Dronfield Eye Issue 175 May 2020
AS Spring turns to Summer, Dronfield Eye is usually overflowing with suggestions of things to see, places to go, shows to enjoy and community events to support. We list dates of galas, fetes, garden parties and more - but not this year. Instead, we’re suggesting you should all stay home. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary action. The coronavirus pandemic has changed all of our lives, threatened the health and welfare of everyone, battered businesses and charities both large and small and taken our children out of organised education for the forseeable future. Needless to say, the Dronfield Eye community has rallied to help the needy and the vulnerable. From people running errands and checking on the welfare of neighbours, through to stirring doorstep rounds of applause for our health and welfare workers and children posting support through amazing rainbow displays. We’ve published your community magazine every month for the past 15 years and feel we should continue to serve you throughout these dark days. We can’t send our distributors to your letter-box right now, but we’ve made this edition available through the help of local supermarkets, post offices and petrol stations and also published a ‘virtual’ copy for people to read online. Businesses have happily teamed up with Dronfield Eye down the years and this is an opportunity for us to support them in their hour of need. That’s one of the reasons why we have been so keen to continue publishing our title. In addition to heaping praise on our health and care professionals and volunteers, we also salute other local workers whose jobs have suddenly become ‘essential’ - supermarket staff, postal workers, delivery drivers and others. We are looking forward to launching an ‘Eye on Local Business’ campaign once we beat this virus. For now, it is vital that we take on board all the instructions and advice being given to us. Stay at home and stay safe. Mike Firth, Editor
AS Spring turns to Summer, Dronfield Eye is usually overflowing with suggestions of things to see, places to go, shows to enjoy and community events to support. We list dates of galas, fetes, garden parties and more - but not this year.
Instead, we’re suggesting you should all stay home. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary action. The coronavirus pandemic has changed all of our lives, threatened the health and welfare of everyone, battered businesses and charities both large and small and taken our children out of organised education for the forseeable future.
Needless to say, the Dronfield Eye community has rallied to help the needy and the vulnerable. From people running errands and checking on the welfare of neighbours, through to stirring doorstep rounds of applause for our health and welfare workers and children posting support through amazing rainbow displays.
We’ve published your community magazine every month for the past 15 years and feel we should continue to serve you throughout these dark days. We can’t send our distributors to your letter-box right now, but we’ve made this edition available through the help of local supermarkets, post offices and petrol stations and also published a ‘virtual’ copy for people to read online.
Businesses have happily teamed up with Dronfield Eye down the years and this is an opportunity for us to support them in their hour of need. That’s one of the reasons why we have been so keen to
continue publishing our title.
In addition to heaping praise on our health and care professionals and volunteers, we also salute other local workers whose jobs have suddenly become ‘essential’ - supermarket staff, postal workers,
delivery drivers and others.
We are looking forward to launching an ‘Eye on Local Business’ campaign once we beat this virus.
For now, it is vital that we take on board all the instructions and advice being given to us. Stay at home and stay safe.
Mike Firth, Editor
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dronfield<br />
<strong>Issue</strong> <strong>175</strong> <strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong><br />
PLEASE<br />
SHARE THIS<br />
WITH FRIENDS<br />
Telephone: 01246 416027<br />
E Y E<br />
STAY<br />
HOME<br />
STAY<br />
SAFE<br />
Keeping busy on<br />
the Home Front<br />
Fans have plenty<br />
to sing about<br />
The gardening<br />
king of 1955<br />
Ideas from the<br />
Coeliac Queen<br />
Stay at home<br />
street parties<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> Town<br />
Council News<br />
Coronavirus Pandemic - Special Edition
EYE drops<br />
Stay home, stay safe<br />
S Spring turns to Summer, <strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>Eye</strong> is usually<br />
A<br />
overflowing with suggestions of things to see, places to go,<br />
shows to enjoy and community events to support. We list dates<br />
of galas, fetes, garden parties and more - but not this year.<br />
Instead, we’re suggesting you should all stay home.<br />
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary action. The coronavirus<br />
pandemic has changed all of our lives, threatened the health and<br />
welfare of everyone, battered businesses and charities both large and<br />
small and taken our children out of organised education for the<br />
forseeable future.<br />
Needless to say, the <strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>Eye</strong> community has rallied to help the<br />
needy and the vulnerable. From people running errands and checking<br />
on the welfare of neighbours, through to stirring doorstep rounds of<br />
applause for our health and welfare workers and children posting<br />
support through amazing rainbow displays.<br />
We’ve published your community magazine every month for the past<br />
15 years and feel we should continue to serve you throughout these<br />
dark days. We can’t send our distributors to your letter-box right now,<br />
but we’ve made this edition available through the help of local<br />
supermarkets, post offices and petrol stations and also published a<br />
‘virtual’ copy for people to read online.<br />
Businesses have happily teamed up with <strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>Eye</strong> down the<br />
years and this is an opportunity for us to support them in their hour of<br />
need. That’s one of the reasons why we have been so keen to<br />
continue publishing our title.<br />
In addition to heaping praise on our health and care professionals<br />
and volunteers, we also salute other local workers whose jobs have<br />
suddenly become ‘essential’ - supermarket staff, postal workers,<br />
delivery drivers and others.<br />
We are looking forward to launching an ‘<strong>Eye</strong> on Local Business’<br />
campaign once we beat this virus.<br />
For now, it is vital that we take on board all the instructions and<br />
advice being given to us. Stay at home and stay safe.<br />
Mike Firth, Editor<br />
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WITH GREAT CONFIDENCE COMES GREAT SUCCESS<br />
A big banner tribute to the NHS at Coal Aston<br />
Town of rainbows... Hoping to<br />
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creation is Sophia (above), aged<br />
nine, of Holmesdale Road,<br />
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dronfield<br />
E Y E<br />
This award-winning magazine<br />
is produced by Heron Publications Ltd.<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>Eye</strong> is the ONLY publication serving homes<br />
and businesses in <strong>Dronfield</strong>, Coal Aston, Holmesfield, <strong>Dronfield</strong><br />
Woodhouse, <strong>Dronfield</strong> Hilltop, Gosforth Valley, Apperknowle, Hundall,<br />
Holmesdale, Unstone, Hallowes, Barlow, Cowley, Mickley,<br />
Millthorpe, Troway, Unthank Cutthorpe and beyond.<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong>’s famous Peel Monument features on the<br />
cover of this special edition of <strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>Eye</strong><br />
P4: Keep busy on the Home Front. P6: Pacific pair back home.<br />
P8: Gardening king of 1955. P9: Stand by to party.<br />
P10: Public <strong>Eye</strong> - Golfer Sam Bairstow.<br />
P11: Fans get something to sing about.<br />
P12: School’s out for summer. P13: Harry’s <strong>Eye</strong>.<br />
P14: Unofficial history of <strong>Dronfield</strong>.<br />
P15: <strong>Dronfield</strong> Town Council News.<br />
P25: Anne’s 105th birthday.<br />
Contact us as follows:<br />
Enterprise House, 179 Chesterfield Road, <strong>Dronfield</strong>, S18 2XE..<br />
Telephone : 01246 416027.<br />
Email: mike@heronpublications.co.uk<br />
Website: heronpublications.co.uk<br />
facebook.com/<strong>Dronfield</strong>-<strong>Eye</strong><br />
Material is copyright and should not be reproduced without permission.<br />
Proud to be printed in Derbyshire by Buxton Press.<br />
2
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3
dronfield EYE<br />
Keep busy on the Home Front<br />
We’re all trying to keep occupied at home in<br />
order to remain positive during these uncertain<br />
times. Deborah Wain has a few suggestions<br />
S<br />
4<br />
tep back in time:<br />
Remember the days before Netflix, smartphones and Xbox<br />
when families came together to play board games?<br />
Why not dig out some of your old favourites from the loft and have<br />
a games night?<br />
Scrabble offers timeless fun and is a way of getting the kids to<br />
practise their spelling. Or how about a card game? There are some<br />
simple ones that young children can join in too. Other retro pasttimes<br />
perfect for a reboot include jigsaws and Lego.<br />
Evoke musical memories:<br />
How long is it since you went<br />
through your collection of vinyl<br />
records or CDs?<br />
Although streaming services<br />
allow you to listen to many<br />
songs, some tracks, especially<br />
those recorded by small or<br />
obscure bands, aren’t available.<br />
If you’ve got the means to play<br />
them, nothing takes you back to<br />
school or student days like your<br />
favourite old tunes; jumps,<br />
scratches and all!<br />
Sort out your photographs:<br />
Play your old favourites<br />
With hundreds of images stored on devices, precious memories<br />
are in danger of being lost. Go through pictures, delete and save<br />
accordingly, and get the best snaps ready for printing.<br />
You’ll free up storage and, when Christmas comes around, you’ll<br />
have a head start with prints to frame.<br />
Keep a diary:<br />
We’re living through<br />
unprecedented times and everyone’s<br />
lives are taking new courses.<br />
Jot down your experiences and<br />
thoughts in a diary format for future<br />
generations of your family to read<br />
and learn from. You could be the<br />
next Samuel Pepys, Ann Frank... or<br />
Bridget Jones!<br />
Samuel Pepys<br />
Research your family history:<br />
There are millions of documents online to use to piece together<br />
your family tree.<br />
Start by gathering as much information as you can from relatives<br />
(an excuse to check on their well-being).<br />
Be warned, genealogy is addictive and will keep you absorbed for<br />
hours!<br />
Learn something new:<br />
Ever fancied learning<br />
another language but<br />
never had the time?<br />
The prolonged period at<br />
home could provide just<br />
the opportunity to brush<br />
up on basic Spanish or<br />
French to try out on future<br />
holidays.<br />
Same goes for learning<br />
the guitar, or other<br />
musical instruments you<br />
bought but can’t wrestle a<br />
tune from.<br />
Head for the kitchen:<br />
Eating healthily has never been more important and, with time to<br />
cook from scratch, try out some new recipes.<br />
If you’ve got a bread or soupmaker that’s never been used, set it<br />
to work – or just make your own.<br />
Enjoy nature:<br />
Lavish some attention on your garden, or the containers on your<br />
balcony.<br />
Build a compost heap or start a compost bin to nourish your<br />
garden in the future and cut down on food waste.<br />
Put out food for your garden birds and keep a log of how many<br />
species you spot.<br />
Be a culture vulture:<br />
Our cultural institutions may be closed for the time being, but they<br />
are finding ways to engage with the public digitally.<br />
Take a virtual museum tour or watch a performance as it’s live<br />
streamed.<br />
If you don’t have the Internet, read one of the classics or start<br />
writing your own!<br />
Educate your pets:<br />
See how clever your<br />
cat or dog really is by<br />
teaching it a new<br />
trick or two.<br />
You’ll be surprised<br />
what you can achieve<br />
together and this<br />
could bring both of<br />
you a lot of joy,<br />
create necessary<br />
mental stimuli for<br />
your pet and deepen<br />
your relationship.<br />
Teach an old dog new tricks<br />
Get crafty:<br />
Channel your inner ‘Blue Peter’ and get the kids stuck into some<br />
painting, collaging and model-making.<br />
Put some bright drawings in your window for elderly neighbours<br />
to enjoy.<br />
Paint plant pots, create tags out of old birthday and Christmas<br />
cards, and make your own gift-wrap by decorating brown<br />
paper.<br />
For something a bit more permanent, upcycle an old table or<br />
lamp.<br />
Clean, tidy and mend:<br />
Make the most of the lighter days and the extra time by powering<br />
through your ‘to-do’ list.<br />
Clean out cupboards and wash cushions, curtains, pillows and<br />
small duvets.<br />
Touch up paintwork with those left-over tins in the shed. Give your<br />
lawnmower or bike a service. Valet your car. Sew on detached<br />
buttons and darn holes in your socks!<br />
Pamper yourself:<br />
Turn your home<br />
into a spa and use<br />
some of those<br />
gorgeous toiletries<br />
given by friends and<br />
family.<br />
Do your own minimanicure,<br />
pedicure<br />
or facial or treat a<br />
loved one.<br />
Find out those festive toiletries<br />
Use your imagination:<br />
Try to forget your worries for a while and play with the young<br />
children who, live with you or your pets. They’ll love all the<br />
attention you give.<br />
Turn everyday items into an obstacle course in the garden, build a<br />
den or a fairy garden.
