FOR the past 60 years, Vera Hill has stood side by side with the women of Little Eaton Women's Institute and sung Jerusalem.

But this week, at the age of 91, she looked out across the green and pleasant land of the village's cricket pitch and sang those two verses for the final time.

After moving to the village in 1947 from Shropshire, she did not join the WI straight away.

Vera, who still lives in the village, said: "I came up here as my husband's family are all from here. I was a postwoman in the village and I got to know everybody. I was told that I should join and eventually I did."

Vera, who has three sons and four grandsons, never looked back. She started a craft group which she ran for 56 years after she began art classes at Green Lane Art College.

A member wanted Vera to teach them how to paint and that was how the craft group started which she ran for 56 years.

She said: "To begin with, we had a lot of people who attended church so we made kneelers. We had more than 20 members and we would do painting and needlework.

"What we did in the classes has stayed much the same for the past 60 years."

There have been changes to the group which Vera remembers used to enter the Bakewell show each year.

She said: "We used to enter into the county show every year and we won the cup once as well."

Earlier this year Vera decided to stop the craft group and on Wednesday said goodbye to the ladies at her final meeting. She said: "Numbers dwindled and it died a natural death really."

At the meeting of the group, which celebrates its 92nd birthday this year, Vera was praised for her hard work. She was presented with a card, an orchid and a bunch of sweet peas.

Branch president Barbara Adams said: "Vera is a lady of many talents, making costumes and props for concerts and helping with the carnival floats. For many years she ran the cake stall at the carnival, not only manning it but also doing a tremendous amount of baking.

"Her baking is to die for. My family never knew what shop bought marmalade or jam was because ours was always from Vera who used to sell them at meetings.

"We know it was a difficult decision to call a halt to the craft class after so many years but have all learned such a lot from Vera."

And for Vera, village life has changed little. She said: "It is much the same as when I moved here. Really there are just a lot of very lovely people here. I will miss them but I am winding down now.''

A THIRD person has been arrested in connection with a knife attack at a Derby park. A 22-year-old Derby man was arrested, adding to the arrests of two teenagers following the assault in Arboretum Park. A 24-year-old man was on Wednesday morning still in a stable condition at the Royal Derby Hospital after being stabbed once in the chest.

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Two teenagers, both 16, were arrested on Wednesday and are still being questioned by police CID officers.

The assault happened at 5.30pm on Tuesday and Arboretum Park was cordoned off while scenes-of-crime officers investigated.

The park was closed until early Wednesday afternoon.

Inspector Richard Keene, in charge of policing in the area, said: "We would like to remind local residents that this was very much an isolated incident.

"We have put on extra patrols to reassure the public that this type of criminality is not accepted in any shape or form."

Park users expressed their shock.

Zeb Aurand, 60, lives in Loudon Street, close to one of the entrances to the park.

He said: "My wife went out and saw all of the police activity. There were three or four police cars and probably 20 officers.

"She said they were stopping everyone trying to get in to the park and asking them if they had seen anything. It's alarming to hear there has been a stabbing."

Paul Mees, 51, lives in Osmaston Road and walks his dog on the park every day.

He said: "I tried to cycle through the park at 8.30am on Wednesday but the gates were all cordoned off and there were police inside the park.

"It is mad, terrible to hear that someone has been stabbed."

Mick McNaught is the Arboretum park manager for Derby City Council, which owns the park.

He said: "I was here until 11pm on Tuesday night after the police shut the park to do their investigation and I was told I could not open up again until later on Wednesday when all of their work was complete.

"I know the victim. He is a regular park user."

And another park user, who did not want to be named, said he too had been assaulted while he walked there.

The man said: "I was hit around the head by someone carrying a beer can.

"It's the sun and the beer, it sends people mad."

Councillor Fareed Hussain is the Mayor of Derby and also represents Arboretum Ward on Derby City Council.

He said: "It is a very unusual thing to happen and I think it will scare some people and make them uneasy about letting their children play in the park."

And Councillor Gulfraz Nawaz, who also represents Arboretum Ward, said: "I was shocked. This sort of incident does not happen in this part of Derby."

After she was diagnosed with a fatal brain tumour, 26-year-old Gemma Oliver set out to enjoy her last months with her family, doing all her favourite things one last time. Chris Jones reports.

RISING from the seat of her wheelchair, Gemma Oliver stepped slowly forward on to the soft sands of the beach and looked out across the sea for the final time.

As she took some small, unsteady steps, feeling the give of the grains beneath her shoes, she knew she would never again catch the whip and sting of a seaside breeze or hear the soft crash of surf upon the shore.

So she took it all in deeply.

The 26-year-old knew that she would not live out the year. But despite this, she was happy.

Inside her head a brain tumour was growing, soon to be joined by another and one more, and the sharp intelligence which had won her a good job with bright prospects was soon to falter, as her body succumbed.

But for now, this was perfect. With her family beside her and the savoury taste of fish and chips still clinging to her lips, Gemma looked out across the seafront of Whitby and smiled.

Her brother, Richard, said the trip was one of the things Gemma had wanted to do after finding out she had a terminal growth in June 2012.

The 28-year-old, of Belper, said the diagnosis had come as a devastating shock.

He said: "It all happened so quickly. Gemma was healthy, happy and successful. She had a job at Cooper Parry, as an accountant and she was happy with her partner, Morgan Bertin.

"For the last year or so, she had suffered from fatigue but it's not something you immediately start worrying about.

"Then she started to complain of getting headaches. I told her not to worry and calm down at first but, luckily, she ignored her brother.

"She went to the doctors, some tests were carried out, and they found a golf ball-sized tumour on her brain."

Within a few days, Gemma had undergone an operation to tackle the tumour at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.

"It got rid of as much of the tumour as Gemma could have hoped for," said Richard. "But the bad news was that we were told it was a grade four tumour, which is the worst category. It meant we knew then that it would be terminal.

"It was horrible news which took us a long time to really understand. I was going to lose my sister, who I was so close to. And Mum was going to lose her daughter. And Gemma knew she was going to die. It's so hard to explain how all that felt."

From this point on, there was little which could realistically be done, but Richard said it did not stop Gemma trying.

