MATLOCK ROTARY and MATLOCK RUGBY CLUB
CROMFORD CLASSIC CAR & BIKE SHOW IMPORTANT NEWS FOR 2026 & 2027 In April this year, an exciting new chapter in the history of the Matlock Rugby Club will begin with the demolition of their existing Clubhouse. This will be replaced by a new Clubhouse which will include a large function area, new toilets (including a disabled toilet), a large kitchen, bar, club kit shop, decking area and disabled access. The new facility is scheduled to be open late in 2026. THE NEW CLUBHOUSE The now annual Rotary & Rugby Club Classic Car & Bike Show is held on Cromford Meadows at the Rugby Club, using their Clubhouse and its facilities as the event base. The proceeds are shared between Rotary charities and the junior section of the Rugby Club. This event is now one of the most popular classic car and bike shows in the area. In addition to the large number of classic cars and bikes on display, the show sets out to be a fun, family, pet friendly, day out for all, including craft, food and trade stands, childrens’ rides, a licensed bar and live music. To allow for the new Clubhouse works to be carried out, both Matlock Rotary and Matlock Rugby Club have made the decision to move, what will be our 12th Classic Car & Bike Show, from 2026 to 2027; therefore postponing it to Father’s Day, Sunday 20th June, 2027. A VIEW OF A PREVIOUS SHOW We are very appreciative of the previous support for our shows and look forward to welcoming new and returning friends in 2027. Matlock Rotary actively welcome expressions of interest to assist us in running this and other events going forward to support us in our 99th year of fund raising. For those wanting to help us and support our legacy, you can contact us directly on: enquiries@cromford classics.org.uk 00
Celebrate World Book Day with Derby Book Festival
Derby Book Festival is celebrating World Book Day with a BIG party in Derby Market Hall tomorrow, Saturday 28 February from 10am to 3pm. The BIG Derby World Book Day Party will feature authors, illustrators and storytellers and offer opportunities for families to celebrate books together. Entry to the Market Hall is FREE but Derby World Book Day workshops are ticketed and cost £5. Some workshops have already sold out, so please check online and book in advance. Every year children celebrate World Book Day in their schools – this year’s date is Thursday 5 March. Following the success of Derby Book Festival’s first World Book Day Celebration last year, we are welcoming families to join us to celebrate together with activities aimed at children 0-12 to enjoy with their adults. 2026 has been designated at the National Year of Reading and Derby Book Festival is one of their key supporters and will be holding events across the year to support their objectives. A mini-family festival in a day, the event will celebrate everything book-related. There will be a full line-up of fun activities and storytelling designed to entertain and delight. We will also be holding a Prize Raffle to win one of two sets of 10 children’s books. Some of the highlights include: Some of the stall holders will also be organising their own free activities on their stalls. The event is FREE but Derby Book Festival, which is a charity, is suggesting a donation of £3 from those who are able to support them, as well as supporting the World Book Day charity who will receive a share of the donations. Both of these charities are working to improve literacy rates and the enjoyment of books, by ‘Bringing Books To Life’. Professor Keith McLay, Chair of Derby Book Festival and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “World Book Day helps young people see reading as a source of joy, creativity, and opportunity – laying strong foundations for learning and personal growth. “Derby Book Festival is proud to be supporting the initiative with The BIG Derby World Book Day Party, and we are looking forward to welcoming families to Derby Market Hall for the event. “It is through events and reading initiatives that we can help to bridge literacy gaps and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience the joy and benefits of reading.” Derby Book Festival has a strong programme of events for children, families and schools as part of its community programme, in addition to its two annual festivals, with its Summer Festival held from 22 – 31 May 2026. Each year it organises Meet the Author events for Derby and Derbyshire primary and secondary schools, which last year reached over 9,000 pupils. The two primary events are held at Derby Theatre and live streamed to around 60 schools across the city and county. This year’s Meet the Author events will include the current Children’s Laureate, Frank Cottrell Boyce and author/illustrator Joe Todd- Stanton. Derby Book Festival is funded by Arts Council England and the University of Derby, with additional sponsorship from local businesses. 00
Treat mum this Mothers Day!
Celebrate Mother’s Day at Peak Edge Hotel This Mother’s Day, treat the extraordinary mothers in your life to a dining experience they’ll never forget. Breakfast and Bubbles for £35 per person or Mother’s Day Sunday lunch for £75 for 3 courses. Reserve your table today. 00
Looking for the perfect way to treat your mum this Mother’s Day?
