ZAK Whitbread knows he facing a tough battle to keep his place in the Derby County side.

Whitbread and Ryan Shotton have each played two of the past four matches at centre-half, alongside skipper Richard Keogh.

Their chance arose due to the suspension and then injury lay-off of Jake Buxton.

Buxton is now back in training and due to feature in a private friendly against Burnley tomorrow.

Assuming Keogh recovers from the slight hamstring strain he suffered on international duty with the Republic of Ireland, there could be four players competing for two positions ahead of Saturday's Championship match at Reading.

Steve McClaren's men have not conceded a goal in their past four games.

Whitbread partnered Keogh in the heart of the defence in the goalless draw against Millwall last time out and the 2-0 win at Bolton.

Shotton took his place, though, for the Capital One Cup tie against Reading and the League victory over Bournemouth.

"We've got a tremendous squad here and Ryan has come in every time and produced," said Whitbread.

"It's a squad game and we need all those players."

Whitbread accepts that nobody in the team is guaranteed a starting spot.

"There wasn't much said to me (after he was left out against Bournemouth)," he said.

"We're just lucky we've got players who can come in and step up.

"We've got options there. It's probably not the norm but there have been a lot of games and fresh legs coming in is always a positive.

"It's not something I'm too concerned about.

"The shirt is never anyone's. It's there for everyone to be fighting for, so you know you've got to be on your toes every time you come in, otherwise there are plenty of others who can come in and perform at a high level."

Whitbread was on loan at play-off finalists Derby last season and made the move permanent in the summer when his contract expired at Leicester City.

He has made only 10 appearances for the club so far, having been hampered by a calf injury soon after first arriving last term, but has started four of the Rams' last six matches.

"It was unfortunate," he said. "I was fit for most of last season – there were only a few weeks that I was out.

"That's always frustrating but, the rest of the time, I was patient and it was a pleasure being around the squad.

"It was an amazing journey, which in the end, wasn't quite to be."

Now he has had more of a taste of first-team action, the American-born 30-year-old will be doing his utmost to keep the shirt.

"It's great to be playing games – that's what it's all about for me," added the former Norwich City man.

"As long as the lads are getting results, picking up points and I'm a part of it, great.

"I've got to do everything I can to keep the shirt now."

ALEX MacDonald's thunderbolt to beat Northampton Town will live long in the memory of Burton Albion fans.

The winger struck one of the best Brewers goals seen since the club got into the Football League, almost tearing the back of the net off with his 35-yard free kick on Saturday.

A cleaner strike into the top corner will rarely be seen at any level of football.

The winner was fantastic – but more important was the result.

Albion had led 1-0 through Jacob Blyth's tidy finish on the stroke of half-time.

As the game wore on it looked like the Brewers would hang on for one of their determined 1-0 wins.

But when Ryan Cresswell seized on a loose ball to slam home an equaliser with 10 minutes left it looked like Albion would do well to hang on for a point.

The momentum was with a decent Cobblers side, albeit one stripped of top scorer Marc Richards through injury.

Albion's confidence had taken a dent with a run of five defeats in six matches – the question was whether they could avoid conceding another.

However, the answer was MacDonald's super winner.

It, and the determined performance, ended the disappointing run.

The game could well be looked at as a turning point when the season is reviewed in May.

The result and the way it was achieved hark straight back to the first month-and-a-half of the season.

There was real purpose to the way the Brewers went about the game, even when Northampton got on top for a chunk of the first half and much of the second.

Albion's defence – which looked wobbly at times in the past month – was back to a more solid unit, even without the reliable Shane Cansdell-Sherriff because of flu.

Ian Sharps gave a captain's performance with John Mousinho moved alongside him at the back, the central midfielder showing, if proof were needed, that he is a more than capable centre-half.

But the whole side from front to back did well, none more so than Blyth.

He proved he can play the lone target man role well, bringing others into the game.

He also showed a poacher's instinct with his excellent finish.

With Stuart Beavon absent it was important that someone stepped into his boots and Blyth did that, albeit with a different style.

At times in the last year Albion have sometimes lacked that target man in certain games – they may have found the answer in Blyth.

Boss Gary Rowett made four changes from the side which lost 3-0 to Doncaster in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Out went goalkeeper Dean Lyness – given a rare start in the cup tie – Cansdell-Sherriff, Damien McCrory, who is still gaining match sharpness, and striker Dominic Knowles.

In came Jon McLaughlin in goal, George Taft at left-back, Robbie Weir in central midfield and Adam McGurk on the left wing.

Mousinho, usually a midfielder, started at centre-half and Matty Palmer was put in a holding role in front of the back four.

MacDonald moved into an advanced central midfield position with Weir, while Blyth ploughed a lone furrow up front.

For Northampton, Richards – League Two's leading marksman – had been ruled out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury. There was also no Zander Diamond, with the popular ex-Burton defender out with an ankle injury.

Cobblers striker Alex Nicholls made a first appearance in the league for them since he broke his leg badly against Port Vale in 2012.

