Grounds for pleasure
Abigail's Park playground in Tideswell is about to benefit from an £82,000 grant which will enable complete revitalisation of this popular children's facility. Regional employer Tarmac has made the award from its Landfill Communities Fund and the money will be used to replace all of the 20-years-old play equipment and redevelop the grounds.
Fountain Square dedication
The new buildings at Fountain Square in Tideswell have been dedicated at a special service led by the Chair of the Sheffield District of the Methodist Church and Moderator of the United Reform Church's East Midlands synod. Extensions and refurbishment cost over £800,000.
Final book
Trevor Hall, who died in July aged 92, has had his last book published, another tribute to Tideswell and district's servicemen and women. Called 'Khaki & Two Shades of Grey', it is on sale locally and all proceeds after costs will go to charity.
Combatting speedsters
Tideswell Parish Council has been exploring a neighbourhood initiative called Community Speedwatch and now seeks volunteers. Training to use speed guns and record findings takes about an hour.
Tourism is flourishing
Statistics released recently show that tourism across Derbyshire, mainly in the Peak District, is going from strength to strength. More people are choosing to visit, staying longer and spending more.

December's The Village Voice is another 32 colourful pages of news, features, photos and advertising messages. You can receive your monthly copy in electronic format. Go to news@villagevoicetidza.uk or use the Response Form.

Community cheers
Tideswell's annual community awards were presented before a large gathering during October. Parish Council chair Russell Andrew handed over the award certificates to the group winners and 11 individuals recognised for the outstanding contributions they have made during 2019.
Post Office expected to return
Presuming that all goes to plan, Tideswell will have a Post Office again early next year. Negotiations and paperwork have been completed for the conversion of the rear of H&D Bistro in the village's Queen Street. The previous Post Office closed down in September.
Latest buses blow
Local bus operator Hulley's of Baslow is about to withdraw its services 66 and 66A between Buxton and Chesterfield, running through Tideswell, Great Hucklow and Foolow. The routes will disappear in early November.
Changes to landscapes protection
An independent review of the national parks and areas of outstanding beauty has resulted in a report stating that governance should be reorganised and management strengthened. Peak District National Park officers have accepted the recommendations.
Sea songs
Tideswell Male Voice Choir took new musical director Alison Wheeldon with them for a series of concerts given recently on board luxury cruise liner MV Balmoral, sailing between the UK and Scandinavia.

November's The Village Voice is packed with news, features, photos and advertising messages. You can receive yours by email. Go to news@villagevoicetidza.uk or use the Response Form.

Thirty years of care
Blythe House Hospicecare is celebrating 30 years of providing end-of-life care across the Peaks and Dales. A team of 60 staff and an army of over 300 volunteers carry out the free services, with nearly £1 million from fundraising and its shops helping to make it possible over the last 12 months.
Busy outdoors
Peak District National Park Authority organises many outdoor events and activities within easy reach of Tideswell and its neighbours. This month's schedule starts with a practical field session to identify and handle small mammals, finishing with a Halloween-themed craft and nature day at Castleton.
Historic project underway
Work has started on a £320,000 restoration of the historic railway goods station at Millers Dale. It will become an interpretation facility for visitors, telling of the shed's working past and pointing to nearby attractions.
Championing wildlife ideas
A newly-completed local survey of sightings of hedgehogs, owls and swifts by the Tideswell & District Environment Group has resulted in the publishing of a set of ideas to help make people more aware and bring about improvements for wildlife generally.
Snow call
Volunteers are being invited to get ready for snow clearing from roads and pavements this winter. Derbyshire County Council wants to hear from residents and farmers willing to join its Snow Warden scheme.
October's The Village Voice is packed with news, features, photos and advertising messages. You can receive yours by email. Go to news@villagevoicetidza.uk.

