Look Local Issue 1278 Thursday 13 July 2023

Cyclists Complete Challenging Journey to Raise Funds for Mental Health Awareness

In a remarkable feat of endurance and determination, a group of local fundraisers successfully completed a gruelling Coast to Coast Cycle to raise money for mental health awareness. Led by Lee Shepherd, the team embarked on the challenging journey, covering a distance of approximately 211 miles.

On the rst day, the cyclists set o from Southport and battled through the rain for 75 miles, making their way to Hyde. Undeterred by the inclement weather, they pressed on, displaying their unwavering commitment to the cause.

e second day proved equally arduous as the heavens opened once again, drenching the riders as they tackled the unforgiv-

ing terrain over the Woodhead pass along the Moors. However, their spirits were li ed when they reached e Magic Wood Cafe around 10:30 am. ere, they were greeted by their supportive family and friends, who provided much-needed sustenance and encouragement. With renewed energy, they soldiered on, covering another 75 miles before concluding their second day's journey.

Undaunted by fatigue, the team's tired legs propelled them forward on the third and nal day. Fortunately, the rain held o , but they faced strong headwinds throughout the day. Despite this additional challenge, they persevered, and a er cycling 61 miles, they reached their destination of Hornsea, marking the end of their incredible journey. e group initially set a fundraising target of £1,500. However, due to the overwhelming support from their community, they surpassed all expectations. As of now, their total stands at an impressive £4,000, with an additional £800 raised through gi aid. Recognising the continued generosity of donors, Lee Shepherd expressed his gratitude and announced that their JustGiving page would remain open for a few more weeks for anyone interested in contributing.

Shepherd added, "All six of us would like to thank each and every person who has supported us along the way." eir extraordinary dedication to mental health awareness has inspired many and is a testament to the power of community and compassion.

To contribute to their cause and support their remarkable achievement, please visit their JustGiving page at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/leeshepherd12

Bishop of Sheffield addresses education

The Bishop of Sheffield, the Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, has used his first appearances as one of the Lord’s Spiritual in the House of Lords to call on better access to Higher Education, along with action to tackle homelessness. Making his maiden speech in the House of Lords on June 19, he stressed the importance of ensuring good access to Higher Education in a wide range of communities:

‘A greater flexibility in access to a Higher Education is urgently needed. Apprenticeship schemes have generally and lamentably languished in recent years, and new initiatives are urgently needed to revive them, or at least to fill the gap in training which those schemes previously met. In the Diocese of Sheffield, we boast two top-ranking universities: Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield, as well as the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. But across the Diocese as a whole, we’re equally proud of our less heralded colleges with HE provision in Sheffield, Barnsley, the Dearne Valley, Doncaster and Rotherham.

‘I was at Rotherham College recently to meet the staff who are responsible for its HE provision and to hear from them about this bill. Few of the HE students at Rotherham College are in a position to access the education I received. Their domestic circum-

stances and accessibility to learning are often very different from my own, and they require more flexible funding arrangements. They may be combining higher education with employment or childcare in a way I never did.’

Bishop Pete has also been in the House of Lords this week following the news that Sheffield is one of the six pilot locations for the Prince of Wales’ new Homewards Initiative for tackling homelessness.

Tabling a question on the Homewards Initiative, Bishop Pete addressed the Government in the Lords:

‘In South Yorkshire it seems to us that two things make this venture distinctive and highly promising: the first is that funding is secure over the medium term and the second is a partnership approach which encourages local agencies to co-produce solutions with inbuilt flexibility to allow for ongoing learning.

‘Does the Noble Lady, the Minister, think this longer term and partnership approach is one from which the Government might learn in its own support for homeless people?’

Arctic Monkeys’ boost econoMy

Arctic Monkeys’ two huge hometown gigs brought an estimated £4.1million economic benefit to the city, new figures from Sheffield City Council reveal.

The gigs saw 74,000 people visit Hillsborough Park for two nights of shows from the band, who are originally from High Green and became Sheffield music royalty after releasing five hugely successful albums. Money spent on hotels, food and drink, and transport contributed to a boost for Hillsborough and Sheffield as people travelled from across the world to visit the city for the gigs.

As well as visiting Hillsborough for the shows, Arctic Monkeys fans enjoyed visiting famous locations from the band’s early career. The Grapes pub, where the band played some of their first live shows, is a must see stop on their pilgrimage to Sheffield for many fans.

Councillor Martin Smith, Economic Development and Skills Committee Chair, said: “It was fantastic to welcome Arctic Monkeys home for two gigs at Hillsborough Park earlier in June. With 74,000 fans attending, some on foot from neighbouring streets and others who had flown

Virtual technology improVes heart care

Technology developed by Sheffield researchers offers a simpler look inside the heart’s arteries and could change the way treatment is planned.

Patients with heart disease could benefit from less extensive interventions thanks to cutting-edge technology that creates 3D computer models of blood flow through the heart’s arteries, according to research presented at the British Cardiovascular Society in Manchester.

NHS Foundation Trust, led the study. She said:

“By giving doctors a better understanding of what is happening inside their patient’s blood vessels, we’ve shown that this technology has the potential to help improve how we assess and treat heart disease, ensuring patients have the treatment that best meets their needs.

across the world to visit our city for the shows, it was a brilliant weekend.

“The boost for local businesses is huge, with an estimated £4.1 million pumped into the city over the weekend. Businesses in Hillsborough, particularly food and drink venues, benefitted from fans enjoying the day and in the city centre, and we saw an uplift in hotel bookings and footfall during the weekend. These events go to show how beneficial large-scale shows can be for Sheffield, bringing both entertainment and economic benefits to the city. It was brilliant to have the band back in the city and we’re looking forward to Tramlines at Hillsborough Park next month.”

The gigs kick off a summer of events, with Tramlines returning to the park from 21 – 23 July. To reduce the impact on Hillsborough Park, the council has been carrying out maintenance before the Arctic Monkeys shows, including investing in a new path network.

During the weekend there was minimal damage to the park which has been returned to its original condition, with repairs paid for by SJM Concerts. The council is continuing to look after the park, ensuring it is in good condition ready for Tramlines

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later in July. After the festival, the council will again work with Tramlines to ensure the park is once again returned to its best condition for local residents and visitors from across the city to enjoy.

Councillor Smith said: “Thanks to hard work and preparation from the council team, Hillsborough Park only needed some minor repairs after the shows. Thank you to locals for their patience as we return the park to normal and to the teams on the ground making sure Hillsborough Park is looking its best again after the event.”

Janine Lawson from the Hillsborough Tap and the business group Hillsborough Together, said: “The recent concerts in the park were a great boost for us at Hillsborough Tap during what is historically a quiet period in the Hillsborough area. It’s great to see so many new visitors to the area and it allows us to showcase what an amazing area Hillsborough is. The feedback we received from visitors was fantastic and it was great that so many people loved our little business as much as we do! We hope that this will create repeat business for us in a time that is very difficult for independent businesses like ours.”

When the research team trialled the VIRTUHeartTM technology with doctors treating heart attack patients, they found that using it would have changed the treatment of more than 20 per cent of patients. In many cases, it would have led to fewer patients undergoing an invasive procedure such as having a stent fitted.

By giving doctors a clearer picture of a patient’s arteries, the research funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) showed that VIRTUHeartTM could help more heart patients to get the right treatment for them, free up doctors’ time and better meet demand on heart care services.

The researchers are currently investigating the impact this technology could have if it was used widely in the NHS, including the effect it might have on waiting lists. They hope that it could be in use in as little as three years.

Dr Hazel Arfah Haley, Interventional Cardiologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals

“Our team are also investigating whether VIRTUHeartTM could improve treatment for people with another common heart condition called angina, helping to make sure that even more patients get the treatment they need first time around.”