After only 50 seconds the ball broke to MacDonald in space just inside the Northampton area but his low drive was blocked.

Kaid Mohamed then hit a low shot following a corner at the other end but the ball ran straight through to McLaughlin.

A minute later Ivan Toney appealed for a penalty as he went to ground under a challenge from Mousinho but referee Gary Sutton did not even give it a second look.

After 23 minutes, Mousinho did well to head clear a cross from Mohamed before putting in a brave block on Toney. Dangerman Chris Hackett's shot was then saved by McLaughlin.

It had been a good start from Albion but Northampton had gradually got on top.

Burton made a good start but Northampton gradually got on top.

Phil Edwards put in a magnificent challenge to deny Ivan Toney an almost certain goal after 35 minutes as he met a searching Ben Tozer cross from close range. Edwards did just enough to get a piece of the ball.

A minute later, Kaid Mohamed put the ball over an open goal after Nicholls had challenged McLaughlin bravely for another Tozer cross from the right.

The ball fell to Mohamed but he fired over the gaping net from 10 yards under pressure from Sharps.

Albion took the lead on the stroke of half-time as Blyth blasted an unstoppable low shot past Jordan Archer.

McGurk broke through the middle and tried to find Weir, surging into the area.

He dummied it and the ball came through to Blyth, to the right of centre, and he crashed a shot home from 12 yards.

The striker's second of the season came somewhat against the run of play but no-one in the Albion camp was complaining.

Nicholls fired well over after 55 minutes when Toney got up well to flick a long ball on as the hosts started to gather a little momentum after the break.

Chris Hackett then hit a free kick wastefully over from 25 yards following a Mousinho foul on Toney.

Just past the hour, MacDonald forced Archer into a decent stop with a powerful drive from 25 yards after McGurk's cross was cleared by Northampton.

McGurk then headed a Palmer cross over from 10 yards.

Although the Cobblers were having plenty of the ball they were doing little of note with it.

The Brewers broke through Palmer after 79 minutes. He found Marcus Harness wide on the right and the young winger's cross got to Blyth.

The striker got the ball stuck in his feet but got it to Akins, whose powerful low shot from 15 yards was saved by Archer.

Cresswell then threatened to break Brewers hearts with less than 10 minutes left.

A long free kick from substitute Danny Alfei was not cleared by Albion and Cresswell was able to hammer it in from 15 yards.

It looked bleak for Albion as the game entered the last five minutes but up stepped MacDonald with that free kick after Joel Byrom fouled him 35 yards out.

Hackett went close to an equaliser with a header in added time but it would have been rough justice on the Brewers.

ALFRETON Town reserved their best performance of the season for the television cameras as they ended a four-match goalless losing streak in style against Torquay United.

Paul Clayton stole the limelight in only his fifth start of the season, helping to make the first two goals before scoring the third in style, while Karl Hawley weighed in with a brace against the club he played for last season.

Their efforts left Reds manager Nicky Law satisfied with his decision to pair them up front – although he wished Hawley had delivered sooner.

"The pair of them gave us a base," said Law.

"We got it forward early, they won the first ball and dropped on the second and we could come in behind it then.

"Paul was ready for the chance and then you are looking at Hawley and to be fair, you would be valid in asking the question 'where has that performance been before? Why has it taken against Torquay, his old team, to produce it?'

"He showed why he has been a top player.

"The difference was that the goals came with the performance.

"We have not reached the heights of that performance this season but the finishing was of the highest order."

Things might have been different if Tony Ajala and Ryan Bowman had not squandered good chances for the Gulls within the first two minutes.

The Reds settled and Hawley had two attempts saved by keeper Martin Rice by the 16th minute.

Two minutes later, he had better luck, as Clayton headed on a Cameron Dawson goal kick and Hawley scampered clear down the left before beating Rice at his near post with a powerful shot.

It ended 406 minutes without a goal for the Reds.

Torquay equalised after half an hour following their only corner of the first half when the ball reached Louis Briscoe on the edge of the area and he curled a shot beyond Dawson.

Luke Graham's precise tackle moments after the re-start prevented Briscoe from playing Bowman through, then Graham was at the centre of a contentious decision in the 32nd minute.

He headed in a Shaw corner and it looked a harsh decision when the goal was ruled out for a push, TV replays failing to pick up the infringement.

However, the Reds nipped in front just before half-time when Dan Gray's long throw from just inside his own half was headed on by both Clayton and Hawley to leave Shaw unmarked 12 yards out.

He chested the ball down neatly and picked his spot with ease.

Both Shaw and David Mellor had shots blocked by Dale Tonge as the second half began but an awful error by Dawson gifted Torquay a 54th-minute equaliser.

He failed to hold Luke Young's cross and Briscoe was left with an empty net three yards out as the Reds keeper fell back into the net.

