It's been another busy year here in Spondon, with lots of great events in the area and lots of news and talking points around the village, both positive and otherwise.
From the snowy start to the year through to the arrival of new wind turbines on the skyline in December, here's our look back at some of the stories and events that stood out for us in 2013.
January
The year gets off to a chilly start with snow hitting Spondon. In a long winter, it would be April before we would see the last of this year's snowy weather:
A group of friends from Spondon smash their fundraising target from recording their own version of Band Aid song, 'Do They know It's Christmas'. More than £2400 was raised in total in memory of Spondon's Joe Kellogg, who collapsed and died from an undetected heart condition in 2011.
Spondon mum, Caren Jephson, makes national headlines with her campaign for tighter regulations on the use of mobility scooters after her nine-year-old son was injured by one.
February
Tankers are called in to deliver water to Spondon farms after a burst water main leaves them without water for more than three days.
Former members of Spondon Church Boys' Club reunite to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the death of the Club's leader, popular Spondon vicar Rev Thomas Barber.
Snow continues to cause fun and trouble in equal measure in Spondon.
Historic Spondon house, The Homestead, is put on the market for only the third time in its 250-year history, with an initial asking price of £1.2million.
Co-op branches in Spondon suffer several raids in quick succession. A 38-year-old man is later arrested in connection with these and other raids in the Derby area.
A woman is hospitalised after a collision with a tipper lorry on Station Road in Spondon.
Four members of the Nunn family from Spondon all cross the finish line together in this year's London Marathon while raising money for Cancer Research.
May
Spondon's Frances Wilson celebrates her 100th Birthday at her home in Reader Street.
Tributes are paid to Spondon's Simon Johnson, described as a "champion of the Derby brewing scene", after his sudden death aged 44.
Spondon gets its very own currency for the day as part of village celebrations for Spondon Day, organised by the Spondon Trader's Association.
Spondon family business Bluebells Dairy complete an "Italian Job" by beating 13 other entrants to top prize in a coveted ice cream makers competition in Italy.
July
Former Rams Stars join Spondon Cricket Club players for the annual charity cricket match, helping to raise £2,500 for Derby County Community Trust:
Residents open their gardens up to everyone in the village as another success Spondon Social Safari helps to raise over £2,600 for good causes.
Two new additions are welcomed to Spondon's open areas. The brilliant wildlife tree sculpture in the Chael Street Sensory garden and the Toposcope on Dale Road Park are both officially unveiled:
- http://www.spondononline.co.uk/news/aug-2013/toposcope-gets-grand-unveiling
- https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151559760852847.1073741825.73402772846&type=1
- http://www.spondononline.co.uk/news/apr-2013/new-tree-carving-makes-superb-addition-spondons-sensory-garden
- https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151560886977847.1073741826.73402772846&type=1
Four cars are damaged in Stoney Gate when a tree crashed down on top of them.
Spondon Dynamos Black Sox Under-10s proudly represent Derby in a national football competition in Leicester, and come home as runners-up to a team from the home city.
August
Two pubs in Spondon suffer arson attacks within a few days of each. The Crown Inn and Moon Hotel were both closed down at the time of the incidents.
September
There are celebrations as Spondon Village Hall completes the final stage of its four-year-long refurbishment project.
Spondon homes are left without water following a mains water burst in Chaddesden.
Fans flock to Spondon's Asda store for a signing by Girls Aloud and Strictly Come Dancing star, Kimberley Walsh.
Plans are announced for up to 250 new homes to be built on the land at the junction of Derby Road and Acorn Way. More than 80 people attend a meeting at Spondon Methodist Church to raise their objections to the plan.
Staff, pupils and parents celebrate as both West Park School and Springfield Primary School perform extremely well in their Ofsted inspections. West Park receives the top rating of "Outstanding" while Springfield is rated "good" and praised as 'ambitious' and 'happy.
Spondon joins the rest of the UK in battening down the hatches in preparation for predicted storm gusts of up to 80mph. Luckily for us, the storm ended up tracking more easterly then coming north and the area escaped with just a few incidents.
Large crowds gather once again for the annual Spondon Christmas Lights Switch-On, which this year included a huge professional fireworks display.
300 tonnes of hay are set alight at a farm at the top of Dale Road, causing the closure of the road for nearly a day.
More than 40 people sleep out overnight in Asda car park to raise money for a homeless project run by Derby City Mission.
Spondon restaurant Desi and takeaway Bodrum Kebab, both on Chapel Street, are closed after receiving zero-star ratings in their hygiene inspections.
Spondon's skyline is changed dramatically as two wind turbines are installed at the Severn Trent plant on Megaloughton Lane. Their arrival divides opinion throughout the area:
Strong winds bring two trees crashing down in Spondon within metres of each other on Lodge Lane.
Willowcroft Road is blocked for several hours after a lorry collides with the A52 bridge over the road:
A Spondon couple make the national news after Trevor Hempell spoofs his wife with 'Christmas lights threat to planes' claim!
Spondon Girl's Brigade celebrates its 90th anniversary.
It certainly has been another eventful year locally and we're sure we'll see more of the same in 2014! From us all here at Spondon Online, may we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