We have got you covered here at QUAD Derby, with feel good fun, creativity and something sparkling on the side. Mamma Mia 15.03.26 15:00 Join us on Sunday 15th March at 15:00 for a special screening of the ABBA classic Mamma Mia. Set on a beautiful Greek island, this film follows a strong independent Mother preparing for her daughter’s wedding, but what she doesn’t know is that her daughter has invited three men from her mother’s past in hope to find her father… It’s funny, uplifting and full of songs you’ll be singing on the way home. A perfect mum–and–me cinema trip! Sip and Sculpt – Get Creative Together 13.03.26 19:00 If you fancy trying something hands – on, why not book onto our Sip and Sculpt. In this relaxed and fun session, artist Faye Lingham will guide you through a step-by-step guide on how to create your own designs using air – dry clay. No experience needed – just bring your creativity! Ticket price £26 per person (18+ only) includes: Exclusive Mother’s Day Drinks Offer Simply show your ticket at the bar between 13 – 15 March 2026 to redeem these offers… To make the weekend extra special, ticket holders for Mamma Mia! Or Sip and Sculpt can enjoy: Sold 18+ with valid proof of identification So, whether your mum loves singing along to Abba, getting creative with clay or simply enjoy a glass of bubbly together, QUAD is the place to celebrate this Mother’s Day. 00
New galleries reveal millions of years of Derbyshire’s archaeology and nature
Derby Museums will open their newest gallery on Saturday 28th February at the Museum and Art Gallery. ‘Unearthed’ marks a major redisplay of its archaeology and natural history collections and a significant refresh of some of the most popular spaces within the museum, some of which had not been overhauled in over 30 years. The redisplay has been made possible thanks to a grant of £249,795 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. ‘Unearthed’ combines objects from the museums’ archaeology and natural sciences collections which together span millions of years of history. Previously displayed in two separate galleries, the two collections explore the story of life in Derbyshire – how people have adapted to make this place their home, and how they have shaped the natural world to meet their needs. Visitors can see some of the most exciting objects in Derby Museums’ collection, including many objects never displayed before. Some highlights include Bronze Age finds recovered from the wetlands of the River Trent, Ice Age material from Creswell Crags, finds from Roman Derby, and internationally significant Viking material from Repton. The redisplay sees the return of visitor favourite specimens from the ‘Notice Nature, Feel Joy’ Gallery, alongside newly featured animals. Many were chosen in collaboration with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to represent current wildlife concerns and local nature recovery programmes, encouraging everyone to work towards a more nature-rich future. Specimens such as hedgehogs, a peregrine falcon and black grouse tell stories of conservation, whilst a beaver skull speaks to current reintroduction projects in Derbyshire. The new galleries are expected to welcome over 85,000 visitors annually, including thousands of schoolchildren. Sadie Scott, Project Manager for the Unearthed galleries, said: “The galleries were long overdue an update, with Archaeology having last been redeveloped in the late 80s, and the Nature Gallery last refurbished over 10 years ago. Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we have been able to bring these two much loved collections together into a brand-new gallery. Unearthed tells the story of people arriving and settling in Derby and Derbyshire and their relationship with the land and its nature. Through project labs, co-curation discussions and on-gallery exercises, visitors and volunteers made it clear that the new displays should focus on our local area, putting our histories and our landscapes into a wider national and global context. Hopefully this is what we have achieved with ‘Unearthed’. In partnership with local groups and universities we have been able to update our understanding of our collections and share this new information with visitors, as well as exploring contemporary societal challenges, such as the climate emergency. I hope the new displays will provoke joy and conversation for years to come!” The beloved Mr Fox, admired by thousands of visitors over the years, will now be retired. A badger will take his place. Badgers first came to the UK over half a million years ago and will