Grosvenor House

Grosvenor House At the heart of Buxton with plenty going on.

16/04/2013

Did you know that Buxton has four theatres and a large church that can hold a complete ochestra and chorus? There cannot be many other towns in Britain that can boast that! On Sunday evening, the Missus and I went to hear an excellent performance of sacred works by Rossini and Puccini at St Johns and pased the Opera House, filling with people going to see Dennis Locorriere (Dr Hook, for those of you old enough to remember!) and more people going into the Arts Centre to see a film. The Festival brochure is out with a ton of operas, chamber music, jazz and literary lumiaries for the July fortnight. Then a 'Summer pops' festival with Bellowhead,Jack Bruce and Jools Holland amongst others. Then straight into the Gilbert and Sullivan three weeks! Who needs Glastonbury!!

01/04/2013

Well, the last week has been dominated by the snow. For a short time we were actually cut off, which ment many people had to cancel their bookings. But then we started taking calls from people trapped in Buxton, so by the end of the evening we were full again! Last night saw the start of the lengthy drama 'The Village' on BBC 1. It is shot nearby at Hayfield, Glossop and surrounding areas which makes it all look very beautiful. The first episode was the usual 'Grim 'op North' scenario with not many laughs and plenty of cliches but it promises to get better as the village (unamed) shows the changing face of Britain through the years. Worth watching but if yu want the real thing you will have to come up here! Went to see 'the Rise and fall of Little voice' at the Opera House last week. Not good and not bad. Like so many bands of the 70's and before, who are doing the circuit, TV 'stars, mainly from the soaps, are copying the muso's and making a few more bob in 'Family friendly' dramas and commedies on the circuit. But most of them are either not theatre trained or have forgotten what is needed on a live stage. No projection, darling and no style!

02/03/2013

Buxton has a new bus! An enterprising lady and her husband, Netta by name, has made a small electric bus from a converted milk float. It will go around Buxton from April and carry visitors who will see what we have to offer. The bus looks like the real thing. If I knew how to put a picture of it on here, I would but you can see it on the Buxton website. Wonderful enterprise.
Meanwhile, the Crescent is still a building site but according to the developer, everything is on track to be finished by the end of 2014.

28/01/2013

Back in harness after being away for some time and now I will keep people informed of what's happening!
Jan. is a quiet month with not much on. The Opera House has kept its doors open in the snowy weather with an Agatha Christie (which I have reviewed for PURE magazine out next month.) If you have not seen the magazine, I can reccommend as it has good local information and an up to date 'What's On' for the coming month. You can also check the Opera House web site and the Pavilion Gardens for all theatrical and cinema productions.
One of the main attractions of where we are is our proximity to all these wonderful plays. And now that the Crescent project has started, things will be even better as we will have access to the new SPA! Not just any old spa, but a natural water spa, the first in Britain for many a year. Its due to open in 2014 and we can't wait!

08/06/2012

Footie just starting. Olympics to come. And topping them all as an example of community spirit, the Jubilee. Now, call me a cynic, but I had a lump in my throat when the Queen appeared on the balcony. Not Elton, but Liz. I admit to being a bit of republican and would vote for the Government making scholarships available for Public school entry to those who cannot afford to go, the abolision of awards (knighthoods etc) to make our society a bit more egalitarian, but we need to value our ability to recognise our uniqueness as a nation. No other country does it. Football can't do it. Yhe Olympics won't do it. So, a dillema. What or how to replace that unique gift that we have to recognise who we are and bring us together when we need to? President Blair? President Boris? Don't think so, somehow!

29/05/2012

Two examples of 'community' at work this week.
The town was invited to a meeting to hear about the cocoa cola/samsung/BT torch relay that is coming through Buxton; a 'community' event to delight the masses. We were told what we could and could not do, what we could and could not advertise, how much of the town was going to be closed off whilst white lycra clad 'winners' were ushered through, closely guarded by crack troops. So don't try any funny business! All in aid of the five ringed circus laid on for the rich and powerful coming to London, paid for by us!
Then I attended aTown Team meeting. We did not win the first round of the Portas bid, but this was one of the biggest turnouts to support the regeneration of our town. The issues are well known, but it was heartening to see so many representativers get behind plans to rejuvenate the town centre. Now that's community and no over blown politician has told us what to do!

20/05/2012

Let things slip a bit but then things are getting busy. We have just had a touring group of Americans passing through. (If it's Sunday it must be Buxton!) I love Americans for their enthusiasm, their curiosity and manners. And they love history, something Buxton has a bit of.
I have now found someone to help put a booklet together that will explain the background to Mary Queen of Scots sojourn here, and the writings on the windows. The project to put a copy of the Tudor windows back into the Old Hall where she was held is coming on nicely and should be in place in early July.
Speaking of which... I have just come from a short play by the Dyad theatre group who have written and performend I, Elizabeth. A stunning performance by Rebecca Vaughan depicting the thoughts and concerns of the young Elizabeth 1st. Mention is made of her wilful cousin Mary and many other key events of the time. If it comes to a theatre near you, I can reccomend it. My own writing proceeds slowly but should finish this new book by the end of the summer. The reprint of 'A Buxton Trilogy' is beginning to sell this season. Americans like it! If anyone reading this would like a copy, only £10.00 to you, then e-mail me and I will send you one.
Talk soon.

