Cricket enthusiasts with a particular interest in the history of the game, and those who enjoy a good investigative story,  will be in for a treat if they attend an event being held at Whaley Bridge Bowling Club next week. (Tuesday 2nd Dec 7.30pm)

The author of a book investigating the controversial sale of a ball supposedly hit for an historic six sixes by West Indian legend Garry Sobers in Swansea in 1968 will be speaking at a meeting of the High Peak Cricket Society – along with John Parkin, the batsman standing at the other end during the famous over.

Grahame Lloyd’s illustrated talk – including an interview with John Parkin – takes place at the Whaley Bridge Bowling Club in Buxton Road (SK23 7HX) (opposite the Cock Pub) at 7.30pm on Tuesday 2nd December 2014. All are welcome and non-High Peak Cricket Society members can attend the meeting at a cost of £2 . If you would also like to enjoy a hotpot supper for a modest fee please contact the Secretary, Bob Wood, on 01663-732866 or highpeakcs@btinternet.com in advance so that the numbers can be planned.

The Duke & Son ball was sold for a world record £26,400 by Christie’s in 2006 but in Howzat? The Six Sixes Ball Mystery, freelance broadcaster and journalist Grahame Lloyd proves that it wasn’t the one bowled to Sobers by Malcolm Nash at St Helen’s because it was the wrong make.

The actual ball used in the over was manufactured by Stuart Surridge and BBC TV footage confirms Nash’s assertion that it was the only one he bowled – not the last of three as claimed by Christie’s – during the Glamorgan versus Nottinghamshire county championship match.

“I used the same ball for all six deliveries,” says Nash, “and it was charred, scarred and Continue Reading →

Children in Whaley Bridge have been preparing a surprise for Santa Claus, who arrives this Friday night (Friday, 28 Nov) by narrowboat at the Canal Basin for the Christmas lights switch-on.

For the last few weeks, they have been making lanterns of all shapes and sizes, with the help of mums and dads. One dad, Lucas Jones, helped his daughters Eve, 9, and Lily, 7, along with their friend Jessica, 8, to construct a giant star (see picture). They held it up triumphantly, the tissue paper over the cane frame still wet from layers of glue.

On Friday night, they will spring their starry surprise on Santa. The children will walk in procession with their lanterns lit, starting at 5.15pm from Old Road outside Nimbus Antiques, and then going down the Whaley Incline. This is the former Cromford and High Peak railway line, now a walkway between Old Road, near the Shepherd’s Inn, with the Canal Basin.

Santa arrives at 6pm, then walks to his grotto in Footsteps drop in centre. The Christmas tree lights, in the Jodrell car park, will be switched on at 7pm. Carol singing by the crowd will be accompanied by Whaley Bridge Band.

Whaley Bridge people renewed their link to the Cenotaph in Memorial Park, which could not be used for the last two Remembrance Sundays because of a major refurbishment.

Local organisations, including the Royal British Legion, placed wreaths on the memorial, later admired by many people.

The Rev Margaret Jones, priest in charge of the parish of Whaley Bridge, conducted the service. Earlier she had told congregations at other services of her moving visit to the ceramic poppies display at the Tower of London.

Wreath laying at the Memorial in Whaley Bridge Memorial Park

We will remember them.

 
Kettleshulme remembers at village Memorial Hall

One of the smaller gatherings in the area was at Kettleshulme. The village’s dead of two wars are commemorated outside the Memorial Hall. The Rev Keith Sandow, minister of Whaley Bridge Uniting Church Partnership, read their names and Laurie Walton, principal cornet player of Whaley Bridge Band, played the Last Post. Continue Reading →

There’s a new, vivid welcome in the entrance of St James’ primary school, Kettleshulme: a ceramic cross full of images and messages about the school’s place in the community, and the values and beliefs of this church school. The cross was the work of children from Years 5 and 6 – their ‘leaver’s project’ which has become a tradition at St James’.

The school called in the services of artist Jane Dixon from Shropshire last summer. At a three day workshop with the 15 children involved, ideas were discussed, sketches examined and models made in clay for Jane to take back to her kiln to be fired and glazed, and eventually put together on the cross. There are images of fellow pupils, local people (the school has a tradition of helping in the community) and animals and wildlife all around in the rural setting.

The cross was blessed by the Rev Margaret Jones, priest in charge of Whaley Bridge parish and a governor at the school.

The children also designed ‘patchwork’ pots and mobiles in ceramic. School head Paul Quirk and teacher Hazel Hindle, who headed the project, were full of praise for the children’s work: “When they come back years from now, their cross will still be here.”