e Minister for Industry, Chris McDonald MP, visited Stocksbridge Speciality Steels, and con rmed his full support for the site, and that he remains “optimistic” that a buyer will be found.
Marie Tidball, local Labour MP, Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire,
and Cllr Tom Hunt, Leader of She eld City Council, attended the Stocksbridge site with the Minister. ey all met with workers, trade union representatives, managers, and local partners, to discuss the current work to secure a new buyer, protect jobs and local workers, and protect specialist capabilities.
Marie Tidball, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, Continued on page 3 “I have been ghting for steel since day one. At its height, our Stocksbridge Speciality Steels site produced 15% of global aerospace and defence steel. I know the incredible capacity our site and local workers have, and I want our Stocksbridge site to reach its potential again.
Have your teeth whitened before Christmas
Lollipop lady marks 50 years of safe crossings
An 81-year-old lollipop lady said she was "not even thinking about" retiring, as she celebrated 50 years in the role, writes Chloe Aslett for BBC Yorkshire.
Jackie Higginbottom, who said she loved "everything" about her job, did her first shift as the crossing patrol warden at Royd Nursery Infant School in Sheffield in 1975.
Ms Higginbottom was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2022 for services to the community, and has received recognition from Sheffield City Council and Stocksbridge Town Council.
She said: "When you put that uniform on, there doesn't seem to be an age barrier, they come
up to me at age five and say, 'hi Jackie, you alright?'."
Ms Higginbottom initially took the position after a post office worker told her recruiters were struggling to fill the role.
"I said, 'oh I'll do it', and that was it," she said.
"My dad said, 'I give it a week, lady' - he would be shocked [now]. He would say, 'I'd never have thought you'd have stuck it out'."
Ms Higginbottom added: "I don't know what I would do without it. It's a part of me.
"There's a little boy now - as he leaves the estate on his little bike, he shouts 'Jackie!' and I get into the middle of the road so he can whizz round."
Some of the children she had helped to cross the road grew up to "achieve amazing things", she said.
One boy grew up to be a judge "at the top of his game" in the Midlands and a girl joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
"I know the children, the parents, the grandparents. The grandparents will tell the kids, 'Jackie used to see your mum across'," she said.
"I still remember faces from 50 years ago."
A spokesperson for Sheffield City Council said on social media: "Jackie is still going strong, helping generations of little feet cross safely.
"To celebrate, the pupils threw a party fit for a legend. Jackie, you're a star."
THANK YOU: Ms Higginbottom received a thank you card and cake from the staff and children at Royd Nursery Infant School. Photos: Sheffield City Council
Steel Minister confirms support and visits Stocksbridge Speciality Steels
...continued form front page
e Minister for Industry, Chris McDonald MP, visited Stocksbridge Speciality Steels, and con rmed his full support for the site, and that he remains “optimistic” that a buyer will be found.
e Special Managers and O cial Receiver were also part of the discussions, who the government have appointed and fully funded to oversee the sale of the business to a new, responsible buyer.
e Government is o ering full support to the independent O cial Receiver during this all important next phase, including funding and ensuring the payment of employees’ salaries and pensions.
e Industry Minister, Chris McDonald MP, said he was “optimistic” that a buyer would be found. He was clear that he wanted to see the sites return to production as soon as possible.
Minister McDonald also championed the work of highly-skilled and hardworking local steelworkers, and recognised their crucial role to deliver a brighter future for our steelworks.
e day also included a visit to the Rotherham Speciality Steels site, with
Cllr Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council also in attendance.
e Labour Government has demonstrated steadfast commitment to UK steel, and a er years of neglect, wants to see our domestic industry thrive, with a strong and sustainable future.
Marie Tidball, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge,
“Chris McDonald MP used to work at the old melt shop at our site and it was great to have him back to visit, now as our Industry Minister, making clear his recognition of Stocksbridge’s worldleading specialist steel-making capabilities. is is the di erence a Labour government makes – by stepping in to continue to fund the O cial Receiver, our government has demonstrated they will always take decisive action on steel when it is in our national interest.
“Like anyone who has grown up locally - having lived in Stocksbridge in my late teens - steel is in my veins. I’m so thankful to our local steelworkers and their families for remaining so dedicated and patient during an uncertain time. I’ll continue working closely with the Government, Oliver Coppard, and Cllr Tom Hunt to ensure that Stocksbridge is part of our country’s bright
steel future. As your local MP, I will always continue to ght to protect our steel site, its jobs, and our world-class steelmaking capability.”
Chris McDonald MP, Minister for Industry said:
“ ese plants are vitally important to the UK, and there are big opportunities here – both Stocksbridge and Rotherham have fantastic capabilities, crucial to our advanced supply chains in aerospace, automotive and construction.
“Speaking directly to the people who work here and live in local communities, I know that this process is really di cult and unsettling – we went through something similar at Teesside where I’m from, but I am con dent that we will get to a point where we have a new owner for the business.
“For me, its really important that it’s a responsible owner for the business, who will be investing to help the business grow. It’s vitally important that Stocksbridge and Rotherham are back up and running and invested in, so that we can grow our UK wide steel sector again.”
DEEPCAR
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
Windows Doors
• Composite • Aluminium • uPVC
• Bi-folds • High Security Locks • Any Size • Any Colour
WANTED: Have you seen wanted man Jonathan McAllister?
Police have renewed an appeal for information to help locate a convicted drug dealer who is wanted by police after failing to appear at court for sentencing.
Jonathan McAllister was given a 20year sentence in his absence at Sheffield Crown Court in May 2022 after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin, conspiracy to supply ketamine, possessing criminal property, and conspiracy to contravene customs laws.
McAllister, who was on bail, failed to appear at court for sentencing which followed an investigation by
the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU).
The court heard McAllister played a key role in importing 90kgs of cocaine and 10kgs of heroin from the Netherlands to an industrial estate in Ecclesfield, Sheffield. The drugs had an estimated street value at the time of £9.5million.
A further consignment of 11kgs of cocaine and 6kgs of heroin was intercepted before it arrived at an industrial estate in Penistone, Barnsley, and was estimated in court to have a street value of more than £1.25million.
FROM CRÈCHE
Searches of a lock-up linked to McAllister resulted in the further discovery of 15kgs of ketamine, while £25,000 in cash was found at his home.
The 32-year-old, formerly of Finkle Street Lane, Wortley, near Sheffield, is described as a white man, of slim build, 5ft 11ins tall with dark brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information which may help to locate McAllister is asked to contact Police by calling 101 and quoting investigation number 679 of 15 October 2025.
TO FAMILY HUB: HOW STEP CHILDCARE HAS GROWN WITH THE COMMUNITY
STEP Childcare and Family Hub began years ago as a small community crèche supporting parents attending training and interviews and has since evolved — with STEP acquiring and developing a purpose-built nursery that forms the heart of its Family Hub Centre.
Manager Karen Hibberd says she’s proud of how far the provision has come. “We’ve developed from short-term childcare support into a full-day, high-quality nursery service that meets the needs of working families,” she explains. “Maintaining a consistent ‘Good’ Ofsted rating is something I’m very proud of — but more importantly, it’s about meeting the diverse needs of children and families every single day. No two days are ever the same. We’ve cared for children whose parents we once looked after,” she smiles. “It’s come full circle — families return because they know us and trust us.”
“Many of our team have been here a long time and are deeply rooted in Stocksbridge. They understand both the benefits and challenges of living and working here, and that helps them truly reflect the community they serve.”