He said: "She had another operation planned but doctors found a second tumour and then a third. And we even looked at treatment in America. But in the end we couldn't go."

It was at this time that Gemma started to make a small list of things she wanted to do with the time she had left. Richard said: "It wasn't a flashy, expensive list. It was just a few things which meant a lot to her and which she could do with her family and people she loved."

Gemma told her family – including mum Dorothy, dad Keith, brother Richard and sister Charlotte Forster – some of the things she wanted to do.

They included going to see Beyonce in concert, watching Richard's two-year-old son, Alfie, swim, going for a family meal, making a visit to France and a trip to the Whitby seaside.

Richard said: "In her life, she had spent a lot time in France and she loved it and wanted one chance to go back. In the end she was just too weak to go, but she did manage the trip to Whitby.

"It was somewhere she had gone with Morgan and wanted to go back, somewhere she had loved. My wife, Emily, and I took her to see Beyonce in Manchester and it was worth it to see her dancing again.

"She also wanted to go to Longleat Safari Park, in Wiltshire, to see some animals there but again, she was just too ill to go in the end."

But despite managing to fill her final year with friends, family and fun, Richard said his sister still went through moments of despair.

He said: "She was young, healthy and bright. She didn't smoke, never drank to excess. And yet this was happening to her, really happening. She had times where she said she felt she had been dealt a bad hand and that was hard. But she never got angry. She just came back with determination to enjoy her time.

"She had to pack the life she had missed out on into her last few months. It was so inspiring."

Gemma died on June 14. Towards the end of her life she spent a lot of time at Rainbows Hospice, in Loughborough, which gave her end-of-life care.

Richard said: "The staff at Rainbows went above and beyond. Even if we had been millionaires we could not have paid for better care. The nurses attended to everything, for Gemma and for us. We were there at the last moments, when she took her last breath, and being able to do that as a family was hard but we were so thankful to be able to do it."

He said he and his parents were still coming to terms with Gemma's death.

"What do you do when you lose someone that close? It's so hard to believe it has happened, that there won't be another Christmas with her, that I won't get to talk to her any more.

"And it comes through sometimes, the truth, like that. She has gone. But then I realise that she will always, to us, be that young, beautiful, bright Gemma, for as long as we live."

Her funeral was held at St Michael's Church, Holbrook, with more than 140 people attending, helping to raise more than £2,500 for Rainbows as a result.

Danny Parker, head of audit at Cooper Parry, paid tribute to Gemma.

He said: "Gemma was an incredible young woman and a real inspiration to anyone who knew her. She was an integral member of our audit team and had a great rapport with our clients.

"She had an exciting career ahead of her and will be sorely missed by everyone at Cooper Parry."

Anyone who wants to donate to the family's Rainbows fund should visit www.justgiving.com/in memoryofgemma.

POLICE have been given powers to disperse crowds of youths congregating in Spondon throughout the summer school holidays.

The so-called "section 30 dispersal order" has been put in place following residents' concerns about anti-social behaviour by large groups of young people, particularly around shops in Chapelside.

Additionally, metal studs have been fixed to a wall outside AW Lymm funeral parlour, one of the spots where gangs of young people have been reported gathering, drinking alcohol and causing a nuisance.

Paul Cannon, the new section inspector for the Derby North policing area which includes Spondon, said: "The history behind this is that we have received a number of calls to service in Spondon, particularly to the shops at Chapelside and Sitwell Street so much so that tackling anti-social behaviour there has been made one of the neighbourhood board's priorities.

"We do not want to come across as Draconian and we know that young people are by and large law-abiding, good citizens who need somewhere to meet their friends and socialise but, at the same time, we and the Spondon Neighbourhood Board have to act on complaints we get from local residents and so it was decided to apply for the section 30 dispersal order."

The order can only be authorised and put in place when a senior officer of the rank of superintendent or above has examined evidence presented by police officers.

The one that has been granted covers the whole of Spondon and gives the police the power to disperse groups of "two or more in a public place where their behaviour is likely to result in members of the public to feel intimidated, harassed, abused or distressed."

It also allows officers and police community support officers to order people who do not live in Spondon to leave the area and not return for up to 24 hours.

Insp Cannon said: "I think this is not without controversy and we do not want to marginalise young people. We want to work with young people in an educational way to explain to them how certain ways they behave can be disrupting in the neighbourhood.

"It is about striking the balance between the rights of young people to meet up with their friends and making sure they are able to do that without causing problems for those who live in the area."

The move has been welcomed by some people in Spondon. Mark King, 48, who lives in Chapel Street, said: "I don't think there is a huge problem with anti-social behaviour in Spondon but I do accept how some would be intimidated by large gangs of young people hanging around, maybe drinking and making a noise."

Joan Jackson, 72, who lives off Sitwell Street, said: "I can feel intimidated when I see groups of youths hanging around, but by and large they don't seem to cause a huge problem."

TOYOTA has revealed that it will use millions of pounds of Government cash so its Burnaston site can research and develop new cars.

At present, the Japanese firm's Derbyshire plant makes Auris and Avensis cars.

But the company is now planning to give Burnaston a research and development capability, which could create a number of hi-tech jobs.

In Europe, the majority of the firm's research and development is in Brussels.

But thanks to a £6.3 million grant from the Regional Development Fund, Toyota is planning to transfer some of this work to Burnaston.

Toyota pledged to match the funding "multiple" times to create the unit, which will develop new cars and work on prototype models.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg visited the plant to confirm the Government's cash contribution.

He was given a tour by deputy managing director Tony Walker, before taking part in a question and answer session with 100 staff.

Mr Walker said: "We want to bring a research and design capability to Burnaston. This will mean that we not only make the cars but that we also play a part in developing them before production."

Toyota said the Government cash will safeguard the jobs of 3,800 staff at the plant and an engine-making factory in North Wales. New positions could be created in research and development.

Mr Walker said: "Although it is difficult to say how many, this money should help bring high-quality, high-tech jobs to Burnaston. We are very grateful to this support from the UK Government, which can be very influential to Toyota's decision-makers in Japan."

Mr Clegg said that he hoped that the Government's investment in Toyota would ensure that the car manufacturer remained in Derbyshire for many years to come.

