BOTH Heage Road Vehicle Services, or HRVS, and the Lockwood Group are looking forward to welcoming visitors at the Derby Telegraph Job Fair.

And they say, with various vacancies available across the sites – from administrative roles to warehouse operatives – there will be something to suit everyone.

HRVS provides top-class customer service and after-sales support for trucks, trailers, buses and coaches – and are well-known throughout the industry by all-makes fleets operating a mixture of MAN, Renault, Isuzu, Scania, Mercedes-Benz, DAF, and Volvo vehicles.

Its all-make commercial vehicle dealerships are its speciality, along with HRVS being one of the UK's largest MAN truck dealerships.

With five sites across the Midlands and North East areas, the head office is based in Ripley, meaning a large majority of its current staff are from Derbyshire.

Currently, HRVS is looking to recruit trainee administrative assistants and administrative assistants for its offices. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to be part of a busy, friendly team and build a solid skill-set within administration.

Duties will encompass a variety of tasks to support the service manager and service team, including data inputting, filing, answering telephone queries and other general office duties.

The successful applicant will be required to be positive, reliable and flexible with a "can-do" approach.

Lockwood is also looking to recruit HGV drivers across various areas – offering very competitive packages and fantastic training opportunities to the right person.

Lockwood Haulage can trace its beginnings back to 1965, when the associated frozen-food business Lockwoods Ltd purchased a number of vehicles to deliver its frozen mushy peas. Nearly 50 years later, Lockwood Haulage operates a large fleet of approximately 75 modern vehicles – ranging from 17-tonne curtain-sided vehicles to 44-tonne articulated units.

Its fleet of 105 trailers includes flatbeds, curtain siders, sliding roofs and double-decker trailers.

All vehicles are tracked and monitored by GPS and all drivers are equipped with mobile phones and smart, modern uniforms.

Lockwood also operates warehousing within its Derbyshire headquarters and a number of vacancies have emerged through the group.

These include class-one shunter drivers and warehouse operatives with forklift truck counterbalance licences – working both day and night shifts.

With the business always looking to take on new staff, there are a wealth of vacancies throughout both areas of the organisation – with more details available on the day.

HRVS and the Lockwood Group are looking forward to talking to people about new and exciting opportunities to work for them – so find them on the day to see if you could be one of their new recruits.

TEACHERS have been giving their views on the latest playground craze of World Cup stickers and trading cards.

David Blackwell, head of Springfield Primary School, in Spondon, said: "Children have always enjoyed collecting cards and stickers. I certainly did when I was that age.

"While it does not create any massive problems, I am always happy to see them enjoy it.

"There are various learning capabilities that can be drawn out.

"A lot of these trading cards include maths and statistics and, actually, I view them as a positive."

Simon Emsley, head teacher of Lakeside Community Primary School, said the cards and stickers were not a problem at the school.

He added: "I think they will become more popular. As long as they do not create arguments, which I don't expect they will, we will let them run with it.

"When I was a kid, I absolutely loved football stickers. I've still got the Mexico 70 sticker album, which I am very proud of.

"I won't stop children having them at all. It's fun and harmless and if they get a full set, it may well be something they keep for years."

And Diane Hunt, business manager at Heage Primary School, said: "We do allow them in school, We tend to suggest they have one day when they can bring them in to swap to minimise them taking over and children's focus on learning being compromised!

"The younger children do have difficulty understanding the swapping concept but again it does help them to develop social awareness and strategies, so isn't discouraged."

A CHILDREN'S party organiser says she lost up to 60% of her takings after being targeted by online hackers.

Helen Thomas, 36, was earning up to £400 a month by running birthday parties for kids.

But a sudden drop in bookings prompted the Alvaston mum to make inquiries – and she found her website could no longer be accessed via search engines such as Google.

Although her website still came up on the search results, those who clicked on it were automatically diverted to a different site.

Helen said the problem had gone unnoticed for weeks and, as a result, estimated she lost about £200 worth of business.

The mum-of-three said: "On average, I do six parties a month. But because of this problem, I've got nothing booked in for the whole of June and this month I've only got two bookings.

"I've effectively lost 50-60% of my normal monthly takings so I feel quite cross.

"To me, it's a lot of money. I'm just a small business and so the bit of money I do lose is quite a lot to me.

"I'm really shocked this has happened. I didn't realise this sort of thing was possible.

Helen said a friend who runs her website – called 'childrenspartiesderby.co.uk' – worked with technicians at Google to resolve the matter.

She said: "It was only when there was a drop in bookings that I thought there was a problem.

