Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

[mickthemaverick]

Another piece of music with a very strong link to Derbyshire:

[NewcastleFalcon]

Time for another mystery man, slightly more needed!

Who is it? What is his main achievement? What is the connection with Derbyshire?

Looking at his picture, no recognition but looks a happy chappie thought it might be Frank Whittle, my next guess has proved to be pretty adjacent Fred Davis the Billiards and Snooker player.

Born In Chesterfield Derbyshire, and one of only two players to have won the World Billiards and World Snooker Titles the other one being his Brother Joe

Regards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

Correct Neil, and his achievement and connection?

[NewcastleFalcon]

Correct Neil, and his achievement and connection?

A minute ago I edited this into my answer

Born In Chesterfield Derbyshire, and one of only two players to have won the World Billiards and World Snooker Titles the other one being his Brother Joe

Penny hasn't dropped on the ELO Mr Blue Sky link, most band members are from Birmingham!

Regards Neil

[Gibbo2286]

I knew the face but couldn't think of the name, thought he had a bit of a likeness to Mandelson the commie now sitting in the Lords.

[mickthemaverick]

Yes all correct on the mystery man, as for the ELO track the connection is that Roy Wood lives in Ashbourne!!

[NewcastleFalcon]

Today's jaunt had me noticing a couple of Derby refs

Made in Derby

faded poster Derbyshire Dales

Regards Neil

[Gibbo2286]

Had the ELO chaps in my shop a few times, they were using Clearwell Castle as a studio, one one occasion they were discussing a release of:

[NewcastleFalcon]

Another railway connection to Derbyshire for me were the wagons I liked the best on my model railway. They seemed to run and track much better than the majority of wagons, maybe due to their longer wheelbase, and the connection to Derbyshire?

See for yourself:

Absolutely connected with the Bolsover Colliery Co. who also developed mines in Nottinghamshire as well as Derbyshire, and it notes on the model trucks "When Empty return to Thoresby Colliery" (one of the Notts Mines owned by the Bolsover Colliery Co before the NCB took over.)

I have given it a decent look but nowhere so far can I find an image of an actual train which includes one, or many of those trucks. Maybe not resolvable for todays thread but a bit of trivia to find and post on Trivia Investigation Team thread if such an image can be found.

Never mind got one....Not my site even though the page is headed "Neil's Local History and Mining Site!"

https://www.oldminer.co.uk/bolsover-1930-s-1.html

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Don't remember much about it but for a good 20 minutes or so I had a decent pant in the country round Markeaton Park Derby in March 1975 as it was the venue for the English Schools Cross-Country Championships.

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

National Cycle Route 68 kicks off in Derbyshire aka "The Pennine Cycleway", and its a thing doing the Pennine Cycleway all 355 miles of it.

The FCF have a thread on it, and covered its entire length from Derby to Berwick upon Tweed through Derbyshire, little bit of Cheshire, Yorkshire/Lancs/ Cumbria/Northumberland.
Kicks off here

https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... 38#p644538

Bit of Visuals. National Cycle Route 68 doesnt start at the Main Derby Railway Station (edit-debatable...see here) but if travelling by train you will more than likely alight with your bicycle there to make your way to the starting point.

The rise and fall of one of Derby's iconic landmarks

Quite a pleasing piece of architecture


This was the fate that awaited it in the 1980's

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Enjoyed a decent Sunday late afternoon meal in here, just off the A6 at Rowsley, between Matlock and Bakewell. Marstons branded Pub, does a decent rotisserie chicken.

Just up from it is the Peak Village retail centre, where when we were there was hosting a collection of Triumph Sports cars.

REgards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

I think we are just about done for Derbyshire

Time to select Sunday's County of the day

_________Derbyshire Done_________

Only 9 left now...
1 Devon 2 Durham
3 Gloucestershire 4 Huntingdonshire 5 Kent
6 Midlothian 7 Renfrewshire 8 Stirlingshire 9 Tyrone

Random Selection number/County 6 Midlothian for Sunday

Definitive map
https://wikishire.co.uk/map/#Midlothian ... 83/zoom=10
.
Main towns and cities
Edinburgh, Bonnyrigg, Dalkeith, Easthouses, Loanhead, Musselburgh, Newbattle, Newtongrange, Penicuik

Regards Neil
.

[mickthemaverick]

A very sunny flag for Midlothian:

BFTW

Details here.

The location:

BFTW

Neil has listed the major places in the introduction to Midlothian.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Midlothian for me is well-loved, well known and part of the family.

Recent visit to Midlothian, two views of Musselburgh on the same night.

Sunset over Arthur's Seat from Musselburgh Harbour

The Frying Scotsman

Regards Neil