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Murder charge after missing man's body found The family of a man whose death prompted a murder investigation has paid tribute to a “loving husband, father and grandfather” who had “a heart of gold”, writes Victoria Scheer for BBC Yorkshire. Stephen Grimmer, 62, was reported missing at about 17:45 BST on Friday and was found dead at a property in Worsbrough Bridge later that evening. Andrew Fowler, 60 and of George Street in Barnsley, was charged with Grimmer’s murder and is due to appear at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday. In a tribute issued via South Yorkshire Police, the victim’s family said he had been a proud

Army veteran who “would go out of his way to help anyone and was liked by everyone who knew him”. They said Grimmer had planned on travelling to Spain on the evening he was killed, while Gibraltar “held some of his best memories” and was his second home. “Stephen was proud of his Army service in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment and the friends he made in the service were brothers to him,” the tribute said. “He loved his body art, as his face tattoos prove, and although he could often look quite intimidating, he was really as soft as a brush and had a heart of gold.”

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Police said the family was being supported by specialist officers.

Andrew Fowler appeared at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court earlier, where he was remanded in custody. Three areas were cordoned off following the discovery of Grimmer’s body, including two locations on George Street and a section of the Trans Pennine Trail nearby. As part of standard procedure, South Yorkshire Police said it had made a self-referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct because Grimmer had previously been reported missing.

Army veteran Stephen Grimmer was found dead on Friday after being reported as missing. Photo: Family Handout / South Yorkshire Police

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Issue 1439

Call 0114 283 1100

20 August 2026

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A Level Results

Local News

College boasts 100% pass rate Barnsley Sixth Form College is celebrating another excellent set of A Level results with a 98.2% overall pass rate and a 100% pass rate in 17 subjects, including Computer Science, English Language and Literature, Law, Physics, Politics and Spanish.

Among those celebrating today is Sienna Zdubek, who achieved A* grades in Economics, Business and English Language and Literature, and will be progressing to the University of Sheffield to study Business Management with ambitions to become a hotel manager.

Students have secured places at leading universities across the UK, alongside Higher and Degree Apprenticeships as well as other career pathways.

Sienna said: “I’ve really enjoyed the memories I’ve made, the support from my teachers and having the opportunity to do well. The support I’ve received has been invaluable to my success and has given me the motivation and drive to succeed. My advice to future A Level students would be to work hard but make sure you get enough sleep and still enjoy yourself. I’m excited to study Business Management at the University of Sheffield and work towards my ambition of becoming a hotel manager.”

Many students are now looking forward to continuing their studies at universities across the UK, having secured places on a wide range of degree courses. This year’s destinations include Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham, Sheffield and York, with one student achieving the grades needed to take up a place at Cambridge.

Also celebrating is Zack Raybold, who achieved a B in Maths, a C in Physics and a

C in Chemistry, and will be progressing to a Civil Engineering apprenticeship at CML. Zack said: “I’ve really enjoyed the freedom to study subjects I’m interested in and spending time with friends at Barnsley Sixth Form College. The teaching has been good, and I’d recommend the College to others. My advice to future A Level students would be to work hard and start revising early, as the more you put in, the better your results will be. I’m now looking forward to my next step, starting a Civil Engineering apprenticeship with CML.” David Akeroyd, Principal and Chief Executive of Barnsley College, said: “Congratulations to all of our students receiving their A Level results today. Their achievements reflect the dedication, resilience and commitment they have shown throughout their studies, supported every step of the way by our talented and hardworking staff.

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“We know that they are entering a competitive job market, which is why we ensure that our students not only achieve the results they need to progress today but also develop the skills they will need for tomorrow through dedicated work placements and industry programmes. Whether they are heading to university, an apprenticeship or directly into employment, we wish every one of them the very best as they begin the next chapter of their journey.” There is still time to apply to study at Barnsley Sixth Form College this September. Prospective students can find out more about the wide range of A Level courses and apply online at www.barnsleysixthformcollege.co.uk

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Stocksbridge Town Council NEWSLETTER

STOCKSBRIDGE

SUMMER 2026

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

BOLSTERSTONE VILLAGE FESTIVAL

It has been a busy – and warm! – quarter for Stocksbridge Town Council. We have welcomed some very special guests to join Council meetings over the last few months. These include Marie Tidball MP, local police, and representatives from some of the local groups who have successfully applied for funding from the Town Council. In June, I was delighted to visit Food Matters Stocksbridge to tour the facility, chat with volunteers and customers, and, of course, enjoy a cup of tea. I was incredibly impressed with the work done so far on the community outlet, and with their plans for the future. I’m always happy to attend community events whenever I can, so please contact the Town Council office if there is an occasion, presentation, opening or celebration you would like me to attend. The recent Small Charity Week was a timely reminder of the dedication shown by so many local groups and volunteers in their tireless work to make our town the wonderful place it is to live and work. All our groups thrive through people freely giving their time, skills and energy. If you have a few hours to spare, please consider volunteering locally.

Members who attended the Bolsterstone Village Festival on Saturday 4th July reported that the festival was a great success, with a vibrant atmosphere and activities for all ages. Visitors enjoyed performances by Deepcar Brass Band and Bolsterstone Male Voice Choir, stalls featuring locally crafted goods, artwork displayed in Bolsterstone Church, homemade cakes and cream teas at the Village Hall, a barbecue hosted by the Castle Inn, a classic car exhibition, and animals from local farms. The Council extends its thanks to the organisers, volunteers and everyone who contributed to making the festival such a successful community event.

Cllr Richard Crowther Town Mayor & Chair of Council 2026-2027

YORKSHIRE DAY The Mayor, Cllr Richard Crowther, and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Julie Grocutt, were delighted to represent Stocksbridge at the Yorkshire Day celebrations on Saturday 1st August. Civic leaders and dignitaries from across the region met in Goole for this annual celebration of all things Yorkshire. The event provided an opportunity to celebrate Yorkshire's rich heritage and strong sense of community.

NEW VICAR FOR THE CORNERSTONE BENEFICE

STOCKSBRIDGE HIGH CELEBRATION EVENING

In early June, members welcomed the new Vicar of the Cornerstone Benefice of Stocksbridge and Deepcar. The Mayor extended best wishes to the Revd Dr Louise McInnes as she begins her ministry as Vicar of the Cornerstone Benefice, covering St Mary’s Bolsterstone, St John’s Deepcar and the Christian Centre in Stocksbridge.

The Deputy Mayor, Cllr Julie Grocutt, and Cllr James Wheeler had the pleasure of attending Stocksbridge High School's Annual Celebration Evening in July. Cllr Grocutt had the privilege of presenting this year's Citizenship Award to a deserving Year 10 student in recognition of their remarkable contribution to both the school and the wider community.

Councillors also wished to express their thanks to the Revd Ian Lucraft as he leaves the Benefice, recognising his service to the community over many years.

The evening provided an opportunity for students and staff to come together to celebrate success across a wide range of academic, creative and community achievements throughout the year. Congratulations to all of the award recipients and best wishes to every student in the year ahead.

FOX VALLEY MARKS 10 YEARS Fox Valley celebrated its 10th anniversary in June, marking a decade since the centre opened in 2016 and became a key focal point for shopping, leisure, employment and community life in Stocksbridge and the surrounding areas. The birthday weekend brought family entertainment, music, market traders and local celebrations, recognising not only Fox Valley's success over the past decade, but also its continued role at the heart of the local community. The Mayor was delighted to support this special occasion, and thanks Fox Valley for the invitation to officially open the anniversary celebrations.

SPECSAVERS OPENING EVENT Specsavers have relocated their Fox Valley store to 15 Harry Brearley House. The Mayor was kindly invited to attend the official opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on 10th August, which was covered on local radio. The Mayor congratulated the team on the opening and wished them every success in their new location. The bigger store is now open to the public, with a commitment to providing them with the best possible care for eyes and hearing.