He said: "The Toyota factory is a great example of good old-fashioned manufacturing, for which Derby is famous, being put to contemporary use. I want to see more of that."

Mr Clegg also visited Rolls-Royce in the city, where he toured the firm's operations, including its £6 million Apprentice Academy.

AS well as the Government's cash windfall, staff at Toyota's Burnaston plant had another reason to celebrate this week following the release of the car manufacturer's latest European sales figures.

Toyota makes two models at Burnaston – the Auris and the Avensis – and 85% of vehicles produced in Derbyshire are exported to mainland Europe.

According to the firm's sales figures for the first half of this year, 62,256 Auris cars were sold, which is 39.2% up on the same period last year.

The sales performance was driven primarily by the launch of an all-new model Auris, which Burnaston started making towards the end of last year.

Toyota's hybrid version of the Auris is proving particularly popular.

Powered by a combination of petrol and electricity, Toyota increased sales of the more economical version of the Auris by 61.4% since the start of the year, selling 22,494.

Toyota is hoping to continue that momentum with an estate version of the Auris, called the Auris Touring Sports, which went on sale at the start of this month.

Daniele Schillaci, Toyota Motor Europe's senior vice-president for sales and marketing, said: "The performance of our Auris and Auris Hybrid is particularly encouraging, with sales increasing by around 40% every quarter, while the market remained flat.

"With the launch of the Toyota Auris Touring Sports, Auris Hybrid Touring Sports and the world's best-selling car, the Toyota Corolla, we expect a strong finish to the year."

A DERBY-BASED teaching union is urging people to oppose proposed £6,000 pay rises for MPs.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has made the recommendation that, after the next General Election, MPs' pay should rise from £68,000 to £74,000.

But Voice: the union for education professionals, based in Friar Gate, has condemned the recommendations.

General secretary Deborah Lawson said: "This is outrageous, insensitive and an insult to everyone who works in the public sector. The standards authority has demonstrated an appalling standard of judgment.

"It beggars belief that they could recommend such an increase at a time when politicians are preaching austerity and the public sector has had to endure cuts, closures, redundancies, pay freezes or wage increases of just 1%.

"Teachers' pay, for example, has fallen by 12% in real terms over the last five years. I urge everybody reading this to take part in the public consultation on the proposals and let the standards authority know what they think."

The watchdog is to consult on the rise but MPs cannot block it because they handed control of the decision to the independent body in the wake of the 2009 expenses scandal.

The proposals also include a new pension moving from a final-salary to career-average scheme, which it says will save taxpayers nearly £2.5m a year.

The authority also said perks such as meal allowances and taxis should be cut.

Heather Wheeler, MP for South Derbyshire, said she would "abide by the rules" if her pay was increased by £6,000 from 2015.

She said: " The suggestions on pay, pensions, general remuneration and expenses come from this independent body and are absolutely nothing to do with MPs.

"No MP wants to be involved in setting their own pay and I am sure your readers will have views on this. I would urge them to get involved in the consultation."

MP for Mid Derbyshire Pauline Latham said she could not comment because "there is nothing on the table".

She said: "If and when we get an offer I might be prepared to comment."

The Derby Telegraph contacted six other MPs from the area but none of them returned our calls.

THE anthem of his favourite football club was played, his father told moving anecdotes from his life and one of the flower arrangements was in the shape of a rugby ball.

It was every inch the "jolly funeral" that teenager Joseph Cooper had asked his parents to give him – in the letter he wrote to them before he died.

And, in fulfilling his son's final wishes, dad Mark told the packed congregation at Derby's Community Church: "This is not a standard funeral – this is Joseph's funeral."

The courageous 14-year-old had twice fought cancer and was in remission – but constant complications meant he was often in hospital.

Last month, his parents made the difficult decision to turn off the ventilator on which he had spent two weeks.

But Joseph, of Castle Donington, had left Mark – who is himself fighting cancer for a sixth time – and mum Tracy a letter, which said how he "went down fighting" and gave instructions on how he should be buried.

Even the sunny weather seemed to respond to his request for a cheerful service, as Joseph's coffin arrived at the church in Pride Park.

Its pastor, Simon Shaw, explained to the congregation how it was fitting Joseph's funeral was being held at the venue – as he had been a frequent visitor there on Sundays and "loved the band".

Songs to which Joseph liked to listen with his father were played by the church's musicians before the start.

This was followed by Run, sung by Leona Lewis – another of the teen's favourite tunes – as the coffin was carried inside, followed closely by Mark, 51, and Tracy, 49.

The hymn How Great Thou Art and a reading of Psalm 23 – which begins "The Lord is My Shepherd" – followed, before Mark paid tribute to Joseph on behalf of his family.

He shared stories of Joseph's hobbies, interests and achievements – opening with the line that he expected to tell the congregation things "they never knew" about his son.

This included his love of boxing, his prowess at water sports and skiing, how he loved to play Warhammer games on his PlayStation 3 and how he met many celebrities – such as singer Katie Melua and television presenter Noel Edmonds.

He explained how his son's last night out in May was across the road at Pride Park Stadium – when he received a Derby Telegraph Community Champions award for championing blood donation.

The youngster, who had been receiving regular transfusions himself, was given the Achieving Against the Odds award and received a standing ovation after giving an inspirational speech about his illness.

Mark also said his son – a former Diseworth Primary School and Castle Donington Community College student – had travelled on planes 13 times in 14 years and wanted to be a pilot.

His light-hearted stories prompted a few laughs but Mark shed a few tears as he thanked his wife, Tracy, for looking after their son through his illness.

Joseph was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2008 and, two years later, with leukaemia.

Mark concluded his tribute by saying: "In 14 years, he crammed in quite a lot – I give you my son, Joseph Frederick Cooper."

The coffin was carried out to You'll Never Walk Alone – the anthem of his football club, Liverpool.

Family and close friends travelled to Castle Donington cemetery for the burial.

COURT proceedings have been issued against a convoy of travellers who have camped in a Derby park,

The group has been summoned to appear in court unless they leave Osmaston Park by next Wednesday.

An eviction notice has already been served on the travellers, who have been accused of cutting a padlock to enter the park on Sunday evening.

