OUT of everything we do at Cycle Derby, the most sought-after service is teaching kids (and some big kids) how to ride a bike.

Parents can never believe how in less than an hour we transform their little ones from stabiliser-loving tots into two-wheeled confident riders.

What's our secret? Well don't tell anyone, but there isn't one!

There are two types of parents that struggle with getting their kids to learn to ride.

Parent A gives their child a hefty shove and if, after a couple of goes, there is no improvement, they shout at them telling them "it's so easy anyone can do it, why on earth can't you do it?"

Parent B gives their child a gentle push and as soon as they wobble and fall off, they run over, pick them up and hug and squeeze them telling them "it was the nasty bike's fault!"

In both cases the child is going to learn little or nothing at all.

The shouting, demanding parent only scares the child and puts them off cycling. If you were learning to drive would you want somebody shouting in your ear telling you that other people manage it so why can't you? I don't think so.

In the case of parent B, all this promotes is that the child knows if they can't do it they are going to get loads of attention so why would they learn?

So here is the tried and tested method we use.

First off, don't use a bike with stabilisers. If you have them, get rid! Sounds harsh, but all they achieve is letting your child ride at an angle on three wheels and when it comes to the time to try two wheels, they just add to your challenge.

For children aged between two and four, consider buying them a balance bike (a bike without pedals). It's by far the most effective way to get your child riding a bike.

Kids should be encouraged to scoot along creating speed and take their feet off the floor. Over time you will notice they can raise their feet for longer distances, they are now balancing and in effect riding a bike.

When we teach this in schools balancing can be achieved in minutes but that's because it's a focussed lesson. There is nothing wrong with letting your kids develop this skill in their own time when they are just enjoying themselves and having fun – after all that's what riding a bike is all about.

So, your child has got a new bike – with pedals – for Christmas, how do you teach them to ride it?

First, pick an area which is relatively free from distractions, with firm ground that has a gentle slope.

Before you start, it's really worth showing your child how to use the brakes. Don't make a big thing of it but explain that by pulling the two levers and remembering to put your feet down, you will be able to stop.

STAGE ONE – Balancing

If you haven't had access to a balance bike and you're starting from scratch, it's going to be slightly trickier but still lots of fun. For those who have done balancing use this stage with the new bike to get some practice in.

Continue with the scoot method getting them to raise their feet off the floor but remember, it will be more difficult as they now have the pedals in the way.

If they haven't done balancing before then get them to focus on an object in the distance and keep focussed on it. The reason kids fall over to start with is that they look down at the pedals to see where to put their feet, they then slow down and fall over.

Now this is where the back breaking bit comes in for you, but it's less demanding if you have got a slight slope to work with.

As they are focussing on the object in the distance and keeping their feet off the pedals, you can provide a gentle push by holding the back of the saddle to help with their balance before letting go.

At first they will only manage a couple of feet at best but after a couple of goes and as their confidence to keep their heads up improves, they will increase the distance.

Encourage every effort and soon you'll be able to give them a good push and watch them balance until the momentum runs out.

STAGE TWO – Pedaling

Firstly, you will need to set the pedals so your child will be able to achieve a good push forward to get them going.

Think of the pedals as a clock face. Set the pedals so that the dominant foot is resting on the pedal in either the 2 o'clock if it's the right or 10 o'clock if it's the left. Your child's opposite foot will be flat on the floor keeping them upright.

The trick here is again to get them to focus on an object in the distance while they use their dominant foot to press down with a big push on the pedal to generate some forward momentum.

For the first few goes you may have to assist with a gentle push on the back of the saddle. It will take time for them to trust themselves to look forward and not at their pedals but, the more practice, the quicker they will get it.

STAGE THREE – Practice

There is nothing more satisfying than watching your child zoom off on their bike for the very first time, so enjoy it.

Give them lots of opportunities to get out and about and try their new skills. The more they do the better they'll become.

A RAPIDLY growing pharmaceutical and healthcare products firm has become the latest business to move into a new multi-million pound development at a Derbyshire marina.

Bionical has taken offices at the Boardwalk, a £1.7 million scheme at Mercia Marina, near Willington.

