A MUM-OF-TWO who suffered seven miscarriages before having her two daughters now plans to cycle 350 kilometres across India to raise money for a charity which supports mums-to-be and their babies.

Lindy Blackwell said she received no answers or support during her miscarriages between 1987 and 1991 and had almost given up hope of having a child when daughter Emily, now 21, was born.

So the driving instructor, who will turn 50 in October, said she felt inspired to help others in a similar situation when she read about the cycling challenge in a magazine.

Now Lindy, of Ilkeston – together with Emily – will spend five days riding through Kerala, a state in the south-west region of India.

The pair need to raise a minimum of £6,200 by July to take part in the challenge, which will be held in October.

Money raised by them will go to national charity Genesis Research Trust, which supports scientists and clinicians researching the causes and cures for conditions affecting the health of women and babies.

Lindy, who lives with husband Ady, 50, in Heathfield Avenue, said: "I was just sitting at the test centre when I saw an advert for this challenge in a magazine and I thought: 'I've got to go for it.'

"It was a long time ago when I had my miscarriages but, when I did, I knew nothing about this charity or any others. I didn't have any support.

"And it does make ask yourself: 'Why aren't I normal?' – because that's how it makes you feel.

"I can't even begin to imagine how a mother who has a stillborn child feels. It was hard enough for me losing my children after 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy.

"So, either way, I felt that I was doing something right if I could try to help other women going through this.

"On top of this, I felt my 50th birthday this October was a milestone and the fact this challenge coincided with just seemed to fit everything into place."

Lindy, whose other daughter, Georgia, is 15, said the challenge was initially daunting because she had not been on a bike for 12 years.

But she said she has been training hard and, before she embarks on the challenge, plans to take part in a 60-mile bike ride.

Lindy, who has so far raised £971 online, said: "My nerves were definitely focused on the bike ride at first and we started training gently so I could get back into the swing of thing.

"Now I'm just nervous about getting all the fund-raising done – because that's what it's all about. But I'm really looking forward to the challenge. We'll be cycling across various terrains but it shouldn't be too hard-going. The aim is to make it a challenge for ordinary women – not too extreme.

"Emily said I was crazy for doing it but then she said she would join in too if I was determined to do it and I'm delighted to be taking part with her."

To find out more about Lindy's challenge, or to support her, visit www.justgiving.com/Lindy-Emily-blackwell.

LAND understood to be owned by Tesco, which had been planned to house a superstore in Belper, has been put up for sale.

The 3.7 acres in the centre of the town, which includes the former Thorntons site, was to be used for a giant superstore.

But the plans, which included moving the football club and building new hockey, tennis and cricket facilities, were shelved in 2013.

The firm was also going to knock down the town's library in Bridge Street to make way for a relief road and build a new one in Derwent Street.

And a new community hall would have been built for the town's Methodist church.

But falling profits forced the company to give up their plans for the town.

At that time they remained committed to a site in Allenton but, two weeks ago, the company also pulled out of the area because of further money troubles.

The land in Belper is now being sold on commercial property site Nova Loca but has no guide price.

An application for another part of the former chocolate-makers' plant saw 100 homes planned.

Environmental community group Transition Belper has said that it hopes the site is given a structured plan for its future, to allow the area to be developed in the most sustainable way possible.

Secretary of the group Richard Keighley said: "We want to see a master plan for the whole area to stop the various sites being sold of and developed in a piecemeal manner.

"That plan is what Amber Valley have asked for and that is what we hope any developer will bring to the town.

"Ideally the area would be a mixed-use development combining jobs and houses, even light industry. But it really needs to be thought through for the whole site."

One of the key problems that opponents to the original superstore had foreseen was the access to the site.

The former Thorntons site is sandwiched between a number of different homes and businesses, meaning changes to highways in the area would be difficult.

Tesco had wanted to build a relief road between the A6 and the River Derwent.

But the destruction of playing fields and the removal of green space was met with anger by some residents.

