IT is obvious from the passion in his voice that Keith Jeffrey loved his time at Quad.

In seven-and-a-half years as chief executive, he helped take the Derby arts centre from a hole in the ground to one of the most exciting venues in the UK.

He left the organisation last month and spoke to the Derby Telegraph about his time at the Market Place venue.

"The other week," he said, "we had people from all over the world for the Format portfolio review. The reach that Quad has is worldwide now.

"There have been reviews in the New York Times and Italian Vogue. Derby is being spoken about across the globe because of Quad."

Born in the north east, he then worked across the UK before moving to Derby.

The 51-year-old said: "I knew before coming here that the city had a history with photography.

"We have worked very hard at Quad to find out what people want and give them things they may not necessarily have thought of."

Nowhere was this more obvious than in the now much-loved Festé event.

Keith said: "Stephen Munn, from Deda, and I had no idea what was going to happen.

"But then we saw thousands of people lining the streets of Derby to watch Spanish puppets and we knew that it would be a success."

For Keith, the success of Quad was certain from the outset.

He said: "I always thought we had the potential to get it right. It was very much a thing of, 'Build it and they will come'."

Working with actor John Hurt, whom Quad managed to bring in as a patron, is a personal highlight for Keith.

But it is the success working with locals that he feels is his greatest achievement.

He said: "Quad represents Derby and I think it allows the people of the city to be ambitious and innovative.

"It is a day-to-day facility that is used by hundreds of thousands of people.

"I think it took some time for people to work out how they would use it."

Adam Buss, previously the deputy director of Quad, has stepped in as acting chief executive as Keith moves on to teach students at Coventry University about setting up social enterprises.

Keith sees a bright future for Quad. However, there is a note of caution, particularly when it comes to funding.

He said: "Money is a problem. I don't think that people can make assumptions that Quad can just be self-funding.

"It currently receives money from the Arts Council and Derby City Council and we are all aware of the funding difficulties they are having.

"But what Quad brings to the city is something tremendous that should be nurtured, cherished and looked after.

"It offers so much to the city."

HEALTH warnings have been issued to trespassers who are going on to the site of the former Celanese Acetate chemical plant and putting pictures they take there on the internet.

The demolition of 200 buildings on the Spondon site will begin in June to make way for redevelopment.

And people are taking the opportunity to see the industrial wasteland left behind after Celanese Acetate ceased production there in November 2012.

But one resident living near the site has told of his alarm after people came through his field to get to and from the site – causing his goats to escape into a nearby car park.

Peter Ambler, 68, of Holme Lane, said he had a seen a family with children about to try to enter the plant.

The police, who stopped a man from going on the site on Sunday, and Celanese Acetate's Dallas-based owner, Celanese, have warned people of the dangers of entering.

The web pictures were posted by a person going by the handle "Chemical Ali" on a website for "urban explorers" called UK Urbex.

They show images of metal stairs, pipes, dials and containers for chemicals.

Mr Ambler said people had been getting on to the site on a regular basis for the past "three or four weeks".

He said: "I'm worried about these people. If they turn one of those horrible valves on the site, who knows what could come out?"

A police spokeswoman said that the first sign of trouble on Sunday was at 10.10am when they had a call from a person saying they had caught two men trying to get on to the site.

She said that when officers attended they "found a man walking close by and carrying a camera".

The spokeswoman said: "Apparently he thought he could enter at weekends to take photographs. We gave him suitable advice. We got another call at 4.25pm from security saying that at 2.15pm they had escorted four men off the site."

PC Vicki Marriott, of Chaddesden and Spondon Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "We would like to warn members of the public not to enter the old chemical plant.

"Calls have recently been made to us informing us of trespassers on the site taking photographs. This is very dangerous as the site is derelict and there are clear signs stating not to enter."

A spokesman for Celanese said it provides 24/7 security surveillance for the site which it "believes is adequate for its current status".

He said: "The interest in the plant is understandable, having been a major employer in the area.

"However, we would like to stress that entering even a non-operational chemical production plant without qualified supervision is neither safe nor responsible.

"Every case of trespassing is taken seriously and we take the necessary steps to involve the relevant authorities to deal with the matter.

"Even though the plant was decommissioned during the closure period, we would like to point out that the machinery and the buildings are hazards to one's safety."

Demolition of the 200 buildings will take a year and, though there are potential users, no firm plans for how it will be redeveloped have been announced.

THEY might be used to pounding the streets chasing criminals, but police officers in Derby have laced up different shoes to raise money in memory of colleagues killed in the line of duty.

Officers and staff from across the city swapped boots for running spikes as they each jogged 250 miles.

