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Yippeeee!!! Pumpkin Spiced Latte here I come! I think autumn/early winter has to be my favourite time of year. Lots of colour changes, snuggly evenings, dark nights (but not so many that you’re fed up of them and only getting 3 hours of sunlight per day!).
I was fortunate enough to visit Iceland a few years back during winter (I didn’t see any Northern lights because it was simply far too miserable and laden with clouds for that kind of joy!!) and one of the things that has always stuck with me since the visit, is acceptance. Despite the country being truly beautiful, and I hope to visit in summer at some point to see the flip side, it was one of the weirdest and unsettling experiences of my life!
I’m not selling it to you am I!! Let me try again!! Iceland seems to spend about 4 months of the year in a cold, dark, terrible weather, spooky filled misery – it makes Manchester seem like it is suffering from a drought –so much rain! However, because of this, they choose to leave the Christmas decorations up longer than anyone else, because those twinkly little lights bring a little joy to the dark streets in the darkest days. They have more hobbies than any other culture because they spend their evenings learning new skills and making sure that they don’t just sleep, eat, work, repeat. So, they take up things like reading and knitting and drawing, and they make sure that they go out during the few hours of daylight they get for their Vit D and they socialise even when they don’t feel like it – because we’re all humans right and we need that interaction.
Anyway, my long and ever so slightly convoluted point was that we all have our crosses to bear and despite it not necessarily being my best holiday in the traditional sense, a big ‘Eureka’ moment for me was that clearly, in life, the circumstances are going to play out, it really is our choice as to how we react to them. I take this with me everywhere now and whenever I see glib memes such as ‘when life gives you lemons make lemonade’ and other such placating statements,
maybe just maybe they aren’t so glib and maybe, the point is and always has been, situations will arise and really, the only decision we must make is, how we respond. So, with that in mind, this month I have been trying to stop watching the news so much and massively cut down on my social media usage – it doesn’t do me any favours (or let’s be honest, society as a whole). In its absence, I’m decorating at home – which is never good news for Mr Emily who always gets roped in!! And I’m watching the GBBO (if you don’t know what that is, you are beyond help!). I’m a terrible cook, only a slightly better baker based on the handful of times that I have baked, but maybe this is my hobby…..maybe all the miserable social media posts and news and brain melting banality is going to give way to a chocolate melting goddess rising from the oven flames in search of just one little hand shake from Mr Hollywood!! Wish me luck!!!
Anyway, as it is a spooky time of year, I predict that it was Professor Plum in the Drawing Room with the Candlestick! Happy Reading everyone, only 2 more editions until Christmas…. eeeek!
Happy Reading, Emily x
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All Around the Shire
One of the most cherished memories I have is of my boys running home from school in their little grey shorts with an abundance of conkers stuffed down their long, grey socks. They were so excited to be bursting with autumnal treasure. They had kicked around fallen leaves under horse chestnut trees to find jewels of shiny brown conkers inside prickly green casings.
At home came the task of selecting the ones thought most likely to become a champion and either baking them or soaking them in vinegar to become hard. Next was the piercing and threading with a knotted shoelace. Job done! Time to challenge your friends to a game. Winning conkers were ones that defeated other conkers by splitting or cracking them and they gained a title of “Sixer” “Twelver” and so on, depending on how many wins they had.
Playtime at school couldn’t come quick enough. Small boys and some girls charged out of the classroom with their conkers in their pocket, ready for battle. Very serious.
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Glorious autumn.
Cheating was not unknown: painting the conker with clear nail varnish or substituting for a wooden ball. Bruised knuckles and bits of split conker flying into your eye was, of course, an acceptable hazard.
Janet and Paul Barrass are All Around the Shire. Find us on or email: oldfield512@btinternet.com for more information.
Derbyshire Sounds at Sheffield’s Legendary Mojo Club
Chesterfield’s very own Blueberries made history on 19 February 1966 when they stepped onto the stage of Sheffield’s iconic King Mojo Club.
Supporting Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and Herbie Goins & The Night-timers, the Derbyshire outfit — including future music historian David McPhie on drums - brought their Chicagostyle blues and soul-rock to one of the North’s most important music venues.
For many young people from Chesterfield, the Mojo was the place to be. Fans flocked up the road to Pitsmoor to see the latest visiting American soul stars or to watch local talent share the same bill. For bands like The Blueberries, it was a chance to step out of the Derbyshire circuit and be part of a movement that was changing British music forever.
