Flowerpot, King Street, Derby. Are You Experienced. £9. 8pm.

Duke of Clarence, Mansfield Road, Derby. Ashwood, duo, songs from the decades. 8.30pm.

Horse and Groom, Parker Street. Hey Beatles. 8.30pm. Free.

Mickleover RBL, off Western Road, Mickleover. Paul Laine. Guests £2. 7.30pm.

Victoria Inn, Midland Place, Derby. Happy Mondaze. £4. 8pm.

Bookcafe, Cornmarket, Derby. Furthest From the Sea presents five of the region's up and coming acts. 7pm. Free.

Blessington Carriage, Chapel Street, Derby. Club Bless. £1. 10pm-2am.

102 Club, Friar Gate, Derby. Live entertainment and Open the Box from 9pm. Non-members £1.

James Wyatt, Keldholme Lane, Derby. Party night disco. 8pm.

Cornishman, Alvaston. 60s, 70s, 80s disco. Free. 8pm.

Chellaston Club, Derby Road. Rock Back The Clock plus disco. Free. 7.30pm.

KARAOKE

Honeycomb, Mickleover. Karaoke. Derby 540469.

Norman Arms, Village Street, Derby. Karaoke.

White Horse, Morledge, Derby. Disco karaoke. 8pm.

Coronation Hotel, Baker Street, Derby. Disco and karaoke. Free. 8pm.

Coach & Horses, Victoria Road, Draycott. Karaoke. 07709 530852.

STAGE

Guildhall Theatre, Derby. Sweet Baby James. £10.75. 7.30pm.

Derby Theatre. Rosetta. £2. 7.30pm.

FITNESS

Déda, Chapel Street, Derby. Hoppers 1 (5-7) 9-9.45am. Striders (7-9) 9-10am. Movers and shakers (2-5) 10-10.45am. Leapers 9-11) 10-11am. Skippers (4-5) 10.45-11.30am. Hip hop kids (4-7) 11.15am-noon. Ballet juniors (7-11) 11.45am-12.45pm. Hip hop kids (4-7) Noon-12.45pm. Ballet kids (4-7) 12.45-1.30pm. Hip hop juniors (7-11) 1-2pm. Accessible creative movement youth (10-16 years) 1.30-2.30pm. Derby 370911.

GENERAL

Highgates, Backsitwell Street, off Osmaston Road, Derby. Highgates and Maltings Residents' Association bring and buy sale. Free. Tea, coffee and cakes 50p.

Methodist Church, St Thomas' Road, Derby. Coffee morning with various stalls. 10-11.30am.

Stratford Road Scout Hut, off Mansfield Road, Breadsall Hilltop. 175th Derby 1st Breadsall & Oakwood Scout Group fair with various stalls. 10.30am-2.30pm.

St Matthew's Church, Morley. Sacheverell Bateman Mausoleum and church open to the public. 2-4pm.

St Stephen's Church, Sinfin Lane, Sinfin. Coffee morning, cakes and bric-a-brac. 10am-noon.

Sutton-on-the-Hill Village Hall. Plants and second-hand book sale. Free. 10.30am-noon.

Lonny Wilsoncroft Community Centre, Stepping Lane, Derby. Calidoscópio Carnival drummers Brazilian-style carnival rhythms. £3/£2.50 concs. 10-11am beginners, 11.15-12.15pm for band. 07813 553102.

DANCING

Evergreen Hall, Cornhill, Allestree. Social dance with live music. 7.45-10.45pm. £3. Derby 552303 or 751497.

EXHIBITIONS

Quad, Market Place, Derby. The Pride and the Passion: Derby County Football Club Through the Years and Grassroots: Artists explore lower league football. Free. 11am-6pm. 01332 290606.

Cromford Studio and Gallery, The Market Place, Cromford. Colin Haliday fine art landscapes. 10am-5pm.TOMORROW PUBS AND CLUBS

Meadows Inn, Cattle Market, Chequers Road, Derby. Barn dance and barbecue in aid of Derby Samaritans. £5. 4.30-9pm.