There are up to 250,000 coronary angiograms performed in the UK every year1- a test which allows doctors to look inside a patient’s coronary arteries (which supply the heart muscle with blood) and check for blockages. This is one of the first tests that patients admitted to hospital with a heart attack will undergo and helps doctors plan treatment to restore blood supply to the heart muscle.

But angiograms can be hard to interpret when an artery is only partly blocked, and this can make it challenging for treatment decisions to be made, particularly when doctors are managing patients with complex heart disease.

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Scarecrow Trail celebraTeS in Spec Tacular FaShion

Thurgoland, a picturesque village known for its community spirit, hosted its highly anticipated annual Scarecrow Trail over the weekend of July 8th and 9th.

This year’s theme, “Music,” inspired creativity and brought the village alive with 32 captivating entries for residents and visitors to admire, identify, and vote for their favourites.

The event, a beloved tradition in Thurgoland, showcased an exceptional standard of scarecrow artistry. Participants poured their hearts and souls into their creations, resulting in a tough competition and a nail-biting voting process. However, amidst the tough competition, one scarecrow stood out and claimed the title of the winner.

The coveted first place was awarded to “SpongeBob SquarePants, the Musical,” a lively and engaging scarecrow that brought smiles to everyone’s faces. The attention to detail and vibrant colours captured the essence of the beloved cartoon character and his musical adventures, securing the hearts of the community.

In a close second place, the scarecrow representation of “Moana” transported viewers to the enchanting world of Polynesian music and exploration.

The intricately designed display celebrated the popular Disney film, captivating visitors with its cultural references and vibrant decorations.

Claiming the third spot was “Matilda,” the beloved literary character who has captured the imagination of readers for decades. The scarecrow honoured the spirit of the musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s novel, featuring iconic elements that delighted attendees and showcased the village’s appreciation for theatre and literature.

While these three entries clinched the top positions, the entire trail was brimming with brilliance and creativity. Participants embraced the music theme with gusto, bringing to life famous musicians, bands, instruments, and musical genres through their scarecrows. From Elvis Presley to The Beatles, and classical orchestras to jazz ensembles, the trail

offered a diverse range of musical delights that entertained both young and old.

The Scarecrow Trail was swiftly followed by Thurgoland’s traditional Fun Day on Sunday, which provided a fitting finale to the weekend’s festivities. The Fun Day offered various activities for the community to enjoy, including games, rides, and food stalls, fostering a sense of camaraderie and joy among attendees.

As the village basks in the success of another fantastic Scarecrow Trail, the organisers promised to release photos of the Fun Day, giving everyone a chance to relive the memorable moments and celebrate the incredible community spirit that defines Thurgoland.

Thurgoland’s Scarecrow Trail and Fun Day have once again demonstrated the power of creativity, unity, and a shared love for music, leaving residents eagerly anticipating next year’s event and the imaginative surprises it will undoubtedly bring.

Thousands raised for CanCer

By Isabel Butler

In May 2023, Debbie Cundy and Richard Hepworth raised an amazing £4,093.20 through their fundraiser for Weston Park Cancer Charity. They took part in the Epic Bed Push 2023 where they pushed a hospital bed through the Peak District, an annual event that helps raise awareness and money.

Undeniably this is an incredible amount that will immensely help the charity, allowing them to support their clients further. To put the amount into perspective there are several differ ent areas where Debbie and Richard have helped out. For example, to fund an hours’ worth of research carried out by a technician in their ex vivo screening project, including processing samples, it would cost £17 . Debbie and Rich ard’s achievement could fund 240 hours of this study, allowing an understanding on how suc cessful a treatment might be before it is given. One month of fuel for a charity transport mini bus costs £360, part of the £4093.20 could go towards 11 month’s worth of fuel.

With £120 of the raised money, 34 clients can be provided with specialist welfare advice. This can help guide them when it comes to tasks such as applying for benefits. The money could also go towards therapist time, 1 hour would cost £28.25 for complementary therapies. This would mean a whole 144 hours of therapy can be paid for,

this varies from 1:1 appointments to 1:6 auricular acupuncture appointments.

On top of all of this, at £15 per gift, 272 Christmas presents can be bought for the patients that are in hospital on Christmas Day.

As a whole, the amount raised is extremely impressive as well as helpful. Without a doubt, Debbie and Richards’ actions will not only help out the charity, but will also brighten many days.

ANGER OVER PLANNED CLOSURES

In response to the recent plans to close railway ticket offices across England, Councillor Ben Miskell, who leads Transport in Sheffield, has expressed deep anger and frustration.

Plans set out by the government and rail operators would see the vast majority of England’s 1,007 ticket offices close over a threeyear period and have been opposed by trade unions and passenger groups alike.

Under the current plans, only ticket offices at larger stations, like Sheffield will remain open on reduced operating hours, which would see other ticket offices, including Meadowhall’s, close entirely.

The decision to close the Meadowhall ticket office entirely and reduce hours at Sheffield station has ignited concerns about the detrimental impact on passengers, particularly older people, disabled commuters, and those in need of assistance.

Labour and Co-operative Councillor Ben Miskell said:

“I am absolutely fuming about the planned closures to station ticket offices. The government should encourage more passengers onto our railways, not cutting them off. It is deeply disheartening to

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witness the continuous erosion of essential transport services and the managed decline of our railway network.’.

He went on to say: “Closing most ticket offices and reducing hours in those lucky enough to stay open will directly impact the most vulnerable members of our society. These closures will make it increasingly challenging for older people, disabled passengers, and those who require assistance to access and navigate our railway system.”

The TSSA Union which represents many of the workers threatened with redundancy has slammed the news as a Government plans for redundancies by the back door.

“Ticket office staff are hugely valued by the travelling public” “We will continue to oppose ticket office closures which make no sense when it comes to running a railway for all”

Councillor Ben Miskell has pledged to challenge government plans and he is calling on fellow councillors, MPs, trade unions and passenger groups to work together to make the government reconsider their decision.

Happy Birthday NHS! 75 Years supporting Sheffield

‘Our NHS was founded in the midst of post-war austerity –Labour was determined to invest in the whole nation to build a healthier, thriving society. But the 2010 Lib Dem / Conservative coalition chose a different kind of ‘austerity’ that set the stage for the decline of public services we endured today.

July 5th, 2023, marked the 75th birthday of our National Health Service, and Sheffield Labour celebrated!

Joining with nationwide festivities, Councillors signed a giant birthday card to the NHS, floodlit the Town Hall in blue, and ensured that the NHS and all who had ever worked in it got the recognition they deserved in the Full Council meeting that fell on the same day.

Nye Bevan’s radical founding principles of the NHS were that it provided universal healthcare free at the point of

use, and that it was not ‘charity,’ but a service paid for by progressive taxation and national insurance.

But this year’s annual report of Sheffield’s Director of Public Health laid bare the negative health consequences for the people of Sheffield of wilful mismanagement of the NHS by governments since 2010. There was a common view across political parties – even the Tories themselves – that a massive investment in training and recruitment was necessary, given the abject failure of all govern-

ments since 2010 to plan for NHS workforce stability, leaving the UK in the bottom rankings in Western Europe for doctors and nurses per capita.

Labour’s Ruth Milsom, Chair of the Health Scrutiny subcommittee, said,

‘Over the last thirteen years, if the government had acted on a principle of ‘invest to save’, the health of the population, and of the NHS itself, would have been significantly better today. But sadly the opposite was true.

‘I was all too familiar with the terrible statistics that had been coming out for years. In Sheffield, NHS waiting lists were at record levels with over 86,000 people waiting for treatment at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – that was almost 1 in 6 of the population of our city.

‘In Sheffield, like everywhere else in the country, we saw the extra pressure that NHS services were under because social care was drastically under-resourced. We had a plan for a proper care service when Labour got into government. We would give

social care equal esteem with the NHS so that more and better care could be delivered for people directly in their own homes, and they could live the lives they chose.

