’s no corresponding “Give Way” sign for this junction.)
Now for the school sign: our first in this series, with several more to come. With a speed limit of 30mph in operation, do drivers need to be reminded to take special care on this stretch of road? Or should the speed limit be lowered and the sign removed?
Parwich Memorial Hall Management Committee Meeting
7.30pm – 9.30pm 6th April 2009 – The Memorial Hall
Minutes
Building the Future
The Chairman introduced 2 more of the Design Team, Chris Price from Prosurv and Ben Daykin from Rogers Leask and then summarised the decisions made at, or deferred from, the last meeting.
Discussions covered storage not agreed at the last meeting, the mobile bar idea, the positioning of sockets, best option for having boiling water available in the kitchen, constraints re drains and sink positioning, the relocation of the boiler from last weeks plans, the lighting plan including positioning of lights, switches etc.
KD shared the changes put in from last weeks discussion which included the storage doors creating a wider opening and the addition of shelving, and that he had built a storage space in for a mobile bar.
CP also reminded the Committee that final changes would need to be made by 20th April so tender documents could be sent out on 27th April in order to keep to the time schedule. Continue Reading »
An interesting documentary was aired on BBC Radio 4 on Easter Monday, in which Sir Richard FitzHerbert talked about the difficulties facing him as the owner of Tissington Hall. The 30-minute show is now available via the BBC’s “Listen Again” facility; please click here to access it.
Today sees the first tea and cakes of the season at Alsop Church. Come along anytime from 11am to 4pm. Relax out in the Churchyard overlooking the fields & Tissington Trail and enjoy the sunshine.
This evening from 6pm until dusk, you are invited to Parwich Bowling Club to have a go at bowls. All you need to do is come along wearing flat soled shoes. Why not give it a go?
Four months after receiving £500,000 from the Big Lottery Fund, and with roughly four months to go until construction is scheduled to commence, the Memorial Hall committee has already secured just under 50% of the remaining funding – which means that we’re very much at a midway point with the project.
With twelve further applications already applied for, seven applications currently being drafted, and several more to come, there is every reason to feel optimistic that the funding target will be reached in good time. The funding group have been receiving excellent feedback from some of the grant-giving bodies, and villagers should expect to hear some significant positive announcements in the near future.
Parwich Memorial Hall Management Committee Meeting
8.00pm – 9.30pm 1st April 2009 – The Sycamore
Minutes
Minutes of previous meeting
a) Minutes were signed off from the Steering Group meeting of 12th March and AGM on 24th March
Matters arising – None
Election of Officers
All 5 officers were willing to stand again. Val Kirkham proposed they were accepted in office en masse. This was unanimously agreed.
Chairman, Mike Gerard-Pearse
Secretary, Amanda Johnson
Bookings’ Secretary, Janet Gosling
Treasurer, Ed Linnell
Entertainments Secretary, Sandra Chadfield
It was agreed to return to the issue of having a Vice-Chairman at the next full meeting.
Signing of the Minute Book All present signed to acknowledge their acceptance of the Trust Deed (Constitution)
Building the Future The Chairman introduced the Architect Keith Dobbins and explained that the plans were having to be redrawn as Marsh Grochowski were unwilling to release the originals. He also suggested the Committee might like to consider if the piano was used enough to justify the space it took up. Jane Harris said she would ask the Pre-School representative if they would be happy with a replacement keyboard. It was agreed to make a decision about this at the next meeting when members had considered it. Di Turnbull offered to price up the cost of several types of keyboard.
Keith Dobbins then shared detailed plans of ideas to date about re drawing of the toilets and storage solutions and these were discussed at length. Continue Reading »
The Church has been beautifully decorated with Spring flowers ready for the Easter family service tomorrow at 10am. It is a service for everyone, especially the children and everybody is invited to join in. Afterwards there are refreshments in the Church and an Easter Egg Hunt.
Don’t forget Tea & Cakes in Alsop Churchyard on Monday – 11am-4pm.
The A&E at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary is moving to Derby City General Hospital on Wednesday 20th May. The A&E at DRI will close at 2am on Wednesday 20th May.
The new A&E Department (adults & children) will be located near entrance 9 at the Derby City General Hospital.
Alternatively, Chesterfield Royal Hospital (Calow, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S44 5BL) is about one mile outside the town centre (going East) and only a few miles from junction 29 of the M1 on the A632.
Now, here’s a curious thing: this is the only “Give Way” sign in Parwich, and yet it’s placed at the end of the Smithy Lane cul-de-sac.
Of all the road junctions to pick for such a sign, Smithy Lane does feel like a strange choice. Do its residents really need the constant reminder, especially when the priorities are clearly marked on the road itself?
Or should the authorities be taking the opposite route, and installing “Give Way” signs on more of our junctions?
In keeping with time-honoured tradition, the ladies of Alsop will be dispensing teas and cakes at Alsop Church from 11.00am till 4.00pm on Easter Monday.
Visitors to the church may also be lucky enough to hear Robert playing the new organ. (Contributions to the organ fund would also be welcome.)
After three weeks of nail biting and sleepless nights (yes me, not the bird), trying to keep the cats etc. off, the first of our two blackbirds ventured forth into the big wide world this morning.
Apologies for the slightly de-focused picture, but I didn’t want to get too close or spend too much time composing the shot.
Please click to enlarge.
Update: Here’s a second photo, which shows both fledglings in sharper focus. Continue Reading »
The contents of the telephone kiosk (i.e. the ‘phone, directory shelf and fittings) have been removed over the last few days. Have BT deemed it uneconomic?
Here’s another junction sign, warning drivers entering the village on the main road that traffic might be pulling out from Smithy Close on the left hand side.