One local resident also alleges youths from the group have been riding quad bikes on the park and threatening local children.

But police and the council are confident they will have moved on "in the next couple of days."

Paul Dickenson formed Osmaston Park Regeneration Association, which campaigned to get £600,000 for the park's overhaul in 2009.

The 53-year-old, of Osmaston Park Road, was named a Derby Telegraph Community Champion for his work.

He said: "I believe they cut the locks to get on to the park on Sunday night and that they are the same travellers who were camped on the Racecourse in Chaddesden.

"Since they have been here youths have been riding quad bikes across the park close to where people are walking their dogs and I have been told they have tried to threaten children by telling them they need to pay them money to be able to play on the park.

"I have reported them to the police and we just want them to move on.

"There is an official travellers' site down the road in Cotton Lane. Why can't they use that?

"I also don't see why the police cannot have just followed them when they left the Racecourse and made sure they didn't camp anywhere else in the city."

Councillor Baggy Shanker is the cabinet member for housing and advice at Derby City Council.

He said he and council officers were made aware of the travellers' camp on Monday morning.

Mr Shanker said: "We have issued possession proceedings with the court and the hearing is at noon on July 16.

"They were previously served with a notice to leave the land but they disregarded this, hence the application to court.

"We are acting as quickly as possible.

"We are determined to move these individuals on as soon as is legally possible," he added.

Inspector Kamaljit Singh Bria is in charge of policing in Derby East which covers Osmaston Park.

He said: "Local officers have been made aware that the travellers have arrived on the site and we are being led by the council on the issue.

"We have also been made aware of complaints about their conduct and have been to speak to them but we have not witnessed any offences taking place."

HOUSEHOLDERS say they are relieved after a mobile phone mast that was making it impossible to watch their favourite television shows was removed.

The mast was erected in the car park of Noel-Baker Community School in Alvaston last autumn but only had temporary planning permission until March.

The 30ft-high structure angered nearby residents who said they were not consulted on the "monstrosity" and that, ever since it arrived, their television signals were intermittently disrupted.

Last month, neighbours and the Alvaston school's head teacher Mal Kerr demanded it be taken down – and they have now got their wish.

June Parker, 70, who lives on Bracknell Drive close to the mast, said it was "brilliant" that the mast had been removed. She said: "We'd never had problems before it was put up and now it's down, thank goodness, everything is back to normal."

Mrs Parker said she had experienced problems with her television reception. She said: "The reception would go and you'd have to turn it off and then on again before it would work.

"I'm so glad it's gone, it was a real eyesore as much as anything else."

Mrs Parker praised deputy leader of Derby City Council Ranjit Banwait for writing to the mast's owners Everything Everywhere, the firm created when Orange and T-mobile merged and known as EE, calling for a quick resolution to the issue.

His letter, sent to EE chief executive Olaf Swantee, said that the mast's "continued occupation" of the school's car park "appears to have no basis on either legal or planning grounds".

Mr Banwait said he was "pleased" the issue had now been resolved. He said: "After months of frustration by local residents as a result of having their entertainment spoiled by interference, I felt the need to escalate the matter to the people in charge at EE.

"I'm pleased the head of the company responded positively. This is a great result for local residents."

It is the second time in recent months that EE has been in conflict with residents in Alvaston.

In April, EE took down another "eyesore" mast in Elvaston Lane after Derby City Council ordered it to do so.

It had been up for 13 months despite only having formal planning permission for six months.

No-one from EE was available for comment.

A CONMAN jailed for his part in a major fraud plot in which jobseekers were duped into handing over their identities has had his prison sentence cut on appeal.

Recovering heroin addict Steven Curran, 37, was the "paid foot soldier" in the fraud conspiracy, which netted the perpetrators more than £100,000.

Curran, of Alfred Street, Ripley, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make an article for use in fraud and was jailed for three-and-a-half years at Derby Crown Court in December.

That sentence was yesterday reduced by top judges to three years.

Mr Justice Sweeney told the Court of Appeal in London that Curran was at the bottom of the hierarchy of those involved in the plot, which ran between January 2007 and January 2009.

Other criminals higher up the ladder set up a fake company and advertised jobs on the internet, using the details sent in by prospective employees to set up fake and cloned identities.

Those identities were then used to open bank accounts, apply for credit and, ultimately, to obtain mainly electrical goods which could be sold on to unwitting buyers for massive profits.

Internet auction site eBay was used to fence goods obtained via those identities, and some stolen in burglaries, with the cash paid into PayPal accounts and then taken from cash machines.

The plot began to unravel when a family member of a burglary victim found some of her stolen Royal Crown Derby china for sale on the internet and called police.

Curran's role was to go to the banks and, using documents given to him, open accounts in cloned and fake identities. He was paid £50 for each account opened.

Giving judgment, Mr Justice Sweeney said: "It seems to us that, as the recorder indicated, the appellant was indeed at the bottom of the scale of involvement as between himself and his co-defendants (Gary Gillam and Derrick Young)."

STEVE Exley realised he needed to lose weight after looking in the mirror and imagining the image of former Coronation Street character Fred Elliott staring back at him.

"Big Steve", as he was nick-named on a TV show, has since become "Slim Steve" after losing six and a half stone in the past year.

The 51-year-old, who weighs just over 13 stone and plans to lose another stone, has fond memories of appearing on Al Murray's Happy Hour in 2006 when he was 18 stone.

Steve, of Stenson Fields, said: "I loved the show so, to feature on TV as well, was real fun. The production team came up to me before and said would it be OK if Al points you out after Big Bob has done his dance.

"It was a great experience and I didn't mind at all."

Fast forward to last year and Steve weighed 20 stone – the heaviest he's ever been.

He said: "At that point, I thought I've got to do something to change.

"I was struggling to do simple things like walk up the stairs without panting.

"I love to go to gigs but, in those days, after half an hour, my back was starting to hurt and I couldn't enjoy them."

Steve, who is teetotal, said: "I used to come back from Rotherham football games at about 11pm and I'd nip to the chippy. I was eating the wrong foods at the wrong time."