Library's future
Derbyshire County Council has confirmed that a group of volunteers has successfully completed the first stage of a process to take over Tideswell Library, which has been threatened with closure. If the group's business plan meets County Council criteria, running of the Library will be passed across, although it is expected to be a lengthy process.
Memorial cash
The Duke of Devonshire Trust has given a grant of £3,000 towards the Tideswell War Memorial restoration appeal. With an initial fundraising target of nearly £20,000 there has been a steady stream of support, enabling phase one to be completed. The next phase will involve the creation of a remembrance garden.
Healthy Litton
Litton School has had its work in promoting health and wellbeing recognised, by gaining the Derbyshire Healthy Schools award.
Another last night
It will soon be time for another of Tideswell & District Community Association's popular 'Last Night of the Proms' concerts from the Cathedral of the Peak. This year's musical extravaganza is being organised for Saturday 28th, starting at 7.30pm.
Academy kicks off
Term time will be starting soon at the new Buxton FC Academy. Around 25 boys aged 16-18 have passed their football trials and reached the necessary education standards to be part of the scheme, on their way to a Level 3 Diploma in Sports.
September's The Village Voice comprises 32 full-colour pages of news, features, photos and advertising messages. You can receive yours by email through news@villagevoicetidza.uk.

Tideswell PO shock
The village Post Office and convenience store will close on September 19 unless a buyer can be found. Up for sale since 2016, the asking price has been reduced significantly, but viewings have failed to produce firm offers and nobody at all has asked to look around recently. The postmaster and his wife have decided to retire anyway.
New environment group
The newly formed Tideswell & District Environment Group has sub-divided its activities into five separate project teams. There is a business environmental forum and groups for ethical consumerism, litter picking, recycling, and wildlife protection and improvement.
Hanging about
You don't expect to see a Church of England Bishop hanging from a rope, way up in the air. Unless you were in Tideswell mid-July. Bishop Jan MacFarlane jumped off first in the 'Great St John's Tower Indoor Abseil', followed by local vicar Simon White and eager participants willing to support fundraising for repairs and upgrades to the Cathedral of the Peak.
One million for starters
Challenge Derbyshire expects to have raised £1 million for its three end-of-life care charities early next year, if not before. Founded and operated without charge by local business Markovitz, also involving a string of other companies, the funds go straight to Ashgate Hospicecare, Blythe House Hospice and Helen's Trust.
Celebrity chefs
Star TV chefs Mary Berry, James Martin and the Hairy Bikers have been booked to showcase their talents in the kitchen at Chatsworth Country Fair, starting on the 30th of this month.
The August edition of The Village Voice is 32 full-colour pages of news, features, photos and advertising messages. Request an electronic copy by email at news@villagevoicetidza.uk.

Artistry by tradition
Well dressing in Tideswell restarted after the Second World War, but the Peak District custom dates back to at least Roman times. This year's main well dressing, designed by Elaine Chapman, depicted Whitby Abbey and surroundings. Only natural vegetation is used for these fascinating, fabulous, large-scale works of art.
Official launch of Friends of St John's
The launch of fund-raising Friends of St John's on the 14th of this month is scheduled to be a day of friendship and fun. As part of activities, all in aid of urgent repairs and renewals to the church, the Bishop of Repton, Right Reverend Jan MacFarlane, will be joined by local vicar Reverend Simon White in absailing 40 feet down the inside of the tower.
Seeing red
Tideswell's history box has been given a fresh lick of paint. When visitors enter the former GPO, then BT, red phone box a sensor activates and the phone rings. Once the receiver is lifted there is access to a large collection of oral stories about the village's past.
Dementia friendly surgery
Tideswell Surgery has been awarded a complete dementia friendly rating by the Alzheimer's Society. It was necessary to review day-to-day practices, provide extra staff training and work through a toolkit prepared by the Dementia Action Alliance.
Rare birds return
For the second year running a pair of rare hen harriers have returned to nearby moors for breeding. Threatened with extinction, hen harriers are famed for their dramatic mating dances in the sky.
July's The Village Voice comprises 32 full-colour pages of news, features, photos and advertising messages. Request your electronic copy by email through news@villagevoicetidza.uk.