That connection extends beyond the nursery gates. The Family Hub works closely with local schools and offers work experience opportunities for young people — part of a wider effort to strengthen community development. “Providing flexible, affordable, and funded childcare gives parents the chance to work if they choose to,” Karen explains. “That’s a key part of how childcare supports the local economy.”
The move to all-year-round daycare has been another milestone. “Finding flexible childcare — especially during the six-week summer holidays — is a real challenge for parents,” Karen says. “Extending to full-year provision has been incredibly well received. It’s helped
strain that often comes with school holidays.”
Looking ahead, Karen’s vision for STEP Childcare is clear: to continue providing highquality, flexible care while adapting to new funding models and opportunities for enrichment. “For a child leaving us at five years old, success is about being confident, curious, and ready for the next stage,” she says. “We’d love to offer more trips and experiences to broaden their horizons.”
Nationally, she believes there’s still work to do in some areas of early education. “We’ve made great progress in communication and literacy, but I think mathematical development is an area that needs more focus,” she adds. “There’s often a fear around maths in early years. We need to nurture curiosity and help children see it as something fun and creative.”
After many years leading the centre, Karen says her motivation remains the same. “STEP’s mission is about supporting the local community — from babies right through to older people,” she says. “It’s that sense of belonging and care across generations that keeps me passionate. STEP is about everyone — and that’s something really special.”
families balance work and home life and eased the financial
Local groups celebrate success
e results are in for this year’s Stocksbridge Town Council Participatory Budgeting Scheme, and four community projects have been awarded funding following a well-attended event at e Venue last week.
Stocksbridge Town Council
Participatory Budgeting Event 2025 - Results
A sincere thank you from Stocksbridge Town Council to everyone who attended the Participatory Budgeting event at The Venue on the 15th October, and to all those who presented. Every group did an excellent job representing groups and initiatives within our local area. The event was very well attended and proved to be a great success.
The winners of the public vote for this year’s event were:
Steel Valley Beacon Arts – £10,188
Stocksbridge Community Leisure Centre – £17, 618
Bolsterstone Village Hall Trust – £20,000
The balance of the funding, being £7,194, was awarded to Steel Valley Project who came in fourth – their project totalled £18,540, and therefore the award will be released once balance of funds required are in place.
A full list of the voting results for this year’s event can be found on our website: www.stocksbridge-council.co.uk
Organisers extended a sincere thank you to everyone who took part — from those who presented their ideas to the many residents who came along to cast their votes. Every group was praised for the e ort and enthusiasm shown in representing local causes and initiatives.
e winners of the public vote were:
Steel Valley Beacon Arts – £10,188
Stocksbridge Community Leisure Centre – £17,618
Bolsterstone Village Hall Trust – £20,000
e balance of £7,194 was awarded to the Steel Valley Project, whose total project cost of £18,540 will be supported once
the remaining funding has been secured.
A spokesperson for Bolsterstone Village Hall Trust said:
“We were shocked and delighted all at the same time. It’s wonderful to get this grant and we can do so much with it – the money will really help us, and we’re grateful for all the support.”
e money will go towards a new kitchen at the Village Hall where the cream teas are rumoured to be especially nice!
e event once again proved to be a great success, highlighting the strength of community spirit and the value of local participation in decisionmaking.
Sheffield Streets Come Alive in Paint:
Andy Cropper Exhibition Opens in Hillsborough
She eld art lovers are in for a treat this autumn as painter Andy Cropper unveils a major new exhibition at Cupola Contemporary Art in Hillsborough. e show, opening on Friday 10 October 2025, showcases Cropper’s evocative cityscapes, capturing the city from twilight into the deep hours of night.
Since 2009, Cropper has been mapping Shefeld in paint, from the charged stillness of dusk to the cinematic tones of nocturnal streets. Best known for his atmospheric night-time cityscapes, this exhibition also reveals earlier works rarely seen before, o ering visitors a unique view of his artistic evolution over more than 15 years. e collection forms a portrait of She eld across time, light, and memory, with streets that hum with presence and buildings that hold their breath — a city at once familiar and transformed.
Born in Bristol in the early 1970s and raised in Blackpool, Cropper studied painting at Shef-
eld Hallam University and has remained in the city ever since. His work is informed by kenopsia, the eerie feeling of empty, oncebustling places, and the subtle shi when the familiar becomes unfamiliar. Cropper’s realist style avoids photographic exactness, instead reconstructing eeting moments into textured, resonant images.
His paintings feature in the permanent collection of Museums She eld at Weston Park Museum and have been exhibited across the UK, including at the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Mall Galleries, e Harley Gallery, Welbeck, e Cooper Gallery, Barnsley, Bloc Projects, and Fronteer Gallery. He has also contributed to Folk Horror Revival Urban Wyrd – 2: Spirits of Place, alongside authors like Will Self and Iain Sinclair, and will appear in the third heat of Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year 2026, airing January–February 2026.
Admission: Free is is a must-see for anyone wanting to experience She eld through the eyes of one of its most atmospheric painters.
Supertram network disruption
South Yorkshire’s Supertram network is set to disrupted this October half-term, as essential rail replacement works take place to improve reliability and future-proof the system for years to come.
e works mark the nal phase of a major programme of investment delivered this year, as part of South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s (SYMCA) commitment to invest over £110m by 2027. is includes upgrades to the trams, track, control systems and power supplies alongside the construction of a new Tram Train station at Magna.
e next stage of works will begin on In rmary Road from Sunday 26 October to Friday 31 October and partially a ect Blue and Yellow route tram services.
ese essential works will be undertaken along Inrmary Road near to the tram stop. To allow these to be completed safely, Blue and Yellow route tram services will be subject to alteration between Sunday 26 October and Friday 31 October inclusive. In rmary Road, Langsett/Primrose View, Bamforth Street, Hillsborough Interchange, Malin Bridge, Hillsborough Park, Leppings Lane and Middlewood tram stops will not be served during this time.
Community Book Exchange
A new initiative is bringing the joy of reading to the local community, thanks to the e orts of longtime Stocksbridge resident Philippa Brooks.
Philippa, 65, who has lived in Stocksbridge for 35 years, recently installed a community book exchange box outside her home, calling it Pips Books. e box, purchased online and professionally installed, has been running for six weeks. While residents have been generous in donating books, Philippa has noticed that borrowing activity has been slower than expected.
Speaking from her home, Philippa was joined by her rescue dog Coco, whom she has cared for ve years, and her 30-year-old cockatiel, Charlie. She shared her own journey with literacy, revealing that she was diagnosed with dyslexia in her late 30s while studying at Stocksbridge College. “It explained a lot about my struggles with reading at school,” she said. “Since my diagnosis,
I’ve developed a real love for books.”
e book exchange also carries a small Canadian ag, nearby, a tribute to Philippa’s uncle who emigrated from Stocksbridge to Canada around 50 years ago. Philippa has visited Canada three times, most recently a er retiring in April.
Philippa’s commitment to her community extends beyond books. She spent nearly 30 years working for She eld City Council in environmental health, covering roles from waste clearance and dog wardens to pest control. Her love for animals is clear, re ected in her rescue of Coco, a Dachshund found abandoned.
With Pips Books, Philippa hopes to encourage more neighbours to read, share, and connect over a love of literature. “It’s about creating a little corner of the community where everyone can enjoy a good book,” she said.
We are your local laundrette: you are always
to visit us at the shop or use our collection and
Ready to Guarantee a Whiter Smile Before Christmas?
Step into the festive season with a smile that’s brighter, whiter, and lled with con dence.
Join us on Saturday, 15th November 2025 for an exclusive Whitening Open Day at Deepcar Dental Care — led by Gemma, our experienced Dental erapist, specialising in advanced whitening treatments.