The firm sources and supplies pharmaceutical and healthcare products all over the world.

The business, which last month changed its name from Ellis Pharma, has moved its global headquarters from Stretton, near Burton, to the marina. But it has retained its distribution centre at its old Stretton site.

Yesterday, Secretary of State for Transport and Derbyshire Dales MP Patrick McLoughlin visited Bionical to cut the ribbon at its new base and unveil a plaque.

A champagne reception followed, which was attended by South Derbyshire MP Heather Wheeler, along with Bionical's staff, clients and suppliers.

Bionical said it decided to change its name to reflect its increasing focus on its bio-analytical and biosimilar sourcing and supply business.

This division of the business has gone from strength to strength in recent months, significantly contributing to the company's spectacular doubling of turnover in the past year alone, pushing annual sales to more than £13 million.

Chief executive Graham McIntosh said: "Turnover and profit have soared this year but, most excitingly, potential for future growth remains vast.

"Our fantastic new headquarters at Mercia Marina are twice the size of our old premises in Stretton and provide the perfect base from which to build on our current success. The future looks bright."

The Boardwalk consists of a mix of offices and retail space.

Bionical has taken the top storey of the building, which officially opened in October.

Covering 74 acres, Mercia Marina is the largest inland marina in Europe, accommodating up to 600 boats.

Thanks to the Boardwalk, it now boasts shops – including a farm shop, clothing outlet and salon – and a pub/restaurant.

The development was granted planning permission towards the end of 2011.

Two developments were initially planned – the Boardwalk and the Lighthouse, a four-storey building.

But, last summer, marina bosses shelved the Lighthouse element of the scheme but pushed ahead with a revised version of the Boardwalk plan.

ASK my brother-in-law to name all 11 contestants and the cars they drove in Wacky Races and he'll reel them off from the top of his head.

Without pausing for breath, he will tell you straight away that car number 2 was the Gruesome Twosome in the Creepy Coupe, while car number 7 was the Anthill Mob in the Bulletproof Bomb.

Me? I had to Google the above to make sure I got this correct.

But then I'm not quite the nostalgic guy Vince is and I don't have a brain that retains trivia like a sponge that he has.

For the uninitiated (and anyone under the age of around 40), Wacky Races was a kids' cartoon broadcast during the 1970s.

It pitted 11 cars and their drivers against each other every week in a race across various fictional places in cartoon land.

The "goodies" were the glamorous Penelope Pitstop in the Compact Pussycat (car number 5) and her would-be beau Peter Perfect in car number 9, the Turbo Terrific.

And the "baddie", who always tried to cheat his way to the finishing line (and always failed), was the tremendously-named Dick Dastardly and his sidekick dog Muttley in car 00 – the Mean Machine.

The reason I'm giving you this history lesson in children's TV is because my daily commute to work appears to have morphed into a real-life version of Wacky Races.

My morning 30-minute drive to Derby these days sees me pitting my wits against a host of Dick Dastardlys, all eager and keen to beat me to the finishing line.

On Tuesday, a BMW driver was weaving in and out of the traffic, swapping lanes so quickly he looked like a magician playing a game of "which cup is the ball in?".

As he disappeared into the distance like a metal snake, I wished him luck in his endeavours as I rolled my eyes and tutted.

And, on Thursday, I was approaching Pentagon roundabout when a woman in a Vauxhall screeched and braked into the tiny gap in front of me so quickly and so hard that both she and I had smoke coming from our locked brakes.

It was, as my friend Phil is keen to say, "an FDO" – a Fool's Day Out.

I'm no psychologist so I'm not qualified to say why some motorists feel the need to turn into the East Midlands' equivalent of Lewis Hamilton when they get behind the wheel.

Maybe they just want to get to work quickly? Maybe they hate the idea of having to sit in a car for a nanosecond longer than they have to? Maybe they think they really are the East Midlands' equivalent of Lewis Hamilton?

I'm the first to admit that at times I have been known to drive too fast, but I don't take any risks when it comes to safety on the roads, life is too short and precious to lose it in that way.