‘Vacancies across the NHS had numbered well over 100k for years. This was a direct product of the government’s refusal to plan for the future. There were such obvious consequences that it was hard to believe these politicians really wanted an NHS if they wouldn’t invest in the people who delivered services. People left the profession early or moved to the private sector because pay and conditions had declined so badly. There were not enough training places made available. I heard repeatedly from local NHS commissioners and directors locally that workforce shortfall due to stress, declining pay, and low morale was the biggest barrier to them delivering the very best for Sheffield.

‘Awarding permanent staff a 5%-above-inflation pay rise would have cost a fraction of what was spent on agency staff to plug vacancies. It was a total false economy to hold back on fair pay and not a responsible way to use public finances.

’Labour had a plan to build an NHS fit for the future –fit for families in Sheffield to rely on. That meant a health service that was there when people needed it, with fewer lives lost to the biggest killers, in a fairer Britain, where everyone could access social care and live well for longer. And they would start with one of the greatest workforce expansions their health service had ever seen –fully funded by scrapping the non-dom status.”

Why Robert is sharing wife Lesley’s story and supporting St Luke’s Hospice

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12 Bradfield Walkers are Welcome - Guided walk with Malcolm Nunn, Local History Evening Round Walk in Dungworth area - start at 7pm from outside Royal Hotel, Dungworth, return around 9pm, www.bradfield-walkers.org. uk, 2337463, FREE but donations welcome

12 Chapeltown and District Probus Club meet every second Wednesday of the month at Grenoside Community Hall on Main Street. We will be meeting next on Wednesday July the 12th for 10am. We would especially welcome new members. After a short formal gathering we will have a talk from Alan Hancock titled Bobby in Bosnia. After the meeting some members continue to Wortley Hall for an informal lunch.

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15 Jackie Kay CBE Scottish Makar in the Nurturenature Healing Garden at Station House, Finkle Street Lane Wortley S35 7DH, Tickets available for 2pm and 4pm. Shelter is provided. Booking is essential as spaces are already filling. £10 from 07831 505 624 or by email on nurturenature61@gmail.com

All proceeds to nurturenature( Reg. Charity 1182363) Jackie is an excellent performance poetry. If you have a favourite poem please give the title when you book your place.

15 Vivacity Choir, we are a community choir based in Hillsboroughwill be hosting concert to be held at St Luke’s Lodgemoor Saturday 15th July 6:30pm and all proceeds will be donated to Sheffield Young Carers.

15 Paces Summer Fair/Picnic

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19 Join Bolsterstone Archaeology and Heritage Group at 7.30pm for our last talk before the August break. Dave Pickersgill and John Stocks will be telling us all about ‘Alcohol, Beer and the British Soldier in World War One’. We meet in the hall at Christ Church on Manchester Road in Stocksbridge, and the talk is also available on Zoom (members only) - please contact bahgevent@axelafa.com for the link. There is a small entry charge and refreshments are available. Don’t miss it - all welcome.

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21 COFFEE MORNING, HOME BAKED CAKES AT ST SAVIOURS CHURCH, MOTHERS UNION, MORTOMLEY LANE, HIGH GREEN. ALL WELCOME, GOOD COMPANY. 10 30 TO 12 NOON

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Lesley Turner was just 41 years old when she lost her fight against cancer, leaving a devoted husband and son to cope with the shock of her death.

But now husband Robert is sharing the story of how St Luke’s Hospice helped his family through their darkest time in a personal bid to encourage people to support one of Sheffield’s best-loved charities.

Robert, Lesley and sevenyear-old son Liam were living in Stannington when Lesley received the devastating diagnosis that her cancer diagnosis was terminal.

“When Lesley was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, it came as a huge shock to our family,” Robert admits.

“We were given the terrible news that it was incurable and that the cancer had spread and it was at this point when we were referred to St Luke’s.

“Lesley was in a lot of pain towards the end of her life but we were so grateful that St Luke’s could be there when she needed pain relief, so she could continue making special memories with me and Liam right up until she died.

“They made her feel comfortable which made such a big difference not just to Lesley but for all of us around her.

“The nurses were absolutely incredible - they didn’t just

look after Lesley, they looked after me, all our visitors and made us feel so welcome.

“The St Luke’s team were amazing, compassionate people - they always had a smile for me and always went the extra mile to make sure I was okay too.

“Although it didn’t stop me worrying and it was such a difficult time, I knew she was being well looked after and was no longer in pain, allowing her to enjoy precious time with her family.

“Lesley being cared for by St Luke’s put me at ease and allowed me to be a husband and a dad to Liam again.

Liam losing his Mum was the most devastating thing to happen to both me and Liam but this is why we are donating what we can each month to make sure that St Luke’s can keep supporting families just like us.

“I want to make sure they can help other people too because I really don’t know what we would have done without them.”

St Luke’s Senior Fundraising Manager Anna Kirk said that a regular gift could make an enormous difference to the work of the hospice in supporting the people of Sheffield.

Just £6 per month could contribute towards the St Luke’s Bereavement team, support -

13 Chapeltown WI will hold their next meeting at 7.30pm in Chapeltown Methodist Church.The guest speaker will be Alexandra Merton who will speak about Dance for all. The competition is for a favourite scarf. New members and visitors will always be made welcome.

13 Stocksbridge & District History Society . REMINDER -Grand Day Out- Harewood - Meet outside Library, Coach leaves 10am prompt.

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14 Relax with a poem. Listen to some poetry or bring a favourite poem to share. 10.30am – Stocksbridge Library.

14 Coffee morning at Stocksbridge library, free for TARA levy payers 10.30 - 12.30. A chance to meet, chat and plan for future events.

ing relatives and loved ones with counselling sessions and support, while £12 a month could a month could contribute towards the Community Nurses delivering vital care and pain relief to patients in their own homes and £15 per month could go to the ongoing cost of providing 24 hour specialist palliative care for up to 20 patients at a time in the St Luke’s In Patient Centre.

Each year, St Luke’s supports almost 1,800 patients, their families and their carers.

But it costs around £12 million - or £1,300 per hour - to maintain the excellent levels of St Luke’s service, with more than £7 million of that sum coming direct from public support.

“At St Luke’s we are here to support patients and their

11.30am-3pm. Paces School, Thorncliffe Hall, Chapeltown, S35 2PH. Tombola, Raffle, Hook a duck, Ice cream, Coffee & Cakes & much more. Bring a picnic and a blanket, relax & have fun.

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16 Wadsley and Loxley Commoners - ‘Muck In’ Day (practical work on the common), 10am-noon, meet at Long Lane Car Park or Rural Lane Car Park www.walc. epizy.com. Tools supplied, bring gloves, families very welcome.

16 Cawthorne Craft Fair 10am

-4pm For details call 07966

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16 The service at Bullhouse Chapel on Sunday the 16th July at 2.30pm , will be led by Dave Rawding. All are welcome to join us in this act of worship.

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26 Bradfield Walkers are Welcome - Guided walk with Malcolm Nunn, Local History Evening Round Walk in Malin Bridge area- start at 7pm from Malin Bridge Tram Terminus, return around 9pm, www.bradfield-walkers.org.uk, 2337463, FREE but donations welcome

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30 TARA’s fun dog show at the Inman Pavilion S36 1EG. Registration 10.30, judging 11.00 - 1.00 pm. Refreshments served.

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22 Heritage Highways Group invite you to their book launch of “An introduction to Packhorse Routes in the Sheffield Lakelands Area”. Bolsterstone Village Hall 10.00am- 1.00.pm. Free entry. Tea/Coffee £2. Rolling slideshow. All welcome.

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23 Garden Party on Sunday 23rd July to raise money for 13 Health and Nursing charities. It is at my home which is:- 4 Grasmere Close Penistone S36 8HP from 10.30am to 4.30pm There will be drinks and biscuits for morning coffee and sandwiches, snacks, quiches and fresh cream cakes available after that. The minimum entrance fee is £5 to cover the cost of refreshments and a donation to these charities. For further information please contact Anne Stewart on 07539269962.

families across the city at a time when a terminal diagnosis has turned their life upside down,” Anna explained.