Victoria Inn, Midland Place, Derby. Sausage and folk acoustic night. 7pm. Free.

County Pub, Sinfin Lane, Sinfin. Poker. 4pm. All welcome.

102 Club, Friar Gate, Derby. Live entertainment from 3pm, bingo from 8pm. Non-members £1.

Metro Bar, Albert Street, Derby. Open mic 5-7pm, open jam session 7-8pm, disco/karaoke with Rob 8pm-midnight. Derby 297533.

Robin, Mickleover. Quiz with Captain Shaun. Free. 6.30pm. 07742 950664.

Smithfield, Meadow Road, Derby. Nostalgia night and sing-a-long with Frankie Styne. 07971 711782.

Flowerpot, King Street, Derby. Live music. 4-7pm.

Ryan's, St Peter's Street, Derby. Open mic night. 8.30pm. Free. Derby 345577.

White Horse, Morledge, Derby. Open mic. 8.30pm.

KARAOKE

Norman Arms, Village Street, Derby. Karaoke.

QUIZ NIGHTS

Coach & Horses, Mansfield Road, Derby. Quiz and competitions with cash prizes. 07971 711782

Pattenmakers Arms, Duffield. Quiz night. 9.30pm. £1 entry, includes quiz, raffle and supper.

Ye Olde Dolphin Inn, Queen Street, Derby. General knowledge quiz with prizes. Free. 8.30pm. Derby 267711.

DANCING

Rolls-Royce Pavilion, Moor Lane, Derby. Mixed social dancing. £3. 8pm. 07729 774798.

GENERAL

Cromford Mill. Craft fair. 10am-4pm. Free.

Meadows Inn, Cattle Market, Chequers Road, Derby. Barn dance and barbecue in aid of Derby Samaritans.

Old Rectory, Radbourne. Radbourne fete with various stalls, line-dancing, strawberry teas on the lawn. Free. 2pm.

CHILDREN

Moorways Sports Complex, Moor Lane, Allenton. Derby Dippers Disabled Swimming Club. Poolside hoist and changing facilities for wheelchair users. 4.30-5.30pm. Derby 510882 evenings.

STAGE

Guildhall Theatre. Miss 600. £10.75. 7.30pm.

EXHIBITIONS

See today's entries.

RAMBLING

Derby and South Derbyshire Ramblers' Association. Meet: Darley Park Drive car park, 8.45am or Clough House car park, SJ987699, for a 12-mile walk. 10am. Derby 516693.

Footloose Walking Club. New members welcome. Meet: Outside the Station Hotel, Station Road, Ashbourne. 10 miles. 10.15am. 01159 606530.

Derby Nomads. Meet: Darley Dale car park on B5057, SK 26952 62376, for an 11-mile moderate walk. 9.45am. 07866 523682.

Derby CHA & HF Rambling Club. Meet: Muggington Lane End lay-by, map ref 281456, for a 4-5-mile leisurely walk. 10.30am.

Onestep Walking Club. Meet public house at canal junction, Fradley. 7 miles. Noon. Derby 230903.MONDAY PUBS AND CLUBS

Victoria Inn, Midland Place, Derby. The Umbrella's open mic night. Free. 7pm.

Metro Bar, Albert Street, Derby. Student night. 07811 091489.

Allenton Royal British Legion, Chellaston Road. Wargames Society meeting. 7pm. 07740 950545

Furnace Inn, Derby. Open mic night. 7pm. Derby 385981.

Silver Ghost, Quiz with free food for players. £1. 8pm.

Half Moon, Burton Road, Littleover. Poker night. 7pm. Derby 613559.

KARAOKE

White Horse, Morledge, Derby. Disco karaoke. 8pm.

QUIZ NIGHTS

Smithy's Marina Bar, Shardlow Marina. Music quiz. Derby 799797.

Duke of Clarence, Mansfield Road, Chester Green. Quiz night, teams of 4. £1 per person including supper. 9pm.