Dawson atoned with a brilliant save 15 minutes later to thwart Duane Ofori-Acheampong at close range after Ajala crossed from the right and that seemed to act as a catalyst for Alfreton to go on and win – not least since they regained the lead a minute later.

Clayton, who had shown signs of tiring after winning virtually every aerial challenge in the first half, summoned up enough energy to run on to Hawley's header and chip the keeper exquisitely from just inside the area.

Seven minutes later it was all over for Torquay when Bradley Wood's long ball down the right was not dealt with by Courtney Richards, who virtually presented the ball to Hawley.

The striker needed no second invitation, advancing on Rice and again beating him at his near post, this time with his right foot.

"Overall, it was a good, solid performance and we have got to go and build on that," Law reflected.

HOW easy it is to be judgmental – how easy and yet, sometimes, unfair too.

Truancy from school has always been a problem and the tendency for many of those whose children have never been guilty of this is to point the finger of blame at the parents.

"I'd get them out of bed and drag them by the ear to the school gates in a morning" is glibly offered.

Except that, even if the reluctant pupil accompanies his ear to the gates for 8.50am, there is still absolutely no guarantee that at 8.59am he or she will not be half-a-mile away again.

Then whose fault is it?

The case we report today, of the parents taken to court for the regular non-attendance of their 14-year-old son, will surely provoke more sympathy than criticism or derision.

Derby city councillor Fareed Hussain says court action is only a "last resort".

In this case, though, the fact that magistrates opted to impose a conditional discharge, rather than the prison sentences which they have dished out in some other cases, suggests they had a real understanding of the difficulties this couple face on a daily basis.

The boy often refuses to get out of bed. He has physically and mentally abused them and stolen from them. Police have warned them they cannot use force to get him out of bed.

What an ongoing nightmare for the couple. What can only add to their frustration is the fact that, a month after the court imposed a parenting order, they have heard nothing further.

That is outrageous. Whether or not these parents are failing, the system most certainly is.

Just as dispiriting is the fact that, after a community paediatrician decided Jack may be autistic and recommended an urgent appointment, he is on a 16-month waiting list.

That will seem like an eternity and, whatever may be said about lack of resources, it is an appalling condemnation of these support services.

THE manager of a new £1.7 million leisure and shopping centre at Mercia Marina hopes the development will attract tourists to the area.

The Boardwalk, which includes a farm shop, fashion stores, beauty salon and a restaurant, officially opened over the weekend.

And Robert Neff, general manager of the marina, said he hoped the development would entice people to see what is on offer in Willington.

He said: "We really wanted this development to make Mercia Marina a visitor destination.

"There is a lot for people to do here – fashion shops, bars, as well as a farm shop which uses all local produce.

"The site is beautiful and we want people to come and see the marina and the 24-acre lake that surrounds it."

The Boardwalk also includes four office units on the upper floor and an events area outside, in addition to space for six commercial boats.

More shops are expected to open before Christmas.

Over the weekend, a grand opening event was held, featuring street performers and magicians, live music, boat rides, children's entertainment and fireworks.

Visitors were also able to sample the new sensory garden and several nature and wildlife trails around the 74-acre site in Findern Lane.

Other entertainment included the Fairly Fresh Fish Company – a comedy duo which performed among the crowds – as well as the 1623 Theatre Company, a Shakespearean acting troupe which performed on a canal boat.

Last night, South Derbyshire MP Heather Wheeler marked the opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the close of the weekend's celebrations.

Mr Neff said the project had taken four years to deliver, including the past ten months of building work.

He said: "We're really pleased with the turnout and hope that people are impressed.

"A lot of people may never have been to Mercia Marina before but now is the time to see what we have here."

Jon Marianski, 61, who lives on a narrowboat at the marina, welcomed the new development.

He said: "The new centre is very nice and the bistro restaurant is a lovely place to eat.

"I absolutely love living here and I think the new centre will bring people from across the county to see what we have here."

Michael Euston, of Littleover, was at the event with his nine-year-old son, George.

He said: "We often come down to the marina for a walk around.

"The shops here are great, particularly the food shop, which has a nice delicatessen.

"The new part is great to help develop the area and bring it on."

A 22-YEAR "Normanton hard man" who led a 20-strong gang in an attack on a "wholly innocent man" has been jailed for 18 months.

Jamil Hamza threatened the man with a telescopic cosh while a 17-year-old youth threw a hammer at the victim during the altercation in Hartington Mews.

Derby Crown Court was told that the victim, who was targeted in a case of mistaken identity, was left "frightened for his life" after the incident on July 2.

Sonal Ahya, prosecuting, said: "The man was shocked, shaken and concerned the group may return.

"He said he was frightened for his life."

Jailing Hamza, of St Chads Road, Derby, Judge Stuart Rafferty told him: "You may have a reputation as a hard man in the Normanton area, taking the law into your own hands and acting out petty vendettas, in this case on a wholly innocent man.

"But the community are utterly sick of this type of behaviour and should be allowed to live their lives free from this sort of oppression.

