Published on Saturday 31 December 2011 16:00

Ron Knight has asked Derbyshire Times readers to help solve a footballing mystery.

He would like sports fans across the county to identify the players featured in the accompanying photograph, which is thought to have been taken in 1965.

Ron, who took the snap more than 45 years ago, rediscovered it in the run up to Christmas when he climbed into his loft in search of decorations.

Ron, of Ashgate Park, said: “I found a slide with this team on and used my computer to turn it into a photograph.

“It is the East Midlands Electricity Board football team from the mid-1960s and the team was made up of electrical engineers, electricians, cable joiners, linesmen and office staff.

“We were based at the Brampton Depot, at 172 Chatsworth Road, which is now a retail park. I used to drive the team around in a van and even wash their kit.’’

Ron, who was the project manager at the depot and is now in his late 1970s, would like readers to get in touch if they can remember the missing names.

His recollection is (back row, left to right): Terry Wilson, ?, ?, Trevor ‘Tintin’ Wright, Keith Haynes, Gordon Alvey, ?

Front row: David Roe, ?, ?, George Tag, Ted Williams.

Ron also would like to know the name of the boy at the front who is sitting on the ball and how old he is now.

If you were a member of the team or recognise any of the players email your memories to andrew.jarvis@derbyshiretimes.co.uk or telephone (01246) 504528.

l Do you have any photographs of teams from yesteryear who you would like to see in the Derbyshire Times? If so, email them to the above address or drop them off at our Station Road, Chesterfield, office.

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Traffic hold-ups for thousands of motorists using a major Scunthorpe road seem likely for about THREE MONTHS.

Extensive roadworks along Brigg Road will begin on Monday, January 9.

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   A sign close to where Brigg Road joins the A18 at Ashby Ville roundabout – warning motorists about the roadworks starting on Monday, January 9.

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   Brigg Road, Scunthorpe, where electricity cables are to be replaced. Tata’s ironworks is in the distance.

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   Councillor Nigel Sherwood, Cabinet Member for Highways and Neighbourhoods, who represents Brigg and Wolds on North Lincolnshire Council.

“Major electric works” are being undertaken by a contracting company working on behalf of Northern Power Grid.

Signs have gone up along Brigg Road and the adjoining Station Road, warning motorists of the forthcoming scheme – and apologising in advance “for the inconvenience that may be caused.”

Cables will be replaced under Brigg Road, which is a major route, connecting the A18 with Scunthorpe town centre, several industrial estates and two of the accesses to Tata steelworks.

The only real alternative route between the centre of Scunthorpe and the A18 Queensway will involve motorists using Ashby Road, which is already congested at peak times.

Councillor Nigel Sherwood, Cabinet Member for Highways and Neighbourhoods, told thisisscunthorpe.co.uk this was seen as a significant scheme.

“Motorists held up in traffic at roadworks can assume the council is responsible, but this is not the case here at Brigg Road, Scunthorpe,” he stressed.

“We were informed in advance about these roadworks and trust there will be the minimum disruption and that things will be completed as quickly as possible.”

THE cost of leisure centre services in Cheshire is to soar by 8.5 per cent in the new year.

The 2.5 million people who visit the county’s leisure centres face paying up to 80 pence more for services when the price hike comes into force tomorrow.

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   HIKE: Sandbach Leisure Centre.

Cheshire East Council is blaming soaring energy bills for the increase.

The authority claims it has seen a 34 per cent rise in gas and 25 per cent rise in electricity bills over the past year.

The increase means:

A swimming session costing £3.70 will rise to £4;

Hiring a badminton court will rise from £9.50 to £10.30;

An aqua-aerobics session will increase from £4.20 to £4.50.

The news comes following the authority’s announcement that £1.4 million is to be invested into Nantwich Swimming Pool for improvements.

And new changing rooms, a pool cover and a boiler have been installed at Sandbach Leisure Centre.

The council has also vowed to make savings of £2,000 a year at both Shavington and Alsager leisure centres.

Cheshire East councillor Rod Menlove, pictured, cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: “I am sure many people have seen fuel bills rise in their own homes and can understand that this decision has not been made lightly.

“The small increase for service users is necessary for us to continue to maintain and improve our leisure centres.

“We have made many improvements in leisure centres across Cheshire East so that they are fit for our residents to use them for years to come.

“Continued maintenance and necessary improvements cannot be realised without this pricing rethink.”

Discounts of 20 per cent are available for children and people over 60. Swimming for children under three will still be free.

All leisure centre users will have the chance of a 40 per cent discount with an Options card for an annual membership fee of £5.

The cost of an Everybody membership will remain unchanged. These are year-long memberships which can be paid for monthly or annually and give regular users big discounts.

The decision to increase service costs around Cheshire East is not without its critics.

Crewe councillor Michelle Sherratt said: “I strongly support the idea of getting young people involved in sport to keep them out of trouble.

“However, this seems at odds with increases in leisure centre prices.

“I’m concerned that our young people will be put off by any price increase.

“They need all the support we can give at a time like this.

“An increase in leisure centre prices seems contrary to that aim.”

Kyle Tomkinson, aged 23, of Broughton Road, Crewe, regularly uses Nantwich Leisure Centre.

He said: “I spend a lot of money trying to live a healthy lifestyle and eat fresh and healthy food.

“As an apprentice I already struggle, without paying over the odds to use the leisure centre.”