Ye Olde Spa Inn, Abbey Street, Derby. Quiz night with half-time food. Free. 9pm. Derby 343099.

Travellers' Rest, Ashbourne Road, Derby. Quiz night and open the box. £1 per team. 9.30pm. Derby 348924.

Hollybrook Tavern, Hollybrook Road, Littleover. General knowledge quiz. £1. 9pm. Derby 518590.

Navigation Inn, London Road, Shardlow. Steve's amazing quiz. Supper provided. 8.30pm.

FITNESS

102 Club, Friar Gate, Derby. Exercise class. £3. 6-7pm.

St Nicholas Church, Allestree. Tai Chi, suitable for all ages and fitness levels. £6. 6.30pm. 07896 309819.

DANCING

Lawns Primary School, Norbury Close, Allestree. Scottish country dancing classes for adults, beginners or experienced. £3. 7-10pm. Derby 769365.

St Michael's Church Hall, Elvaston Lane, Alvaston. Derby folk dance group – English country dancing with caller and live music. 7.30-9.30pm. £1.50, includes tea and biscuits. Derby 557156.

GENERAL

Somercotes Salvation Army, Sleetmoor Lane, Somercotes. Friendship and Fellowship. 3pm.

VoiceBox, Forman Street, Derby. Non-audition choir. £5. 7.30-9.30pm. 07969 682578.

Rolls-Royce Pavilion, Moor Lane, Derby. Rolls-Royce Ladies' choir – new members welcome. £1. 7-9pm.

Quad, Market Place, Derby. Coors Cafe Bar: BooksQuad book group. Free. 6-8pm. Derby 290606.

Parish Rooms, St Werburgh's Church, Spondon. West Park Writers' Group. New members welcome. £2 per week. 10.30am-12.30pm. Derby 675320.

Memorial Hall, Park Lane, Allestree. Allestree art painting group. 10am-noon. £10 per quarter. Derby 557858.

Evergreen Hall, Cornhill, Allestree. Whist Drive. 1.45-4pm. £1.

CHILDREN

All Saints' Parish Hall, Etwall Road, Mickleover. Boogie Woogie Babes – music group for pre-school children. £3.50 for over 1s, £1.50 under 1s, £1 each additional child. 10-11am. Derby 523445.

EXHIBITIONS

Quad, Market Place, Derby. The Pride and the Passion: Derby County Football Club Through the Years and Grassroots: Artists explore lower league football. Free. 11am-6pm. 01332 290606.

War veteran Les Calladine remembers the fallen, the fight and the end of the Second World War. As part of the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the Chaddesden pensioner shares his wartime story.

THERE'S nothing Les Calladine can not tell you about the D-Day landings in 1944.

The 89-year-old Royal Navy veteran was there and his memories are as clear as day.

"It was 70 years ago," says Les of Trenton Drive, Chaddesden. "But days like that don't leave you.

"The battle was big. I remember everything about it. It was my job to guide the big ships to the beaches of Normandy. I was in a little cruiser with just 11 of us onboard. We were leading the big boys and getting them as close to land as possible.

"The last thing we wanted was for them to hit the bottom of the sea. When they couldn't get any nearer, we ordered them to drop anchor.

"Soldiers piled off the boats and made their way to the beach. Many of them didn't even make it to land.

"They were killed in the water. I don't like to talk about it but one memory – above all the others – has stayed with me forever.

"And that was the sight of all the dead and dying soldiers floating past me as I sat aboard my boat.

"I couldn't save them. I couldn't pull them onboard. But behind us, crew from the floating hospitals were pulling them out.

"Our little boat, a cruiser called Ajax, was nestling under the bow of a bigger boat. We were trying to shelter from the gunfire."

Les's recount of D-Day is astounding. His attention to detail is remarkable. He was just 19 years old when he joined thousands of Allied troops at Normandy. Now he's an old man – fighting to keep fit and well.