"It was an utterly disgraceful incident and it's a mercy that no-one was seriously injured. There is an anger in you that's graphically making you a very dangerous person."

Miss Ahya said the victim was called to his home when a friend telephoned him to say a man was peering through his window. He returned home and found Hamza sitting outside in a car.

Miss Ahya said: "The man approached the vehicle and Hamza reversed it before driving at the man, causing him to jump out of the way.

"A while later, a group were in the street, carrying weapons such as bricks, hammers and wood with nails attached.

"One of them threw a hammer at the man, which missed and hit a car belonging to a witness."

Hamza admitted affray, as did his teenage accomplice, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The court was told that Hamza's offending dated back to 2006 and included battery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and dishonesty charges. In 2012, he was jailed for 32 months for an assault.

"Steve Cobley, for Hamza, told the court: "He accepts this was disgraceful criminal behaviour."

Avik Mukherjee, for the teen, said his client also accepted that he had become involved in a "disgraceful incident of public disorder".

He was handed a youth rehabilitation order, a tagged curfew for three months and a five-year restraining order forbidding him to contact the victim.

Hamza was handed an indefinite restraining order against the same man.

PROTESTERS battling against plans for up to 300 homes on the edge of Mickleover say the area's roads, schools and doctors' surgeries will not be able to handle so many newcomers.

Commercial Estates Group has applied to South Derbyshire District Council for permission to build at Mickleover, off Etwall Road.

CEG has said the proposal "will help to relieve a significant housing shortfall in South Derbyshire".

But protesters say that the combination of the latest proposal, together with plans for homes at nearby Hackwood Farm, and Onslow Road, and a development off Radbourne Lane – where building work is under way – will be too much for local infrastructure.

Sue Huskins, 66, of Greenside Court, Mickleover, said a medical centre in the area had already closed its books to new patients.

And she said access plans for the site that would see traffic lights installed on the A516 could increase congestion and the chance of accidents on the road.

Mrs Huskins said the fields proposed for homes had been pasture since Medieval times.

Cynthia Allen, 65, also of Greenside Court, said there was already a lack of facilities in Mickleover.

She said: "We have just a small park off Vicarage Road, the only public toilets are in Tesco, there's nothing for young people.

"Our leisure areas are the paths and byways on the land they want to build on."

The area outlined in the planning application is not on the list of locations that the district council has earmarked for future housing.

This has not yet been finalised but, once it is, the likelihood of developers being refused planning permission for sites not on the list, will increase.

A spokeswoman for CEG said the site would be 30% low-cost housing, "which would provide 90 much-needed affordable homes for local people".

She said: "The scheme will also provide a significant amount of on-site public open space which will be available for use by the local community as well as future residents of the development.

"This is a sustainable proposal which includes new pedestrian and cycle links in order to encourage the use of non-car transport.

"Traffic surveys and highways analysis have highlighted that there is capacity on the local highway network to accommodate the vehicles arising from this proposal."

A district council spokesman said a decision on the proposal would be made "in the near future by delegated powers or committee".

A VIOLENT father who assaulted two teenage daughters by hitting them with a screwdriver and a wooden spoon and punching them over a three-hour period has been jailed for 18 months.

The 43-year-old man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, assaulted his daughters when they tried to protect their mother who had intervened in an argument he was having with his son.

One of the daughters, who is now estranged from the family, said in a victim impact statement: "Because I have spoken out about my father's violence, I am no longer welcome in the family home. They are too scared of him to show me any support.

"It's amazing to wake up every morning without the constant threat of being subjected to abuse.

"I should have felt safe in the family home... it was like a torture chamber."

During the incident, which started at 11pm on a May evening in a house in Derby, the father slapped and punched one of his daughters before hitting her across the back with a vacuum cleaner cable.

The girl had then gone into her bedroom and called the police.

Sarah Allen, prosecuting atDerby Crown Court, said: "The police arrived. The defendant spoke to the officers and as the family were all sitting quietly they believed everything was in order and left. The girl was too scared to tell police it was her who had telephoned. After they left, the father demanded to know who had called the police."

It was then the defendant picked up a screwdriver and used it to hit his two daughters on the knees and punched their heads. "He made them kneel in front of him and hit them to their head and hands with the screwdriver," said Miss Allen.

He then used the head scarf of one of them to throw her on to the settee and tried to strangle her with his hands – she had struggled to breathe and was flailing about and screaming. The other girl tried to protect her sister but he pulled her off the sofa and continued to assault the other girl.

The attacks ended at 2.30am when the girls managed to go to bed. However the next day he began to attack one of the girls again and that was when the other teenager called the police.

Sentencing the man, Recorder Nigel Daly said: "It was an extreme abuse of power and the trust daughters are entitled to put in their fathers."

The man admitted three offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

In today's Derby Telegraph you will meet this year's Win a Wedding couples, all of whom will be hoping to win our fantastic £15,000 wedding at the beautiful Cathedral Quarter Hotel in August 2015.