Experience professional, dentist-led whitening that guarantees visibly whiter results — safely, e ectively, and naturally.
Enjoy a FREE Clean & Polish when you book one of our premium whitening systems on the day:
Both systems are clinically proven to deliver lasting brilliance and a radiant, natural glow — helping you look and feel your best for the festive season and beyond.
Limited appointments available.
Reserve your place today and enjoy a guaranteed whiter, brighter smile — perfectly timed for Christmas.
OCTOBER
SATURDAY
25 October 3 p.m, Green Moor Chapel, Chapel Lane, Green Moor S35 7DX. Harp Concert by Alejandro Barnett supported by local musicians. Tickets from Samuel’s Kitchen Fox Valley, Wortley Post O ce or Oxspring Post O ce For more info contact Dave on 07930447982
25 Spooky Science Club 2.00 - 4.00 at the Inman Pavilion, Moorland Drive S36 1EG. No need to book a place and only £2.00 for lots of fun! enquiries@ inmanpavilion.org.uk
MONDAY
27 Halloween Craft Club 10.00
- 11.45 at the Inman Pavilion, Moorland Drive S36 1EG. No need to book a place and only £2.00 for lots of fun! enquiries@ inmanpavilion.org.uk
WEDNESDAY
29 2.30pm at Bolsterstone Church, Ian Enters will be reading from and talking about his “Precious the Seed” poems for Christmas. The First Edition proved very popular and sold out last year across the country. Ian is keen to bring this rst edition reprint to share with the people of Stocksbridge and She ed where he lived for many years.
FRIDAY
31 - 2 - “Wonderfully Made”weekend Craft Fair - Silkstone Parish Church S75 4JH. Around 40 stalls selling handmade gifts. Supporting church funds. Friday
10.00 - 7.00, Sat & Sun 10.004.00
NOVEMBER
SATURDAY
1 High Green Methodist Church Autumn Fayre. Starting at 11 am. Stalls include cakes, bric-abrac, gifts, books, tombola etc. Sandwiches, cakes and drinks available. All welcome.
1 COFFEE MORNING AT ST AIDANS CHURCH AND COMMUNITY HALL, OXSPRING - Help us raise funds for the Roof Appeal at St Johns Church....There will be a FREE Co ee Morning on Saturday 1st November from 10.00 a.m. to 12 noon at St Aidans Church, Oxspring. All are welcome to join us for tea/coffee/biscuits and to meet friends old and new, have a chat and, if you can, donate to the Roof Over Our Community Appeal for St Johns Church, Penistone.There will be stalls to browse, good company, and a ra e - what are you waiting for?We look forward to welcoming you.
TUESDAY
4 Ploughman’s Lunches Tuesday, 4th November, and Wednesday 5th November 12 noon - 2pm in Brad eld Village Hall £8.00 in aid of St.Nicholas’ ChurchYour help will be much appreciated.
WEDNESDAY
5 Stocksbridge and District WI are meeting at Christchurch Community Hall, Manchester Road, Stocksbridge, 7:15 for 7:30pm start. We will be making
EVENT
Christmas wreaths from recycled materials. Visitors and new members are welcome. Further details 07917021268
SATURDAY
8 Wadsley and Loxley Commoners – Guided Walk, led by John and Anne Robinson, Birds in Autumn, meet at 9am at Rural Lane Car Park, Wadsley, circular route, return to car park at any time, FREE but donations welcome, NO DOGS please. www. walc.epizy.com
8 SPECIAL EVENT BY BOLSTERSTONE ARCHAEOLOGY AND HERITAGE GROUP at Bolsterstone Village Hall, from 1-4pm. “FROM THE ARCHIVES”: Sally Rodgers will explain how to access historic information at She eld City Archives, and about rediscovered documents of Samuel Fox. Anthea Helliwell talks of her discovery of old documents in the city archives for her book on the hamlet of Brightholmlee. George Scogings highlights some of the archives held by Stockbridge Museum and Heritage Centre and will bring items to look at. If you have any interesting archives of your own family, do bring them along as there will be a chance to display them. All welcome and refreshments provided. Members £2 Visitors £4 Annual membership £7
WEDNESDAY
12 Chapeltown and District Probus Club meet every second Wednesday of the month at Grenoside Community Hall for a 10 am start. We will be next meeting on the 12th of Novem-
ber when Alan Hancock will present an illustrated talk on ‘Jack the Ripper part 1 ‘
We have a friendly informal club environment for retired men to build and maintain companionship and social contacts . After the club meeting some members continue to Wortley Hall for lunch. Please contact our secretary Trevor Winslow on 07966317258 for more information or look at our website.
THURSDAY
13 Chapeltown WI will hold their next meeting in Chapeltown Methodist Church at 7.30pm. The speaker is Joey Howard who will speak about Showbiz and Comedy. The competition is for a funny joke.
SUNDAY
16 Magic Show at the Inman Pavilion, Moorland Avenue 2.00- 3.30pm. Book your places at tarastocksbridge.ud@gmail. com 07957 206646 Sponsored by TARA
MONDAY
17 Wadsley and Loxley Commoners - AGM and talk by Malcolm Nunn about Loxley Photographs and how war affected Loxley and Brad eld areas. www.walc.epizy.com, FREE, Wadsley Church, Worrall Road, 7.30, home made refreshments
SUNDAY
23 Stocksbridge Community Leisure Centre - Christmas Fayre - 11.00 am to 4.00 pm. Seasonal Fun And Festive Treats For
All The Family, Santa’s Grotto, Festive Music, Craft Stalls, Children’s Activities & Much More...
WEDNESDAY
26 Don Valley Probus will meet on Wednesday 26th November at 10.00AM in Christ Church Community Hall, Manchester Road, Stocksbridge, with a presentation by Geo Stevens, entitled “Rolling Stones”. Our relaxed meetings take place on alternate Wednesday mornings. For more information about our group, please visit our website at www.donvalleyprobus.co.uk
ONGOING
MONDAYS
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 to meet us and see if you like us. Bass voices are needed so have a go at singing in the Bath rst! Contact 01226 764642 for more information Baby and Toddler group at the Christian Centre, Cedar Road S36 1AS. Mondays during termtime 9.30 - 11.30 am. Drop in
anytime. Sponsored by T.A.R.A.
TUESDAYS
CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other) Tea, co ee, cakes, dominoes and other games, and friendship. Every Tuesday 2-4 pm at St Andrew’s Church, High Street, Penistone. (Next to the library).For more details: 07903 628820
Deepcar Drop-In every Tuesday from 10am - midday at St John’s Church, Deepcar. All are welcome for drinks, cake and company.
WEDNESDAYS
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 Thurgoland Community Choir, every Wednesday 7pm - 9:30pm Holy Trinity Church, Thurgoland.
Co ee mornings with homemade cakes. Wednesdays from 10am to 12 noon at St Mary’s Church Bolsterstone. Friendly company, and delicious home made cakes are waiting for walkers, residents and anyone else wishing to drop in for a co ee and a chat. You can be assured of a warm welcome in Bolsterstone St Mary’s.
Launch of the Poppy Appeal
By Janet Ridler
is week marks the start of the 2025 Poppy Appeal and you will soon be seeing volunteers from the Stocksbridge & Deepcar branch of the Royal British Legion collecting for the appeal in locations around our local area.
Each year the money raised from the Poppy Appeal supports local veterans and those in the armed forces community who have served our country, by providing recovery and rehabilitation support to currently serving and ex-service personnel who are wounded, injured, or sick.