“Our teams work incredibly hard to bring as much comfort and support as we can to people who are on that journey.

“It’s something we feel passionately about and something we’re determined to keep doing for future generations.

“By setting up a regular, monthly donation to St Luke’s in memory of your loved one, we can keep caring for Sheffield families, just like Robert’s.”

To start a regular gift to St Luke’s visit www.stlukeshospice.org.uk/monthly-donation

2 Don Valley Probus will meet on Wednesday 2nd August 2023 at 10.00AM in Christ Church Hall, Manchester Road, Stocksbridge, with a presentation by Mark Smith, `Transplant Journey`. Our meetings are always relaxed and take place on alternate Wednesday mornings throughout the year, and we look forward to welcoming our regular members, visitors and new members. For more information, please call Stephen Clarke on 07593 792967.

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5 Summer Coffee Morning Saturday 5th August 10—11.30 Zion Church Hall Langsett Road South Oughtibridge Raffle Gifts Refreshments Everyone Welcome.

5 Free entertainment at EPPiC Theatre , off High Street, Ecclesfield S35 9TP. Clive Hudson will be hosting COFFEE and CHORDS, and will be joined by John and Vic Bowden and Daz Barry (all subject to late change) Entertainment will start at approx 1 10.45. Admission is free, but the sale of refreshments helps EPPiC funds. Our regular open theatre operates from 10 am until 12 noon every

On listings

Saturday , with refreshments on sale.

9 High Green Development Trust’s Summer Celebration YOU ARE INVITED TO 9th August 2023 11.30am - 2pm Join us for food, drink and music in the gardens here at The Campus to celebrate the achievements of 2022 / 2023 with the launch of our social accounts. We welcome all the HGDT team, occupants and their customers as well as partners and stakeholders from across the community. Please RSVP and advise of any dietary requirements to Lauren community@hgdt.org / 07738361122 (WhatsApp or text).

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Men’s Activity and Games Session Stocksbridge Community Leisure Centre Monday afternoons 1-30pm to 3-30pm Cost £1 (includes free refreshments) Activities will include a range from Badminton, Table Tennis, Indoor Curling, Dominoes, Card and Board Games, Quiz Contact Andy Walker 07723 506423 for further information.

Millhouse Green Male Voice Choir practise on Monday evenings (7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.) at Millhouse Green Institute, Manchester Road, Millhouse Green. If you want to join us, come on Monday 2023 to meet us and see if you like us. Bass voices are needed so have a go at singing in the Bath first! Contact 01226 764642 for more information

Millhouse Green Male Voice Choir meets on Monday Evenings (19.30 to 21.30) at Millhouse Green Institute, Manchester Road, S36 9NQ. Have you ever sung in a choir before? We would love to see you

come and have a enjoyable time with the ‘Friendly Choir’. We especially need some more Bass, Baritone and Top Tenors. Visit MCMVC. co.uk for more information.

Monday Art Class at The Venue, Manchester Rd, Stocksbridge. 10am-12 noon. £7 per session, first one free. What a great way to start the week! A few places now available. Tutor gives individual help/advice/demos - water colour/ acrylics/oils/sketching. Pop in and see us or call The Venue 0114 283 8692 for further info.”

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Thorncliffe Bowling Club invites you to over 50’s afternoon at 1.45pm. Find us at the end of Mortomley Close, High Green S35 3HZ Bowls and coaching provided. Cost £2.50

Chat and Games group, in association with Newground Together is an informal, warm space meeting place for any adult in the community and runs every Tuesday afternoon, from 1:30 -3:30pm. Games, newspapers, chat, tea, coffee and biscuits are provided. There is no charge for this group and all are welcome.

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Everyone is welcome at the Tea and Chat group - 1:00-3:00pm every Wednesday afternoon at St Leonards Church Wortley. Pop in for a drink and a chat. Contact Joan for more details: 0114 2887435

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Open House Community Café Everyone is welcome at Open House, our new community café - 1:303:30pm every Thursday at Holy Trinity Thurgoland Church. Pop in for coffee, cakes and a chat. Contact Hannah for more details: hannahosandoval@gmail.com

The South Yorkshire Bonsai Society, meeting on the 4th Thursday of the month at Deepcar Village Hall 8 to 10 p.m.

High Green Fitness and Fun Aerobics and Activities Paces campus, High Green Thursday 11am-12:30pm £4 per person. Call Margaret for more info 0114 284 7190

Volunteer Thursdays at Greave House Farm Trust. Enjoy fresh air, gentle exercise, meeting new friends. Any time between 10am and 4pm. Bring a packed lunch. Also monthly work days on 2nd Saturday. For more info contact Barbara: 07724505911or email greavehouse@yahoo.co.uk

“High Spirits Singers - for people who enjoy singing in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere but don’t want to be in a formal choir! We meet on Thursdays 2.00 - 4.00 in the Miners’ Welfare Hall, Angram Road, High Green - bring your voice and a sense of humour!

Details from Vic Bowden, 07884 007581”

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Stocksbridge Community Care Group’s Friday Drop In Service for elderly residents is once again being held weekly at The Venue, between 10am and 3pm. For a small charge visitors can enjoy a hot drink, company, games, talks and a light lunch. For further information contact Dave Owen on 0114 2864426.

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Councillors Julie Grocutt & Janet Ridler Surgery 1st Saturday of each Month Stocksbridge Library 10-11am. Call in for help advice or a chat. Also contact us on julie. grocutt@councillor.sheffield.gov. uk janet.ridler@councillor.shef-

field.gov.uk

Councillor Lewis Chinchen’s sur geries will be on the 2nd Saturday of each month (except July and August) from 10.30-11.30am at Stocksbridge Library. Drop by if you require assistance or support. Lewis can also be contacted at lewis.chinchen@councillor.sheffield.gov.uk or on 07766 540328.

Eppic Theatre Ecclesfield is open again every Saturday morning from 10am until 12. Tea, coffee and biscuits are available.

Thorncliffe Bowling Club invites you to our Shuffles afternoon at 1.45pm. Find us at the end of Mortomley Close, High Green S35 3HZ Bowls and coaching provided. Cost £2.50 (from 12 April)

Bullhouse chapel will be open every Saturday, Easter until the end of September, from 11am until 2pm, as a Quiet Space. Whilst everyone is welcome, we hope any walkers who have to leave the Trans Pennine Trail, due to the diversion across Millennium Bridge, may like to visit to have their picnic and a cuppa. Bullhouse Chapel is a ‘dissenters chapel’ and is the oldest independent chapel in the country to have been in continuous use in the same building since 1692.

Weenies toddler group for carers and children up to the age of 4 years old, every Friday during term time from 8:45am - 10-45am. The cost is £2.50 per child.

Youth Group, every Friday evening from 7pm - 8:30pm for young people in School years 6 - 9, (1014 year olds.).

It’s that time of year again when we meet to choose the calendar pictures for 2024 so we need you to start sending us your photos. Thank you to the people who have already done that. Please email to one of the addresses below or send via our Facebook page. All photos should be LANDSCAPE please, and as high a resolution as possible. If you have quite a few you’d like to share, please get in touch about using a memory stick or cd.

We are also still really short of members, so if you can spare a couple of hours every month to help with planting, weeding and sometimes watering we’d love to hear from you!

Angela angela211267@gmail. com

Catherine catherine.cotterill@ hotmail.co.uk

Michael Harry

Colin TEALE

Aged 82 years. Passed away peacefully in the Northern General Hospital. Loving Husband of Joan. Dearly loved by Daughters Suzanne and Elizabeth. Much loved Brother, Grandad, Great-Grandad.

