Author: Dom Stevens

Beat the Hill for Charity

25th April 2016

Entry to a new road race in Bolsover has opened and organisers are looking for walkers, runners and cyclists to conquer the Hill.

The Bolsover Hill Races will take place on Sunday 22^nd May.

It involves a series of 1 mile races where people can walk, run or cycle up a one mile course starting at Villas Road and finishing at Castle Street.

There are prizes for the fastest male and female who complete the course, and for the best fancy dress – it is only £10 to register and all proceeds will be donated to the Chesterfield Royal Macmillan Cancer Centre Appeal.

Organiser, Mark Dixey, 55 from Bolsover, said, “The Bolsover Hill Races are for people of all ages and abilities However long it takes you to beat the Hill, for every person who has a go, you’ll improve the lives of local people and their families affected by cancer.”

The Running Race is sponsored by Great Bear Distribition and the Cycle Time Trial by Chesterfield Cycling Centre.

Rob Turner, Senior fundraising manager for Macmillan said, “This event is organised entirely by local volunteers and we really hope the people of North Derbyshire get behind this new, annual community event. Whether you want to take it less seriously and do it in fancy dress or want to be the fastest up the Hill – register now and join what will be a very fun day.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Brampton Brewery Joins EU Debate With Two Special Beers

25th April 2016

Brampton Brewery in Chesterfield has brewed two special beers for the EU referendum.

Chris Radford, Brampton Brewery said: “There generally seems to be a lack of any real facts available to support either camp – I believe people are engaged with the idea of the referendum, maybe more so than some other elections, but deciding quite which way to vote seems to be proving a difficult decision for many people with the lack of “real” information.”

“We came up with the idea of brewing a beer to represent each camp. The only stipulation was that both beers had to be the same strength – 4.4%. We’ve then left it to two of our brewers to come up with a recipe reflecting each side of the debate. ”

The two beers Brampton Brewery have created are “Brexit” which is quintessentially a British bitter – using only home-grown ingredients from North Yorkshire malt varieties to a range of hops grown in the hop fields of Hereford, Worcestershire and Kent. Finally the yeast strain originated from a traditional British regional family brewer. “Stronger In” is thoroughly influenced by Europe – continental malts, a wide range of hops grown across Europe and a yeast strain more suited to a continental-style lager than a British ale.

Brampton Brewery will be encouraging pubs to take a cask of each beer and to hold their own vote and feed them in to the brewer’s own poll on the run up to the referendum.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Keepy Uppy Record Attempt at the Proact

25th April 2016

Organisers of a world record ‘keep uppy’ attempt at the Proact Stadium are hoping to attract at least 1,866 people to the event, which would smash the current record.

The Spireites were formed in 1866 and the Chesterfield FC Community Trust would like to celebrate the club’s 150th anniversary by beating the record, which currently stands at 1,377. The attempt will take place on the pitch at the Proact on Saturday, May 21, from 3pm.

One of the organisers, Simon Edmonds, said: “We want to see as many people as possible keeping footballs up in the air at the same time! There has been a very good response to our call for clubs and organisations to get involved, but we need more.

“All local clubs and organisations are invited to take part to help raise funds for the Community Trust as well as their own club or organisation.”

Posted in Uncategorised

Liverpool to Play at the Proact

25th April 2016

Liverpool are sending their Under-21 side to the Proact Stadium on Tuesday, May 3 (7.30pm) and there are openings for any company or individual who wants to act as a sponsor.

There are several match sponsorship packages available for Chesterfield academy’s forthcoming game against their Liverpool counterparts.

To find out more, please contact Kevin Fitzgerald, the club’s head of commercial & marketing, on 07823 770311

Hospitality packages – featuring a two-course meal – are also available, priced at just £25. To book a hospitality package, please phone 01246 269300

Admission to the game costs just £3 for adults and £2 for concessions.

Posted in About Chesterfield

Cathelco Winning Customers Worldwide

25th April 2016

Cathelco’s desalination division is continuing to win orders worldwide in the commercial and military sectors for their range of space saving watermakers.