In 2024, thanks to your generous support, the Stocksbridge and Deepcar Branch of the RBL raised nearly £20,000 for the Poppy Appeal. is year, with your help, they hope to break the £20,000 barrier which would be a fantastic achievement for our community. Poppies and other merchandise including pin badges and commemorative badges will be available later this week at locations across Stocksbridge including Aldi, Lidl, and the Co-op.
You may also have noticed volunteers out and about xing large poppies to lampposts across Stocksbridge, Deepcar and Bolsterstone. Around 200 poppies are going up on display along the Remembrance Day Parade route, many bearing the names of local people who gave their lives during the First and Second World Wars and who are commem-
orated on the Stocksbridge Memorial Clock Tower, ere will also be poppies bearing the names of local groups and businesses who have donated to e Valley at War’s fundraising campaign to create a heritage trail in the memorial gardens.
Please support the Poppy Appeal and join your local Royal British Legion for the annual Stockbridge Parade and Remembrance Service on Sunday 9 November. is is a tradition which dates back over a hundred years; the rst outdoor service took place at the Stocksbridge Clock Tower memorial in 1924. e parade will include Royal British Legion members, local MP Marie Tidball, Deputy Lieutenant of South Yorkshire Des Smith, local City and Town Councillors, the Royal Naval Association, Army Cadets, Scouts, Cubs, Guides, Brownies, the Women’s Institute, the Rotary Club, Don Valley Probus, and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, with music from the Loxley Silver Band. Everyone is welcome to join the parade, please assemble on Johnson Street at 10.00 for a 10.15 prompt start.
e Stocksbridge & Deepcar branch of the RBL is active all year round in the local area, supporting veterans and running a popular monthly breakfast club for former servicemen and women. RBL membership is open to everyone so do speak to one of our members if you’d like to get involved. Your membership will help make a real di erence to our local community.
Frightful fun and Monster Madness
Frightful fun and Monster Madness – Here’s what to expect this year at Fox Valley’s Halloween Spooktacular
Costumes at the ready – the annual Halloween Spooktacular returns to Fox Valley in North She eld on Friday 31 October, promising an evening packed with wickedly wonderful family fun.
From 3:00pm – 6:30pm, visitors can enjoy a line-up of ghoulishly good activities, including:
· Creepy Crawly Workshop with Captivating Creatures – meet the critters if you dare!
· Pumpkin decorating workshop – with prizes for the most fang-tastic designs
· Children & Dog Fancy Dress Parade at 6:00pm
·Children’s disco
·Trick-or-Treat sweet treat traders throughout the centre
Keep Christmas Local This Year
As the lights begin to twinkle and the scent of mulled wine dri s through the air, it’s time to think about how we’ll celebrate Christmas 2025 — and what better way than by keeping it local?
Our towns and villages are bursting with festive spirit at this time of year. From Christmas markets and cra fayres to carol services and light switch-ons, there’s plenty on our doorstep to make the season special. By choosing to shop, eat, and celebrate locally, we can all give something back to the small businesses, charities and volunteers who keep our community thriving.
Instead of heading out of town or ordering online, why not pop into your local butchers, bakers and farm shops for your Christmas dinner ingredients? You’ll nd quality produce, friendly service, and the satisfaction of knowing your money is supporting local families.
Many independent shops will be o ering late-night openings and gi ideas with a personal touch — from handmade cra s to locally produced food hampers. You can also soak up the festive atmosphere at one of the many community Christmas markets or cra fayres taking place throughout November and December.
Wortley Farm Shop
Fresh and local produce from our family-run farm shop.
Visit our shop at Park Avenue, Wortley S35 7DB
Get in touch: wortleyfarmshop@yahoo.com
And when it comes to celebrating, our local eateries and pubs are ready to welcome you. Whether it’s a cosy meal with family or a festive get-together with friends, booking locally means a great night out and a boost for our hospitality sector.
is Christmas, let’s keep our spending, celebrations and goodwill close to home. Together, we can make this a season that shines not just with fairy lights, but with community pride.
TREES – HAVE YOUR SAY
An invitation from Sheffield City Council (SCC), dated 8/10/2025:
“The Sheffield Trees and Woodlands Strategy is undergoing a refresh, and we would like to invite you to share your thoughts on the current document, and make suggestions for anything you think should be included, amended or removed… Once all suggestions have been reviewed and accounted for, the Trees and Woodlands Strategy document will be updated, approved by elected members, and released on the council website… DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO SHARE YOUR VIEWS, THE SURVEY CLOSES ON THE 24th OCTOBER.”
The invitation, with links to the city tree strategy and SCC questionnaire, is online:
In 2008, the Department for Communities and Local Government published ‘Trees in Towns II’ - a report that advised local authorities (Councils). Quote:
“Those LAs that have not got an existing tree strategy and are not in the process of developing one, need to make this an immediate priority…”
In 2015, SCC promised tree campaigners that it would honour its 5yr old policy commitment to provide a tree strategy for the city and to include a sub-strategy for highway trees. The city tree strategy applies to all trees in the city, whether in the public realm or on privately owned land. The strategies are to guide and inform all stakeholders, including local authority policy-makers & decision-makers, as well as contractors, private landowners, occupiers, agents, developers, voluntary groups, and others. The strategies are supposed to:
provide information on the city’s trees; set out policies, plans and assessment protocols that help ensure that the tree stock – the URBAN FOREST - is managed sustainably: in a way and at a rate that represents current best practice and that enhances and optimises tree cover and the range of benefits that it affords to neighbourhoods and communities;
help ensure that acts and omissions are timely and represent a balanced, proportionate approach;
help safeguard against a risk averse approach and undue influence (by media, lobby groups or political factions);
help ensure a harmonious relationship between trees and the built environment;
provide clarity, helping resolve, reduce and avoid confusion and conflict.
When Save Our Roadside Trees (originally named Save Our Rustlings Trees: SORT) established the citywide tree campaign, which Sheffield Tree Action Groups (STAG) was later founded to continue and further develop, citizen campaigners wanted to be consulted on policies and plans that would affect their neighbourhoods –not just notified. They wanted:
the opportunity to view and evaluate the evidence that underpinned the decisions being taken;
Local Opinion
detail of the range of ‘best practice’ that SCC and its contractors claimed to use and apply;
to know what protocols existed to ensure that acts and omissions accorded with best practice;
detail of assessment methods and to see the results of completed assessments; to know who was responsible for supervision, monitoring, auditing, and enforcement; what penalties exist and how and when would they be applied;
Who should stakeholders contact –how, when and where?
Above all, campaigners wanted a genuine opportunity to influence current and future policies and plans that would result in change to their neighbourhoods. To this end, SORT successfully campaigned for SCC to develop and formally adopt its first tree strategy (see issue 1220 of LookLocal [LL], online). SCC Woodland Managers - Messrs David Aspinall and Jeremy Gunton - were first tasked with producing a city tree strategy at the inaugural meeting of the bi-monthly Highway Trees Advisory Forum (HTAF), on 23/7/2015, following SCC ‘debate’ of a petition by SORT, with over 10,000 signatures, on 1/7/2015.
A one-day drop-in event was held at the Town Hall on 26/2/2016, for people to suggest headings for topics to be included in the tree strategy (see LL issue 1272). On 4/4/2016, SCC held a private meeting for ‘strategic partners’, to discuss what the tree strategy should include under each heading. The Forestry Commission, Natural England and eight NGOs were invited, as well as others that occasionally provide SCC with grant aid. Who attended and their contributions have never been made public. SORT & STAG were excluded, on the basis that they were relatively new. “A series of workshops with the public, partners and stakeholders” was supposed to follow, to develop a draft, but that never happened. A two-month window of opportunity to comment on a draft tree strategy ended on 16/12/2016. The results were never made public.
