Matthew Barlow

A community group in Buxton urges residents to plant suitable flowers to support the endangered bilberry bumblebee, whose numbers appear to be declining due to rising temperatures. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust reports a 35% drop in common bee species since 2022, largely attributed to heatwaves. Friends of Buxton Station, which has created bee habitats and walking trails, warns that bilberry bumblebees are struggling to find food as hotter summers reduce their ability to feed. The group encourages planting small, blue flowers accessible to the species to help sustain them and counter declining populations.

Sigfried Held recalls his West Germany squad’s stay in Derbyshire during the 1966 World Cup, describing friendly local interactions and open training sessions in Ashbourne. Now 84, he reflects on the excitement and pressure of the tournament, as well as Geoff Hurst’s controversial goal in the final. Despite the defeat, Held emphasises fine margins and luck as factors in England’s ongoing struggle to repeat their 1966 victory. The article notes Germany’s stronger World Cup record since then and highlights Held’s career achievements, including winning the UEFA Cup Winners Cup with Borussia Dortmund.

A dementia care home in Buxton is reopening after closing last year despite a community campaign to keep it open. Now managed by CS Care Group, the Hawthorns will welcome its first residents following refurbishment that includes dementia‑friendly design features. Former manager Wendy Critchlow has returned to run the home, and families expressed relief that residents can return. The Salvation Army, which previously closed the home as part of a shift toward community‑based care, said the closure had been a last resort.

Frank Soo, the first footballer of Asian heritage to play for England, is being honoured with a blue plaque at his birthplace in Buxton. Historic England approved the tribute following advocacy from local supporters, highlighting Soo’s overlooked achievements, including captaining Stoke City and managing Norway’s national team. Family members welcomed the recognition, which follows the FA’s recent presentation of a wartime international cap. Officials and community leaders praised the long‑awaited acknowledgement of his sporting and wartime contributions.

Three teenagers from Buxton gained media attention after dressing as three lions to support England at a World Cup match in the United States. Their costumes led to numerous photo requests and appearances on American news outlets and BBC’s The One Show. Despite England’s draw with Ghana, the fans enjoyed the experience and hope to attend a future major final in the same outfits.

An 85-year-old man fulfilled a lifelong dream of flying in a Spitfire, echoing his father’s World War II role training US pilots. The flight, arranged by his stepson, included flypasts over his Derbyshire home, where care home residents watched and waved. The event celebrated his years of caregiving and featured victory rolls before he cut the third short due to queasiness.