Cathedral needs a million
Urgent work is required at the church of St John the Baptist in Tideswell in order to make it waterproof. The Cathedral of the Peak's roof leading, gutters, turrets and pinnacles need early attention and further problems relate to the fabric of the tower, electrics, and access to the toilets and kitchen. In total £1 million is going to be needed and schemes for raising cash will be launched in July.
Fine weather for finest of foods
The ninth Tideswell Food Festival last month drew the crowds, welcoming intermittent sunshine to offset a day-long breeze. There was delightful food from around the world and closer to home, added to wide-ranging craft work at the makers' market in St John's Church.
Help for village halls
Village hall committees can apply for cash help with refurbishments, alterations and extensions from a new £3 million fund being administered by Action With Communities In Rural England.
Costly rubbish
Peak District National Park rubbish is costing £37,000 a year to collect. Rangers at Peak District sites such as car parks and visitor centres have to pick up more than 60 tonnes of trash per year.
Check your gold
From the start of next month, new ticket machines on local buses will be able to inspect the validity of Derbyshire Gold Cards. When up-to-date, Gold Cards enable holders to travel free on off-peak buses, are library cards and facilitate discounts at around 700 shops and other service points.
June's edition runs to 32 pages in full colour and can be sent to you electronically. Ask for yours via news@villagevoicetidza.uk.

Thanks 200,000 times
Tideswell business Markovitz hosted the handing over of cheques totalling £200,000 to the three #Challenge Derbyshire health charities in April. The money raised has gone to Ashgate Hospicecare (£140K), Blythe House Hospice (£40K) and Helen's Trust (£20k). These are the charities that benefit from #Challenge Derbyshire, a Markovitz initiative founded in 2015.
Memorial restoration
The Tideswell War Memorial, erected nearly 100 years ago, requires financial input for much-needed repairs and refurbishment. A fund-raising appeal is being launched by the Parish Council, with a target that is not far short of £20,000. The overall cost will be £30,000. A grant of £10,590 is coming from the War Memorial Trust, leaving the balance to be found locally.
A new hall for all
The plans are approved, the core money has been raised, architects appointed, and Tideswell and its neighbours are on course for a brand new activities hall to replace the community building destroyed by fire four years ago.
Shadows of the past
The Wakes Week exhibition at St John's Church this June will take an historical look at the famous church through the lives of some of the people who have been connected with it down the years, going back centuries and returning right up to recent times.
Millers Dale facility open
The refurbished Peak District Park Authority Millers Dale information centre with refreshment room is now open. The opening hours are 9.30am to 5.30pm.
The full edition runs to 32 pages and is available electronically. Request your copy at news@villagevoicetidza.uk.

Spring into summer
Tideswell's summer programme of events will be underway shortly. Always, the highlight is the Tidza Wakes Festival in June, a hive of activities and celebrations for young and old, residents and visitors. It culminates in a colourful carnival parade and evening torchlight procession.
Speed warnings
On police advice, Litton Parish Council has decided to try speed guns as a deterrent to motorists who drive too fast through the village. Monitoring should start this month.
Getting there
Tideswell & District Sports Association has joined with Derwent Valley Orienteers to mount an outdoor activity session aimed at helping 7-11 year olds to use maps and electronic devices for navigating in the countryside.
Costing you more
Council tax bills are going up from this month, with Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Dales and High Peak Districts, Derbyshire Police and the Parishes taking more. The bulk goes on County Council services, around 70%, with the second highest spend being made by the Police Authority at 12%, marginally ahead of the District Councils. On average, Parish Councils account for 3% of the total.
Responders required
Tideswell Community First Responders are hoping to expand their number of volunteers. Trained by East Midlands Ambulance Service, the First Responders aim to reach any life-threatening emergency in the vital minutes before the ambulance arrives.
The full edition runs to 32 pages and is available digitally on request at news@villagevoicetidza.uk.

