Welcome to my blog, Whats this about then?

This is a place where I will be posting all sorts of things not just things relating to Derby and Derbyshire. On here you will find details of any videos I’ve made of things in Derby and also Time-lapse, stop motion animation, Tutorials etc. If I find some useful software for PC or iPhone then I will feature it here.I’m sure that there will be something of interest to someone on my many posts.Please leave comments on any posts if you like them.
Don’t forget if you are new to my blog and would like to read through the previous posts then see the Blog Archive section on the left side of this page.
Also there is a Search box at the top left of the page if you are looking for something but cant remember where it was. I am a trustee member of "Friends of Friar Gate bridge", aiming to get this bridge restored.

Wednesday 25 January 2012

Amazing never before seen videos of events in Derby from the 1960s by local film maker Arthur Blood.

I was recently introduced to a local film maker by the name of Arthur Blood who has kindly given me a selection of short films that he made in the 1960s using 8m cine film. Arthur captured many local events of the time, mostly relating to the Derby Carriage and Wagon Works where he started work in 1939, at the age of 14. I would like to thank him for choosing me to showcase his collection on my Derby videos channel so that people can enjoy them.
I'm sure there will be something of interest to anyone from Derby, if you work at Bombardier today then you may well recognise some of the buildings.

Please feel free to link to any of the old videos from Facebook etc. We need people to see these films.

Film 1 of 7 : Derby Carriage and Wagon Works Annual show 1960 (rare cine film footage of Derby)
In this film you can see some footage around Derby town centre filmed on Saturday August 20th 1960.
00:48 Prepairing the car outside Allsop Garage (Brailsford) on Bold Lane. In Jan 2012 this area is cleared of former Prince's supermarket.
01:07 The Wardwick Melias ltd, later this shop became Golden Gains, in Jan 2012 this is nono8 bar.
01:13 The Ice Factory, today this is occupied by the cock-pitt car park.
01:18 St James Street.
01:23 Corn Market
01:27 St Peters Street
01:34 ??
01:44 Full Street. Derby Power Station in the background
01:48 Council House
01:57 driving towards Cock Pitt Hill
02:00 Derby Carriage and Wagon Works


Film 2 of 7 : Derbys 2nd annual traction engine rally at Municipal Sports ground 1967 (rare cine film footage)


Film 3 of 7 : Derby Carriage and Wagon Works visit by Barbara Castle (transport Minister) rare cine film footage from 1967


These short films were captured using 8mm cine film which has been converted. I wonder how much more rare footage is out there collecting dust in peoples attics?


Film 4 of 7 : Derby Carriage and Wagon Works Annual show 1969 (very rare cine film footage)


Film 5 of 7 : Talisman Carriages made at Derby Carriage and Wagon Works in 1964 (rare cine film footage)


Film 6 of 7 : Derby Carriage and Wagon Works bowls match 1967 (rare cine film footage) 1967


Film 7 of 7 : Derby Carriage and Wagon Works bowls match 1965 (rare cine film footage)



Please note that although I have rendered this video at 1080p the original source footage is certainly not HD quality. It was originally shot on 8mm Cine Film, I have gone to great lengths to clean up the footage to reveal as much as possible from the source film.

Thanks
Andy

Tuesday 24 January 2012

The 2012 CAMRA Derby Winter Beer Festival Wednesday 15th February to Saturday 18th February.


It does not seem long since the Derby Summer beer festival was here does it, well now its not long until the Derby Winterfest 2012. Which is the 11th winter beer festival to take place in Derby.
Here is my complete guide to this Winter beer festival in Derby.
Update : Saturday 18th Feb 2012.

The 2012 CAMRA Derby Winter Beer Festival starts on Wednesday 15th February and runs until Saturday 18th February. Here are all the details about this years winter beer festival
This will take place the Derby Roundhouse on Pride Park, Derby.

If you have never been to a beer festival before then you are missing an experience, there are not just beers on sale there are ciders and Perries.  You can get some hot or cold food too. T-shirts and glasses are available to buy. And great live music to watch each day.