Issue Date:

FAMILY NOTICES

Heading (please circle): Births / Birthdays / Graduations / Exams / Engagements / Weddings / Anniversaries / Missing / Acknowlegments / In Memory / Deaths / Other:

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Family Notices

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A helpful, local family business CHAPELS OF REST at Barnsley Road, Bridgend, Penistone, S36 7AH 01226 762 481 New Road, Deepcar, S36 2RS 0114 288 3169 info@dysonfunerals.co.uk www.dysonfunerals.co.uk

PETITION DEMANDS URGENT ACTION ON UPPER DON TRAIL MISSING LINKS

Programme Manager. Several requests to him for a meeting with stakeholders over the following six months were not even acknowledged.

However in October 2022 the STD website reported that Business Cases for all projects including the Trails had been approved in full by the government. Further appeals by the Upper Don Trail Trust for sight of the approved Business Case were refused.

A Freedom of Information request submitted in December 2022 is still outstanding in breach of an instruction from the Office of Information and the case has been referred to the relevant Ombudsman.

to local services in the village have to risk a lengthy and unsafe route along Manchester Rd.

Time for a Review

The Trust fears the Town Deal project is now at severe risk of being ‘talked out’ and the opportunity for £2.75 m of Levelling Up resources for this purpose will probably not come round again for many years.

At Saturday’s well-attended Oughtibridge Gala scores of local people queued in the sun to sign a petition launched at the Upper Don Trail stall, calling for action and urgency from public bodies to complete the missing links in the Upper Don Trail between Stocksbridge and Oughtibridge putting to good use public funds which have been available for several years.

The Upper Don Trail is a projected 23 km offroad, easy-going walking and cycling route linking Sheffield City Centre to the Peak District following the River Don. The Trail also facilitates shorter, safer connections between Kelham, Hillsborough, Oughtibridge, Wharncliffe Side and Stocksbridge and opens up access to many leisure and sporting opportunities.

Over half the route is already in place and funding has been identified for most of the remaining gaps but action on two major sections has been halted for the last twelve months for reasons which remain unclear.

Whats going on with the Town Deal?

In 2020 Stocksbridge’s £20m Town Deal Bid was approved by the Government’s Department of Levelling Up. It included a balanced programme of projects addressing the Manchester Road shopping centre, skills, sporting and play facilities, health, active travel and public transport issues. An earlier bid was apparently rejected by government as too narrowly based on the shopping centre.

The approved projects included an ambitious plan to extend the Little Don/Steel Valley cyclefootway north to Underbank and Langsett and south to Wharncliffe Side, with a short link to the Ewden Valley, thus substantially completing the 23 km Upper Don Trail Active Travel route between Sheffield City Centre and Langsett.

The project was initially proposed by Stocksbridge Town Council and Bradfield Parish Council and was also supported by SUSTRANS, Upper Don Trail Trust, Stocksbridge and Bradfield Welcomes Walkers, Trans Pennine Trail, Yorkshire Water and others.

In public exhibitions and consultations before and after the Towns Fund bid the Trails proposal received widespread public approval for delivering travel, health and wellbeing, leisure and economic benefits for Stocksbridge as ‘the Outdoor Town in the Outdoor City’.

The Cost Increase

From mid-2021 design and development work began with regular meetings via Teams of the Council’s project team with a ‘Health and Wellbeing Stakeholders group’ which included UDTT, SUSTRANS, Don Valley Railway and at least one local councillor. In June 2022 the group were assured by the Council Programme Manager that the scheme was ‘locked down and in budget’.

Yet only one month later in July 2022 the STD Board was advised by the same officer to ‘pause’ the Trails as it was now significantly over budget.

Requests from stakeholders for an explanation and breakdown of the increased costs were ignored for six months and no further stakeholder meetings were called. The Council team for the Trails was instructed not to communicate further with stakeholders who were instead directed to the STD

A report to the December 2022 STD Board set out brief details of each project. The cost of the Trails element was now reported to be £4.3 m against a budget of £2.7m, but no further explanation was offered of how this astonishing 62% cost increase, way ahead of inflation, had been calculated. There is no indication that any attempt at ‘value engineering’ or scope review had been undertaken then or since.

Project

‘Paused’

In December 2022 Board members were told that in view of cost inflation officers were now concentrating on six ‘priority projects’ and another four including the Trails were to be ‘paused’ for six months. The Stakeholder Groups were to be permanently discontinued and the Board would take over stakeholder engagement. To this end Project Champions were to be appointed from the Board in March followed by an open review of these projects with full stakeholder involvement.

In January 2023 the Programme finally agreed to a short Teams meeting with the UDTT about the project, seven months after the first request. He again refused to share any cost estimates or to discuss in any useful detail how the increase had been calculated. However he did concede that repairs and a large ‘commuted sum’ to be paid to Amey for maintenance of the Holmes Farm Bridge was ‘probably’ a major factor. The Trust believes this is an unjustified ‘scope creep’.

At the STD Board in March 2023 Project Champions were approved for all projects. For the Trails they are Councillor Julie Grocutt and Yuri Mattischen, now deputy chair of the board. Minutes of the March Board indicate that constructive work with stakeholders has been resumed on all other STD projects to overcome cost and other constraints, including the other ‘Paused’ ones, with the exception of the Trails, to which the only reference was the project is currently under review; it is expected that this review will be concluded in July. The board felt strongly that the outputs of the project could be achieved for greater value for money with a greater relevance to Stocksbridge. Options will be considered as part of the review.

It was unclear from where this very negative comment came or on what information it was based, since no contact up to the present has yet taken place with any known stakeholders. No other options have been shared or published as of the end of June. However it gave a strong hint that all or part of the project was being lined up for the chop. Most recently a local councillor was told that the Trails Project was ‘outside the scope’ of the Town Deal programme.

For the Trust and others all of this raises serious concerns about the transparency and accountability of the Town Deal Board, , chaired by Miriam Cates MP, which has failed to publish any agendas reports or minutes since March as it is required to do by government and the council.

Oughtibridge Valley Link

Another essential part of the Trail is the link from the 300 plus new houses under construction by Barrett at the former Paper Mill site to Oughtibridge village. It has been planned since 2018 and the Council has an inflation linked £750,000 ‘Section 106’ contribution from the developers to spend on a new bridge over the Don connecting to Forge Lane. This project has also been declared ‘over budget’ by the Council but again no costings have been shared or local discussions held to settle a route or achieve an affordable solution. Meanwhile families already living in the development wishing to walk or cycle

In the spirit of openness and collaboration clearly enunciated by the new leadership of the City Council they believe an independent and open review of the governance and management of the Town Deal programme is urgently required.

The review of the whole Trails Project should also be undertaken by the Council and STD in an open, transparent and inclusive manner as previously promised, with a view to identifying an affordable way forward and if necessary agreeing phasing of components and additional funding opportunities. For more information go to https://upperdontrail. org.uk

Simon Ogden - Chair of the Upper Don Trail Trust

Re: Lockdown parties - Time for our MP to ‘come clean’

I was interested to read the letter you published in last week’s edition (July 6th - Maurice Stafford) Re. the attendance or otherwise of our MP Miriam Cates at a 'Lockdown Party'. I wrote to Ms Cates well over a year ago (11th Jan 2022) specifically asking if she had indeed attended such an event following something I heard from a very good source. Needless to say Ms Cates did not even manage to acknowledge my letter let alone address the question I raised. This was not surprising - I have written formally to our MP on 10 occasions over the last three years and have yet to receive any form of reply. From what I have seen over the last few months Ms Cates is far too busy building and promoting her own profile rather than bother with the legitimate concerns and views of the people of Penistone & Stocksbridge.

Matt Percival

No such thing as society?