In response to SORT & STAG, SCC commissioned assessment of canopy cover and monetary valuations of the city’s tree stock, and of the range of beneficial ecosystem services that affords to the city. Those assessments started in summer 2017 and a report was completed in winter 2017, but withheld from citizens until 27/1/2021 (see LL issue 1273). Current guidance from the National Tree Safety Group is that a policy, articulating the benefits of trees, “should carry as much weight in protecting the policymaker against litigation following an incident as any reasonable risk management policy in a workplace setting.”
For the decade prior to adopting a tree strategy, SCC had used obfuscation and misrepresentation to mislead and deceive enquiring citizens. This was highlighted in the ‘Sheffield Street Trees Inquiry report’ (£839,000), dated March 2023 (see LL issues 1381, 1300 & 1269). Sham opportunities were presented by SCC for the public to participate in positively influencing change - public relations scams, intended to obfuscate, cover for and distract attention from SCC wrongs, and maintain & enhance support for SCC ways.
On 12/12/2018, SCC formally adopted its first city tree strategy, following Forestry Commission intervention (see LL issues 1299 & 1298). Revised guidance from the UK Roads Liaison Group had taken effect in October 2018, having been introduced in October 2016. The guidance requires use of risk-based assessments, as opposed to decision and policy making based on fear of liability or undue influence by interested parties.
To quote from page 7 (section 1.6: ‘Strategy Monitoring and Review’) of the ‘Sheffield Trees and Woodlands Strategy 2018-2033’:
“The Strategy and Action Plan will be reviewed on an annual basis and updated following any significant change in legislation, policy or best practice.”
The strategy will be seven years old in December and, to date, there is no evidence that the tree strategy has been reviewed or revised annually, or at any point. There does not appear to have been any opportunity for stakeholders to participate in review or revision of the document, until now. The substrategy for street trees is dated May 2021 but was not published until 10/8/2021.
David Long (former Chief Strategist & Advisor to SORT & STAG) S35
Fyne wants to ignore our sayings seem to be from Gaelic
Taking issue with Gaelic derivation of sayings (idioms) in the ‘Local History Unearthed’ feature, Jon Fyne in last week’s paper simply ignores both the proof in the pudding and the new evidence showing Gaelic rooting of English is not only possible but most likely.
Jon has no explanation of how the phrase ‘(well) I go to our house’ could be (as he claims) some random way of saying “go to hell!” As we all know, the expression is one of great surprise, and that a phrase in another language (Gaelic) appositely meaning ‘completely backwards’ sounding quite like ‘I go to our house’ appositely is obviously ripe to be mangled into that English phrase. (Dr) Fyne emptily complains it’s mere superficial connection. Of course it is. It’s not about an etymological link between languages. Can he not understand the simple process here? He objects that it was not recorded before the last century, but this is usual: prior to modern times there was zero interest in the vernacular, and the chance of any sort of document surviving decreases exponentially the further back it dates. That there are dozens, nay hundreds of similar instances of Gaelic derivation of our sayings is impossible to otherwise explain. Think of the astronomical odds of coincidence instead accounting for multiple whole-phrase matches.
The good doctor asserts as fact that none of our English can be from Gaelic as it was brought to England by AngloSaxons, but they didn’t speak English: English arose in Britain. And University of Oxford fine-scale genetic research reveals that very little of our ancestry is Saxon: there was not remotely the number of Saxon migrants to displace the indigenous population or their language. What’s more, Forster, Polzin & Roul (2006) show that with the lexical diversity (variety of words) already
evident in Britain over a millennium ago (equivalent to the distance between German and Dutch today), English arose as long ago as 3,600BC (the late neolithic).
We know that etymologically English is not from a Brittonic tongue, and, with Norse incursion not even leaving a trace genetically outside of Orkney, that leaves proto-Celtic or Goidelic (Gaelic) as the base of English. Gaelic language confined to the western and northwestern fringes of the British Isles is a snapshot likely from its displacement westwards out of England. There is no “incontrovertible written evidence from 1400 years of written English” that English did not originate from Gaelic.
Hasn’t Doc Jon adopted the timehonoured academic stance of sitting in a bunker ignoring inconvenient new evidence? It’s so often an outsider who has new insight into a discipline.
[My reply to Fyne’s riposte in the Yorkshire Dialect Society’s Transactions has been submitted and worked on together with the YDS’ Professor Clive Upton.]
Steve Moxon
Reflections
Now Autumn chills are in the air, It’s now I wonder, wonder where, The Summer went, where did it go, Not be long before the snow,
As Blackberries ripen on the bush, Food supply for hungry thrush, As Redwing Fieldfare soon follow on, This bountious harvest will soon be gone,
Then it’s down to hips and hawes, No more worms until the hard ground thaws,
Then its back again with that rush for life,
Pity I haven’t got a wife.
Pete the Poet
Boots financial incentive
I have being trying for some time to find a local collection point for the medical blister pack give waste I generate and have recently discovered that Boots Chemist in Fox Valley do this, as do most of Boots Chemists. They also give a financial incentive for this for any of their Advantage Card holders.
SpringVale Recycling Centre is also a collection point for this waste.
I do hope some readers will use these as a help to slow down this climate change in our world.
Thank you Doris Stubbs
A SMILE FOR PEACE
I cannot wear a smile that’s fake, A mask my heart could never make. It stretches my lips, soft and true, When Heart and Soul break through.
Such smiles are rare, beyond all gold, So precious, priceless, pure and bold. One smile can make another’s day, Can chase their tears and pain away.
If smiles could scatter, far and near, How bright this world would then appear. When hearts are drowned in sorrow’s sea, A smile feels faint, not wild and free.
Forget the pain, the fear, the ache, Just smile a little, for your own sake. This life’s a gift, so bright and new, Adorn it with smiles, let joy shine through.
A single smile can hide the pain, And bring back light through tears and rain.
So, why so costly, this little grace? Let’s share it more, from face to face.
Let me smile, and you smile too, For moments shared, both old and new.
In this world of grief and endless fight, Let’s spread our smiles … from morn to night.
HINA GONDAL
A TYGER BRIGHTS A FIREFLY
I am rather glad, not every dream comes true, as I would be sad, not to be here with you.
You wake my mornings with Heavenly delight. These days are to seize for memory’s sight.
In the future, to remember, in quiet repose, the gifts of our Poesy, not just your fevered red nose.
You love the Rain, though the Sun twinkles your eye.
You say, “I’m a pain!” I say, “I’m a bum!” You say, “’Tis not so!” I say, “With you, I’ll grow!”
You dream through me. I dream of us painting our sky. Yellow?
I’ll play Michel. You play Angelo. With finger tipped eyes we give life to our minds.
To pull back the curtains Open the blinds. Let’s conquer gravity, to paint noor ka pala pink!
And in a rinky dink dink, we’ll fresco the firmament in our point of hue. God’s sistine dome, Will we leave it blue?
Let us stop for a while to cogitate our pallet. Now brushes to attention, bristling with colour, let’s add to the Rainbow our own dimensions!
Andrew Dancer
LOCAL HISTORY: UNEARTHED
An editorial contribution by…
In this new regular feature, local writer and researcher Steve Moxon delves into the lesser-known corners of our area’s history. In this week’s piece, he looks into...