Its best to arrive by the free bus service from Derby Assembly rooms.

This year there will be real ale on sale in the Carriage Room as well as the Main Hall of the Round House itself. The Carriage Room will also host the extensive range of live entertainment.

Dates and opening times:
Wednesday 15th February 4pm to 11pm
Thursday 16th February 11am to 11pm
Friday 17th February 11am to 11pm
Saturday 18th February 11am to 11pm

Entrance charges:
FREE to CAMRA Members at all times. Non-members will be charged as follows :

Wednesday 15.2.12 4pm - 11pm - £3
Thursday 16.2.12 11am - 4pm - £2
Thursday 16.2.12 4pm - 11pm - £4
Friday 17.2.12 11am - 4pm - £3
Friday 17.2.12 4pm - 11pm - £5
Saturday 18.2.12 11am - 4pm - £3
Saturday 18.2.12 4pm - 11pm - £5

Travelling to the Derby Winter Beer Festival:
There is a FREE Shuttle Bus between Derby Town Centre and the beer festival provided by Harpurs Coaches. (Yes its FREE there and back honest !) and travels as below :
I have created a very detail map for this free bus showing locations etc. - Free Derby Beer Festival Shuttle Bus Map.

This free bus shuttle will run at these times :

Wednesday 15th, Leaves Derby City Centre at these times :
17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00
Leaves the Roundhouse at these times :
17:45, 18:15, 18:45, 19:15, 19:45, 20:15, 20:45, 21:15

Thursday 16th, Leaves Derby City Centre at these times :
14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00
Leaves the Roundhouse at these times :
14:15, 14:45, 15:15, 15:45, 16:15, 16:45, 17:15, 17:45, 18:15, 18:45, 19:15, 19:45, 20:15, 20:45, 21:15

Friday 17th, Leaves Derby City Centre at these times :
14:00,14:30,15:00,15:30,16:00,16:30,17:00,17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00
Leaves the Roundhouse at these times :
14:15, 14:45, 15:15, 15:45, 16:15, 16:45, 17:15, 17:45, 18:15, 18:45, 19:15, 19:45, 20:15, 20:45, 21:15

Saturday 18th, Leaves Derby City Centre at these times :
11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00
Leaves the Roundhouse at these times :
11:15, 11:45,12:15, 12:45, 13:15, 14:45, 14:15, 14:45, 15:15, 15:45, 16:15, 16:45, 17:15, 17:45, 18:15, 18:45, 19:15, 19:45, 20:15, 20:45, 21:15

The bus looks like this, its quite distinctive so keep your drunken eye open for it  :
Bus for Derby winter beer festival 2012
Here we see the Beer bus on The Morledge.



Live entertainment at the 2012 Derby Beer Festival :
Wednesday 15th February its an 'Open Mic' music & song night with prearranged Performers. Bands TBC.
Thursday 16th February its The Merseybeasts.
Friday 17th February its Superdupergrass followed by the Headline Act Coldplace.
Saturday 18th February the UK Foo Fighters headline supported by Steak Club.

Venue
The Roundhouse
Roundhouse Road, Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8JE

A video showing a pan around the Roundhouse at last years winter beerfest.


For those non-drinkers giving people a lift in your car, the SATNAV postcode for Derby Roundhouse is DE24 8JE

Its also a perfect location to get to by train as Derby railway station is less that 30 seconds walk away from this venue !
See when the next train to Derby station is here - Thetrainline.com

Google Streetview of Derby Roundhouse. (note this was captured by Google before the Derby College restoration was completed!)

Smartphone mapping pin for smartphone owners:
If you are a new visitor to Derby's winter beer festival then you will find my smartphone navigation pin of use. Simply view this blog on your smartphone and follow my instruction below.

Derby Winter Beer Festival drop pin <---- Tap this link on you smartphone.

When you tap the link above, it will launch your mapping application and place a "push pin" onto the map with the exact location of Derby Roundhouse beer festival. You can then use this marker to get walking directions.