In addition to our couples, you will also find the first voting coupon and voting registration form.

It's easy to vote; simply cut out the coupons, complete them with your favourite couple's details, and send them in as they direct.

Each batch of voting coupons must be accompanied by a completed voting registration form in order to be counted.

The top five couples as voted for by our readers will progress to the Win a Wedding Final Night held at the Cathedral Quarter Hotel in December and will compete against each other in a series of tasks to earn points.

The couple with the most points at the end of the night will be crowned our winners.

In addition to the venue and wedding breakfast, the winning couple will receive the bride's gown courtesy of Stately Brides, groom's suit hire thanks to Brigdens, £500 towards wedding rings from bespoke jeweler Flash Jordan, invitations and a table plan created by P.S. I Love You, and a wedding cake from Cake Decor.

On top of this, they will also receive hair styling for the bride and bridesmaids at Harvey Luke, make-up by Sheelagh Powell, flowers from Jo Beth Floral Design, and coverage of their big day from Jakt Photography and Light Films, ensuring their happy memories are captured forever.

The bride will arrive for her big day in style courtesy of a beautiful white Rolls-Royce from Wedding Cars of Derby, while all the guests will be invited to dance the night away thanks to a disco from 4Events.

As weddings can be stressful, the wonderful Owl House Day Spa will provide some well needed rest and relaxation for the happy couple in the form of a Langley Lovebirds Package.

Last year's winning couple, Leeanne Moore and Stuart Groombridge, were married in August this year.

"It was amazing, a truly fantastic day," Leeanne said. "I married the man I love in the dress I always wanted in front of all our closest family and friends."

The pair won their £15,000 dream wedding by beating out fierce competition from other finalists last December, securing victory after providing the closest answer to the tie-breaker question after a closely fought contest.

Leeanne commented, "It means I now have no worries or stress about money for the big day."

"We're so lucky. It's one of the best days of my life, without a shadow of a doubt."

For all the latest info on this year's competition and information about voting. like our Facebook page.

TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Rolls-Royce worker and champion budgerigar breeder described as the "Brian Clough" of the budgie world.

William Bancroft, known as Bill, was born in Peel Street, in 1924, and was the only son of Thomas and Ivy Bancroft.

As a schoolboy he was a promising footballer and was signed by Derby County.

But persistent knee problems curtailed what could have been a glittering career as a forward.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Bill joined up and served in a regiment in the RAF. He was involved in the D-Day Landings, where he was parachuted in behind enemy lines, as well as helping the victims of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in north Germany.

Bill arrived two days after the liberation of the camp and would have been involved in dealing with some of the 13,000 unburied bodies along with the 60,000 surviving prisoners, some Jewish, others Soviet POWs. More than half of those were to die from typhus in the months after liberation.

His wife, Lyn Bancroft, said his experiences during the war left a lasting legacy with him for the rest of his life.

Lyn, 62, said: "He had a recurring nightmare right up until the day he died where one of his fellow soldiers took a mortar round in the back and died in his arms. He never talked about his experiences. He just kept them bottled up inside.

"He never even applied for any of his medals and it was only latterly, after a bit of persuasion, that he sent off for his Veterans Badge."

After leaving the Army he began working for Rolls-Royce and carried on supporting his beloved Derby County.

Lyn said: "He began working on the factory floor and that was where he lost his right hand in an accident.

"He was working on a machine changing a blade when the safety mechanism failed and it dropped down and chopped his hand off.

"The firm admitted liability for it and he had a job for life there."

That accident, which occurred in 1956, came in the middle of his heyday as a budgerigar breeder while living inAllestree. Lyn said: "Bill got into bird breeding after his dad won a budgerigar in a raffle in 1935. His mother and father were very successful breeders of Chow Chow dogs and Bill wanted to be as good a budgie breeder.

"He joined the Budgerigar Society in 1947 and was president of the group in 1977.

"He was the Brian Clough of the budgerigar world.

"He was fiercely competitive but he was also incredibly loyal and once you broke this hard outer shell you found a very kind and gentle man. He would call a spade and spade and you always knew where you stood with him."

Losing his hand very nearly caused him to stop keeping his beloved birds however.

Lyn said: "Bill nearly gave up keeping the birds because he couldn't perform certain tasks because of his hand loss.

"He went to the limb centre and explained that he needed a pair of tweezers so that he could keep the birds. They made him a special pair that would fit into his appendage and it allowed him to carry on."

And his dexterity with his new tool also allowed him to win numerous bets with people who questioned his abilities.

Lyn said: "He would have bets with people who didn't believe he could pick up cigarette ash without breaking it with his tweezers. He won a lot of money doing that!"

And budgies were also what brought Lyn and Bill together.

The pair met in 1978 when Lyn was exhibiting her birds in Banbury and Bill was judging.

She said: "Our eyes met over a hot dog and the rest is history.

"We were both in a similar situation with our marriages and as our divorces went through we called one another to offer a mental crutch and then we got together."

