AIM Excelsum School of Music
Tel: 07739 213791
Email: Info@aimexcelsum.co.uk
Youth Band
Brass - Woodwind - Percussion
All ages and abilities
Ambergate Players
Meeting address: St Annes Church Hall, Ambergate, Derbyshire DE56 2EJ
Village Pantomime Group.
Amber Sound FM
Main contact name: Chris Knight
Tel: 01773 513107
Email: admin@ambersoundfm.com
Amber Sound FM is a Community Radio station based in the Amber Valley, Derbyshire.
It was awarded a five-year community license by OFCOM in 2008 after several Restricted Service License broadcasts, and then successfully applied for a 5 year extension in 2013.
On the first Saturday of October 2008 the station began broadcasting. The first ever song to be played on Amber Sound was "Easy" by Commodores.
Amber Sound said it would "encourage local people, young and old, to become part of" the station. Chris Knight is the Station Manager at Amber Sound FM.
Craft Group (Derbyshire Libraries)
Tel: 01629 532982
Email: ripley.library@derbyshire.gov.uk
Meeting address: Ripley Library, 21 Grosvenor Road, Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 3JE
Day/time group meets: 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month from 1-2pm
Cost to attend: None
An informal, friendly group who bring along their own craft projects to work on while enjoying a hot drink & biscuits. All are welcome to just call in and attend with no need to book.
Heage Band
Email: Heageband@googlemail.com
Day/time group meets: Practice nights are Friday (7.30 to 9pm) and Sunday (7 to 9pm).
New players are always welcome.
Heage Band is a band with a lot of history based in the village of Nether Heage, near Belper in mid-Derbyshire.
This sociable and friendly brass band meets twice a week in the refurbished band room playing a variety of traditional and more modern pieces. The band performs locally throughout the year but does not currently compete in the contests.
Musical Dimension
Main contact name: Christine Richards
Tel: 07812 117740
Email: christinerichards0203@gmail.com
Meeting address: Marehay Methodist Church, 202 Warmwells Lane, Marehay, Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 8JE
Day/time group meets: Tuesday evenings 7-9pm
Cost to attend: £3 per week including tea, coffee and biscuits
Our aim is to bring our love of music to members and audiences. Raised almost £40,000 for charities since formation. A very friendly “family group” who now sing mainly for pleasure without the stress of major concerts.
Ripley Creative Writers Group
Main contact name: Robin Richards
Email: robin.richards99@btinternet.com
Meeting address: Waingroves Community Centre, 136 Church Street, Waingroves, Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 9TF
Day/time group meets: Monthly, on a Saturday morning
Cost to attend: We share the cost of room hire (currently £14) between those members attending. New members get their first meeting free – we give new members the chance to decide if they like us before we ask them to contribute.
The group is for creative writers at all levels of ability and experience. We cover all aspects of creative writing, mostly poetry, fiction and non-fiction.
Ripley Green Garters
Meeting address: St Joseph's Church Hall, Butterley Hill, Ripley, Derbyshire, DE5 3LW
Day/time group meets: Tuesday evenings (7.30pm to 9.30pm) from September to May
Cost to attend: The first few sessions are free. Please contact for more information.
Ripley Green Garters was formed as a North West Morris dance side in March 1982. After three months of practice sessions a group of ladies who wanted to keep North West Morris dances alive, began, with two of their daughters to dance out some of the dances they had learned. The first dance out was in May 1982.
With a small number of the original members along with others who have joined over the past 40 years, we continue to enjoy learning dances to share with the public.
We have regular weekly evening practices throughout the autumn and winter months and we go out and about, now mainly in Derbyshire but occasionally further afield for weekend events.
Over the years the side has travelled far and wide in Great Britain and has hosted weekends of up to 25 visiting teams giving us an opportunity to show off some Derbyshire traditions and beautiful countryside.
Ripley Green Garters have been seen performing in France on five occasions, at an International Festival in Germany and in the Netherlands at Maastricht. These trips combined sharing dances in a sociable way and enjoying excellent holidays together.
The dancers could not do any of this without our wonderful and dedicated musicians.
Sometimes we leave the clogs, bells, garlands, sticks and costumes at home and head off for walking weekends and theatre trips.
Ripley Morris
Main contact name: Benammi
Tel: 07580 575558
Email: ripleymorris@hotmail.com
Meeting address: Fritchley Congregational Church, Chapel St, Fritchley, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 2FR
Day/time group meets: Every Thursday September to May. We tour pubs over the summer.
Cost to attend: Free initially with a small yearly cost once officially joined.
Ripley Morris is a Cotswold style Morris Dance side. We accept and welcome people of all ages, genders and backgrounds who want to learn and practice Morris dancing. No experience required, come up to a practice and see if you enjoy it, no pressure to join.
Waingroves Drama Group
Main contact name: Ann Haddon
Tel: 01773 745118
Email: annhaddon@btinternet.com
Meeting address: Waingroves Community Centre, 136 Church St, Waingroves, Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 9TE
Day/time group meets: Throughout the year
Cost to attend: None
The Waingroves Drama Group perform a pantomime yearly.
Could you help Waingroves Drama Group? Oh yes you can! Our previous Chair and Writer/Director have both stepped down after several years in these roles. We are looking for people to take on these positions and help with the running of the Drama Group.
If you would be interested or would like more information of what the roles involve, please contact Secretary Ann Haddon on 01773 745118 or email annhaddon@:btinternet.com.
The panto is taking a year off this year and hopefully we'll see you all again in February 2027!
Waingroves Friends & Neighbours Concert Party
Main contact name: Mark Ratcliffe
Tel: 01773 742107
Email: waingrovesfriendsandneighbours@outlook.com
Meeting address: Waingroves Methodist Church, Waingroves Road, Waingroves, Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 9TB
Day/time group meets: Tuesday– 7.45-9pm
Cost to attend: £2.00
A group of people of all abilities who gather most weeks to sing together.
Waingroves Welldressing
Main contact name: Margaret Bailey
Tel: 01773 743509
Email: Margaretbailey14@gmail.com
Meeting address: Waingroves Methodist Church Waingroves Road, Waingroves, Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 9TB
Day/time group meets: Well Dressing Preparation – the week following the May Day Bank Holiday Well Dressing Staging – the weekend following the May Day Bank Holiday (usually second weekend of May).
Cost to attend: None
Well Dressings are works of art created by hand using natural materials such as petals and seeds by groups of dedicated volunteers.
Wellbeing Wednesday Singing Group
Main contact name: Pete & Lisa Nicholls
Tel: 07958 538421
Email: wellbeingwednesdaysinginggroup@gmail.com
Meeting address: Field Terrace Community Centre, Slack Lane, Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 3HF
Day/time group meets: Every Wednesday 1-3pm
Cost to attend: £1.00
We are a relaxed and informal group that meet once a week to take part in group singing to help improve our wellbeing. We have a strong social element and we aim to provide mutual support and friendship to each other, as well as organising social events for our members.