Margaret Thatcher was a good leader and yet she was terribly misguided. As the NHS, our cherished health care celebrates 75 Years of service to ALL of us, rich or poor we are confused. On the one hand, the doctors' surgeries are being sold off and we are having to pay before we get an appointment in some parts of the country, (supported by our own M Cates MP.) and on the other, we are being fed lies by the MSM that the NHS will be here in another 25 years. The question is, will it be fundamentally free at the point of need or a completely different model? American companies continue to buy parts of our NHS and politicians are not being honest! They speak with forked tongues, saying one thing which sounds ok but when thought about actually means something totally different. Thatcher and Reagan fundamentally changed the way we think about our neighbours and society, which is ALL of us, setting us off on a selfish me, me individualist journey. Since the early 80s, society, community and the “love thy neighbour” belief have been systematically eroded and the very rich have been given more and more whilst the general public is struggling to put food on their table. We are truly sick and the NHS can never heal us. There is a fundamental problem and belief in our culture that we are not addressing.

A bloke from Nazareth once told a story of a good samaritan (an outcast) who helped a badly injured man on the side of the road. Other, “well-to-do” people crossed the road to avoid him, their reputation, career and aspirations coming before caring for another human being in need.

Do we all get sick? Are we all wounded at some point?

We are NOT isolated individuals. We are equal, special, precious humans no matter what we own, where we live or how much money we have or how whole we seem. After the war, when millions of us were dead, wounded, grieving and recoiling from the effects of the horrendous world war, we recognised that we were all in this together and so we set up the NHS. The now world-renowned, respected system of care for all. We did it when we were at our weakest. The politicians listened to us, to common sense and

to common people and acted. They struggled and fought against big finance and greed and did it. Polls tell us that we all still feel the same but, while doctors and nurses are driven to strike like never before and deliberate de-investment over years causes hospitals to crumble and morale to shrink, we allow ourselves to be fed lies and deception by those who set the laws but break them and personally, individually benefit from them at our expense and our lives. A decent society calls us to love our neighbour whether black or white, rich or poor, sick or healthy, in fact, the same bloke from Nazareth, coming from a poor refugee family said that we should even love our enemies! We can either dismiss this challenging craziness or start to Love instead of hate. Turn around on the road we are on. Cross the road, to attend to our ailing dying suffering community and start to carry it back to health and strength and wholeness. There is another way to live, as we once knew.

C Bristow

Support:

When things look bad, when life seems full of misery remember then when you had only dreams full of sufficiency.

Then look around to find that others are much worse than you, they have no bounds to bind to family or friends, oh!

So true

Take heart, believe, learn to cope

Be thankful that you have reason to hope.

-Sheila Gent

Hillsborough feature

It was great reading the article on Hillsborough in issue 1277. It was encouraging to read a positive description of this evolving area of Sheffield. You mentioned places of worship, and included the Congregational church that meets in the Tabernacle in Proctor Place. It might be of interest to note that for the past 6 years The Salvation Army that used to meet on Langsett Road has also been meeting at 6.00pm on Sunday evenings in the Tabernacle. The two congregations work closely together, and on occasions unite in their services. All are very welcome to look The Salvation Army up, to see what we are all about.

Best wishes,

Royal Mail

Dear Editor,

Diane Payne (Lieut. Colonel)

Many of your readers will have seen that postage stamps are changing. From 1st August the ‘everyday’ stamps showing the Queen’s head on a plain coloured background will only be valid if they have a unique barcode on the right-hand side. From that date, using the old, non-barcoded stamps will result in a surcharge for the person you send the item to.

I encourage people to use-up any stamps they have in wallets or purses before 31 July. Customers who cannot use any non-barcoded stamps before 31 July will still be able to swap them for new barcoded stamps through Royal Mail’s simple and free Swap Out scheme. Nobody should be out of pocket as a result of this change.

A leaflet with a form was delivered to every household recently, but customers can also print out a form from our website; call our Customer Experience team to order one; or pick one up at a local Royal Mail delivery office or Post Office.

Non-barcoded Christmas and other Special stamps with pictures on continue to be valid for postage and should not be swapped. More information can be found here: Know where your old stamps are? | Royal Mail Group Ltd

Yours faithfully,

Nick Landon, Chief Commercial Officer, Royal Mail

SKIP HIRE

DI D YOU KNOW?

The Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board and Yorkshire Water have announced plans to work in partnership to explore an ambitious package of potential improvements to enhance Underbank Reservoir for visitors and the local community.

The reservoir, which lies to the northwest of Stocksbridge, is already a popular location but this new partnership will look to build on its draw, with the aim of making it more accessible for walkers, cyclists and horse riders and promoting safe, active travel from the town centre.

The Stocksbridge Towns Fund Trails Project will focus on supporting a range of improvements centred on the reservoir - including a safe route from Stocksbridge town centre and a new crossing for visitors to access the area.

er aspiration of delivering sustainable benefits to local businesses and the wider community.

The joint partnership will explore the potential to deliver:

New cycle track and • footpaths as well as a new crossing on Old Manchester Road

Additional off-road cy- • cle and car parking opportunities

Family friendly nature / • sensory trails

Creation of new areas of • woodland

The creation of new bri- • dleways

Potential for a new • sponsored bus link

that everyone can enjoy and explore this beautiful resource which we are so lucky to have right here on our doorstep.”

Miriam Cates MP, Co-Chair of the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board, added: “The Trails Project is an important part of our Towns Fund investment, it is really important that it ties in with the wider plans and strategy for the town and helps to support the local visitor economy.

The Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board is made up of representatives from local business as well as charitable and voluntary organisations and groups – Stocksbridge Town Council and Sheffield City Council are also represented.

The £24.1m funding for Stocksbridge was approved by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing

and Communities in December 2022.

Photograph shows (l-r) Miriam Cates MP, Claire Warrender (YW Ranger), Peter Coddington (YW Conservation, Access & Recreation Team Manager) Neil Curtis (Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board), Cllr Julie Grocutt (SCC and Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board)

Driver arrested after man killed

A driver has been arrested after a pedestrian died when he was hit by a car in Sheffield.

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The approach is aimed at supporting the town centre and creating better links with the wider countryside – building on Stocksbridge’s position as the northern gateway to the Peak District and its growing reputation as the “Outdoor Town in the Outdoor City.”

The £24.1m Towns Fund investment is also delivering a major regeneration of Manchester Road in Stocksbridge with a new Library and Community Hub building at its heart as well as improvements to the public realm and a shopfront grant scheme.

These initial possibilities have been developed through site visits and workshops. The team from the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board and Yorkshire Water are now planning a consultation session in September to discuss their ideas with the wider community and local stakeholders.

The partnership approach to delivering any potential improvements will maximise the impact of the investment and Board members are looking forward to sharing the plans.

“We are lucky to have some of the region’s best walking and cycling routes in this part of South Yorkshire and developing this project will help us to make this fantastic local asset more accessible with a safe link from the town centre and an enhanced experience for visitors. We are delighted to be working with colleagues from Yorkshire Water on these plans and look forward to sharing more details in our planned consultation session in September.”

Police said a silver Volkswagen Golf struck the man on Wordsworth Avenue in Parson Cross at 00:50 BST on Sunday.

The pedestrian, 32, was pronounced dead at the scene and his family had been informed, officers said,

The driver, a 37-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.

He remained in custody on Monday, South Yorkshire Police said.

The force appealed for anyone who was in the area at the time, who may witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage to contact them.

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The Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board is keen to ensure any investment in the Trails Project ties in with the wid-

Yuri Matischen, Co-Chair of the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board and joint champion of the Trails Project, said: “Underbank Reservoir really is a jewel in the crown of Stocksbridge. We want to work together to ensure that it can be accessed safely and

Peter Coddington, Conservation, Access & Recreation Team Manager from Yorkshire Water, said: “We are really pleased to have been given the opportunity to work with the Stocksbridge Towns Fund and share some of our aspirations for Underbank Reservoir and the surrounding area. Yorkshire Water’s land around Underbank Reservoir has some real potential and we are looking forward to exploring how we may be able to benefit this local environment and Yorkshire Water’s customers in the area, as well as further afield, in partnership with the Towns Fund team.”