The pair moved up to Worksop in 1979 before moving to moved to Sutton in Ashfield where they have lived ever since with Bill retiring from Rolls-Royce in 1983.

The couple were married for 33 years and had no children. Bill had one son, James, from his first marriage to Winifred.

He died, aged 90, after a long battle with heart problems. His funeral took place at Nottingham Road cemetery.

Lyn would like to thank everyone who attended and asked that Mick and Carol Millington ring the Derby Telegraph, on 01332 291 111, extension 6334, so that their contact details could be passed on to her.

CONSULTANTS for the Market Hall, what next?

Why not move traders to empty stalls in the Eagle Centre and convert the Market Hall into a much-needed theatre? Bulldoze the Assembly Rooms and create a new car park. Job done, consultancy fee zero.

M J Arnold

Chaddesden Park Road, Chaddesden

YOU know when disabled Chris Molesworth is sailing solo because his empty wheelchair is parked on the jetty.

But while the 49-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, enjoys the open water his thoughts turn to his late wife, Kat, who bought him the boat.

"She left me some money and I bought Dreamcatcher – my sailing boat," said Chris, who lives on Lower Eley Street in Derby.

"She died four years ago and sometimes, when I'm on the water, I think she's around and watching me. It's all thanks to Kat and her family in America."

Chris, who cannot walk and has limited speech, married Kat Vineyard ten years ago. He met his Memphis belle on the internet in 2000 and the pair fell in love. They tied the knot four years later.

"Her death was sudden," said Chris, who uses an electric wheelchair and needs round-the-clock care.

"I had been out sailing and when I got back home, she was dead. She was in the chair and it was a very big shock. I was told she had a blood clot in her lung. It was very upsetting at the time.

"When we were together, she knew how much I loved to go sailing but I could never afford to buy my own boat.

"She told me one day I'd get one and then she died and left me some money."

Chris spent £8,000 on Dreamcatcher – a small sailing boat, which he keeps at Swarkestone Sailing Club.

Last month, all the specialist adaptations were finally finished and now he is sailing solo.

"When I was sailing with a crew in a double-handed boat I felt fairly free," said Chris. "But now, sailing solo gives me the chance to be totally independent.

"Getting away from my wheelchair for a couple of hours means everything to me.

"Once my personal assistant has helped me into the boat and set my battery-powered control system up, it is down to me to control Dreamcatcher.

"Where we go and how fast we go is up to me. And yes, I still make mistakes."

It has taken four years to get Chris's boat adapted to suit his needs.

His friend and fellow sailor, Mark Alton, has been instrumental in the work. The 55-year-old, from Sawley, designed and built a unique foot-steering device so Chris can manage the controls himself.

Mark said: "It has taken a very long time. Most of the bits and pieces we bought were from eBay.

"I'm a sailor myself so I know about boats but trying to adapt a boat for a person with huge mobility restrictions is very tricky.

"Chris's level of disability did cause me a few problems and we also had to stick to a pretty tight budget. But we've done it and that is really all that matters."

Mark used to work for Chris as one of his personal assistants. Now he meets him at Swarkestone Sailing Club and helps him sail.

Every week he volunteers his time to Chris, preparing the boat for use. Mark said: "He's just a regular bloke. It seemed like the right thing to do. When he bought the boat, he wanted to get it adapted for him.

"I liked the whole idea. We have modified it and now it's good. I've done a lot of head-scratching over the last couple of years."

Chris is indebted to Mark and cannot thank him enough for what he has done for him.

Living with a disability is tough and he gets down, but sailing puts a smile on his face.

Chris said: "If Mark had not helped me, I would still be sailing with him. He would be helping me to control the boat and we would have to go out together.

"But now I can go on my own and I can race against other sailors – whatever their ability.

"Mark made me my own foot-steering system and winch. He is a very talented man. He was one of my personal assistants – that's how we met."

Chris called his boat Dreamcatcher because Kat loved making them and putting them up round the house. He still misses her very much. Now he is reliant on a huge amount of support from his carers.

"I'm all right," he said, despite shedding a few tears during the interview.

"When I sail, I can relax and think about things. I feel at one with nature. Kat helped me to do this and now I look forward to Wednesdays, when I can go sailing.

"Racing gives you the thrill of battling against the elements. It can be frustrating when there is no wind but it can also be scary when the wind is strong and catches me unaware.

"Sailing has set new goals for me and given my enthusiasm for the sport."

Leah Webb, 21, is Chris's carer today.

She has helped to translate for Chris, who can struggle to make himself understood.

"I am one of Chris's personal assistants," she said. "But it isn't like work. It's like hanging out with a friend. He does so well and he's brilliant at sailing.

"I go with him sometimes on a Wednesday and you can see him smiling.

"He loves it and I know he would like to go more.

"Losing Kat was devastating but there was a silver lining – and that's the Dreamcatcher.

"I know he misses her very much but the boat means everything to him now."

