WHITE LION BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL

I discovered from my diary, that I went along to this Festival on the same date (23rd July- Saturday), last year, but this year, it was Sunday. Having had a very late night, & not falling asleep in my chair, I got up after mid-day, & walked to the pub. It was warm, in the sun, & I announced my arrival to the token table. I was made to feel welcome, & a shade was put up for me, at 1 of the tables in the centre of the courtyard. I chose Castle Rock Brian Clough, 4.2% & £1.50, from the list supplied, a pilsner-style pale ale, which wasn't bad, although I don't usually go for this kind of beer. I must mention that I was only drinking 1/2s. To soak up the alcohol, I had a very tasty chicken & bacon mayo crusty white cob, £1.50 & about 600 kc. Other brews worthy of note, were Shipstone's IP Ale, 5.5%, Old Sawley's own Tollbridge Porter, 4.5%, very good of its kind, & Snailsbank Rhubarb Cider- the advertised Lilley's (4%), had run out. There wasn't much of a problem with ales running out, despite this being the last day of the Festival. I had a maximum of 3 pts., to remain standing, & bought a jar of Tomato & Chilli Dipping Sauce from Pete's Preserves- £2.30 for 275g. at the Festival. Music was provided, in the shape of vocal guitarist Asa Greenfield, who played a pleasant 43 min. session. I walked home, as rain began, albeit light, forgetting to redeem my remaining tokens (hope I can get my money back later!). The rain came down heavily around 6 o'clock, but not for very long. I met Fred & his new dog Basil, on Plant Lane. I can recommend the White Lion as a good real ale pub, & the Festival is certainly worth visiting, so mark it down for next year!

C R Davis

BRITAIN IN BLOOM PLANTS STOLEN

Villagers have been left upset by the theft of floral displays they had created as part of Britain in Bloom. A thief has taken a range of displays from across Draycott and Breaston between Sunday, July 9th and Thursday, July 13th.
They have taken:
Five hanging baskets from a group of flats in The Green, Draycott
A bicycle frame fitted with planters from outside a house in Victoria Road, Draycott
Three planters from Wilsthorpe Road, Breaston
A planter from Grange Avenue, Breaston
Planters from Poplar Road, Breaston
PCSO Karen Pykett, of Long Eaton Rural Safer Neighbourhood Team, said the thefts were unusual and it has caused upset among residents, many of whom had created the floral displays. Witnesses or anyone with information should call PSCO Pykett on 101, quoting reference 17000296465. You can also call Crimestoppers on 0800 555

BANK WINDOW SMASHED

A window was smashed at the Santander bank in the High Street Long Eaton. The incident occurred during the early hours of Thursday July 20th. Police say one glass panel was smashed at around 3am but there was no one at the scene when they arrived.

WITNESSES SOUGHT

Police have this week relaunched an appeal after an incident in KFC last December. They are trying to trace a group of men who may have witnessed an incident at the Long Eaton restaurant.
Several witnesses have already come forward, however police believe a group of older men could have seen what happened but they are yet to come forward and speak to them. A 19-year-old man and two teenaged boys, aged 17 and 14, have been charged with several crimes following an incident at KFC in Cross Street shortly after 8pm on Thursday, December 22nd. It’s alleged that a group of young men came into the restaurant and were verbally abusive, caused criminal damage and had thrown a golf club at a 22-year-old customer, which broke his jaw. The group had left when officers arrived, as had several potential witnesses who helped staff eject the group from the restaurant.
Witnesses or anyone with information should call DC Amreen Khokhar on 101, quoting reference 16000429268. Alternatively, send her a message online by visiting the Contact Us section of our website www.derbyshire.police.uk/Contact-Us.
You can also call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

EREWASH CELEBRATES ANOTHER HAT TRICK

Erewash Borough Council has again retained its Green Flag awards at three popular leisure sites in the borough, it has been confirmed today. (Wednesday 19 July) The good news means Long Eaton’s flagship West Park and Straw’s Bridge Local Nature Reserve at West Hallam have secured the prestigious award for the third time while Victoria Park at Ilkeston celebrates the honour for a seventh successive year. The Green Flag award is the benchmark national standard for England and Wales and is presented to high quality parks, green spaces and nature reserves that have excellent facilities and are well-maintained and well-managed. Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:

“This is another tremendous achievement and more good news for Erewash. We are very proud to fly the Green Flags at the three sites, which are now rightly confirmed as among the best in the country. Our continued success is testament to the hard work of our dedicated team who work all year round to manage these sites and we

also send out a very big thank you to the volunteers and the Friends Group members who enthusiastically help us to maintain and further develop the popular sites. They play such a big part in making them such beautiful places for all to visit and enjoy.”