dronfield EYE<br />
My Kind of Town<br />
If you’re looking for something<br />
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<strong>Issue</strong> 37 will be published for the<br />
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We also have back issues available of<br />
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5
dronfield EYE<br />
The Celebrity Eclipse liner<br />
Pacific pair back home<br />
after 15-day delay<br />
Most people would regard a cruise around South<br />
America to be the trip of a lifetime. And it was<br />
beginning to seem like a lifetime for one local<br />
couple, Howard and Margaret Borrell, when<br />
Coronavirus restrictions took hold. Here Howard<br />
recounts their story to <strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>Eye</strong>’s Mike Firth:<br />
W<br />
HEN we set off on our eagerly anticipated holiday on 28th<br />
February, the UK was still seven days away from its first<br />
coronavirus death and there appeared no serious cause for<br />
concern. How quickly things changed after our cruise on the<br />
Celebrity Eclipse departed.<br />
We followed the worsening global situation via BBC news, but<br />
continued to enjoy our itinerary which included the vibrant Buenos<br />
Aires, the Uruguayan seaside resort of Punta Del Este and Ushuaia -<br />
officially the most southerly city in the world - which has now very<br />
successfully branded itself as “The end of the world”. There was also,<br />
of course, Cape Horn itself.<br />
The weather ranged from scorching in Buenos Aires to distinctly<br />
chilly in Chile as we ventured further south, but it warmed up again as<br />
we got closer to the Equator.<br />
After a great South American tour, we were on schedule to dock at<br />
6am and disembark at San Antonio, to fly home from Santiago on<br />
Sunday, 15th March. However, at 6.30am the captain’s voice came<br />
over the tannoy, explaining: “The port of San Antonio is closed. Due to<br />
coronavirus fears, the Chilean government has closed all ports to<br />
cruise ships.”<br />
This began two days of intensive<br />
talks that failed to gain agreement<br />
for us to disembark<br />
It was eventually announced that<br />
we would be allowed to set sail for<br />
Valparaiso to refuel and obtain<br />
essential supplies, including<br />
medical items, as many<br />
passengers - including us - had by<br />
now run out of their medication.<br />
The plan was also to transfer 65<br />
Chilean nationals to shore.<br />
6<br />
And guess what beer<br />
was poured on board?<br />
Howard and Margaret: ‘We followed the worsening<br />
global situation via BBC news’<br />
However, we were advised that no other South American ports would<br />
allow us to dock so we would have to set sail for the United States.<br />
The refusal to allow our ship to dock meant the replenishment took<br />
three days, rather than the usual four hours, as everything had to be<br />
transferred from small barges.<br />
Two more days on and we tendered off-shore at Manta, Ecuador, to<br />
allow a man with a serious heart condition to be moved to shore and<br />
be subsequently airlifted to hospital. We also obtained further medical<br />
supplies for the passengers that had not received their needs in<br />
Valparaiso.<br />
The long nautical trek to San Diego began, where we had already<br />
obtained clearance to dock.<br />
Over the next ten days I came to realise that:<br />
• The Pacific Ocean is huge. Imagine getting lost on Dartmoor; then<br />
imagine being adrift in a small boat on a stretch of water 190,000<br />
times bigger than Dartmoor. In fact, it's bigger than the entire earth<br />
landmass, so the enormity is beyond comprehension. Whichever way<br />
you look, the horizon offers up nothing more than more sea... and yet<br />
more sea.<br />
• So many Americans have still failed to master the art of eating using<br />
a knife and fork.<br />
• Having quite a few days at sea isn’t the horror I’d assumed. Just<br />
everyone at home have had to, you create a structure, a routine to<br />
build the day around and it becomes more than bearable.<br />
• That despite all the recent climate change focus, the sea isn't in as<br />
big a mess as I expected. We didn't witness one tiny bit of pollution.
dronfield EYE<br />
Chile, where the Celebrity<br />
Eclipse was refused<br />
permission to dock, and<br />
(left) one of the barges<br />
which took three days to<br />
ferry vital supplies on<br />
board from Valparaiso<br />
• I’m actually quite good at bean-bag throwing!<br />
• I can survive okay without normal TV (we had access to the BBC news<br />
channel).<br />
The cruise company had the mammoth job of arranging the return<br />
home of 2,700 passengers and tackled the task in country order. Just<br />
two days before we were due to dock we received our flight details<br />
home.<br />
A flight had been chartered from Los Angeles (a two-hour coach<br />
journey from San Diego) to get the British back to Heathrow. Not<br />
surprisingly, until our Virgin Atlantic flight had actually taken off, we<br />
were nervous about another refusal. However, the process that included<br />
a questionnaire, visual assessment and temperature health check went<br />
smoothly and we landed ahead of time at a deserted Heathrow. The<br />
airport resembled a scene from a science fiction movie.<br />
Looking back, things could have been so much worse. For example, 200<br />
other passengers of mainly South American nationalities had been<br />
refused permission to disembark and were to be transferred by ship to<br />
Acapulco to await further subsequent transfer.<br />
A group of Australians on board were all to be flown to Sydney and<br />
transferred under military guard to a two-week isolation at an arranged<br />
hotel.<br />
At least 50 Colombians looked like having<br />
a long stay in Mexico as their border was closed to Colombian nationals<br />
and foreigners.<br />
Our intention had always been to self-isolate once we reached home<br />
and, after weeks at sea, it didn't prove to be too difficult a task. We had<br />
felt fine since our departure but we continued to monitor our condition<br />
and temperature with regular checks throughout the isolation.<br />
We were just glad to be back home safe and sound, albeit 15 days late!<br />
Clap for kids... and<br />
the elderly too!<br />
C<br />
HILDREN from<br />
Holmesfield<br />
made banners to<br />
show solidarity with<br />
residents of Meadow<br />
Grange Care Home.<br />
The Penny Acres<br />
pupils took part in a<br />
Clap for Kids initiative,<br />
celebrating how great<br />
all the children are,<br />
despite having had<br />
their worlds tipped<br />
upside-down.<br />
Standing outside their<br />
houses, the children<br />
spread a little joy and<br />
hope to residents and<br />
staff at Meadow<br />
Grange and they joined<br />
in, clapping and<br />
smiling at their<br />
windows.<br />
7
dronfield EYE<br />
The gardening king of 1955<br />
Getting schoolchildren to take<br />
an interest in growing plants<br />
and vegetables is nothing new.<br />
Deborah Wain reports<br />
E<br />
VEN before we were all told to stay at<br />
home, there was a move to get<br />
children back to nature and to know<br />
where their food comes from.<br />
This trophy takes us back to a time when<br />
lessons in growing vegetables were part of<br />
school life.<br />
It is the Unstone Council School Garden<br />
Championship Cup, which was presented<br />
annually from 1927 to 1955 to boys who had<br />
tended the best plot at the school on<br />
Chesterfield Road.<br />
After the contest was disbanded, final<br />
recipient Harold Herring hung on to the cup<br />
and still has it to this day.<br />
Harold, who now lives at Stubley, recalls that<br />
there were about 20 plots at the back of the<br />
school.<br />
Classes were led by headteacher Reg Taylor<br />
for the pupils’ final two years of school; one<br />
second year and one first year boy would be<br />
responsible for each plot and compete for the<br />
trophy.<br />
Harold said the all kinds of vegetables were<br />
planted including peas, potatoes, cabbages<br />
and marrows and manure was brought in to<br />
boost the soil.<br />
He added that Mr Taylor was a stickler at<br />
making sure planting was done uniformly and<br />
to the letter.<br />
He said: “In the seven weeks holidays we<br />
went up every Friday and you could buy the<br />
produce as it became ready.”<br />
Harold added that, as he had been helping out<br />
at a local farm from the age of seven, he<br />
already knew a lot about vegetables. The<br />
competition was judged by retired headteacher<br />
Mr Sharman.<br />
Harold added that he has continued to have<br />
an interest in gardening throughout his life.<br />
Harold and his classmates also came to<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> for practical classes – the boys for<br />
woodwork and the girls for cooking.<br />
Harold Herring from Stubley with<br />
the school garden trophy he has<br />
been polishing since 1955 and,<br />
right, its engraved plaque<br />
8
dronfield EYE<br />
Stand by to party<br />
I<br />
Jungle Lion<br />
F coronavirus restrictions are lifted by the beginning of<br />
August, the biggest party <strong>Dronfield</strong> has ever seen will be<br />
staged in Cliffe Park<br />
Organisers of the annual DronFest charity music festival continue<br />
to hold out hope that, being planned for late in the summer, their<br />
event may get the go-ahead.<br />
A number of bands and solo performers have been confirmed for<br />
the Saturday, 8th August, showpiece when it is again planned to<br />
have entertainment on two stages in the Callywhite Lane park.<br />
Updates on the festival, which is again being sponsored by<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>Eye</strong>, can be found at dronfest.co.uk<br />
The event has raised in excess of £100,000 for local charities and<br />
other good causes over the past 20 years.<br />
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9
public EYE<br />
<strong>2020</strong> should have been<br />
an important summer in<br />
the career of 21-yearold<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> Hallowes<br />
golfer Sam Bairstow<br />
who has already<br />
represented Sheffield,<br />
Yorkshire and England.<br />
He answers Mike Firth’s<br />
questions:<br />
Where did you grow up?<br />
In Heeley and I still live there, but I spent most of my time in<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> as I went to William Levick and Henry Fanshawe schools.<br />
How did you first get into Golf?<br />
I went to the driving range a few times and enjoyed it but was into<br />