For more information about leisure centre services and discounts, visit the Cheshire East Council website at www.cheshireeast.gov. uk.

THE Western Isles Council is “highly concerned” over the outcome of the transmission charging review for wind and wave-power generation which they say will give other areas an unfair advantage.

They have vowed to continue to lobby the UK government for a fairer deal for the islands.

The Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), who regulate the UK electricity system, recently published a consultation on the UK’s electricity transmission charging regime.

The UK electricity network operates on a locational principle – existing thermal generating plant was constructed near the main centres of demand and generators seeking to connect in locations remote from that demand must bear the cost of that connection.

This means that the proposed 150MW Stornoway windfarm on Lewis faces an annual electricity transmission levy of £15million a year while a generator in the south of England is actually subsidised to transmit electricity.

The Western Isles Council has contended that the system is inequitable and has pushed the regulator to review and reduce the prohibitive level of transmission charging in the Scottish islands.

At the moment, these charges are preventing island developers from underwriting the cost of the proposed 450MW radial connector which could bring unprecedented benefits to the islands in terms of fabrication, renewable energy research and opportunities throughout the wider supply chain. It was largely because of these concerns that Ofgem’s Project TransmiT consultation was set up.

However, the final report from the Project TransmiT process gives little comfort to Scotland’s islands which are said to be home to the best renewable energy resource in Europe.

In the report, Ofgem reject a socialisation option which would have seen all generators pay the same transmission charge, regardless of location.

Instead they favour an Improved Investment Cost Reflective Pricing (IICRP) method for calculating future transmission charges.

An IICRP approach will significantly reduce transmission charges in the north mainland and may marginally reduce island charges but the resulting differential could see island generators paying seven times the transmission charge paid by their north of Scotland mainland counterparts.

Council leader Angus Campbell said: “Excessive transmission charges are blocking renewable energy development in the Western Isles.

“The benefits from this industry will be transformational for our fragile economy but there is little in Ofgem’s report to suggest that the situation will improve.

“The council is committed to making a disproportionate contribution to the achievement of Scottish, UK and European carbon reduction targets and it is clearly in the national interest to access the world leading energy resource blowing over these islands and crashing on their shores.

“Even under this ‘improved’ regime, the Stornoway windfarm could be paying £11million a year to transmit its product while a similarly-sized project in the south of England could be paying only £300,000 a year.

“There is something fundamentally unfair in the way the islands are being treated and the council will continue to lobby the UK secretary of state for energy and climate change, his energy minister and the regulator for a fair deal for the Western Isles.”

Copyright 2011 Aberdeen Journals Ltd
All Rights Reservednull

Reportedly, recommendations have been made to PM to increase gas prices by 34 percent from January 2012, impose levy for next 15-20 years to build Rs100bn gas pipeline, keep existing fuel surcharges, transfer increase of gas prices on commercial sector to consumers, and use tax money to pay for subsidy to make imported gas affordable (Increase in gas tariff for all sectors proposed, local news, Dec. 29, 2011). The increase in gas prices and giving subsidy to energy mafia shows that PPP government has failed to devise a comprehensive energy policy. Due to government’s pro-energy mafia policies, the sector is profiteering at the cost of public and national interests. Pakistan therefore needs to adopt alternate energy to provide relief to public, sustain economy, generate jobs, reduce energy prices, end fuel subsidies, cut dependence on energy imports, decrease inflation, and control trade imbalances.

Islamabad needs to adopt renewable energy to provide immediate relief to domestic sector, cut energy spending and overcome energy deficiency on war footings. Reportedly, China has said that the cost of electricity generated from wind, solar and coal will be the same from June 2012. According to US experts, the use of Chinese solar panels and wind turbines has brought down prices of energy in America and it has benefited US consumers(Chinese solar benefit US consumers too, Dec 11, China Daily). In UK, the cost of solar panels has come down by 30% since April 2010. Today, Britain’s installed capacity is nearly three times greater than the projections of the government when it launched the solar energy scheme for domestic users 18 months ago (Britain’s solar energy boom …Oct. 31, The Guardian).

Islamabad and Beijing can enter an energy alliance. Reportedly, China’s renewable energy sector is facing stiff resistance from protectionist policies of West. It has forced 42 percent of China’s renewable energy industry to find new markets. Islamabad can use their expertise to overcome energy shortage in the country within six month with help of plug and play renewable technology. Beijing can also help Islamabad develop renewable energy products, grid ready wind turbines and solar farms, smart grid technology, and two-way electricity meters, which are used to record electricity sent to local grid by the individual house and its consumption. China is generating fifty thousand megawatts. Countries like Germany, USA, and UK are successfully using these technologies to reduce electricity cost.