Ancient Monsters Underpin the Wantley Dragon Tale
The notion of the mythical Wantley monster being a dragon may have arisen in the 11th century when the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem were granted Waldershelf. Their own legend of a knight of that order slaying a dragon likely transferred to our locale. Note also their symbol (apart from a cross) is a serpent-coiled staff; the serpent being the former conception of the dragon. The snaking line of a stone-faced edge like Wharncliffe would once be envisaged as a petrified serpent.
The Hospitallers’ water source, Dragon’s Well may have got that name anciently, though. It’s at Townend Common, atop Deepcar, that famously is/was topped with firestone: a quartz-rich super-hard sandstone that sparks when struck, hence the alternative name for the well of allman, Gaelic for ‘stone of fire’. ‘Fire-stone’ is dragart, while dreagan means ‘thunderbolt’ or ‘fireball’. A differently rooted word spelt the same means ‘place of the hero’. A hero in ancient mythology typically is associated with thunder. ‘The hero’s (or warrior’s, champion’s) grave’ is uaigh an laoch, pronounced “u-an-layc”, the basis of Wantley (or Wancliffe, the original name of Wharncliffe). So Townend Common and Wharncliffe were connected mythologically.
A window on the local likely genuine ‘folk memory’ and not concerning its re-working into the Ballad was revealed in 1803 by George Ellis, antiquary/critic, visiting the Wortleys and conveying what he’d been told of the monster to Sir Walter Scott:
“The other legend, which is current in the Wortley family, states him to have been a most formidable drinker, whose powers of inglutition, strength of stomach, and stability of head, had procured him a long series of triumphs over common visitants, but who was at length fairly drunk dead by the chieftain of the opposite moors.“
This is a weird focus on drinking, and in the ballad the dragon is attached to and drinks from the well. A water affinity figures: ancient tales cross-culturally feature a monster linked to water taken on by a hero figure. From micro-place-names (Uskers and Leek) there was a usually flooded floodplain or lake at Deepcar, that,
New strike tactics at Sheffield waste depot aim to cause increased disruption
Workers at Veolia will now return to work periodically to disrupt employer’s use of agency strike breakers
Striking workers taking part in a year-long dispute in Sheffield are set to cause greater disruption for their employer as new dates for action have been announced.
in its pronunciation (of old, at least) by true locals as “deeup-ker”, may be derived from Gaelic duibheagán, ‘abyss, pit of hell’. [Note it is not from Norse kjarr, which means ‘thicket, brushwood’, not ‘marsh’, and there are no Norse namings hereabouts.] An abyss was viewed as a liminal site: a portal between this world and the spirit ‘otherworld’, imagined as guarded by a monster; for a lake, a ‘water-hound’, dobhar-chú, that in sounding akin to duibheagán would be reinforced by it, and vice-versa.
The picture, though sketchy, does appear to be a classic medieval dragon story superimposed on ancient localised myth of monster-hero conflict. Folklore remaining alive in the 1960s in Deepcar school playgrounds was of two giants: chieftains of the opposing hills battling it out (one dropping the three enormous boulders below Townend Common). This could be the nexus. Just as an elaboration into a romanticised knight versus dragon tale was used in the Wantley ballad to illustrate turning the tables on the local Lord – and as emblematic of a reversal of the state’s Reformation -- so older monster versus hero tradition probably symbolised the contest across the Don gorge separating two peoples at their natural mutual border. Then again, wouldn’t imagining a monster have come first?
Two monsters, indeed. A water monster, given the watery abyss at Deepcar, and a serpent/dragon from what was above it: the firestone ridge of Townend and the sinuous Wharncliffe Crags. The serpent/ dragon became enmeshed with the idea of the hero to battle the water monster. Striking deviations from a standard George & the dragon template in the ballad re-telling reveal it’s a pretty dragonly hero who became the knight, leaving the water monster as the dragon to be slain. Never mind the dragon, the knight is monstrous, swinging his horse by the tail or mane until dead, then eating all bar its head! Instead of chivalry he demands young girls.
Internal contradiction is usual in mythology; expected from layering over time. What formerly was to the fore can still shine through, making for messy understanding.
Members of Unite working for Veolia at the Lumley Street depot have been on strike for over a year in their fight for union recognition. In a new tactic designed to disrupt Veolia’s use of agency staff in strike-breaking roles, workers will now periodically return to work before then heading back to the picket line.
Workers will now walk out from 10-16 November, 24-30 November, 8-14 December, 22-28 December, 5-11 January, 19-25 January, 2-8 February, 16-22 February and 2-8 March.
Unite is committed to improving pay and conditions at the site and has submitted a pay claim on behalf of its members that has been rejected by Veolia.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Veolia’s absolute refusal to negotiate, its outright dismissal of a reasonable pay claim and its use of agency strike-breakers means Unite’s tactics will now seek to cause maximum disruption.
“Veolia is denying the basic democratic right of union recognition, causing resentment among staff on different terms and conditions and all the while pocketing millions from taxpayer-funded council contracts. Enough is enough.”
Unite is also beginning a focussed campaign highlighting how residents believe Sheffield council is failing in its provision of basic services such as street lighting, road repairs and fly-tipping all underfunded while simultaneously lining the pockets of private sector companies like Veolia. Residents across the city are being supported and helped to protest at the council’s mishandling of public funds.
Unite regional officer Shane Sweeting said: “It is disgraceful that a Labour-run council is betraying the city’s workers and now residents are telling us how fed up they are. It gave Veolia this contract and is now failing to act in support of its own communities.
“Residents are telling us they not getting the basic services yet shareholders are getting richer off taxpayer’s money. Unite is taking a stand for workers and for the people of Sheffield.”
Veolia is a huge multinational corporation based in Paris. It runs Sheffield’s bins and recycling service through a contract with the city council. Veolia is making huge profits from this contract – while the council teeters on the brink of bankruptcy. Veolia made £11.7 million in profit from Sheffield in 2023, while the council faces a budget shortfall of £18.1 million! Veolia makes £815 million a year in global profits – much of it coming from public contracts like Sheffield. As the council makes cuts to local services, Veolia is paying out millions to shareholders - £763 million in the past year, part-funded by its Sheffield profits.
The Dragon's Den on Wharncliffe Crags
with condensation between your double glazed units?
YOUNGSTER WINS PARKRUN
Penistone Footpath
Runners were in action across road, fell, and cross-country events during one of the busiest weekends of the autumn season.
At the Altra Yorkshire Marathon, Richard Cottam continued his ne form with a 2-52-09 run, leading home a strong Penistone contingent that included Alan Nutton (2-57-53), Suzanne McGill (3-09-00) who claimed rst place in the ladies over45 category, Jade Crosby (3-31-25), Gemma Nutton (412-17) and Stefan Butler-Gillen (5-1316).
On the same day, clubmates excelled in the Altra Yorkshire 10 Mile, where Ashley Firth ran 1-02-10, Alex Harris 1-0409, and Ian Neville topped the men’s over60 category with 1-06-43. Robert Davies (1-09-22), Alex Crosby (1-11-00) and Kimberley Rogers (2-16-06) also completed strong runs on the popular route starting and nishing at the University of York.