Quality education
Bishop Pursglove C of E School in Tideswell has been described by Ofsted as "maintaining the good quality of education since the last inspection" after a rigorous evaluation, concluding that standards continue to be high. Voluntary aided Bishop Pursglove School promotes a three-point mission statement: "Reach higher, think deeper, love wider."
In the top 10
Our villages are among the best places in the country to live. That's according to the latest Halifax Quality of Life Index, which has moved Derbyshire Dales up to tenth in the national rankings. The survey took into account a range of factors, including housing, the environment, education, health, leisure, personal well-being and the local labour market.
Youngsters on patrol
Opportunities beckon for young people to become junior rangers with the Peak District National Park. The scheme is for volunteers aged 11-18 with a keen interest in the countryside. They will work alongside full-time rangers on practical tasks and learning new skills.
Litton music and drama
Whether you are a classical buff, into folk music, or like a slice of satirical drama, you had better head to Litton this year. The internationally recognised Collingwood String Quartet will give three concerts, folk singers and instrumentalists Chanter's Jigge return, and there will be a performance of James Carey's new play, 'The Turbulent Priest'.
Millions to improve roads
Government has awarded Derbyshire County Council an extra £8.4 million to fix more potholes, resurface country lanes, rebuild retaining walls and sort out drains.
The full 32-pages edition is available digitally on request through news@villagevoicetidza.uk.

Library's future in balance
The future of Tideswell Library hangs in the balance. Derbyshire County Council has announced that Tideswell is one of 20 libraries scheduled for transfer to communities, provided that local people can come up with workable business plans. Volunteers must rise to the challenge quickly or the library will be closed down.
Food Festival in May
The prestigious annual Tideswell Food Festival will take place on Saturday, May 4. At least 70 food and drinks stalls are expected at what will be the ninth event and an artisan makers' market will be featured in St John's Church.
Lock those farm gates
Derbyshire Police have urged local farmers to keep their gates closed, to paint post codes on portable items and employ covert wildlife cameras in order to capture thieves in the act. Farmers have also been advised to fit tracking devices to their tractors and quad bikes.
New facility almost ready
Fountain Square Church in Tideswell, with substantial extensions and refurbishment at a cost of more than £800,000, is about to open again for worship and general community use. There are two large halls, a meeting room, cafe-style atrium, high-specification kitchen and new toilets.
Bronte connections
Tideswell Local History Group's most recent guest speaker Ellen Outram enlightened her audience about author Charlotte Bronte's many area connections, especially in and around Hathersage.
Another edition packed with news and features: available digitally on request via news@villagevoicetidza.uk.

Waste decisions
Fortnightly collections of waste and recyclables will continue at least until 2024. Weekly food arrangements will also be unchanged. The status quo vote was unanimous at a specially convened meeting of Derbyshire Dales District Council.
Defibrillator good news
There was much concern when the defibrillator kit outside Tideswell Co-op disappeared suddenly. A new one emerged inside the shop, only available during opening times. Life-threatening heart problems do not keep shop hours. The Tideswell & District Community Association has rushed to the rescue. It has repositioned the original defibrillator further up Commercial Road and two more are on order. The George Inn is considering purchasing another.
Five ways to wellbeing
The grants scheme called 'Five Ways To Wellbeing' run by Derbyshire Dales Council for Voluntary Service is open for applications until the end of this month. Voluntary or community groups can apply for assistance of up to £1,000.
Surgery is first-class
Tideswell Surgery has been rated as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission following a recent inspection. That places the surgery in the top 4% of medical practices in the country.
Alarms views sought
Possible changes to how older and vulnerable people are supported to live at home by Derbyshire County Council have gone out for consultation. The closing date for responses is January 25.
First edition of The Village Voice printed in full colour: available digitally on request via news@villagevoicetidza.uk.