football when I was younger. I decided to take up golf properly<br />
when I was about 13/14.<br />
What is the sport’s appeal?<br />
I really enjoy the challenge to get better. I’m very competitive as<br />
well and the competition is about beating the course rather than<br />
beating other people.<br />
Why did you become a member at Hallowes?<br />
When I was at the driving range, a member called Steve Lister<br />
recommended that I join. I’ve been a member ever since, starting<br />
off with junior coaching with John Oates, the pro up there.<br />
What was your first success?<br />
The first event I won was the Sheffield Strokeplay Championship<br />
which was at Silkstone where I shot a 67(-6).<br />
What have been your biggest achievements to date?<br />
At the start of the year, I went to Spain to represent England in a<br />
match against seven other teams. It was a six-man team and we<br />
ended up winning.<br />
Also, in February I went South Africa with three others and<br />
represented England in four events out there. Last year I won the<br />
Hampshire Salver and also the North of England Amateur at<br />
Alwoodley Golf Club. I also won two 36-hole scratch events at<br />
Lindrick and Moortown.<br />
Where is your favourite course?<br />
Leopard creek in South Africa. It’s a great golf course but it’s also<br />
in the Kruger National Park which gives some great views on<br />
numerous holes.<br />
Who is your golfing hero?<br />
Tiger Woods. I think he’s the best player ever and has had some<br />
great comebacks in his career, like coming back to win the 2019<br />
masters.<br />
Which events did you have planned for this summer?<br />
I planned on playing a full amateur tournament schedule in the UK<br />
and then a couple aboard - probably would of been about 15/16<br />
tournaments in all.<br />
I had planned the British Amateur event at Royal Birkdale and<br />
also the European Amateur in France. They have been moved to<br />
August and September so hopefully I get to play them. I also had<br />
planned the St Andrews Trophy.<br />
How have you managed to practice?<br />
I have been doing chipping and putting and also swing drills, just<br />
as much as I can really until we can get back out there.<br />
What’s your ultimate golfing ambition?<br />
To play professional golf on the European Tour. It’s obviously<br />
hard to do, but I feel with the right work ethic it is achievable for<br />
me.<br />
It will take time and I’ve just got to be patient with it.<br />
10
dronfield EYE<br />
Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane ground, where home fans sing their ‘Greasy Chip Butty’ anthem with gusto<br />
Fans get plenty to sing about<br />
What a result! A brand new song incorporating<br />
Sheffield United’s famous anthem is raising funds to<br />
support local NHS workers. Here’s how it came about:<br />
W<br />
HENEVER <strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>Eye</strong> editor Mike Firth joins Sheffield United fans<br />
in belting out their club’s legendary ‘Greasy Chip Butty’ chant, he<br />
always thinks there is something missing.<br />
Perhaps another verse or two?<br />
When he mentioned this to professional singer, songwriter and performer Max<br />
Restaino, the pair decided to do something about it... and the result will<br />
hopefully raise a cheer from Blades fans who are missing seeing their Premier<br />
League heroes in action.<br />
Said Mike: “I’d thought of some possible lyrics, but it soon became clear Max<br />
had much grander ideas for the project and he’s written a fabulous jazz/bluesy<br />
song, recorded and produced it inside a week, and now the track is out there<br />
for people to download and enjoy.”<br />
The pair were keen for the song to benefit a good cause, so all the money<br />
pledged for downloads will go to the Sheffield Hospitals Charity, currently<br />
desperate for funding to assist the city’s hard-pressed medical teams and their<br />
support staff.<br />
Explained Mike: “I approached Max at the right time as he had just completed<br />
recording his latest album. He’s performed at Bramall Lane functions in the<br />
past and his studio is just a goal-kick away from the ground. Being a fellow<br />
Sheffielder, he was the ideal person to take on the project and he’s certainly<br />
earned his stripes. I’m confident fans - and many others - will love it.”<br />
In addition to being a Sheffield United song, Max’s ‘Greasy Chip Butty’<br />
recording is also a celebration of the steel city itself, with mentions of the Hole<br />
in the Road, The Wicker and Stones Bitter.<br />
Said the musician: “I’ve lived in Sheffield all my life so writing the lyrics<br />
wasn’t so difficult. I’m a very proud Sheffielder and I think that comes across<br />
in the song. I enjoyed featuring humorous Sheffield colloquialisms and using a<br />
local accent in places. I don’t get to incorporate that when singing and writing<br />
music for myself, so it was fun.<br />
“I’ve known the ‘Greasy Chip Butty’ chant for years and me and my friends<br />
sing it when United games are on. I’ve always found the lyrics funny and think<br />
they capture northern humour. I’m glad I had the<br />
opportunity to write and produce a full song using<br />
it as the chorus. Devoted United fans, and many<br />
other Sheffielders, will be thrilled to hear this song<br />
dedicated to our home town. It’s the perfect time<br />
Editor Mike Firth:<br />
‘Max has certainly<br />
earned his stripes’<br />
Max Restaino: ‘I’m a very proud Sheffielder<br />
and I think that comes across in the song’<br />
to release it to make people smile in uncertain days and to raise money for a worthy cause.”<br />
David Reynolds, Executive Director of Sheffield Hospitals Charity, said: “This is an incredible display of<br />
support from Max and everybody involved. We all know how challenging these times are, but throughout the<br />
past few weeks, we have been blown away by the way that Sheffield people have come together to support<br />
their amazing NHS and we really are so grateful.<br />
“This song is an opportunity to share in something special; something that celebrates Sheffield and says<br />
‘thank you’ to our NHS. So please do download it and share it as far and wide as possible.<br />
“All the proceeds will support those hard-working staff in our hospitals - to provide them with care packages,<br />
refreshments, break-out areas and much more at this time of need. Your help would mean more than ever.”<br />
• The Bramall Lane chant, based on John Denver’s No 1 hit ‘Annie’s Song’, is thought to date back to the start<br />
of the 1985–86 season.<br />
11
dronfield EYE<br />
School’s out for summer<br />
The interruption to our children’s education<br />
is nothing new to editor Mike Firth and his<br />
family. He recalls two previous occasions<br />
when schools had to turn away their pupils<br />
D<br />
AUGHTER Olivia has worked hard towards the<br />
GCSE examinations she should be taking shortly.<br />
Plenty of homework, after-school study groups, revision<br />
for her mocks... she has been conscientious throughout.<br />
She’s disappointed all her hard work has come to an<br />
abrupt end, even though she is confident the showing<br />
she has put in over the past 18 months will lead to<br />
decent estimated grades.<br />
However, there is no hiding from the fact that the<br />
phrase “school closure” is a dream come true for any<br />
young person sitting in a classroom day after day. It<br />
certainly was for me.<br />
Way back in the early days of 1974, I was trying to<br />
come to terms with my own secondary education at<br />
Gladys Buxton School, displaying nowhere near as much<br />
diligence and dedication as Olivia.<br />
In between completing occasional pieces of homework,<br />
I was vaguely aware that the news programmes on TV<br />
were repeatedly mentioning the phrase “three-day week”.<br />
Miners worked to rule due to proposed pay caps so,<br />
by the end of 1973, coal reserves had run extremely low.<br />
This forced the government into action.<br />
The nation limped along as commercial users of<br />
electricity were limited to three consecutive days'<br />
consumption each week. And our local evening paper<br />
listed timetables showing which houses could expect<br />
their power supplies to be curtailed in the days ahead.<br />
It was already an exciting era for us schoolkids. Times<br />
were glam as we bopped along to the outrageous<br />
performances of Slade, Sweet and T Rex on ‘Top of the<br />
Pops’, but the really big news came one morning when<br />
the headteacher summoned us all into the hall.<br />
The school electricity was off, the boiler wasn’t working and<br />
there was no heating - cue pretend shivering from the lot of us<br />
- so as there was no way of knowing when power might be<br />
restored, regrettably, we would all need to collect our coats and<br />
return to our homes.<br />
I had just removed my school tie, zipped up my anorak and<br />
made it out of the school gates when there was a gasp from<br />
all my mates. The street lights had come on. Teachers were<br />
chasing after us along Oakhill Road, their leather elbow<br />
12<br />
World War II evacuees carrying their boxed gas masks<br />
Homework by candlelight during the dark days of early 1974<br />
patches glinting in the early morning sunshine.<br />
So did we turn around and file back into maths, physics<br />
and chemistry lessons? Not a chance and I made it home in<br />
record time.<br />
But school absences for the Firth family go back a further<br />
generation. Mum Margaret and dad Arthur both grew up in<br />
Sheffield and when Herr Hitler threatened the city in World War<br />
II, schools were immediately disrupted.<br />
Mum struggles to remember her first day at Woodseats<br />
School, for it wasn’t spent at school at all. The threat of<br />
bombing saw small groups of children taken into people’s<br />
homes to begin their education. She was due to start on<br />
September 5th, 1939 - the week the war began. So instead of<br />
learning in a classroom at her local infants school, her first<br />
lessons were taught in a front room on Aisthorpe Road.<br />
She remembers the ‘Home Front’ school service days with<br />
fondness, recalling children were given slate boards and chalk<br />
to write with.<br />
Dad, who was slightly older, was taken out of both Pye Bank<br />
School and his family home when war was declared and he<br />
and his gasmask were despatched by bus to Balderton, near<br />
Newark-on-Trent, as an evacuee.<br />
He attended some lessons in a schoolroom there, but chiefly<br />
remembers the thrill of living in the countryside and being able<br />
to go fishing whenever he liked.<br />
So school closures are nothing new - ask my family!
