Latest news with #PeterHardy
BBC News
24-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Volunteers to reopen closed Chesterfield Canal visitor centre
A visitor centre along Chesterfield Canal is to reopen two months after it was closed due to financial Lock Visitor Centre in Lockoford Lane recently acquired a new licence from Derbyshire County Council to resume operations and will open again on Saturday. The centre provides refreshments and information on the work and history of the canal, which stretches 46 miles from the River Trent in north Nottinghamshire to Chesterfield Canal Trust chair Peter Hardy said: "We have a dedicated group of volunteers who are going to come to our aid and man the building." Derbyshire County Council, which owns the building, announced in May it would be closing the information centre and café for financial reasons. Chesterfield Canal Trust was then successful in an application to lease the ground floor of the building to be solely run by volunteers. Mr Hardy said he was delighted to begin to get the centre back up and added: "We hope it will be successful and people will come to visit us."The centre will initially open between 10:00 to 15:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays but the trust aims for it to be open more often in future and offer more amenities.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Barnsley gallery showcases art by care home residents
Care home residents displaying their artwork at an exhibition proves "anyone can do anything at any age", their events organiser by Peter Hardy, 76, and paintings by Patricia Wroe, 89, were unveiled at the Experience Barnsley Museum and Discovery Centre in Barnsley Town Hall on and staff from Deansgate Care Home were joined by Barnsley Mayor David Leech and local artist Charlotte events coordinator Rachael Addy said: "It's not the end of the road when you come into a care home, it's about embracing a new chapter in your life." She said she discovered Ms Wroe's talent after she "banged her foot" on a bag underneath her bed, and found her artwork Wroe, who has Parkinson's disease, said she did not have confidence in her abilities as an artist."Rachael said it's lovely, but I can't see it," she said. Similarly, Mr Hardy - a stroke survivor - said he thought his photography skills were "average"."I never recognised I'm good, I'm just an average Joe doing photography, that's all."However, Ms Addy contacted Steven Skelley, community heritage curator at Barnsley Museums, to discuss presenting their work to the public and 'show how amazing they are'.Mr Hardy said it "felt really good" to attend the reveal ceremony, and Ms Wroe said it was "nice to be appreciated".Ms Addy said she hoped the exhibition would also help break stereotypes around care homes and those living in them."For example, people will automatically look at Pete, bend down, and go 'Aww, Pete, are you okay, Pete?'"He's not an idiot, he's a very capable, intelligent, intellectual human being that should still be treated in the same manner as everybody else." Mr Skelley said: "The museum at its core is about local people, so it is with great delight that we are able to include Patricia and Peter in this new display."Peter's lifelong interest in photography shows that creativity enriches the way we see the world."Patricia picking up her paint brushes again in later life has taught us that anyone can be creative - at any time in their lives." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