"My short-term memory is rubbish," he says. "So tomorrow, I'll probably forget you ever visited me to get this interview but ask me anything about back then and I can do it. I have often wondered why I can still remember so much from something that happened 70 years ago and I think I must have had a photographic memory in my youth."

Les joined the Royal Navy when he 17. He was walking past the Army careers office, which was based in the Market Place back then, and walked in. He was with his best friend, Danny, and the pair joined up.

"I should have thought about my poor mother," says Les, who has six children, 14 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren

"She had already lost a son in 1942. He was in the Tank Regiment and died fighting for his country. I was young and carefree.

"I didn't know what I was going to do with my life, so when I walked into the office, I just signed on the dotted line. After that, my application was accepted and I was sent for training.

"I wanted to be a normal seaman but my aptitude test meant I was picked to become a wireless operator. I was going to be sent to London to study Morse Code. On board ships, there were always two of us. One took down the message. He received it and the other chap decoded it and put the Morse Code into English.

"It was an interesting job and, of course, we got the news first.

"The first ship I ever boarded was HMS Flint Castle. I was on convoy duty escorting merchant vessels to Newfoundland, in Canada. We went back and forth. We were there to protect the ships from the subs."

Les remembers with clarity the day he was briefed about the Normandy landings. He was told the mission would be on June 5. Troops would start landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France.

He recalls: "It would be one of the biggest – if not the biggest – offensive again the Germans. Then the weather got bad and the whole mission was cancelled.

"Because we'd been briefed already, we were guarded by armed forces. There was no way the Government wanted the news to leak.

"The following day, we set off. We guided the boats along the coast and got them as close to the beaches as we could. They were sitting ducks. They faced a barrage of bullets. The soldiers didn't have a chance. Many lads were injured and drowned because their back packs were so heavy. They were in great danger. We all were.

"We bobbed on the sea for a while. Then we were ordered to take cover under a bow of a boat. Sheltering from the gun fire, I'm not sure what was running through my mind.

"By this time, bodies were floating by. It was an horrific sight and one which I will never, ever forget. Once our job was done and our mission was complete, we made our way out. We sailed back to Southampton and joined HMS Flint Castle.

"I prayed that the shells would miss us when we were on the little cruiser boat but, at the time, I don't think I had chance to think about what was going on around me.

"The invasion was horrific. So many young men died that day. I will never forget what I saw."

Les has been back to Normandy. One of his daughters, Lisa, and her husband, Paul, took him to revisit the former battlegrounds.

"It was emotional," he says. "The quiet fishing village is quite a tourist spot now and I do think that's a shame. Parts of it are like Blackpool, filled with shops selling trinkets, but I didn't visit them.

"Lisa and I went to see a couple of the museums and I was presented with two medals. It was quite overwhelming. She had a word with the curates at the museums and they both raced off to get me the medals. I felt very proud.

"We visited some of the beaches and many of them are still littered with wartime stuff, like dug-outs."

Les has purposely held back the best part of his story. An hour into talking to me, he starts to mention the moment when he discovered that the war was over.

"I took the message from Winston Churchill," he says proudly. After D-Day, he had resumed his role on convoy duty. It was in this role, almost a year later and a few miles before he reached Newfoundland, that the message came in on the wireless.

Les says: "It was Winston Churchill. He said that the surrender had been signed and we were ordered to make our return to Southampton. I remember shouting up the pipe to the skipper and immediately an officer came down to me.

"'The war is over!' I shouted. Germany had been ordered to surrender. I was a popular crew member that night. The captain ordered 'slice the mainbrace'. It's an order given aboard naval vessels to issue the crew with a drink. We all had a lot of rum that day, I can tell you.

"The news from Winston Churchill was wonderful, and the next thing that happened was equally amazing.

"We turned the boat round and headed back to Southampton. When we got there we piled it high with food and set sail for Rotterdam. All the bread and sugar and stuff we gave away. Locals were informed we were coming and they lined up to receive some extra food.