And, for reasons I'll keep to myself, I've stopped listening to Radio Derby on my commute into the office and instead shut myself away with whatever music I have on the car stereo as I sit in my little metal box.

I find it gives me thinking time as I get myself ready for the day ahead.

And, while I'm certainly no Peter Perfect when it comes to driving, I'd like to think I'm less Dick Dastardly and more Red Max in the Crimson Haybaler (car number 4 for those who are still reading).

After all, the mounted machine gun he had on his part-car/part-aeroplane hybrid might come in useful sometimes.

A CENTURY ago, Anne Johns' grandfather was just one of hundreds of thousands of men "doing their bit" to preserve Britain's freedom in the First World War.

He was in an exempt occupation and did not have to join the fight, but, tragically, he was to die just 11 days before the end of the conflict.

Now Anne is taking part in a poignant ceremony to remember his sacrifice and to try to inspire others to give to good causes.

The centenary of the start of the conflict, which claimed almost 900,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers' lives, has led to many people taking the opportunity to research and remember their relatives.

Among them has been Anne, who has been looking into the life of her grandfather, Arthur Rowland Skemp, and his war service.

She is now preparing to sponsor a light on the city's Christmas trees outside the Cathedral and in the Market Place as part of the Rotary Club of Derby's Trees of Light campaign, for a minimum £5 donation.

She is hoping that by telling her grandfather's story she will encourage more people to sponsor a light for their relatives who were killed or fought in the First World War.

Anne, of Littleover, said: "I have been lucky that, in some ways, my grandfather's life was quite well-documented because of his academic career. I have inherited a number of documents that relate to his life, which I am still trawling through, but I have been trying to get to know the man himself a bit more by looking at the material.

"After all, he didn't need to sign up and go to war because he was in an exempt occupation because he was an academic.

"But he seems to have been morally driven to take up the fight, in which he was tragically killed just 11 days before the 1918 Armistice."

Arthur was born in Lancashire in 1882 and, as a child, lived in Altrincham. He studied at Manchester University and later at Strasbourg, before being appointed Winterstoke Professor of English at the University of Bristol in 1910, a year after his marriage to Jessie Dewrance Clarkson at Barrow in Furness.

He was the author of many works including "Robert Browning" and "Francis Bacon: Life and Work".

A contemporary wrote of him: "His remarkable powers as a lecturer on his subject were well known and he was idolised by staff and students alike for his intellectual gifts, strong and virile character, his energy and enthusiasm, and his geniality and unfailing kindness of heart, which endeared him to all."

When war broke out, Arthur was determined to join up but was initially turned down because his teaching ability was deemed far too valuable.

Instead, he became a prominent member of the staff of Bristol's Officer Training Corps and later Officer Cadet Battalion.

He eventually managed to persuade the OCB to let him go to the front temporarily in 1916 and he was finally transferred to the Gloucestershire Regiment as a lieutenant for active service.

He was posted on October 23, 1918, and joined the battalion at Canal de la Sambre et L'Oise.

On November 1, the battalion's war diary records that A Company were in the front line to the north-east of Mazinghien, near Le Cateau, when they were attacked by the Germans.

The company managed to repulse the attack, but they lost seven men in the hostilities, one of whom was Arthur. He had lasted eight days on the front. He was buried at the Highland Cemetery.

A special version of the University of Bristol publication The Nonesuch was devoted to Arthur and his life, as many people paid tribute.

University vice chancellor Isambard Owen wrote about him: "He had felt from the first that his right place was at the front, where he would be sharing to the full the labours, hardships and dangers of so many of his fellow-countrymen of his own age. Professor Skemp will remain in the memory of all who knew him as the very type and model of an Englishman."

Anne is pleased with the admiration her grandfather was held in but struggles to understand his determination to go to war.

She said: "I think he was a very passionate man who believed his destiny was to serve his country.

"A bit more of an insight into his character can be gleaned from the letters he wrote to his wife, Jessie, who appears to have been pregnant with their second son, Richard, when he joined the war and to whom she gave birth in March after his death – a child he did not live to see.

"It's possible he did not know she was even pregnant."

Anne's mother was Arthur's daughter Margaret, who was eight when he died, and the couple also had a son, Stephen, aged six in 1918.