The team of 18, who called themselves Beat the Streets, each committed to putting in the miles to raise money for PCs who died last year.

So far they have raised more than £4,000 for the Run To Remember campaign which supports the PC Nicola Hughes Memorial Fund.

PC Hughes and her colleague, PC Fiona Bone, who used to live in Castle Donington, were murdered in Manchester last year.

Their killer, Dale Cregan, 30, was on the run for the murders of father and son David and Mark Short when he killed the officers in a gun and grenade attack. He was given a whole life sentence at Preston Crown Court.

The St Mary's Wharf team was co-ordinated by Detective Constable Deborah Farmer.

She said: "We were all so determined to complete the challenge because those of us who are serving officers recognise that what happened to Nicola and Fiona could have happened to us.

"When you commit to being an officer you put yourself in dangerous situations, but all of us were shocked by what happened last year in Manchester.''

Bryn Hughes, PC Hughes' father, has completed a North Pole Marathon this month in memory of his daughter.

To support his campaign, every police force in the country was invited to enter a team and raise money in the Run to Remember event. Ms Farmer said: "It was hard work for a lot of us and sadly we lost four of our number due to injury, including Chief Superintendent Jack Atwal.''

Mr Atwal said he was forced to cancel his efforts with an ankle injury after completing about 100 miles.

"I am really pleased and proud that the rest of the team who completed the challenge,'' he added.

The challenge started on December 1 and each member of the team ran 250 miles over a 125-day period.

Ms Farmer said: "The team included support staff, PCs and sergeants as well and all of us managed to get over the finishing line.

"I think I worked out that I finished on 268 miles and one of our team even managed to pass the 400-mile mark.

"We completed the challenge by running round the iPro Stadium, which was a nice way to finish,'' she added.

To donate to the Derbyshire team, visit www.justgiving.com/account/teams/beat-the-streets.

THE Royal British Legion has been given a dedicated space at Derby's Council House to help veterans and their families.

The charity recently began offering appointments in the main customer reception to give advice and assistance to members of the armed forces community who were in need of help.

Advisers will be on hand to talk about money and benefit issues, housing and homelessness, holiday breaks, independent living, representation, employment support and education support to the city's veterans, their dependants and carers.

The partnership between Derby City Council and the Legion aims to support the Armed Forces Community Covenant in Derby.

The covenant is an initiative that states there should be no disadvantage as a result of military service and special treatment, where justified, for example in the case of injured personnel.

Linda Flecknell, the new area manager for Royal British Legion Derbyshire, said: "This new outreach is a testament to the Royal British Legion's and Derby City Council's partnership working. This support demonstrates our continued commitment, by providing assistance and support to the armed forces community.

"This outreach was set up so that assistance becomes easily accessible; more outreaches are being set up across the county. We offer assistance to those who have served or are currently serving, their dependants and carers. Operating in a person-centred way, with a more holistic approach, we look at the immediate need of the individual but more importantly, the route cause. By working together with other agencies like the council, other charities, the NHS and JobcentrePlus, we can offer a much better service providing long-term solutions."

The deputy leader of Derby City Council, Councillor Ranjit Banwait, said: "I am delighted we can offer this valuable resource in the city centre to provide help and assistance to former and current forces personnel."

Anyone wanting to learn more about the service can phone 0808 802 8080 – lines are open from 8am until 8pm seven days a week – or in person every Thursday morning at booth 37.

A NURSE is taking part in the London Marathon to raise money for a first-aid charity.

Mum-of-three Zoe Brown, from Woodville, said she wanted to raise money for St John Ambulance because, as a practice nurse, she appreciated the importance of learning basic first-aid.

The 39-year-old has been fund-raising and smashed her £1,625 target by hosting a bingo night which raised more than £1,200 and organising a bag-packing session at a supermarket that brought in £552.

She said: "I've been known to do mad things at milestone birthdays – at 30, for instance, I went back to university to train as a nurse. And it is my ambition to run a marathon before I am 40.

"St John Ambulance is a fantastic charity which means a lot to me and, as a nurse, I know the importance of first-aid skills and how they can be the difference between a life lost and a life saved.

"My parents have also recently had a friend whose life was saved thanks to CPR, so we understand how important first aid can be."

Zoe will be among nearly 200 runners fund-raising for St John at this year's Virgin Money London Marathon, on April 13.

More than 1,000 of the charity's volunteers, including eight from Derbyshire, will also be on duty on the day – with about one for every 35 metres of the 26.2 mile course. To support Zoe, visit www.justgiving.com/Zoe-Brown39.

PUPILS at the former school of a Derby teenager who died while playing football have been taught potentially lifesaving techniques.