Dogs use their loaf<br />
to entertain owners<br />
Our canine correspondent, Harry Basset, files his monthly report<br />
dronfield EYE<br />
I<br />
T’S been a weird<br />
time for us pets as<br />
we try to entertain<br />
all our owners who<br />
are suddenly<br />
spending so much<br />
time with us at<br />
home.<br />
Here’s one craze<br />
which I discovered on<br />
facebook. What do you<br />
think?<br />
I reckon food is<br />
better for eating, not<br />
for wearing!<br />
However, I’ve been<br />
performing one of my<br />
own party pieces to<br />
keep my household<br />
amused. Visit <strong>Dronfield</strong><br />
<strong>Eye</strong>’s facebook page to<br />
see me singing.<br />
And do email me your<br />
amusing pictures.<br />
Send them to<br />
harry@heron<br />
publications.co.uk<br />
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<strong>Dronfield</strong> Lottery<br />
Prize-winning numbers:<br />
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remaining 50p is returned to players as prize money.<br />
For more information on how to play, visit www.dronfieldrotary.org.uk<br />
13
dronfield EYE<br />
The<br />
History of <strong>Dronfield</strong><br />
F<br />
IRST and foremost, it would be<br />
extremely remiss of me not to<br />
mention Coronavirus, or Covid-19, or<br />
That Lurgi. Good, that's got that out<br />
of the way, now let's get on with<br />
things.<br />
Nobody has yet written the definitive<br />
history of that town which you, dear<br />
reader, call home. <strong>Dronfield</strong>, or the Field<br />
of Drones.<br />
Now, I am the first to realise that the<br />
word "drone" has changed much over the<br />
centuries, but we have no interest in<br />
those small plastic things with several<br />
horizontally-mounted propellors that<br />
buzz overhead at any public event, and<br />
make you wish that you had a pair of<br />
Purdey shotguns.<br />
Nor do we (well, I say "we", but in<br />
actuality it is "me") care a great deal that<br />
aged relatives (usually but not<br />
exclusively) female, who make that<br />
peculiar noise all evening until it is time<br />
to sing Auld Lang Syne, which nobody<br />
understands, then wait, moustaches<br />
bristling, for the familial kisses. This is<br />
the point where I have locked myself in<br />
the loo with a good book and a bottle of<br />
something interesting. But, drone it unmistakeably is.<br />
And talking of Scotland, which we were, albeit obliquely, there is<br />
the drone of the bagpipe, which some people hate and others love.<br />
Personally, and it may be a Celtic background, I think the Highland<br />
Great Pipes are magnificent, although a similar noise made by<br />
frustrated tom cats trying to get at next door's furry little darling<br />
that happens to be on heat comes a very poor second. However, to<br />
save upsetting a sensitive and cosmopolitan readership, I won't<br />
mention the twin Purdeys.<br />
A drone, in this context, is a small insect, basically a male honey<br />
bee, which does all the work whilst the female sits in idle<br />
splendour, being waited on hand and foot - assuming that bees<br />
have hands. Actually, the drone's primary function is to mate with<br />
the Queen, but I know how delicate you are so we shall draw a<br />
discreet veil over that.<br />
The genealogy of the drone, which is incapable of stinging you but<br />
waves its tail about in a frenzy to try and frighten you, is due<br />
entirely to arrhenotokous parthenogenesis, but since I am sure you<br />
all knew that, we need discuss this no further.<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> was first noted by the Roman Fourth Cohort, which was<br />
stationed at what we now call Templeborough, but had links with<br />
Chesterfield, which was possibly called Caestre in those days.<br />
In any event. a reference in a Marching Order for XXI, Mensis<br />
Quintilius, XLII refers to "villula parva medium inter Caestre et<br />
Steelus Peachius Tozerii", or The Little Place Between Chesterfield<br />
and Templeborough, the common name for that location back in<br />
the day.<br />
It is thought that there might have been a small ‘Taverna<br />
Dronfeldii’ a few hundred actus (an actus is 20 pedes or 116.496 ft)<br />
from what is now the railway bridge, in turn a few cubitum from<br />
the bottom of Callywhite Lane, which was genuinely once called<br />
Dog Poo Hill - or something a little more blunt.<br />
However, remains of chicken bones, oysters, a few wine amphora<br />
and a slightly worn Roman Army Boot were found in the 19th<br />
century, together with a fragment of wood bearing the barely<br />
legible words Albus Olor (prop. Giius Apintus) and the legend<br />
Vinum et Siceram, insumptuosus Vermis, which translates roughly<br />
to "The White Swan (proprietor Giius Apintus), wine and beer,<br />
inexpensive grub."<br />
14<br />
That well-known barbermonger,<br />
Dafydd Manton, offers his own<br />
take on our town’s beginnings<br />
This is quite possibly the very first<br />
reference to the excellent pub culture<br />
now enjoyed by <strong>Dronfield</strong>, although<br />
frankly a sandwich I had in one (which<br />
shall remain nameless for reasons of<br />
libel - the pub, not the sandwich) which<br />
was Caseus et Cepa (cheese and onion),<br />
may well have predated the Roman<br />
invasion, and was quite possibly Stone<br />
Age. The only other option was<br />
mammoth and tomato.<br />
Not much happened for the next few<br />
hundred years, other than the occasional<br />
public flogging/hanging. We know that<br />
there was a market, presumably where it<br />
still is, although it wasn't a car park at<br />
the time, just the odd waggon, a cart or<br />
two and a handful of horses.<br />
There were butchers, bakers, a<br />
candlestick maker, a sandwich shop<br />
dealing especially in boar, venison and<br />
anything else that they could poach from<br />
the local Big Wigs (including the first<br />
ever margarine, although originally it was<br />
used to lubricate cart wheels etc).<br />
A stall flogged vast quantities of honey,<br />
although frankly the town was dripping<br />
with the stuff. It covered everything<br />
except the railway lines, and that was<br />
only because trains hadn't been invented yet. There was a mead<br />
stall and a stall selling cures for various plagues and antiearthquake<br />
pills.<br />
To compensate, the quantity of honey was dramatically reduced,<br />
and a scheme to introduce more marmalade was begun.<br />
Now, it so happens that in my youth, when I was consuming<br />
Donald Duck Peanut Butter, there was also Noddy's Shredless<br />
marmalade, which was a sticky, vaguely orange gloop that sat in<br />
the middle of your toast, and gurgled at you. It also made your<br />
teeth fall out.<br />
This was very quickly discontinued, and the peel re-instated, in<br />
huge quantities. This benevolent act was commemorated in<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> by the Peel Memorial, which was originally a shelter for<br />
the Peelers, who, as every schoolboy knows, were closely watched<br />
by the embryonic police force, known at that time as coppers,<br />
because of the metal used in the huge Vats. VAT on marmalade is<br />
currently several percent. I actually don't know, but our esteemed<br />
editor - Lor'blessee, Sirrah - will doubtless not only know and<br />
correct this paragraph, but send me a note, in tincture and on<br />
goatskin, informing me that I am a poltroon, a buffoon, a creamfaced<br />
loon, a knave, a paper-fac'd villain, a painted maypole, a lilyliver'd<br />
boy (although he is about 51 years late), a scullion, a<br />
rapscallion and a fustilarian, an asshead, a coxcomb, a scambling,<br />
out-facing, fashion-monging boy (alright, 52, then) and a cullionly<br />
barbermonger.<br />
He's a lovely bloke, really (despite living in Eckington, or<br />
somewhere posh like that), but just a tad out of date. To give you a<br />
clue, when computers came out, with modems and internets, and<br />
webs and www and all that stuff, he still prefers my items on<br />
vellum, in blood - mine, since you ask - and delivered on horseback<br />
by someone wearing a brace of flintlocks and a tricorn titfer.<br />
Incidentally, in order to both keep said Peel Memorial sterile, and<br />
protect the wor-force, it was cleaned regularly by the bloke on the<br />
horse, whose name was Dick Turpentine.<br />
I should just mention that His Nibs has a daughter, who is a very<br />
accomplished horsewoman, and the last time that I was near their<br />
palatial mansion, I spotted a false moustache and a recently detricorned<br />
feather in their driveway, under the Lamborghin, Ferrari,<br />
Aston Martin and Bentley tyre-tracks. One wonders...