In one letter, she wrote: "Arthur's kit came. Nothing at all personal in it, neither his watches, nor the tobacco pouch the cadets gave him. It was a disappointment. I suppose I was lucky to get the pocket case. I am thankful of that."

And, in another letter, just before he was killed, she said: "Long letter from Arthur last Thursday. Very cheerful, of course, and liking everybody and everything. Says he's sleeping on a bed a Bosche occupied six nights before."

Arthur's final letter was written to his eight-year-old daughter, Margaret, and arrived just after the Armistice.

Anne said: "Jessie would have heard quite quickly of his death by telegram and a personal visit but it is impossible to imagine how they must have felt receiving a letter from him after he had died.

"It has been an emotional roller-coaster getting to know my grandfather across the years like this and I wanted to commemorate him in some practical way.

So, it seemed very appropriate when I saw the Rotary Christmas trees – a symbol of people's genuine kindness and very real help where needed – which chimes with his character.

"I feel very sure he would have loved to be remembered in this way and, in the meantime, my research will carry on.

"I hope other people with ancestors from the First World War will take the same opportunity to remember them and raise money for charity in the process."

JOHN Maurice Smith, 41, of Werburgh Street, Derby, was fined £150, ordered to pay £85 costs, a £20 victim surcharge and had his licence endorsed with five penalty points for driving without due care and attention in Werburgh Street, on May 21.

DAVID Shaw, 52, of Farm Drive, Alvaston, was fined £75, ordered to pay £85 costs, a £20 victim surcharge and had his licence endorsed with six penalty points for speeding on the A5111 in Alvaston on July 1.

JOZEF Horvath, 50, of Clarence Road, Derby, was fined £50 and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge for driving while not wearing a seta belt in Osmaston Road, Derby, on June 13.

CARTER Daniel , 18, of Greenwich Drive South, Derby, was fined £200, ordered to pay £35 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for driving without displaying a front registration plate in Mayfair Crescent, Derby, on May 12.

DARREN Davey, 24, of Collingham Gardens, Mackworth, was fined £200, ordered to pay £85 costs, a £20 victim surcharge and had his licence endorsed with three penalty points for driving without a correct licence in Sinfin Lane, Derby, on August 13.

WARREN Rathbone, 30, of Brighton Road, Alvaston, was fined £200, ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for driving down a bus lane in Chequers Road, Derby, on June 23.

OLIVIA Munt, 26, of Pacific Way, Derby, was fined £140, ordered to pay £85 costs, a £20 victim surcharge and had her licence endorsed with three penalty points for driving while using a mobile phone in London Road, Derby, on October 21. No separate penalty was imposed for driving without a valid MOT certificate.

ANTHONY White, 34, of Evans Avenue, Allestree, was fined £80, ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and had his licence endorsed with three penalty points for driving the wrong way up a one-way street in Darley Park Road, Derby, on May 2.

KARL Andrew Priest, 29, of Hartington Street, Derby, was jailed for four weeks, suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay £15 compensation, £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge for stealing a CD and leather gloves from a named person on November 12.

DERBY County boss Steve McClaren has made three changes to his side for Saturday's Championship encounter with Norwich City (12.15pm).
Midfielder Jeff Hendrick and winger Jordon Ibe are recalled to the Rams starting line-up at the iPro Stadium, with Will Hughes and Simon Dawkins dropping to the bench.
And central defender Ryan Shotton returns following suspension, in place of Jake Buxton, who begins a two-match ban for his red card against Chelsea in midweek.
Striker Chris Martin faces his boyhood club for the first time since leaving to join Derby.
Forward Jamie Ward (thigh), midfielder John Eustace (adductor) and defender Zak Whitbread (back/hamstring) remain sidelined by injury.

Norwich boss Neil Adams has named an unchanged starting line-up following last Saturday's 5-0 win at home to Huddersfield Town.
DERBY COUNTY: Grant, Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Forsyth, Mascarell, Hendrick, Bryson, Russell, Ibe, C Martin. Subs: Roos (gk), L Naylor, Coutts, Hughes, Calero, Dawkins, Best.
NORWICH CITY: Ruddy, Whittaker, R Martin, Cuellar, Olsson, Howson, O'Neil, Tettey, Johnson, Hooper, Jerome. Subs: Rudd (gk), Turner, Grabban, Lafferty, Hoolahan, Redmond, Bennett.
REFEREE: P Tierney (Lancashire).