Mr Keighley said: "Access has always been a problem and is something that again would be helped by having a master plan for the whole area.

"Belper has had its fair share of housing built in the town recently, more so than other areas in the borough, and we are not against that."

"All Transition Belper want is for the development to be in keeping with the rest of the town and its World Heritage status.

"We would welcome Tesco, or any other developer, talking to community groups about how the site can be best used."

Tesco declined to give a comment on the future of the site.

VULNERABLE, older and pregnant residents in Derbyshire are being urged to get their free flu vaccination.

Latest figures from Public Health England (PHE) show that levels of flu are still high and the virus is continuing to circulate.

Flu is a highly infectious disease that comes on very quickly.

Healthy people usually recover within two to seven days, but for some flu can lead to hospitalisation.

Councillor Dave Allen, cabinet member for health and communities at Derbyshire County Council, said: "Prevention is better than cure when it comes to the flu virus and we're encouraging eligible people to get their free flu vaccine."

People who are eligible for the free vaccination include pregnant women, young children aged between two and four, people with health conditions such as asthma and diabetes and older people.

Anyone in these groups who has not yet a flu vaccination should contact their GP.

Mr Allen added: "Apart from vaccination, basic hygiene is the main method to help prevent the spread of flu. This means simple things like using tissues to catch coughs or sneezes, binning the used tissues and then washing hands to kill the germs."

The most common symptoms of flu are fever, chills, headache, pains in the muscles and tiredness.

Derby fan Ryan Brown has been named the Sky Bet Championship Fan of the Month for December. Ryan, 19, has followed Derby County since the club played at the Baseball Ground. On Boxing Day, he swooped for £16,000 after including the Rams for the first time in his £5 15-fold accumulator bet – which saw him correctly betting on the results of 15 matches.

PUPILS at a Derby secondary school will miss lessons for the second time in two weeks when teachers strike again tomorrow and on Thursday.

Members of two teaching unions are in dispute with Merrill Academy, which is run by Derby College, over performance-related pay.

The first day of action was last Tuesday and a meeting on Thursday failed to come up with a solution, according to Sue Arguile, Derby branch secretary of the National Union of Teachers.

She said: "Unfortunately, very little progress was made in the talks. Therefore, we have no alternative but to take further strike action this week.

"Members of the NUT are determined that the situation, which has seen the majority of teachers denied pay progression despite achieving the second-best exam results ever, should not happen again.

"They are insistent that unfair targets linked solely to pupils' attainment are not an acceptable way of measuring teacher performance and thus determining pay progression.

"We do not want to be trapped into seeing pupils as 'levels' but rather want to be free to teach in ways which acknowledge the individual strengths and weaknesses of each individual pupil.

"Targets which concentrate on a particular percentage of pupils achieving a particular measure of progress put unfair pressure on both teachers and pupils. Square pegs should not be forced into round holes."

The other union involved is the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers.

Both unions' members are expected to stage a picket line outside the school in Brackens Lane, Alvaston, tomorrow and possibly Thursday.

Derby College has previously said that the strikes are "unfair" to pupils and parents and "staff who are committed to the academy".

WEATHERMEN have issued an "amber warning" for the East Midlands as the region braces itself for another bitterly cold day.

Temperatures are to reach a maximum of just 2C and snow is possible tonight.

The Met Office has issued a Level 3 (amber) cold weather warning for the East Midlands as it says there is a 90% chance of freezing conditions in the area.

The day will start with misty or freezing fog patches in places but they will slowly clear throughout the morning. As the mist and fog clears, Derbyshire will start to see some sunny spells throughout the day, and there is a high chance of snow showers tonight.

A Met Office spokesman said: "It will remain dry throughout the day with some sunny spells developing after the freezing fog starts to clear away. There will be some cloud that will start to appear later on in the afternoon and this will gradually thicken into the evening.

"This cloud is a band of precipitation that is travelling over from the west, which we could see fall as snow. At this stage, the snowfall is looking likely to be a temporary accumulation, falling lightly and will melt fairly quickly."