• Farmers Scythe - £40, A Hay Fork - £20, A Edging Bill - £10, Call: 01226765554
• Junior cabin bunk bed, barely used, with windowed curtain storage, h 43” x w 33” x l 77”, excellent condition £95 ono 07973 918880
• 6 sheets of general purpose plywood. 3.6mm x 2440mm x 1220mm, cost £139, will accept £85 ono 07960 641742
• 1930’s solid wood interior door £20. Heavyduty car jack £30. Ordinary car jack £10. Tel 07957549136
• A Triglide Cruiser Mobility scooter , 2 years old. Hardly used £1995 or nearest o er Call: 07747796640
• Air Guns and Pistols wanted, Good prices paid, Please phone 07518938321
• Old Fishing tackle, Old Christmas baubles, an Old Walkman, & Old Joinery Tools Call: 07789311652
• Gold Pocket & Wrist watches for personal usecash paid 07518 938321
James Mumford continued his excellent road form at the Tra ord 10K, recording 34-35, just six seconds o his lifetime best on the at and fast Manchester course. Abroad, Shaun Swallow represented the club at the Kraków Half Marathon, nishing in 1-39-10.
Penistone elded two full teams at the British Fell and Hill Relay Championships in Keswick, tackling a tough Lakeland route with over 2,000 metres of ascent. Standout e orts came from Shaun Swallow (5448) and Jill Scrivens (1-04-36) on leg one, Simon Pike and Jon Waller (1-35-06) on leg two, Jon Hallam and Steve Sanders (135-10) on leg three, and Martyn Goodwin (55-13) and
Emma Stead (58-00) on the nal leg. ere was further success at the Manchester Half Marathon, where Will Hoyland ran 1-49-51, Ian McNulty 1-54-02, and Bryan Worth 3-0541 among a eld of more than 22,000 nishers. Jemma Williams impressed at the Dukeries 10, clocking 1-27-47 to nish third female overall on the scenic Sherwood Forest trails.
Nichola McNally also took a ne win at the Dalemain 10K Trail Race near Penrith, nishing rst lady on the scenic twolap course around Dalemain Mansion in approximately 48 minutes according to her watch, with ocial results still to be con rmed.
e Cross-country season began with Penistone strongly represented at the opening South Yorkshire League xture at Cli on Park, Rotherham. Highlights included Flynn Rodgers placing seventh in the under-17 men’s race and Edward Holley tenth in the under-15 boys, while in the senior women’s event Julia Johnson won the FV55 category ahead of Lesley Parker, Jill Scrivens, Helen Turner, Heather Lindley and Kim Rodgers. e men’s team packed well through Matthew Robinson, Daniel Limb, Lee Storey, Oliver Pike and Oliver France, with veterans Martyn Goodwin, Martin Hughes, Keith Gordon and Nick Whittingham all placing highly in their age categories.
Away from the league, Graihagh Turner helped Rotherham Harriers to victory in the under-17 girls’ race at the Northern Cross Country Relays at Graves Park, representing both her home club and her training group with distinction.
At the weekend’s parkruns, Flynn Rogers produced a superb overall win and personal best at Hillsborough in a eld of 693 runners, while Hannah Shaw also took rst gender place at Point y Bala. ere were second and third places at Penistone for Richard Heppenstall and George Parr respectively, while James Fryers took third at Town Moor. Lee Hopkins celebrated his 550th parkrun at Blickling, and Damian Kilpin reached his 250th milestone at Penistone.
e top age-graded performances came from Richard Heppenstall (81.14%), Ian Neville (80.30%), Flynn Rogers (79.27%), James Fryers (77.47%) and John Broom (76.58%), with 64 seniors representing the club across 23 venues. At Penistone Parkrun, 273 runners took part with Heppenstall (1805) second, Parr (1849) third, Andrew Heppenstall (19-14), Rob Lees (19-15), and Kilpin (19-52) among the top ten, while Heather Simpson (23-01) ran a personal best to win her category.
Further down the eld Paul Sammon (28-31), Becky Parr (29-16) and Claire Watts (32-04) were among the regulars, and Martyn Cartwright (35-58) took second in the men’s over75s. At Barnsley Parkrun, Ian Neville was rst over60 in 19-58, Alan Knox rst over70 in 26-30, Sue Hall rst over65 in 28-12, and Danny Batty rst over80 in 32-44, with strong runs also from Stu Smith (29-00) and Luke McGuinness (32-10).
Results
Altra Yorkshire Marathon
121, Richard Cottam 2-52-09; 204, Alan Nutton 2-57-53; 445, Suzanne McGill 3-0900; 1207, Jade Crosby 3-31-25; 3235, Gem-
ma Nutton 4-12-17; 5645, Stefan ButlerGillen 5-13-16.
Altra Yorkshire 10 Mile
85, Ashley Firth 1-02-10; 124, Alex Harris 1-04-09; 169, Ian Neville 1-06-43; 247, Robert Davies 1-09-22; 298, Alex Crosby 1-11-00; 3866, Kimberley Rogers 2-16-06.
Leg 2 – 148, Simon Pike/Jon Waller 1-35-06; 185, Harriet Drouin/Becky Timms 2-00-11.
Leg 3 – 129, Jon Hallam/Steve Sanders 1-35-10; 177, Sarah
Jones-Morris/Hannah Shaw 1-55-16.
Leg 4 – 166, Martyn Goodwin 55-13; 174, Emma Stead 58-00.
Manchester Half Marathon
7015, Will Hoyland 1-49-51; 8539, Ian McNulty 1-54-02; 22073, Bryan Worth 3-05-41.
SYXC League 1, Clifton Park, Rotherham Under-15 Boys
10, Edward Holley 16-56.
Under-17 Men
7, Flynn Rodgers 2156.
Senior and Veteran Women
41, Julia Johnson 2300; 50, Lesley Parker 23-25; 60, Fay Nicholls 24-36; 64, Jill Scrivens 24-40; 80, Helen Turner 25-45; 121, Heather Lindley 28-58; 152, Kim Rodgers 39-03.
Senior and Veteran Men
72, Matthew Robinson 31-58; 81, Daniel
Limb 32-23; 93, Lee Storey 33-23; 108, Oliver Pike 34-21; 116, Oliver France 34-44.
Veteran Men 65+ 8, Martyn Goodwin 24-35; 11, Martin Hughes 25-41; 16, Keith Gordon 28-21; 21, Nick Whittingham 34-45.
Penistone Parkrun 2, Richard Heppenstall 18-05; 3, George Parr 18-49; 7, Andrew Heppenstall 19-14; 8, Rob Lees 19-15; 11, Damian Kilpin 19-52; 38, Heather Simpson 23-01; 55, Shaun Braddock 2416; 70, Edward Holley 25-08; 88, Oliver Found 26-09; 132, Paul Sammon 28-31; 148, Becky Parr 2916; 193, Claire Watts 32-04; 223, Martyn Cartwright 35-58. Barnsley Parkrun 8, Ian Neville 19-58; 53, Alan Knox 26-30; 66, Sue Hall 28-12; 75, Stu Smith 29-00; 110, Luke McGuinness 32-10; 118, Danny Batty 32-44.
‘STOCKSBRIDGE HOLD ON FOR VICTORY’
Round 6 of the Counties 4 Yorkshire South competition saw Globe Holidays sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby host Hessle RUFC who made the journey from under the Humber Bridge, & in a hard fought , attritional game the hosts eventually came out on top, recording back-to-back victories in a tense 13pts6pts victory, which takes Stocksbridge up to 2nd in the league ladder.
Player/Coach Aaron Kaye was able to select from strength, with father & son, Ricky ‘rooney’ James in the front row, & Jack ‘joey’ James packing down at No 8. The versatile Jack ‘the feet’ Spence slotted in at 13 to partner the in-form Harrison ‘the storm’ Norman in midfield. A strong finishers bench included Kaye himself with experienced campaigners Whitaker, Woodcock & that man Frith, along with the dependable Ben ‘weseby’ Westby, making a rare appearance.