Originally Steve, who lives on Outram Way with his wife, Nila, and son Kiran, planned to lose a small amount of weight but, when he started, he couldn't stop.

He said: "I wanted to do this on my own, so I started to eat better and do some power walking. I've since mixed that up with running and the weight has flown off."

Steve, who works at Rolls-Royce as a MRP controller, managed to run and walk the Derby 10k in one hour and 19 minutes, something he was thrilled with. He said "It was great. I might not have been one of the quickest but it was still an achievement for me.

"I've since started to have a much greater choice in clothes now I'm not picking extra large sizes.

"My weight loss has rubbed off on Nila and Kiran because they're both fitter than they have ever been by doing more exercise."

Robert Carlisle, aka Big Bob, kept in contact with Steve after the show and is pleased with how he's got on.

He said: "It's fantastic to see him lose so much weight and he should be proud."

SCHOOLS across Derbyshire could be forced to close if joint strike action by two teaching unions goes ahead in September and October.

The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers and the National Union of Teachers say there will be rolling strikes across England and Wales in the weeks beginning September 30 and October 14.

This will be followed by a one-day, all-out national strike before the end of the autumn term.

The action comes as part of a row over pay, pensions and workload and follows the first of the rolling strikes in the north-west last month.

Under the Government's reforms, due to come into effect from the autumn, teachers' pay will be linked to performance in the classroom – with schools setting salaries, rather than following a national framework. Changes have also been made to public sector pensions.

City teachers from both unions held their own protest last month in support of the striking teachers in the north-west and handed a letter to the city council.

Sue Arguile, NUT Derby branch secretary, said: "It explains why teachers are unhappy over Education Secretary Michael Gove's action to deregulate teachers' pay and conditions and leave them to be locally settled.

"If Michael Gove continues to refuse to engage in meaningful talks with the unions, teachers in Derby will be striking in the first half of the autumn term, which is likely to result in school closures."

A Department for Education spokesman said they were "disappointed" by the planned action, which they said would "disrupt pupils' education".

He said: "It is disappointing that the NUT and NASUWT are opposing measures to allow heads to pay good teachers more.

"We have met frequently with the unions to discuss their concerns and will continue to do so."

A MULTI-MILLION pound project aimed at boosting Derbyshire's economy will miss its target to roll out super-fast broadband across 105,000 homes and businesses by 2015.

Derbyshire County Council – which is spearheading the £15 million scheme – said delays outside the authority's control meant it could be another three years or longer until the transformation is complete.

The council was one of the first in the country to get the green light for its plans – backed by £7.39 million from the Government's Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) scheme.

The funding was secured in May last year after the council said it would match the grant to ensure at least £14.78 million would be spent on broadband improvements across Derbyshire.

In a report, the council's deputy chief executive, David Lowe, explained why the project – called Digital Derbyshire – had hit delays.

He said the "major hold-up" was because it took longer than expected for the national BDUK programme to be approved by the EU.

Mr Lowe also said the BDUK National Procurement Framework – a document advising councils on how to proceed – was two months late, causing further delay.

Derbyshire is among 35 out of 44 areas expected to miss the 2015 target. According to the National Audit Office, once officials revised their projections, they found it was going to take 22 months longer than first envisaged to reach the goal.

Natalie Ward, the officer leading the Digital Derbyshire programme, said it was not possible to say when the project would be completed.

"It's very difficult to say but it is looking impossible to get it done by 2015," she said.

"We are currently seeking a commercial partner to deliver the programme and hope to have a contract signed by the end of the summer.

"Once the contract is in place, surveys will be carried out across the county to identify what needs to be done ahead of resources and engineers being mobilised.

"It's a big project – it's 105,000 properties."

Initially, 180,000 properties were set to benefit from Digital Derbyshire, which is expected to create around 3,000 jobs and boost the local economy by £207 million.

However, 75,000 of the properties have now had super-fast broadband installed by companies such as BT.

In Derby, plans to roll out super-fast broadband across the city under a different scheme remain on track to be delivered by next year.

Paul Bimson, BT's regional partnership director for the East Midlands, said all eight telephone exchanges serving Derby should be able to deliver improved download speeds next year.

The final exchange, in Allestree, is set to be upgraded by the end of spring 2014.

A Fourth person has been arrested in connection with a knife attack at a Derby park. A 20-year-old Derby man was arrested this morning, adding to the arrests of two teenagers and a 22-year-old following the assault in Arboretum Park. A 24-year-old man was this morning still in a stable condition at the Royal Derby Hospital after being stabbed once in the chest.

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Two teenagers, both 16, were arrested on Wednesday and are still being questioned by police CID officers.

The assault happened at 5.30pm on Tuesday and Arboretum Park was cordoned off while scenes-of-crime officers investigated.

The park was closed until early Wednesday afternoon.

Inspector Richard Keene, in charge of policing in the area, said: "We would like to remind local residents that this was very much an isolated incident.

"We have put on extra patrols to reassure the public that this type of criminality is not accepted in any shape or form."

Park users expressed their shock.

Zeb Aurand, 60, lives in Loudon Street, close to one of the entrances to the park.

He said: "My wife went out and saw all of the police activity. There were three or four police cars and probably 20 officers.

"She said they were stopping everyone trying to get in to the park and asking them if they had seen anything. It's alarming to hear there has been a stabbing."

Paul Mees, 51, lives in Osmaston Road and walks his dog on the park every day.

He said: "I tried to cycle through the park at 8.30am on Wednesday but the gates were all cordoned off and there were police inside the park.

"It is mad, terrible to hear that someone has been stabbed."

Mick McNaught is the Arboretum park manager for Derby City Council, which owns the park.

He said: "I was here until 11pm on Tuesday night after the police shut the park to do their investigation and I was told I could not open up again until later on Wednesday when all of their work was complete.

"I know the victim. He is a regular park user."

And another park user, who did not want to be named, said he too had been assaulted while he walked there.

The man said: "I was hit around the head by someone carrying a beer can.

"It's the sun and the beer, it sends people mad."

Councillor Fareed Hussain is the Mayor of Derby and also represents Arboretum Ward on Derby City Council.

He said: "It is a very unusual thing to happen and I think it will scare some people and make them uneasy about letting their children play in the park."