He added: "Give yourself extra time on your journey if you're on the road, as conditions will be icy and fog patches could lessen visibility in some areas."

The conditions will be colder than average over the course of the week.

There will be extensive overnight frosts.

Wintry showers are expected for most areas, leading to lightly settled snow and icy stretches.

The Met Office spokesman said: "It is looking to be cloudy tomorrow through Thursday, with some sleet or snow possible on these days.

"The temperatures will remain very cold, at around 2C as a maximum temperature until Friday when we see the temperature creep up to 5C."

Amateur weatherman Martin Harris, from Spondon said: "The week ahead will be a cold one, with sharp frosts at night, and temperatures falling as low as -7C in rural areas."

The Met Office said: "This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services.

"Prolonged periods of cold weather can be dangerous, especially for the very young, very old or those with chronic diseases.

"If you want more information about how cold weather can affect your health, please visit www.nhs.uk."

HAVE you seen the advert on TV for a certain phone company where the cat vows to "be more dog"?

I enjoy watching it because the sentiment resonates with me – especially in the New Year when we all promise ourselves that this is the year we are going to change.

Be braver, be slimmer, be sportier, be a nicer person – in other words completely change our personality and try to be a different person.

And keeping on the canine theme – albeit slightly tenuous, I admit – it made me start thinking about dogs in general and how some breeds have become so maligned recently and how they suffer as a result.

Dogs such as staffies.

When I was a kid, which I admit was many years ago, Staffordshire bull terriers were affectionately called "nanny dogs". They were considered to be the perfect pet for families with kids because they were so good around children.

But now, sadly, rehoming centres are full of unwanted staffies and people are nervous about taking them on – because of the reputation they have somehow gained for being aggressive.

And that reputation is probably down to irresponsible owners who are attracted to them because of its misfortune to resemble breeds that can be aggressive, like the American pit bull.

All dogs, whatever the breed, can bite if they are with the wrong owner. They need firm training from the start and to be integrated into their new pack with a strong pack leader – their owner.

Sadly, some staffies' owners seem to only want the breed to enhance their own status as a hard man or just because they think it will be a good guard dog if trained to bite.

My friend has one and, when we've been out walking with him, we've seen people sidestep or cross the road to avoid walking past us.

It would be laughable if it wasn't so sad. People look at these dogs in horror as if they are the hounds from hell but, in reality, he is a big softie, incredibly affectionate and really gentle. The dog, that is, not my friend!

Last week, I went along to a rehoming centre. I'm looking at getting another dog and wanted to see what they had.

I already have one rescued dog. His name is Joe and he has the most wonderful temperament.

He came from an animal welfare centre, where he had been taken after the dog warden found him wandering the streets of Tamworth.

The vet reckons he is probably getting on for 12 or 13 now – he is certainly showing his age, almost as much I am, and with pretty well the same sorts of complaints.

He has arthritis and can be a bit stiff on his legs. He's also going deaf and a little bit short-sighted.

He can be a little bit cantankerous in the mornings and gets confused if his everyday routine is not followed. Like I said, pretty much the same as his owner.

So, as much as it breaks my heart to think about him not being around, I know it's probably going to happen some time this year.

And that means I will have to consider what type of dog to get next – and my instinct is to put my money where my mouth is and adopt a staffie.

I saw several when I went along to the rehoming centre. The manager was telling me that they often can't cope with the number of staffies that get dumped. She sees no end of them on social media sites being offered for sale and she worries that, eventually, they may become a banned breed.

She also said that part of the problem is thoroughbred Staffordshire bull terriers are being crossed with dogs that are banned – to try and create a more aggressive animal.

None of the dogs she had were microchipped and several had very sad stories about being found desperately underweight and uncared for.

So I think that's it, my mind is made up and, when it's Joe's time to go, I'm going to get one of her staffies and try to show friends that they really are still great family pets.

I just hope I'm doing the right thing!

This stunning Georgian-style property - with an indoor swimming pool - could be yours if you have £2m handy.