"My friend who runs the website looked into it and found my business was no longer coming up on the first page of Google when a search is made.

"Instead, it was coming up on the second page and when you clicked on the site, my information wasn't coming up.

"My friend contacted Google and their hosting department said something had happened to the server.

"From the records, it looks like the website was taken over on January 25.

"The reason I didn't notice at first is because I don't use search engines to get onto my website. Instead I just type in the website address.

"When we found out the website had been taken over, I didn't know what to do and neither did my friend.

"He said he had never known this sort of thing to happen before."

Helen said she had tried to find out who was behind the hack but that no trace was left.

She added: "The website that came up instead of mine had no name or contact details on it so I still don't know who was behind this happening.

"All we can do is make sure my website is more secure so this sort of thing doesn't happen again."

Helen said she contacted the Derby Telegraph to make others aware of what can happen.

She said: "It's taught me about the importance of having a secure website.

"This sort of thing may be going on without people noticing."

A SOLICITOR in Derby has helped launched a campaign to raise funds for a cancer charity after his niece was diagnosed with the disease.

Andrew Oldroyd's niece, Eleanor, was diagnosed with a sarcoma – a rare type of cancer – in January.

Now, Smith Partnership Solicitors, of which Andrew is a partner, has chosen the Teenage Cancer Trust as their charity of the year.

He said: "It has been a very difficult for all of us.

"It came totally out of the blue but we have all rallied together to provide day-to-day support.

"I didn't know what a sarcoma was until Eleanor's diagnosis.

"Now we are trying to raise as much money as possible for the charity."

Eleanor Oldroyd, 17, of Staffordshire, was diagnosed with cancer on January 6, after discovering a cyst.

A biopsy later confirmed that the lump was cancer.

Eleanor – who is the daughter of Richard Oldroyd, also a partner at Smith Partnership Solicitors – has since spent time at the Teenage Cancer Trust's unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham.

Andrew said: "We did not realise it was something as sinister as cancer so it was a big shock.

"The Teenage Cancer Trust has been fantastic, both in terms of pastoral support and also like helping Eleanor find an appropriate wig."

Yesterday, the firm launched its year-long fund-raising campaign by holding a Great British Bake Off competition.

The business is hoping to raise funds for the charity through events during the year, including a football tournament on June 12 at DW Sports, at Pride Park.

Heather Bowen, regional manager at the trust, headed up a £1.4m appeal to create three Teenage Cancer Trust units for teenagers and young people diagnosed with cancer living in the East Midlands.

She said: "We are very pleased Smith Partnership Solicitors has chosen to support us.

"Our aim is to make sure young people know the signs of cancer and to ensure that there are services and opportunities available to them upon diagnosis.

"It has only really been since the huge social media campaign to support palliative patient Stephen Sutton, who raised £3.2m for the charity, that people are hearing more about us."

The Mayor of Derby, Councillor Fareed Hussain, was also at the launch. He added: "It's an excellent initiative and I look forward to other business coming forward to support other good causes."

A COLLECTION of various glass paperweights will be coming up for sale this week.

Comprising many different examples, mostly boxed, they show the variety of designs which were made towards the late 20th century and onwards.

Paperweights were first introduced in France in the mid-1840s, particularly by glass factories like Baccarat and Saint Louis.

First made as practical pieces, they quickly became decorative and were soon made in England, when they were shown at the Great Exhibition in 1851. Throughout the 19th century and until the present day, they have remained decorative items and now have a greater decorative than practical purpose, some examples being works of art.

Baccarat was the first factory which made the best paperweights and made famous the town of the same name in north-western France where it is based.

Today, Baccarat paperweights dating to the 15 years they were produced, from 1845 to 1860, are highly sought after and much collected.

The process of making paperweights involves several stages.

Firstly the glass is made and worked when molten, when, at this stage, coloured powder may be inserted and bubbles can be inset with compressed air.

The molten glass can be moulded and shaped depending on how decorative the glass-maker wants the piece to be.

They can also reheat the molten glass to enable a further process until the final polishing and cooling.

The collection which will go under the hammer at our May Antique and Collectors sale comprises about 120 by factories such as Selkirk, from Scotland, Okra Glass Studios, Perthshire, Caithness, Phoenix Hot Glass Studio, The Langham Glass House and various others.

One particular paperweight is iridescent, with an abstract design.

Most have designs within the glass, with one having a mountainous effect.

Others have some very unusual designs, with one having an inner circle with four spirals in the centre.

All the paperweights come with presentation boxes and certificates giving information about their manufacture and their limited edition number.

