2013 Derby Bonfire and Fireworks, Markeaton Park, Sunday 3rd November from 5.45pm

This Sunday the 3rd November is when our annual free Bonfire and Fireworks event takes place at Markeaton Park, Derby.

The funfair opens at 2pm, with the Capital FM road show starting at 4.45pm. Capital FM stage show starts at 4.45pm. Hosted by Capital FM's breakfast show presenters Dino & Pete. With music from Furthest from the Sea. Fffts are the Midlands based grass roots collective committed to a hands on approach to Music, Comedy & Arts. Based in Derbyshire and swelled by an army of passionate volunteers, their aim  is to bring the performance of a lifetime to their community.
The Bonfire will be lit at 5.45pm and a fantastic fireworks display, set to music will begin at 6pm.

Video of last years Fireworks at Markeaton Park:







Getting to Markeaton Bonfire and Fireworks via Bus:

Map for Markeaton Park Bonfire and Fireworks:

View 2013 Markeaton Park Bonfire and fireworks Display in a larger map

Access to Markeaton Park for the Bonfire and Fireworks is restricted for safety reasons.
The main entrance to the park, off the A38, will be open for pedestrians. There will be no pedestrian access through the Mundy Play Centre, or across any of the three bridges into the park.

The main entrance to the Mundy Play Centre will also be closed, and the Mundy Play Centre car park will close at 2.30pm. Anyone who parks in this car park to use the park during the day should ensure that their vehicle is moved by 2.30pm. Markeaton Lane is closed to all vehicles between 3pm and 9pm, to allow safe access for pedestrians. The Police will control the road closure.

Pedestrians coming from The University of Derby car park will be directed across the pedestrian crossing on Kedleston Road and will access the park from Queensway next to the footbridge over the A38. Pedestrians coming along Kedleston Road from the city centre will also be directed via Queensway. Pedestrians from the Quarndon/Allestree areas will be directed down Markeaton Lane into the rear entrance to the park.

Thanks
Andy

Video of Adele's "Someone Like You" perfomed by the Loxley silver band, Sheffield, October 2013

I took this video on a recent visit to Sheffield to their beer and cider festival.
Sit back and enjoy the beautiful warm sounds of Loxley silver band performing Adele's "Someone Like You". This brass band were formed in 1889 !


The band performed on Saturday 26th October 2013. This was one of many songs they played at the beer festival. Hope you enjoy their version of this popular song.
Best viewed at 1080p/720p if you can.

For more information on this Brass Band see their website :
www.loxleysilverband.org.uk

Thanks
Andy
Follow me : https://twitter.com/AndySavage1969

Crossing England in a Punt: River of Dreams - River Trent.

Crossing England in a Punt: River of Dreams - River Trent.
On BBC 4 last night was a very interesting programme in which Tom Fort followed the entire course of the River Trent from its source to its journey to the sea. Along the route he stopped at Burton, Willington, Swarkestone, Shardlow etc.


From the Staffordshire hills to the Humber estuary, spirited explorer Tom Fort embarks on a 170-mile journey down Britain's third longest river, the Trent. Beginning on foot, he soon transfers to his own custom-built punt, the Trent Otter, and rows many miles downstream. Along the way he encounters the power stations that generate much of the nation's electricity, veterans of the catastrophic floods of 1947, the 19th-century brewers of Burton and a Bronze Age boatman who once made a life along the river.

Ferry Bridge, Burton on Trent.

Claymills Pumping station

Trent Bridge by Andrew Handyside of Derby.

Willington Power station

Shardlow Marina

If you missed this programme, don't worry as its on your on demand section if you are on Cable TV.
Or you have 6 days left to watch it on the iPlayer here.

Watch this programme now on BBC iPlayer :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/p00y6r6q/

Thanks
Andy

Sheffield Beer festival 2013. The 39th Steel City Beer and Cider Festival, 23rd Oct to 26th Oct. 2013

updated 24th Oct.
The beers are in the centre of the hall in a cross shape.
The ciders are in the corner.

The 39th annual Steel City Beer and Cider Festival will take place from Wednesday October 23rd to Saturday October 26th at Ponds Forge in Sheffield city centre.

The 2013 Cider List.
The 2013 Beer List.

Here is a panoramic photograph of the beer festival last year.

Panorama of the beer festival.

Around 150 real ales showcasing local breweries plus interesting beers from rest of the UK and a good range of real ciders and perry. Food available at all sessions, also features stalls and games.
Live music most evening sessions. Quiz Saturday afternoon.

Sheffield Beer and Cider Festival 2013.

At the Sheffield beer and cider festival they use Beer tokens as payment. You swap your cash for £1 or 10p tokens at the cash desk on entry you can then pay for everything with these tokens. You get your change in 10p tokens. This makes it better for the staff as there is no money to deal with. Additional tokens can be bought from a desk in the hall if you run out.

This beer festival uses beer tokens like this :

Sheffield Beer festival Tokens.

Admission charges :
Entry: - Pay on door, advance tickets not necessary
Wed 5pm-11pm £2.50 (members £1);
Thu12pm-6pm £2 (membs £1); 6pm-11pm £3 (members £1);
Fri 12pm-6pm £3 (members £1); 6pm-11pm £5 (members £2);
Sat 12pm-7pm £5 (members £1); 7pm-11pm: £3 (members £1).