The five-bedroom detached home is located in Burton Road, Derby.

It features a magnificent reception hall, four further reception rooms, two kitchens, five bedrooms, four en-suites and a family bathroom.

And the large heated indoor swimming pool area also has an adjacent pool kitchen and showering facilities too.

The luxury home also has a fitted oak library, drawing room, a formal dining room and a large family room which could be subdivided into two separate rooms.

The large principal bedroom has steps to a large balcony over the swimming pool, large dressing room and stunning en-suite bathroom.

The property is marketed by Scargill Mann & Co, in St James Street, Derby. You can contact them on 01332 207720.

JOHN Whitbread, who is raffling off a ticket to the Dominican Republic after he was left by his fiancee at Christmas, has raised £400 so far.

John, a pilot who grew up in Newhall, had tried to sell the ticket on eBay but the top two bidders turned out to be fakes.

So in a last-ditch effort to sell the ticket, and raise cash for a testicular cancer charity, the 32-year-old has started selling raffle tickets for the event which will be held on Sunday evening.

To buy a ticket, visit www.jiltedjohn.com. The only entry requirement is you must be female!

WEATHERMEN have issued an "amber warning" for the East Midlands as the region braces itself for another bitterly cold day and a prolonged snowfall of up to 16 hours.

The region should see snow starting to fall at around 9pm tonight. It is expected to continue on and off throughout the night and into the afternoon tomorrow. Temperatures are to reach a maximum of just 2C.

The Met Office has issued a Level 3 (amber) cold weather warning for the East Midlands as it says there is a 90% chance of freezing conditions in the area.

A Met Office spokesman said: "It will remain dry throughout the day with some sunny spells developing after the freezing fog starts to clear away. There will be some cloud that will start to appear later on in the afternoon and this will gradually thicken into the evening.

"As the cloud begins thickening over the course of the evening, it brings with it snow. This will remain to fall on and off from late evening, 9pm and carry on through the night and into tomorrow."

With temperatures staying at 0C or below, weathermen have said that the snow will settle in most areas in the region.

"The snow is not expected to cause too many problems, in higher ground, at above 100m you could see as much as 10cm of snowfall, and around 2cm in lower ground.

"We have no warnings currently, but the elements could make travelling difficult, especially on untreated roads."

He added: "Give yourself extra time on your journey if you're on the road, as conditions will be icy and fog patches could lessen visibility in some areas."

The conditions will be colder than average over the course of the week.

There will be extensive overnight frosts.

Wintry showers are expected for most areas, leading to lightly settled snow and icy stretches.

The Met Office spokesman said: "It is looking to be cloudy and snowy tomorrow through Thursday, with the cold snap ending by Friday when temperatures are expected to reach 7C."

Amateur weatherman Martin Harris, from Spondon said: "The week ahead will be a cold one, with sharp frosts at night, and temperatures falling as low as -7C in rural areas."

The Met Office said: "This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services.

"Prolonged periods of cold weather can be dangerous, especially for the very young, very old or those with chronic diseases.

A HOUSE builder has announced plans to build hundreds more homes in Derbyshire.

Miller Homes Midlands has bought land in Repton and Littleover, which it plans to start developing within the next six months.

It is part of a plan to build more than 500 homes in the region this year and sales director Alastair Parsons said: "The Government-backed Help to Buy scheme is still giving people the confidence to move and added to this the recent changes in stamp duty, we expect to see a boost to the property market this year."

THE Eternal Flames social group meets on Wednesdays at St Augustine's Community Centre in Normanton.

Local residents of all ages are invited to turn up between 10am and 11.30am for a chat, games, including bingo, and occasional speakers.

There is no charge for the meeting, just a donation towards the hire of the centre and for the tea and coffee.

The group also occasionally runs trips, for which there is an extra charge.

For more details about the club, go along to one of the meetings or call secretary Vicky King on 07884 213000 or treasurer Rosemary Hall on 07792 855083 or 01332 345502.