Such a varied range of paperweights would start a very good collection for any collector interested in the items and would prove to be a very good investment.

The paperweight collection will be sold on the second day of our three-day sale to be held from Thursday to Saturday.

For more information, contact Hansons Auctioneers on 01283 733 988 or visit the website www.hansonsauctioneers.co.uk.

Lynne Brighouse previews the programme of events based around Quad's new football-related season.

DERBY County may have lost out on their promotion hopes but then there is always another season!

It is this type of dedication and passion, the way football fans support their team through thick and thin, which is celebrated and explored in Quad's latest exhibition season, The Pride And The Passion.

The arts centre draws on film and photography, along with artefacts, archives and memorabilia from here and abroad, to chart this worldwide passion for the beautiful game.

A series of related events, talks and question and answer sessions from exhibiting artists – plus people who can offer unique perspectives on the game – have also been planned.

An indoor penalty shoot-out launches the new season on Thursday from 6.30pm.

Derby County super-fan and musician Kev Moore, will perform – including the track Derby Pride – followed by a live DJ set from Rams club captain Shaun Barker with fellow music fan and former Nottingham Forest player Paul McGregor in Quad Café from 8.30pm.

A number of exhibition-related talks take place at Quad throughout the summer, exploring different aspects of football culture.

As the World Cup looms, exhibiting artist Ronnie Close will introduce his new film More Out Of Curiosity on June 11. he film reveals the politics of football fans in Cairo and focuses on a breed of super-fan, the Egyptian Ultras. Ronnie will be joined by one of the founders of the Al-Ahly Ultras in Egypt, Mohamed Badawi, who will participate in a question and answer session after the free presentation at 7pm.

Journalist Wendy Dickinson will talk about the formative playing and management career of her father Peter Taylor and his legendary partnership with Brian Clough on Wednesday, June 25 at 7pm. Tickets are priced £3.

On July 2 at 7pm, Question Time: The Media Men features an evening with journalists who cover, or have covered, Derby County matches, including the Derby Telegraph's chief football writer Steve Nicholson and former players such as cult Derby County icon Ted McMinn, with the chance to ask the panel questions at the end. Tickets are £3.

On July 16, Dr Rogan Taylor uses psychoanalysis and ancient religions to examine the nature of football with a view to understanding its phenomenal popularity across the globe.

The Damned United author David Peace will be in conversation on August 13, discussing his latest novel Red Or Dead about Liverpool manager Bill Shankly. His talk begins at 7pm to be followed by a question and answer session. Tickets are £7 (£6 concessions).

The season also features exhibition tours with curators and Andy McConachie, from the Derby County Collection.

Other events include Grass Roots Subbuteo games for the public on June 7, July 5, and August 2; an Offside Stories writing competition; and the screening of the classic football murder mystery film The Arsenal Stadium Mystery (PG) on June 29, and July 2 and 3.

For more details, prices and bookings call 01332 290606 or visit the website www.derybquad.co.uk.

WHAT: The Pride And The Passion

WHERE: Quad, Derby

WHEN: Until September 7

ADMISSIONS: Exhibitions are free. Some events are ticketed.

TICKETS: Call 01332 290606 or visit www.derbyquad.co.uk

THE competition is hotting up in this year's Derby Telegraph Baby of the Year contest.

Lisa Pitt, 32, of Suthers Road, Kegworth, entered her one-year-old son, Jack, and hopes the city of Derby can bring them success.

She said: "We entered to see if we could win and, of course, we think he's lovely.

"We entered the Nottingham one last year as we originally lived there but seeing as we live near Derby now, we thought we would enter here.

"It's a great opportunity to get some nice photos of him as it's a bit hard to get a baby to sit down and have some photographs taken. It is also nice for the children if they do win as it is something for them to remember."

She added: "I hope he gets to be a finalist. If he scooped a cash prize we would put it into savings for him and buy him something nice. Possibly save up and take him on a Disneyland trip."

Lesley Pass, 45, hopes her blue-eyed girl Mary will catch the attention of the judges.

Lesley, of Portreath Drive, Allestree, said: "Every parent thinks their child is cute but we think Mary is very cute and we are always being told that by people – she has such lovely blue eyes.

"She really got into the photo shoot. She had the biggest grin ever when the photographer said 'say cheese'. If she won, I'd take her to the Early Learning Centre and let her have a shopping spree.

"I'd also put some money in her bank account and, maybe, take her on a trip somewhere."