Islamabad needs to end use of gas by the industrial and private owned public transport sectors. Reportedly, both sectors were allowed gas use to give relief to the public through low prices, but they pocketed profits and subsidies incurred loss to national exchequer. Similarly, successive governments have been deceiving the public by giving gas subsidy to the fertilizer sector to benefit selected few, including those who benefited from its privatization in the first place. Islamabad needs to make laws in line with India mandating major industries including textile to adopt renewable energy. Reportedly, 80 percent of India’s textile industry is using solar energy. Natural resources cannot be used to support private industry in Pakistan that too at the cost of domestic consumers and profiteering. Thus, laws need to change to give domestic gas users priority and incentives to industrial sector to adopt renewable energy. The proposed prices of gas in the news report are inflated. As per the figures, Rs. 482 gas will have Rs. 730 local tax (151 percent of actual price). The proposed cost of US sponsored Turkmenistan (TAPI) gas is 12 to 13 dollars per unit, which is almost double the price of Russia and Ukraine gas agreement of $200 per 1000 cubic meters (Ukraine Russia reach deal on gas price, Nov. 16, 2011, China Daily). Pakistanis should not be forced to protect American energy interests in the region. Similarly, it is illogical to pay $ 16 to 18 for LNG, which is locally available for one dollar. Instead of giving subsidy to the energy mafia, renewable energy should be used to meet energy shortfall on lines of China. Beijing has established more than 480 electric charging stations to help one million electric cars users. It will help state earn revenue, keep the cities clean and meet UN anti-pollution standards. In addition, metro rail systems and renewable energy be used to cut travelling and transportation costs. Furthermore, renewable energy can be effective in providing electricity to urban centers and rural communities to improve living standards, increase employment through cottage industry and reduce poverty at grassroots.

There is a need to adopt energy saving strategies. China has given incentives to promote use of energy saving lights instead of traditional light bulbs. Beijing with cooperation of industrial sector, reduced prices of energy efficient home appliances to promote energy efficient products including washing machines, TV, increase sales, reduce fuel imports, promote use of solar heaters, photovoltaic cells, electric cars, and cut CO2 emissions. UK is giving “green deal” loans schemes to make homes more energy efficient and adopt renewable energy to cut energy bills ( Nov.2, 2011, the Guardian). In addition to promoting use of renewable energy, government should also encourage use of UN based Kyoto energy products in rural areas (http://kyoto-energy.com/products.html). Government can cut energy consumption and corruption by adopting renewable energy in its buildings, community centers and public places including streetlights. These policies can help Islamabad promote businesses, generate millions of jobs and reduce fuel imports.

Nationalization of energy sector can play an important role in reducing the prices of electricity and gas. The news report shows that public is going to pay Rs. 38 bn for gas imports and construction of Rs.100 bn Pak-Iran gas pipeline. The report also shows that Petroleum Levy Amendment Bill 2011 and Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) Bill would remain applicable for next 15 to 20 years to pay the required funds. The oil producing countries are also proposing an increase in oil prices. Since energy prices are going to increase and public is going to pay for the energy sector development therefore Pakistan’s energy sector should be under public control with government pay structure to reduce expenditures by 40 percent and improve services. The state controlled energy sectors of Russia, China and Gulf states are producing cheaper electricity, adopting renewable energy and linking the countries to the global energy networks. Jordan is reviewing controversial privatization deals in national interest. It is about time Islamabad nationalized energy sector and scrapped all shady privatizations.

Finally, renewable energy can help protect national interests. Russia and Germany has launched Nord Stream pipeline to deliver gas directly (bypassing traditional transit countries Ukraine, Poland and Belarus), and linking other western European countries(Nov. 26, wsws). It creates an alternate to US dominated security alliance in Europe, ME and Persian Gulf. The US led NATO Alliance in UN on Libya was successfully challenged by Berlin, Peking and Moscow alliance to counter US strategy in North Africa. Russia’s South Stream project aims to link Asia and Europe to counter failed US Nabucco project directed to deliver gas to Asia via Turkey. Pakistan should therefore review $7.8bn TAPI gas pipeline and instead link ME with Europe-Russia-China energy market through Gwadar to create $700 bn energy and trade corridor for strong economy and independent foreign policy in line with Morocco-EU € 400bn MENA renewable energy network alliance as part of ‘Liberalization of Energy Markets’ (Nov.2, the Guardian). Islamabad should invest TAPI funds on renewable energy and dams to generate electricity, and improve water storage for agriculture.

30 December 2011
Last updated at 19:08 ET

The pair had worked together in the Netherlands before becoming colleagues again in Manchester

Two Nobel laureates involved in the creation of graphene, a sheet of carbon just one atom thick, have received knighthoods in the New Year Honours.

Profs Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, from the University of Manchester, won the physics Nobel Prize in 2010 for their pioneering research.

Dr Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, one of the 2009 chemistry Nobel Prize winners, has also received a knighthood.

Recipients from technology and science sectors make up 3% of this year’s list.

A knighthood has also been given to Prof Robert Watson, chief scientific adviser to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

‘Groundbreaking experiments’

Profs Geim and Novoselov, both originally from Russia, first worked together in the Netherlands before moving to the UK.

Continue reading the main story

Graphene

• Graphene is a form of carbon that exists as a sheet, one atom thick
• Atoms are arranged into a two-dimensional honeycomb structure
• Identification of graphene announced in October 2004
• About 100 times stronger than steel and conducts electricity better than copper
• About 1% of graphene mixed into plastics could turn them into electrical conductors
• Analogous to millions of unrolled nanotubes stuck together

• How sticky tape trick led to Nobel Prize

They were based at the University of Manchester when they published their seminal research paper on graphene in October 2004.

It was their work on the world’s thinnest material that was recognised by the Nobel committee in 2010 for “for groundbreaking experiments regarding the two-dimensional material graphene”.

Graphene is a form of carbon. It is a flat layer of carbon atoms tightly packed into a two-dimensional honeycomb arrangement.

Because it is so thin, it is also practically transparent. As a conductor of electricity, it performs as well as copper; and as a conductor of heat, it outperforms all other known materials.