One of the latest orders has come from Norwegian based Havyard Ship Technology who are building a Hvyard 832 SOV wind turbine service vessel for the Danish shipping company ESVAGT. It will be used to service the Dudgeon wind farm operated by Statoil off the coast of Norfolk in the UK.
Cathelco are supplying Havyard with a T30 desalinator which has the capacity to produce up to 30 tonnes of fresh water per day for a full range of washing and cleaning requirements. The units provide a high output for their size and are ideal for installation where space is limited, whilst allowing good access for routine maintenance.

Another order has come from Reederei Nord, the Dutch ship managers who have purchased desalinators for two oil/chemical tankers, the Nord Isle (12,810 dwt) built in 2009 and a sister ship Nord Ocean which entered service a year later.

Both vessels will be installed with Cathelco H2016 desalinators which can produce up to 6.5 tonnes of potable water per day. Compactly designed, the units are ideal for retrofitting and have diagnostic systems to continually monitor the quality of the water.

In Australia, defence prime contractors Austal are building a further two Cape Class Patrol vessels. The 58 metre ships under construction for the Australian Commonwealth are each being installed with two Cathelco H2012 desalinators. These will provide 10 tonnes of fresh water daily for up to 18 crew members on the vessels which have a top speed of 26 knots and a range of 4,000 nautical miles.

For the first time, Cathelco have supplied desalinators to the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command. These have been installed on the MV Capt David.I.Lyon, a container ship which supports US Air Force missions and the MV LTC John U.D Page which provides ocean transport to sustain U.S. Army operations.

The ships are being equipped with Cathelco T35 desalinators which can produce up to 35 tonnes of freshwater per day for a wide range of domestic uses.

One of the most distinctive vessels in the history of Remontowa Shipbuilding will be installed with two Cathelco desalinators. This is the El-Mellah, a three masted frigate which is being built as a sail training vessel for Algerian Navy cadets. With a length of 110 metres and a main mast 54 metres high the ship can accommodate more than 200 people.

In addition to providing two desalinators, each with the capacity of producing 16 tonnes of freshwater per day, Cathelco is supplying an impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system to safeguard the steel hull against corrosion.

“Cathelco offers a portfolio of products to the marine industry and we are delighted to have supplied two types of systems for this very impressive vessel”, said Chris Bell, general manager of the company’s desalination division.

Cathelco desalinators are now exported throughout the world, a growth in sales that has benefitted from the ability to create packages of equipment that can include marine growth prevention systems, ICCP hull corrosion protection and ballast water treatment systems. The division stems from the acquisition of Seafresh Desalinators in 2010 and has flourished as the result of product development.

In 2015, the scope of Cathelco’s activities in the desalinator market were strengthened and extended by the acquisition of HEM, the well known manufacturers of water treatment systems for the luxury yacht market, based in the South of France.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Chesterfield Retail Awards 2016 Finalists Revealed

20th April 2016

Eight retailers are set to defend nine titles at this year’s 2016 Chesterfield Retail Awards. They join a total of 36 of the town’s retailers who have been shortlisted across 17 categories in the prestigious awards organised by Destination Chesterfield.

Last year’s winner of the coveted Retailer of the Year title, Ibbotson’s Fresh Quality Produce, has been shortlisted for the second year running in the Market Trader of the Year category, which it also won last year. Fellow double award winner last year, Adorn Jewellers, which is based in The Shambles, is also hoping to retain its titles of Jewellery and Accessories Retailer of the Year and Excellence in Customer Service in 2016.

As well as the eight returning finalists, 18 retailers have been shortlisted for the first time ever in their Retail Awards categories. The Awards return for the third year running and recognise the very best independent and high street retailers and market traders in Chesterfield. Three businesses have been shortlisted in each category but only one can win.

Organised in association with Chesterfield College, the winners will be announced on Wednesday 25 May by the new Peak FM breakfast duo Stu and Cat at a special award ceremony held at Chesterfield’s Winding Wheel.

The breakfast duo commented: “It’s a real honour for us to present the awards. We love the fact that all the shortlisted businesses have been nominated by shoppers. We’re both really new to the area and are working and living in Chesterfield so have seen for ourselves what a great retail scene the town has and a supportive community behind it.”

The winners of each category will also fight it out for the prestigious Retailer of the Year Award, sponsored by East Midlands Chamber. A further two award winners will also be announced at the ceremony; winners of The Pavements Shopping Centre and Vicar Lane Shopping Centre Retailer of the Year Awards.

