It started off with what was going to be a small craft event called Marvellous Hands on Saturday 3rd. The idea was for a few local friends to show off their skills in the David Trickett Meeting Room. In the end, every available space was booked and over 150 people came to look and buy. This will become a monthly event; the next one is on 7th April.
The following day, the Trust hosted over forty people attending a meeting of the Northern Canals Association.
On Wednesday 7th, there was a concert featuring a group called Hérétique which features an energetic mix of vocals, accordion, bagpipes, hurdy gurdy, guitar and recorder. They went down a storm with the delighted, sell-out audience.
Coming up on 17th and 18th March, will be a Table Top sale. For further details of this and Marvellous Hands, contact Eva Thompson on 0114 247 3932.
Later in the month, the Trust has its Annual General Meeting and another concert featuring Hilary James and Simon Mayor which has already sold out. Also scheduled are visits from the Marple Vision Partnership and the Big Lottery Fund, plus a film crew and of course the usual round of meetings and other Trust activities.
In addition, the Trust’s Work Party have been busy scrub bashing and generally tidying up the area. Contractors for Derbyshire County Council are resurfacing the towpath. New signs for the Hub should be arriving at any moment. The gardening crew are busy weeding and planting ready for the new season. Nona’s Coffee Shop seems to get busier every day. The Coal Authority has been tidying up the entrance to the underground Hollingwood Common Canal.
All in all, this is a hectic, but enjoyable, month.
All the while, preparations are continuing for the Chesterfield Canal Festival which will be held at the new Staveley Town Basin on 30th June and 1st July. There will be a major concert on the Saturday night featuring the Swing Commanders. The Festival will be formally opened by the Duke of Devonshire and will run in conjunction with a Family Fun Day at Barrow Hill Roundhouse.
For further information about any Chesterfield Canal Trust activities, ring 01246 477569.