RECENT MEETINGS & LOCAL UPDATES In June, the Town Council met with a local representative from Streets Ahead to discuss Amey's road programme, with patching works and traditional surfacing having taken place throughout June and July. Members voiced residents’ concerns about the condition of the roads across our area, and requested support in advocating for more effective and timely repairs. The Town Council will continue to press for clear information, inspections and action where issues are identified. The Town Council recently wrote to Yorkshire Ambulance Service seeking further information regarding the possible closure of Middlewood Ambulance Service, requesting assurances that our area will not experience any reduction in the level or quality of emergency ambulance provision. Members were pleased to hear that a planning application for a new allweather 3G football pitch at Bracken Moor Lane had been submitted by the Stocksbridge Towns Fund. The project will aim to provide a year-round facility for community groups and teams connected with Stocksbridge Park Steels FC. If approved, the new pitch will increase opportunities for sport and physical activity in our area. Councillors also welcomed the recent installation of a memorial wall at Stocksbridge Park Steels Football Club in honour of the club's founder, Allen Bethel, recognising his many years of dedication to the club and unforgettable contribution to the youth of our community.

GRANTS AWARDED (SPRING/SUMMER 2026) • £4,576 was awarded to Stocksbridge and District History Society toward room rental costs for the history museum. • £1,200 was awarded to Stocksbridge Pentaqua Swimming Club toward costs for two Skierg machines. • £425.00 was awarded to Stocksbridge and Deepcar Royal British Legion toward costs for a Union Standard and Ceremonial Stand and a Mourning Drape for use at events and parades. • £1,099 was awarded to Stocksbridge Friendship Bowling Club toward the costs of an XL 32-piece bowl kit. • £1,200 was awarded to Stocksbridge Community Leisure Centre toward their holiday activities and food programme for children during the May Spring Bank Holiday period. • £1,000 was awarded to Little Einstein’s Nursery and Pre-School toward costs for providing a seaside day trip during the summer holidays.

T O W N C O UN C I LL OR S North Ward – Stubbin & Manchester Road Cllr Richard Crowther Cllr James Wheeler East Ward – Deepcar Cllr Keith Davis Cllr Leanne Fox South Ward – Bolsterstone & Whitwell Estate Cllr Alan Law Cllr Julie Grocutt

West Ward – Garden Village & Smithy Moor Cllr Clare Wilson Cllr Joseph Staniforth For further information or to contact a councillor please visit our website at www.stocksbridgetowncouncil.gov.uk or contact the office using the contact details below.

Clerk to the Council: Teresa Bisatt Town Hall, The ARC, Manchester Road, Stocksbridge, Sheffield, S36 2DT Phone: 0114 2887895 Email: admin@stocksbridgetowncouncil.gov.uk

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Local News

Issue 1439

20 August 2026

‘DODGY’ SHOPS NOW NEED PERMISSION TO OPEN Call 0114 283 1100

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MP welcome crackdown on vape shops, gambling and ‘dodgy’ businesses

MP Marie Tidball has welcomed the Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s crackdown on vape stores, gambling shops and dodgy businesses as part of his plan to save ‘hollowed out’ high streets across Britain. The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, is giving communities new, strong powers to stop the heart being taken out of our high streets. Vape shops will now require planning permission to open, which will give local people and councils a say over their high street, and will stop them being opened near schools. Betting shops will face new restrictions, as the Government repeals the ‘Aim to Permit’ principle in law - that forced councils to grant permission to new betting shops and 24-hour slot machine shops even

where there are strong local concerns. The Government is also doubling the maximum length of Closure Orders, from six months to 12 months. This will allow local authorities and the police more time to investigate and prosecute dodgy businesses with links to organised crime and close them for good, such as empty barber shops and illegal vape shops. So-called ‘Adult Gaming Centres’, which include up to 24-hour access to gambling machines, will also require new planning permission under new proposals, due to come into effect at the start of next year. In addition, councils will gain further powers to implement restrictions on the types and designs of signage which shops put up. This

would allow councils to ban tacky neon signage which is not sympathetic to the local area’s heritage, for example. Combined, these measures are part of the Prime Minister’s plan to put power back into the hands of local communities and end the heart being taken out of high streets across the Barnsley area and across our country. Marie Tidball, Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge, said: “Since being elected, one of my top priorities as your MP has been to secure thriving towns and high streets in our very special villages. I know how upsetting it is for local people to see the heart being taken

out of our high streets, leaving them almost unrecognisable. “I’ve been campaigning against dodgy vape shops and suspicious businesses on our high streets for a while now. It’s a regular theme, raised by my constituents, at the ‘Pride in’ constituency meetings I’ve been holding across our communities. “That’s why I’m so pleased that the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, is giving communities like ours these new powers for local people to take back control of our high streets." Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “For many people, the high streets they grew up with have been hollowed out and become unrecognisable over decades of decline. The

rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services, and community spaces that people are crying out for. “That’s not on. I said we would improve Britain’s high streets, and that’s exactly what we are starting to do. We're putting communities back in control and giving local people a real say over what opens on their high street. Local councils will be given the powers they need to rein in unwanted shops and bring town centres back to life. “High streets are the beating heart of local communities, but for too long Westminster has stood by while they have been in decline. This government is committed to restoring our high streets and bringing back hope across Britain.”

Council leaders visit seven proposed Green Belt development sites Councillors have visited seven areas of Green Belt land proposed for development across Chapeltown, Ecclesfield and Grenoside as part of a campaign against the plans.

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Councillor Fran Belbin, Leader of the Labour Group on Sheffield City Council, and Councillor Angela Argenzio, Leader of the Green Group, joined a representative from the office of Penistone and Stocksbridge MP Marie Tidball for a three-hour tour of the sites.

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Two members of the SaveCEG Greenbelt accompanied the councillors, while local residents attended individual sites to outline their concerns about potential development. The campaign group says the proposals could result in around 1,400 new homes and 45 hectares of employment land being built across the area. It raised concerns about the cumulative impact of development on the communities, as well as individual issues at the proposed sites. These included traffic and access, flooding, the loss of agricultural land, wildlife and ecology, trees and hedgerows, infrastructure, pollution further with planning officers and council coland the potential impact on neighbouring leagues. properties. The proposed Green Belt releases form part of The group also highlighted concerns about wider plans for future housing and employthe loss of what it describes as productive and ment development in Sheffield. “Best and Most Versatile” agricultural land. The campaign group said it hoped the visit Councillors were shown each of the seven sites would ensure decisions about the sites take and heard directly from residents living close into account the conditions and constraints to the proposed development areas. on the ground, as well as their designation on According to the campaign group, Coun- planning maps. cillors Belbin and Argenzio asked questions The visit comes as Sheffield’s wider planning throughout the visit and took notes on the is- proposals continue to attract debate over sues raised. where new homes and employment land The councillors said there were matters they should be located and the balance between wanted to take away from the visit and discuss development and protecting Green Belt and agricultural land.

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Issue 1439

Call 0114 283 1100

20 August 2026

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Local News

Local author celebrates community spirit in latest novel A local author has drawn in- The book was inspired by Craig’s spiration from a Stocksbridge own experiences of visiting the community café for his latest Social Cafe at Christ Church in book, which explores loneliness, Stocksbridge, where support, acfriendship and the power of peo- tivities and trips are provided for ple coming together to support isolated and vulnerable members those in need. of the community. Craig Minto’s new novel, Social At the heart of the story is SarCafe Angels, is set in the fiction- ah Saintly, who takes on the role al industrial northern town of of coordinator at the new Social Steelsbridge and follows the cre- Cafe. Supported by the church ation and growth of a community and a team of volunteers, she café designed to help people fac- gradually builds the initiative into ing isolation and difficult circum- an important part of the commustances. nity. As more people discover the café, membership grows and increasing numbers of volunteers get involved. The story then moves on as Rihanna Hope takes over the coordinator role from Sally, helping the Social Cafe continue to develop and expand its role within the town.