THE Bishop of Derby will be present when Derbyshire-born Libby Lane becomes the first woman bishop in England next week.

Currently a vicar in Chester, the Rev Lane will be installed as the eighth Bishop of Stockport at York Minster on Monday.

Her appointment brings to an end centuries of male-dominated leadership of the church of England.

The ceremony will be witnessed by bishops from across the country, including the Bishop of Derby, the Rt Rev Alistair Redfern.

And to mark the historic occasion, there will also be a Eucharist at Derby Cathedral on the same day.

Dr John Davies, the Dean of Derby, said: "Monday will be a great day for the Church of England and Derby Cathedral will be part of those celebrations.

"All will be very welcome at the cathedral here as we join together to mark this day with worship and thanksgiving."

Ms Lane, who was born in Glossop, was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1993 and as a priest in 1994. She has been vicar of the combined benefice of St Peter's Hale and St Elizabeth's Ashley, in the Diocese of Chester, since 2007.

She has served as the Dean of Women in Ministry in the Diocese of Chester since 2010, in addition to being a vicar.

She will be installed at a ceremony at 11am on Monday by the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu.

It is only 20 years since the first 1,500 women were ordained as priests.

Last July, the Church of England General Synod voted to give final approval to legislation introducing the first women bishops.

Prime minister David Cameron congratulated Ms Lane on becoming the first woman bishop in the Church, calling it an "historic appointment and important day for equality".

The Dean of York Minster, the Very Rev Vivienne Faull, said Ms Lane's appointment was a "wonderful culmination of a long and difficult journey for women in the church."

She said: "This is a new and exciting beginning for the church as men and women of faith join together in the work of worship, ministry and mission.

"I know Reverend Libby Lane and I know that the people of the Diocese of Chester will be getting a capable, vibrant and extraordinary woman to support the ministry of the people of Stockport.

"I am delighted that Reverend Libby Lane has been appointed to a diocese in the Northern Province and the consecration will be held here at York Minster.

"We look forward to hosting this momentous and historic occasion."

This taxi customer will be making a journey of a different kind after winning a city break from the car service she uses. Avril Birckitt, left, completed a survey carried out by Derby firm Pride Executive Cars – which aims to offer "luxury chaffeuring" – on how impressive its service is. After taking part, she was picked out as the winner of a luxury weekend city break for two people. She is pictured receiving her prize from Diane Finney, firm director.

A 15-YEAR-OLD Ilkeston boy has been handed a youth rehabilitation order after using threatening behaviour towards another person.

The teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before magistrates at Derby Youth Court.

The hearing was told that the incident happened in Ilkeston on February 19 last year.

Magistrates also handed the teen a two-month curfew meaning he cannot leave his home address between the hours of 7pm and 7am, ordered that he pay £85 prosecution costs, a £15 victim surcharge and handed him a restraining order until further notice against his victim.

A CITIZENS Advice Bureau branch in the county has been named among the first 44 places in England and Wales to offer free face-to-face pension guidance as part of Government reforms.

It means the Derbyshire Districts Citizens Advice Bureau will have between three and seven members of staff trained to provide the guidance, available to offer help sessions called Pension Wise.

As well as Pension Wise appointments at the bureau, staff will also use other locations to offer guidance in the Derbyshire Dales, Amber Valley, Erewash and High Peak.

And the bureau said that, although it is based in Buxton, people will be able to go into any Citizens Advice Bureau to find out about the Pension Wise service, whether they are eligible for it and be referred to book in with the nearest centre.

Chloe Small, chief officer at the Derbyshire Districts bureau, said: "Good guidance is a crucial step towards a financially stable retirement.

"At our bureau, we have a strong history of helping people across Derbyshire Dales, Amber Valley, Erewash and High Peak. We already support people with many of the issues affecting retirement – so we're pleased to be a delivery centre for Pension Wise."

Andrea Leadsom, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said: "People who have worked hard and saved all their lives will be free to choose what they do with their money from next April.