Officers are keen to speak to the occupants of a Skoda, which may be a taxi, that is believed to have been on Wordsworth Avenue at the time of the collision.

Officers believe the occupants may be able to assist their ongoing enquiries.

A triumphant week for local golf

On Wednesday, in the Barry Hough Texas Scramble. Teams of four played for the lowest gross score before any handicap adjustments.

Winning team of John Leaning, John Sykes, Frank Miles & Ian Batty took the honours with a net 56 (on a back 9 count back).

No game this week for the league team, but results went their way and left them 2nd in the table with a game in hand. As they travel to GC Bawtry this weekend.

Gents' July Medal saw Nigel Eggenton win Division 1 with a net 64 and John Wood won Division 2, also with a net 64.

This weekend saw two round competitions take place, the Al

Sheffield Tigers' take a substantial leap towards the playoffs

bert Goodison Trophy an under 21 competition and the Brian Langley Trophy. Oliver Owen won the under 21 competition with net scores of 69 and 63, while Doug Needham won the Brian Langley Trophy with net scores of 63 and 63.

Sunday the ladies held their handicap cup which was won by Margaret Pearson with a net 71 in Division 1 and Heather Evans also with a net 71 in Division 2.

Monday saw Sheffield Union Ladies visit the course to play their Texas Scramble competition. 48 golfers took part in teams of 3.

1st place going Beauchief - 66.3, 2nd Tapton - 66.9 & 3rd Wath on

The Sheffield Tigers' win over the Ipswich Witches cements their playoff claim even further, after a dramatic Super Heat.

It means the Tru Plant Tigers are now five points ahead of Ipswich, who sit outside the top four, and they also still have a meeting in hand over the side from Suffolk.

The Tigers’ night got off to a far from ideal start when Lewis Kerr spun around and crashed out of the opener.

The Brit was withdrawn from the remainder of the meeting with a collarbone injury, with injury rider replacement only allowing reserves Kyle Howarth and Dan Gilkes to cover his remaining outings.

Jack Holder won the rerun before a hat-trick of 4-2s saw them open up a six point lead.

Adam Ellis led Emil Sayfutdinov for the first lap of Heat Five - that was until the Ipswich No.1 came diving underneath the Sheffield man into bend one, a move which saw Ellis disappear under the air fence.

It was Ellis who was thrown out of the race however and Ipswich struck a 5-1 in the re-run.

The visitors were level when they got a 4-2 in Heat Six - but Tigers responded with a fourth 4-2 in the seventh with Tobiasz Musielak and Howarth split by former Sheffield racer Danny King.

The hosts bagged their first 5-1 of the night in Heat Eight courtesy of Dan Gilkes and Howarth - but with the gap back to six, that allowed Ipswich to introduce Sayfutdinov as a tactical substitute in Heat Nine.

He cleared off out in front while Josh Pickering successfully kept Witches’ Jason Doyle behind him.

Howarth teamed up with Holder and then Ellis in Heats 10 and 12, with a 5-1 in the latter giving the Tigers an eight point advantage on the night and within four on aggregate.

Sayfutdinov again flew to victory in Heat 13 - but Musielak and Holder recorded second and third over Doyle.

A 5-1 from Pickering and Howarth in the penultimate programmed race not only secured the two match points - but also meant the scores were tied on aggregate heading into Heat 15.

That saw Doyle receive a 15 metre handicap after he touched the tapes in the original attempt - and

Holder and Musielak again had to settle in behind Sayfutdinov to send the aggregate point to a Super Heat for the very first time since it was introduced.

Sayfutdinov again proved untouchable as he reeled off his sixth straight success, but with the 4-3-2-0 scoring system coming into play, another second and third from Holder and Musielak was enough to see the Tigers claim all three points that were up for grabs on the night. Sheffield are back in action this Thursday (July 13, 7.30) when they travel to Peterborough.

SHEFFIELD 51: Kyle Howarth 12+3, Jack Holder 11+1, Tobiasz Musielak 11+1, Josh Pickering 7, Adam Ellis 6, Dan Gilkes 4, Lewis Kerr 0.

IPSWICH 39: Emil Sayfutdinov 16+1, Danny King 7, Jason Doyle 6, Keynan Rew 5+1, Danyon Hume 3, Erik Riss 1, Dan Thompson 1.

Aggregate scores tied –Sheffield win the aggregate point after winning a Super Heat 5-4.

Trunce Runners’ Success

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks professional basketball team are proud to announce an exhilarat ing rebrand that will usher in a new era for the franchise.

Today’s unveiling marks the be ginning of an exciting transformation for the British Basketball League Club.

As the Sharks enter this exciting new era for basketball in Sheffield, the rebrand will see a new dynamic look to the historic club crest, whilst the updated brand will be proudly on show across official channels such as the Sharks’ website and social media channels.

As the off-season unfolds, the Sheffield Sharks are diligently working to assemble a brandnew roster of talent, ready to make waves in the upcoming season. The team management is keen to build a formidable team that will not only captivate fans but also establish the Sharks as a force within the British Basketball League.

In addition to revitalising the team, the Sheffield Sharks are underway with the construction of a

state-of-the-art facility - the Park Community Arena developed by Canon Medical Systems - set to be completed in October 2023. This cutting-edge facility willence for both players and fans, setting the stage for unforgettable moments and creating a vibrant atmosphere that will reverberate throughout the entire city.

Sharks General Manager, Sarah Backovic, expressed her excitement about the forthcoming rebrand, saying, "The rebrand aligns with the new season, the new team, the new arena, and the new era of the Sharks. We are incredibly thrilled about the direction in which our organisation is headed. This is a monumental moment for the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, and we can't wait to share our vision and passion with our devoted fans and the entire Sheffield community.

“The Sharks have always been deeply rooted in Sheffield's rich sporting culture, and this rebrand represents a commitment to honouring the team's storied history while embracing a dynamic future.”

Penistone runners claimed first place in the senior and junior races at the sixth running this summer of the Trunce trail race at Oxspring.

George Parr was first in the senior race, followed in by clubmate Richard Cottam who took second. Tadek Kunicki-Holda was first in the junior boy’s race with clubmate Finn Pepper claiming third spot.

There were age category wins for Lesley Parker (first over 40 lady), Barbara Haigh (first over 70 lady) and Richard Cottam (first over40 man). Others finishing in the top three in their age categories were Valentina Wright (second over 40 lady), Steve Sanders (third over 50 man) and Ray Brown (third over 50 man).

Saturday saw the running of the Thurlstone Chase trail race. Richard Cottam claimed second place just ahead of teammate James Fryers who placed third. Chloe Worth was third lady and also picked up first over 40 lady.

There were various age group wins for Richard Docker (over 60 man), Bill Phillips (over 70 man), Barbara Haigh (over 70 lady) and Ray Brown (over 80 man).

On Friday evening Danum Harriers organised the first Donfaster 5k, consisting of five and a bit laps of the track at the Doncaster Cycle Hub.

In challenging conditions of 30 degree heat, Dawn Broom finished second in the over 55 day with a time of 21-54.

Just 19 hours later she was in action at the Buxton Carnival four mile road race. The event, which benefited from outstanding crowd support from carnival celebrants, took in the best of the Derbyshire spa town. She finished third lady overall in a time of 29-16. Both her and husband John (28-58) established club records over the 4-mile road distance.

On the parkrun scene Andrew Heppenstall achieved first place at the Penistone parkrun, there were second places for Lisa Hinchliffe (Barnsley), Julia Johnson (Glossop) and Ashley Firth (Lytham Hall). Sue Hall completed her 300th parkrun at Barnsley.

