Beefeaters, blue zebras and something to make us feel Wright proud

Here, in his latest monthly column reflecting on the news over the past month, our Press and PR Executive Robin Johnson looks at the headlines.

Last month, I was having a crisis. I was on the way home from Derby County’s Pride Park Stadium after ‘competing’ in the Derbyshire Brain Game as part of the Marketing Derby team.

I freely admit that I had contributed very little to our performance this year (apart from a question about Love Island, which, for the record, I’ve never watched in my life – honest!).

I had come to the conclusion that after 50 years on this earth I knew absolutely nothing – and should hand my degree back to my university.

People often say to me, as a journalist, you should know stuff about pretty much everything.

But after writing one story, you quickly move onto the next one, then the next and so forth. You end up developing what I call ‘goldfish brain’.

At least there were two things to console me that night.

The first, that I know for a fact that the colour of a zebra’s skin is not blue – despite what one of the Marketing Derby team thought (it’s black by the way). They shall remain nameless.

The second, that this year’s Brain Game raised more than £60,000 for Marie Curie, taking the total amount raised for the charity since the event’s inception to over £500,000.

Our zebra knowledge may need some work, but one thing’s for sure – the Marketing Derby team certainly knows how to put on a great event.

There were two prime examples in October.

First, the Marketing Derby Food and Drink Awards. This year, the awards attracted an incredible 5,000 nominations – and in early October the winners were crowned.

Many congratulations to the winners – and all our finalists for that matter.

October also saw our annual London Embassy take place, which is one my favourite events of the year.

This year, we were in the historic surroundings of the Tower of London.

What a magical place it is – and what a magical event, which saw around 200 people, all backers of ‘Team Derby’ converge for an evening in which the city’s unique public/private sector partnership was celebrated.

It was also an opportunity to see a stunning installation to mark 80 years since VE Day, made up of 30,000 poppies from an original installation from 2014 created by Derbyshire ceramicist Paul Cummins MBE, who was among our guests.

But for me, the real star of the show was six-year-old Charlie Smart, who came along as a guest of Embark Federation and was welcomed so warmly by Team Derby.

Charlie is living with terminal cancer – and is busy making fabulous memories with his family.

It was an absolute privilege to meet him – and see him have such a great time. Here’s to you, Charlie.

Marketing Derby events aside, October was an incredibly ‘newsy’ month (just how us business writers like it!).

Even Marketing Derby itself made the headlines, with the announcement that it is relocating its headquarters to the University of Derby’s state-of-the-art Cavendish Building.

What an impressive structure it is – and, indeed, one that would not look out of place in central London.

This is something I pondered on during the London Embassy. While I was ushering people into the Tower of London, I found myself gazing open-mouthed at the skyscrapers surrounding it.

A thousand years of history nestled among towering modernity. Quite the juxtaposition.

Sorry, I seem to have briefly slipped into Kevin McCloud there. Where was I? Oh yes, the news.

Back in Derby, it was great to be able to report on the progress of major residential schemes.

Over at Nightingale Quarter, Wavensmere Homes has started marketing the final building.

What a grand job they have done of that scheme – and I’m really looking forward to seeing what magic they are working with Friar Gate Goods Yard.

Just a stone’s throw over the other side of London Road, plans have been lodged for the final phase of Compendium Living’s Castleward regeneration scheme.

This was the scheme that really kicked off Derby’s residential revolution – and it’s great to see it progress to its final stage.

Both developments are very close to the Derbion shopping centre.

One of the key goals of the city centre strategy is to offer people more things to do – and in October we saw another welcome addition to Derbion’s leisure offer – a brand new Padel courts facility, which has been created on part of the old Eagle Market.

I’ve never played Padel – but I hear it’s really good fun.

A skatepark is also due to open next to it – although I fear my days as a ‘skateboard dude’ are well and truly behind me. In fairness, I don’t think they were ever in front of me!

October also saw Derby receive a visit from Royalty. HRH The Princess Royal visited Vaillant Group’s new £40 million manufacturing facility, where she was given a tour and met apprentices, as well as some of its community partners, including Marketing Derby.

She also paid a visit to Toyota Manufacturing UK’s Burnaston plant, which is leading a consortium to develop a prototype lightweight battery electric vehicle.

Burnaston is widely known as a car manufacturing site – but it is increasingly becoming a hotbed for research and development, which is really encouraging to see.

Finally, it was great to be able to report on Derby Museums receiving a timely cash boost from the Government’s Museum Renewal Fund to help with its running costs.

Museums, and other such establishments, are absolutely vital to society.

They educate us, they stimulate us, they amaze us. They are a reflection of our own identities – and should be protected and supported.

I consider Derby lucky to have places like the Museum of Making and Derby Museum and Art Gallery.

The latter is home to the world’s largest collection of Joseph Wright paintings – but not right now.

That’s because today a major new exhibition opens at London’s National Gallery called Wright of Derby: From the Shadows, for which Derby has loaned a number of key works.

From now until next May, people from all over the world will be marvelling at Wright’s masterful brushwork and expert use of light (and shadow).

And hopefully, it will make them a bit curious about Derby. You just can’t buy that kind of advertising. Cheers, Joe!

Among the many things I love about Wright’s works is their titles.

Catchy titles like: “An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump”, “Three Persons Viewing the Gladiator by Candlelight” and “Blue-skinned Zebra Cantering Across the Savannah at Sunset”. Hang on!

Okay, I admit it, I made that last one up!

Anyway, have a safe and productive November and I look forward to catching up with you again soon.