Over the course of a decade, the café becomes a vital source of support for people of all ages, including those experiencing isolation, poor physical or mental wellbeing and difficult circumstances. The story reaches 2026, when Steelsbridge Social Cafe celebrates its achievements with a gathering attended by distinguished guests. While Social Cafe Angels tackles some serious issues, Craig combines them with humour and warmth, creating a story about ordinary people making a difference in their community.

Speaking about his inspiration for the book, Craig said: “I was inspired to write my story by attending The Social Cafe at Christ Church in Stocksbridge where there is help and support for isolated and vulnerable members of the community. Activities and trips out also make people's lives a lot easier. “I hope that my readers can get a better understanding of how be-

coming ill or getting cut off and being on your own can change your life. “Also that the work of places like the Social Cafe also help the staff and volunteers who give of their time to feel more confident and to make friendships.” The novel explores themes of loneliness, volunteering, friendship and resilience, while highlighting the difference that community projects can make to people's lives. For Craig, the story is ultimately one of hope and the strength that can come from people working together. Although Social Cafe Angels is set in the fictional town of Steelsbridge, its themes will be familiar to communities across the region, where volunteers and community groups continue to provide vital support to people who might otherwise feel alone.

Specsavers expands at Fox Valley

Specsavers at Fox Valley has moved into a larger store in the centre’s piazza, between Ponti’s Italian Kitchen and Brearley House. The expanded premises now feature six test rooms, doubling the previous number and allowing audiology appointments to be offered seven days a week. A dedicated earwax removal service will also be introduced.

New treatments include Zocular Eyelid System Treatment for dry eye and blepharitis, alongside technology designed to support eye testing. The store celebrated its reopening with the Mayor of Stocksbridge Richard Crowther and Barnsley Radio DJ Matt Foister.

Two jobs to do: Helping people into work, and planning the valley’s future By Sam Tarff, Chief Executive, STEP Charity

Ready to move your business out of the spare room? STEP Works has a limited number of compact private offices available in Deepcar. Approx. 154 sq ft, ideal for a one-or-two-person business looking for an affordable, professional base. Includes 24-hour access & reception and post service. (Monday - Friday 9am-5pm.) INTRODUCTORY OFFER £349 + vat per month for the first 3 months. £395 + vat per month thereafter The licence fee includes office electricity, building insurance, general maintenance, alarm & CCTV. Tenants also benefit from a flexible monthly licence and access to STEP's business support, networks & local connections. Book a viewing to see how your business could work at STEP. Email info@stepworks.co.uk & quote COMPACT349 or call 0114 2903600.

Earlier this year I wrote in these pages about what STEP has learned from helping local people into work. It clearly struck a chord. What came back was straightforward: people want practical help, close to home, from someone who understands the area. That help is still here, and it is free. Our employment team will sit down with anyone looking for work, a change of direction, or a route back after time out. CVs and applications. Interview practice. Finding the right training. And often the part that matters most — rebuilding a bit of confidence. Through STEP FuturAI we also run digital and AI skills sessions, covering the tools employers now expect people to use. No referral needed. Just get in touch. Alongside that, something bigger is starting. In the summer I set out our plans for a hyperlocal regeneration strategy covering Stocksbridge, Deepcar, High Green, Chapeltown and the surrounding communities. That work now has someone leading it. Kathryn O’Donohue has joined STEP as Partnership

Manager, and developing strategy is her main task.

the

This is where we need you. A strategy written behind closed doors is worth very little. We want to hear from residents, businesses, community groups, schools, clubs and anyone with a stake in this place — about what works, what has been let slide, and what should come first. Over the coming months we will run conversations, workshops and open sessions across the valley, and we want as many local voices in the room as possible. If you would like to be part of it, register your interest with Kathryn. Whether you can give an hour or a year, there is a place for you. Forward Together.

Call Now 0114 2903600 STEP Works - Business Centre | Step Charity

STEP CHARITY IS RECRUITING

Finance & Administrative Officer The Venue, 650 Manchester Road, Stocksbridge

£14.80 per hour • 16 hours a week • Permanent Two roles in one. Half your week supports our Finance Manager with invoices, payments and reconciliations. The other half is at STEP Venue — bookings, enquiries, front of house and online marketing. You will need experience of finance or accounts administration, strong office and IT skills, and the confidence to deal with the public. Experience of QuickBooks or events is welcome but not essential.

To register an interest in the regeneration strategy:

For a recruitment pack, email Elaine Markham:

Kathryn O’Donohue, Partnership Manager — Kathryn.odonohue@ stepworks.co.uk or Mobile on 07836 402114 or call STEP Works Business Centre on 0114 290 3600.

Closing date: Friday 4th September

elaine.markham@stepvenue.co.uk STEP Charity is an equal opportunities employer. Enhanced DBS check required. stepcharity.co.uk

Issue 1439

Call 0114 283 1100

New poem for Hillsborough's 'Hidden Gem' celebrating 35 years “Poetry is one of the ancient arts, and it begins as did all the fine arts, within the original wilderness of the earth.” Mary Oliver

SEPTEMBER TUESDAY 1 Bolsterstone Community Group’s Annual General Meeting in St Mary’s Church, Bolsterstone. Open to all BCG members. 6.30 to 7.30pm

SATURDAY 5 Chapeltown Autumn Fayre Newton Hall Cowley Lane Chapeltown Open 11.003.00pm Refreshments available Free Admission 7 DANCE CLASSES Ladies beginner Tap Class Mondays 6:30- 7:30pm £6 Per person Beginner Salsa & Latin Mondays 7:30 - 8:30pm £6 Per person Starts 7 September @ Stocksbridge Rugby Club Call Janet: 07785981039

As a gallery we are best known for championing visual arts, however we have always been passionate about championing all the arts. Cupola regularly stocks poetry books published by Sheffield based Longbarrow Press and has held a number of poetry readings and collaborative exhibitions over the years.

OCTOBER

8 Thursday Chapeltown WI will meet at 7.30pm in Chapeltown Methodist Chapel when Amanda Crossland will speak to the group about her Ukulele Adventures. The competition is for a musical box. New members and visitors will always be made welcome.

ONGOING MONDAYS

I wanted this version of a sonnet to include different practices as well as painters, I focus on the actions of sculptors and the potters, for instance. To write a ‘public’ poem is never straightfor ward: you want the piece to speak to as many people as possible and also to be particular, distinctive, unique. I hope I have found a creative balance between these two seemingly disparate pressures in ‘Life Class’.”

This poem has been put in place in time for Cupola’s celebration party on Sunday 30th August. August is Cupola’s anniversary month as Karen believes that Cupola opened its first exhibition in 1991 around the very end of August. “I’m fascinated by people’s creativity and want to celebrate and highlight diverse talent in as many ways as I can. I know that art and poetry will never appeal to everyone, but I do

want it to be accessible. The fact that it can and does speak to some very powerfully is wonderful and is the reason is I want to share their talent.” Karen Sherwood, Director and founder. The gallery also stocks and sells a regularly replenished small selection of quality second hand books as well as vintage comics.

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 first! Contact 01226 764642 for more information Baby and Toddler group at the Christian Centre, Cedar Road S36 1AS. Mondays during term-time 9.30 - 11.30 am. Drop in anytime. Sponsored by T.A.R.A. MONDAY ART GROUP at STEPS, The VENUE, Manchester Rd, Stocksbridge. Every Mon 10.00 - 12 noon. £8 per session. Excellent tutor - watercolour, acrylics, pastels etc. Beginners upwards. Just come along and try a free taster session! DANCE CLASSES Ladies beginer Tap Class Mondays 6:307:30pm £6 Per person Beginner Salsa & Latin Mondays

7:30 - 8:30pm £6 Per person Starts 7 September @ Stocksbridge Rugby Club Call Janet: 07785981039

TUESDAYS CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other) Tea, coffee, 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. Thorncliffe Bowling Club invites you to their social bowling afternoons on their greens at the end of Mortomley Close, High Green,S35 3HZ at 1:45 pm. Coaching is available if you have never played before. The cost is £3 with a cup of tea or coffee Stocksbridge Bowling Club, on Linden Crescent, will be holding crown green bowling sessions for non members (followed by refreshments) twice weekly. Tuesdays starting at 1.30 pm and Thursdays starting at 5.30pm. Your first session will be free. All equipment and training will be provided. Please come along and enjoy.” This starts on 14th April.

