First Night performance photos at New Mills Art Theatre for "Cinderella"

And here are pics of a snowy Glossop, courtesy of High Peak listener Hazel McInnes...

Thanks to listener "Grumps" Wilson for these pictures of Buxton in the snow...

"Cinderella" gets the New Mills Art Theatre treatment

# The weather outside is frightful... #

... so web editor, David Heathcote, retreated to the greenhouse at Chatsworth House to snap these pics. Oranges and lemons in December (and the lemons are as big as footballs!)

Listener Lisa Elliott meets Taylor Swift and One Direction's Harry Styles in Hope Valley

• It's surprising who you might see in the Hope Valley, as High Peak Radio listener Lisa Elliott found out the other day...

Laura and Barry host the Derbyshire Young Achievers Awards with Robbie Savage

• Maddie Thompson, Felicia Wright, Megan Ellis, Tom Payne (no photo) and Kieran Wagstaffe (no photo) were five young people from the High Peak and Hope Valley area who received Derbyshire Young Achievers Awards presented by Robbie Savage. Laura Pennington and Barry Jarvis hosted the award ceremony.







To view a video of the award ceremony, click on:

Heartbeat Chorus debut at New Mills Art Theatre with "Songs at Christmas"

I'm a High Peaker - get me out of here!

• Working in cramped conditions, being asked to do impossible things, eating disgusting food - yes, that's what it's like being in the High Peak Radio studios all the time. But we don't complain...



• Leighton loves a challenge, so when tasked with coming in to work in a different fancy dress costume each day, there was no stopping him. Here's his Marathon Runner, Ned Flanders and Super Mario (nice one!) Just hope he remembers to change before he nips out to the supermarket... (Notice our "flood defence system" on the door in the big picture! - Ed)

Welcome to the team, James!

• James Ellis has worked on the Sales Team at High Peak Radio for a year now, but until recently he had not achieved his ambition. What was that? To acquire Helen's studio parking place? (NO chance! - Ed) To locate Sherri's secret stache of tortilla crisps? (EVEN less! - Ed) No, he just wanted his photo to be on the radio station website! So now we have a happy chappy - welcome to The Team, James! (Judy Garland... Abba... Glenn Miller - really?! - Ed)

HI-DI-HI - and still looking as fabulous as ever! (And you are too, Barry!)

• The lovely Ruth Madoc, star of Hi-Di-Hi, called in on Barry Jarvis recently. What would Mr Fairbrother say??!

It's Pantomime season this Christmas at Chatsworth - look out, it's behind you!

• You may think the festive displays at Chatsworth House this year are all based on traditional pantomime characters, but look closer - and you'll see they all have a High Peak Radio connection... oh no they don't!!


• (left) Roger, our engineer, looks after tech stuff in a separate room. If things go wrong, the language from there is not always Snow White. (right) Leighton begins work at A Terrible Hour to get the Breakfast Show on air weekdays from 6am: he doesn't always look his best first thing!


• (left) Sherri holds a selling targets meeting with her Sales Team every week. (right) Saturday and Sunday breakfast presenters, Craig and Barry, discuss play lists for their shows. (Remember them on the High Peak Radio float at the Buxton Carnival last summer??!)


• (left) The delightful Helen arrives to present her Drivetime show in her flashy new vehicle. Traffic hold-up on the A6 - no problem with her one horse-power machine! (right) One of our lovely advertisers: we couldn't do what we do without you! Thank you!!


• (left) Tarquin, the office boy, never did get the hang of "dress-down Fridays", and when he started throwing records around the studio, he had to go. (right) Dominique, our accounts administrator, needs a well-deserved rest after she's printed the month's invoices.

Another cast photo from the Art Theatre, New Mills, production of "The Pajama Game"

• Cast members Nicky Salt, Jo Gilson, Paula Waddacor and Stephanie Hill (clockwise, from left to right) in rehearsal for New Mills Art Theatre's first-ever staging of "The Pajama Game".

Disley's William Hampson "wins" Sophie Ellis-Bextor for his Primary School!

• Disley Primary School hosted a "Mosh and Wash" music festival recently for 6-year old William Hampson. He won Persil's "Get Messy with Music" nationwide competition by performing his own song and playing the guitar. The mini music festival was held at his school for all of his friends and their parents, with a special appearance by Sophie Ellis-Bextor (pictured above with High Peak Radio's own Rebecca Cassidy)
• There was a rocky-oakey, which music teacher Mrs Taylor, William and his mum, and Sophie judged, plus a surprise performance from Britain's Got Talent semi-finalists The Mend.

Mostly dahlias...

• An October visit to Chatsworth gardens is part of our web editor, David Heathcote's, birthday ritual (Hint! Ah well, never mind... - Ed), and he takes his camera with him. The flower beds are a glorious festival of colour. The bugs, he points out, are residents of the Chatsworth Estate, "with more right to be there than I have."

Limelight Kids Theatre present Bugsy Malone at the Art Theatre, New Mills

• "I promised the Kids that one day I would get them a performance on a stage in a theatre, I am totally funding this project myself. People may ask why and my answer is to give those kids a chance, a chance to believe in themselves and show people what they can do. To give kids the support and confidence that I never had." Paula Waddacor, Principal Of Limelight Kids Theatre

The Pajama Game cast photo call at the Art Theatre, New Mills

• New Mills Art Theatre society members are deep into rehearsal for their November production of the musical "The Pajama Game", a story about the lives and loves of employees in the "Sleep Tite" pajama factory in Iowa, USA. To get into the feel of the show the cast decided to turn up for rehearsal in their PJs. (I don't wear pajamas, so when I turned up at the photo call, they asked me to leave - IMMEDIATELY! - Ed)

Remember her name - Gwen Harris

• Remember this face - hers, not Barry's! - because she is going to make a huge impact on the music scene. This is the very talented Gwen Harris, and she featured in a recent High Peak Performance.
• Gwen was chatting to Barry Jarvis after appearing at the New Mills festival band night. "She was brilliant", said Barry. "Remember where you saw and heard her first!!" (Photo credit: Portia Hunt - www.portiahunt.com)

So - Avril and Kara won tickets from High Peak Radio...

• ...and they sent us this photo to say "Thank you!" And an email: "Re: The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde... Thank you for the tickets we won a couple of weeks ago! Just got back from watching the show at Buxton - fantastic, cast and crew all did an excellent job!!! (and they kindly signed our program and posed for a photo)" We LOVE making people happy!!

"And you shall have it - in Florabundance!"

• The seasons turn at Chatsworth, just as they do in our own gardens. And at this time of year, the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire celebrate autumn with the Florabundance Festival - with a little help from resident floral designer, Jonathan Moseley. Web editor, David Heathcote visited with his camera.

# Take the last train to Buxton... #

• Ashbourne Radio (and occasionally, High Peak Radio) presenter, Steve Jenner, was recently invited across to The Churnet Valley Railway in the Staffordshire Moorlands - to learn to drive a train, in preparation for the railway's Heritage Diesel Gala!

"The Bradshaws an' all That" come to New Mills Art Theatre

• For one night only – New Mills Art Theatre presents comedy and nostalgia from Buzz Hawkins, the man behind The Bradshaws. The live stage show features stand-up, story-telling, comedy songs, catchy choruses, and daft bits, including a special appearance by Billy Bradshaw himself, and top six-piece group, the Backyard Band.

In memory of Billy Tonge and Bev Brocklehurst...

• Steven Broadbent writes: "We had a fantastic day despite the terrible weather. It was a very good game and the veterans managed to keep up with the current Buxworth side, with the help of Billy's grandchildren Amy (13) and Ben (10). The score ended up at 4- 4 with Billy's granddaughter Amy scoring one of the goals, but Buxworth got the win on penalties. We raised £464.46p for Cancer Research UK. I think we did Billy and Bev proud."

Buxton's Lucy Spraggan - through to bootcamp in X-Factor - comes to town!

• Lucy was in Whaley Bridge to honour a long-standing engagement at The Railway. So popular, people had to be turned away - a lucky 300 got in!

High Peak Radio at Buxton Wells Dressing Carnival 2012

Our Laura attends the Buxton Military Tattoo at The Dome

• Chelsea Pensioners, Wayne Campbell (left) and Denis Shiels (right) were among those taking part in aid of the Soldier's Charity.

Barry meets Olympian Ellie Koyander (mogul skier) at the Castleton "Olympics" 2012

Ginger Studios Summer Showcase at New Mills Art Theatre

The colours of Summer 2012

• This year, Summer seems to be coming to us in instalments. The other day, David Heathcote, our weekend overnight presenter (who sometimes stays awake in the day, too!) took himself off with his camera. This was what he came back with.

This is what we see every single working day in the High Peak Radio "office":

• Our mission statement, as photographed by the lovely Sherri, and posted on her Facebook page. It's the original document, over six years old, but still as fresh and important to us as ever.

Glossop's Partington Players rehearse for farcical comedy "Unoriginal Sin"

Planet Rabbit Co. return to Partington Theatre with the wartime comedy "Blitz Bride"

New Mills Art Theatre presenting "Fur Coat and No Knickers"

Dove Holes' got talent!

• Leighton congratulates "Dove Holes Got Talent" junior section winners The Amazing Midget Gems.

Let's hope the cars don't "crumball" and fall apart... (Sorry - Ed)

• Four High Peak friends are looking for local support as they take on the Crumball rally in aid of the Western Park Hospital Cancer Charity. Lee Chadwick (check shirt), Neil Brown (yellow shirt), John Hopwood (navy shirt) and Lee Morgan (not in photos) will drive two old bangers over 900 miles across France next month.
• The vehicles can only cost £200 and must be at least 15 years old. They're all friends from Buxton Raceway days, so they're hoping they'll be able to sort out any problems en route! Individuals and businesses can sponsor them and have their logo put on the side of their vehicles.
• They set off on 9th May - Leighton will have daily updates on his Breakfast show.

Craig shows off a couple of designer Easter bonnets at Buxton Pavilion Gardens...

And then there was CAKE!!

• Thanks to a lovely and talented person for making this for us: Hollie Wicks at Delicious Delights. (Our crack investigation team are checking to see who snaffled the "103.3" stars before the photo was taken! Leighton - what's that icing on your cheek?! - Ed)

Torrs Hydro New Mills supports five local community groups

• Torrs Hydro New Mills Director Sean Whewell presents £100 cheques each to New Mills Heritage Centre, New Mills Volunteer Centre, New Mills Community Orchard, Spring Bank Arts and New Mills School Art Department.

• Future donations to other local groups are expected based on the profitability of the energy-saving scheme. Torrs Hydro New Mills is the country’s first community owned and funded hydro electricity scheme and is situated on the River Goyt in the centre of New Mills.

Barry reads a book!

• Proving once more what a multi-talented guy he is, Barry Jarvis is seen here reading to a class of children at Taxal and Fernilee CofE Primary School. He was asked to go as part of "World Book Day" and to encourage more fathers to read to their children. (Photo displayed with the headteacher's permission)

Gosh, what incredibly handsome people - erm, maybe not..!

• Because High Peak Radio is a 24/7/365 operation, we rarely get everyone in the station at the same time. The other day, we made a special effort - and broke the record for the most people in the building! So we took a photo, and now here's a Christmas card - from us to you! Ho-ho-ho!

"Deck the Halls" at Chatsworth House

• Always a sucker for festive jollity, David took himself off to Chatsworth House and their celebration of Old Carols. (No jokes about mature ladies called Carol, please!)

Hadfield remembers

"Thank you, Henshaws, for a wonderful night out!"

• Imagine the looks on the neighbours' faces as Val Wilkinson and her guest stepped into a bright pink Hummer M&M limo recently! They were whisked off to see "Madame Butterfly" at the Buxton Opera House, thanks to sponsorship from Henshaws.

Y10&11 Students from Chapel-en-le-Frith High School visit High Peak Radio

• Left to right: Christopher, Norman Taylor (Sports Reporter), Paul Jenner (Sales Director), Jack, Amy Jo and Mark. The students are visiting a number of venues in preparation for work experience next summer.



• All the students thought the visit "great". Mark (below) said, "It was good seeing all the equipment and how it is done. I would like to read the sports!" Amy Jo (above left) said, "I would like to play the romantic music." None of them liked the idea of getting up early to do the Breakfast Show. (So Leighton can breathe a sigh of relief! Ed)

Guide Dogs Get Together In The Dome

• Around 20 guide dog puppies and their walkers enjoyed a social get together in the Buxton Dome recently, as part of Guide Dogs Week, a celebration of Guide Dogs for the Blind’s 80th year.

And now over to our pig-racing correspondent...

• David reports on pig-racing at the Hayfield Show. If we ever need an agricultural reporter, young man, we'll call you. (Photo by Louis Simmonds, assisted by Ryan Fryers, both of Hayfield)

June Latchem becomes our first "Cornerstone of the Community" winner...

• ...and Barry presents her with a commemorative certificate and a bottle of High Peak Radio champagne. In the background, the helicopter waits to take her on a thrilling ride.

Runners-up in the Clearview Photography Competition 2011 (in no particular order)

• A Clear View of... Freshfields Donkey Sanctuary, Buttercup Donkey, photographed by Leah Hinchliffe (age 9)



• A Clear View of... Freshfields Donkey Sanctuary, Donkeys in Buttercup Field, photographed by Hayden Hinchliffe (age 6)



• A Clear View of... Mother and Foal, photographed by Michelle James (age 11)



• A Clear View of... Green Meadows, before they started building Buxton Water Bottling Plant on Water Swallows, photographed by Shannon Turner (age 14)



• A Clear View of... Exmoor Ponies, photographed by Sarah Taylor (age 8)

PJ Friday - enough said!!

Chapel Lane Park gets a brand new play area

• The Friends of Chapel Lane Park recently celebrated the opening of the brand new play area. The sun was shining as Mayor David Lomax and High Peak Radio's Leighton Morris cut the ribbon and declared the area open.



• High Peak Borough Councillor Victoria Mann (Hadfield North) said: "This is the culmination of 18 months' hard work". The project was funded by the Groundwork lottery grant.



• Councillor Edward Siddall (Hadfield South) said: "This is not the end of the fund raising, though - we are looking to put new goal posts on the park, and more benches and pathways".

Buxton Billerettes celebrate their 1,000th performance - at Buxton Carnival on 16th July

• (above) The original 1975 group, featuring founder Bill Weston (#1)
• (below) Some of the many other groups who have performed under the title.

Barry Jarvis at the recent open day of Swains Go Kart Centre in Harpur Hill

Buxton company invests £250,000 in solar panels

• Selden Research has made a £250,000 investment in solar energy to help power its Buxton factory with pollution-free electricity.
• Holly interviews High Peak MP Andrew Bingham, and Selden Sales Director Mark Woodhead.

# Messin' about on the river... # www.whaleywaterweekend.co.uk

• High Peak resident, Linda Simpson, organised an acoustic evening with a strong local bias to launch Whaley Water Weekend on Friday evening, 10 June.

Ben and Norman get the Delta Force Appreciation Award from Glossop North End FC

• The High Peak Radio sports reporters get the award for services to non-league football. Pictured here with Eugene Gallager from Delta Force and GNE chairman Dave Atkinson.

Norman presents New Mills' Adam Mather with his Fantime Player of the Year Award

At Tideswell Food Festival, Craig's hoping for a decent cuppa and he's found an expert!

• Football Club, for services to non-league football for the coverage provided by High Peak Radio. Pictured with Eugene Gallager from Delta Force and GNE chairman Dave AtkinsonCraig interviews James Pogson, Director of Northern Tea Merchants (Chesterfield), during the tea-tasting demonstration James was giving at Tideswell Food Festival.
• On this Outside Broadcast, Craig is ably assisted by Station Engineer and general all-round Clever Bloke, Roger Price.

It's not Zoe Keeling, it's Zoe AMAZING!

• Our intrepid speedway reporter, Zoe Keeling, took herself off to a Ladies only Speedway School the other day, an event helping to raise money for Help for Heroes, NSPCC and Make A Wish Foundation.
• She won best rider of the day and got the fastest lap time. The photo shows her with Workington Captain, Chris Schramm, who was one of the trainers. Her prize is to go up with the Blades aerobatic display team for a flight to remember.
• But Zoe is scared of flying - so watch this space!!

When David met Dorothy...

• Let's face it... when you're on air after midnight, you don't get a lot of listeners - but Dorothy Walsh works late and listens long. And David Heathcote just wanted to meet her and say thanks for all the support.

Miracle baby Daniel and his mum and dad visit High Peak Radio

• Proud parents Adrian and Rachel Shaw bring their miracle baby into the studio, and talk to Tom Hilton about their fundraiser for the Special Care Baby Unit at Tameside Hospital.
• The baby's the cute little guy at the bottom of the pic. No, on the right.

TV Star Scott Wright co-hosts the breakfast show with Leighton

Chapel Primary students stop by High Peak Radio in their pyjamas for Comic Relief

Helen meets Shakin' Stevens at Buxton Opera House. So they're both shaky then?

Ben with Hayfield duo Seno, who finished fifth in this year's Open Mic UK competition.

Ben Price congratulates Megan Chadwick at the Young Achievers Awards in Matlock

Ben Price, Zoe Keeling and Norman Taylor with the 2010 treble-winning Buxton Hitmen

The famous Stanley from Buxton Car Centre! "Are you listening, Stanley?"!

Hitmen rider Craig Cook interviewed by High Peak Radio's Norman Taylor

Zoe Keeling and Craig Cook, the Hitmen's #1 rider - off to the Elite League next year

Zoe interviews Hitmen manager Jack Lee after our win over Dudley in leg one of the league semi final

Winner of the Alternative World Cup, Paul Copley, and family celebrate his mother's birthday at The Hanging Gate

Zoe chats to Adam Allott, leader of the Buxton Hitmen speedway team

It's a crazy idea - but it might just work...!

Erm - when we said "Skip the main course of the picnic..."

C'mon now - if you can have Chicken in a Basket, why not Picnic in a Skip??!

My friends will never believe this if they don't see the photos...

Will that person please stop humming "Skip to my lou"?

You know, this is one of the nicest picnics I've ever had served in a skip...

Buxton's Gregg Anderson lifts the High Peak Cup, in the company of Keiron Lugsden!

Ben Price presents Buxton's captain Gregg Anderson with the High Peak Cup 2010

Glossop's Steve Brackenridge accepts the High Peak Cup 2010 Player of the Tournament Trophy

Ben presents the Football Fantime Player of the Year Award 2009/10 to Peter Band

Peter Band, formerly of New Mills AFC, with his Player of the Year Award

Off on a Scally Rally in Italy, Audrey, Brian, Sil, Jill, John and Steve from Peak Dale

For a Scally Rally, you use a car valued at less than £500 (so Ben's car qualifies easily)

Ellie, Holly and Craig (and Mick) hit New Mills Carnival in a pink stretched limo!

The sun comes out for New Mills Carnival

The limo 5 seconds after Craig said "Did I ever tell you about the time when...?"!

New Mills Carnival procession - it's what summer in England is all about!

A slight delay before the Carnival when Holly found her lipgloss clashed with the limo...

Zoe, Ben and Helen hit Hadfield Carnival in a pink stretched limo!

The High Peak Radio staff party gets underway at Hadfield Carnival

Oh no - we're out of bubbly! (What IS Ben thinking??)

The High Peak Radio team - available for Silver Service waiting in their spare time!

Paul takes up flower arranging in Glossop at Sandra's Flowers, supervised by Sandra

Paul learns flower arranging at Sandra's Flowers, watched by Sandra and his Mum

Paul spends An Hour In Your Company with the team at Steve's Tyres and Exhausts

Paul and the team from Steve's Tyres in Buxton during An Hour In Your Company

And the winner of the High Peak Make-Over is Emma Hibbert of Chapel-en-le-Frith!

Ben Price reading the news from a bath at Barber's Bathroom (he gave them a plug...)

David Blunkett visits the High Peak studio (his dog is not impressed by Ben's socks!)

Is that a microphone you're holding, Craig or... (no, it's a microphone - phew!)

Holly Knebel, working and smiling ("versatility" is her middle name - not Doris!)

Leighton Morris meets Corrie actor Richard Fleeshman and denies they are twins

High Peak Radio engineers investigate reports of serious floor subsidance in the office

Norman Taylor - I bet he drinks... a cheeky little Chardonnay with oak overtones!

Sherri and Simon collecting for Manchester Children's Hospital: they got 3 children!

Steve Jenner at the launch of our sister station, Ashbourne Radio (a free launch??)

Sherri Clarke with winners from the Carpet Creations Red Carpet Treatment Promotion

Zoe Keeling on a Henshaws Skip Lorry at Buxton Carnival 2008 - let's skip the jokes!