<strong>Dronfield</strong><br />
NEWS<br />
Town Council<br />
Town Council’s play areas remain closed<br />
P<br />
LAY areas, tennis courts, basketball<br />
courts, bowling greens and football<br />
pitches in Town Council-owned parks all<br />
remain closed, due to the ongoing<br />
coronavirus pandemic.<br />
The closures follow the Government<br />
announcement on 23rd March, <strong>2020</strong>, that<br />
the UK would be entering a period of<br />
lockdown.<br />
Some parks remain open to allow residents<br />
to take their daily walk or run on their own<br />
or with members of their own household.<br />
Helpline<br />
details<br />
I<br />
N response to the coronavirus<br />
pandemic, Community<br />
Response Teams have been set<br />
up by both NE Derbyshire District<br />
Council and Derbyshire County<br />
Council.<br />
The district council is inviting<br />
residents who are self-isolating<br />
and in need of assistance, to<br />
register with the Support Team by<br />
calling 01246 231111, or online via<br />
ne-derbyshire.gov.uk. This will help<br />
them provide advice and support to<br />
those affected by coronavirus. The<br />
district council can then help<br />
residents to access the services<br />
available and provide a friendly<br />
voice on the phone, giving callers<br />
someone to turn to if they need<br />
reassurance.<br />
The county council is also coordinating<br />
a community response<br />
across the county to make sure<br />
vulnerable residents are<br />
supported.<br />
Residents can register for help by<br />
calling 01629 535091 or online by<br />
visiting www.derbyshire.gov.uk.<br />
The county council is also calling<br />
on Derbyshire's strong network of<br />
community groups, voluntary<br />
organisations and businesses to<br />
help by joining the Derbyshire<br />
Community Response Unit. This<br />
will help those in need by<br />
delivering services such as food<br />
shopping, phones to the isolated,<br />
and collecting and delivering items<br />
such as prescriptions.<br />
Town Council Leader, Coun Angelique<br />
Foster, said: “We will do everything we<br />
can to help keep our residents safe<br />
during these unprecedented times.<br />
“We continue to follow Government<br />
instructions and we are urging local<br />
residents to continue to adhere to the<br />
social distancing guidelines.<br />
“We will re-open play areas and sports<br />
pitches once it is safe to do so. Please<br />
stay safe and help keep each other<br />
safe.”<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> Town Council, Civic Hall, <strong>Dronfield</strong> S18 1PD.<br />
Tel: 01246 418573. townclerk@dronfield.gov.uk www.dronfield.gov.uk<br />
Coun Angelique Foster<br />
Park’s new wildflower meadow<br />
O<br />
VER the next few weeks, those<br />
walking past Sindelfingen Park<br />
will start to see the emergence of<br />
Summer with a new wildflower<br />
meadow that has been planted<br />
alongside Gosforth Drive.<br />
The Town Council approved the<br />
creation of the wildflower meadow at<br />
its March meeting.<br />
Coun Mary Ireland<br />
(left) commented:<br />
“We are looking<br />
forward to seeing<br />
the flowers bloom over the coming months.<br />
“The classic flower mix should provide colourful flowers from the<br />
beginning of <strong>May</strong>, weather permitting, right the way through to<br />
Autumn, and will hopefully be enjoyed by residents walking past or<br />
through the park.<br />
“In addition to the bright colours the wildflower meadow will also provide<br />
additional bio-diversity in the area for years to come.”<br />
Footpath at risk of closure<br />
ID you know the footpath that connects Holmely Lane with<br />
D Marsh Avenue Recreation Ground is at risk of being closed?<br />
Coun Alex Dale (pictured right) said: “This footpath provides a<br />
popular short-cut for many residents and we are in the process of<br />
looking to apply for it to be officially recognised as a Public Right<br />
of Way by Derbyshire County Council on their definitive map.<br />
“In order for this to happen, the Town Council needs<br />
statements from members of the public to support an<br />
application. If you would like to help retain access to<br />
this footpath, I urge you to download and complete the<br />
relevant form, which can be found<br />
on the Town Council website, or<br />
by calling the office.”<br />
Completed forms need to be<br />
returned to the Town Council no<br />
later than 30th June to help<br />
support this application.<br />
See over<br />
the page for a<br />
reminder of who<br />
your Town<br />
Councillors<br />
are
dronfield TOWN COUNCIL<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> Town<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> South<br />
Coun Angelique Foster (Leader) 29 Burns Drive, <strong>Dronfield</strong>,<br />
S18 1NJ. 01246 290796. cllr.AngeliqueFoster@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
Coun William Jones The Moorlands, 73 Hilltop Road, <strong>Dronfield</strong>,<br />
S18 1UJ. 01246 415783. cllr.jones@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
Coun Alan Powell (Deputy Leader) 18 Hanbury Close, <strong>Dronfield</strong>,<br />
S18 1RF. 01246 415679. cllr.Powell@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
Coun Kevin Tait 6 Westfield Road, <strong>Dronfield</strong>, S18 1YE.<br />
07855 379111. cllr.Tait@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
Coun Philip Wright 6 Longacre Road, <strong>Dronfield</strong>, S18 1UQ.<br />
01246 414923. cllr.Wright@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> North<br />
Coun Susan Burkitt 9 Stubley Close, <strong>Dronfield</strong> Woodhouse,<br />
S18 8YH. 07545 888914. cllr.Burkitt@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
Coun Robert Gilmore 21 Palmer Crescent, <strong>Dronfield</strong>, S18 1XW.<br />
07780 000341. cllr.Gilmore@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
Coun Martin Hanrahan 23 Eckington Road, Coal Aston, S18 3AT.<br />
07421 804060. cllr.Hanrahan@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
Gosforth Valley<br />
Coun Tim Collins 11 Kilburn Road, <strong>Dronfield</strong>, S18 8QA.<br />
07423 014099. cllr.Collins@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
Coun Lilian Deighton (<strong>May</strong>or) 1 Bowshaw, <strong>Dronfield</strong>, S18 2GB.<br />
01246 411310. cllr.deighton@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
Coun Michelle Emmens 59 Hallowes Lane, <strong>Dronfield</strong>, S18 1ST.<br />
01246 410253. cllr.MichelleEmmens@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
Coun Richard Welton (Deputy <strong>May</strong>or) 5 Melbourne Avenue,<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> Woodhouse, S18 8YW. 07770 780642.<br />
cllr.Welton@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
Coal Aston<br />
Coun Mark Foster 29 Burns Drive, <strong>Dronfield</strong>, S18 1NJ.<br />
07809 902698. cllr.MarkFoster@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
Coun Anthony Hutchinson 2 Brown Lane, Coal Aston, S18 3AJ.<br />
07817 481485. cllr.Hutchinson@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
Coun Richard Spooner 14 Park Avenue, <strong>Dronfield</strong>, S18 2LQ.<br />
01246 412164. cllr.spooner@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> Bowshaw<br />
Coun Marie Ireland 56 Burns Drive, <strong>Dronfield</strong>, S18 1NJ.<br />
01246 906167. cllr.ireland@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> Dyche Lane<br />
Coun Alex Dale 07515 261 786. cllr.Dale@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> Summerfield<br />
Coun Paul Parkin 2 The Knoll, <strong>Dronfield</strong>, S18 2EH. 07305 859736.<br />
cllr.parkin@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> Woodhouse<br />
Coun Roger Hall 21 Hassop Close, <strong>Dronfield</strong>, S18 2FX.<br />
01246 290009. cllr.Hall@dronfield.gov.uk<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> Town Council, Civic Centre, <strong>Dronfield</strong>, S18 1PD
Councillors<br />
dronfield TOWN COUNCIL<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> Town Councillors. Standing, from left: Richard Spooner,<br />
Tim Collins, Susan Burkitt, Alex Dale, Paul Parkin, Mark Foster,<br />
Kevin Tait, Roger Hall, Anthony Hutchinson, Robert Gilmore,<br />
Michelle Emmens, William Jones, Philip Wright, Martin Hanrahan.<br />
Seated: Angelique Foster (Leader), Richard Welton (Deputy <strong>May</strong>or),<br />
Lilian Deighton (<strong>May</strong>or), Alan Powell (Deputy Leader).<br />
Inset: Marie Ireland.<br />
01246 418573 townclerk@dronfield.gov.uk www.dronfield.gov.uk
dronfield EYE<br />
Race beats UK lockdown<br />
It seems like another world, but<br />
this was the scene in <strong>Dronfield</strong> in<br />
March, prior to the coronavirus<br />
regulations being announced. The<br />
annual 10k road race around the<br />
Gosforth Valley, plus the fun run,<br />
were both well supported by<br />
athletes, although the number of<br />
spectators along the road was<br />
down on the usual turnout<br />
M<br />
ORE than 1,000 runners converged on S18 for this<br />
year’s big <strong>Dronfield</strong> 10k race and associated Fun Run –<br />
now in their 26th year.<br />
The two-lap 10k road race saw over 700 runners take part, while<br />
the 2km Fun Run took place at the same time around estate<br />
footpaths.<br />
Crowds turned out to offer support en-route and by the finish line<br />
in Sindelfingen Park, despite rain and the growing coronavirus<br />
crisis.<br />