And Councillor Gulfraz Nawaz, who also represents Arboretum Ward, said: "I was shocked. This sort of incident does not happen in this part of Derby."

A FORMER ambulance driver who accidentally cut off part of his thumb with a saw has blasted the region's 999 service for not taking him to hospital.

But East Midlands Ambulance Service bosses have insisted they did everything right in the case of Russell Holmes – and said it was their "responsibility to use resources wisely".

Mr Holmes, 69, said there was "blood everywhere" after the circular saw ripped off his thumb down to the nail while he was working in the garden at his Mickleover home.

He said he put the amputated part on ice and phoned 999 – but said he was shocked when he was told he needed a telephone assessment and not an ambulance.

In the end, Mr Holmes' wife Jacqueline took him to hospital instead, where he said medics confirmed he had fractured his thumb and damaged a blood vessel.

Mr Holmes, of Moorland Road, said medics at Royal Derby Hospital had to repeatedly dress the thumb because it kept bleeding.

The former Mickleover ambulance station worker said: "I found it totally unacceptable.

"I understand it's a difficult time for the NHS and they get a lot of time-wasters but there's something wrong with a system where you can't get an ambulance in a situation like that.

"As an ambulance driver about 40 years ago for around 10 years, I know not to call unless I thought it was a genuine emergency.

"So, to phone 999 for the first time and have such a terrible experience really beggars belief."

Mr Holmes said he had been working on a table when part of it broke off and knocked the saw into his hand.

He said: "It really is panic stations when you are losing that amount of blood – not to mention the shock and the feeling of going light-headed.

"I'm convinced that, if I'd been left in the house for any length of time, I'd have collapsed and bled out.

"My wife wasn't actually home when the incident happened or when I made the call. It was only because she came home that she was able to take me to the hospital.

"It was after we left when the ambulance service rang back and my daughter told them we'd already gone.

"It was appalling and left me very frustrated."

Mr Holmes said the part of his thumb which had been amputated was x-rayed but it was decided it was "too badly mashed" to sew it back on.

Since the incident, Mr Holmes has been back to the hospital several times for appointments and treatment and will continue to go over the coming weeks.

He said his thumb was a "ragged and horrible mess".

The ambulance service said Mr Holmes called 999 and said he had cut the tip of his thumb off – but told them he was breathing normally and "did not report a severe bleed".

They said Mr Holmes' call was "correctly coded" as not an emergency and requiring a telephone assessment within 60 minutes and, when they told him this, he hung up.

Steve Bonser, assistant director of operations at Emas, said: "I am sorry Mr Holmes was disappointed he would not get an emergency response – it is our responsibility to use our resources wisely.

"Our emergency medical dispatcher fully assessed the call and Mr Holmes was deemed to not be in a life-threatening or serious condition. His wife transported him to hospital.

"This meant we could continue to use our emergency vehicles, with life-saving equipment and highly-skilled clinicians on board, to respond to people whose life was at immediate risk."

A spokeswoman said all calls were categorised to determine the right level of response needed. These are: Red One and Two calls, which are immediately life-threatening – such as cardiac arrest or catastrophic bleed – and require a response within eight minutes.

"Green One" calls are serious clinical need – such as breathing problems and road traffic collisions – which require a response within 20 minutes.

"Green Two" calls are less serious clinical need – including a fall or haemorrhage – which require a 30-minute response.

"Green Three and Four" calls are not an emergency – such as being sick, unwell or having abdominal pain – and require a telephone assessment to be made within 60 minutes. They said, during this, the patient would be referred to the most appropriate source of help, such as a GP, district nurse, walk-in centre or pharmacy.

EIGHTEEN potential new recruits have been turned away from Derbyshire police this year because they have tattoos.

Force guidelines say applicants cannot become police officers if they have visible body art on their face, neck or hands.

And police officers who do have tattoos are required to keep them covered beneath their uniforms.

Derbyshire police say the rules are intended to "maintain standards of appearance and behaviour".

But members of the public in Derby who have tattoos have slammed the rules as discriminatory and "ridiculous".

Figures released following a Freedom of Information request showed that 18 applicants have been turned away from the force since January because they have tattoos that cannot be hidden by clothing.

Deputy Chief Constable Alan Goodwin said: "Members of the Derbyshire police are expected to maintain certain standards of appearance and behaviour. Our policy regarding tattoos is clearly explained on application forms and states that recruits must not have tattoos which could be considered discriminatory, violent or intimidating.

"We do try to recruit officers from all walks of life and from varied backgrounds but we have strict rules on visible tattoos.

"There is no bar on officers having tattoos but their location, size and nature has to be taken into consideration."

Force guidelines state that tattoos must remain in keeping with the organisation's professional image. Officers and other staff are required to wear long sleeved shirts if they have tattoos on their lower arms.

Tattoos considered rude, racist, sexist, sectarian, homophobic or threatening are strictly forbidden – to ensure colleagues and members of the public are not offended.

Police could not say whether any of the 18 applicants, whose tattoos were deemed unacceptable, fell into this extreme category.

However, Kevin Paul, from Kevin Paul Tattoos, in Great Northern Road, said he thought the rules were "ridiculous". Mr Paul has tattooed celebrities including Dappy from N-dubz and singer James Morrison.

He said: "We should be past this kind of ignorance. I have tattooed everyone, from doctors to solicitors, millionaires and a number of police officers.

"Just because someone has a tattoo, it doesn't mean they are unable to do their job – whatever that is."

PC Steve Phillips, who is based at Peartree station, has full tattoo "sleeves" on both his arms, but not on his hands, and wears long-sleeved shirts while at work.

He said: "It won't be widely known to people that I even have tattoos, because I cover them up at work. Regardless of what they look like, I think it is inappropriate to show them off on the job.

"People might see me as unusual or pass judgement if I wore my tattoos openly."

But, when the Derby Telegraph spoke to people with tattoos in the city centre, most thought the rules were too strict.

Joseph Pendlebury, 26, of Caxton Road, Sunny Hill, has tattoos on both hands and on his neck. He is unemployed.

He said: "I've been to job interviews where I've tried to cover my tattoos because I believed I'm discriminated against because of them. I've even put my girlfriend's foundation over my hands to try to cover the tattoos."