CHRIS'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DREAM

Chris would love to compete in the Hansa Class TT Series – a collection of sailing races which take place across the UK next year.

But his biggest wish is to enter the World Championships in 2016.

"The one thing stopping me now is the money," said Chris. "I really need to find some sponsorship so I can get to these events."

Chris's disability means he needs to employ carers to accompany him on the trips. He also needs to transport his boat and pay for suitable overnight accommodation which can cater for disabled people.

"I am now trying to get sponsorship," he said. "But most companies will only sponsor groups or organisations, rather than individual people.

"This is difficult when you are in a sport like sailing, trying to represent your country.

"Part of my dream has come true because I'm sailing. But now I would really like to start competing."

Chris has already entered the European Assess Championships, which are being held at Rutland Water in July 2016. Before then, he hopes to have secured a sponsorship deal. He needs about £2,000 to take part in the Hansa Class TT Series, which is made up of ten races.

"I would be really happy to put the company logo on Dreamcatcher," he said. "I could put it on the trailer as well."

For more information about Chris and his sailing, visit www.sailingendeavour.weebly. com.

THE article "We'll replace Assembly Rooms... if others help us pay £100 million bill" (October 3) is the first time I have seen accurate information about the fire damage.

Damage has been described as leaving a car body without an engine. Then surely the insurance payout will pay for a new engine on the roof of the car park.

J T Smith

Colwyn Avenue

Derby

THE ballroom of one of Derbyshire's oldest coaching inns has seen daylight for the first time in 40 years – after being restored as part of a £1 million project.

A major refurbishment is being carried out at the Old Bell Hotel, in Sadler Gate, Derby.

And entrepreneur Paul Hurst, who is overseeing the restoration, said visitors to the room had been amazed by the work.

He said: "When we first took over, the ballroom was pretty derelict and smashed up.

"Two glass domes on the ceiling of the ballroom had been covered up. They were smashed and had been painted over.

"After 40 years, we finally unveiled them. Now all we hear from people is 'Wow, wow, wow'. They cannot believe how great it looks."

Mr Hurst embarked on the restoration of the building, which dates back to about 1680, last year.

When he took over the venue, which had been last used as a nightclub, it had fallen into a dilapidated state, filled with tonnes of rubbish and infested with pigeons.

So far, the Tudor Bar has been restored and another area has been turned into a tearoom.

Mr Hurst said the ballroom had been the latest project and had taken about six months to complete.

He said: "It was a real mess after being abandoned for the best part of a year. It had squatters in it, too.

"It's taken us a long time to get the glass domes on the ceiling back to how they were hundreds of years ago but, with the help of Derby City Council and English Heritage, we have had them restored.

"The ballroom had been used for gigs and discos, so there was no natural light in there.

"We've had great feedback from people about the work. It's so rewarding to hear that after so many months of hard work."

Mr Hurst said the ballroom had been used as part of Derby Folk Festival, as a venue to host performers.

He said: "It was amazing to see people in the ballroom and to see it open again.

"There were about 300 people in there and the atmosphere was phenomenal.

"We've been inundated with bookings for weddings and conferences to be held in the ballroom.

"Years ago, the Old Bell Hotel was a community hub, a central place for people to go. We really want that once again and to make it available for everybody to use."

The next stage will involve revamping the frontage, with the help of the City Centre Grant Scheme, jointly funded by the council and English Heritage.

Mr Hurst added: "The next project is to open up the whole ground floor. There are 68 window casements which have had to be taken out and be restored.

"All the lead in them had been destroyed.

"We're then hoping to complete the front of the building.

"This is an important building, which a lot of people know a lot about.

"We want to make sure that it is kept that way."

TRAIN-LOVERS were going loco this weekend after seeing old locomotives and engines built in Derby at a special rail event.

Midland Railway, in Butterley, held the two-day event to celebrate 175 years of train-building in the city.

And visitors of all ages were given the special treat of riding the 73129 locomotive, worth £350,000, which is owned by Derby City Council.

The train, one of the last steam locomotives to be built at Derby works, returned to its home at Midland Railway after spending the summer at Severn Valley Railway.

John Williams, who worked as a train driver around the South Coast for British Rail for 27 years, was at the event with former railway colleagues.

John, 73, who lives in Rochester, said: "Trains have changed so much nowadays.

"It is nice to know that youngsters are interested in trains and not just adults who are keen.

"There are 15 of us who have come to Butterley. We have never been before. It is nice to see the old locomotives."

Josh Dixon, 27, of Swanwick, was at Butterley with his two-year-old son, Bobby, and was on board the 73129, which was renumbered as 73154.

Josh said: "We heard about the special weekend so we thought we would come along.

"We love coming to Butterley and going on the old trains. Bobby is obsessed with trains."

Sam Bridges, who works as a travel ticket inspector at Butterley, said the weekend event had been a success.

He said: "The event went very well with lots of people coming on the trains to have a look at them.

"It is important to celebrate the heritage of the railways and what was built in Derby."