Glass rental is £2.50

Live Entertainment :
Thursday - Alberts Skiffle Band and The Outfit
Friday - Jonny and the Moondogs followed by Roaming Son
Saturday - Loxley Silver Prize Band and Soulface.


Last year there was Free Wi-Fi available throughout this venue, just connect your device to the open connection "Sports Hall". Its not very fast but its free!

Beer festival location :
Ponds Forge International Sports Centre
Sheaf Street
Sheffield City Centre
S1 2PZ

Map location for the Sheffield Beer Festival :


View Sheffield CAMRA Beer and Cider festival Map in a larger map



Google Streetview of the venue.

45 degree Birds eye view on bingmaps.


By the way there is an excellent free shuttle bus service in Sheffield city centre. Its called the FreeBee and yes it really is free every few minutes around the city.
Leaflet for the Sheffield FreeBee.

Detailed route map for the Sheffield FreeBee shuttle bus.

If you would like to visit Sheffield Beer and Cider Festival from Derby then its worth getting a Derbyshire wayfarer.

Hope you found this of interest.

Thanks
Andy

Fire in Derby at the former GNR Engine House on Great Northern Road - October 8th 2013.

Today Tuesday 8th October 2013 there was a large fire at the former Great Northern Railway Engine House on Great Northern Road, Derby. This is a real shame as this is a Grade II listed building dating back to 1877
The engine house was built to provide power for the hydraulic cranes, capstans and hoists in the Bonded warehouse nearby as well as the goods lift in Friar Gate station.

As far as I know this building and the GNR warehouse are still awaiting development and are owned by Clowes Developments.

We really need to get Friar Gate Bridge, The Bonded warehouse and this engine house looked after as soon as possible otherwise we are going to loose these fine structures. Please sign my Friar Gate Bridge Petition today.

Here is a photograph of the tower of the GNR engine house during the fire this afternoon :
This is the "accumulator tower" part of the building.

Former GNR Engine house during the fire. The accumulator tower on fire.

Here is a short video someone took of the building on fire.





Here is a Google Streetview of the as seen in October 2012 :


View Larger Map



Here is a nice photograph showing the entire engine house in 2011 :


There was some terrible reporting on this fire, reports of the fire being on "Great Northern Way" and the fire was in a "derelict factory". Friargate Pine Company left that building over 11 years ago so to call it a derelict factory is a bit misleading when its a Grade II listed former engine pump house, Most Cities would be proud of such heritage but in Derby we don't seem to care about it.

The Engine House was designed by Kirk & Randall of Sleaford who also did the goods warehouse.
It formed part of the Friargate Railway Station and Goods Yard.
Great Northern Road was called Dog Kennal Lane up until the 1880s

If you would like to know more about the former Friargate Railway Line then view my complete map :
Friargate Railway Line route map.


Thanks
Andy

The MOSI Real Ale Festival 2013, Power Hall, Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester.

This was the 3rd MOSI Real Ale & Cider Festival, it took place on 26th - 28th September 2013 and was organisded by Trafford & Hulme CAMRA.

The venue was the Power Hall at The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI).
As you can see this is a really great venue for a beer festival, they had all the steam engines running.



hope you enjoyed my little video of this beer festival.
Were you there?

Trafford & Hulme CAMRA website :
http://www.thcamra.org.uk/cms/

MOSI website :
http://www.mosi.org.uk/

If you have never been to MOSI then its well worth a visite, by far the best museum I've ever been too and its free.

Follow me on Twitter : https://twitter.com/AndySavage1969

Derbyshire Day 2013. A celebration of everything Derbyshire. Kedleston Hall near Derby.

"Derbyshire Day" is a day to celebrate arts, crafts, music, dancing and food and drink from the county of Derbyshire. This annual event takes place in late September and runs from 11am -- 5pm.
Its located on the grounds of Kedleston Hall which is about 3 miles from Derby.

This is the first time attending this event.

Did you attend Derbyshire Day 2013? Leave a comment about what you enjoyed the most this year. Can you name any companies that Ive not listed ?

BBC Radio Derby Presenters James Watt, Sally Pepper and Andy Potter were broadcasting live from the event.

Things you can see in my video :
Kedleston Hall.
James Watt from BBC Radio Derby interviewing Higgledy Piggledy Jazz

Hope you enjoyed the videos.

My videos of Derbyshire Day at Kedleston Hall :

Derbyshire Day, Kedleston Hall near Derby. Sunday 22nd September 2013. A tour of the event.




Derbyshire Day - Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Chip Pan and water demonstration.




The Naughty Dalek on Security at Derbyshire Day 2013. "Exterminate, not on a Sunday":)





Useful links to companies that were at this event : 
National Trust - Kedleston Hall : http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kedleston-hall/

Higgledy Piggledy Jazz : https://en-gb.facebook.com/higgledypiggledyjazz
Derby Pyclet Company : http://www.derbypycletcompany.co.uk/
Spondon Bakery : https://www.facebook.com/SpondonBakery
The Pudding Room : http://www.thepuddingroomderbyshire.co.uk/
Yew can't cedar wood fir the trees : http://www.woodworkprojects.co.uk/Steve.htm

Tutbury Band : http://www.tutburyband.co.uk/

Derby RSPB : http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/derby
BBC Derby : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england/derbyshire/

Follow me on Twitter : https://twitter.com/AndySavage1969

Thanks
Andy