The events are organised and raise funds for 7th <strong>Dronfield</strong> Scout<br />
Group. A donation is also made every year to the current <strong>Dronfield</strong><br />
<strong>May</strong>or's charity.<br />
First man home in the 10k race was Alfie Manthorpe, aged 20,<br />
from Mosborough, with a time of 32.37 minutes.<br />
Alfie, who represents City of Sheffield and Dearne AC, said it was<br />
the first time he had run the <strong>Dronfield</strong> race, but credited his coach<br />
with entering him.<br />
Delighted runner-up was Tom Shaw, of New Whittington, who<br />
achieved a personal best with his time of 33.47 minutes.<br />
First in the women’s category was Heather Hatton, from the Steel<br />
City Striders, with a time of 41.34 minutes. She was followed by<br />
Caz Kay, of Totley AC, who<br />
achieved a time of 42.33 minutes.<br />
The Fun Run was won by Mercia<br />
RC runner Annabelle Sibley, aged<br />
12, from Sheffield. Second was<br />
James Sinclair, aged 11, from<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> Junior School, and third<br />
was Dan Bramley, aged 13, from<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> Henry Fanshawe School.<br />
Many runners took to the streets<br />
of to challenge themselves and<br />
also raise money for good causes.<br />
Among them was mum-of-two<br />
Vicki Hallam, a receptionist at<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>Eye</strong>. She raised £200 for<br />
18<br />
10k winner Alfie<br />
Manthorpe<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>Eye</strong>’s Vicki Hallam<br />
Fun Run<br />
winner<br />
Annabelle<br />
Sibley<br />
the <strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>May</strong>or’s Appeal and £300 for charity Anxiety UK.<br />
Vicki was inspired to take up running two years ago during a<br />
period of anxiety and depression, which is why she chose Anxiety<br />
UK as a recipient.<br />
She said: “We all know people who have experienced anxiety and<br />
depression and I suffered it myself. I got help and running played<br />
its part in my recovery.<br />
“I was never a sporty person and I’d look at people who ran and<br />
think they were mad, but since I started I’ve never looked back.<br />
“Yes, the training was hard, getting up early in the winter when it<br />
was cold and dark and running, but I love it and I’ve lost a stoneand-a-half<br />
as well. It really is a case that if I can do a 10k, anyone<br />
can. Also the support from the running community, including<br />
Parkrun, has been brilliant.”<br />
During the big race, Vicki was proud to wear an Anxiety UK T-shirt<br />
and received lots of support along the route. It lifted her to<br />
achieve her personal target of finishing in under an hour – in fact<br />
she had a whole two seconds to spare!<br />
Vicki has been overwhelmed by the many donations she has<br />
received and thanked those who donated.
dronfield EYE<br />
Two of Ellie’s<br />
gluten-free<br />
creations,<br />
Chicken Thighs<br />
with Parsley<br />
Mash and<br />
Summer<br />
Berries<br />
Roulade<br />
Ideas from the Coeliac Queen<br />
Ellie Colton writes for our sister publication,<br />
Active8, and is also a BBC Radio Sheffield<br />
presenter. A coeliac, she has been using<br />
her enforced time at home to experiment<br />
with a number of new gluten-free recipes<br />
W<br />
HILST being in isolation was a struggle at first, I quickly<br />
realised it was nothing compared to what people on the<br />
frontline and in the NHS are dealing with.<br />
Therefore, I soon changed my attitude and promised to be<br />
positive to myself! I have now come up with a great new way to<br />
entertain myself - cooking.<br />
Now I don’t really class myself as a Nigella type, but I<br />
thought I’d give it a go. All my recipes are 100% gluten-free<br />
because of my coeliac disease.<br />
So far, I’ve made Chilli-Crusted Salmon, Greek Stuffed<br />
Aubergines, a Lemon and Gingernut Cheesecake, Chicken<br />
Thighs with Parsley Mash, Spicy Lamb Koftas, home-made Fish<br />
and Chips and a Summer Berries Roulade, just to name a few.<br />
And do you know what? They were all super simple to make.<br />
In the past, I have been lazy with cooking. I suppose a few<br />
students can say that, but now my outlook has completely changed<br />
and I am grateful for this new hobby.<br />
You can find me on Instagram and Twitter @thecoeliacqueen, on<br />
Ellie Colton: ‘Even making a<br />
cake properly the first time,<br />
makes you feel like a winner’<br />
Facebook ‘The Coeliac Queen’ and<br />
on my website<br />
thecoeliacqueen.wordpress.com<br />
to unlock all my recipes.<br />
They are great for beginners or<br />
children and all my recipes are<br />
step-by-step with photos along<br />
the way.<br />
Everything I make can be<br />
adapted; if you’re dairy free, you<br />
can use dairy substitutes and it<br />
will still work. Even the meat<br />
dishes can be made without meat<br />
if you’re a vegetarian or vegan.<br />
If you’ve never really cooked before and you’re wondering how to<br />
get started, I was the same only last month! I’m telling you, it’s<br />
therapeutic, even making a cake properly the first time, makes you<br />
feel like a winner.<br />
If you check out my website you can decide what you could make<br />
with what you have in your kitchen. I don’t use amazingly fancy<br />
ingredients, just general household ingredients.<br />
Let me know what you think and feel free to send me your own<br />
favourite recipes.<br />
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You can enjoy more<br />
local news on the<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>Eye</strong><br />
facebook page<br />
19
www.1stcallgas.com<br />
We’re still here to help!<br />
1st Call Gas Services, are a friendly,<br />
independent, locally-based company owned<br />
and run by Leon Stones and Dave Turner.<br />
They each have more than 20 years’<br />
experience in the heating industry.<br />
Despite the current situation with the Covid-19<br />
lockdown, the 1st Call Gas team are here to help<br />
with all of your gas and plumbing emergencies.<br />
Said Leon, “We are following all goverment<br />
guidelines and protocols when it comes to the<br />
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“Should you have a problem with your heating<br />
system at this already worrying time, just give us<br />
a call!<br />
“Our team are all working from home so, in the<br />
event of a boiler breakdown etc, call the office<br />
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1st Call Gas Services are Gas Safe registered,<br />
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COVID-19 UPDATE<br />
WE ARE FOLLOWING ALL CURRENT<br />
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dronfield EYE<br />
Tips on marriage survival<br />
Kelly Parks<br />
(pictured), head of<br />
Family Law with<br />
solicitors Banner<br />
Jones, offers a<br />
few suggestions of<br />
how to relieve<br />
pressures at home<br />
H<br />
OME working, selfisolation,<br />
home<br />
schooling, money worries<br />
and health problems will<br />
all put pressure on<br />
relationships, but put them<br />
together and it’s a toxic<br />
mix. If you are already<br />
having relationship problems, it could be the final straw.<br />
As a family solicitor, wife and mother of two children (also going<br />
through this crazy situation we find ourselves in) here are my top<br />
tips to help get you through this with your marriage intact:<br />
• Communicate with each other. Lack of communication is usually<br />
the main complaint my clients have. Let your partner know how<br />
you are feeling. Snapping when angry will inevitably result in a row.<br />
• Try to make time for each other. Set aside time to have a ‘date<br />
night’ at home (of course). Clients often say to me, we never do<br />
anything together anymore, we have just grown apart.<br />
• Exercise. The endorphins should make you feel better and if you<br />
feel better, you are less likely to argue.<br />
• Spend some time apart. It is unusual for couples to spend all day<br />
together so make sure you still do your own thing at certain times<br />
during the day.<br />
• If you have children, and are both working from home, have a<br />
clear defined timetable of when each of you will be working and<br />
when you will be doing childcare. It also means the kids get the<br />
one to one attention they need. Do not forget their world has been<br />
turned upside down too.<br />
• If you are a key worker, try to talk about your day when you get<br />
home. Those on the front line may just need to off-load. “They do<br />
not understand what I have to deal with,” is another common<br />
complaint I hear.<br />
• Try to enjoy the weekends or your days off work together. If you<br />
have, kids have a family fun day, a family bake-off; a dance-off, or a<br />
treasure hunt around the garden. Try to inject some fun back<br />
during this difficult time.<br />
• Financial pressures can add further strain, so prepare a budget<br />
and evaluate your finances, especially if you have had a reduction<br />
in income. If you need to curb spending, agree it together.<br />
• There a lots of ways to keep in touch with friends and family.<br />
Book in slots both individually and as a couple to speak to your<br />
friends and family. Keeping up the socialisation aspect is important<br />
to alleviate the pressure of it just being the two of you.<br />
• Divide the household chores fairly so that additional pressure is<br />
not placed on one person. ‘Not helping around the house’ is another<br />