For example on an iPhone you tap the "Directions" button at the bottom and this will pre-fill in the start location with your current location and the end location with the Roundhouse.

So all you need to do is just tap the "Route" button at the bottom then tap the walking icon and it will show you walking route. If you tap the bottom left icon 3 times then this will turn on follow mode, Centre mode and direction mode. What this means is that a blue flashing dot which represents you will stay in the centre of the screen and orientated in the direction that you travel in.

If you tap the middle button at the top, this will even show you which bus number and when the next bus to the Roundhouse is from your nearest location.
My push pins are far more accurate than any other map as its not based on the postcode which most maps are. My map is based on local knowledge of the location.

Beer and Cider Lists:
The Complete Beer and Cider lists are here : (These are in .PDF format.)

The Beer List.
Cider and Perry List.
Continental Beer List.

With regards to Cider and Perry, the tub labels should tell most of what you need to know when ordering. Green labels are cider and yellow labels are perry.
Good to see they have Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon on as this was on in The Babington Arms and the Standing Order but sold out before I had chance to even try it !
We also have Three Cats Morley a local cider on again which was also on at the GBBF in London.
Also the classic Broadoak Perry.

Thanks
Andy Savage
www.derbyphotos.co.uk

Get yourself ready for next year : The 2013 Derby Winter Beer Festival will take place Weds 20th to Sat 23rd Feb 2013.

Wednesday 18 January 2012

2012 Ashbourne Shrovetide Football, Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd February.

UPDATE : 21st Feb Videos now online to view.

Its that time of year again when the maddest game of football in the world takes place in Ashbourne Derbyshire. Here are the details for 2012 :

The 2012 game takes place on the 21st and 22nd February.
On Tuesday Dr Paul Kirtley, a GP in Ashbourne for 32 years, will be turning up the ball at 2.00pm. And on Ash Wednesday, deputy mayor and businessman Steve Bull will have the honour.

Ashbourne in Derbyshire is host to one of the Oldest Shrovetide football games in England and this annual event is one not to be missed.

It was first recorded in 1682, though thought to date back to the 12th Century ,various attempts were made to suppress it over the years.

It has continued unabated ever since, and by 1928 it had become so respectable that the then Prince of Wales was invited to start the game. From that year on it was known as the Royal Shrovetide Football game.

The Game is played annually on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, and consists of two teams, one from anyone born to the North of the River Henmore, and one from people born South of the river, these are known as Upards and Downards.

The Goals are on the sites of Old mills, one at Clifton and one at Sturston, these are three miles apart.
A goal is scored by a player striking the mill wheel three times with the Ball.

The ball may be kicked, carried or thrown, but generally proceeds in a series of hugs invisible to the spectator. The game can last for many hours, finishing well after dark.

The game starts at 2pm in the afternoon, when a specially prepared ball - larger than a football and filled with cork which weighs around 4lbs is thrown in by a visiting guest of honor. The balls used for the Shrovetide games are made by Ashbourne man John Harrison who is turning up the ball this year.
The hand sewn leather balls are filled with cork chippings.
The balls are a work of art and take a few weeks to paint.

The Rules
If the balls are goaled, then it will become the proud possession of the person who has goaled it. If no-one goals it, then the person that turned-up the ball gets to take it home.
The game starts in the Shawcroft Carpark (back of Waitrose supermarket), See my detailed map lower down. I have provided a detailed interactive Shrovetide map lower down in this post which will enable you to see all the key points of the playing field which 3 miles between the two goals at Sturston and Clifton.

Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football is something that you just have to see to believe your eyes.
Here is a video I made of the game last year in two parts to give you an idea of what its like :







I have lots of photographs and several videos from past games that you can view :

Photographs:
Photographs from the 2008 Ashbourne Shrovetide Football game.

Photographs from the 2007 Ashbourne Shrovetide Football game.

Photographs from the 2006 Ashbourne Shrovetide Football game.

Photographs from the 2004 Ashbourne Shrovetide Football game.