Last year, more than 700 youngsters posed for our photographers. And 81,492 votes were cast to find the winners of the four age categories – up to nine months; ten to 18 months; 19 to 35 months; and three to five years.

Each category winner will win £500, with the overall Baby or Toddler of the Year scooping an extra £1,000 and the coveted trophy.

Photography sessions will take place until Saturday, June 7.

You will find the Derby Telegraph's professional photographers by the concierge desk on level one at the Intu Derby shopping centre between 9.30am and 4.30pm, Monday to Saturday, and from 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sunday.

All you have to do to enter is turn up and smile – no coupon or entry token is needed.

The daily spot prizes, which are in addition to the fantastic prize pot, include family tickets for Alton Towers, Warwick Castle, Butlin's and Conkers.

To follow the competition on Twitter, search @Babyof theYear14, or "like" our page on Facebook by searching Derby Telegraph Baby and Toddler of the Year.

Next week, the Derby Telegraph has another bumper week of great promotions on offer for our readers.

On Tuesday we are tickling your taste buds with a free starter or drink at Masala in Curzon Street. The restaurant has an extensive list of choices and we have a reader coupon in the paper for your chance to join in the fun.

CHADDESDEN residents breathed a huge sigh of relief when it was announced that the Big 1 event in Chaddesden would take place today.

Concerns were raised that the condition of the ground at Chaddesden Park after recent wet weather could have forced it to be cancelled.

But today the weather is set to be excellent, with temperatures of around 20C.

Around 20,000 people are expected to visit the event to be entertained by dog shows, dancing and international food.

Barbara Taylor, 61, chairman of the Friends of Chaddesden Park, said she was always confident the event would go ahead.

She said: "I never thought it would be off. It is a little bit soft underground but I'm sure, with a bit of wind, it will dry out.

"The people of Chaddesden are really looking forward to it, as always. There is a lot of excitement. It's great for the thousands of people who will come from far and wide.

"There is really easy access, which is helpful. It will be really good to show Chaddesden off."

An inspection of Chaddesden Park by Derby City Council's parks department, Derby Live and organisers Friends of Chaddesden Park took place last week and all agreed the event should go ahead.

Some of the events will be moved away from the cricket pitch to avoid damage to the square.

Last year, the event basked in beautiful weather, with a record 25,000 people attending.

Stalls and dog shows, along with live music and dance events entertained the crowd. The same events are expected at today's Big 1.

Enjoy the weather while you can though, as tomorrow looks to be cloudy, showery and humid.

Emma Sharples, forecaster for the Met Office, said the weather would be perfect for the event.

She said: "People in Derbyshire woke up this morning to temperatures of around 17C.

"As the day draws on, clouds will build but there will still be lots of sunny spells and winds will be light."

Emma added: "Tonight will be very mild with temperatures of around 10C or 11C.

"After midnight there will be outbreaks of light, patchy rain which will continue through Monday.

"It will be much cooler, around 16C, but much more humid than today, so it won't feel that cold." STALLS, EXHIBITIONS AND DANCING

The Chaddesden Big 1 kicks off at 11am and finishes at 5pm today.

There are a range of different stalls and exhibitions from local charities and groups.

The organisers have also planned dance and live entertainment, including the international food arena.

Derby Telegraph photographer Geoff Merryweather will be at the event taking plenty of photos for you to see in the paper on tomorrow and online at www.derbytelegraph.co.uk.

Free entry.

ONE of cinema's most iconic cars will help launch this year's film degree show staged by University of Derby students.

Guest of honour Nev Pierce, editor of Empire film magazine, will greet the university's vice-chancellor Professor John Coyne as he arrives at the Cine 14 film night at the Quad cinema on Monday evening in a replica of the time-travelling DeLorean car from the blockbuster Back To The Future films.

Tales of horror, suspense and human drama will be premiered at the University of Derby's annual film degree show, which is staged by final year students on the BA (Hons) film production course.

Films being screened for the Cine 14 night include Butterfly, which tells the story of a 16-year-old competitive swimmer whose future career is threatened by epilepsy.

The film's producer, Ciall Kennett, has a mild form of epilepsy similar to that of the main character.

The film's crew raised more than £2,100 to help make the movie through crowd-funding website IndieGoGo. As this was more than expected, they have donated the remainder to the charity, Epilepsy Action.

Ciall said: "We hope our film can shed even a small light on what it means to suffer from epilepsy. As swimming is a sport requiring great determination, and one in which losing consciousness or lucidity means a life-threatening situation, it emerged naturally as the ideal backdrop for Butterfly."