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Chris says of his poem “I was interested in the notion that creators put so much of their own experiences and their own ideas into the art they are creating, only to give the finished piece away (sell the work). Because the artist ‘loses’ the physical object, the relationship is different from the writer who produces poems or prose fiction: I still ‘keep’ my poetry. How do ‘material’ artists feel about this?

EVENT MONDAY

Cupola will be adding to our 35th celebrations with a new poem by award winning poet Chris Jones.

Sheffield based, award winning poet and long time supporter of the gallery, Chris Jones, has written a poem to replace the current work by Andrew Hodgson. The poem is located externally at the junction of Middlewood Road and Leppings Lane.

Whats

20 August 2026

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20 August 2026

Call 0114 283 1100

LISTINGS 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. Enjoy Scrabble? Why not come along to our friendly Scrabble Club We meet between 12noon and 3pm on Wednesdays at the British Legion Club, Chapeltown £1 per session Everyone welcome St. Marys Church, Bolsterstone - Wednesdays from 10am to 12.30pm. Please come along for a chat to our popular Wednesday coffee morning for tea or coffee alongside our delicious homemade cakes in a warm friendly atmosphere. Do join us, it is open to all.

THURSDAYS Open House Community Café Everyone is welcome at Open House, our new community café - 1:30-3:30pm 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 10am-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 ‘WARM WELCOME’ for everyone at The Christian Centre, Cedar Road every Thursday between 9 a.m. & 2 p.m. Meet & Chat - Enjoy a snack - games to play. Second Thursday of every month, Penistone WI meet at St Mary’s Church, Talbot Road, Penistone S36 9ED at 7pm. An opportunity to meet and socialise with other women in your local area, listen to guest speakers, watch demonstrations, and the option to join additional craft and games groups. Refreshments and raffle are also available. Come and try it out for £5 and if you like it - join us!

Start up of Hatha Yoga Class at Stocksbridge Christian Centre, Cedar Road.Fridays, 10.00 am - 11.15am. All abilities welcome. Just come along to meet Holly - 07462 568 723 Bring a mat please.

SATURDAYS Thorncliffe Bowling Club invite you to their afternoon Shuffles Bowling Session at 1:45 .The greens are at the end of Mortomley Close, High Green,S35 3HZ. Coaching can be given if you have never played before. The cost is £3 with a cup of tea or coffee.

SUNDAYS Join us at 9.30am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Grenoside, S35 8RL Salt Box Lane crossroads (not 1st Sunday in April or October)

24 HR RECOVERY RAPID ASSISTANCE 0114 283 1615

DCSS Garages LTD Suppliers of Flo-gas and gas bottles suitable for BBQ’s

POW CARVINGS

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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I wonder if many of your readers are aware of the POW camp in High Green in the Second World War ? The camp was situated at Potter Hill, and housed Italian and German prisoners , they were used as local labour on farms and immediately after the war on building projects such as Parsons Cross for a year or two. Capacity was around 1500, with 58 huts providing accommodation, surrounded by double wire fencing and obviously guard towers. My particular interest is because on Sundays the internees , assuming good behaviour were allowed to wander the district I believe . My mum’s family used to invite an Italian young man for dinner on this day , they became good friends and to this day our respective families are in touch ; we get to stay / holiday on the outskirts of Venice; they the north side of Sheffield . Burncross, opposite the Acorn Inn had a similar camp . I attach a photo taken this week of a carving on a tree in Hallwood , Burncross that I was first shown in the very early 1960s; it was (I was told by a then local elderly lady) carved by an Italian POW on day release . Obviously after 80 years it is fading , but the AI enhanced ver-

sion gives a feel for how it looked in the 1940s. Stephen Hague

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FAMILY NOTICES PRICES FROM JUST £32.50 It’s not too late to make a Will... Hello, I’m Jane Ward-Drummond, your local Estate Planning Consultant of 13 years experience. I am an expert in helping people arrange their Wills, Trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Pre-paid Funeral Plans. Along with my colleague Haworth Ward-Drummond we specialise in helping all kinds of people gain peace of mind by providing professional advice, but with a personal touch. We offer a FREE consultation without obligation for anybody who would like to know more about any of the following:

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No. 817

5 3 4 6 1 3 2 3 4 2 1 6 9 8 7 2 1 2 9 8 3 4 5 7 6 5 4 8 7 5 6 3 9 8 7

2 3 5

6 7

You can find more help, tips and hints at www.str8ts.com

3 1

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Calls are recorded for monitoring and quality purposes. All calls made to 0800 and 0808 numbers are free of charge whether made from a landline or mobile phone. T. W. Birks & Son is a trading style of Dignity Funerals Limited. Dignity Funerals Limited is a company registered in England No. 00041598. VAT registered No. 486 6081 14. Registered office: 4 King Edwards Court, King Edwards Square, Sutton Coldfield B73 6AP. Dignity Funerals Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under Firm Reference Number 967130. Please note that the selling and administering of funeral plans is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, however if you are purchasing a funeral without a funeral plan this will not be covered by FCA regulation.

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Peacefully in the Palliative Care Unit, Northern General Hospital on 5th August, Marie, aged 70 years. Wife of the late Paul, loving Mum of Lindsey and Christopher, Mother in Law to Craig, adored Nan of Freya.

Then afterwards at the Stocksbridge Legionnaires Club.

Mrs Boyle and family, Ecclesfield

5 3 6

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The funeral service will be held on Tuesday 27th August at Grenoside Crematorium, North Chapel, 11am.

Jane came to see my parents to help them protect the family home. She really made us all feel at ease, especially my parents. We had no idea what we could do to protect Mum and Dad. Having set up trusts and Lasting Power of Attorney’s, Mum and Dad can get on with their lives without worrying, knowing everything is now in place. Thank you Jane!

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No. 817

Medium

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How to beat Str8ts – Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to The solutions will be published here in the next issue. see how ‘straights’ are formed.

3 2 9

5 8 7

7 5 8 9 1 4 3 2 6

9 3 6 4

6 6

Previous solution - Easy

1439 10 Issue Call 0114 283 1100

9 6 1 2 3 8 7 5 4

2 4 3 7 5 6 9 8 1

6 1 2 8 4 3 5 7 9

3 9 7 5 6 2 1 4 8

4 8 5 1 7 9 6 3 2

1 3 4 6 2 5 8 9 7

8 2 6 3 9 7 4 1 5

5 7 9 4 8 1 2 6 3

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org If you like Str8ts check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

Local Opinion Fox Valley parking

They said felling trees was “always a last resort”, but their acts and omissions proved otherwise.

