Can’t wait for Christmas? Anton Benson Productions’ Beauty and the Beast pantomime comes to Chesterfield on Saturday 13th April.

Former Atomic Kitten star, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here winner and household favourite Kerry Katona stars as the Atomic Fairy. Kerry will be joined by long-serving Heartbeat cast member Tricia Penrose as her sparring partner, the evil Enchantress. National Treasure Basil Brush will play sidekick to the Beast and X-Factor finalist turned CBBC’s Got What It Takes presenter Lauren Platt will play Belle.

Completing the cast are returning Easter Panto favourites Ryan Greaves as Wally and Phylip Harries as the Dame Dolly, plus Karl Greenwood as the Beast and Michael Winsor as Claude. Juvenile dancers will be provided by local dance schools. All accompanied by fantastic live musicians.

Belle lives a quiet provincial life in the village of Ooh La La until her father accidentally stumbles across a terrifying Beast and she is taken captive. Now it is up to the Atomic Fairy, the village idiot Wally and his mother Dame Dolly to pit their wits against the evil Enchantress and rescue Belle from the Beast…

Audiences can expect two and a half hours of toe-tapping song and dance, stunning costumes, fantastic sets and effects all wrapped up in a hilarious laugh-a-minute script.

Producer Anton Benson said “A panto is for life and not just for Christmas. The regulars at our home venues love our annual Christmas shows and given how much of a hit our previous Easter panto tours have been, we are delighted to be back out on the road with this hilarious Easter production.”

To find out more click here.

There were celebrations at the Pomegranate Theatre as the popular venue, owned and run by Chesterfield Borough Council, celebrates its 70^th anniversary.

A reception was held where actors, directors, writers, regular customers and Chesterfield Theatre Friends mingled with councillors and theatre staff to celebrate the achievements of the last 70 years.

Then known as Chesterfield Civic Theatre, the theatre was opened by well-known film and stage actress Kathleen Harrison on 19 February 1949.

It was the first civic theatre in the country following legislation brought in by Atlee’s post-war Government and was originally a repertory theatre offering a new show each week.

Among the original company of actors was Peter Sallis, best known for playing Clegg in Last of the Summer Wine and for voicing Wallace and Gromit. Other actors to tread the boards in the early years include Dame Penelope Keith, best known for The Good Life and To the Manor Born and John Challis, known as Boycie in Only Fools and Horses.

Chesterfield Borough Council continues to own and maintain the venue, which was extensively refurbished in 2014 with funding from the council and Arts Council England.

Councillor Steve Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We are proud of the history of the Pomegranate Theatre which has entertained so many people from Chesterfield and beyond for the last 70 years.

“We are also proud to fund and maintain the theatre, which with its programme of drama, comedy, dance and film continues to go from strength to strength – here’s to the next 70 years.”

The theatre is currently hosting a repertory season to commemorate the anniversary. To book, visit: www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk.

An exhibition celebrating the history of the theatre as well as the 25^th anniversary of Chesterfield Museum and the 140^th anniversary of the Stephenson Memorial Hall where they are both housed is currently open at  the museum on St Mary’s Gate.

The museum is open each Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm, Admission is free but donations are welcome to cover the cost of events.

Ashgate Hospicecare’s Markovitz Sparkle Night Walk is back with a bang! This year it will be held on Saturday 6th July starting at 10pm. Take full advantage of the early bird offer of only £10 ending on Friday 22^nd March at midnight.

Chesterfield’s biggest fundraising event keeps growing year on year and, last year, saw over 2,500 people come together to raise over £200,000 for those in need of hospice care.

Ebony and Sam, from Fresh Ideas on Chatsworth Road, spoke to the team at Ashgate Hospicecare about why they are walking the Markovitz Sparkle Night Walk. They said: “We’ve been walking the Sparkle Night Walk for four years and the atmosphere is always very happy, especially near the main stage when everybody’s lining up and they’re all jolly and eager to get going.

Whether you’re a business or a group of friends, just sign up! Absolutely anybody can do the Sparkle Night Walk – no excuses!”

Jack Wood, Events Manager at Ashgate Hospicecare, said “This year’s Markovitz Sparkle Night Walk promises to be the best one yet. There is so much more going on this year and we can’t wait to surprise you with what we have in store.

Thousands of walkers donned their pink t-shirts and bunny ears last year and raised vital funds for Ashgate Hospicecare. It was a night to remember. We can’t wait to see those familiar faces and new ones this year!”

Thousands of local people gave fantastic feedback on last year’s event. Eileen Lowe, from Matlock in Derbyshire, said, “What an amazing night. Walking down the bypass was surreal, the atmosphere was electric. Thanks to all the volunteers & public who cheered us on. Such a worthwhile cause!”

Maggie Harrison, from Alfreton in Derbyshire, said, “I had never done the night walk before but now I have made it an annual event in my calendar. (Excuse the pun but) it was a very moving experience. Beautiful!”

Are you interested in Chesterfield’s biggest fundraising event? Registration for the Markovitz Sparkle Night Walk 2019 on Saturday 6th July is now open. If you register before Friday 22rd March you will receive our Early Bird Discount, reducing entry to JUST £10 per person.