Photographs from the 2002 Ashbourne Shrovetide Footbal game.


Videos :

Video footage from the 2009 Ashbourne Shrovetide Football Game.


Video footage from the 2007 Ashbourne Shrovetide Footaball game
.

Extra video footage from the 2007 Ashbourne Shrovetide Football game.

Time-lapse driving video from Derby to Ashbourne.

Location Map:
Smartphone drop pin locator for Ashbourne Shrovetide Football,
If you own a smartphone (iPhone,HTC etc) then CLICK HERE and it will launch your mapping app with a "drop pin" which I have perfectly located above the turning up plinth, If you have never been to Ashbourne then you can use this to get walking directions to where the action will be at 2pm.
On an iPhone, once the map shows up there will be a red drop pin in the middle of the screen with the title "Ashbourne Shrovetide" above it. Touch "Directions" at the bottom and then "by foot" icon at the top of the screen to get detailed walking directions to the start of the game.


The town of Ashbourne is located in Derbyshire just off the A52, see my time-lapse driving video to Ashbourne Football.
I have created an interactive map which shows all the key points in the game such as the turning up plinth where the ball is thrown, the two goals and the Henmore which is what determines if you are an Upard or a Downard, Click the link below the map for a large view of all the points of interest :

View Ashbourne Shrovetide Football game map. in a larger map

Thanks
Andy

Wednesday 11 January 2012

Video of "Scrap Iron, Any Old Iron" - The Derby Scrap Man. Rag and Bone men with bizarre noise on Tannoy .

Here is a video I have just uploaded of some local Derby scrap men and their "Scrap Iron, Any Old Iron" noise on the Tannoy.

If your from Derby then I'm sure that at some point in the last few years you will have heard this very strange sound along your street. This guy and another scrap man drive around collecting scrap metal.
Looking on YouTube now I see this very same sound seems to be used by lots of scrap collection vans all over the UK.
Where on earth do they get the same sound from?

I've even heard this sound around Burton on Trent, Staffs.
The sound at the beginning of my video is from another scrap man that drove past in 2009.

My Video of Derby Scrap Men and their unique sound !


Video of Derby Scrap men.

Where have you heard them in Derby?




Cheers
Andy

Saturday 7 January 2012

Please vote NOW on the future of former Derby Hippodrome theatre, Have your say!

An online survey has now been launched to gather residents' views on the future of the building and it raises questions about the overall theatre provision in Derby.

Derby Hippodrome Restoration Trust is a building preservation trust that operates in Derby with the purpose of preserving buildings of particular beauty, historical, architectural or constructional interest in or around Derby, in particular the building known as the Hippodrome Theatre, Derby.

Derby Hippodrome was built in 1914 as a purpose built 2,300 seat theatre for the city. Over the ensuing years it has played a key part in Derby’s entertainment and cultural provision, being a variety theatre, cinema, and in more recent years a bingo hall. When the building closed in 2007 it was purchased by a London developer and has been standing empty since that time.

The building suffered extensive damage when the owner attempted to repair the roof of the auditorium in March 2008, demolishing the auditorium roof and part of one main wall as well as a substantial part of the stage house. Further damage has subsequently occurred to the interior of the building through two fires.


There was also another fire on November 26th 2011 which casued even more damage. Read HERE.

Latham Architects and PHT Consultants have been engaged by the DHRT to compile an independent “Options Appraisal” report to help decide the future of this building. Consultation is an important part of this work and we would like to hear your views.
We would be grateful therefore if you could spare a few moments to complete the questionnaire survey by clicking on the link below :


The future of Derby Hippodrome Theatre. <-- Click the link to fill in the survey.

The above survey is conducted on the SurveyMonkey website.

Please note your survey responses should be received no later than 25th January 2012

Thanks
Andy

Tuesday 3 January 2012

Police Interceptors Series 5 - Derbyshire Police Force. Starting soon on Channel 5.

Police Interceptors Series five starts January 2012.