The visitors, playing up the slope, started the better, & it took a while for Stocksbridge to get hold of the ball. Hessle played some decent attacking rugby, but the blue wall held firm, & Stocksbridge took the lead with a Scotty Bowskill penalty, Bowskill is sponsored by Stocksbridge Fire Station, to calm the nerves of the home side & supporters. The home side gradually found their rhythm, & were able to assert some pressure on their visitors. Following good line out ball, & a series of aggressive phases of attacking rugby, the ball was recycled to Harrison ‘the storm’ Norman who outpaced the defence to register the first, & only try of the day. Norman is kindly sponsored by Mr David & Mrs Jacqueline Lambert. Bowskill, with his kicking boots on, converted superbly from a difficult angle. A careless high tackle allowed the visitors to register 3 points from a penalty. The half time whistle blew with the score; Stocksbridge Rugby 10pts - Hessle RUFC 3pts.
The 2nd stanza was a bit of a scrappy affair as neither side could assert any real dominance, Stocksbridge had the better of the territory
battle, but were guilty of a lack of accuracy in their execution, which allowed Hessle to clear their lines & remain in the game. Hessle converted another penalty to draw them closer, when perhaps a more confident side may have chosen to run the ball. Stocksbridge will need to convert their opportunities if they are to be serious title contenders, & although they lost Tom Spencer (punching) & that man Adam Frith (dissent) to yellow cards, & 10 minutes in the sin bin, they were able to edge further ahead when Bowskill again was on hand with a successful penalty kick, for a high tackle on the rampaging Norman. Bowskill was just wide with another difficult penalty attempt, but Stocksbridge held on to secure the points with a final score; Stocksbridge Rugby 13ptsHessle RUFC 6pts.
Despite great individual performances from Westby, Woodcock, & Staley-Howson, young centre Harrison ‘the storm’ Norman was awarded the John Crawshaw Butchers Man of the Match, Norman was a threat every time he touched the ball, & his defence held strong with some telling tackles.
Afterwards Player/Coach Aaron Kaye was happy with the win, but admitted his team should have made more of their opportunities, ‘it was a scrappy game, & we struggled to keep hold of the ball at times’, he said, before adding, ‘we kept them tryless which was a bonus, & we can continue to improve in our execution’.
Stocksbridge take a breather from league action next weekend, as they make the journey to Maltby in the next round of the Counties Cup Competition. A trip to West Yorkshire to face Knottingley is their Round 7 clash, while the next home fixture at the Coal Pit Lane Arena will be on 8th November when near neighbours Wortley RUFC visit in the Fox Valley trophy series. Winter kick-off times of 2.30pm will apply & a good crowd is expected.
Bernie celebrates 60th
It’s been another action-packed weekend for members of Valley Hill Runners (VHR), with parkruns, birthdays, and big race performances taking place across the region and beyond.
Saturday morning saw club regulars out in force at Concord parkrun, where John Weatherall and Johanna Palmer both celebrated impressive new personal bests. There was also a special occasion to mark as long-time member Bernie Harding celebrated his 60th birthday — complete with balloons, chocolates, and a homemade lemon drizzle cake shared among friends.
Meanwhile, several runners travelled over to Scarborough for a weekend of seaside running and socialising. On Saturday, they took part in the relatively new Woodlands parkrun, before lining up the following day for the Scarborough 10K. Conditions were far kinder than last year’s wind and rain, and
the hard work paid off with personal bests for Caroline White, Rebecca Sanders, Kim Drake, and Steve Sansom. Steve was first VHR male to finish, while Kim led the women home.
Elsewhere, Gordon Fiander tackled the notoriously tough Steel City 10 at Bradway, where an unfortunate course marking error meant all competitors ran an extra loop – making an already brutal route even tougher.
Over in York, Peter Townsend, Zoe Baker, and Christian Barks took on the Yorkshire Marathon. Peter finished in just over 4 hours 30 minutes, placing fourth in the male vet 70 category. Zoe, running her first ever marathon, crossed the line just under five hours and was delighted with her result. Christian, one of the club’s newest members, clocked just under four hours and praised the club’s training sessions and advice for helping him achieve his strong debut performance.
Photo by Ian Revitt
STEELS OVERPOWER CABLES
PRESCOT CABLES 1 - 2 STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS
By Andrew McMath
Stocksbridge Park Steels continued their winning run making it five wins from their last five in all competitions. This time recording their first away league win of the season against Prescot Cables FC.
Oliwier Grzelak opened the scoring for the Steels just after 20 minutes scoring a rebound header following in to capitalise on the keeper’s parry.
After a few decent chances for both sides, Stocksbridge went into half time one goal to the good. Soon after the restart Luke Rawson headed in from a free kick taken from near the corner flag that was floated in perfectly for 2-0.
The next twenty minutes went by with both sides sharing decent chances. The Steels looked comfortable until the 67th minute where lapses in defensive concentration saw the ironically named James Steele lift the ball over the Steels defender with a flick on header before finishing easily past the then stranded Steels goalkeeper.
From there Stocksbridge had to weather a storm of chances from Prescot, with the home side sensing the opportunity to equalise. A
bouncing ball in the Steels’ penalty area left everyone of a Steels’ persuasion on edge as it took multiple attempts to clear the ball out the danger zone.
Riding the pressure well, the Steels saw out the win, an important three points taking them to 13 points in the league sitting 18th in the table.
Manager Ian Richards spoke after the game:
“An exceptional win to get five wins a row to get our first win at this level away from home against a really good side. A side that only lost two all season out of thirteen in the league. Hard to score against and hard to break down and we fully deserved to be up at half-time
“I thought we were excellent in the first half. Never give them a moment, never let them settle. Played in the right areas, controlled with a good structure which allowed us to get 2-0.
“We responded to their goal well. We had a good five minute spell where we took the sting out if it which is good.
“I’m really proud of the players, it’s a superb win. We fully deserve it and keep focusing on the process.”
Ladies progress in cup
Photo by Myra Little
Steels juniors shine under the lights in international clash
It was a night to remember at Bracken Moor as Stocksbridge Park Steels Juniors U16s took to the senior pitch for an international friendly — and celebrated the occasion in style with a 2–0 victory over visiting Australian side South Cardiff FC.
The match, played under the floodlights, drew a strong crowd and created a brilliant atmosphere for players, families and supporters alike. Both teams showed great sportsmanship and skill throughout, but it was the young Steels who found the net twice to secure a memorable win against their resilient opponents from Down Under.
A club spokesperson said: “What a great night for our U16s under the floodlights at Bracken Moor. It was a fantastic atmosphere and topped off with a 2–0 win against a
strong South Cardiff FC side visiting from Australia. This has created an amazing memory for these lads.”
The club also extended its thanks to Stocksbridge Park Steels and their volunteers for allowing the juniors to use the senior ground and for being such welcoming hosts.
Adding to the sense of occasion, the Stocksbridge Park Steels U9s played their part as mascots for the evening — a proud moment for the younger players and their families.
The event showcased not only the talent within the local junior ranks but also the community spirit that continues to thrive around Bracken Moor. For the U16s, it was a night that will live long in the memory — an unforgettable experience under the lights, wearing the Steels badge with pride.
Photo by Ian Revitt
Stocksbridge Park Steels Ladies are in the hat for the next round of the county cup after a dominant 7-0 victory against Rotherham United U21’s.
A fantastic display across the park which resulted in two hattricks and a clean sheet for the hard-working goalkeeper and defence.
Goals scored by Leah Kerr 3, Jenna McGee 3, and Olivia Winstanley
