Staff and students at Explore, Chesterfield College’s travel agency are celebrating after being crowned as the top college travel agency at the Hays Independent Travel awards ceremony.

After only one year of operating, Explore has exceeded sales targets to become their highest earning college travel agency across the country. These efforts, along with excellent customer service standards and exemplary education opportunities for the industry have earned them the prestigious award.

Ellie Wynn, Director of Learning for Business and Commercial Enterprise said:

“We are absolutely delighted that our professional expertise, hard work and commitment has been recognised by some of the top names in the travel industry. The professional attitude of both staff and students, working in our Explore travel centre has given us the winning edge.

“Running a commercial enterprise like this in college has given us the opportunity to give our students the chance to gain practical and realistic experiences in a work environment. This enhances what they learn in the classroom and gives them a competitive edge. The award has already opened doors for us across the industry and we have been able to forge new links that will improve what we can offer our customers and our students.”

Chris Oakes, Head of Hays Travel Independence Group said:

“The workplace and work ethic of the team at Chesterfield College is second to none. They have smashed their own targets, however the award is not just about sales it’s about working hard,  attitude and collaboration – any new colleges coming on board now visit Chesterfield, as it is the perfect example and blueprint for our new college members. It is a fantastic achievement and we are proud to work with an agency that provides such a quality service at the same time as developing the next generation of industry experts.”

Staff, students and corporate clients make use of the travel agency located in the Heartspace of the Infirmary Road campus returning again and again to get great travel deals. In its first year Explore has sold 785 accommodation nights and sent 683 passengers to destinations far and wide across the world.

Miners who lost their lives down a Derbyshire pit were remembered on Friday 4th December as the latest phase of an art project was unveiled in tribute Markham Vale.

Six new life-size steel figures were unveiled as part of the Walking Together memorial which will eventually feature 106 figures stretching between the village of Duckmanton, Chesterfield and the former pithead of Markham Colliery.

The walking trail symbolises a miner’s journey to the pit and back home again and represents the 106 men who lost their lives in three accidents at the site.

Eighteen miners died and 11 others suffered serious injury when the mechanical brake on a lift carrying them to the coalface failed at Markham Colliery on 30 July, 1973.

It was the third disaster at the colliery, following accidents in 1937 and 1938 in which 77 miners lost their lives.

The new figures will join two existing ones which were placed on site in 2013 to mark the 40th anniversary of one of the county’s worst mining disasters.

The former colliery area has now been reclaimed and is home to our £88m Markham Vale regeneration scheme which is working to create 5,000 jobs on site for local people.

Leader of Derbyshire County Council and Cabinet Member for Strategic Policy, Economic Development and Budget, Councillor Anne Western said:

“Derbyshire’s mining history is close to a lot of people’s hearts as everybody who lives locally will have a family member, or know someone, who worked down one of the area’s many pits.

“Our collieries were places where strong friendships were formed and where in some cases generations of families worked.

“It’s important that we remember those lost and provide a place where families and friends can visit and come together as a community.

“Great strides have been made to regenerate Markham Vale and we’ve brought over 730 jobs to the area and have welcomed many new businesses − but we will never forget the importance of its past, or the sacrifice these men made.

Councillor Western added:

“We now have eight figures in total − each figure will carry a tag with the name of one of the miners, along with their age and job role and will be permanent reminders on site to those who lost their lives in the three Markham tragedies.”

Dancers from nine local secondary schools impressed a full house with over twenty performances at the Winding Wheel last week. The annual Secondary Dance Platform, which took place on Wednesday 2nd December, was organised by Chesterfield School Sport Partnership (SSP) and is the tenth year that local young people have been given an opportunity to show off their talents.

Performances encompassed a variety of styles and themes including one of three from Brookfield Community School, entitled ‘Lest We Forget’, which were dedicated to the British Legion and took on an emotional, World War Two theme. Another performance – from Springwell Community College’s GCSE dance class – carried an anti-bullying message.

There were also outstanding dances from groups at Hasland Hall Community School, Netherthorpe School, Outwood Academy Newbold, St. Mary’s Catholic High School, Anthony Gell School, Lady Manners School and Tupton Hall School.

Mark Tournier, Partnership Development Manager at the Chesterfield SSP, said: “Tonight was a fantastic celebration of dance and how dance can support the growth of young people. Already looking forward to next year!” 

Jasmine Bradshaw, of Hasland Hall, put on a fantastic solo-display entitled ‘The Lonely.’ She said: “I really enjoyed it. I like dancing on my own because there’s more open space to move into. Tonight’s been really good and a great experience. I’ve not been here before but it’s an experience everyone should try.”

There were also guest performances from the Derbyshire Youth Dance Company (Déda) and Crystal Cheer and Dance.

Clare Limb, Head of Dance Development and Learning at Déda, said: “The event was incredibly successful and we are delighted to be involved with this event. A real highlight of my year. I thought our performers were excellent and brought a new dimension to the evening, showing progression routes for young.”