EDITORIAL Rachel Horne With a certain national newspaper - which
We also hear from Richard and Joe of Haunted
shall remain nameless and forever banned
Yorkshire, who believe that this area is among
from the Doncopolitan offices - recently
the most supernatural in the world. Check out
describing Doncaster as one of the “worst
the haunted #DonnyDwellings on page 10.
towns in the UK”, we thought we would show them just how wrong they are.
Our regular contributor Steve Bates celebrates Brutalist architect Sir Frederick Gibberd (1908-
We understand that there are social and
1984). Visit page 22 to decide for yourself
economic problems in Doncaster, as there
whether you think this town centre building is
are across the UK, but with a few more stable
an eye sore or a hidden gem.
jobs, a living wage and a little more money circulating in the local economy, we’d be
I had the honour of visiting the trailer home
living in one of the best places in the world
of Romany gypsy princess Violet Cannon to
(and not because it only takes 1 hour and 40
find out what being gypsy and living small is
minutes to get to London).
all about (p16). We also celebrate the home of local radio, Doncaster’s very own SineFM.
We've put together this #DonnyDwellings issue of the Doncopolitan to celebrate what's
Although in our society we sometimes define
already here and to show what's possible if
ourselves by the town, city or postcode where
we work together to build a brighter future.
we dwell, it’s important to keep a handle on the fact that we’re all really just riding
Our worst problem is that we’re our own
on the breeze. We couldn’t put it more aptly
worst critics, always moaning about our lot.
than this ancient Aboriginal proverb: "We
Instead of whining about our problems, we
are all visitors to this time, this place. We are
need to start doing something about them.
just passing through. Our purpose here is to
Take Richard Bell, the great grandson of the
observe, to learn, to grow, to love and then we
founder of the Victorian Sand House. The
return home."
Sand House may be in ruins, but instead of hankering after the past Richard and his
The artwork for this months Doncopolitan is
volunteer team are actively seeking to create
the first of what we hope will be an ongoing
a Sand House Museum in Doncaster (p6).
series of generative artworks featured
This could eventually be a major attraction,
in the magazine. This issue features the
bringing tourists and visitors to our town,
collaborative work of digital artsists, Small
whilst boosting our local economy and
Details and Kato Otak.
creating new jobs. This collaboration happened online, when We move from Victorian wonder to Sixties
Kato Otak reimagined a series of generative
contemporary design as we're invited into
artworks created by Small Details. Built in
one of Yorkshire’s few 1960s Grade II Listed
code using the golden ratio as a starting
buildings (p18). Designed by celebrated
formula, Small Detail's work is inspired by the
architect and hero of Modernism, Peter
geometry of all natural forms. Forms which
Aldington, this Bessacarr pad is a real local
are used by humans throughout history in
gem. We chat to the new owner, a former
architecture, art and engineering. You can
Londoner turned Donny advocate, who
check out more of his work at:
reveals why he dropped his London life to
small- details.net.
move to Doncaster. We're proud that Biscuit Billy's is his new favorite nightlife haunt and that he prefers Donny’s Silver Street to Soho. We also trot off to Bentley to meet Suzanne Wass, a DMBC employee and practicing Shamanic healer, to find out how she transformed a disused garage into a healing space now known as the The Pod (p26). And Donny-born, London-based architect William McKee re-imagines Church Way as a space to hang out in the sun and drink beer (p23).
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ABOUT This magazine aims to provide an independent voice for Doncaster. We will big up anything which has the potential to add to Doncaster’s metropolitan appeal and strengthen the local economy - or as we call it, the Donconomy. We’ll celebrate Doncaster’s culture, arts, style, music, people, fashion, lifestyle, architecture and even, its coal-black underbelly. To remain as independent as possible this magazine is completely self-funded, relying on advertising and generous donations to stay afloat. If you would like to advertise with us, or if you’d like to support our endeavours through subscriptions or donations please call us on: +44 (0) 7846 439982 If you’re a local artist, musician, writer, photographer, fashionista, socialite or social commentator, and have something to contribute to this magazine, please get in touch. Online: www.doncopolitan.com doncopolitan@gmail.com Write to us: Doncopolitan Magazine Copley Road Project 83 Copley Road Doncaster DN1 2QP Social Media: Twitter: @DoncopolitanMag #DoncopolitanMag Instagram: @Doncopolitan #Doncogram Facebook: facebook.com/doncopolitan YouTube: youtube.com/user/ Doncopolitan