West Park is the largest in Erewash at 127 acres and dates back to the early 1900s. It is enjoyed by thousands of visitors every year and has seen substantial investment over the last few years. It offers an extensive range of sports and recreational facilities including an outdoor gym trail, a skatepark, a splashpad water park, bowls, tennis and football and cricket.

Victoria Park dates back to 1896 and a major heritage project to restore key Victorian features within it has just been completed after the council secured a £740,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

Straw’s Bridge Local Nature Reserve features three ponds that are surrounded by woodland, scrub, meadow and wetland – while it is also connected to the Nutbrook Trail. It attracts many types of birds but is particularly famous for its swans, leading to its affectionate nickname ‘Swan Lake’.

CREATIVE COVERAGE EXHIBITION

Work that is considered to be from some of the finest artists and craftspeople in the United Kingdom is on display in the Lally Gallery at Erewash Museum. The exhibition showcases work by professional artists and craftspeople and will run from Thursday 20th July to Saturday 2nd September. On display will be paintings by Jill Barthorpe and Gillian Radcliffe and accompanied by photographs from Scotland’s Sarah MacDonald and ceramics by Brian Holland.

Jill Barthorpe is a graduate of the Slade School of Art, who works both in London and at her studio in rural Lincolnshire. Over the past 20 years she has exhibited extensively in the UK and America and her paintings have been selected several times for ‘Critics Choice’ exhibitions and sold through Christie’s of London contemporary art sales. Following a career as a freelance ceramic and textile sculptor and teacher, Gillian Radcliffe moved to Derbyshire where she started to paint in watercolour. Gillian says: “Painting for me has a spiritual dimension, and each work is highly personal.”

Ceramics artist Brian Holland’s work has featured in many collections both private and civic, including La Musee de la Potterie in Sadirac, Bourdeaux, France.

Sarah MacDonald studied black and white photography for three years at the Glasgow School of Art. Sarah says: “As my photography evolves and improves I continue to learn from the greats of the past.”

Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:

“We are delighted to be able to showcase this collection of artwork from some of the finest artists and craftspeople in the UK, which we know will be greatly appreciated by patrons and visitors to our award winning museum.”

Erewash Museum is in Ilkeston town centre, a short walk from the Market Place. Opening hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am-4pm, and Monday to Saturday during school holidays.  Admission is free. Contact 0115 907 1141, email museum@erewash.gov.uk  or visit the Facebook page /erewashmuseum

Rudyard Lake, Cheshire - Watercolour by Gillian Radcliffe

GOING SWIMMINGLY

Fabulously fun family pool parties have again been lined up at two Erewash leisure centres to provide some splashtastic summertime fun for the school holidays. Erewash Borough Council’s popular pool parties are held at its swimming pools at Victoria Park Leisure Centre in Ilkeston and West Park Leisure Centre in Long Eaton. Music, an inflatable obstacle course and fun and games for the whole family are on the agenda and this year’s party dates for the diary are:

· Victoria Park Leisure Centre, Ilkeston – Saturday 29 July and Saturday 2 September between 3.30pm-4.15pm and 4.30pm-5.15pm.
· West Park Leisure Centre, Long Eaton – Saturday 5 August and Saturday 26 August between 3pm-3.45pm and 4pm-4.45pm.

Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:
“Our pool parties are incredibly good fun and have become a firm favourite for the summer holiday. So dig out the swimming costumes and have a splashingly good time!”

The parties are limited to 100 places on a first come, first served basis on the day. All summer pool parties are free for junior summer swim members.  Admission for others is £2.40 for juniors (5-16th birthday) or £1.80 with a leisure card. Adult admission is £4 (£3.40 with a leisure card). A family admission (two adults and up to three children) is £11.60 (£11 with a leisure card)
The parties are for 5 years to adults, but children under eight years must be accompanied by an adult.