And Alex Dodds, 37, of Allenton, who has a tattoo on his neck, said: "The police rules are not right – you can't turn down people for a job just because they have ink on their skin."

His friend, Danny Foster, 25, of Alvaston, has a tattoo of his girlfriend's name on his hand. He said: "I can understand it if someone went for a job interview and had something offensive, like a Swastika, in the middle of their forehead, but you can't turn people down just because they have a visible tattoo."

Figures on how many police applicants have previously been turned down are not available because the force only began recording the information on tattoos in January.

Throughout Annabel Hancox's battle with breast cancer, she devoted her time and energy to supporting other women with the disease. Now husband Simon is starting this year's Race for Life in her memory. Kelly Tyler reports.

WHEN Simon Hancox received an invitation to sound the air horn to signal the start of Derby's Race for Life, he broke down in tears.

His wife, Annabel, 40, died from breast cancer in December. The mum-of-three was gravely ill with cancer when she began talking to other women with the disease through an online support group – but she unselfishly ignored her own plight and devoted her time and energy into motivating the other women.

It was only after she died that it became clear how many lives she had touched and how many of them she had helped. Now, Simon will be setting off the thousands of women at Darley Park in her memory.

Simon, 40, said: "When I was asked by Cancer Research UK to start the race I couldn't believe it. I broke down in tears. It made me realise how far everybody has come since Annabel's death. The support I have had from my family, Annabel's mum and close friends has been amazing."

Annabel left behind daughter Alina, 24, Will, eight, and Sam, four.

Simon will be joined on stage by his two sons. He said: "The boys are very close to each other. We sat and had a conversation about the event and they are looking forward to it. I've been asked to say a few words when I start the race but with 3,000 women dressed in pink standing in front of me, I think the nerves will kick in.

"Friends and family will be coming along so I can enjoy the event but I know it will be a very emotional day."

Annabel, a teaching assistant, of London Road, Alvaston, was diagnosed with cancer in April last year. She had chemotherapy but it was later discovered the cancer had spread to her lungs and liver.

Despite further treatment, her condition continued to deteriorate and she died at the Royal Derby Hospital on December 28.

However, after her death, she left behind an astonishing legacy – a nationwide network of women called Annabel's Angels. Many have come together to take part in Cancer Research UK's Race for Life events across the country – with 12 set to take part in tomorrow's race at Darley Park.

Simon said: "Lots of women, following Annabel's death, said they would like to do something in her memory – even women who didn't know her. Lots of groups set themselves up and called themselves Annabel's Angels. They've since taken part in around 12 Race for Life events across the country including Kent, Worksop and High Wycombe.

"People have been coming from all over the place to show their support, it's been an overwhelming few months.

"Annabel was a private, humble person and she'd be amazed and probably a bit embarrassed at 'all this fuss'."

For Simon, the loss of his wife is still "very surreal". He said: "Little things like taking the kids to school, making their breakfast and packed lunches, crossing the school playground and seeing other mums there – it is all a constant reminder that the children will grow up without a mum.

"They will have milestones in their life and their mum won't be there – when they go to a new school and when have a parents' evening. These thoughts have a habit of creeping into my mind, especially at night time.

"It's very, very difficult. I do put a brave face on but it can change just like that. A song might come on or there may be a smell or sound that reminds me of Annabel. There are certain places I won't go to either because I know it would be too tricky.

"We talk a lot about Annabel as a family. The house isn't like a shrine or anything like that but we talk about her a lot. We are always busy and we are always doing things and seeing people which seems to be working really well."

Simon also finds comfort in writing a blog to channel his thoughts but his main aim has been working tirelessly to carry on his wife's legacy by setting up Annabel's Angels – a non-profit community group to support people living with cancer.

The group decided to continue her work by raising money for cancer support equipment at the Royal Derby Hospital's combined day unit, which cared for Annabel.

And it is now hoped a befriending service will be launched to help people battling the disease.

Simon said: "We have seen there is an opportunity to do something a little more than just short-term fund-raising. There is mileage in this.

"The cancer community is strong. They are a passionate, caring community. Some people might want to put their cancer experience in a box and leave it there but I think there are people who would like to offer their support to people who don't have a family, friendships or a caring environment.

"Annabel was very good at protecting people around her. A day or two before she died she was still researching to help people with cancer. She was loved by many people and liked from afar as well.

"She would be proud of what we are doing and being able to help others in a similar situation, be they patients, carers or families, would have touched her deeply."

Katie Martin, Cancer Research UK's East Midlands events manager, said: "We're really grateful to Simon for agreeing to be our guest of honour at Derby Race for Life in memory of Annabel.

"Race for Life is an amazing way to celebrate life but also remember those who have been lost to the disease."

Participants may be decked out in pink or fancy dress but what is inescapable is the power and strength that comes from thousands of women joining together to confront cancer.

Katie said: "Don't be fooled by the tutus and tiaras. Derby Race for Life is cancer's worst nightmare. Women of all shapes, sizes, ages and levels of fitness take part in Race for Life. They come from different backgrounds and walks of life but they are united by their absolute determination to take on cancer and beat it.

"We are very grateful to everyone who took part in Race for Life in Derby last year and in the past.

"Thanks to them Cancer Research UK has been able to make progress against many forms of the disease.

"But the battle against cancer never stops and, for this reason, we need everyone to return to the fight in 2013 and bring new recruits with them."

For more information visit annabelsangels.co.uk.

To sponsor Annabel's Angels, visit www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/annabels-angels7.

TESSA Summers valued Annabel Hancox as one of her best friends. Left devastated by her death, the 41-year-old was determined to do something in her memory.

So, as a mark of respect for the "inspirational" woman, Tessa rallied a group of women together to take part in Derby's Race for Life – not realising that it would lead to a mass of women all over the country signing up in Annabel's memory.

The 41-year-old, of Chain Lane, in Littleover said: "We all thought that Annabel would get through her cancer. I'm absolutely amazed by how many people have joined. It is so encouraging. We are all running for Annabel – her legacy lives on."

Tessa met Annabel while on a media studies course together at Derby College.