"We want people to be empowered to make informed and confident choices and I'm delighted to announce Pension Wise. 'Your money, Your choice' is the brand name for the impartial guidance service we are building. It is a distinctive brand, making it easy for consumers to know where to go for help and guidance."

MORE than 600 pupils at a Derby secondary school will be out of lessons for the second time in eight days today.

Two teaching unions have taken their members out on strike at Merrill Academy, which will close the school for all but year 11, over performance-related pay for the second time.

The first strike was a week last Tuesday and there will be a third strike tomorrow.

If a settlement cannot be reached between the National Association of Schoolmasters' Union of Women Teachers, the National Union of Teachers and Merrill Academy, which is run by Derby College, then the unions have threatened a further three days of action next week, starting on Tuesday.

Talks last Thursday failed to resolve the situation, which arose after the unions said that their members had been given "impossible" targets to achieve performance-related pay increases.

Sue Arguile, Derby NUT branch secretary, said: "Very few of our members were given the increase and although we were consulted on the terms of the performance-related pay, we did not agree to them."

A picket line was due to be staged outside the Brackens Lane school in Alvaston this morning and a further one could take place tomorrow morning.

THE trial of a Derbyshire man accused of shouting abuse at two teenage army cadets selling poppies has been adjourned.

Technical problems with video equipment in court meant that the young witnesses were waiting for a number of hours before District Judge Andrew Davison was forced to adjourn Adelso Saws trail.

Mr Davison said he felt "extremely angry, upset and embarrassed" that the boys who were to give evidence on Monday were kept waiting for so long.

He said: "It is totally unacceptable and I will be putting in a formal complaint about this" before adjourning the case to a later date.

Saws, 34, of Hillcrest Drive, Kilburn appeared at North East Derbyshire and Dales Magistrates' Court on Monday after being charged with using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoking violence.

The cadets, both aged 13, were among a number of cadets who were selling the commemorative poppies in King Street, Belper, on Saturday, October 25, when a man allegedly said to them they would be "shot by the Taliban".

FEW men can say they have goaled and turned up a ball at the annual extravaganza that is Ashbourne Shrovetide.

But on Ash Wednesday, February 18, Ashburnian Mick Betteridge will go into the record books as a man who has achieved both.

He is one of the two men chosen to turn up the ball at this year's event and, just like the goal he scored three decades ago in 1987, it will be etched in his memory. In the past 150 years, only 200 balls have been goaled.

He said: "It is a singular honour and one which I will treasure."

His father had been due to turn up the ball in 1999 but was unable to.

"He died later that year, so there is some poignancy there," said Mick.

Everyone who has watched a Shrovetide match, even from a distance, will recognise Mick.

The father of three, who was born and raised in Ashbourne and is the Shrovetide secretary, got his first taste of the action-packed event when he was seven. He was in the right place at the right time when the ball broke free from the hug (scrum) at the bottom of School Lane. He gave it a kick. He's never missed a match since.

Sport is in Mick's blood. His father was Raymond Michael Betteridge (also known as Mick), a PE teacher at Ashbourne's Secondary Modern School. Mick followed his father into teaching and studied at Loughborough, taking up jobs and moving around primary and junior schools for around 20 years before settling back in Ashbourne. Mick stayed in education until his retirement in 2010 – but rather than settle in one classroom, the latter half of his career was devoted to helping children with special educational needs.This saw him travelling round the county and beyond. He estimates he has taught in more than 50 schools.

Mick said: "Because Shrovetide has become such a big deal, there is more interest worldwide and it has become, dare I say, a social occasion in the Derbyshire calendar. But in a way it defines Ashbourne; it's part of Ashbourne's identity and because of that it has a huge cultural significance to Ashburnians. You'd be amazed at the number of people who take time out to book their holidays around Shrovetide. My son, Simon, has also scored a Shrovetide goal. If the ball is scored, the scorer keeps it – and balls are very highly prized."

Four or five balls are made each year for the event but, sometimes, no goals are scored at all.