The unusual electronic, mechanical and chemical properties of graphene at the molecular scale promise ultra-fast transistors for electronics.

Some scientists have predicted that graphene could one day replace silicon – which is the current material of choice for transistors.

It could also yield incredibly strong, flexible and stable materials and find applications in transparent touch screens or solar cells.

Cracking the code

Another Nobel laureate to be recognised with a knighthood is Venki Ramakrishnan, a biologist based at the Medical Research Council’s Molecular Biology Laboratories in Cambridge, UK.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

I am delighted and humbled by this honour ”

End Quote
Prof Bob Watson

In 2009, he and two other scientists were the recipients of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on the structure and function of the ribosome – the cell’s protein factory.

The ribosome translates genetic code into proteins, which are the building blocks of all living organisms.

At the time, commentators said India-born Prof Ramakrishnan’s and the other scientists’ work solved an important part of the the problem posed by Francis Crick and James Watson when they discovered the now iconic double helix DNA structure – how does this code become a living thing?

Prof Bob Watson, Defra’s chief scientific adviser, has also received a knighthood and he told BBC News that he was delighted to receive the honour.

“I am delighted and humbled by this honour, which implicitly recognises the value of scientific knowledge in national and international environmental policy formulation,” he said.

He has been Defra’s top scientist since 2007, and his position means he is ultimately responsible for the broad range of science that falls under the department’s remit, such as climate change and bovine TB.

One the Defra website, his main role is described as providing “ministers with the best possible scientific advice and build on existing measures to ensure that science and technology are used to inform policy”.

Before joining Defra, US-born Prof Watson worked as chief scientist at the World Bank. He also held senior positions at Nasa, the White House, as well as being chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN-sponsored scientific body.

30 December 2011
Last updated at 01:24 ET

The scheme has won the backing of English Heritage

A pioneering environmental project could see 22 solar panels fitted on to a grade two listed church in Cornwall.

The scheme for the medieval building at St Newlyn East has already won the backing of English Heritage.

Cornwall Council planners are expected to make a final decision later.

David Scott, one of those spearheading the scheme, said surplus money generated by the panels “would be put back into the community”.

Mr Scott said: “It’s great to be involved as a church doing something for the environment.

“The whole principle of this is not only to raise some money for our electric bills which are desperately high but also to look at our whole carbon footprint.”

The photovoltaic panels capture the sun’s energy using cells. They do not need direct sunlight to work so are still able to generate some electricity on cloudy days.

St Newlyn East Church is a listed building so the Diocese of Truro and English Heritage have already looked closely at the proposal and given their approval.

Mr Scott said if council planners give the go ahead, St Newlyn East church would become the first medieval Anglican church to be fitted with the panels.

By
Mark Hughes-morgan

Last updated at 5:46 PM on 30th December 2011

Planning the trip of a lifetime and don’t know where to start? Well, panic not – here’s our pick of the most unforgettable experiences for 2012, from Alaska to Africa, art holidays to pilgrim walks…

Frozen planet: Cruise ship tourists line up on the bow of a boat to view icebergs in Alaska – a breathtaking trip

Cruise in Alaska

Big draw: The majesty of the glaciers

Thanks to Sir David Attenborough’s Frozen Planet, business is booming for holidays in the world’s chillier regions.

And with 2012 being touted as the best time in years to see the Northern Lights, there is no better excuse to head north to be inspired — and why not from the comfort of a luxury liner?

Royal Caribbean Cruises are the leading specialists in Alaskan cruises, departing from Vancouver and heading up to the Arctic Circle throughout the summer. For the Northern Lights, September is the best time.

For everything else — glacial encounters, cycle treks, Inuit culture — the whole season is equally good.

Details: Royal Caribbean, (0844 493 2061, www.royalcaribbean.co.uk) has a nine-night Alaska roundtrip fly/cruise from £1,652pp (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom) on board Radiance Of The Seas. Price includes return flights, transfers, one night pre-cruise accommodation and a seven-night cruise including meals and entertainment onboard. Price is based on May 3 departure from the UK.

Pack your trunk: A safari is an experience that you’ll never forget – quite like an elephant

Awesome Africa

Big draw: Kenyan safari with unique tribal people

Sarara is a classic tented camp at the heart of the 850,000-acre Namun in Kenya. Close to the foothills of Northern Kenya’s Mathews Range, its six well-spaced tents have spectacular views of the mountains and watering holes.

It is owned by the local Namunyak community. So while you enjoy early morning game drives, night drives in search of leopard, and endangered species such as Grevy zebra, you can rest assured that the community will benefit.

Most remarkably, the local Samburu warriors are renowned for their ‘singing wells’. Every morning they bring their cattle to the river bed near the camp and draw water to the rhythm of their singing.

Despite this elemental experience, your living conditions are far from primitive. The remote camp has electricity and hot water.

Details: The Ultimate Travel Company,(020 7386 4646, www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk) combines a four-night stay at Sarara with three nights at Lewa Wilderness, within the Lewa Wildlife Conservation Area from £5,000pp.

Price includes flights, private transfers, all meals and drinks. Game drives and private guided safari activities on foot or on horseback are arranged to suit each guest. More at www.sararacamp.com, lewawilderness.com, www.tusk.org.