Senior Trunce

1, George Parr 26-41; 2, Richard Cottam 27-14; 17, Oliver Pike 30-17; 20, Joe Sparks 30-25; 23, Jon Hallam 30-53; 25, Damian Kilpin 30-58; 27, Oliver France 3113; 29, Daniel Hague 31-56; 32, Steve Sanders 32-07; 71, Oliver Found 36-12; 78, Nick Pepper 36-57; 79, Lesley Parker 37-07; 82, Felix Barr 37-50; 89, Valentina Wright

38-10; 98, Stuart Woodhead

38-59; 138, Heath Ramsden

43-09; 160, Harriet Drouin

45-23; 173, Barbara Hague 49-12; 187, Ray Brown 5051; 201, Steve Dommett 5602; 202, Stu Smith 56-02; 205, Tracey Woodward 5713.

Junior Trunce

1, Tadek Kunicki-Holda 1301; 4, Finn Pepper 14-40; 13, Alexander Wright 17-25.

Barnsley Parkrun

41, Lisa Hinchliffe 26-45; 85, Daniel Batty 31-43; 122, Susan Hall 43-07; 123, Stuart Smith 43-08.

Penistone Parkrun

1, Andrew Paul Heppenstall 17-52; 12, Alex Melhuish 2115; 23, Nick Pepper 22-51; 25, Alex Simon 22-53; 77, Carl Matthewman 26-44; 81, John Broom 26-57; 82, Dawn Broom 27-00; 83, Suzanne McGill 27-02; 92, Keith Gordon 27-52; 109, Poppy Tovey 29-03; 133, Sarah Clough 32-03; 136, Ruth Albaya Melhuish 32-26; 151, Martyn Cartwright 35-10; 164, Dianne Mcguinness 39-17; 168, Caroline Eyles 40-02.

Oughtibridge edge out local rivals

Oughtibridge battled hard for the win under soggy conditions, against local rivals Stocksbridge.

The 1st entertained local rivals Oughtibridge in a rain affected game. After a few hours delay due to the heavy rain fall the game was reduced to 40 overs. Oughtibridge batted first after skipper Newton won the toss.

On a wicket that offered plenty for the bowlers, the 1st XI bowled well and used the wicket to their advantage. Opening spells from Richard Marsden and Andy Hibbert got the 1st off to a positive start.

Hibbert picked up 3-16 and Marsden was back in the wickets picking up 2-35. Joe Hibbert came on first change and he continued the good work from the openers, as he took 4-24 from his spell to reduce Oughtibridge to 129 all out.

After a few disappointing weeks with the bat the 1st really needed

Cup draws for Park Steels and Church

Both Park Steels and Church finally know who their opponents will be in the upcoming cup competitions this season.

Stocksbridge has a home tie in the FA Cup Preliminary Round against the winner between Cleethorpes Town or Loughborough Dynamo.

Stocksbridge did the double over the Owls in the league last season during their highly successful season in which Park Steels finished in the playoffs. Stocksbridge seems to relish this cup competition reaching the third qualifying round, beating the likes of Prestwich Heys and Marine on the way.

As for the FA Vase Trophy, Stocksbridge has been drawn away for both the 1st and 2nd Qualifying Rounds. The opening tie will be a trip up north to Durham where they will lock horns with Northern Premier Division One side Newton Aycliffe, the winner of the tie will have a trip to either Mossley or Vauxhall Motors in the 2nd Qualifying Round.

Park Steels manager, Ian Richards is confident in his team’s ability,

“We want to do well in both competitions, last season we had a feel-good factor around the place, and we want that again. It’d be brilliant to go one better and reach the Fourth Qualifying Round maybe even further. Both ties are challenging but I am confident in my

team’s ability to be successful in both national competitions.”

Mr Richards explained.

Last season Penistone Church spent their FA Cup campaign last season travelling away from home and this season is no exception, as they start their FA Cup campaign with a trip to the City of Liverpool FC in the Extra Preliminary Round.

The winner of the tie will be rewarded with a home tie against either Prestwich Heys or Bootle Whitton Albion in the Preliminary Round.

Last season Penistone Church reached the first qualifying round, beating the likes of Lower Breck and Brighouse Town and Church will be hoping to go even further this season.

Lower Breck will have the opportunity for revenge against Penistone Church as they face up for a second consecutive season, this time in the FA Vase Trophy 1st Qualifying Round.

Penistone Church will be the first of the two sides to start their FA Cup campaign in the Extra Preliminary Round, ties to be played the weekend commencing the 4th of August. With Stocksbridge entering the competition the following weekend the 16th of August. Before both sides go into action together in the FA Vase Trophy on the 25th of August.

to dig in and take the game deep.

Openers Matt Price and Jack Newton dug in against some hostile bowling, the Oughtibridge openers were on the money and giving nothing away. However after a few wickets fell, no one could really dig in and see the 1st home. Cal Haywood top scored with 29, but the 1st were bowled out 21 runs short of the total.

The 2nd XI travelled to Mexborough looking to continue their excellent form. Stand-in skipper Chris Ogley won the toss and elected to bowl first. The youthful opening attack of Jenson Beaver and Rowan Brearley got stuck into their work and got the 2nds off to a really good start. Beaver picked up 2-27 and Brearley 1-34.

However the star of the show was 12 year old Tom Perry who skittled through the Mexborough batting line up picking up 5-7 off his 5 overs. A brilliant spell and his first

ever five for! Mexborough were reduced to 96 all out.

The 2nd XI made light work of the run chase chasing the total down within 14 overs. Steve Perry top scoring with a well made 40, Matt Hague chipped in with a quick fire 37. The 2nd XI completed a 7 wicket victory which kept them in the promotion race.

Oughtibridge 1st XI 129 all out (J Hibbert 4-24, A Hibbert 3-16)

Stocksbridge 1st XI 108 all out (C Haywood 29)

Mexborough 2nd XI 96 all (T Perry 5-7)

Stocksbridge 2nd XI 97-3 (S Perry 40, M Hague 37)

JuniOrS lift COveted trOPhy

The Oughtibridge under 13 girls dominated proceedings as they were crowned champions of the Festive Winners Trophy.

The Oughtibridge Women’s and Girls’ team were keen to invite two new upand-coming women’s cricket teams from Stocksbridge and the University of Sheffield to join the friendly fun. The Brass Band, despite not playing cricket together before, enthusiastically entered a team to play, as did the Oughtibridge Juniors, entering their Under 13s team.

With two glorious new wickets provided by OWMCC’s groundsman specifically for the day, the teams were split into two groups, in which they all played each other, and the winner of each group was to face each other in the final. The day started promptly at 11 am amidst cloudy humid conditions. It was clear from the first game of Group 1, that the Under 13s with their youth and exuberance were the

team to watch. Oughtibridge Brass Band, through sheer determination and commitment, managed to take a win over Stocksbridge, but the Under 13s won this group convincingly.

Over on the other pitch, now under clear blue skies, the Group 2 games began with staggered start times to make sure there was always some cricket for people to watch. Some of the less experienced cricketers made their teams proud, played hard, learning as they went, with some closely fought battles and nail-biting finishes that could have gone either way. In the end, and with two wins, the Oughtibridge Women’s and Girls’ team won their group and progressed to the final.

Oughtibridge Brass Band played beautifully throughout the day entertaining the teams, their supporters and those simply passing by who had decided to call in to join the fun too. The Greedy Greek Deli van kept ev-

eryone’s bellies full and all were treat ed to an amazing array of scrumptious sweet treats on the cake stall.

The final began at 4:30 pm, with a healthy club rivalry, the Women’s and Girls team and the Under 13s took to the pitch together. With all eyes on the two teams, competitive spirit was high, and all were playing to win. Despite a valiant effort by the Oughtibridge Women, right up until the last ball, the young Under 13 team proved just too much on the day and took the win.

The Under 13s excitedly lifted the ‘Festival Winners’ trophy to three cheers of ‘Hip, Hip, Hooray’ whilst the winner’s prosecco was happily consumed by the runners-up instead.

It was an amazing day of friendly cricket enjoyed by those new to the game and those more experienced alike.

Photo by Ian Revitt.