have witnessed many of the changes humans have made to our Derbyshire landscape. For this reason, the badger makes the perfect mascot for Unearthed. Like the fox, the badger has been sourced from ethical taxidermist Jazmine Miles-Long and will be on-gallery for gentle strokes. In collaboration with various partners, the Workshop team at the Museum of Making have produced a series of interactive activities to enable visitors to get hands on with the displays. Visitors can touch a replica Bronze Age spearhead, examine enlarged bronze casts of ancient coins, and feel a replica mammoth tooth. For the first time, people can immerse themselves in a sit-in section of the Bronze Age logboat, and perhaps imagine themselves paddling down the River Trent as the boat’s passengers may have done many years ago. Gillian Patrick, Derby Museums’ Workshop and Studio Manager, said: “The items we have reproduced help make our history more immediate and real. It is really special, and quite unique, to have the facilities to recreate these physical objects from the past, make them tangible and put them into the hands of our visitors. We used a wide range of materials and processes in their production, finding ways to enable visitors to engage further with the displays. Modern technologies have allowed us to reproduce objects with great accuracy enabling us to feel the marks of the crafts person’s hands – or tools – that created the original, and to understand the skill involved in their production and use. I hope these objects allow a deeper connection to who, how or what formed them.” This project was made possible thanks to a grant of £249,795 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which supported organisations to become more resilient and open up their collections by using them to tell the stories of people across the UK. ‘Unearthed’ opens on Saturday 28th February at Derby Museum and Art Gallery and is part of the permanent displays of Derby Museums. Entry to the museum is FREE – Give What You Think, with visitors asked to donate if they are able. https://derbymuseums.org/news/new-galleries-reveal-millions-of-years-of-derbyshires-archaeology-and-nature 00
Hedgerow Heroes plant 2km of new hedgerows
As part of the Campaign to Protect Rural England’s centenary project to plant 100 miles of new hedgerows during 2026, regional sustainability charity Groundwork Five Counties has been working with CPRE Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and local volunteers to plant and restore 2km of new hedgerows in Derbyshire. Thirteen planting sessions in March are still available to participate in. The UK is reported to have lost up to 50% of since WW2 – more than the length of our country’s entire road system. Andrea Watwood, Vice Chair of CPRE Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, says: “Hedgerows are a living legacy and are fundamental to the character and function of our countryside. As well as shaping our landscapes, hedgerows help fight climate change by capturing and storing carbon, provide shelter and shade for livestock, mitigate flooding and support more than 2,000 species. “Our volunteer-led Hedgerow Heroes project has been running since November with great success and we are on track to deliver over 2,000 meters of new hedgerow by the end of March.” Rish Mills, Environment Delivery Manager at Groundwork Five Counties, says: “You can help us to look after our fantastic countryside, gain valuable green skills, learn about hedgerows, and meet like-minded people. “We welcome people of all ages and abilities to become a Hedgerow Hero. For instance, a group of primary school children joined us who were very excited to get their hands mucky. They did a fantastic job and had a lovely day out of the classroom!” Over the past months, Rish and his team of habitat management experts have been joined by dozens of Derbyshire locals to plant hedgerow whips. These will grow 1 – 2 feet per year, so will be fully grown in just a few short years. There are a number of planting sessions that residents and local community groups can participate in: Shirland (DE55): Monday 2nd – Friday 6th March, Smalley (DE7): Monday 16th – Tuesday 17th March, Wirksworth (DE4): Tuesday 17th – Friday 20th March, Chesterfield (S42): Tuesday 24th, Friday 27th and Tuesday 31st March. All sessions are 9:30am – 3pm and volunteers can attend one or multiple days. For more information about the project and to sign up, visit: https://www.groundwork.org.uk/gwfc-hedgerow or https://www.cprederbyshire.org.uk 00
Misfits Boxing returns to Vaillant Live with a bang!