"The people of Holland were literally starving. They all queued up hoping for a loaf of bread.

"After that, we returned back and restocked. Then we went to other European countries like Norway. I felt like a million dollars."

Les wrote to his mum during his time at sea but the letter took ages to arrive. When the boat docked, mail would be delivered onboard and letters written by crew would be dispatched for posting.

"I tried to keep in touch," he says. "I'm sure my poor mum was worried sick. She'd already lost another son to the war."

After serving in the Royal Navy for five years, Les was given the chance to leave. He took it.

"I didn't know what I was going to do," he says. "For a while I just messed around in jobs and moved to one thing and then another.

"It was when my brother came to me and said I should settle down that I really took notice. He worked at Rolls-Royce and suggested I should work there.

"He said he would try and get me an interview and he did just that. I worked at Royce's for 38 years and retired a happy man.

"I often think of my best friend, Danny, especially when there are celebrations like the 70th anniversary. He is long gone now. Dead and buried. But I'll never forget him. He tried to steal my girlfriend, who later became my wife, but he was still my best friend.

"Television footage of the D-Day landings are always too difficult for me to watch. I have seen some clips over the years but I don't really want to remember it all now. I have read a few books. A mate lends me them but that's it.

"This weekend, I will remember the soldiers who lost their lives, but I will remember them quietly and in my own way."

WHO would be a driver in Derby these days – or a business owner in beleaguered London Road for that matter?

On today's front page, and for the second time in the space of four days, we report on more misery on our roads.

On Wednesday, we revealed how a hapless contractor had struck a water pipe, causing 11 miles of gridlock, affecting the personal lives of thousands of people who, as a result, were forced to miss appointments, meetings, exams or be late for work.

Today, motorists have been hit with a double whammy with the news that the city's London Road bridge could be shut for four months longer than expected. This, bear in mind, is on top of the original 12-month closure. How businesses in the area are managing to keep going in already tough times is amazing.

This latest delay does beg the question: why?

Well, in a rather woolly excuse lacking any real detail, a spokesman for Network Rail – which is in charge of the work– put it down to issues with the design and build of the bridge and the supply of the steel required.

We don't profess to be experts on bridge-building but 16 months to sort that out does seem to be a remarkable length of time. After all, motorway bridges are often replaced overnight.

New city council leader Ranjit Banwait professes himself "extremely disappointed" but adds the work has been complex because of the many underground pipes that have had to be redirected.

He warns that contractors will be pressed hard to get the job done and says the council is looking at what penalties it can impose for the delays.

If that does turn out to be possible, it should start by forcing whoever is at fault to compensate the beleaguered businesses of London Road.

LONDON Road bridge in Derby is set to close for four months longer than expected – heaping further misery on the city's motorists.

Network Rail says the bridge, on one of the main routes into the city, will now reopen "before Christmas" instead of the target of August. This could mean a total closure time of 16 months.

Businesses already hit by the £6.9 million bridge replacement work have called the delay "farcical". One firm says it has already lost "tens of thousands" in trade due to the road closure.

The news comes after it was announced that roadworks on the A38 which had been due to finish earlier this month had been extended until July because a protected species – white-clawed crayfish – was found near the site.

The London Road bridge project is a joint scheme between Network Rail and Derby City Council.

A Network Rail spokesman said the delay was down to issues with the "design and build of the bridge" and "the supply of the steel required".

He said: "We apologise to the people of Derby that work to replace London Road bridge is taking longer than originally planned. Our teams are working hard to minimise the delay. We are confident that the bridge will reopen before Christmas and are working to bring that date forwards if at all possible."

The work, which started on August 19 last year, is needed because the bridge's 135-year-old structure had deteriorated so much that it was propped up by supports. This had meant that a 7.5-tonne weight limit was put in force.

But businesses in the area had always feared an impact on their trade and say they have been proven right.

Ray Wheatley, director of Willbond Plumbing Centre, in London Road, said the site's bathroom showroom was dependent on passing trade. He estimated trade worth "tens of thousands of pounds" had been lost because of the road closure.