She said: "Annabel also worked at a bar in Derby which I used to go to a lot. We used to go down town together, go to the cinema, anything really. We became very close friends."

It was only when Annabel underwent chemotherapy treatment for the second time that Tessa said that she understood how "real" her cancer was.

Tessa said: "Annabel did not talk about her illness, she was very selfless. I didn't know about her cancer spreading. She kept it to herself which is just amazing. She never complained or moaned. Instead, she was very positive and light-hearted.

"When Simon phoned me and told me Annabel was in intensive care I could not believe it. I was so shocked. I never imagined for one second that she would die.

"Simon said she only had hours to live and as I could not get to Derby, I told him to tell her that I loved her."

Six months on, Tessa she still thinks about her best friend every day.

She said: "Even now I still feel she is around me. I still see Simon and whenever I go to the house I still expect to see Annabel coming down the stairs. I've kept her text messages on my phone. I like to read them.

"It is devastating. She was a beautiful person inside and out. I will never ever forget her and I look at photographs of her.

"It's hard to come to terms with it. I feel like a piece of the jigsaw has been lost."

After Annabel's death, Tessa said she spoke to Simon about setting up a Race for Life group on social networking site Facebook.

Scores of people saw the group and have since signed up and taken part in various Race for Life events across the country.

"We are doing it for Annabel," said Tessa. "She helped others when she was going through cancer so it is only fair for us to carry on.

"There are those who have cancer and those who have to keep so strong and keep up hope for the sufferers.

"I'm looking forward to the event. It's a brilliant way to get everybody together. Reading all of the different stories on people's placards on their backs is truly inspirational."

ALFRETON Town will not be pursuing their interest in former Burton Albion stalwart Aaron Webster.

Webster is looking for a new club after being released by the Brewers, ending his 15-year stay at the club.

The defender turned out for the Reds in last weekend's pre-season friendly against Birmingham City.

Afterwards, Alfreton boss Nicky Law said he would look into the possibility of offering the 32-year-old a deal.

However, Law is now turning his attention elsewhere.

That means Webster is not expected to face his old club today, when Burton visit the Impact Arena (3pm).

Law plans to field a virtually full-strength side against the Brewers, with less focus on triallists.

Derby County youngster Mats Morch will play in goal, as he did against Birmingham, filling in for new loan signing Ross Atkins, who is recovering from a minor ankle injury.

But the remainder of the starting line-up is due to be made up of contracted players, including new recruits Bradley Wood, Chris Westwood and Tom Shaw.

Meanwhile, Nathan Arnold is hoping to earn a deal with former club Mansfield Town.

Arnold is expected to leave Alfreton this summer and has been on trial with the Stags, who were promoted to League Two as 2012-13 Blue Square Bet Premier champions.

The forward scored in Mansfield's friendly match against Stevenage Borough, though Paul Cox's men eventually lost 5-2.

Defender Adam Quinn has left the Reds to join BSB North outfit Bradford Park Avenue.

Elsewhere today, Ilkeston entertain Nottingham Forest, Matlock Town are away to Teversal, Belper Town visit Cleethorpes Town and Gresley are at Anstey Nomads.

Graham Street Prims are at home to Long Eaton United and Heanor Town travel to Heather St Johns.

A SCHOOLBOY film buff had the chance to enrol for the day at Monsters University and interview the director and producer of the latest Disney Pixar production.

Archie Walker, ten, who is a pupil at Heage Primary School, got the chance to mix with top stars including Dame Helen Mirren, through education charity Filmclub.

It helps UK schools set up and run film clubs where pupils can watch films, discuss them and write reviews.

As well as being a member of Filmclub, Archie is also a junior reporter for the Filmclub talent development programme, aimed at youngsters who are particularly keen on films.

Archie was whisked away to Kings College in central London, which had been transformed into an American campus similar to the one in new film Monsters University – the sequel to the 2001 smash-hit film Monsters Inc. – which was released in UK cinemas last week.

The youngster, who was reporting alongside fellow junior reporter Tanvi Mansani, interviewed the film's director and writer Dan Scanlon and producer Kori Rae.

They also had the opportunity to quiz Dame Helen Mirren about voicing the character of Dean Hardscrabble in the film.

The Oscar-winning actress said: "It's always great to have a wonderful director because they allow you to experiment and do different things.

"And, eventually, the character that appears is really a combination of the actor working with the director, and then, of course, the animators."

Archie and Tanvi were the only junior reporters invited by Disney Pixar to the pop-up campus and also to attend an exclusive preview screening to help them prepare their questions – making them among the first children in the world to see the film.

Archie said: "It's been amazing.

"When we watched Monsters University we planned out loads of questions. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Meeting Dan and Kori was amazing.

"They even told us that they had more than 100 deleted scenes. I was very shocked by that.

"Meeting Dame Helen Mirren was really good and it was good we got to ask her questions and to have our photo taken with her.

"We also saw Mike and Sulley – they kept on giving us handshakes and high-fives."

The Heage Primary Filmclub has more than 70 members and, earlier this year, it won the Filmclub of the Year award.

BAYERN Munich have agreed a deal to sign rumoured Manchester United target Thiago Alcantara from Barcelona for £21.6m.

The Spain midfielder will link up with his ex-Barca coach Pep Guardiola at the European champions.

"Thiago Alcantara was the great desire of our new coach Pep Guardiola," said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

The German champions said Thiago would complete a medical in Munich this week before signing a four-year contract.

It is thought he wanted to leave Barcelona to boost his chances of being named in Spain's World Cup squad next summer.

He captained his nation to the European Under-21 Championship in June and scored a first-half hat-trick against Italy in the final.

"Thiago is a fantastic player with great perspective, which will strengthen Bayern," added Rummenigge.

Bayern say they will pay £17.3m up front, with Thiago forfeiting some money and a friendly against Barcelona in the next four years counting towards the total fee.

The Italian-born player, son of Brazil's 1994 Word Cup-winning midfielder Mazinho, was given his Barcelona debut by Guardiola, who left the Nou Camp at the end of the 2011-12 season.

Bayern have already signed Borussia Dortmund forward Mario Gotze and Mainz defender Jan Kirchhoff this summer.