You can enter online at https://sparklenightwalk.org.uk/ or by phoning the events team on 01246 233404.

North Derbyshire’s most listened-to commercial radio station, Peak FM, has partnered with the 2019 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon.

The leading media organisation will return as sponsor of the event’s Five Mile Run after a successful first two years for the revamped Redbrik Half Marathon, which has already seen a record number of Early Bird sign-ups.

The Peak FM Five Mile Run will form part of the 2019 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon, along with a 1km Fun Run and a Wellbeing Challenge, geared to groups, businesses and families.

As with 2018, the 2019 Peak FM Five Mile Run – which last year saw more than 250 entries – will start at 9:30 along with the Redbrik Half Marathon, from Queen’s Park, Chesterfield.

The route for the beginner to intermediate-focused event will head out of Queen’s Park, east onto Chatsworth Road, and north towards Ashgate Road and the Half Marathon’s main charity partner, Ashgate Hospice, via Old Hall Road and Barker Lane.

It will then loop southwards and back onto Chatsworth Road towards Queen’s Park to finish.

Early bird entries are now available into the Peak FM Five Mile Run with a 10% discount using the code PEAKFM19.

Tim Smith, Content Controller at Peak FM, said: “We’re delighted to support the 2019 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon for a third year.

“It’s a fantastic community event and great to see it so well received with 1,500 signed up last time and £100,000 raised for important charities like Ashgate Hospice and Bluebell Wood.

“Once again Ricky and Becky from our Breakfast Show are expected to do the Peak FM 5 Mile Run and we’ll be hoping to get more people than ever running it this year!”

John Timms, Event Director at Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon, said: “Last year’s Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon – including the Peak FM Five Mile Run – was a huge success, with so many people turning out not just to take part but to cheer the runners on.”

“The profile this partnership gives the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon in the town and the surrounding areas is great for the event and we’re delighted to see that continue.”

“It’s been fantastic to see the response of the people of Chesterfield to the Redbrik Half Marathon. We’re aiming to beat last year’s sign-up total this time around to keep the growth going, and the success of the Peak FM Five Mile Run is a big part of that.”

For more information on the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon and Peak FM Five Mile Run or to enter, visit www.redbrikchesterfieldhalf.com.

The Spireites will stage a Women at the Game event at the fixture against Eastleigh on Saturday, March 9.

Women at the Game is a national initiative which looks to provide a supportive environment for females to get together and watch live football.

Chesterfield FC Associate Director Alison Richardson, who has organised the event, said: “I’m delighted that we’re able to host this event and really looking forward to welcoming female supporters to the Proact.”

“It’s a great opportunity for women who may not have felt comfortable attending games on their own previously to come along and watch the game as part of a like-minded and supportive community. I hope the initiative will encourage a new group of Spireites.”

Jacqui Oatley MBE, the first female commentator on Match of the Day, has given her backing to the event, saying: “I would support any initiative aimed at attracting new supporters through the turnstiles who may not otherwise attend. Once they’re in, they may just be gripped and will hopefully come back again and again.”

Derbyshire-born Stephanie Hill, who was crowned Miss World Europe in 2017 and recently appeared on The Voice, has accepted an invitation to attend. Funds will be raised to support a cause chosen by Stephanie, the funding of a new science lab at her old place of learning – Lady Manners School – and encourage more girls to get involved in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

The Chesterfield Mayoress, Anne Brittain, will also be in attendance, along with other prominent women in the community, including representatives from local female charities and Chesterfield Ladies FC.

Women who wish to attend can take advantage of a special ticket offer: £5 for adults and £1 for concessions, which includes refreshments in the HUB at the stadium. Places are limited so early booking is essential. Please email alisonrichardson@chesterfield-fc.co.uk to reserve tickets.

Hundreds of protective marks, also known as Witches’ Marks, have been discovered at Creswell Crags, a limestone gorge on the Derbyshire border with history dating back 60,000 years.

These Apotropaic marks, from the Greek apotrepein, meaning ‘to turn away’, have been discovered scribed into walls and ceilings of the caves, over dark holes and large crevices. This is another huge find for the world renowned, award-winning heritage site and is significant on a national scale for being, potentially, the biggest collection of apotropaic marks in one place in the whole of the UK.

The chance discovery was made by two keen-eyed enthusiasts, Hayley Clark and Ed Waters from the Subterranea Britannica group, during a cave tour at Creswell Crags, after they noticed the rare protection marks scribed onto the cave surface. John Charlesworth, Heritage Facilitator and the tour leader at the time of the discovery, says: “These witches’ marks were in plain sight all the time! Being present at the moment their true significance was revealed will stay with me forever. After 17-years at Creswell Crags it makes me wonder what else it has to surprise us. This remarkable place continues to give up its secrets.” These marks have always been noticed, but dismissed as graffiti from before the caves were barred.

Ritualistic protection marks are most commonly found in historic churches and houses, near the entrance points, particularly doorways, windows and fireplaces to protect the inhabitants from evil spirits. It was thought that the largest quantity of witches’ marks in British caves existed in Somerset, at 57 marks, but the number at Creswell Crags far exceeds that, numbering in the high hundreds in one cave alone. Marks have since been found in all caves at Creswell Crags.