Mr Wheatley said: "I'm not surprised at the delay, given how we've seen work progressing, but I'm very disappointed because they assured us it would be a 12-month project."

He added: "It's a problem for us as a business because we are now in a cul-de-sac. We came here because it was on a main road."

Richard Slater, joint-owner of Boutique Florist, called it a "farce". He said: "Replacing the bridge is obviously necessary but if it was a private company doing the job I'm sure they would have been fined for this sort of delay."

Mr Slater said he linked the bridge closure to the florist's takings being down for Christmas, Mother's Day, and Valentine's Day.

AA spokesman Luke Bosdet said the delay would reflect badly on Network Rail and the council. He said: "If it had just gone through to August it may have been bearable for motorists. The schools are out, people take time off work and then they come back to the road being open heading into winter.

"I think drivers will have got used to the delays but knowing its going to go on will ramp up the backlash."

Derby City Council leader Ranjit Banwait said he was "extremely disappointed" about the delays. He said: "Excellent progress has been made in terms of redirecting utilities – people forget that there has been such complex work – but we are now pressing the contractors very hard, aiming for completion by November, to make sure that the work is done before Christmas.

"We are also looking at what penalties we can impose for the delays."

The A38 works affected by the crayfish are at Little Eaton roundabout. An inbound stretch of the A61 leading up to Little Eaton Island was closed for 28 hours earlier this week after workmen damaged a water pipe.

THE trial date of a 48-year-old man accused of murdering his partner outside her home has been brought forward.

Ian Meakin is accused of the murder of his 27-year-old partner Angela Ward.

It is alleged he stabbed her to death in Critchley Street, Ilkeston, on May 7.

He was due to face trial on November 10, but this is now expected to take place on October 27 because a time-slot has become available at Nottingham Crown Court.

John Lloyd-Jones, prosecuting, said at Leicester Crown Court yesterday: "This is an allegation of murder in a domestic setting. The prosecution will say this defendant stabbed and killed his partner outside the flat they partially shared in Ilkeston following a domestic argument."

Meakin is next due at Nottingham Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing on August 8.

RAMS hero Roger Davies was among those who helped kick off a new football exhibition in Derby.

In the year of the World Cup, Quad has launched The Pride and The Passion exhibition.

At a launch event, musician and super-fan Kev Moore and his band performed a selection of specially written songs about the Rams.

And Derby County captain Shaun Barker, alongside former Forest player Paul McGregor, played a live DJ set.

The exhibition is up and running at Quad today and tomorrow.

It features a substantial number of archival images and artefacts relating to Derby County – one of the oldest clubs in the world – as well as many contemporary displays of film and photographs exploring the culture which surrounds the game.

TWO iPad tablet computers have been stolen from a house in Somercotes.

Police believe the burglar got in through an insecure window.

The break-in happened in Welbeck Close between 7am and 5.30pm on Tuesday, June 3.

As a result, officers are urging residents to make sure their homes are secure.

Community safety inspector Russell Dakin said: "These sorts of burglaries can be prevented by taking common-sense measures such as locking doors and closing ground-floor windows when going to bed."

IT may have been pouring with rain outside, but a party was held this weekend at Intu Derby to celebrate the start of summer.

Hourly carnival parades, face painting, craft workshops and food sampling are all taking place today and tomorrow in the shopping centre.

Local artisan suppliers were also at the centre, including Spondon Bakery and Derventio Brewery, tempting shoppers with freshly-made breads and locally brewed beer.

Meanwhile, football fanatics joined coaches from Derby County FC as they host football skills sessions for the kids.