Now, almost sixty years later, the story of the Mojo is being told afresh thanks to a £114,300 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The new project — Mojo Rising: Celebrating 60 Years of Music and Community — will shine a spotlight on the club’s rich legacy, including the nights when Derbyshire acts like The Blueberries were part of the bill.
Opened by Peter and Geoff Stringfellow in 1964, the Mojo became a cultural lightning rod. Legends such as Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, Ike & Tina Turner and The Who all played there in its short but spectacular life.
The Heritage Fund project will include a commemorative book, a 3D digital recreation of the venue, a documentary film, a new mural and travelling exhibition, plus podcasts, oral histories and a dedicated website. Volunteers will be trained in interviewing and research skills to help preserve these memories for future generations.
Michael Bell, chair of the Mojo Heritage Collective, said: “King Mojo was more than a club – it gave young people in Sheffield and beyond a way to feel connected to something truly global. This project is about preserving that energy and ensuring the memories, music and meaning live on.”
For Chesterfield, the Blueberries’ 1966 Mojo appearance is a reminder that Derbyshire played its part in this remarkable story — one that will now be celebrated for years to come.
Former Chesterfield resident and author Neil Anderson helped co-ordinate the project bid.
The Blueberries performing at The Esquire
King Mojo dancers on their way to Ready Steady Go
Membership card
Peter Stringfellow
Inside King Mojo
This is a sudoku 1 square grid
81 cells
9 3x3 blocks
1 simple rule:
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Tracy Chevalier doesn’t just travel to the past in her latest novel, The Glassmaker. Best known for her million-selling Girl with a Pearl Earring, set very firmly in 17th century Holland; the author this time follows the life of a young 15th century Venetian glassmaker through the centuries until we leave the story at the end of Covid.
Not possible you might say. But time flows differently in this book and Orsola and her family skip through the centuries, living through wars, the rise of books and art, plagues, and the arrival of characters such as Casanova. She starts the book aged 17 and finishes her tale in her 60s in the present day.
It sounds complicated but it is quite playful. Basically it is the story of a girl who becomes a woman - with all that involves - while wrestling with the constraints of society through the ages. Orsola stays Orsola, while the world whizzes forward around her.
When we first meet her she is going against the conventions of her time and learning how to turn sand into glass to stop her family going into debt. When we leave her she has battled her way through to becoming a businesswoman with a mobile phone.
Everything has changed. But so much stays the same, and some things are seemingly unchangeable.
And… it’s a good read!
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Film Noir Murder Mysteries:
SHADOWS, SECRETS, AND SUSPENSE
Film Noir, born out of the 1940s and 1950s Hollywood landscape, remains one of cinema’s most enduring and stylish genres. Often described as “dark film,” it captures a world where shadows loom large, morality is ambiguous, and danger hides around every corner. At the heart of many of these stories lies the murder mystery – a puzzle of deceit, betrayal, and survival that continues to fascinate audiences today.
Unlike the classic detective tales of the golden age, Film Noir murder mysteries are rarely straightforward. They often feature flawed protagonists – hard-boiled detectives, cynical journalists, or ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances. These characters are not shining heroes but rather complex individuals battling both external threats and their own inner demons. Their journeys are filled with twists and turns where no one can be trusted, and every clue might be a trap.
A hallmark of the genre is the femme fatale: the enigmatic woman whose allure is as dangerous as any smoking gun. From Barbara Stanwyck’s scheming Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity (1944) to Jane Greer’s manipulative Kathie Moffat in Out of the Past (1947), the femme fatale is central to the mystery, often blurring the line between victim and villain. Her presence deepens the intrigue, keeping both the protagonist and the audience guessing until the final reel.
Visually, Film Noir is unmistakable. Low-key lighting, stark contrasts, and dramatic shadows create an atmosphere of tension and unease. Rain-slicked streets, smoke-filled bars, and neon-lit alleyways serve not only as backdrops but also as characters in their own right, shaping the mood and amplifying the suspense.
What sets Film Noir murder mysteries apart is their refusal to offer neat resolutions. Justice is not guaranteed, and happy endings are rare. Instead, these films reflect a post-war world of uncertainty, where crime, corruption, and human weakness dominate.
Today, the legacy of Film Noir lives on in modern cinema, from neo-noir classics like Chinatown (1974) to contemporary thrillers such as Gone Girl (2014). The blend of mystery, moral ambiguity, and haunting style ensures that Film Noir continues to captivate new generations of film lovers, keeping its shadowy allure alive.