Caribbean dream: St Vincent and the Grenadines looks to be making a splash in the new year

Caribbean corker

Big draw: Learn fresh skills at a new island resort

Buccament Bay Resort is a highly rated new five-star resort on St Vincent and the Grenadines — the first to open here.

St Vincent is made up of a string of dozens of impossibly fertile islands, which mix lush green with mountainous stretches and the occasional live volcano. There are luxury villas, gleaming white sands and cobalt-blue seas accommodating every watersport you can imagine.

There’s also a Pat Cash Tennis Academy, a Liverpool FC academy, and Harlequin Performing Arts Academy (with a variety of performing masterclasses hosted by Broadway stars).

St Vincent has barely featured on the mainstream tourism map because getting there currently requires a transfer flight from Barbados, but the island’s new Argyle International Airport is projected to be completed by spring 2012.

Details: Health and Fitness Travel (0845 544 1936, www.healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers seven nights at Buccament Bay from £2,095pp (Saving £480pp) including accommodation all-inclusive, return flights and transfers. More at www.buccamentbay.com.

Messing about on the river: Kerala will offer up plenty of inspiration for a drawing and painting break

Be artistic in India

Big draw: The spectacular coastal region of Kerala

Authentic Adventures prides itself on getting you under the skin of beautiful and unusual places — providing expert tutoring in art and photography, and even singing, in inspiring venues.

This year, unusually, Kerala, in southern India, is hosting art, photography and walking breaks at the same time. You stay in four venues, starting at Cocobay, on the edge of the Vembanad Lake — accessible only by water, a perfect launch pad to waterway network for which the area is famous.

Watch the people paddle by, and join them on the water when you boat to the villages to paint (including lunch with a local boatman). Then it is inland to the intoxicating spice gardens of Periyar; to Munnar in the Western Ghats (hills), and historic Cochin.

Details: Authentic Adventures, (01453 823 328, www.authenticadventures.co.uk) offers 13 nights, 14 days, from £2,545, including flights, full board, all transport and all tuition (£300 discount for non-painters). There are eight full days of painting and three half days.

Yeeha!: Learning to be a cowboy in Colorado could possibly fulfil a childhood dream for many of us

Colorado cowboys

Big draw: Go from beginner rider to cowhand in a week

Imagine going from never having ridden a horse before to lassooing a steer from the saddle out on the range…in a week. Impossible? Not according to In The Saddle, which offers authentic experience on a working ranch on the high altitude grasslands of Colorado, with the Colorado Cattle Company.

You can ride out every day, roping and herding, and then back to the ranch for good grub and tales of the Old West from gnarly old hands. Do as much or as little as you want — from bringing in the horses at dawn, to helping with the branding (in May).

Decent levels of comfort — the old restored ranch house has five ensuite bedrooms, and there are also rustic cabins. Riding is Western style, which is a lot easier to master than the classic English approach.

There is a big indoor arena, too, with the chance to watch the ex-rodeo riders.

Details: In the Saddle, (01299 272997, www.inthesaddle.com) offers seven nights for £1,484, including everything except flights and drinks.

Nearest airport is Denver — BA have flights from £457 return (0844 493 0787, ba.com). Transfers to the ranch £84. No single supplement. For 18-plus only; departures, April-September.

Peak performance: The ancient ruins of Machu Picchu in the Andes of Peru are a sight to behold

Indelible Incas

Big draw: Machu Picchu without the crowds

The legend of extraordinary Machu Picchu draws thousands to the Inca Trail in Peru each year — and that’s the problem. At peak time, it becomes like a theme park.

At its best, it’s a life-altering location — and trekking specialists Dragoman try to retain the magic with its ‘community Inca trek’, which blazes an exclusive trail, spending time with Quechua Indian hosts to learn about and experience their culture.

There is plenty of time, for activities ranging from city sightseeing to dune buggying and white-water rafting.

Details: Dragoman (01728 861133, www.dragoman.com) has a 17-day Lima to Cusco’ trip, costing from £640pp plus local kitty payment of $900. Flights to Lima from London start from £540 return with Iberia (0870 609 0500, www,iberia.com).

Classical education: The impressive Greek ruins at Segesta in Sicily date from 426BC

Italy’s finest

Big draw: A privileged view of Sicily’s extraordinary art

Fine Art Tours deliver beautiful settings, entrees into private venues, and exclusive viewings of some of the world’s leading museums and historic sites, with world expert guides on tap.

While it will devise private trips by arrangement, one of the best group tours for 2012 is in western Sicily, where renowned Oxford classics don Robin Lane Fox is taking a trip to the Greek ruins of Segesta, Selinunte and Agrigento, some of the finest in the Med.

You will be viewing the glittering Norman church mosaics around Palermo, or lunching in one of the private palaces — including one that hosted the famous ball scene in Visconti’s film of Lampedusa’s novel The Leopard.

Details: Fine Art Travel’s Tour to Western Sicily lasts for 6 nights from September 19 to 25 2012 and costs £2,985, (0207 437 8553, www.finearttravel.co.uk).

Canterbury tales: The Kentish city was the start of a pilgrimage to Rome, a journey that can now be recreated

Pilgrim’s progress

Big draw: Fulfill a lifetime’s walking ambition in Europe

Pilgrim walks — such as the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain — are increasingly popular, and the longer routes can keep you busy for years. World Walks is now supporting the Via Francigena, the walking route that links Canterbury with Rome, organising accommodation, transfers and luggage.