There was also cheerleading performances from local dance group Dance Beats, as well as Zumba with the team from Pure Gym Derby, in support of the British Heart Foundation. Among those at the event was Ravinder Talwar, 38, and his daughter Aneeka, five, who took part in a craft event. Ravinder, of Sunny Hill, said: "We came into Derby to go to the bank so we decided to come in here and pass the time. "It's great for the children. Aneeka is very creative and loves things like this. Today she had made a music shaker." Also getting into the summer feeling was Melissa Kelsey and her two daughters Syriah, seven, and Daisha, 10, who had their faces painted. Melissa, 32, of Osmaston Road, said: "I think it's amazing that the events are being put on for free. "We only popped into the centre quickly butwe saw the face painting so we thought we would stop so the girls could get their faces painted. "We are going to a Brazilian-themed party this afternoon so they will look great for that!"

Nigel Wheatley, senior centre manager, said: "This event is a vibrant celebration of family fun and food. We've also got lots of surprises planned to keep our shoppers smiling all weekend long."

RUBY Shorrock, 21, from Quarndon, a third-year student at Glasgow Veterinary School, worked at an Animal Aid Unlimited sanctuary in Udaipur, India, last summer. Here are extracts from her blog:

FIRST DAY AT THE SHELTER, SILAWATWARI, INDIA:

Went to the Animal Aid sanctuary for the first time. Erika and Clare, who run it, were really friendly and got us both settled in with the vet nurses.

My friend Amanda Budge – a fellow trainee vet – was in the large animal section with the cows and donkeys, many of which were paralysed or had amputations.

I went to the section I can only describe as maggot mayhem! There were about 40 dogs with wounds that had festered in the humidity and become infested with maggots. We cleaned all the wounds, which took us until around 1pm.

In the afternoon, Amanda and I fussed the dogs in "handicapped heaven". These dogs live at the centre in a special enclosure. They have been in accidents which have injured their spines. Most have no control of their back legs. They get around really well and love to be fussed.

One of the main problems for them is that they can't scratch themselves, but they combat this by grooming each other!

It was inspiring seeing how cheerful these dogs are despite their situation. They get physio every day and many of them learn to walk again.

DAY 2

Had an amazing second day! I was in the maggot wound section again. The wounds from yesterday look so much better.

The dog that we thought had no eye because his wound was so deep surprised us as we saw a healthy sparkling eyeball among the mess!

Sadly, both the new cases that came in today had to be put to sleep.

One had a massive head wound that had gone through to his brain and the other was totally emaciated.

DAY 15

Today has been busy! The foster mum of six pups has sadly got an infection so her milk is drying up.

One of the pups has died and another was at death's door when we arrived.

The vet nurse declared him dead but when I went over to see there was a flicker of life.

I rubbed him in a blanket and got him warm using a hot water bottle. I gave him 5ml of milk which took about 30 mins as I was being very careful because he had no sucking reflex.

I left him for two hours to warm up and when I came back he was a different puppy! He was warm and scoffed 7.5ml of milk.

We named him Rocky and we are hand-raising him.

A JUDGE has begun summing up in the case of three people accused of murdering a father-of-four outside a Derbyshire social club.

Mr Justice Charles Haddon-Cave QC told a jury it is "they and they only" who will decide whether the three are guilty of murdering Barry Smith.

Tomorrow, the jury is due to be sent out to deliberate over whether or not Vincent Aitken, Emma Aitken and Nathan Doherty were responsible for the death of Mr Smith.

They are also to decide whether Aitken's wife, Pamela Aitken, is guilty of assisting an offender in relation to the offence.

Tomorrow, the trial will enter its seventh week.

Starting his summing up on Friday, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said: "In the early hours of October 6 last year, Barry Smith was attacked outside Kilburn Welfare Social Club and killed. His body was found near a football pitch the next morning by two local women.

"It was apparent he had suffered terrible facial injuries and there had been an attempt to burn his body."

Vincent Aitken, 44, of Chapel Street, Kilburn, his daughter Emma Aitken, 19, and her partner Nathan Doherty, 27, both of Portland Street, Derby, all deny the murder of Mr Smith.

Pamela Aitken, 41, denies assisting an offender.

Mr Justice Haddon-Cave told the jury he had prepared for them a "route to verdict".