Fear of a very different kind is tackled by another of the evening's short films, The Copy-Writer. It is inspired by the works of American horror writer HP Lovecraft, best known for his stories involving a race of monstrous Elder Gods who threaten humanity.

The film's tale of an author trying to decipher mysterious notes left by an unknown writer, only to find himself threatened by other-dimensional beings or possibly his own madness, is to be submitted for screening at HP Lovecraft film festivals in Los Angeles and Oregon, in the USA, later this year.

Other films being screened on the night include: Fixer; The 1,000 Colors; Without You; Doug; Nightmare; Rose and Neutral.

Tom Craig, university programme leader, said: "Our annual film night is not just an enjoyable event to complete the students' degree courses but a valuable learning experience, with film crews having to raise production money and organise the premiere event.

"We're pleased to have Nev as our special guest and speaker. I'm sure everybody will get a kick out of seeing the Back to the Future car."

A limited number of free tickets to the Cine 14 screening are available to the public – on a first come, first served basis – through the Quad box office on 01332 290606. More information on the film night can be found on Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DerbyCine14

THE film night at Quad is part of the University of Derby's annual degree shows, which are open to the public for free.

Called The Big Show, the shows feature final year projects by students in crafts, fashion, textiles, fine art, film, design, theatre, visual communications, architecture, music technology, creative expressive therapies, art therapy and many others.

One of the degree shows includes a photographer's collection of pictures giving an insight into UK food poverty – it will also raise money to help combat the problem.

Bethany Kane's photos of food bank premises in the Midlands were taken while she was volunteering at the food distribution service managed by Osmaston Road Baptist Church in Charnwood Street, Derby.

A hundred copies of the photo book from her project, Hidden Hunger, will be sold at £5 each when her collection goes on display at the university's Markeaton Street site. Proceeds will go to the Trussell Trust, which runs more than 400 UK food banks for those in need.

Bethany, 21, said: "My aim is to challenge the negative stereotypes concerning the current food poverty crisis in Britain."

All displays will be open to the public at the university's Markeaton Street and Britannia Mill sites until Friday, June 13.

For details, go to www.derby.ac.uk/ about/organisation/faculties/adt/degree-show.

IT was my birthday this week – my 46th to be precise – and I'm pleased to report Thursday's celebration makes me one day younger than the Antipodean pop princess herself Kylie Minogue.

Why have I told you that I'm 46?

Well it's because I really don't understand why people are so reluctant to reveal their age as they get older.

You see it in the Derby Telegraph all the time because it is part of our training as journalists – John Smith, 32, a Rolls-Royce engineer of London Road, Alvaston.

I even find myself sometimes pussy-footing around people when I interview them for stories.

"That's great Olive, now do you mind if I ask you how old you are please?"

"That's a personal question to ask a lady," might come the reply. "I'm 54 but don't put my age in the paper."

Well why not?

Why don't everyday folk want other people to know how old they are?

It's like they are embarrassed at their ageing and I don't understand it.

After all, there isn't a single shred of scientific evidence to show a person getting any younger as in the story line of the fantasy Hollywood movie, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

For those that haven't seen it, lead actor Brad Pitt plays a man who ages in reverse, starting life as an old man and finishing it as an infant.

So why are people so touchy about their age?

Is it because in their own heads they like to think they look or act younger than the number of years they have clocked up?

Well if that's the case, good for you. I often have a joie de vivre, or mischievous side, that makes me feel like I'm still 25 but the plain fact is that I'm not and I don't, for one minute, pretend that I am.

Whether it is jumping around at a music concert or running around a football pitch, I'm under no illusions that my middle-aged body isn't as fit as it used to be and the Cruyff turns I've been failing to perfect for the past 35 years become increasingly more difficult to master.

Similarly, old sporting injuries restrict me these days to fewer minutes riding my bike as I do my utmost to keep myself active.

The days of jumping on the old steed in the morning and returning at tea time are now limited to an hour or so as the right knee begins to click a dozen or so miles in.

She won't thank me for saying this but one of the news editors here even has a false date of birth set on her Facebook account as she continues to deny she's what is historically termed "the wrong side of 40".

So, for example, you're approaching 40 and a sense of dread approaches you as you start to contemplate what you have or haven't achieved in life.

The indestructibility you had as a teenager morphs into the realisation of your own mortality and you begin to look at your body and start to understand that the skin might not be as tight as it once was around the bones.

Well don't worry about it because those that are closest to you won't give two hoots about an expanding waistline or a few wrinkles around the eyes.

They'll love you for who you are.

Now get out and enjoy yourself.