MUSEUM
GOINGS ON IN THE DARK
By the end of October, the seasons are changing. Harvests have been gathered, leaves are falling and, as dark nights draw in, we know winter is fast approaching. In times gone by people would gather together, lighting fires to keep warm. Toward the end of the year ancient Celts held the festival of Samhain, pronounced sow-ain. Samhain was a celebration signifying the end of summer and the beginning of the darker part of the year. Some even believed that Samhain was a time when the gap between our world and that of spirits blurred, allowing the spirits to return.
31st October, All Hallows Eve, is the night we now know as Halloween, it is celebrated around the world. It’s a time when people gather, they eat together, have fun and tell stories. Children dress up to go trick or treating.
It may surprise you to know that trick or treating began in medieval times. Folk would call, door to door, and offer to pray or sing in exchange for a gift of food. During Victorian times a small round cake flavoured with sweet spices and marked with a cross was given, it was called a Soul Cake. Traditionally made using oats, spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger, as well as raisins or currants, Soul cakes were very popular. These days we give chocolate and sweets.
The term Jack-o-lantern has been used in Britain since the 1600s, it was the name commonly given to a nightwatchman. Originally for Halloween people carved faces in turnips and mangelwurzels (a kind of root vegetable, with the best name ever). When a candle is placed inside, the scary carvings light up and are supposed to frighten away spirits. These days pumpkins are used as they are much softer and easier to carve. Gruesome faces, witches, and intricate patterns are often carved. In some areas there are even competitions for the best ones. With a candle inside these pumpkins stand outside shining into the dark night.
Children, and some parents, paint their faces, dress up and walk the streets offering trick or treat. Houses
displaying carved pumpkins outside are considered to be those happy to play along. Of course, the first time I carved and lit pumpkins I just did it for fun, not aware it was a sign. We had eighty children call! It was an exhausting and surprising evening, especially as there wasn’t anything like that number of children in the village!
After all the high jinks of Halloween comes 1st November, All Hallows, or All Saints Day. This is a day intended to honour the many saints and martyrs who have died for their faith.
All Souls Day follows on 2nd November. All Souls was first celebrated in the 11th century. It marks a day of prayer and commemoration for all those family and friends who are no longer living.
Halloween is a scary time at our own Bakewell Old House Museum. Said to be the most haunted house in Bakewell, at this time of year there are always ‘going’s on’ there.
Why not come and see us in our Terrifying Tudor House. Open between Saturday 25th October and 2nd November you’ll need to watch your step as witches, vampires, skeletons, spiders and bats have taken over…
I DARE YOU TO VISIT?
BAKEWELL OLD HOUSE MUSEUM IS NOW OPEN EVERY DAY FROM 11AM TO 4PM FOR THE 2025 SEASON. ALONG WITH OUR OWN WONDERFUL COLLECTIONS WE HAVE EXHIBITIONS BY CHESTERFIELD EMBROIDERERS AND THE LEVEL CENTRE.
Guess the words and Fill in the crossword !
Pitcherwits® are crossword puzzles where some of the clues are in pictures. Sound easy? It’s not called “Pit-your-wits” for nothing! The mixture of cryptic and picture clues, combined with Professor Rebus’ unique sense of humour, will keep you entertained for hours.
Across
9 G, say, follower at speed? (4)
10 Scrape along in attempt to ring bells (4)
11 Fun, given that you’re finding mushrooms (5)
12 Back for nothing, in top (4)
14 Semi-arid, but not said to be suitable for Arab leader (4)
Down
3 Snake in and out of the raspberries (3)
4 Nonsense article about the ocean? (3)
6 Suggest that the second Cardinal could be it? (5,2)
7 Herb is cruelty-free produce (3)
13 Spoiled almost half of the painting (3)
16 Blowlamp stripped down by wise old one (3)
17 Said to be eye treatment, literally! (3)
1 Dramatic pairs located bus near accident (6,4)
5 Moses’ missus mentioned in a zip (or a fastener) (8)
15 Job treatment, done with a flat hand? (4,4)
18 NASA finding itself in tumult when leaves fell (4,6)
13
Elicit straightforward, but not gratis answer (4,5)
Invitation to fly away, that’s less than polite? (4,3)
These puzzles are devised by the brilliant Professor Rebus. For more of his puzzles visit www.pitcherwits.co.uk
Moor,
Noir.
