Doncaster Echo - April/May 2023

Celebrating everything good in doncaster and surrounding areas

INTRODUCTION

Hello and welcome to your March/April edition of Doncaster Echo.

Spring is just around the corner, and those nights are getting lighter. Did you know that by the end of March, the sun will be setting after 8pm? That is certainly something to look forward to! Here at Doncaster Echo, we have been busy gathering some brilliant offers from local businesses for you, as well as finding some excellent local stories you may not be aware of.

This month, we speak to Leesa Sharpe who owns the highly successful clothing store LJ’s Boutique to find out more about

how Leesa was determined to not let the pandemic affect her business.

We also are giving one lucky reader the chance to win two tickets to see Clean Bandit at Doncaster Racecourse this July. Head over to page 14 to find out more about how you can enter.

As always, our friendly team are just an email or phone call away to help you with all your advertisement needs and answer any questions you may have.

We will see you again in May, but for now sit back with a cuppa and enjoy your latest instalment of Doncaster Echo.

meet the staff

kim dowson sales executive

LISA WARRENER EDITOR

RACHAEL LIDDLE DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Daniella dennis sales Manager ellie atack FEATURES/COPYWRITER

Distribution Assistants: Jamie Walton, Justin Newton, Mitchell Brewins, Hannah Wass

These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept – but where to store it all? That’s where Yorkshire Loft Ladders come in.

These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept – but where to store it all? That’s where Yorkshire Loft Ladders come in.

The company, based locally, offers homeowners the opportunity to maximise their storage space with a loft ladder, 50 sq ft of boarding and a light all fully fitted in less than a day from just £277 + VAT. But it’s not just the affordability of the package the company offers that makes Yorkshire Loft Ladders stand out as manager Warren Ingleson explains:

The company, based locally, offers homeowners the opportunity to maximise their storage space with a loft ladder, 50 sq ft of boarding and a light all fully fitted in less than a day from just £277 + VAT. But it’s not just the affordability of the package the company offers that makes Yorkshire Loft Ladders stand out as manager Warren Ingleson explains:

‘Our watchwords are Quality,

‘Our watchwords are Quality,

Integrity and Value. Quality in the materials that we use for all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen so our customers are assured of the best job. Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we say and make sure the house is spotless when we leave, and Value in that we offer our services at a price people can afford. Our business relies on referrals and we got a huge amount of our calls from people who have been referred to us by our existing customers - that simply wouldn’t happen if we didn’t adhere to our overriding principles.

Integrity and Value. Quality in the materials that we use for all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen so our customers are assured of the best job. Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we say and make sure the house is spotless when we leave, and Value in that we offer our services at a price people can afford. Our business relies on referrals and we got a huge amount of our calls from people who have been referred to us by our existing customers - that simply wouldn’t happen if we didn’t adhere to our overriding principles.

At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers

At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers

lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for every installation we carry out!’ So, if you want to make use of your loft space, however big or

lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for every installation we carry out!’ So, if you want to make use of your loft space, however big or

small, call Warren on 0800 612 8359 and he’ll be happy to pop round and give you a no obligation quote so you too can make use of your loft!

small, call Warren on 0800 612 8359 and he’ll be happy to pop round and give you a no obligation quote so you too can make use of your loft!

Doncaster plus-size clothing boutique celebrates sales over £2million

LJ’s moved to Armthorpe in October 2019, but in March 2020, as the Covid pandemic hit and restrictions were put in place, the store unfortunately had to close.

However, owner Leesa Sharpe was determined she wasn’t going to lose her business, so started working from home, using social media to gain custom and kept the business going.

Since becoming a Limited Company in February 2021, the clothing business has gone from strength to strength. 2022 has been a year of exponential growth with sales reaching over £2million, a 1,600% growth on

During 2022, LJ’s designed its own tanning mousse. It has also started designing its own clothing to be manufactured here in the UK.

In 2022 Rustie Lee, celebrity chef, calibrated with LJ’s and Alison

Hammond wore a sparkly Lolita Christmas top on ‘This Morning’ after Alison’s stylist contacted LJ’s.

Doncaster Echo had a chat with Leesa to find out more about the thriving business and how the idea came about.

How did the idea come about?

Back in 2018, I was a curvy lady and was so fed up with the dull, boring clothing on the high street. I stumbled on an Italian range of clothing and decided to research the sizing, working with suppliers to bring the next size in. I then opened a boutique to work alongside my website.

What has been the biggest challenge?

Keeping up with the growth. I hand-picked team members to allow me to cope and to allow further growth. Without the team’s hard work and passion we would not be where we are today.

What has been your biggest achievement?

My dream was to share the colourful, comfortable and fashionable clothing for ladies of the plus-size community and bring their confidence and passion back to wearing fashionable clothing. My realistic idea was that to build the business to where it is today, this would have taken around five-seven years, not just three.

What plans do you have for the future?

To bring more of our own designs of clothing to

be made here in the UK, and to listen to our ladies and get their ideas together.

But my main goal is to help more plus-size ladies to wear colourful clothing as every lady deserves to be fashionable. It’s been an incredible story so far and am so proud of where we are today.

