Aroundtown Magazine January/February 2024 edition

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 

www.aroundtownmagazine.co.uk 

Est. 2004 

BARNSLEY | ROTHERHAM 

South Yorkshire’s Premier FREE Lifestyle Magazine 

Waterside 

Walks 

Linen Industry 

History 

Peach Fuzz 

Home Style 

A winter 

warmer 

Pick Up 

Your 

FREE 

Copy 

In the Community > What’s On > 

Aroundtown Meets > 

Cynthia Receives MBE 

Penistone Arts Week 

Lynsey Lockey 

HISTORY | HEALTH & BEAUTY | HOMES & GARDENS | IN THE COMMUNITY | FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT & MUCH MORE...

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Welcome 

to the January/February edition of 

Aroundtown Magazine. 

contents 

80 

This year we celebrate our 

20th anniversary, two 

decades of producing 

a much loved and respected 

magazine. 

Meeting some wonderful South Yorkshire folk 

along the way, we have laughed and even cried, well 

probably me as l am a softie at times! 

One thing we have learned from the job is that you 

are never too old to make a difference to the lives 

of others. None more fitting of this is Cynthia Shaw 

who at the age of 84 has been presented with an 

MBE by King Charles III in honour of her work in the 

community. 

You can make a difference whatever your age. 

Teenager Alexandria Crystal is the youngest ever Miss 

England semi-finalist, but the 15-year-old is using 

this platform to promote dyslexia awareness and her 

hometown of Barnsley. 

On a personal level, this will be my 40th year in the 

media industry staring out in telesales for my local 

newspaper back in 1984. I really don’t know where the 

years have gone! Becoming a grandparent last year 

will hopefully keep me young at heart and I am loving 

this new chapter in my life. 

Wherever 2024 takes you, we would like to thank 

you for being part of our journey and if you have 

something to share please get in touch and we will 

work our magic. 

Cheryl, Amber and the team x 

50 

18 

48 

13 

72 


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enquiries, please call 

01709 331020 or 07940 842408 

Director/Advertising Cheryl Collinson 

cheryl@aroundtownpublications.co.uk 

Editor Amber Stainrod 

amber@aroundtownpublications.co.uk 

Designer Leanne Keetley 

Administration & Accounts Karen White 

Contributors Andrew Watson, Sally Cunis, 

Chris Moody, James Ward 

Cheryl Collinson Consultancy Ltd trading as Aroundtown, 

Unit 26 Moorgate Crofts Business Centre, 

South Grove, Rotherham S60 2DH 


This is a privately owned magazine not connected with any 

other publishing, magazine or newspaper group. No part of 

this publication may be reproduced in any way or stored in any 

retrieval system without the consent of the publisher. 

Aroundtown Meets 

?? 04 Lynsey Lockey 

?? 

Fashion, Health & Beauty 

08 You and Your Health: Joint Pain 

22 Fashion: Stand Out From the Crowd 

Homes & Gardens 

56 Peach Fuzz 

76 Winter in the Garden 

Food & Entertainment 

74 Easy Traybake Recipes 

76 Fun Ways to Learn About Wine 

Features 

10 2024 The Year for You 

24 Love is in the Air 

34 Penistone Arts Week 

38 Waterside Walks 

72 Big Garden Birdwatch 

aroundtownmagazine.co.uk 3

AROUNDTOWNMEETS 

meets 

Lynsey Lockey 

If there’s one person 

you’d want in your 

corner, it’s Lynsey 

Lockey. 

A force to be reckoned with in 

women’s boxing, she’s a fighter 

in every metaphorical way. She’s 

fought gender bias and injustice, 

battled melanoma, anxiety and 

personal loss, and combatted the 

struggle of being a busy working 

mum to three girls. 

She’s stood toe to toe with some 

of the sport’s biggest names outside 

the ring over the last 20-odd years. 

One of only a few female boxing 

promoters in Britain, she’s had to 

work ten times harder than her male 

counterparts to prove herself worthy 

of being there. 

She’s never thrown a punch. But 

she’s also never thrown in the towel. 

She’s a warrior who keeps going, 

keeps fighting for the rights and 

representation of women in boxing. 

And now she’s launched her own 

not-for-profit organisation to ensure 

that future generations of women 

don’t have to fight as hard to be 

seen and heard. 

This dogged determination 

started in childhood, spurred on 

by being from a working-class 

background. She grew up on the 

Woodthorpe estate near Intake in 

Sheffield with her mum and siblings. 

Her dad was from Kashmir and 

had restaurants in the city, while her 

mum worked on the Caribbean stall 

in Castle Market. For many years, 

Lynsey was the only mixed-race child 

in her class. 

“That had its challenges, but 

it also made me work harder to 

achieve. I was always top of the 

class academically, got picked for 

every sport team, and was usually 

captain. I’d like to say it was down 

to leadership skills, but my brother 

would say it’s because I’ve got a big 

mouth,” she jokes. 

There was only an 11-month 

age gap between Lynsey and her 

younger brother, and she says that 

even as youngsters the gender 

inequality started to show. 

“We were both really sporty 

as kids, both good swimmers 

and runners. But he always had 

opportunities that I didn’t because he 

was a boy. At primary school, girls 

weren’t allowed to play football, but I 

was having none of that. 

“When I was about ten, I started 

a girls’ team. We had enough 

players for a five-a-side team, but I 

approached girls from other schools 

until we had a full team of 11. Then I 

When I was about ten, I started a girls’ team. We 

“ 

had enough players for a five-a-side team, but I 

approached girls from other schools until we had a 

full team of 11 

” 

designed our kit, went to companies 

for sponsorship and got it paid for.” 