Hi after receiving a parking fine from just doing our regular shopping routine in Fox Valley i want to highlight the utter nonsensical idea of changing .. or indeed putting any time limit on people visiting the valley to shop, socialize let children play visit events.. we have street food events among others! It’s crazy and I am cross about it. I now have poor mobility, which means I need more time to do my shopping. I want to browse, meet friend and chat, sometimes eat , bring children to play in water especially in hot weather ,and not always just stay at the one end of the shopping centre. This place was surely built to attract people both locals and others to this area.. the parking restrictions will surely put people off!!! There was no warning about the time restrictions changing I feel it is bad move in the wrong direction if you want to bring shoppers etc in to our expanding valley. In my opinion the parking times in fox valley need some serious re- consideration am I alone in thinking this? D Crane

Concerns over vape shops and unused buildings Am I the only one who is worried and appalled at the rapid increase in vape shops in our valley this year often a cover for money laundering and general criminality. They are open for long hours including Sundays masquerading as mini-marts and drawing in vulnerable children. When I passed one just before school hours it was full of pupils from the nearby high school. Before I am accused of making assumptions I am told that this particular shop was raided by trading standards before it even started trading and illegal substances were removed, Surprisingly it was still allowed to open for business, then to my astonishment they were allowed to take over the empty unit next door so now it is a supersize mart. By claiming to be a convenience store they dodge the new rules and regulations being brought in which would allow local councils the power to block openings. Bearing in mind the increase in empty shops has contributed to the scourge of these businesses should we worry about the huge empty unit next to the Stocksbridge Pharmacy on Manchester Road. Sheffield City Council have paid £636.000 and are supposedly holding it for 6 months for our local Towns Fund Board to buy it back. They are awaiting charity status before they can do so. Then they plan to use it as a commercial space which will subsidise an educational focused space? It was pointed out in a meeting that the owner has had eight years to explore re development options and if it was commercially viable it would have been done. Also if this property had not been sold by June this year he would have investigated redeveloping the site for residential use. If he could do this then the council certainly can, should we also ask ourselves who would this accommodation be for? Then we need to remember our Prime Ministers proclamation- ‘We all need to do our bit’ ! Letter brought in

SAVING STREET TREES

Recently, Sheffield City Council (SCC) began a consultation about their proposal to fell eight living fossils – Chinese Dawn Redwood trees - on Eyre Street. The city-wide tree campaign (begun in spring 2015) established because SCC and Amey Hallam Highways Ltd (contractor for the 25yr £2.2bn city-wide ‘Streets Ahead’ highway maintenance project) neglected to be honest and transparent when communicating with citizens (See LOOK LOCAL (LL) issues 1269, 1309 & 1421, online); they actively withheld access to, cherry-picked and misrepresented information (See LL: issue 1418).

Politicians and executives said that resurfacing around trees associated with surface damage to footways and roadside edging was unaffordable. Responding to a petition from the Nether Edge tree group, at a meeting of full council, on 3/2/2016, Cllr Terry Fox (Labour) asserted that Council Tax would have to be raised by 8.2% if Amey didn’t fell all the trees scheduled for felling. Five days later, The Star reported that SCC had felled 3,388 street trees and that ‘Council chiefs’ had said that to retain a further 2,000 street trees that had been earmarked for felling would cost £26m. The figures were ridiculous, didn’t add up, and neither SCC or Amey could explain them or provide the calculations used when requested. SCC asserted that the alternative was to deplete the social care budget. These were just a few of the political tricks that the leading Labour party used to mislead and deceive politicians, media and citizens, to cover for and distract attention from their wrongful acts and omissions (See LL issue 1381). Many councillors accepted the aforementioned assertions at face value. Not a single city councillor challenged or opposed those wrongful assertions, even though tree campaigners had armed them with all the arguments necessary to successfully do so (See LL: Issue 1220). The Eyre St trees are a good example. One outcome of the Sheffield tree campaign was inclusion of section 115 of the Environment Act 2021 which amended the Highway Act 1980 (insertion of section 96A) to impose a duty on local authorities to consult the public about proposals to fell street trees, prior to deciding whether or not to fell. The local authority must accord with statutory guidance. About notifying the public of any felling proposal, the guidance states: “A notice should include as much information as possible...”. For Eyre St, the reasons given for felling trees are “tree root damage” to highway surfacing and edging, creating “trip hazards”, making it “very difficult to manage... safety of highway infrastructure”. The notice states that the trees are “in a busy city centre setting” and that “An assessment has been carried out by our highway experts into the damage caused by trees... Every one of these trees was subjected to a significant site investigation and root excavation. The results showed that these eight trees are not able to be retained.” However, SCC has neglected to present any detail of the methods and techniques used for investigation and assessment (of hazards, risk & feasibility of potential options). SCC has also neglected to share any results and methods of analyses. Such omissions, unwillingness and neglect to share that level of detail necessary to permit adequate scrutiny are key reasons why the city-wide tree campaign established and grew so quickly, back in spring 2015 (See LL: issues 1300, 1397 & 1421). On 23/7/2015, at the inaugural meeting of the bimonthly’ SCC Highway Trees Advisory Forum (HTAF), commenting on trees associated with damage to streets, the SCC Head of Highway Maintenance) said: “IF AN ENGINEERING SOLUTION CAN BE APPLIED, THEN IT WILL BE APPLIED. Err, there was a lots [sic] of comment made earlier on about whether a tree is removed as a last resort; and a tree is removed as a last resort.” On 2/9/2015, at the second (final) HTAF meeting, the SCC Head of Highway Maintenance informed that the following “engineering solutions” can be applied: excavation; “FLEXIBLE PAVING/ SURFACING SOLUTION”; RAMPING/REPROFILING; use of thinner kerbs; removal of displaced kerbs; pruning (including pollarding); “creation of larger tree pits”. He said: “ENGINEERING AND TREE-BASED SOLUTIONS COME AT NO EXTRA COST TO THE COUNCIL. SO, THE TAX-PAYER DOES NOT PAY if an engineering solution or a treebased solution can be applied, and the reason for that is that the Streets Ahead project is a highway maintenance project and engineering and tree-based solutions are highway maintenance

Issue 1439

Call 0114 283 1100 solutions.” In 2018, a contractual felling quota that had been kept secret was made public: 17,500 street trees (See LL: issues 1323 & 1421). That year, the Forestry Commission (FC) intervened because, without any evidence of an exception to the need to have a felling licence from the FC, SCC had been, and are, only permitted to fell five cubic metres of timber, and sell no more than 2 cubic metres of produce, per calendar quarter (@1 to 3 ‘large’ street trees). In essence, the quota required criminal acts and omissions. For that reason, the felling quota was eventually removed from the ‘Streets Ahead’ contract, in 2023, and SCC adopted use of a Street Tree Partnership Strategy, instead (See LL: issues 1323 & 1415). In response to malpractice by SCC, and to provide national guidance, the London Tree Officer’s Association published ‘Surface Materials Around Trees In Hard Landscapes’ (2017) and the Forestry Commission published ‘Operations Note 51: Highway Tree Management’ (2019). The latter set out what the Forestry Commission expects people to consider, before reliance on an exception to the need for a licence, in order to avoid prosecution. On 13/12/2018, The Star reported that there were just 305 trees left of the 2,000 that had previously been mentioned and that SCC had informed: “THE EXTRA COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RETAINING OR PHASING TREES WILL BE MET IN FULL BY THE COUNCIL’S CONTRACTOR, AMEY, AND THERE WILL BE NO ADDITIONAL COST TO THE SHEFFIELD TAXPAYER.” In light of the above, and the damning ‘Sheffield Tree Felling Investigation Report’ that the Forestry Commission published in July 2019 (See LL: issue 1299), it is reasonable to assume that arrangement should have applied from the start of the contract, in 2012, and continue for the remainder of the contract period. In an e-mail (Ref: 101002358788), dated 8/1/2016, sent in response to a complaint made on 9/12/2015, Streets Ahead Customer Services (SCC & Amey) stated: “THE STREETS AHEAD PROJECT AIMS TO WORK TO BEST INDUSTRY PRACTISE AND GUIDELINES in all working sectors, including when working in the vicinity of highway trees.” To quote from page 154 of the “Streets Ahead Contract (PDF, 1MB)” (PDF page 164: “Part G – The Services: 31. Obligation to Provide The Service And Performance Standards”): “The Service Provider shall provide the Service continuously throughout the Term: ...IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOOD INDUSTRY PRACTICE; ...IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL LAWS AND CODES OF PRACTICE relating to the carrying out of the Service”. On 7/8/2015, SORT submitted the following request (Ref: FOI / 574) to SCC, using the Freedom of Information Act: “Please provide a copy of the current national highway maintenance standards, guidance and recommendations that the Streets Ahead project claim to be using and working in accordance with; please also provide an online link to these standards.” The SCC response: “HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS ARE DICTATED BY A NUMBER OF PIECES OF BOTH INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICE”. The only example that SCC gave was the Code of Practice (CoP) published by the UK Roads Liaison Group (UKRLG) - since renamed UK ROADS LEADERSHIP GROUP. On 28/10/2016, the UKRLG published the latest CoP: ‘Well-managed Highway Infrastructure A Code of Practice’. It represents a move away from a subjective approach, prone to undue influence &/or based on fear of liability. The online introduction stated: “The new Code can either be adopted straightaway by authorities or they have until October 2018 to adopt a risk based approach.” To quote from section B.4.4.4. of the CoP: “Although ensuring the safety of footways for users will be a priority, in some cases the presence of roadside trees may complicate the provision of