"The event is a focal point for old Ashburnians," said Mick. "The atmosphere on those two days is like no other. There's a lot of excitement and anticipation. It's such an invigorating game for the young men and a chance for old Ashburnians to renew and cement friendships.

"The event has a unifying presence which is very important for the town. You see people you haven't seen for ages. If it wasn't for Shrovetide, those ties would be lost."

So, while the world's media is fascinated by the dramatic scrummage-like images of the ancient game of football in the streets, for Mick and his fellow Ashburnians friendships are rekindled and a mutual love for their home town is at the heart of its undiluted popularity.

Ask anyone who has watched the magic unfold and they will tell you the event creates a huge buzz. Anyone can sample the atmosphere, with tourists, camera crews and locals all blending into the mix. Inevitably, Mick is used to media requests, often from far-flung places. "The Japanese, in particular, seem to like the craziness of it all," said Mick.

"I think the Japanese like it because their society is very constrained. The Germans like it too, and the Spanish. A few years ago, an American filmmaker made a film about it, Wild In The Streets.

"There is a lot of media interest. Some of it is welcome, some of it isn't. I don't mind as long as they approach it in the right way. It may look thuggish but it's not, it's highly organised. There are rules and they are strictly adhered to. It's not a free-for-all."

Turning up the ball, the phrase used to encapsulate the moment when it is hurled into the crowd of players, is a great honour bestowed on locals, though sometimes celebrities and royals play their part. In 2003, Ashbourne welcomed Prince Charles, who threw himself into the fun of the event.

"He was game," Mick smiles, "even though he'd had an op only a few weeks before. He wanted to stay longer but his aides whisked him away.

"He's always been a tremendous supporter of the event, as has our MP, Patrick McLoughlin."

Though young at the time, Mick remembers the visit of football legend Brian Clough in 1975. "We often say, there are hundreds of MBEs but only two people can turn up the ball at Ashbourne."

FRIENDS of a young man killed in a road incident have taken part in a gruelling 24km race, complete with around 100 obstacles, to raise money in his memory.

Oli Farrell, 27, originally from Hazelwood, near Duffield, died days after being in collision with a car in Islington last November.

He was the fourth person from the same school year at Ecclesbourne School, Duffield, to die in tragic circumstances.

His brother, Ben, said the deaths of his school friends had driven Oli to travel the world and that he had "lived his life to the full" – often fund-raising in his pals' memory.

Since his death, family and friends have been fund-raising in his honour for Headway – a national charity aiming to support and improve the lives of people who have suffered brain injuries – which was one of the good causes Oli supported.

So far, more than £40,000 has been raised and now his friends have raised more than £2,800 by taking part in the Ram Run Wild event, in Warwickshire, this month.

Among those who took part was Ric Stanton, 31, originally from Darley Abbey but who now lives in Liverpool. He said: "It was a very cold and exhausting day but we had a great team of lads and supporters, plus Oli's mum, dad, brother and sister came along to cheer us on.

"The organiser, Iain Exeter, was great – introducing us at the start and playing Oli's song, This Is The One, by the Stone Roses, as we set off to really motivate the lads.

"We had t-shirts made up with a picture of Oli, the Headway logo and the phrase This Is The One on the back – the idea being that, any time we were at the peak of the pain barrier, we could see each other and draw on why we were there.

"There were many obstacles including rope climbs, log carries, net climbs, hill runs, water jumps and, the worst of all, crawling under a grate while lying in freezing cold water but we all finished.

"Although I am told by all those who competed that they struggled to walk for a couple of days – and the body became one giant bruise – it was unanimous that we loved it and, most importantly, Oli would be proud."

The group's original fund-raising target was £650.

Ric said: "We absolutely smashed that. We even had support from award-winning actor Jack O'Connell, who tweeted about our cause!"

"Headway have been in touch and are so happy with our accomplishment. We are so encouraged to continue supporting this charity that is so close to so many people's hearts.

To support the team or Oli's fund, visit www.justgiving.com/remember/93584/Oli-Farrell.