Reece Jeffrey, of Spondon, collapsed and died at Darley Playing Fields, Derby, in March 2011, aged 15. He is believed to have died from an undiagnosed heart defect.

Yesterday students at Landau Forte College were shown various life-saving techniques by paramedics and nurses for the third year.

Reece's sister, Robyn, is now a teacher at the school and helped set up the sessions shortly after his death.

She said: "I wanted to do something that would benefit the students here.

"It has developed over the last three years and they are taught a life skill."

Year nine students were taken through three different classes during the day.

In one, they were taught how to perform CPR, in another they were taught how problems in the heart can occur and finally they were shown what happens when they call 999.

Emergency vehicles were also at the school and students were able to take a look inside.

Paramedic Gareth Mallon began working with Cardiac Risk in the Young, a charity that raises awareness of heart problems in the young, after he attended a 20-year-old man who had collapsed as a result of an undiagnosed heart defect.

He said: "I felt that if it was something that I didn't know about that I should get some more information and pass it along to my colleagues.

"We got involved with the school after Reece's death as we were told that pupils were worried about exercising.

"We wanted to make sure that they knew what could happen and also what to do if they were in that situation."

Margaret Withington, 14, from Spondon, took part in the training.

She said: "I had never done anything like this before and it was really good.

"It is very important as you never know when or who it might happen to."

Vice principal Mark Andrews said: "Year nine is a prime age group to raise awareness of this subject.

"We intend to run these awareness days on a rolling programme."

The following have been charged with using a colour television without a licence:

CARLINA Leach, 42, of Abingdon Street, Derby, was fined £92, with £20 victim surcharge, and told to pay £120 costs, for an offence on November 26.

LAURA Leonardi, 23, of Elm Tree Avenue, Kilburn, was fined £73, with £20 victim surcharge, and told to pay £120 costs, for an offence between November 16 and December 17.

SAMANTHA May, 29, of Albany Street, Ilkeston, was fined £110, with £20 victim surcharge, and told to pay £120 costs, for an offence between September 14 and October 15.

SARAH Money, 34, of Carter Street, Allenton, was fined £92, with £320 victim surcharge, and told to pay £120 costs, for an offence on December 5.

KATE Christine Nichols, 26, of Dean Street, Derby, was fined £110, with £20 victim surcharge, and told to pay £120 costs, for an offence on October 10.

HANNAH O'Doherty, 24, of Crewton Way, Alvaston, was fined £55, with £20 victim surcharge, and told to pay £120 costs, for an offence between September 24 and October 9.

JUDY Piggott, 21, of Hall Street, Alvaston, was fined £55, with £20 victim surcharge, and told to pay £120 costs, for an offence on October 14.

A DERBYSHIRE policeman, his wife and a member of police staff who were arrested on suspicion of theft will not face criminal charges.

Police confirmed that no charges are being brought against PC Ian Sutton, Beverley Sutton and a second man, all of whom work at St Mary's Wharf police station.

The trio were arrested in January but the details of the allegation have never been revealed and the matter was referred to the force's professional standards unit.

Following questioning by detectives, a file was prepared for the Crown Prosecution Service, which deemed there was insufficient evidence to charge them.

A spokesman for Derbyshire police said: "We can confirm three members of the force who were arrested on suspicion of theft will not face criminal charges.

"The three people – one serving officer and two members of police staff – were arrested in January.

"A thorough investigation was carried out by the force and a file was prepared and sent to the Crown Prosecution Service.

"After careful consideration of all the facts of the case, contained in the file, the CPS advised there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction of the individuals concerned.

"An internal investigation being being conducted by the force's professional standards department is ongoing."

Speaking at the time of the arrest, PC Sutton said he would remain working for the force during the investigation and would be "proudly serving the communities of Derby and Derbyshire, as I have done for the past 16 years."

Mark Pickard, chairman of Derbyshire Police Federation, which represents 1,900 rank and file officers, said: "We offered the officer our full support and acted as a go-between between him and the police's professional standards department.

"This officer was offered the use of a federation solicitor at the time of his arrest but declined, telling us he would be nothing but open and honest during the investigation into the allegations," he added.

Mrs and Mrs Sutton were both handed commendations in 2010.

She was working in Derby when an elderly woman reported her bag missing.

The woman needed the bag as it contained rail and air tickets for a trip to visit family in South America.

To help the woman, Mrs Sutton made some calls and located the bag at Derby railway station.

She called her husband, who was on his day off, to collect the bag and deliver it to the woman.

Mrs Sutton then called Heathrow Airport to let staff know the woman was running late.

The actions of the pair meant the woman was able to make her trip.