LJ’s Boutique is a curve and plus-size boutique based in Armthorpe, Doncaster. For more information or to shop the collection, please visit www.ljsladiesboutique.co.uk

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FROM A POLICE

New joint ‘hub’ opens

This month, Doncaster policing team talks to us about the new innovative hub, “The Acorn Hub” which hopes to have a positive impact on the community

“Officers will be able to spend much more time in their area, without having to travel back and forth between our base at Thorne Police Station. This will help to increase police visibility in these communities.”

opens in Armthorpe

An innovative new hub, which will see South Yorkshire Police sharing a base with Armthorpe Parish Council and City of Doncaster Council staff, has been officially launched.

The Acorn Hub, located on the former Acorn Pub site on Hatfield Lane, Armthorpe, has been a year in the making.

Officers from Doncaster East Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) will use the hub when they are on shift, alongside officers from the council’s Safer Communities Team and Armthorpe Parish Council.

Inspector Alison Carr, who leads the Doncaster East NPT, was pleased to see the new building up and running and is looking forward to the positive impact it will have on the local community. She said: “The officers on my team who cover the Armthorpe, Edenthorpe and Kirk Sandall areas will use this fantastic new building as a drop-in base when they are on duty in the area.

“It means they will be able to spend much more time in their area, without having to travel back and forth between our base at Thorne Police Station. This will help to increase police visibility in these communities.

“Having partners from the council and other local organisations all using this hub will also mean we can work together more effectively to tackle the issues that matter most to our communities.”

Armthorpe Parish Council has taken out a 10-year lease on the former Betting Office, next to the Co-op Store on Hatfield Lane. It has been fully refurbished to provide a bespoke and secure space for the officers using it.

The building was named The Acorn Hub, in a nod to the much-loved pub that used to occupy the site, following a village-wide consultation.

Win tickets to see Clean Bandit

We are giving away two tickets to see Clean Bandit at Doncaster Racecourse Doncaster Racecourse on Saturday 1st July 2023!

Does anything beat watching live music outside in the summertime?

If you’re looking for music concerts in Doncaster over the summer, the racecourse hosts several big names each year for you to enjoy. What’s even better is Doncaster Echo has two tickets to give away to one of our lucky readers.

Bringing a full festival vibe to the Yorkshire racecourse, this show will see one of the most exciting modern pop bands perform a magnificent headline set - after you have already enjoyed a full day’s action on the track.

Clean Bandit have consistently pushed the boundaries of modern pop with their diverse blend of electronic, dancehall, classical, R&B and pop.

Their breakthrough success came in 2014 with the single ‘Rather Be’, feat. Jess Glynne, a Grammy award-winning worldwide hit that has now surpassed 10 million global sales. In 2016, they released their 10 millionselling single ‘Rockabye’ feat. Sean Paul and Anne Marie. Shooting to #1 in over 40

countries and having spent nine weeks at the top of the charts in the UK, the track became the longest-running UK #1 in 22 years, surpassing Wet Wet Wet’s ‘Love Is All Around’.

They also received two Brit Award nominations for their 2018 smash ‘Solo’ feat. Demi Lovato, which became their fourth UK number 1. The band have now notched up nine UK top five singles, more than Bruno Mars or Adele.

Clean Bandit promise a superb night of entertainment performing all their hits. Don’t miss your chance to see them perform live after racing on Saturday 1st July. There’s no better combination than great racing followed by an incredible open-air performance!

To enter email info@createtvt.co.uk with the subject CLEANBANDIT COMPETITON with your full name, address and telephone number. Winners will be contacted via email.

For more information on the event or how to buy tickets please visit the Doncaster Racecourse website.

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HOROSCOPES

April/May

Aquarius

(20th Jan-18th Feb)

You are stepping well out of your comfort zone this month, a huge well done for taking the leap and doing something you wouldn’t usually.

Pisces

(19th Feb-20th March)

Begin to see people for who they really are. You may think you know someone, however they are about to stab you in the back.

Aries

(21st March-19th April)

A huge, dramatic change is about to happen in your life in the upcoming weeks. You will need to remain calm and not rush into a big decision.

Taurus

(20th April-20th May)

A friend needs a little extra TLC this month but doesn’t want to reach out. Check on everyone to see if they’re okay.

Gemini

(21st May-20th June)

You have not connected with your family much this past month, set aside some time to visit them and check on their health and wellbeing.

Cancer

(21st June- 22nd July)

Your friendships are going to begin to change a little. Not to worry, it’s just time to reflect on who the true ones are.

Leo

(23rd July-22nd Aug)

Make sure you remember your roots, success has come very easy to you at the moment but remember things weren’t always this way.

Virgo

(23rd Aug-22nd Sept)

You are doing a great job at focussing on your health and well-being, keep up the good work, it’s really starting to pay off.

Libra

(23rd Sept-22nd Oct)

You are smashing work at the moment and the hard work is not going unrecognised! Keep it up and a promotion is on its way.

Scorpio

(23rd Oct-21st Nov)

Some good news is on its way. This may be life changing or just make your day, however, that positivity is just around the corner.

Sagittarius

(22nd Nov-21st Dec)

You aren’t in the mood for company or to listen to gossip. You have too many important things on your mind.

Capricorn

(22nd Dec-19th Jan)

You recently made a life-changing decision which in the long run is going to hugely improve your life. Be patient and persevere.