FLAMECARE BOILER CARE & HEATING SERVICES
Family-run, independent, and proudly local, FlameCare has been keeping homes warm and safe for over 20 years. Founded in 2003 by Simon Fletcher, the Chesterfieldbased business has grown to look after more than 2,000 loyal customers, with many still on the same trusted maintenance plans
they signed up for in the early days. Their reputation is built on integrity, meticulous workmanship, and genuine care for the community.
FlameCare’s competitively priced boiler and central heating maintenance plans offer complete peace of mind. Each plan includes an annual service, sameday callouts, free parts and labour, and no excess fees — often beating larger providers on both price and service. Accredited installers of Ideal Heating boilers, FlameCare supplies only A-rated, high-efficiency models, each backed with warranties of up to 12 years. Current offers even include a free
Halo Wi-Fi smart thermostat with every new boiler installation, giving customers flexible control at their fingertips.
But what truly sets FlameCare apart is its commitment to giving back. For every new customer taking out a maintenance plan, the company donates the first month’s subscription to Ashgate Hospice. So far, this has raised just shy of £10,000 to support vital end-of-life care in North Derbyshire. It’s just one example of how FlameCare continues to put people first — customers, staff, and the wider community.
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FLAMECARE BATHROOMS & ADAPTATIONS
Building on their trusted reputation for heating and plumbing, FlameCare has expanded into bathrooms — and the results speak for themselves. Whether it’s a stylish modern upgrade or a safe and practical adaptation, the team brings the same professionalism, attention to detail, and customer-first approach that has defined the business for two decades.
FlameCare bathrooms are fully project-managed from start to finish, ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience. Customers praise the team for clear communication, reliability, and craftsmanship. One recent client, arranging an adaptation for their father, described the work as “excellent from start to finish,” with the new walk-in shower and safety features giving both
confidence and peace of mind.
Adaptations are a growing part of FlameCare’s service, designed to make homes safer and more accessible. Options include level-access showers, grab rails, and waterproof boarding, all tailored to individual needs without compromising on style. For those simply looking to refresh a tired bathroom, FlameCare also offers complete redesigns with modern fixtures, quality finishes, and practical layouts.
As a family-run business, FlameCare understands the importance of trust and integrity. Every installation is
carried out by a skilled, friendly team who treat customers’ homes with respect. With fitting slots always in demand, early booking is recommended — especially for those hoping to have their new bathroom ready in time for special occasions.
THE COAL MINER’S LIFE
AS OTHERS SAW US
In 1927, a coal director painted a rosy picture of Derbyshire’s miners and their communities. But behind the polished words, everyday life told a very different story. Here, the “official view” is set side by side with the miners’ reality.
Much of Derbyshire’s wealth once depended upon its mineral deposits – lead, iron ore, limestone and coal. As industry grew, rural villages expanded into mining communities. Rows of terraced “two up, two down” houses were built to accommodate the workforce. Before pithead baths, miners came home in their “pit dirt” to houses without bathrooms or a constant supply of hot water.
In 1927, a director of one of the larger coal combines contributed to Aberconway’s Basic Industries of Great Britain, portraying mine owners as generous providers. Yet the reality remembered by miners was often very different.
HE WROTE:
“The Derbyshire miners as a whole may be said to be thrifty” (in truth, wages after the 1926 General Strike were barely above poverty, with pits often on short-time work).
“They are careful of their personal appearance and that of their families” (many children missed school simply because they had no shoes).
“Their homes are often models of neatness” (hire purchase was avoided work was too uncertain to risk debt).
“They believe in sick and benefit clubs, and many belong to several” (before 1948, with no NHS or welfare, illness meant potential destitution).
“Perhaps 15% of the men own their own houses, but colliery owners build cottages for their workers, leaving less scope for building societies” (owners profited from rents, stopped directly from wages, so they had no interest in encouraging home ownership).
“Great numbers of new houses of a very good modern type have been built, fitted with electricity, baths, drainage and hot water” (many miners recall no bathrooms or electricity in colliery houses until the 1950s).
“Sports such as rabbit coursing attract some miners” (grouse and horses were out of reach-rabbiting was affordable), “while gardening is popular with others. Some pit-boys even take university degrees” (a rarity, though boasted about at the time).
“On the other hand, gambling is rife among men and women alike” (a quick sixpence bet at the bookies, the working man’s alternative to the stock market).
“Many take seaside trips” (paid holidays only arrived in 1938).
“Probably 25% attend a place of worship, most being Dissenters” (“Nowt wrong with Chapel,” as miners said, though most weren’t regular attenders).