Discover the full list of finalists for the Chesterfield Retail Awards 2016

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Visiting

Hosts for Chesterfield Retail Awards 2016 Announced

19th April 2016

Peak FM breakfast show presenters, Stu Haycock and Catherine Kilvington have been confirmed as the hosts of the 2016 Chesterfield Retail Awards.

The pair will host the glittering award ceremony, which will honour the town’s very best jewellers, independent stores, food and drink retailers, and multiple retailers at Chesterfield’s Winding Wheel on Wednesday 25th May 2016.

The awards are organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with the Chesterfield College Group.

More than 170 businesses have been nominated across 14 award categories, and the shortlist will be announced by the pair on the Peak FM Breakfast Show on Wednesday 20th April 2016.

Destination Chesterfield Manager Dominic Stevens said: “We’re delighted Stu and Cat have agreed to host the awards ceremony and I’m sure they will make the 2016 Chesterfield Retail Awards ceremony a memorable event.”

For more information about the 2016 Chesterfield Retail Awards visit http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards or follow on Twitter using the hashtag #retailawards16.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Leisure

Tale of Mortimer Mouse to Raise Money for Macmillan Cancer Centre

18th April 2016

Two sisters recovering from serious illnesses have written and illustrated a children’s book, with all profits going to support the appeal to build the new Macmillan Cancer Centre at Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

Cynthia Evanson, 68, from Duckmanton, Chesterfield, was given a terminal cancer diagnosis in March 2013. Her only chance of survival was a six-month course of chemotherapy which thankfully proved to be successful.

Her sister Maggie Fielding, 51, from Hady, Chesterfield, is also making an excellent recovery from a serious blood disorder, diagnosed in August 2012.

Cynthia said: “The medical care we received was excellent, along with the very important love and care of our family and friends.”

She continues, “I was worried that I may never see the birth of any of my niece’s and nephew’s babies, but when my great-nephew, Oliver arrived, I felt inspired to put pen to paper, create some felt animals and a rhyming story to go with it…and the story of ‘Mortimer Mouse Messes Up’ was born.”

The book is aimed at children from birth to six years, and it tells the story of Mortimer and his friends’ adventure which leads to a serious telling-off from his Mother.

After reading the story, her sister Maggie, encouraged Cynthia to get the Tale of Mortimer Mouse published, and agreed to do the illustrations.

Margaret added, “We are two sisters who are so grateful for the amazing care we have received through the acute stages of our illnesses and during the most difficult time of our lives. To think that we have contributed in some small way would give us great pleasure and satisfaction.”

Cynthia is funding the book herself, and both the sisters will be promoting it by giving talks at mother and toddler groups, primary schools and various other community groups with all profits going to help build The Chesterfield Royal Macmillan Cancer Centre.

Rob Turner, fundraising manager for Macmillan in Chesterfield said: “We really appreciate all the effort these truly inspirational ladies have put in to create this lovely book. We need to raise £2.5 million to help build the new cancer centre, and with the support of local people like Cynthia and Maggie – we can do it!”

The book is published by Bannister Publications and costs £6.99. To buy a copy, or to invite them in for a talk at your local group, call 07518 134 186.

Article written by Andrew Dempsey

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure

Historic Hotel in Chesterfield Sold

14th April 2016

Ringwood Hall Hotel, a 19^th century grade 11 listed Georgian Manor House in Brimington, Chesterfield is now under new ownership.

The management team and the day to day operations under Rona Davies, General Manager for 18 years, will remain the same, providing and maintaining outstanding facilities and service to all Ringwood Hall Hotel`s customers.

The property has undergone significant refurbishment over the last 20 years under the stewardship of Lyric Hotels Ltd, and now provides 74 bedrooms, bar facilities, conference and banqueting suites, as well as the onsite Parklands Health & Fitness Club, with indoor pool, sauna, steamroom and well equipped gymnasium.

David Seton, owner of Lyric Hotels, took over Ringwood in 1999 when it was a partly derelict 21 bedroom hotel. Since then some £4.5m has been invested in the venue and the workforce has increased from 16 to 180.

Seton added “ You never actually own a place like Ringwood, you just look after it until the next person comes along. It has been an honour to have been custodian of Ringwood Hall for such a short time in its history, and I`m delighted to be leaving the hotel in a much better state than we found it in.