20 August 2026

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footway surface regularity. The radical treatment or complete tree removal necessary to ensure surface regularity may not be possible or desirable and reduced levels of surface regularity may be a more acceptable outcome.” In 2017, the UKRLG published a ‘Highway Risk & Liability Guide’, to help safeguard against unnecessary, disproportionate responses to highway hazards, such as surfacing and edging displacement. To quote from the section on “Assessment of Dangerousness”: “The test as to whether a footway is dangerous is whether there is reasonable foresight of harm to users of the highway. It is a mistake to isolate and emphasise the difference in levels between flagstones unless the difference is such that a reasonable person who noticed and considered it would regard it as presenting a real source of danger. UNEVEN SURFACES AND DIFFERENCES IN LEVEL OF ABOUT AN INCH MAY CAUSE A PEDESTRIAN TO TRIP AND STUMBLE, BUT SUCH CHARACTERISTICS HAVE TO BE ACCEPTED. A HIGHWAY IS NOT TO BE CRITICISED BY THE STANDARDS OF A BOWLING GREEN - Littler v Liverpool Corporation [1968] 2 All ER 342” On 14/4/2021, commenting on surface & edging damage to Western Rd, and the use of a different surfacing product instead of asphalt, SCC’s Head of Highway Maintenance said: “The use of FlexiPave enables tree roots to grow and move, without damaging them or the outer surface. ...Flexi-Pave is likely to be used at other locations across the city, subject to the necessary assessments, and where there are similar design challenges.” See LL: issues 1269 & 1317. For Eyre St, no evidence has been provided that roots are so close to the footway surface that ‘ramping’ of the footway, or use of alternative surfacing materials, is not a reasonably practicable solution that would enable tree retention. In light of the above, it is prudent for residents concerned about the loss of street trees to participate in the statutory consultations. For all SCC consultations, see: https://haveyoursay.sheffield.gov.uk/projects David Long (Arboriculturist & Urban Forester) S35

LOCAL HISTORY UNEARTHED

The Ganister Disease Tragedy

PAGE 12

by Steve Moxon

LOST PASSPORT Hewir Namiq Sadun 6 East Green, West Auckland, DL14 9HH I would be grateful to inform you that I have lost my passport, which was issued in Iraq . I believe that I have lost it in the UK.

1439 12 Issue Call 0114 283 1100

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Local News

LOCAL HISTORY UNEARTHED

The Ganister Disease Tragedy

ABOVE: Ganister firebrick works above Oughtibridge in 1910 RIGHT: Workers in front of a kiln at Lowoods Ganister Brick Works, Deepcar by Steve Moxon

The worst persistent localised occupational disease disaster in British history occurred in the hills to the north-west of Sheffield – at Deepcar, Oughtibridge, Worrall, Wadsley & Loxley – over many decades both sides of its peak over a century ago. Yet there is no monument or plaque to honour what must amount to thousands of men who died from working in gan(n)ister mining or brick-making, essential to the steel industry. There is no official count or estimate, either overall or firm by firm. No-one was interested in keeping a tally. Employers might want to avoid even recognition of a problem for which they might be blamed, disease was misdiagnosed as or considered secondary to tuberculosis, and, being beyond the city, as distant from middle-class life as it gets, and downright grubby, for a long while was fairly invisible to medicine. The plight of the Sheffield grinder breathing in dust from sandstone is well-known: silicosis (fibrosis of the lung, damaging function) caused by minute quartz crystals. Gan(n) ister, the rock immediately below coal seams mined for its fire resistance to line furnaces, hereabouts is 98% quartz, so is way worse. It had to be drilled, blasted, gathered, crushed, ground, sieved, mixed with fireclay, formed into bricks and fired. Workers at every stage of production faced a potential death sentence, and frequently, rather than following a lengthy latent period, dust inhaled in consistently large quantities led to the acute form of the disease. With no initial irritation to suggest something wrong and the need to quit the work environment, serious symptoms started within four years, possibly as soon as just a few months or mere weeks after exposure began. Shortness of breath, a hacking cough so common it was nicknamed the ganister bark, quickly developing into chronic bronchitis and emphysema, fever, and death in short order. Those not on such a fast track often succumbed in silicosis rendering them extraordinarily susceptible to tuberculosis, then endemic, especially in the crowded housing of the poor. Across a full cohort of active ganister workers it's thought 50%-85% were affected; 75% of those employed for up to a decade. The dire prognosis was not obvious, even to workers themselves, because outward robust physical

Could Sheffield be worthy of UK City of Culture 2029?

appearance continued notwithstanding respiratory ailment, leaving them able to turn up for shifts nearly on the verge of dying. Despite compelling evidence of ganister disease presented to Government Commissions as far back as 1861, the industry was about 50 years old before Sir Thomas Morison Legge, the first Medical Inspector of Factories, in 1900 documented its exceptionally high mortality rate in the area from Stocksbridge towards Sheffield. A Government Commission in its 1914 report pinpointed South Yorkshire as the global hub for ganister mining and epicentre of a ganister disease critical health crisis. The situation had deteriorated a lot more with the advent of mechanised drills, and at last it did become mandatory to use water to suppress dust when drilling, or crushing and grinding; to provide powered instead of merely natural ventilation, and hoods above processing machinery. This gradually had an impact: the proportion of the active workforce diseased fell to 15%-20%, and by the 1920s-30s the average latent period rose to 10-20 years, up from 5-7. Significant improvement, but hardly eradication, as monitoring of workers grimly revealed. Taking a worker away from the job was less likely to prevent onset than only delay it. Compensation courtesy a cross-industry employer levy arrived in 1919, claims topping out in the 1920s & 30s, when the maximum weekly payment was £1 – less if still capable of some employment – £300 upon your demise. A tidier sum, given what money then could buy, than an inflation-adjusted comparison suggests, though paltry beside industrial injury payouts today. Ganister Disease was never effectively avoided until the industry had virtually ceased. PPE remained primitive as all wound down from the 1940s, particularly in the 1960s, through furnace technology changing and steel heavily contracting. Final remnants closed in the 1990s. It seems airbrushed from history. A roll call of victims is impossible as but a fraction were thus recorded. A memorial would be akin to that for the unknown soldier. Isn't one needed? Well, lest we forget is warning against repetition, and if handling toxic material is required it will be by robots, not humans. All who suffered, in their collective and individual tragedy, we look set to fail to remember.