BUSINESS WATCH

Fugue Music has relocated to Market Place. There is a sign on an empty shop in High Street saying a Turkish barber is opening there soon. The former MissElany secondhand furniture shop on Salisbury Street has now been sold and is being refurbished for a new occupier.
Bakezillas has opened at 210 Derby Road, Stapleford. It makes bespoke cakes, cupcakes and treats for all occasions in the kitchen behind the shop. www.bakezillasbespokecakes.co.uk. Also see the Bakezillas FB page. Another new Stapleford venture is Annebella's at 166 Derby Road where Shabbilicous used to be. The cafe offers beverages, milkshakes, cakes, scones and sarnies as well as breakfast and lunch. Small daytime events are also catered for and see the FB page for details of Annebella's event nights.
The Meeting Place at Nottingham Road, Stapleford has closed. Lots of community events were held there as well as a police contact point. The building of the new Aldi in Stapleford is yet to commence as the issue of new housing alongside the site has still not been resolved.
My favourite carvery is Bartlewood Lodge as it has the beast roasties as well as a fish option. But for a change I have recently been to Eaton Farm several times. I have had an issue there with the siting of table one which consists of 3 small tables to seat 6 diners. There is only room for one person to pass by and someone is in danger of getting gravy down the back of their neck. I spoke with manager Brian about this and he disagreed with me and he also denied that in the event of an evacuation people could not get by safely.
So it was back to Bartlewood Lodge but I found a fire safety problem there too. There is a fire exit which is not alarmed that is regularly used to exit into the car park. On the evening of july 8th both sides were bolted at the top and no child or disabled person would have been able to use it. I assume that the staff did not unbolt when they opened up and so left everyone at risk.
Property is selling quickly in Long Eaton and other areas and at very strong prices too. There is a lack of supply as agents are reporting that the average number of homes for sale per agent is at a 40 year low. Online only agents keep springing up and one of the latest is Doorsteps which claims to have over 800 for sale. Amazingly, their fee is just 99 quid! But, like online leader Purplebricks, they do not say what proportion go through to completion.
email your business news to edwardjohnwalsh@hotmail.com
EDDIE WALSH

FREE BIKE MARKING

Our officers from the Long Eaton Town Safer Neighbourhood Team are offering cyclists in the town free bike marking. The team will be holding the event on Saturday, July 22 between 12 midday and 3pm at the Fire Station on Tamworth Road. 

They will be using a kit, which would normally cost £12 and works by marking the bike with a unique code, this is linked to the owner’s details on a secure database. If the cycle is stolen and subsequently found, we can use this code to ensure the bike is returned back to its rightful owner. 

PCSO Heidi Andrew from the team said: “Bike marking is important, as it acts as a deterrent to would-be thieves. It also makes it easier for the bike to be found, returned to its rightful owner and helps to secure a successful prosecution against thieves." 

Anyone attending to have their cycle marked should bring with them some form of identification. 

For more information contact the team on 101 or alternatively send them a message online by visiting the Contact Us section of our website here.

WHATS ON IN EREWASH

The sounds of summer

Rock and roll classics, some 1940s toe-tappers and tribute bands belting out the top hits of Take That and Abba will all be part of this year’s Summer Sounds concert in the park.

Erewash Borough Council’s annual concert at Victoria Park, Ilkeston is always a big hit with families from across the borough as they pack into the park to sing along and dance to all the top tunes.

This year’s event is on Sunday 23 July between 3pm and 7pm and will also offer lots of family entertainment, including stilt walkers, circus skills workshops - with admission, activities and the live concert all free.

Local band Rocks n Frocks will provide the 50s and 60s hits and singer Johnny Victory will turn on the nostalgia 40s style, while the Abba and Take That tributes will have everyone singing along to the biggest chart hits. Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:

“Put the date in your diary, pack a picnic, take along a chair – and blanket and umbrella just in case – and have a great afternoon of fun and all the top music hits. Could it be magic? You bet, it will be the Greatest Day!”

Summer Sounds-goers can take their own food for a picnic in the Green Flag park and there will also be food and refreshment outlets at the event.