Having supported the part from Switzerland to Rome, for 2012 it is now offering the entire route from Canterbury along with the French and Swiss legs — divided into week-long sections.

If you just want the sensation of a pilgrim arriving in Rome, you can just do the last week, starting in Montefiascone.

Details: World Walks, (01242-254353, www.worldwalks.com) offers the Via Francigena from £695pp per week (self-guided) based on two people sharing, £845pp guided. Single supplement: £80. It includes BB and six dinners per week, luggage transfers, walking notes and maps.

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UK investment in green energy failed to pick up significantly in 2011, reflecting difficult economic circumstances and uncertainty over government policy. The government’s figure of £2.5bn is slightly higher than an estimate for the previous year and well down on total investment in the sector in 2009.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change said the investment, which represents the total financial commitments announced by a variety of companies between April and December to proposed renewable energy projects, had the potential to create 12,000 jobs across Britain.

Chris Huhne, the secretary of state for energy and climate change, said: “Renewable energy is not just helping us increase our energy security and reduce our emissions. It is supporting jobs and growth across the country, and giving traditional industrial heartlands the opportunity to thrive again.”

But the £2.5bn investment announced since April showed little progress from 2010, when £2.1bn was poured into renewables and other low-carbon forms of energy in the UK, according to the US-based thinktank Pew Environment Group.

The 2010 figure was itself a dramatic fall of 70% compared with the investment reached in 2009, when at least £7.1bn was put into the sector.

DECC said this year’s investment figures were the first it had compiled, so direct comparisons with previous years have not been possible because Pew’s methodology was likely to be different. However, the department agreed that Pew’s figures could be used as an indication.

Investors have complained of a damaging uncertainty in government policy, as twice this year the government cut the subsidy rates available to solar energy, and this autumn announced plans to reduce the incentives for wind power.

In 2010, the UK fell out of the league of the top 10 countries around the world in terms of renewable energy investment. This year’s figures are extremely unlikely to redeem the UK’s place in the league, as many countries in the developing world in particular have surged ahead, including China and India.

The fall in investment in renewables confirms research by the Guardian earlier this month that showed the number of wind turbines built this year is down by half on last year. In the year to the end of November, 540MW of new turbines, on land and offshore, were built – comprising 200 onshore turbines and 50 offshore. In 2010 more than double that capacity – 1,192MW of turbines – were constructed.

This contrasts sharply with more than 30GW of gas-fired electricity generation that is in the planning stages. Charles Hendry, minister for energy, said oil and gas were crucial to the UK economy, contributing about 2% of GDP. Granting 46 new licences to explore for oil and gas under the North Sea, he said: “Our innovative licensing system continues to make the UK one of the most attractive places to do business. These continued high levels of interest, and the award today of these licences, gives me yet more reason to be optimistic for a prosperous 2012 for the UK oil and gas sector.”

DECC said last year there was a 27% increase in renewable energy consumption from 42.6TWh in 2008 to 54TWh in 2010 – representing 3.3% of total energy consumed. The energy from wind generation increased by 46% from 7 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2008 to 10.2TWh in 2010, and in 2010 achieved 5GW of offshore and onshore wind capacity.

There was also, according to DECC, a threefold increase in the use of biofuels in transport from 1% of total road transport fuel supply in 2007-08 to 3.33% in 2010.

Huhne said: “Our renewable target is less demanding than other EU member states, but the effect is bringing real jobs and investment. I do not want the UK to be left behind by turning our back on the green economy. The agreement to negotiate a global deal secured at [international climate change talks in December in] Durban has reinforced major nations’ commitment to cutting carbon. We cannot afford to stand alone while the world wises up.”

11.04am: Good Morning. Welcome to the Middle East Live blog and the last Friday of 2011, the year when the Middle East was riven with popular uprising. Here’s a round-up and look forward to today’s events.

• Syria: Activists have called for mass nationwide protests today as Arab League monitors prepare to spend their first Friday in the country visiting some of its most volatile cities.

Rallying calls have been made through all the Syrian revolution’s channels and crowds are now gathering in Deraa, the southern city renowned as ground zero of the revolt. Mass rallies are also planned in Idlib, where loyalist forces have this week battled defectors, killing dozens, and in Douma, which is increasingly becoming a focal point of the push to oust the regime of president Bashar al-Assad.

Prelimanary reports which the Guardian has not been able to verify suggest that there is shooting taking place in Damascus and in Hama.

• Egypt: Twenty eight Egyptian human rights groups have signed a statement accusing the country’s ruling military council of using Hosni Mubarak-era “repressive tools” in waging an “unprecedented campaign” against pro-democracy organisations. The groups’ joint statement came just hours after security forces stormed offices of 10 rights organisations, including several based in the US. The interior ministry said the raids were part of the investigation into foreign funding of rights groups.

11.20am: Reuters is reporting that the anti-government Free Syrian Army has been ordered to stop offensive operations pending a meeting with Arab League delegates but the armed group is having serious trouble making contact with Arab League delegates.

The rebels’ commander, Colonel Riad al-Asaad said his forces had so far been unable to talk to the monitors, in the first week of their month-long mission, and he was still trying to contact them urgently.

“I issued an order to stop all operations from the day the committee entered Syria last Friday. All operations against the regime are to be stopped except in a situation of self defence.”

“We have tried to communicate with them and we requested a meeting with the team. So far there hasn’t been any success. We haven’t been given any of the (phone) numbers for the monitors, which we have requested. No one has contacted us either.”