Sheffield has officially submitted its bid to become the UK City of Culture 2029 – but would the city deserve the title? The bid has now been submitted following months of engagement with people across Sheffield, with more than 1,400 people contributing their ideas and aspirations for the city's cultural future. Those contributions have been incorporated into Sheffield's bid, which could unlock £10 million in funding if the city is successful. Supporters say the funding could be transformative for Sheffield's arts, culture and heritage sector, while helping deliver ambitions set out in the city's Culture Strategy. The bid team has praised the cultural organisations, freelancers and members of the public who took part in events, meetings, surveys and conversations, with the engagement process delivered by Opus Independents. But now the bid has been submitted, the spotlight turns to Sheffield itself – and what makes the city worthy of becoming the UK's City of Culture. The bid argues that Sheffield is a city of innovators, with a creative scene that has grown from the grassroots and developed national and international influence. From its music scene and independent venues to theatre, art, festivals, heritage and a reputation for nurturing creative talent, Sheffield has plenty of cultural credentials. The city has also produced globally recognised musical acts and has a long asso-

ciation with independent and alternative culture. But is that enough to win the title? Sheffield will find out whether it has made the shortlist in autumn. If successful, the city will then face a further visit from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), before a final presentation is made as part of the competition to become UK City of Culture 2029. Organisers say that, regardless of the outcome, the ideas gathered during the bid process will help shape the future of arts, culture and heritage in Sheffield. A report on the public engagement process is also due to be published in September. The bid team says the process has demonstrated that Sheffield's cultural identity comes from its people – from grassroots creativity to organisations with national and international influence. Now Look Local wants to know what you think. Would you welcome Sheffield being named UK City of Culture 2029? What do you think makes Sheffield culturally special? Is it the city's music scene, theatres, independent venues, festivals, art, sporting heritage, food and drink, industrial heritage – or perhaps something completely different? And if Sheffield did win the title, what would you like to see happen with the £10 million funding?

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20 August 2026

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Issue 1439

Key found at High Bradfield near Edgemount. Heart shaped fob. Tel. 07748 187027

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Issue 1439

20 August 2026

Local Sport

Mumford and Smith claim third-place finishes Call 0114 283 1100

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Penistone Runners (Ken Bingley Memorial 10K) James Mumford led another busy weekend for Penistone Footpath Runners with an excellent third-place finish at the Ken Bingley Memorial 10K. Mumford completed the twolap trail course in 37-55. Oliver France was sixth in 40-13 and Martin Ball seventh in 40-28, with Ian Neville also finishing well up the field in 12th place with 44-07. Amelia Cottam produced one of the club’s standout performances, finishing an excellent sixth lady overall in 52-03. Rory O’Sullivan, Jill Scrivens, Sara Wolstenholme, Bill Phillips, Mandy Mallinder, Barbara Haigh and Ray Brown completed a strong Penistone turnout. There was further success at the Denis Stitt Fell Race, where George Parr led the club home in ninth place with 35-41. Jon Hallam finished 23rd in 39-02 and Daniel Rushforth 24th in 39-50, with the trio combining to take third place in the men’s team competition. Josie Smith enjoyed an excellent race, finishing third female overall and first lady over40 in 41-21. Lesley Parker was second lady over50 in 48-05, Steve Storey won the men’s over70 category in 50-57 and Jill Scrivens was second lady over55 in 54-22, with Mandy Mallinder third in the same category in 1-00-09. Smith, Parker and Scrivens also combined to take second place in the women’s team competition. Six Penistone runners took part in Stan’s Toffee Run. Shaun Swallow led them home in 25th place in 29-31, with Ian Neville close behind in 32nd with 29-59. Robert Davies finished in 32-28, followed by Shaun Braddock in 34-27,

Sue Braddock in 34-51 and Stuart Woodhead in 37-04. On the fells, Harriet Drouin represented Penistone at the Piethorne fell race, completing the course in 1-08-51. Damian Kilpin was also in action at Langdale End in the North York Moors, covering approximately 6.9 miles with 1,316 feet of ascent in 1-00-07 which gave him 7th place overall and second over45 man. Penistone members were again spread far and wide at parkruns on Saturday, with 83 runners across 31 different venues, equalling the record number of locations set the previous week. Sean Pitt led the way at Penistone, finishing second overall in 17-59, while George Parr was fourth in 18-22 and Ryan Duckett fifth in 19-27. Hannah Shaw was second female in 21-51 and Emily Duckett third female in 22-14. There were also two notable milestones at the club’s home event, with Danny Batty completing his 500th parkrun and Ashley Firth reaching 150. Ian McNulty equalled his Penistone personal best with 23-06. Elsewhere, Alan Nutton took second place overall at Selby in 17-59, Rachael Mayston was second female at Lews Castle in 22-53, Dawn Broom third female at The Great Field in 22-57, Tom Fryers third overall at Frank’s Farm in 18-19 and Damian Kilpin third at Hyde in 19-51. Simon Pike was first over45 at Glossop, Lee Hopkins first over50 at Concord, Matthew Coldwell first over50 at Unisee in Germany and Alex Melhuish first over40 at Queenswood Country Park.

Penistone Runners (Denis Stitt Race) Keith Gordon topped the over75 category at Charlton, while Lauren Lees was first junior under11 at Minehead.

41-21; 42, Lesley Parker 48-05; 47, Steve Storey 50-57; 51, Jill Scrivens 54-22; 60, Mandy Mallinder 1-00-09.

At Barnsley, Ian Neville was first over60 in 2157, Alan Knox first over70 in 26-35 and Sue Hall first lady over65 in 27-54. Dave Lindop was third over65, Ann Lindop second lady over65 and Ray Brown first over85.

Stan’s Toffee Run

Personal bests included Robert Davies with 22-59 at North Yorkshire Waterpark, Jill Scrivens with 24-57 at Huddersfield, Amanda Field at Fell Foot, Peter Cross at Waverley Lakes and Amber Stenton at Glossop. Myfanwy Cross continued her parkrun tourism at Uerdinger Stadtpark in Germany, adding another country to her collection and finally ticking off the letter U in her parkrun alphabet challenge. Dawn Broom produced the club’s leading age-graded performance of the weekend with an impressive 85.77 per cent at The Great Field. Alan Nutton recorded 78.87 per cent, Suzanne McGill 77.44, Sue Hall 77.24 and Rachael Mayston 77.06. Results Ken Bingley Memorial 10K 3, James Mumford 37-55; 6, Oliver France 4013; 7, Martin Ball 40-28; 12, Ian Neville 44-07; 35, Rory O’Sullivan 50-15; 41, Amelia Cottam 52-03; 42, Jill Scrivens 52-21; 60, Sara Wolstenholme 57-02; 63, Bill Phillips 57-37; 66, Mandy Mallinder 57-53; 89, Barbara Haigh 1-08-32; 92, Ray Brown 1-10-50. Denis Stitt Race 9, George Parr 35-41; 23, Jon Hallam 39-02; 24, Daniel Rushforth 39-50; 29, Josie Smith

25, Shaun Swallow 29-31; 32, Ian Neville 2959; 60, Robert Davies 32-28; 80, Shaun Braddock 34-27; 88, Sue Braddock 34-51; 111, Stuart Woodhead 37-04. Piethorne 198, Harriet Drouin 1-08-51. Langdale End Show Race 7, Damian Kilpin 1-00-07. Penistone parkrun 2, Sean Pitt 17-59; 4, George Parr 18-22; 5, Ryan Duckett 19-27; 7, Oliver France 19-49; 9, Martin Ball 20-03; 22, Ash Howlett 21-35; 26, Hannah Shaw 21-51; 29, Emily Duckett 22-14; 36, Shaun Swallow 22-45; 42, Ian McNulty 23-06; 44, Steve Stead 23-33; 56, Rory O’Sullivan 23-59; 64, Shaun Braddock 24-24; 74, Dan Cooper 25-16; 86, Emma Stead 25-47; 97, Martin Hughes 26-13; 104, Ashley Firth 26-37; 125, Oliver Found 2746; 133, Sara Wolstenholme 28-03; 154, Kim Rogers 28-41; 160, Heath Ramsden 29-01; 181, Gordon Watts 29-47; 193, Rebecca Parr 30-43; 197, Laura Bartholomew 30-55; 213, Kate Rushforth 31-16; 214, Angela Rollinson 31-17; 232, Sarah Clough 33-10; 267, Danny Batty 38-09; 287, Jen Holley 51-11; 291, Martyn Cartwright 56-01. Barnsley parkrun 9, Ian Neville 21-57; 46, Alan Knox 26-35; 57, Dave Lindop 27-06; 66, Sue Hall 27-54; 124, Rianna Armitage 33-30; 126, Ann Lindop 3350; 176, Ray Brown 52-11.