Rona Davies commented “Following the retirement of the previous owners, the whole team at Ringwood are looking forward to a new era in the hotel`s history, and I am delighted to reassure our customers that its business as usual going forward.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Leisure, Visiting

Free workshop for first-time employers

14th April 2016

Entrepreneurs in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire who are ready to grow their business are invited to attend a free workshop for advice on first-time employment.

The free workshop – Becoming An Employer For The First Time – is organised by Destination Chesterfield and Chesterfield Borough Council’s Innovation Support Project and is being delivered by BRM Solicitors.

The workshop is being held on Thursday 5 May at BRM Solicitors based on Saltergate in Chesterfield. The free workshop is one of a number organised by Chesterfield Borough Council and Destination Chesterfield to provide advice and practical help to businesses.

As well as gaining advice on how to find the best candidates, businesses will also learn what to consider when taking on new employees, hiring and recruitment, basic employment law, writing job adverts, holding job interviews and financial considerations when taking on employees.

Dominic Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager explained: “It can be a big step for a business to start employing people as it represents a step change in processes and procedures. The workshop will help employers to show them that they are the ones in control and have nothing to fear.”

The workshop is open for any businesses in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire, however there is a maximum of one delegate per organisation as places are limited.

Book a place on the workshop

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Summer of Cycling for Derbyshire and the Peak District

13th April 2016

Cycling fans can look forward to a midsummer feast of festival fun in the Peak District and Derbyshire – whether they prefer to take to the saddle themselves or watch world-class racing from the sidelines.

The area will once again play host to the stylish three-day Eroica Britannia event from Friday June 17 to Sunday June 19 – and this year will also welcome stages three and four of the Aviva Women’s Tour for the very first time, on June 17 and 18.

Tourism bosses are encouraging as many people as possible to make the most of the forthcoming cycle fest by booking a holiday so that they can enjoy both – and maybe extend their stay to try out some safe cycling themselves on the area’s extensive network of traffic-free trails.

“We’re delighted that Eroica Britannia and the Aviva Women’s Tour will be in the Peak District and Derbyshire over the same weekend,” said Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, the area’s official tourist board.

“Both offer a great opportunity to come and stay in the area to experience two very different, but complementary, events, which are sure to have great appeal to both cycling enthusiasts and people who prefer to relax and watch the action.

“There’s also the chance to take to two wheels to discover our superb countryside on a wide variety of off-road trails, suitable for all ages and abilities – and there are plenty of centres where visitors can hire a bike if they haven’t brought their own.

“It’s the perfect excuse to book a few days away, taking advantage of a range of accommodation options, from ‘glamping’ and friendly B&Bs to welcoming pubs and both country house and boutique hotels.”

The third Eroica Britannia festival will again celebrate the ‘Best of British’ with a three-day celebration of live music, vintage, shopping, food, drink, camping and cycling at Bakewell Showground. This year’s irresistible mix will also include a Swing Night of music and dance and a Last Day of the Proms event to welcome riders back from their 2016 Great British Adventure.

This year’s routes – featuring regular local food and drink stops along the way – will attract cyclists from all over the world keen to explore the UK’s first National Park in the Peak District and Derbyshire’s peerless scenery on pre-1987 bikes and in vintage or traditional clothing. Three options – 30 miles, 55 miles and 100 miles – are available, featuring a selection of new locations as well as even more gruelling climbs on the long route.

Around 100 international riders representing 16 teams will take to the road for stage three of the Aviva Women’s Tour from Ashbourne to Chesterfield on June 17 – passing through some of the area’s key towns and villages, including Buxton, Matlock and the Chatsworth estate, and featuring breathtaking sprint sections along the way.

There’ll be a second chance to see the cyclists in action during stage four from Nottingham to Stoke-on-Trent on June 18, when the race will skirt Derby, between Long Eaton and Swadlincote.

For more information about Eroica Britannia, the Aviva Women’s Tour and cycling opportunities in the Peak District and Derbyshire, visit www.visitpeakdistrict.com/cyclingfestivals. To find out more about Derbyshire’s long-term ambition to become a world-class cycling destination for people of all ages and abilities and to encourage everyone to cycle more by 2030, visit www.derbyshiresport.co.uk/derbyshirecyclingplan.

Posted in Leisure, Summer, Visiting