Derby’s Ty Mitchell faces the toughest test of his career when he takes on the legendary Gabe Rosado on 7 March 2026 at Vaillant Live, Derby. Misfits Boxing delivers Misfits Duel 2 at Vaillant Live next month with Mitchell v Rosado headlining a knockout card. Rosado is the tough-as-nails American who has challenged the best middleweights of his generation, but in the stylish Mitchell he faces a rising force who will have a frenzied home support on his side, backing their man to take a huge scalp. A scintillating undercard, packed with sporting icons, celebrities and influencers, makes this a night not to be missed. Diversity’s Jordan Banjo returns to Derby’s home of live entertainment and event, following last year’s Misfits debut, to take on Tempo Arts in a heavyweight humdinger. For tickets, head to vaillantlive.co.uk. 00
Derby Farmers’ Market returns to Derby Market Hall on February 22
Derby Market Hall is preparing to welcome back food lovers from across the region as its monthly Farmers’ Market returns on Sunday 22 February. After a hugely successful debut in January that attracted thousands of visitors, the event is set to once again showcase an outstanding selection of local growers, makers and independent food businesses. Organised in collaboration with Derby Market Hall, the event is all about bringing people together to enjoy the best of local food and drink. Visitors can again expect a friendly, lively atmosphere, with stalls offering high-quality produce, handcrafted treats and a wide variety of flavours that highlight the talent and creativity of traders from our local region. The February market will feature various new stallholders alongside returning favourites, giving shoppers even more to explore and discover. The event has been welcomed by the Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District (BID). Brad Worley, manager for the Cathedral Quarter BID, said: “We are so happy to see the Farmers Market arrive at the Market Hall. After it opened to the public in May, it is great to see it being used to hold these events.” A brand- new Tasting Passport experience will also be launched, with 250 passports available on a first-come, first served basis, that will allow the recipients to follow a tasting trail around the market and enjoy complimentary samples from participating traders. Completed passports can then be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 Derby Market Hall voucher. The passports will be available to claim at Snap & Chat Connect on the Market Hall Balcony and can be handed in at Vintage and Vinyl, also located on the balcony. The market will also be holding a raffle on the day for a special Farmers’ Market Goodie Box filled with delicious products donated by traders, giving visitors another chance to take home a selection of locally produced treats with all proceeds from the raffle going to the Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance. 00
Local Chief Constable retirement announcement
Derbyshire’s Chief Constable, Rachel Swann, has announced her decision to retire from her role, and has been overseeing policing in Derbyshire since August 2020, will leave the force on 10 May 2026. Speaking of her decision, she said: “Policing has been such a huge part of my life for over 30 years, and serving the communities of Derbyshire has been the greatest privilege of my career. “I have had the fortune of working across the East Midlands, starting out and rising through the ranks at Leicestershire Police, then serving as Assistant Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable in Northamptonshire, before moving to Derbyshire in 2019, where I led the multi-agency response to the Toddbrook Reservoir collapse at Whaley Bridge, one of the largest emergency evacuations in peacetime across the United Kingdom. “In 2020, I became the first female to hold the position of Chief Constable at Derbyshire, an extremely proud moment. “I have always sought for us to put victims at the heart of everything we do, and to provide a consistently good service to the public. Working with our partners to address serious and organised crime, safeguard the most vulnerable, support neighbourhoods, or respond to major incidents, together we have achieved a lot to be proud of. “The officers, staff and volunteers serving the communities of Derbyshire do their best to improve the lives of those we serve, running towards danger and responding in extremely challenging circumstances. “Whatever they face, Derbyshire’s strength has always come from its people. The bravery, the dedication, the commitment to help others – policing really is a job like no other. “As I look ahead to the next chapter, I am proud of all that we have achieved together, and I am confident that these strong foundations will provide a solid platform for the future, to help Derbyshire communities to flourish and to keep people safe and. It has been an absolute privilege.” During her time as Derbyshire Police’s Deputy Chief Constable, Rachel Swann led the evacuation of 1,600 residents from Whaley Bridge after concerns were raised about the stability of Toddbrook Reservoir. As part of the emergency response, she briefed the Cabinet at daily COBRA meetings — the government’s crisis committee convened during national emergencies. We reported on the extraordinary circumstances in full in our September 2020 feature on the Whaley Bridge evacuation. 00
Jimmy Carr announces second show at Vaillant Live!
Tickets have sold so quickly for his first show that Jimmy Carr is now doing a second show on 4th September 2026, but this time at 9:30pm! Jimmy tells jokes, and jokes are like magnets. Jokes attract some people, but they can also repel. Some people are repelled by Jimmy’s dark brand of comedy. This show is not for them. But if it’s the kind of thing you like, then this is the kind of thing you’ll like. A household name in the UK and one of the biggest selling comedians in the world, Jimmy consistently performs to capacity crowds around the globe. His last tour, Terribly Funny, was seen by over 1.2 million people in 45 different countries, as far as we know, making it the biggest international stand-up tour ever. Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny will extend his reach even further and mark the first time this record-breaking comedian has toured in arenas in the UK and Ireland. Tickets are on sale now from vaillantlive.co.uk “A comedy hero for our times”The Guardian “Jimmy Carr is a world-class comedian”The Independent _______________________________________________________________ 00