He said: "There are three questions in relation to Nathan Doherty, Emma Aitken and Vincent Aitken.

"One, are you sure they were present during the fatal attack on Barry Smith? In you are not, they are not guilty, if you are move to question two.

"Two, are you sure they took part in the fatal attack or assisted and encouraged other to do so? If you are not then not guilty, if you are then move to question three.

"Three, are your sure, if they took part in some or all of the attack they meant to kill or seriously harm Barry Smith? If you are not, then not guilty, and if you are, then they are guilty of his murder."

A former Derby schoolboy is about to become the youngest head teacher in the country at the age of 28. From humble origins, Clive Lawrence is hoping to act as a role model for young people in the city.

PROUD of being Allenton born and bred, Clive Lawrence will take up his headship on September 1 – just five days short of his 29th birthday.

Ambitious to be a teacher from a young age, Mr Lawrence said he owes all of his success to his early education in an area that has received bad press for its schools in past years.

He said: "There has always been a lack of aspiration among young people in the area but I am here to say that your schools can serve you well and to be a good example of what can be achieved if you try."

Mr Lawrence is currently associate head at a special educational needs school – Birch Wood School, near Melton Mowbray – but will become head teacher of Sherbrook Primary School, in Cannock, Staffordshire, at the start of the autumn term.

He is "extremely proud" of having achieved his headship at such a young age and would have liked to continue his career in his home city but a smaller number of special schools has limited where he can find a position. A Derbeian at heart, he will continue to live at Borrowash.

Mr Lawrence said: "It is extremely rare to be the head teacher of a school under the age of 30.

"I discovered I might be the youngest head when I attended a course at the National College of School Leadership and the subject came up because a drive is on to show graduates how they can succeed in the world of education as teachers and aspire to early management positions.

"There is someone else who was 27 when appointed and became the youngest head in Europe at a school in Malaga, Spain. But it seems that I am the youngest in Britain, much to my surprise."

Mr Lawrence, who is of mixed black Caribbean and white British heritage, is hopeful that his early success will act as a positive role model to youngsters growing up in Allenton, especially ethnic minority teenagers.

He said: "I was born in the area and, by five, I was part of a single parent family after my parents split up. My mother stills lives in the area.

"I attended the former Nightingale infant and junior schools before moving to Merrill College."

From there, Mr Lawrence spent two years at Landau Forte College in Derby and then attended Northampton University to study for a BA (Hons) degree in primary education, which gave him qualified teacher status.

He said: "I always wanted to be a teacher from a very young age and can probably date the desire back to an inspirational teacher I had in my junior school.

"I loved my time at Merrill and got very involved with PE in the school. So much so, that I had eventually to choose whether I taught secondary PE or primary education. The latter won.

"I was the first person in my family to go to university and I think that, if I can achieve what I have, then anyone can. There seems to be a lack of aspiration associated with my home area but I hope my example can help change that."

Mr Lawrence has always been ambitious, becoming one of the youngest referees at his level to be appointed by the Football Association at age 17 and officiating during the final match at the Baseball Ground. He also found time to raise money by cycling for Derby Kids' Camp.

His involvement with special needs education, which started when he worked part-time with children's charity Umbrella, continued when he took up his first post as a teacher at St Martins Special School in Alvaston.

He also studied part-time at the University of Derby to obtain an MA degree in education, and then moved to work at Brackensdale Junior School in Mackworth.

His current role has prepared him for the new job and further SEN involvement.

Mr Lawrence said: "I am really in a minority when it comes to black ethnic males being in leadership roles in schools, especially special schools.

"But I feel I have overcome many things that other people would have thought of as obstacles, which have actually spurred me on.

"I still keep in touch with school friends, although I was the only one who went to university, and most have trades now. They help to keep me grounded.

"People ask me what I will do next now I am a head at such a young age. But I have not thought beyond this appointment. I just want to concentrate on having a significant impact on the teaching and learning of my pupils."