UPDATE :
Rather confusingly they seem to mixed in this new Derbyshire series as part of series 4!
Series 4 - Episode 9 is in fact the first Derbyshire episode. Broadcast on Jan 16th, you can watch it HERE.

I really enjoy watching these fly on the wall documentaries following the Police, previously they have filmed forces in Essex and South Yorkshire but in this new series they are following local police from the Derbyshire Force ! So we should see some footage of Derby in this series.

The series will be broadcast over eight weeks from mid January and will feature high-speed police chases on motorways, A-roads and side streets across Derbyshire.

The Derbyshire series started on 16th January 2012. The remaining episodes will be tranmitted at 8pm on
Jan 23rd
Jan 30th
Feb 6th
Feb 13th
Feb 20th
Feb 27th
March 5th


The Policeman being filmed for this new series include PC Adam Shipley and PC Gary Wilson, who specialise in driving the unit's unmarked high-performance cars.

They are slowly releasing Police Interceptors on DVD
but as is often the case they seem to be taking their time doing this with only Series one out on DVD so far :


Don't worry if you miss an episode of the new series of police interceptors as I'm sure they will be available on the Ch5 on demand service. View some of the older episodes of Police Interceptors on Channel 5OD.

A Photograph of an ANPR Vauxhall Vectra as seen on Police Interceptors.
Bedfordshire Police, Vauxhall Vectra 3.2L Turbo ANPR Interceptor
Photograph by KC2192.

Mitsubishi Evo as seen on Police Interceptors.
Essex Police / TST Interceptor Car / TR06 / EU58 ONP
Photograph by Chris999.

Sometimes on Road Wars (Sky 1) they show footage from the Midlands area but this is the first time that a whole series of Police Interceptors has been dedicated to our area so should be good viewing.

P.S. All hail Spongebob

Cheers
Andy
www.derbyphotos.co.uk

Sunday 1 January 2012

Happy 2012 from Derby. Hope you have a great year ahead.

Happy 2012 to everyone out there !

This is the very first blog post of 2012, I wonder if this is the first one from the UK at 1 minute past midnight on January 1st 2012. I'm not really in front of the computer right now, I used the "Post Scheduled at" option in Blogger and actually wrote this a few days before !
If the weather is good then at 00:00 01/01/12 I may well be next to Breedon on the Hill Church watching the amazing "new year" fireworks from across the county. If you have never been up next to this Church on new years ever you are in for a treat. You get a great view of thousands of fireworks going off all at once.

If you are new to my blog and website then take some time to look around. As well as this blog I have a photographic website and videos...
My YouTube video channel "comedyhunter" has been online since July 2006 and has quite a following of 645 subscribers so far. I have 230 videos on my channel, most of them are local videos of Derby and Derbyshire and they have had 2,362,917 views so far !! I finally became a YouTube partner in May 2011.

I started this blog in July 2009 and this has had over 43,966 visitors so far which is not too bad for a blog about Derby and Derbyshire as well as lots of random stuff.

According to SmarterStats my www.derbyphotos.co.uk website had 5,377,764 hits in the last 12 months with 752,028 page views so nice to see its still popular even though I don't seem to get enough time to update things much.

In 2011 I created two interactive route maps which are clearly extremely popular.
The first one is a map of the former Friar Gate Railway Line which has been viewed 5,371 times.
The GNR Derbyshire and Staffordshire Extension route or Derby Friar Gate Line as its often referred to locally was a "back line"that opened in 1878 and ran from Nottingham through Derby (over Friar Gate Bridge) and to Egginton where it joined the North Staffordshire Railway. This line closed in 1964.
Friar Gate Railway Line Map.
On my map I have traced the entire original route of the Friar Gate Line from its junction at Egginton all the way to Nottingham. Along the way I have marked on the locations of the all the GNR railway stations that served the Friar Gate line.     

The second map I made was of the former Derby Canal.
The Derby Canal Route Map.
This has been viewed 4,149 times.


Wishing you all a Happy new year.

Thanks
Andy
www.derbyphotos.co.uk