Since Smithy Close is a relatively small cul-de-sac, is this junction sufficiently busy and/or hazardous to justify such a sign?
There is only one sign in the village indicating off-street parking – and it’s here, opposite the entrance to Blanche Meadow Farm.
Is this area correctly signed? Are there any other off-street parking areas in Parwich which should be similarly signed? Do we even need a designated parking area? Or will the construction of the new Memorial Hall increase the need for such areas?
Tribute is paid this week to Robert ‘Bob’ Goodall of Kniveton, who died last week at the age of 92. A staunch opponent of British membership of the European Union, Mr Goodall unsuccessfully fought seven parliamentary elections on behalf of his own English Resurgance Party. He also contested the Brassington and Parwich ward of what was then the West Derbyshire District Council.
Page 28: “Noah and the Whale on bill.”
There’s a report on the August Y-Not Festival in Pikehall, which confirms Noah and the Whale, The Young Knives, The Rascals and Nine Black Alps as leading this year’s line-up.
Sandra and Rebecca are doing the Moonwalk in London on May 16th. They will be walking a full marathon length of 26+ miles, starting at midnight, to raise money for Breast Cancer projects.
Here is a picture of them in training on the Tissington Trail. As it is traditional to do the Moonwalk in decorated bras, they will post a photo of themselves in their bras on this web site when they have raised sufficient funds… so watch this space!
(Please click to enlarge.)
Sandra and Rebecca are having a coffee morning at Knob Hall on Thursday 23rd April from 9am to 12 noon, where you can sponsor them, buy cakes and raffle tickets.
PDHS is thriving, despite the loss of much of the expertise and experience of previous members. While we still attach great importance to being able to grow and show the perfect dahlia and chrysanthemum, we also cater for the other end of the gardening spectrum: those who get excited when they manage to produce a broad bean!
All members should by now have received the latest calendar, listing the dates of the up and coming trips and events. If you have not received one of these, then you may find your membership has lapsed…
Membership is £2 per annum, and the year runs from October to September. Membership gives you many benefits, including subsidised places on trips and cheap entry into the main show. For example, the trips to Consall Hall (20th May) and to Arley Hall gardens (22nd July) will cost £10 for members and £15 for non-members.
If anyone wishes to renew their membership or join the society, please can they see Nia Linnell (661) or Dot and Mike Hart (456).
Every year we make changes to the classes for you to exhibit in. The home produce section continues to expand, as does the unusual looking vegetable. There really is something for everyone: young or old, green fingered or not. The society is now working with the school, helping to help them grow their own produce which they will then eat and sell.
Please do check up on your membership, and don’t miss out on any PDHS events!
This sign indicates a left-hand junction with the lower end of Creamery Lane. Although the junction is not a particularly busy one, all traffic leaving the village from Creamery Lane, Croft Avenue, Monsdale Lane, Church Walk and Parsons Croft has to pull out onto the main road from here.
Some will argue that it is important to warn drivers on the main road to keep a look-out for traffic joining the road from the left. Others will argue that the junction is insufficiently busy or dangerous to warrant such a sign, or that the sign is unlikely to cause anybody to drive differently.
It’s also worth pointing out that there is no actual “Give Way” sign at the bottom of Creamery Lane.
The Blog Team have received this intriguing message from the Y-Not Festival organisers:
Hey crazy cats!
The Y Not team are bubbling over with excitement…
We’ve just confirmed a top class act to headline the Y Not Festival on the evening of Saturday the 1st of August…
Head to our website first thing Tuesday morning to find out who it is and get your tickets booked pronto! We’ll also be announcing some other interesting acts on the day of Tues…
On Sunday 26th April Parwich village will be celebrating St George’s Day with a day full of events. It starts at 10.15am with an Oddfellows parade from The British Legion, accompanied by Doveholes Brass Band. Everyone is invited to join in this procession, and children are encouraged to dress up either as St George or the dragon!
At 11am there is a special service in the Church, and we are all invited to join the Oddfellows and Cyberscouts.
The procession continues around the village stopping at various points.
Between 1.30 & 3pm the Winster Morris Dancers will be performing. Lunches are available from the Sycamore Inn.
From 2pm there will be a Church Fete with stalls on The Green. Cream Teas will be available during the afternoon.
There will be live music in the Village Hall and the A52s (well known local band) will be on The Green.
The children’s Fancy Dress costumes will be judged by The Oddfellows.
Here is part of a video created by Martin C taken at last year’s Oddfellow’s parade at the start of Wakes Week, in June.
As you round the corner by the turn-off to the School, a rather special sight greets your eyes. Over the last few years, an area of ‘wilderness’ has been transformed into a calming, charming woodland garden. This transformation has been achieved thanks to an enormous amount of hard work by Dorothy L, who has realised her vision to establish meandering paths and wild flowers in a natural setting.
One of the joys of Spring is to see the daffodils bloom in this area. This year, they are magnificent. Here is Dorothy tending her garden:
Dorothy has kindly allowed us to photograph aspects of her garden. Click on each image to enlarge it.
A number of villagers have expressed concern over the state of the B5056 near the Bentley Brook.
Mike H says:
Does anybody else feel as concerned as I do at the rate at which the road is slipping at the temporary traffic lights by the Bentley Brook?
The road sinks further week by week and the fissure gets wider and wider. It seems to me that there is a serious risk that the road may be closed if a further substantial movement occurs. This would cause severe inconvenience to all Parwichians as well as those who use the B5056.
Leaving the road to deteriorate in my opinion is likely to cost the Council (us!) far more money and may cause serious disruption. A stitch in time……
PARWICH.ORG 