11.24am:This video posted on Youtube earlier today purports to show the start of a demonstration in the Hamediya neighbourhood of Hama, Syria.

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11.42am: This is from the Associated Press news wire which is reporting that German officials have complained to the Egyptian ambassador over what they describe as an unacceptable raid on the Cairo office of a German thinktank. This adds to the condemnation from the US overnight.

The Konrad Adenauer Foundation, which has links to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party, was among 10 pro-democracy organizations whose offices were raided on Thursday.

German Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke said Egypt’s ambassador in Berlin was summoned to the ministry on Friday.

Peschke said he was told that it was “unacceptable for the work of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Egypt to be hindered in this way” and that Berlin believes authorities’ actions go against the spirit of a German-Egyptian agreement in August on a partnership to support building Egyptian democracy.

11.44am: It appears that the call put out by Syrian activists for mass demonstrations across the country has been heeded. Reports and videos suggest that there are significant demonstrations in Aleppo, Hama, Damascus and Deraa.

This video puports to have been shot earlier today in Aleppo:

11.56am: Russia is backing the Arab League monitors’ mission describing the situation in Syria as “reassuring”.

“Moscow appraises with satisfaction the real beginning of the Arab League activities in Syria,” the Russian foreign ministry has said in a statement.

The Russian government which has recently faced its own popular protest movement over contested election results also commented on the monitors’ visit to Homs the scenes of some of the worst violence against civillians in recent months.

The foreign ministry added: “The situation there is reassuring, clashes have not been recorded.”

The Local Coordination Committees, an activist coalition, said at least 130 people, including six children, have been killed in Syria since the Arab observers began their one-month mission on Tuesday.

12.35pm: The UN has now moved to condemn raids conducted by Egyptian security services on NGO’s yesterday.

Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, said the raids seem “clearly designed to intimidate human rights defenders who have long been critical of human rights violations in Egypt, including under the previous regime.”

Shamdasani said prominent non-governmental organizations complained their files were searched and seized and staff prevented from leaving as the raids were conducted late Thursday, adding that the measures were “unnecessarily heavy-handed”.

She said there have been “many such incidents in recent months where measures have been taken to interfere in the work of NGOs.”

12.43pm: This from our correspondent Luke Harding who has been speaking to Heba Morayef, Human Rights Watch researcher for the Middle East and North Africa, about yesterday’s raids on NGOs in Egypt.

Morayef, who is in Cairo, says she fears that more NGOs could be targeted by the country’s military rulers in the next few days. She says that in addition to the raids on 17 premises yesterday police also turned up at an old address for the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies. The organisation moved to a new office two years ago, she said.

“We know that there are some other organisations that are going to be next. They might go for other organisations today. They might wait until Sunday,” she said. Morayef said the unprecedented “broad-based” attack on US, German and Egyptian civic society groups was dismaying, with nothing similar attempted during former president Hosni Mubarak’s three decades in power.

“I think it’s been pretty shocking. If this carries on there could be a shut-down of the whole human rights community in Egypt. We don’t know quite know what will happen next,” she warned. None of the NGOs were functioning, with offices today sealed, she said.

Morayef said that regime officials were exploiting repressive and vague Mubarak-era laws to clamp down on civil society organisations: “You have the entire bureaucracy of Mubarak’s regime still in place. We have educated officials saying with a straight face “You have to respect the law”‘.

She added that Egypt’s ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces seemed to “genuinely believe” that “foreign hands” were behind Egypt’s revolution and continuing popular uprising. She also said she was deeply concerned about an on-going investigation into NGOs by two judges, on behalf of Egypt’s prosecutor.

1.15pm: Our correspondent Martin Chulov across the border in Beirut, Lebanon has this to say about today’s Syrian demonstrations.

Syrian activists promised that today would be a highly visible show of defiance. And they’ve delivered. Today’s protests are significant, not because of the overall numbers, which will become more apparent later in the day, but because of the range of locations in which they’re taking place.

The pre-Assad regime flag adopted by the demonstrators is being waved in demonstrations in many areas of Damascus, including Midan, Douma and al-Qadam, despite attempts by security forces to stop all gatherings. There are large protest in the second city, Aleppo, as well as Idlib, Latakia, and the city that continues to fight back, Homs. A rally has also kicked off across the border in a neighbourhood of the north Lebanon city of Tripoli.

The protesters may not have confidence in the Arab League mission’s means to bring about change on Syria. But the mission is clearly emboldening – and energising – a restive populace. Demonstrators are gambling – correctly – that the regime’s gunmen won’t mow them down with the monitors watching on.

1.26pm: To add flavour to Martin Chulov’s analysis of today’s mass demonstrations in Syria, this video below appears to show a thousands strong demo from Hama earlier today.

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1.36pm: The facebook page of the Local Coordination Committee group in Syria, which helps bring together protests in the country is reporting a number of clashes and incidents where protestors are being shot at and in some instances killed by Syrian security forces in Hama, Idlib, Damascus, and Talkalahk in the province of Homs. The LCC’s latest death toll is 17.

2.13pm: Reuters are also reporting on the violent clashes that have erupted across Syria as hundreds of thousands take to the streets in protest against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

The London based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claims that 10 activsts have been killed today, lower than the LCC’s count of 17.