02/05/2012

I've had a second print of my book, A Buxton Trilogy delivered and have sold a few already. My project to put a copy of the Tudor windows back into the Old Hall hotel is comimg along nicely and should complement the book. If anyone wants a book, I will be happy to sell you one. £9.99 for a signed copy!
Went to see Maxine Peake in 'Miss Julia' at the Exchange in Manchester. Her ability to get into the character and display the range of emotions required was quite excellent. She has the ability to change facial expressions which take you by surprise, which I think is the mark of great acting. The play itself, about a woman coming to terms with her sexuality (quite a subject for the 1890's) gives wide scope for a whole range of emotions. I think Maxine Peake can now be counted amongst the very best actresses in this country.
P.S The sun is shining!

25/04/2012

I have done a lot of research about Buxton through the ages, from Roman times till the twenties and there is one recurring theme. Yes, you've guessed it, the weather. Well, maybe we do get a bit more rain than other places in England, but then if we did not, there would not be a Buxton. The only reason this place exists is because of the water; the Romans deviated from their normal straight roads to get to 'Aqua Arnemetae' for a wash and scrub up. In the middle ages the sick and lame came to the well of St Anne, believing in its religious curative powers, until Thomas Cromwell had it knocked down. Mary Queen of Scots would not have begged to come here for her aches and pains and the sixth Duke would not have built the magnificent Crescent if he did not believe that he could not make a bob or two out of visitors. And its been like that ever since, with a short time after the war when the place went a bit shabby.
But its back, rain and all, to keep the aqafers full and visitors coming, for a bit more than just the water. Long may it last.

19/04/2012

Is it any wonder that people become jaundiced about the intentions and values of large corporations. The news that Tesco is taking a hammering in the domestic market has had a knock on effect in Buxton. Nestle, the owners of Buxton water have moved out of town, leaving their site next to the railway station. They though they had done a deal with Tesco to buy it so that we could have a lovely new Tesco warehouse, or supermarket as they still insist on calling them. But they have dropped the idea and now Nestle are left with a plot they thought would bring them a few quid to offset the costs of their water refinery (sorry, bottling plant) But no, Nestle have got a bit upset and have pulled all the donations they make regularly to the town. So, the Buxton Festival is £10,000 short, Christmas lights are potless and one or two other community projects are left sans funds. It didn't stop them buying up yet another baby milk companythis week though. After they ripped up the roads to lay new pipes and held up the Crescent development for years, we now know exactly what they think of our community.

18/04/2012

It would appear that the Crescent development is to get started after all, but, in the words of the notice, 'hopefully in June'
For those who have not visited Buxton yet, the Crescent was built by the 5th Duke of Devonshire and completed in 1784. It was built as a holiday complex (bit like an early Butlins) for people who wanted to take the waters and see the sights. It attracted a lot of important people but, like Butlins, declined in popularity and would never outdo Bath,the Center Parks of its day, which was easier to reach from London.
After the first world war, Buxton as a resort gave way to other places and when people started to go to Spain in the fifties, it spelt the death knell for the Crescent which up till then had been a hotel and meeting place.
It has been slowly decaying for over twenty years, but with a renewed interest in things natural and spa treatments, new life will be breathed into it with the spa baths, hotel, assembly rooms, pump room and visitor centre.
By 2014 the new Crescent will complement the regeneration of the theatre, Pavilion Gardens complex and the University. It will lift Buxton into the Premiere division and certainly give Harrogate, Cheltenahm, Malvern, Tunbridge and any other place that calls itself a Spa, a run foer its money. Buxton is back on the map!

04/04/2012

On Monday, I stood and witnessed the signing of the final, final, final piece of paper to start the redevelopment of the Crescent. A small table was laid out with a white table cloth (courtesy of the Old Hall Hotel) in front of the the building. It was a very low key affair, considering that we have been waiting eight years, the Crescent is a Grade I listed building of national importance, the cost of the task is £35 million. So, we made do with the Council leader, someone from Derbyshire county council and a man with a camera. Perhaps it was too cold and too early for important people to come out, like all the lawyers, to say thank you for the fortunes they must have made on the back of eight years of wrangling.
But, it starts; or would have if the bloody snow had not blown in from Siberia!

Address

Grosvenor House 1 Broad Walk Buxton
Buxton
SK176

Telephone

01298 72439

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