A special carriage was also on show; the 6320 London, Midland and Scottish Railway Saloon, which was built at Derby Carriage and Wagon works in 1927.

It was a first-class corridor brake coach before being converted into an inspection saloon in 1960 for the chief projects officer of the West Coast Main Line Electrification scheme.

In May 1974, it was part of the Royal Train used to convey Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh when they inspected the West Coast main line between Preston and Glasgow.

John Balls, volunteer for The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust – which bought the 6320 carriage in 2001 – said: "It's great that people still want to see the old locomotives and have a ride on them and it is wonderful that these locomotives are working well.

"Train heritage must be celebrated by the public."

People also got the opportunity to see a locomotive dating from 1866, a carriage from 1865 and D4 a diesel locomotive from the 1950s.

Helen Brewster, day manager at Midland Railway, said: "Hundreds of people turned out to see the old locomotives and join in with the celebrations, which is very important if we are to carry on remembering the heritage of train building in the city."

IF a 14-year-old decides he does not want to go to school, how do you make him?

This is the problem that faces two Derby parents, John and Pam (not their real names) almost daily.

And it led to them being hauled up in front of the city's magistrates, who gave them a conditional discharge for 12 months, together with a £30 victim surcharge and a parenting order for each of them.

"The clock is ticking for us," said a clearly distressed John. "If we can't get Jack (not his real name) to put in a more regular attendance at school, then we'll be back in front of the magistrates and could be sent to prison."

His worries are very real. The Derby Telegraph revealed last month that four parents have been jailed and another five have been given suspended prison sentences in the city during the past 12 months.

John said: "We do everything possible to get our son to school. We are not feckless parents. We both work and have both tried hard to get him to school.

"We have suffered from assaults verbally and mentally. He has stolen hundreds of pounds from us and we've had to involve the police on a couple of occasions due to assaults on his mother.

"We've been told by the police and social services that we aren't allowed to force him out of bed as it's classed as an assault.

"We have attended endless meetings where this is reiterated to us, but then education welfare officers have suggested using a wet flannel on him to get him up.

"We have asked for assistance and taken part in the process to try and get him to school, but Derby City Council still took us to court.

"Our son is being tested for autistic spectrum disorder but, even though we have been asking for help for well over two years, he is still on a 16-month waiting list at the hospital to confirm this."

John said it had taken since he was at infant school to get Jack diagnosed with dyslexia, which finally happened last year.

John said: "I know that some parents can't be bothered, but we do bother and still the council has treated us as a percentage of attendance – a figure on paper – and not an individual case with individual needs.

"Thankfully, the magistrates paid far more attention to what we told them than the education welfare officer ever did. We had hoped the parenting order may give us more sensible strategies to help get our son to school.

"But as we have heard nothing in more than a month since the court case, we are beginning to wonder."

In court, the council produced a series of dates on which Jack was late for, or did not attend, school, resulting in his attendance falling to about 68% to 70% between March and July, when education welfare officers became involved.

A warning letter was sent to the couple in March, despite John explaining the difficulties of getting his son to go to school.

John said: "About this time, Jack's behaviour got worse and we were assaulted by him, resulting in the police being called.

"An officer arrived, handcuffed him and took him out to the car. We had a talk with the policeman and he decided to deal with the situation using restorative disposal. An agreement was reached that Jack would apologise and show an improvement in his behaviour."

The education welfare officer told the court that Jack had given a variety of reasons why he was always late for school, including tiredness, problems with his bike and not liking music on Tuesday mornings.

John said: "The officer tried to give Jack a timetable to stick to, such as getting up at 6.30am and leaving for school by 8am.

"His mother even took to ringing the welfare officer to explain he would not get out of bed."

The family took part in two attendance meetings at Jack's school in April but, despite being told he needed to get out of bed and to his lessons, they made little difference.

Attendance did not improve in May or June and a second warning letter was sent to Jack's parents.

John said: "Trying to get him to bed at night and out of bed in the morning has resulted in fierce arguments between all three of us.

"People will say we are bad parents and judge us from this but, if someone decides to be this difficult, it is almost impossible to deal with.

"Jack is unpredictable and can be violent at times. At others, he can be loving and sit and have a cuddle.

"But the least thing can stress him and result in violence. We have found him stabbing soft toys with a knife and have taken to sleeping with our bedroom door locked.

"The worst thing is that most of the time he doesn't think he has done anything wrong. On other occasions, he points out that, if he doesn't go to school, he can 'get us into trouble'.

"Clearly, something isn't right and we just need help to resolve this situation, but I cannot see how prosecuting us is of any benefit."

In March, the couple saw the NHS community paediatrician, who referred Jack to a clinical psychologist at Royal Derby Hospital.

Suspecting Jack had autism, the paediatrician recommended an urgent appointment should be made.

But the couple received a letter, informing them that Jack was being placed on a 16-month waiting list.

John said: "We had been hoping this could provide the key to Jack's behaviour, which we are at a loss to explain or deal with."