Alison Fearn, of Leicester University, who studied her PHD on Protective marks, and has seen the marks at Creswell Crags, said: “I cannot emphasise how important this corpus of apotropaia is to graffiti research, I think off the top of my head, it is the largest number of examples found anywhere and in any context in the UK.”

The number and variety of witch mark designs is unprecedented. Among the most common found are the double VV engravings which are believed to make reference to Mary, Virgin of Virgins and similarly PM is Pace Maria. Others are believed to be devices for capturing or trapping ‘evil’ and these include diagonal lines, boxes and mazes. The marks appear to have been added to over time and may indicate a need to strengthen the protection in response to a period of unexpected sickness, death or poor crops. The caves were excavated by archaeologists during the 19^th century and in the process, widened. This may account for why some surfaces feature no marks and might suggest that there were originally an even greater number.

Academic and TV presenter, Professor Ronald Hutton, an authority on folklore, said: “This discovery is significant because it looks like the largest assemblage of protective marks ever found in British caves, and possibly anywhere in Britain. This is a suddenly a large new area of research for historians and archaeologists, and so adds appreciatively to the importance of the Crags as a world resource. This is a hugely important and exciting find, in one of the main current growth areas of knowledge about the past. Creswell Crags has already amazed the twenty-first century with its revelations of Palaeolithic designs. Now it does so again with a fresh one of medieval and early modern ritual protection marks on a huge scale, making a very important contribution, at a stroke, to one of the most significant current areas of new scholarly research.”

Creswell Crags are now working with academics and experts from Historic England to better understand the full significance and extent of the discovery. Creswell Crags are protected as a scheduled monument and Historic England advises on its future management.

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England said of the discovery: “Creswell Crags is already of international importance for its Ice Age art and ancient remains. To find this huge number of protection marks from the more recent past adds a whole new layer of discovery. Even two hundred years ago, the English countryside was a very different place, death and disease were everyday companions and evil forces could readily be imagined in the dark. We can only speculate on what it was the people of Creswell feared might emerge from the underworld into these caves.”

Creswell Crags will be launching tours of the areas containing Witches Marks for the first time, from late February.

Paul Baker, Director of Creswell Crags said: “We’re all still coming to terms with the importance of the find. It’s strange to imagine that 11,000 years after our Ice Age ancestors made their art on our walls, that fear of the unknown may have prompted superstitious locals to return to the rock and make their mark.”

To find out more visit www.creswell-crags.org.uk

Witches’ Marks Q&A – by Historic England

What are apotropaic marks?

Apotropaic comes from the Greek word for averting evil and the marks were usually carved on stone or woodwork near a building’s entrance points, particularly doorways, windows and fireplaces, to protect inhabitants and visitors from witches and evil spirits.

What do they look like?

The most common type of apotropaic mark is the daisy wheel, or hexafoil, which at its simplest is a six petal “flower” drawn with a pair of compasses. Daisy wheels comprise a single, endless line which supposedly confused and entrapped evil spirits.

Pentangles, which are five-pointed stars, were often used as ritual symbols and the letters AM for Ave Maria, PM for Pace Maria, simply M for Mary or VV for Virgin of Virgins are also a common type of apotropaic mark. These letters, scribed into the fabric of medieval walls, engraved onto wooden beams and etched onto plasterwork were thought to beseech the supreme protective power of the Virgin Mary.

Where are they?

As well as being found in caves, apotropaic marks can be found in medieval houses, dating from around 1550 to 1750. A few have been recorded recently at Shakespeare’s Birthplace for example, where they are carved near the door to the cellar, once the store for precious beer and they have been spotted in medieval barns like the Bradford-on-Avon Tithe Barn, where they were etched into the ancient timber to protect crops.

Chesterfield’s Proact Stadium will host the first walking football European Nations Cup this summer.

The Walking Football Association has structured a tournament featuring 160 players, representing eight different nations, involving Over 50s and Over 60s teams.

WFA chief executive Paul Carr explained why Chesterfield was chosen to host the tournament. He said: “Chesterfield is the home of walking football as John Croot, who is a WFA non-executive director, works here, lives here and created the game here so it’s the perfect place to host the first international tournament for walking football.”

Chesterfield player Laurence Maguire, who is an England C international and brother of England star Harry Maguire, was at the launch of the event. He said: “It’s fantastic for the walking football community to come together in Chesterfield at the Proact and they’re very welcome to hold the European Nations Cup here.”

“You see players now retiring from football at early ages so for people to come out and keep their fitness levels up in their older age is fantastic for the sport.”

“As the sport gets bigger and bigger, I’m sure there will be many more ex-professionals taking part in walking football when they finish.”

The tournament, which will include teams representing England, Wales, Italy, Holland, Spain and France, will be played on the weekend of June 8th and 9th, with a gala dinner also taking place at the stadium.

Walking football is credited with helping to stimulate mental and physical wellbeing for the older generation. The slower pace and less contact is perfect for people looking to keep active by playing the sport they love.