Derbyshire news in brief

Winger Gerry Burrell has died aged 90 while full-back Ivor Seemley was 85.

The pair played together in the 1957-58 season after Seemley joined in a player exchange deal which took Spireites’ prolific scorer Bill Sowden to Stockport County. Prior to that Seemley, who replaced the popular Tommy Flockett at left-back, had played for his hometown side Sheffield Wednesday. Belfast-born Burrell, who joined Chesterfield a year before Seemley, played for Belfast Celtic, St Mirren and Dundee before moving to England to play for Huddersfield Town. At just 5ft 3in tall, the winger cost the club £1,150 and he linked up well with Sowden and Bryan Frear but after suffering more than his fair share of injuries he wasn’t retained in the summer of 1958 and he returned to Ireland with Portadown.

• A special walk will support the families of sick and premature babies. People are invited to attend the Little Lights Walk in Chesterfield from 4pm on Sunday, November 16. Held to mark World Prematurity Day, the walk will meet at Chesterfield Town Hall and continue around Queen’s Park. The event is free but people are asked to bring a light, candle, torch or glow stick. Donations will go to the Bliss charity.

• NE Derbyshire MP Natascha Engel is urging residents to sign her petition to help save the NHS. Ms Engel’s petition – which has already been supported by more than 200 people – urges the Government to stop the privatisation of the NHS and keep it in public hands. To sign the petition, visit www.nataschaengelmp.wordpress.com. The Government insists it is committed to the NHS.

• Team members at the Wilkinson store in Clowne raised £120 for the Children’s Hospital Charity in Sheffield with a hair-raising Halloween event. The team swapped their usual red uniforms for fangs, capes and masks to give customers a fright. The Children’s Hospital Charity has been the store’s regional charity of the year.

• A practice nurse with NHS North Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group has been honoured by co-workers for going “above and beyond” expectations to ensure her patients’ needs are not only met but exceeded. Alex Welsh, who was presented with a certificate and glass trophy, said she was “honoured”.

• Families are being invited to attend Christmas fair in Eckington. The festive event will take place in the town’s church hall between 11.30am and 2.30pm on Saturday, November 29. The fair will include a tombola, food and drinks and a special appearance from Santa from 12pm. A church spokesman said: “It will be a fun event for all the family. Come along and don’t miss out.”

• A talk will promote the benefits of singing on health. The session, held by the ME Derbyshire Support Group, will take place at Mickleover Methodist Church Centre, Station Road, Mickleover, from 2pm on Saturday, November 22. For more information, call 01332 864120.