Local Sport

Issue 1439

20 August 2026

Rugby Club rename ground in honour of club stalwart Stocksbridge Rugby Club have renamed their Coal Pit Lane ground in honour of much-loved former club secretary and stalwart Mick ‘Grov’ Gribbins, who passed away recently. The ground will now be known as Grov Park, with a new sign set to be installed shortly as a permanent tribute to a man who played a major role in the development of the club’s facilities.

Call 0114 283 1100

Stocksbridge will welcome Sheffield Club’s third team on Saturday, September 19, with kick-off at 3pm. There is also a local derby to look forward to when Stocksbridge travel to nearby Wortley on October 17. The return fixture will take place at Grov Park on January 23.

A club spokesman said there had been a number of options considered before the decision was made to name the ground after Mick.

The home meeting with Sheffield Club on December 12 is also expected to have a festive theme, with the club planning a Christmas jumper match followed by a Christmas party.

“Naming the ground after him would be a permanent reminder and a fitting tribute for his work during the whole building of the facility,” he said.

The new season will bring a fresh challenge for Stocksbridge as the club adapts to a new league structure.

The club has also expressed its gratitude for a substantial donation left to Stocksbridge Rugby as part of Mick’s legacy.

The players are now preparing for the campaign and the club is encouraging supporters, both old and new, to get behind the team and cheer on the ‘Blue Wall’.

A memorial plaque will also be installed in the Manchester Road clubhouse, ensuring his contribution to the club is remembered by players, supporters and future generations. The tribute comes as preparations step up for the new rugby season, with training intensifying ahead of the opening fixture at the newly named Grov Park.

www.looklocal.org.uk

And when the first whistle sounds at Grov Park in September, the new name will provide a lasting reminder of one of the people who helped make the club and its home what they are today.

Church edged out by Georgians Penistone Church 1-2 Stockport Georgians Penistone Church were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Stockport Georgians in a closely fought encounter at home. Church took the lead shortly before half-time when Nathan Keightley converted a 40th-minute penalty for his third goal in two games. However, the visitors hit back almost immediately, finding an equaliser in the 45th minute before completing the comeback with the winning goal in the 59th minute. Church pushed for a way back into the game but were unable to find a second goal, despite creating opportunities.

NEXT FIXTURE:

Coach Jammy said: “First half we did pretty well and could have taken our opportunities. We could have at least got a draw from the game, and there were some very good individual performances.” He also praised Jordan Coduri and youngster George Thompson for their performances, adding that the players had “put in a good shift” and were perhaps unfortunate to leave the home fixture empty-handed. Church will now return to league action next Saturday when Frickley Athletic visit for a 3pm kick-off, with the team looking to bounce back from the narrow defeat.

CHURCH v Frickley Athletic - Sat 22nd August 3pm

Everybody loves a Parkrun One thing the High Green Harriers love is a parkrun and there is no better way to start a weekend than at Concord. That hour of running or volunteering is looked forward to by many as it is a great way to see friends and make new ones and hopefully eat cake after the run. This Saturday the run director Angela was away so HGH and Kimberworth Striders did a parkrun takeover,the yellow and black took on the roles to make sure the event could go ahead. Chris Grayson HGH captain, was the run director and as he said in his welcoming speech no volunteers no parkrun and everyone should come give it a go once you start you won't stop, everyone is always welcome in the parkrun family.

Issue 1439

20 August 2026

Call 0114 283 1100

www.looklocal.org.uk

Local Sport

Could Steels have found yet another goal-scoring hero? Stocksbridge Park Steels 2-2 Ashington

Could Stocksbridge Park Steels have unearthed another Jamie Vardy? That might be a bold question after just one appearance, but Josiah Dyer certainly made a case for himself by coming off the bench to score twice on his debut and rescue a point for Steels against Ashington. And there is an intriguing footballing connection. Dyer is the son of former Barnsley and Crystal Palace striker Bruce Dyer, so goalscoring is clearly in the blood.

Suddenly, Steels had belief. They continued to press for an equaliser and were eventually rewarded late on when Finlay Dyer's flick-on header sent Marshall into the box. As Marshall prepared to pull the trigger, he was clattered into and the referee pointed to the spot.

The youngster produced an instant impact after Stocksbridge found themselves 2-0 down despite dominating much of the opening stages.

With Alex O'Connor providing a decoy, Dyer stepped up and confidently dispatched the penalty beyond the goalkeeper.

Steels created a number of chances during the first half, with Louie Ward, Tomas Poole and Charlie Oglesby all going close, while Romario Dunne came closest with an acrobatic overhead kick that narrowly missed the target.

2-2 – and two goals on his debut.

But it was Ashington who took the lead against the run of play when Benji Shodeinde collected the ball on the counter, skipped past a defender and curled a superb effort into the top corner. Stocksbridge continued to push after the break, only to suffer another blow when Josh Gilchrist's corner sailed untouched through the crowded penalty area and into the net. At 2-0 down, it looked as though Steels were heading for another frustrating afternoon of creating opportunities without getting the reward their performance deserved.

It was a dramatic comeback from Stocksbridge and a debut to remember for the young TOP RIGHT: Josiah Dyer scored a double on his debut. striker.

TOP LEFT: Steels tussled back from 2-0 down to claim their first point of the season. Ian Revitt.

Of course, it is far too early to start comparing BELOW: Chris Bumhira wins possession back for the home team. Myra Little. Dyer with the likes of Jamie Vardy, but football has a habit of producing unlikely goal-scoring stories – and Steels supporters will certainly be hoping they have discovered a new hero of their own. With a famous footballing surname and a debut featuring two crucial goals, **Josiah Dyer couldn't have wished for a better introduction to life at Stocksbridge Park Steels.** The big question now is: could this be the start of something special?

Then came Josiah Dyer. The substitute wasted little time announcing himself, scoring a spectacular goal to give Stocksbridge hope. Tommy Marshall forced a blocked pass and the ball fell kindly to Dyer around 30 yards from goal. Showing impressive composure, the debutant guided the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-1.

Bradford Park Avenue are the visitors to Bracken Moor on Wednesday 19 August 7.45 pm KO. Followed by a Home FA Cup tie against Cheadle Town, 3pm KO at Bracken Moor. Make sure you get down to support the ‘boys’ if you are able to; your support will be appreciated by all at the club, including the players.

Drought delays start of rugby season Stocksbridge Rugby Club’s new season has been delayed after the Rugby Football Union (RFU) postponed the start of community rugby because of concerns over pitch safety following the prolonged hot weather. The decision means Stocksbridge Rugby Club will have to wait to be-

gin its Counties 4 Yorkshire C campaign, with the scheduled opening fixture against Sheffield Club 3rd XV at home on Saturday, September 19, now postponed. The RFU says the prolonged dry conditions have left pitches across the country unsuitable for the demands of full-contact rugby, with

player safety and welfare at the forefront of the decision.

fair and consistent footing across the country.”

Sir Bill Beaumont, president of the RFU, said: “Player welfare and readiness have been central to our thinking throughout, alongside our desire to give the season the best possible opportunity to begin on a

A new date for Stocksbridge’s opening fixture against Sheffield Club 3rd XV will now have to be agreed. The postponement also means supporters are likely to have to wait until October to see competitive rugby

played at the club’s newly renamed Grov Park, which was named in tribute to long-serving club figure Mick ‘Grov’ Gribbins. The first match at the renamed ground is now expected to be the visit of Dinnington 2nd XV on Saturday, October 3, with a 3pm kickoff.