About Us

Reflections does what it says on the tin – it reflects on Derbyshire’s  heritage, on what’s happening now across the county and what may change in the future  in the beautiful  area in which we live.

What is for sure is that, as Editor, I will continue to utilise the best researchers, the best writers and the best photographers to ensure that we provide you with the most detailed, accurate  and stimulating features on the past, present and future of this great corner of the world.

Breadth and depth are the watchwords – as wide a range of stories as possible and with some real “meat” in them for you to enjoy!

We’ll continue to reflect on how lucky we are to live around here – and hope you continue to enjoy our offerings.

Barrie Farnsworth
Editor

Our Writing Team

Reflections  has a rich, varied  and ever-growing army of contributors to ensure that each feature is written by someone who truly knows what they are writing about… and knows our patch.

Editor Barrie Farnsworth, who has been editing newspaper and magazines across the country for more than 30 years, tackles many of our news features, along with experienced writers (and authors) Leonie Martin, Rosie Gilligan, Deborah Barham Smith and local journalist Lesley Draper.They have been joined by a ‘words and pictures’ duo, Deborah Vernon and Matthew Taylor,  who operate the Peak Features agency and are now regular contributors, especially for features on the county’s stunning plantlife and wildlife.

Many of our historical features, on topics ranging from old tramways to ancient burial grounds, are tackled with complete authority by Barry Marsden, a long-established writer and author, as well as by talented student Cerys Hughes.

Experienced genealogist Roy Smith provides some fascinating insights into some of the county’s best-known families, while former Reflections editor Tom Blyth also contributes some fine features as well as reviews of books by local authors.

Catherine Roth covers our patch to find the best gardening stories and our pictures are supplied by a wide range of professional and amateur photographers  including Dudley Wheatcroft, Robert Falconer and Rob Wilson.

Godfrey Holmes started to write for Reflections in 2007, when he researched the re-modelling of Matlock.  Since then, he has written two series of important feature: first, six lost buildings of North Derbyshire; then, “biographies” of the nine arterial roads leading out of Chesterfield. His other subjects have included pushing a piano from London to Bakewell, the Industries of Chesterfield, the Literary Heritage of Derbyshire, Death of a Post Office, and real biographies of Chesterfield’s finest tenor, and the man who photographed Chesterfield – a fascinating mix and more to come!

And our specialist columns are written by specialists like Vivienne Milburn, who writes our fascinating antiques column each month. She’s an independent antiques and fine arts valuer, now running her own business from the Peak District but with 20 years’ experience working for many big companies in the antiques world. Then there’s Rob Charles, our motoring writer, who has been writing about cars for regional and national newspapers and magazines for more than 30 years.

All in all, it’s a team that will give you a good read – month after month!