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

A GOAL from Johnny Russell just before half-time has given Derby County a 1-0 lead at the break against Norwich City.
Russell struck his seventh goal of the season in the 43rd minute to break the deadlock in Saturday's Championship clash at the iPro Stadium.
It was Derby's first effort on target in a tightly-contested opening period.
Norwich were first to threaten, Bradley Johnson heading Steven Whittaker's cross wide in the fifth minute, when he should have done better.
Gary Hooper then drove a low shot wide from 20 yards after combining well with Cameron Jerome five minutes later.
Derby's first opening came in the 18th minute but Chris Martin, facing his former club, glanced a near-post header wide from Omar Mascarell's corner.
Mascarell sent a long-range effort over the bar just after the half-hour.
Norwich thought they had taken the lead in the 32nd minute.
Alex Tettey turned inside Craig Forsyth and sent a low shot past Lee Grant from the edge of the box but Jerome, who stepped over the ball on its way into the net, was offside and clearly interfering with play, so the goal was ruled out.
Johnson saw his 25-yard shot whistle inches over the bar as half-time approached - but the Rams went in front moments later.
Martin provided a fine assist, bringing down a long ball forward and turning his man before sliding a pass across to Russell.
The Scottish forward took a touch before beating John Ruddy with a smart finish from 10 yards.

A LATE goal denied Derby County victory in their Championship clash with Norwich City.
Full-back Steven Whittaker struck in the 89th minute to earn the Canaries a 2-2 draw at the iPro Stadium.
The Rams led twice but were pegged back on both occasions.
Johnny Russell put them in front just before half-time, only for Cameron Jerome to level early in the second period.
However, Chris Martin regained the lead for the hosts soon afterwards, netting from the penalty spot against his former club.
Norwich, though, pressed hard to get their second equaliser - and might have even won it in the dying moments.
The visitors were first to threaten, Bradley Johnson heading Whittaker's cross wide in the fifth minute, when he should have done better.
Gary Hooper then drove a low shot wide from 20 yards after combining well with Jerome five minutes later.
Derby's first opening came in the 18th minute but Martin glanced a near-post header wide from Omar Mascarell's corner.
Mascarell sent a long-range effort over the bar just after the half-hour.
Norwich thought they had taken the lead in the 32nd minute.
Alex Tettey turned inside Craig Forsyth and sent a low shot past Lee Grant from the edge of the box but Jerome, who stepped over the ball on its way into the net, was offside and clearly interfering with play, so the goal was ruled out.
Johnson saw his 25-yard shot whistle inches over the bar as half-time approached - but the Rams went in front moments later.
Martin provided a fine assist, bringing down a long ball forward and turning his man before sliding a pass across to Russell.
The Scottish forward took a touch before beating John Ruddy with a smart finish from 10 yards.
Derby made a change at the break, bringing on Will Hughes for Jeff Hendrick.
But Norwich were level six minutes after the restart.
The Rams failed to clear their lines, allowing the unmarked Jerome to convert Johnny Howson's low centre from the right.
Derby were soon back in front, though.
With 53 minutes on the clock, Carlos Cuellar was adjudged to have fouled Martin just inside the area and referee Paul Tierney pointed to the spot.
Martin kept his nerve to score the penalty, sending Ruddy the wrong way with an emphatic finish.
It was by no means plain sailing for the Rams after that as Norwich pushed for another equaliser.
Johnson's shot hit Jerome and deflected just wide, while Whittaker's powerful 25-yarder flew narrowly past the post.
In the 89th minute, Norwich got their goal.
An outswinging corner from the left bounced across goal and Whittaker fired a low shot in off the post.
Norwich might have taken all three points but Grant parried Lewis Grabban's fierce drive and Jerome volleyed over after Richard Keogh had cut out Nathan Redmond's cross.
DERBY COUNTY: Grant, Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Forsyth, Mascarell, Hendrick (Hughes, 46), Bryson (Dawkins, 74) Russell, Ibe (Coutts, 83), Martin. Other subs: Roos (gk), L Naylor, Calero, Best.
NORWICH CITY: Ruddy, Whittaker, Martin, Cuellar, Olsson, Howson, O'Neil (Grabban, 72), Tettey (Redmond, 62), Johnson, Hooper (Hoolahan, 70), Jerome. Other subs: Rudd (gk), Turner, Lafferty, Bennett.
REFEREE: P Tierney (Lancashire).
ATTENDANCE: 27,974 (1,478 away fans).