Reuters also reports that rocks have been thrown at security forces in the Damascus suburb of Douma. In response troops have tear-gassed chanting crowds.

Speaking about the situation in Hama an Observatory spokesperson said, “Five were martyred today and at least 20 wounded when the Syrian security forces opened fire,”

A further five people are also reported dead in the city of Deraa, 25 wounded in Idlib and at least two dozen injured in the Damascus suburb of Douma.

Speaking to Reuters activist Abu Hisham from Hama said, “This Friday is different from any other Friday. It is a transformative step. People are eager to reach the monitors and tell them about their suffering.”

In the Damascus suburb of Barzeh protesters held up signs saying, “The Monitors are witnesses who don’t see anything,” and shouted, “Bashar we don’t want you, Syrians raise your hands.”

2.42pm: The founder and the director for UK based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdurrahman has told the Guardian that he now has two witness statements reporting that at least one nail bomb was used on crowds protesting in the city of Douma, just north of Damascus at around 11:20 today.

Preceding a visit by Arab League monitors to the city, Abdurrahman said a 70,000 strong demonstration set off to the town hall and the courts of justice whereupon security services fired upon them with tear gas. When this failed to turn protestors back, at least one nail bomb was deployed injuring 24 people.

“Today, I have two witnesses who were attacked today and injured by a nail bomb.”

“I think they’ve [Syrian security services] attacked with one or two [nail bombs] because we have only 24 people injured.”

Abdurrahman added that this was not the first time he has been told about the use of nail bombs but until now he has now been able to gather any verifiable witness reports.

“Before when people told me about nail bombs I didn’t believe it,” he said.

He added that Arab League monitors were supposed to visit the victims of the attack in hospital imminently.

3.00pm: The footage purported to be from Homs earlier today appears to show security services in blue military trucks facing off against demonstrators. Shots are also fired as the trucks move towards the crowd.

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3.38pm: Some disturbing scenes in the video below which is reported to have been filmed in al-Qamishli near the Syrian/Turkish border.

It appears to show a number of demonstrators being shot by armed persons in the distance. After the wounded are attended to the crowd marches off angrily in the direction of the gun fire.

Due to an editing fault, the video loops again after the 1:46 second mark.

4.04pm: The LCC is reporting that 150,000 people are conducting a demonstration in front of the Arab League observers in Damascus.

A Washington based LCC spokesperson also tweets that electricity has been cut in a suburb of the capital.

#Syria: #Damascus Suburbs: #Douma: electricity blackout in the Kabeer mosque where tens of thousands are participating in a sit-in.

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4.14pm: The very sad story of the fatal shooting of NPR contributor Basil al-Sayed is published here.

It gives an account of just one of the many citizen journalists who risk their lives to capture footage of protests in Syria and then post the films for the wider world to witness.

In many cases, the videos uploaded to YouTube by citizen journalists have been the only way for the outside world to see the clashes that have cost more than 5,000 people their lives in Syria.

Al-Sayed documented the uprising using a small Samsung camcorder that has a red body. He uploaded hundreds of hours of footage to YouTube. He has a brother and sister, and he was the youngest in his family. He worked at an aluminum plant in Homs.

4.28pm: Alongside reports of solidarity demonstrations in Lebanon, the country’s Daily Star newspaper carries a report about students organising for a blood drive today to help the increasing numbers of those fleeing Syria in need of medical help.

Student activists across Tripoli also set up a handful of tents to host blood drives and gather donations to aid injured Syrian refugees who have regularly crossed into Lebanon in recent weeks to seek medical care.

“We began this campaign after it became clear that the Lebanese government and the institutions that should be concerned with this cause were not doing their job,” said Mohammed Taha, a Lebanese student who was helping set up the makeshift donation centres.

5.10pm: Further video evidence today of Arab League observers in yellow jackets and white caps appearing to walk with hundreds of demonstrators in the city of Idlib.

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5.27pm: Media freedom NGO Reporters Without Borders, has called on Arab League monitors to visit jailed Syrian bloggers and journalists. They also provide a list of those they believe to be in prison for their journalistic activities.

In their statement they say:

We call on the Arab League observers to visit them and demand their release, along with the release of all the detainees in Syria. It is also important for the observers to interview those [media activists] who have been freed after months in detention or else this mission will be just a sham.

5.38pm: As night falls in the Middle East, here’s a roundup of today’s events.

• In Syria the Arab League monitors’ mission has spurred hundreds of thousands of Syrians to take to the streets in one of the biggest day of protests in recent months. At least 10 demonstrators are reported dead and many more injured across the country as violent clashes erupted. Youtube video appears to show security services firing on crowds protesting against President Bashar al-Assad’s rule.

The UK based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has claimed that nail bombs have been used against protesters in city of Douma, just north of Damascus, leaving 24 injured.

Protesters have appealed to monitors to take notice of their plight whilst the rebel Free Syrian Army has claimed that it has been unable to make contact with monitors.

Russia has backed the Arab League monitors’ mission and described the situation in Syria as “reassuring”.

• In Egypt the US, the UN and Germany all condemned yesterday’s army raids on human rights organisations signalling a new low in relations between Egypt’s military rulers and the outside world.

Twenty eight Egyptian human rights groups have signed a statement accusing the country’s ruling military council of using Hosni Mubarak-era “repressive tools” in waging an “unprecedented campaign” against pro-democracy organisations

6.00pm: Thank you for all you comments below. We are wrapping up this blog now.