“Colliery owners have also provided clubs and institutes, where men can play billiards, read papers, hold union meetings and enjoy cheap refreshment without relying on the pub” (these Miners’ Welfares were actually funded by a levy on coal sales, paid by miners and customers, not owners).
“Situated in the countryside, the men enjoy the best conditions of housing, wages and steady work” (a very rosy view—many villages only saw real improvements decades later).
So, there it was: “Doff yer caps and be grateful. Thank you Guv’nor! See you at Chapel on Sunday, then maybe a bout of intellectual improvement in the Welfare?”
With the pits long gone, many villages became dormitory towns, their cheap housing attracting newcomers from the South. A new chant arose:
“Eye by gum, it’s grand up North, Come on now, join the rush!
’Cos now we’ve got electric lights, And toilets you can flush.”
– Anon, Modern Folk Ode
Written by Ivan BRENTNALL
AUTUMN BRINGS THE CROWS TO THE WILDLIFE GARDEN
The crow family or corvids are amongst our longest lived and most intelligent birds and include a diversity of species from the huge Raven, the ubiquitous Carrion Crow, the now declining Rook, the Jackdaw, the colourful Jay, and the splendid Magpie. Down in southwest England and in Wales for example there is also the Cornish Chough but that has yet to spread northwards. Aside from the rook which has particular habitat issues and has lost out to urbanisation and changing agricultural practice, the other corvids are generally doing pretty well, though this does not please everybody. The entire family was once the scourge of gamekeepers and even park-keepers countrywide. This reduced numbers and altered the behaviour of the birds that remained. Even today if you point a camera at a Carrion Crow or a Magpie then they get very jittery and quickly fly off. Jays were once very shy and most views were just a fleeting glimpse in dense woodland as they flew away, their first contact being the harsh alarm cries and the last sign was a flash of white from their rear end as they departed. Today they are frequent visitors to the garden feeders, as are the other species with the obvious exception of the Raven. I have had Ravens over the garden but not yet in it.
I noticed this summer a distinct increase in visiting corvids in terms of numbers, frequency, and indeed, boldness. Jackdaws that breed on nearby chimneystacks come down to feed on suet bars and fat-balls, and like the Magpies seem to develop greater dexterity as the months progress. Then, as autumn arrived, the numbers of Magpies increased with flocks of up to twenty or so birds at a time. They seem to feast on the dried mealworms, fat-balls and suet-balls in hanging feeders, and the noisy flocks are now a regular occurrence. In terms of the visitors to the garden feeders, the Carrion Crows probably come top of the pile, and the other birds give them respect and space. They too are more regular visitors to the wildlife garden feeders and particularly watch out for the dried mealworms and cuttings from suet bars that I put out for my family of Robins. By winter the adult Robins will be defending individual territories but summerlong there has been a pair and two broods of youngsters. By August, these juveniles were moulting into their full red breasts, and by the autumn the parent birds moved them on!
CARRION CROW
CARRION CROW
JUVENILE ROBIN
JACKDAW
JACKDAW
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GARDENERS CALENDAR
Most lawns have suffered with this summer’s droughts. And whilst there is an old trope that a lawn will always recover; it can depend on the original condition and it’s always worth giving a little TLC – even if it’s to help it to become more drought resistant next year. A good start is scarifying, pulling out dead matter and debris with a metal rake. Then aerate –spiking with a garden fork as deep as the tines will penetrate and waggling in the ground to open the earth up. This is best done after rain or watering, but may take some patience as soil can become hydrophobic and initially resist water after prolonged drought. If you find it very hard work, concentrate on the most worn patches. Finally work some top dressing – sharp sand and home-made compost into the holes. You can feed, but make sure it’s the right fertiliser for winter otherwise it will encourage weak sappy growth.
The best time to prune acers if you want to re-shape them is after the leaves have fallen and before spring –i.e. while the tree is dormant and before the sap starts to rise again early in the new year.
Alpines have become increasingly popular, some are even being sold in homeware stores. Most are hardy perennials – they’ll come back for a few years, but they can suffer if exposed to very wet conditions. They don’t mind cold – the clue is in the name – and they love sunny, but they can’t take soggy roots. So if you’ve put them in troughs or containers make sure their feet are not going to be in water and remove any dead vegetation around their shallow roots.
TOP TIP
If you’re going for a wildflower lawn next year, don’t feed with fertiliser. It will encourage the grass, but they will swamp the flowers.