"CLARET is the liquor for boys; port for men; but he who aspires to be a hero must drink brandy," said Dr Samuel Johnson.

In recent columns, I've considered Claret and pondered Port and now – to paraphrase M People – it's time to "search for the hero inside ourselves" with a few festive brandies. After all, it is Christmas and it's usually best to heed the words of a doctor!

So, what exactly is brandy? In short, brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. There are many types of brandy but the big three, and the ones I'd like to discuss, are Cognac, Armagnac and Calvados.

Cognac, the most famous brandy, is named after the town of Cognac in south west France.

It's produced in the wine-growing region surrounding the town and it can only bear the illustrious Cognac name if it conforms to certain traditions. Namely, it must be made from specified grapes, Ugni Blanc being the main one, and it has to be twice distilled in copper pot stills before an ageing period of at least two years in French oak barrels.

Two-year-old Cognacs are often perfectly palatable but for really rewarding drinking it's worth seeking out the more mature styles such as VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) or XO (Extra Old). The former is aged for at least four years and the latter for at least six years but, on average, for upwards of 20 years.

Many producers age their Cognacs well beyond the base requirements of the region and a fine example of this is the exquisite No. 10 VSOP by renowned producer, Ragnaud Sabourin.

It's floral, fruity, honeyed and spicy and belies its VSOP moniker with an extended ageing period of 10 years. Undoubtedly, there are cheaper alternatives but it's a classy and captivating Cognac that'll handsomely see off any festive torpor.

Personally, when it comes to digestifs (after dinner drinks), I tend to favour Cognac's slightly wild cousin – Armagnac.

From the Gascony region in south west France, Armagnac is the oldest of the brandies distilled in France and unlike Cognac, where big brands dominate, is mainly made and sold by small scale rural farmers.

Unlike doubly distilled Cognac, Armagnac is traditionally distilled only once in a column still which results initially in a highly fragrant and flavourful spirit.

Prolonged ageing in oak barrels softens this youthful ebullience and imparts a greater complexity to the spirit.

The barrel ageing also causes some of the alcohol and water to evaporate and this skywards bound disappearing element is referred to, rather romantically, as the 'part des anges' or 'angel's share.'

This Christmas, the Armagnac that'll be giving me a warm inner glow is the Baron de Sigognac Bas Armagnac 10 Ans D'Age.

It's complex and multi-faceted with fulsome flavours of prune, almonds, wood spice, vanilla and crystallised fruit notes. It's fantastic on its own or, weather permitting, outdoors with a mild Havana cigar.

Armagnac and Cognac both come from the south west of France but northern France also has a rich brandy heritage.

The region of Basse – Normandie (Lower Normandy) is famed for its apple brandy, Calvados, and known Norman distillations stretch back as far as 1554.

The official region of Calvados was created after the French Revolution and today comprises of three specific sub regions with their own rules and regulations.

'Fine' Calvados is something of a misnomer as it's the youngest, two years, of the various Calvados styles but if you try the supremely moreish Berneroy Fine Calvados it may well become the apple of your eye!

WATCH highlights of Derby County's 2-2 draw with Norwich City.

The Rams were denied victory by Steven Whitaker's 89th-minute equaliser at the iPro Stadium.

Steve McClaren's men had gone in front through Johnny Russell's opener just before half-time.

Cameron Jerome levelled early in the second half but Derby soon regained their lead when Chris Martin scored against his old club from the penalty spot.

However, the home side could not quite hold on for the victory.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter