Ashover Community Life
Ashover is a vibrant, diverse and caring community with widespread participation, support and inclusion even though the Parish is one of the largest in England with isolated farms and hamlets. The demographic spread in this community identifies 60% of a population of 1800 who are elderly. This clearly requires effort to provide the necessary support and ensure participation in village life. Everyone looks out for their neighbour; the local butcher/grocer will deliver, papers are collected and delivered for those who cannot, the local postman will also pick up small items on his rounds. There are over 40 groups and clubs in the parish, which form an informal network identifying those in need of help and support.
The local churches and surgery also play an important role in ensuring those in need are visited and their needs attended to.
We are lucky to have doorstep milk deliveries by a local farmer, and several thriving shops where information is always exchanged, the proprietors acting as conduits for help.
This community is blessed with a wealth of talent, and people prepared to give their time to create an environment of continuous community activity, which covers the whole age spectrum. Regular annual events include.
January - Parish party where children of all ages are invited to an afternoon of fun.
February - Pantomime involving both very young and old in 4 performances of sheer delight, ably backed up by set designers and painters, costume makers, carpenters, musicians, a choreographer, director, prompt, props providers and lots of other helpers.
March -Events in the village hall and the community centre at Uppertown often involving professional acts made possible by the not for profit company in Derbyshire "Live and Local".
Apri
May - The village plays host in a May Day extravaganza giving local groups the opportunity to raise funds and provides a day of entertainment for young and old alike.
June
July - The summer music festival takes place in the church, and the local produce club show off their efforts in the village hall. Uppertown have a Sheeproast family night.
August - Ashover Show provides a wonderful opportunity for local farmers and craftsmen to showcase their work and is organised by the Ashover Agricultural?
September - The Ashover music festival features classical pieces performed over two evenings in the church, a jazz concert in the village hall and impromptu eclectic concert outside the Crispin Inn. During this month there is again local entertainment and the annual Produce club display of vegetables allso in September Ashover school pupils who attended up to 1959, have a reunion.
October - a chance for the village hall players to put on a play, usually a comedy.
November - Uppertown celebrate Guy Fawkes night
December - Uppertown children's Christmas party
Many of the groups staging these events are charities. This community supports adult learning and classes are held in the village hall during school terms. These classes are provided by Chesterfield College in their award winning "Outreach" scheme, which aims to bring classes to the community. Ashover has been one of their most successful centers and the range and type of class is very wide, from Tai Chi to accessing the internet, from floral art to pilates. The classes are not limited to Ashover parishioners, people are welcomed from many parts of Derbyshire.
Sport also plays a large part in Community life. There are 3 adult and 1 Junior football clubs who play on pitches behind the village hall. Juniors are coached from October to April, on all weather courts adjacent to the village hall. A tennis club also uses these courts for matches, friendly
games and municipal use. It also has a junior section, coached by a local resident who is a professional coach. The cricket club plays in the Bassettlaw League. They have excellent facilities and clubhouse on fields behind the village hall and recently obtained grant aid to provide facilities to attract and retain youngsters.
Pre school children are catered for in the church-run "Ashover Acorns" at the Bassett Rooms opposite the Church, the mother and toddler group meet weekly in the village hall.