Is it going to snow in Derby this weekend?, Depends which weather forecast you look at.

Looking at some weather forecasts at the moment it would appear that we may get some snow in Derby.

For example :
"A spokeswoman for the Met Office said: "The greatest risk of snow for Derby and Derbyshire is on Saturday when we could see five to 10cm of snow as we move into the evening and overnight."

Do we believe them? well best to prepare for it just in case.

Derbyshire Snow Webcams
People seem to like my Derbyshire webcams page during these times as it allows you to see for yourself if its actually snowing right now rather than trusting a weatherman to tell you!

I also have a section for Staffordshire Webcams as this is the next county to the south west of Derbyshire so you can see how bad the snow is effecting them.
One of the webcams I have added to this page is provided by www.leekonline.co.uk and is extreamly good as it allows many viewing options including almost live video streaming so you can actually see the snow coming down.

Sledging Guide.
If you would like to make the most of any snow we get this weekend then check out my Derby Sledging Guide, its packed with information to do with sledging in Derby. Including Local Weather Forcasts, Live local Webcams, Detailed Sledging Location Map, Smartphone mapping drop pins, Where to buy a sledge, Derby snow photographs, Videos of sledging in Derby.
I have provided a link to is Snow Map based on people submitting Tweets via Twitter.

Click the photo to visit my Derby Sledge Guide...

Hope you find my guide of use, please let me know if YOU know of any good locations to go sledging in Derby that I have not yet added to my Derby Sledging map.

thanks
Andy

Video : Derby Hippodrome Theatre "Rescue Me", What will become of this treasure ?

I created the original "Hippodrome then and now" photograph back in 2003 see it here.
I decided that it would be a good idea to remake this then and now as the Derby Hippodrome building has suffered quite a bit in recent years and I thought it would be good to do make a video too.
Below is the video I have created.
I have rendered it at 1080p HD so please view in fullscreen mode by clicking the Full screen icon in the bottom right corner of the player window. My then and nows look amazing on a large HD TV.

Feel free to use this video on Facebook, Twitter etc.

My video : Derby Hippodrome Theatre "Rescue Me".

I hope you enjoy my video, please rate and comment.

Views of this building :
Birds Eye view on Bing Maps - Derby Hippodrome. In this you can see the extent of the damage caused by the "roof repairs" in March 2008.

Google Streetview - Derby Hippodrome. Google captured this area at the time the roof was being repaired!

An online survey has now been launched to gather residents' views on the future of the building and it raises questions about the overall theatre provision in Derby.

Derby Hippodrome Restoration Trust is a building preservation trust that operates in Derby with the purpose of preserving buildings of particular beauty, historical, architectural or constructional interest in or around Derby, in particular the building known as the Hippodrome Theatre, Derby.

Derby Hippodrome was built in 1914 as a purpose built 2,300 seat theatre for the city. Over the ensuing years it has played a key part in Derby’s entertainment and cultural provision, being a variety theatre, cinema, and in more recent years a bingo hall. When the building closed in 2007 it was purchased by a London developer and has been standing empty since that time.

The building suffered extensive damage when the owner attempted to repair the roof of the auditorium in March 2008, demolishing the auditorium roof and part of one main wall as well as a substantial part of the stage house. Further damage has subsequently occurred to the interior of the building through two fires.

There was also another fire on November 26th 2011 which casued even more damage. Read HERE.

Latham Architects and PHT Consultants have been engaged by the DHRT to compile an independent “Options Appraisal” report to help decide the future of this building. Consultation is an important part of this work and we would like to hear your views.
We would be grateful therefore if you could spare a few moments to complete the questionnaire survey by clicking on the link below :

The future of Derby Hippodrome Theatre. <-- Click the link to fill in the survey.

The above survey is conducted on the SurveyMonkey website.

Please note your survey responses should be received no later than 1st February 2012

Thanks
Andy

Amazing never before seen videos of events in Derby from the 1960s by local film maker Arthur Blood.

I was recently introduced to a local film maker by the name of Arthur Blood who has kindly given me a selection of short films that he made in the 1960s using 8m cine film. Arthur captured many local events of the time, mostly relating to the Derby Carriage and Wagon Works where he started work in 1939, at the age of 14. I would like to thank him for choosing me to showcase his collection on my Derby videos channel so that people can enjoy them.
I'm sure there will be something of interest to anyone from Derby, if you work at Bombardier today then you may well recognise some of the buildings.

Please feel free to link to any of the old videos from Facebook etc. We need people to see these films.

Film 1 of 7 : Derby Carriage and Wagon Works Annual show 1960 (rare cine film footage of Derby)
In this film you can see some footage around Derby town centre filmed on Saturday August 20th 1960.
00:48 Prepairing the car outside Allsop Garage (Brailsford) on Bold Lane. In Jan 2012 this area is cleared of former Prince's supermarket.
01:07 The Wardwick Melias ltd, later this shop became Golden Gains, in Jan 2012 this is nono8 bar.
01:13 The Ice Factory, today this is occupied by the cock-pitt car park.
01:18 St James Street.
01:23 Corn Market
01:27 St Peters Street
01:34 ??
01:44 Full Street. Derby Power Station in the background
01:48 Council House
01:57 driving towards Cock Pitt Hill
02:00 Derby Carriage and Wagon Works


Film 2 of 7 : Derbys 2nd annual traction engine rally at Municipal Sports ground 1967 (rare cine film footage)


Film 3 of 7 : Derby Carriage and Wagon Works visit by Barbara Castle (transport Minister) rare cine film footage from 1967


These short films were captured using 8mm cine film which has been converted. I wonder how much more rare footage is out there collecting dust in peoples attics?


Film 4 of 7 : Derby Carriage and Wagon Works Annual show 1969 (very rare cine film footage)


Film 5 of 7 : Talisman Carriages made at Derby Carriage and Wagon Works in 1964 (rare cine film footage)


Film 6 of 7 : Derby Carriage and Wagon Works bowls match 1967 (rare cine film footage) 1967


Film 7 of 7 : Derby Carriage and Wagon Works bowls match 1965 (rare cine film footage)



Please note that although I have rendered this video at 1080p the original source footage is certainly not HD quality. It was originally shot on 8mm Cine Film, I have gone to great lengths to clean up the footage to reveal as much as possible from the source film.

Thanks
Andy