common complaint I hear from clients.<br />
If these tips have come a little too late for your relationship and<br />
you feel you need to seek advice on what your options are, then my<br />
Family Law team members are only a phone call away.<br />
We know there’s a lot of<br />
uncertainty right now...<br />
And although our offices may not<br />
be open, we’re still here for you<br />
and are only a phone call away.<br />
residential<br />
property<br />
family<br />
law<br />
employment<br />
law<br />
dispute<br />
resolution<br />
wealth<br />
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notary<br />
public<br />
business<br />
law<br />
wills &<br />
probate<br />
Call our professional and friendly team today on 01246 511 298.<br />
1 Sheffield Road, <strong>Dronfield</strong>, S18 2DH. bannerjones.co.uk<br />
accident<br />
claims<br />
22
Standing in line for<br />
coke in a snowstorm<br />
P<br />
EOPLE visiting the brick-built <strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>Eye</strong> building<br />
at Chesterfield Road often ask about its history.<br />
We believe it dates back to the first part of the 19th<br />
century, being the home of <strong>Dronfield</strong> Coke & Gasworks.<br />
Indeed, we were visited a couple of years ago by an elderly<br />
reader of our magazine who recalled that, 65 years earlier,<br />
he had visited the building to obtain tar which he took out to<br />
local farmers to use on the rooftops of their barns.<br />
Here's a picture from March, 1946, showing <strong>Dronfield</strong> folk<br />
standing in the snow to obtain coke to feed their empty<br />
grates. Sacks taken along to carry the fuel were used as<br />
capes during the worst of the snowstorm.<br />
If anyone out their knows anything else of our building's<br />
early history, we would be delighted to hear from you.<br />
There is a new date for a<br />
big charity ball organised<br />
by an S18 business<br />
dronfield EYE<br />
Charity ball kicked into 2021<br />
D<br />
RONFIELD-based financial planners,<br />
Belmayne, are postponing their charity<br />
fundraising ball, due to take place at the end<br />
of April, following the coronavirus lockdown.<br />
The independent firm is determined to ensure the<br />
event goes ahead and has already committed to a<br />
new date – <strong>May</strong> 15th, 2021.<br />
The black-tie event will take place, as planned, at<br />
Sheffield’s Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria with all<br />
other details staying the same, including music<br />
provided by renowned local entertainer, Stephen<br />
Bayliss.<br />
Tickets for this year’s date have been refunded<br />
and guests wishing to attend next year are being<br />
asked to rebook using the following link:<br />
www.jumblebee.co.uk/thebelmaynefoundation<br />
charityball15thmay2021<br />
All money raised from ticket sales and at the<br />
event, which is fully funded by the chartered<br />
financial planners, will be donated to four local<br />
charities supported by the Belmayne Foundation. Ben Smalley (second left) with his fellow Belmayne Foundation trustees<br />
Because much of the firm’s planned fundraising<br />
has been curtailed by the current crisis, it has agreed to extend its<br />
partnership with this year’s organisations through 2021. They are: REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENT<br />
FareShare Yorkshire, Helen’s Trust, Nenna Kind Cancer Care and<br />
Pathways of Chesterfield.<br />
C CLEAR GLASS & GLAZING SERVICES<br />
Ben Smalley, Belmayne partner and charity trustee, said: “Given<br />
Single & double glazing<br />
Anti-snap locks fitted<br />
the current pandemic, we are postponing our event for 12 months.<br />
Windows & doors fitted • Green house glass stockists<br />
We received an excellent response to the ball and we hope local<br />
• Hinges, handles & locks<br />
people will book tickets early for the new date, so they have<br />
repaired or replaced<br />
10 YEARS IN BUSINESS<br />
something to look forward to next year.<br />
• UPVC door/window<br />
“The additional planning time will, of course, enable us to make adjustments<br />
the event bigger and better.”<br />
& repairs<br />
The Belmayne Foundation helps small organisations who support<br />
health and wellbeing and provide relief for those in need. Last<br />
year’s inaugural charity ball raised more than £8,600 and in total,<br />
£11,000 was donated to its 2019 charities.<br />
Everyone is welcome to attend the 2021 event. Tickets cost £50 12-14 SOUTHGATE<br />
Mobile: 07961 524588<br />
per head or £500 for a table of ten. For more information,<br />
ECKINGTON, S21 4FS or Home: 01144 493093<br />
telephone 01246 298181, visit www.belmayne-ifa.com/charity or Friendly & reliable. Call Chris on or Tel: 01246 433433<br />
follow the firm on Twitter, @belmayneifa.<br />
WE WILL<br />
BEAT ANY<br />
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23
dronfield EYE<br />
Ant and Dec host<br />
their Saturday<br />
Night Takeaway<br />
show from their<br />
living rooms<br />
The value of TV entertainment<br />
It’s easy to be a life-saver these days. All<br />
you have to do is stay at home and watch TV.<br />
Fortunately, says <strong>Dronfield</strong> student Evan Poole,<br />
broadcasting companies have risen to the<br />
challenge of keeping us entertained<br />
W<br />
HEN the Prime Minister delivered a speech to the nation four<br />
weeks ago, it’s unlikely he expected it to be the most viewed<br />
TV item this millennium.<br />
An amazing 27 million households switched on for the lockdown<br />
announcement, reaching numbers not seen since Princess Diana’s<br />
funeral in 1997, despite the decline in contemporary TV viewership.<br />
The past month’s TV audiences have grown by 29%, one of the many<br />
consequences of coronavirus quarantine measures. Being stuck at<br />
home has led to a dramatic surge in viewing, as audiences crave news<br />
from TV and relief through entertainment.<br />
As our routines change drastically, TV and film is coming to the<br />
forefront of our lives; instead of getting ready for school and spending<br />
six hours in classrooms, I now wake up, have breakfast and sit down<br />
in front of the telly - like everyone else, currently.<br />
Instead of our ‘normal’ lives, we find ourselves following the<br />
timetable of TV. Platforms such as Disney+ and Netflix are booming,<br />
providing entertainment and comfort for the masses. They fill our<br />
homes with classic films, family favourites and new exciting shows,<br />
such as Netflix’s surprise hit ‘Tiger King’. This show epitomises the<br />
surge in TV popularity, with its absurd characters sky rocketing to<br />
celebrity status in a matter of days, fuelled by the audience’s extra<br />
time.<br />
Although escapist TV is popular, many shows have adapted to the<br />
circumstances. At first, the entertainment world seemed in jeopardy<br />
due to the pandemic, but many have acclimatised.<br />
For example, the BBC announced they will schedule more shows<br />
related to education, fitness, cooking and even virtual church services.<br />
On top of that, uplifting fan favourites such as ‘Ant & Dec’s Saturday<br />
Night Takeaway’, which was at fear of being cancelled, is now instead<br />
being hosted from their living rooms.<br />
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has been tailoring recipes specifically for<br />
these unique times with ‘Jamie: Keep Cooking and Carry On’ providing<br />
ideas for the many meals we are now having at home. These<br />
programmes are filled with positivity and hope; they are instrumental<br />
to boost moral when feelings of fear and uncertainty are peaking in our<br />
country.<br />
The importance of TV has been highlighted most with the daily<br />
Government briefing, establishing a link between us and authorities<br />
dealing with the pandemic, so we can receive vital information<br />
efficiently.<br />
In addition to this, the Queen delivered a one-off speech to the UK,<br />
uniting our country under one key phrase; ‘coronavirus will not<br />
overcome us’.<br />
With broadcasters doing their best during these unprecedented<br />
times, I hope that we don’t forget the important role TV plays in our<br />
lives. Whether its escapism, providing us with a sense of community,<br />
uplifting us, or very importantly keeping us informed, TV is doing its<br />
part in helping us through these difficult times.<br />
24<br />
M<br />
Y name is Evan Poole. I’m almost 16 and currently<br />
at home unable to sit my GCSE exams (which<br />
consist of Triple Science, Performing Arts, History,<br />
Spanish and many others) and I am trying to find the<br />
most productive ways to fill my time, as well as<br />
watching TV, of course.<br />
Later this year, I will be continuing my education at<br />
Henry Fanshawe’s Sixth Form and studying English<br />
Literature, History and Psychology, which I am happily<br />
anticipating.<br />
So this <strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>Eye</strong> article has given me an opportunity<br />
to improve my writing skills, as all my subjects are<br />
predominantly essay-based.<br />
Outside of school, or rather during lockdown, I enjoy<br />
reading classic novels, attempting and then failing at<br />
painting pictures of my dog and playing the double bass.<br />
Recently, I completed my Silver Duke of Edinburgh<br />
Award, which consisted of a four-day expedition, improving<br />
my vegetarian cooking skills and volunteering at the Civic<br />
Centre’s Barnardo’s shops.
