About the Trust
The Derwent Valley Trust was set up in 1996 to promote the history, arts, wildlife and leisure opportunities that surround the River Derwent along its 55 mile course through Derbyshire.
The story of the Trust →
Supported by organisations including Derbyshire County Council and Sustrans the Trust has:
- created the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, recognising the unique post-industrial landscape, heritage and social history of the valley
- created the Derwent Valley Heritage Way walking route along the river from Ladybower to Shardlow
- undertaken a feasibility study for a cycle route up the valley to improve sustainable access, which highlighted the obstacles to be overcome
Having understood how to address the issues raised in the feasibility study, the Trust is now proposing a revised, fully traffic free, route with the support of many councils, organisations and would-be cyclists.
Trustees
Derek Latham
Chair
Architect, town planner and landscape architect, Derek has undertaken projects throughout the UK with a contextual and conservation bias, including the restoration of the landscape at the Heights of Abraham, provision of visitor facilities and installation of the cable car.
Derek lives in his eco-house in Little Eaton, overlooking the valley, with his wife Pauline Latham OBE MP. Over the years he has ridden, cycled, kayaked and trekked long distances in Derbyshire and abroad, and is passionate about creating sustainable leisure access to the Derwent Valley in all modes.
Whilst respecting the valley’s heritage, Pauline and Derek have witnessed a mini renaissance of art and culture in the valley recently and seek to encourage its growth, wider understanding and access.
John Hambley
Cycleway Chair
John is a retired GP and has been a keen cyclist for many years. He recognises the health benefits of cycling, particularly in safe and beautiful environments and sees this as one of the key benefits of the Derwent Valley Cycleway.
John chairs the Cycleway Working Group meetings and coordinates the development of the Duffield to Milford section.
David Moreton
Treasurer & Heritage Way Chair
An organic chemist by training, David worked for 33 years after his PhD in the speciality chemicals industry, the latter 20 years as manager of the organic synthesis department at Lubrizol Ltd in Hazelwood.
David is a keen walker and cyclist. Since retirement in 2019, he has taken on numerous voluntary roles in Milford and Belper, including 2 treasurer roles. In 2022, he became Ranger Co-ordinator for the Derwent Valley Heritage Way (DVHW) and in 2023 the Chair of the DVHW. In 2024 he became the Treasurer of the Derwent Valley Trust and a Trustee.
Tanya Spilsbury
Belper section Cycleway lead
Tanya is a historic buildings surveyor with a particular interest in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site area. She is committed to promoting more sustainable travel and improving the natural environment in the Derwent Valley. She believes a multi-user trail between the various sites along the valley would both enhance the heritage experience and bring more visitors to the valley using sustainable transport.
Tanya is walking the Heritage Way in stages with her dog and can recommend undertaking the route in monthly sections using as much public transport as possible to reach the start points and travel back from the finish points. Tanya also cycles every weekend around the local hills and would like a flatter, off-road route from which to enjoy the picturesque valley as an alternative to her hillier routes!
Tanya is our Project Lead on the Belper West Bank section and has been involved in the route design, landowner discussions and preparing the planning application. She enjoys attending local events to spread the word about our proposals and believes strongly in the local benefits of each section of the cycleway to local communities as well as the wider whole route benefit to Derbyshire.
Tim Wilmshurst
Vice Chair & Newsletter
Tim is an enthusiastic long-distance cyclist, walker and jogger. Recently retired, he has in the past worked for Derby and Cambridge Universities, and Botswana Polytechnic. As an active author, he has written several textbooks in his specialist field, electronics.
Tim edits the DVT newsletter, which comes out four times a year. As Projects Lead, he plays a coordinating role in the overall cycleway project and works alongside DVT colleagues as sections are progressed.
Jim Bosworth
Secretary and Fundraising Lead
Jim has a lifelong interest in the environment, outdoor activities and our industrial and cultural heritage. Having a professional Mental Health background and senior NHS leadership roles, he is experienced in developing and realising significant projects.
Having moved back to Derby 15 years ago, he has developed these interests into being an active member of several related local organisations, recently joining Derwent Valley Trust.
Key Volunteers
Julie Carter
Julie lives locally and is a keen cyclist! In her spare time she is the stockist and distributor of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way guidebook! She is responsible for sending out the guidebooks often all over the world!
Julie and husband Roger are keen hockey players and active in supporting the continuing and successful development of Belper Hockey Club.
Ian Dent
Ian has been associated with the Trust since the early days of planning for the cycleway project and acted as the Chair of the cycleway group for a number of years.
Now retired after a career in IT and academia, Ian is involved with a number of local cycling based organisations including Derby Cycling Group, Cycling UK and Sustrans.
With a particular interest in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), he has also turned his hand to various projects within the Trust.
Jill Hodgshon
Jill worked for over 40 years, at West Park School in Derby, as a PE teacher, retiring in 2020 as the Pastoral Head. She has spent a lifetime introducing youngsters to the “great outdoors” in the fantastic countryside of Derbyshire and has lived by The Derwent, in Belper, for most of her life.
Jill is a keen but nervous cyclist having lost her brother, at the age of 18, in a cycling accident – hence she is passionate about getting safer cycling for the average person choosing to travel by bike.
She has been helping the cycleway team and the Trust for many years by setting up events to share information with the public, promote the project and enlist support. Jill is also a keen volunteer in the Education Team at Belper North Mill and a Ranger for the Heritage Way.
Ian Scott
Ian serves as Secretary to the Cycleway Team.
He is a retired Derby Consultant Gynaecologist previously active in cancer research. He has served on several NHS and Royal College Committees and working parties.
He is a past president of The British Gynaecological Cancer Society, Derby Medical Society and The Birmingham and Midlands Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society.
As a long-term supporter of Sustrans he has cycled extensively in the UK and Europe. He has been the Secretary of the Derwent Valley Cycleway Group since its inception in 2014 and is concerned to encourage young families to take up safe cycling with its health benefits for an increasingly sedentary society.
Peter White
Peter has had a long association with the Trust. He is our representative on the Rail Users Group to ensure that we keep up to date with developments on the Derwent Valley Line, operated by East Midland Railway, from Derby to Matlock.
A keen cyclist, his extensive experience of cycling in Europe, over many years, is invaluable to the Trust.
Chris Wilber
After a lifetime in IT Consulting, Chris is recently retired.
He is responsible for our IT management, and the website development.
Chris is a latecomer to cycling, after numerous knee injuries meant there are few other sports he can participate in.
His most memorable cycle rides have been a multi day 650km journey along South Africa's Garden Route, and a single day 190km London to Brighton ... and back!