dronfield EYE<br />
Anne pictured with her son and daughter, Alan Bell and Judith Winfrow<br />
When Anne Bell reached the grand old age of 105,<br />
she received a deluge of congratulatory cards<br />
from around the world. Deborah Wain reports<br />
Some of her more than 1,100 birthday cards<br />
Anne’s 105th birthday celebrations<br />
O<br />
NE of the <strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>Eye</strong> area’s oldest residents has<br />
celebrated her 105th birthday.<br />
Great-great-grandmother Anne Bell received her second birthday<br />
card from the Queen at Meadow Grange Care Home, in <strong>Dronfield</strong><br />
Woodhouse. Her first was received on the occasion of her 100th<br />
birthday.<br />
Anne was born one of six children to parents George and Mary<br />
Kramer, at Page Hall, Sheffield, on 15th March, 1915. The First<br />
World War was in its early months and Anne was born shortly<br />
before the Second Battle of Ypres began.<br />
Father George was a master pork butcher with the family<br />
business at 7, Page Hall Road.<br />
After leaving school, Anne worked as shop assistant. She married<br />
Jack Bell, on 17th June, 1937, at St Cuthbert’s Church, and the<br />
couple set up home initially at Sheffield Lane Top, then Firshill, and<br />
had a son Alan and daughter Judith.<br />
Jack was a draughtsman who went on to become works manager<br />
at Sheffield company Firth-Derihon Stampings, for which he<br />
received an MBE from the Queen for services to industry in 1969.<br />
He also worked as an auxiliary fireman during the Second World<br />
War.<br />
After the family moved to Millhouses, Anne did further work as a<br />
shop assistant. Anne and Jack eventually retired to a bungalow in<br />
Balmoral Crescent, in <strong>Dronfield</strong>, in 1984. Jack sadly died shortly<br />
afterwards.<br />
Throughout her life, Anne has greatly enjoyed sewing and knitting.<br />
Following a fall, she moved to Meadow Grange in 2015, just before<br />
Flashback to Anne and Jack’s wedding in 1937<br />
her 100th birthday.<br />
In passing that milestone, she credited her longevity to the odd<br />
drop of advocaat - a traditional drink made from eggs, sugar, and<br />
brandy!<br />
Family and friends came together at the care home to mark<br />
Anne’s latest special day, where she is popular with other residents<br />
and staff.<br />
Today, Anne has two grandsons, four great-grandchildren and two<br />
great-greatgrandchildren.<br />
Meanwhile Meadow Grange put out an appeal on social media for<br />
105 birthday cards to be sent to Anne. More than 1,100 arrived<br />
from across the country and overseas, including Australia,<br />
Germany and the United States.<br />
Alan said: “I’ve looked at every card and the individual writing in<br />
them is phenomenal. I’m absolutely flabbergasted that so many<br />
people took the trouble to send a card.”<br />
25
dronfield EYE<br />
Coronavirus<br />
confusion for<br />
separated parents<br />
26<br />
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HCPC and<br />
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registered<br />
Rachel Barlow, a<br />
family law specialist<br />
at <strong>Dronfield</strong><br />
solicitors,<br />
Taylor&Emmet,<br />
reflects on some of<br />
the issues separated<br />
couples are facing<br />
over their children<br />
M<br />
ANY separated<br />
couples may be<br />
experiencing some<br />
uncertainty about how to<br />
deal with their child<br />
arrangements during<br />
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The law allows children<br />
under 18 to be moved<br />
between parents’ houses, in<br />
Rachel Barlow<br />
an important exception to the ‘stay at home’ requirement, but this<br />
does not mean they have to be moved.<br />
That decision is yours to make, after sensibly assessing the<br />
circumstances, including health considerations, the risk of<br />
infection and the presence of any recognised vulnerable adults in<br />
either location.<br />
Sir Andrew McFarlane, president of the family division and head<br />
of Family Justice, has already indicated the key message should be<br />
that, if any agreed or court ordered arrangements have to be<br />
changed, they should nevertheless be delivered by finding a safe<br />
alternative for the child.<br />
This means if your child is not able to spend time with both<br />
parents, as set out in your original agreement, because of Covid-19<br />
isolating restrictions, the courts will expect you to make other<br />
suitable arrangements for regular contact. This could comprise<br />
contact via Facetime, WhatsApp, Skype, etc. until the situation<br />
returns to normal.<br />
The best course of action is for parents to communicate with<br />
each other about any worries and try to agree what good<br />
alternative arrangements might look like. If this is possible, you<br />
are free to exercise your judgement and alter your schedule<br />
accordingly.<br />
However, whilst we are all worried about the impact Coronavirus<br />
might have on our health, that of our children and vulnerable<br />
family members, one parent may believe adhering to the existing<br />
arrangements is safe, whilst the other harbours genuine<br />
concerns.<br />
In the event child provisions cannot be agreed, it may be<br />
necessary to ask for the court’s input in relation to any proposed<br />
changes, or seek advice from a specialist family lawyer.<br />
We aren’t able to carry out face-to-face meetings currently, but<br />
we are utilising all available technology to help new and existing<br />
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If you have a query relating to child arrangements, or any other<br />
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6<br />
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www.tayloremmet.co.uk
dronfield EYE<br />
Don’t forget us is Barn’s plea<br />
L<br />
IKE all small businesses and charities, the<br />
current pandemic has presented <strong>Dronfield</strong> Hall<br />
Barn with unprecedented challenges.<br />
The venue is at the centre of the S18 community and<br />
provides valuable support for local people through its<br />
volunteer and events programme, work with schools<br />
and local training partners. However, as a registered<br />
charity, it has currently lost all its essential, regular<br />
income streams.<br />
If you’ve previously enjoyed its varied programme of<br />
events, activities and exhibitions, you are being invited<br />
to consider supporting the Barn so it can return as<br />
quickly as possible to its role in the community. There<br />
are several ways you can help:<br />
• Collection and delivery service: The Barn continues to<br />
run a fresh produce collection and delivery service from<br />
Monday-Saturday, and any purchases help to support<br />
the Barn. Ring 01246 273207 or 07971 928459 before<br />
1:30pm to place a next day order, which can also be<br />
collected daily from 10-11.15am except on Sundays.<br />
• Make a donation: You can help by making a £10<br />
donation through the website, which will allow the Barn<br />
to cover its running costs. See the website to find out<br />
how to make a donation.<br />
• Support us on social media: Remember to search for<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> Hall Barn on Facebook, Instagram and<br />
Twitter to join our growing online community. We<br />
continue to post updates, photos from the gardens and share<br />
images ‘From the Archive’.<br />
Barn management say they are grateful to all volunteers who<br />
continue to offer support by working from home. research has<br />
already begun for the next exhibition, whilst a small team also<br />
Let’s celebrate VE<br />
Day in our gardens<br />
T<br />
28<br />
HE <strong>2020</strong> VE Day anniversary weekend was to have been<br />
the biggest event in <strong>Dronfield</strong> this year, but, of course, in<br />
line with other public gatherings, it has been postponed.<br />
<strong>May</strong> Day weekend celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the end<br />
of World War II have been called off throughout the UK.<br />
However, the coronavirus epidemic can’t defeat the spirit of local<br />
people who still want to mark this important date and folk living<br />
throughout the <strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>Eye</strong> area are now planning ‘stay at home’<br />
street parties.<br />
Families are determined to commemorate the end of the conflict<br />
by celebrating in their homes and gardens. There is also a call for<br />
houses to be decorated in red, white and blue colours<br />
The message to <strong>Dronfield</strong> folk is that just because we cannot go<br />
ahead with the weekend of entertainment in the town doesn’t<br />
mean we can’t celebrate together on 8th <strong>May</strong><br />
FWD Motion’s Jackie Smith, one of the organisers of the<br />
scheduled activities which were to be based at The Barn, Civic<br />
Centre and other local venues, said: “We are currently putting<br />
together some social posts to encourage the community to get<br />
involved with the celebrations and hopefully get on board with the<br />
‘Street Party from Home’ theme.<br />
“We have loads of flags we bought for the weekend and are<br />
hoping to distribute these around <strong>Dronfield</strong> somehow.<br />
“We are in the process of designing some other flags and bunting<br />
templates that will be available to download from the website.<br />
People can print off and colour to decorate their houses and<br />
gardens.<br />
“I have also contacted all our performers who were due to sing<br />
over the weekend and asked if they could send a video so we can<br />
create a virtual programme. We will hopefully get this together.”<br />
• Updates will appear on the <strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>Eye</strong> facebook page.<br />
continues essential maintenance in the gardens and on the route of<br />
the <strong>Dronfield</strong> Rotary Walk.<br />
You can find out more via: www.dronfieldhallbarn.org<br />
www.facebook.com/dronfieldheritagetrust<br />
www.instagram.com/dronfieldhallbarn<br />
www.twitter.com/dronfieldbarn<br />
VE Day 75th<br />
Anniversary<br />
Celebrations<br />
We can’t get out, so let’s organise<br />
STAY AT HOME<br />
STREET PARTIES<br />
Friday, 8th <strong>May</strong>, <strong>2020</strong><br />
Decorate your house in patriotic red,<br />
white and blue, play the hits of Vera<br />
Lynn and George Formby and enjoy a<br />
picnic in your garden!<br />
Please send details and<br />
pictures of your event for<br />
<strong>Dronfield</strong> <strong>Eye</strong> to share
Our showroom is temporarily closed...<br />
Whilst our showroom is temporarily closed due the current Covid-19 lockdown situation<br />
why not take a look at our FABULOUS new website? Or take a showroom tour via Google?<br />
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We can’t wait to see everyone back in our showroom when we have beaten this virus!<br />
Stay safe!<br />
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Coronavirus and our<br />
business operations<br />
- Temporary closure<br />
As of 8.30pm Monday 23.03.<strong>2020</strong>, all our services are<br />
temporarily suspended to prevent the spread of Covid-19.<br />
We apologise for this situation, but hope you understand it<br />
is unavoidable.<br />
If you have already placed an order, please be assured it is<br />
safe with us. Although we do not have a time frame for<br />
delivery or installation any more, we will be in touch as soon<br />
as we know anything.<br />
On a personal note, we would like to thank every customer<br />
who we have called to cancel appointments. Your<br />
understanding and kind words have meant more to us than<br />
you realise.<br />
You can contact us below for information on all things<br />
window covering-related, and we keep updating our social<br />
media with ideas for your home.<br />
Take care and stay safe, we’ll see you on the other side!<br />
Maxine and Neil<br />
You can contact us in the following ways:<br />
Email: info@sheffieldblinds.co.uk<br />
Phone: 0114 236 3100<br />
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter<br />
6 Hutcliffe Wood Road Beauchief Sheffield S8 0EX<br />
Tel 0114 2363100<br />
www.sheffieldblinds.co.uk<br />
The showroom is open Tuesday - Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 9am-4pm
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