Lynsey moved on to the former 

City School where, again, there was 

no girls’ football. But she played 

other sports like netball, cross 

country and was a cheerleader for 

Sheffield Hatters. 

But it was after she left school, 

aged 17, that she got into boxing 

having been drawn to the discipline 

and empowerment of the sport. 

But at that time, in the late 1990s, 

it wasn’t heard of for women to set 

foot in a boxing gym. Lynsey wanted 

to change that. 

She set up a female-only class 

underneath her local boxing gym. 

But with all the equipment being 

used upstairs by the men, it became 

more of a fitness class with shadow 

boxing and circuits. 

“I’ve never sparred or fought as 

it wasn’t an option for me. But being 

in sport was. I always joke that I’d 

have been a rubbish boxer anyway 

as I shut my eyes if someone throws 

their keys at me. But I don’t know 

how good I’d have been as I didn’t 

have the chance to try.” 

By the time women were 

accepted in boxing gyms, Lynsey 

had a young family to think about. 

She had her first two daughters at 

18 and 20 but kept going back to 

boxing in between. 

Lynsey went into the business 

side of boxing in 2003 aged 23 

after realising that nobody else was 

providing other staff needed to host 

a boxing match such as ticketing, 

hospitality or ringside staff. She set 

up her own promotional business 

and juggled that alongside two 

other jobs – a personal trainer and 

nightclub promoter – all while raising 

two young children. 

“When I became a mum, I 

wanted a different life. As kids, we 

had free school meals and had 

to scrape together a pound to go 

to youth club on a Friday night. I 

wanted my girls to see me achieving 

things as a woman. 

“I tried to get all my work done 

at the weekend while the kids were 

with their dad so it didn’t take away 

from time spent with them. Some 

weekends, I’d finish a shift at the 

hotel gym where I worked at 8pm, 

go into town for my second job as 

a nightclub promoter until 2am, and 

then have to be back in the gym 

at 6am.” 

She was then headhunted 

to work for International Sports 

Management (ISM), an agency 

owned by former golfer Andrew 

‘Chubby’ Chandler. They 

represented many top golfers such 

as Ernie Els, Rory McIlroy, and 

Darren Clarke. ISM also branched 

into cricket, with people like Michael 

Vaughn and Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff 

4 aroundtownmagazine.co.uk

AROUNDTOWN MEETS 

on their books. 

When they opened a football 

division, Lynsey became personal 

assistant to the football director. 

Over time, she worked her way 

up through events management, with 

a primary focus on boxing. Lynsey 

was responsible for booking flights 

and hotels, organising medicals 

and eye tests, sorting sponsorship 

and commercial deals, getting the 

kits and ring canvas printed with 

the right logos in the right place, 

and organising pre-fight press 

conferences. 

Often the only woman in a very 

male dominated sport, Lynsey says 

she did more work than the men but 

her input was usually disregarded. 

representing IBF champion Ricky 

Hatton. Their jaws fell through the 

floor. After that they all wanted to 

know me.” 

After a short spell in football 

working in youth development at 

Rotherham United FC, Lynsey joined 

the country’s boxing governing 

body, England Boxing, as national 

competitions and events manager. 

In 2018, she organised the first 

ever Women’s Winter Box Cup, 

an all-female event which saw 

160 boxers from 11 countries take 

part in the competition that was 

broadcast worldwide. The event 

is now a regular fixture on the 

boxing calendar. 

After four years with England 

“ 

We had to introduce ourselves and I said I was 

Lynsey Lockey representing IBF champion Ricky 

Hatton. Their jaws fell through the floor. After that 

they all wanted to know me. 

” 

“I remember this one time we 

were in Vegas with Ricky Hatton 

when he did his series of fights in 

2007 against people like Mayweather 

and Castillo. Ricky had a rules 

meeting at Caeser’s Palace and I 

was asked to go with him. We went 

to this huge boardroom with the 

biggest table I’d ever seen. It was 

full of old, white men and there was 

me, a mixed-race woman in her 

mid-20s. They thought I was bringing 

them coffee. 

“We had to introduce ourselves 

and I said I was Lynsey Lockey 

Boxing, Lynsey left last January 

to set up her own business, Steel 

Sports Management, and pursue 

her passion of fighting for equality 

in boxing. 

The sport has changed slightly 

in recent years, fuelled by the 

emergence of professional women 

boxers. It wasn’t until London 

2012 that women’s boxing was 

included in the Olympics. But there 

still aren’t enough women in the 

sport generally. 

In October, she launched Women 

in Boxing to create a better pathway 


MEETS 

for women. 

“When you look around at a 

boxing event, do you see many 

female coaches, referees, journalists 

or security? When I started in boxing, 

there was no professional route for 

female fighters. While ever there’s a 

gap between any groups, I’ll shout 

about the one that needs raising. 

“I always say I’m pro-female, 

not anti-men. There are lots of male 

clients that I’ve supported over the 

years and we have men on the 

board and as ambassadors for 

Women in Boxing. We need men to 

support us.” 

They use the hashtag 

#InHerCorner, but it’s so much more 

than that. They want to knock down 

any barriers that prevent women 

from reaching their potential. 

The aim of Women in Boxing is 

to invest in the sport and highlight 

areas where opportunities for women 

are sparse. Lynsey’s initial plans are 

to fund female-only courses in things 

like hand wrapping and cuts so that 

women have the tools of the trade to 

They use the hashtag #InHerCorner, but it’s so 

“ 

much more than that. They want to knock down 

any barriers that prevent women from reaching 

their potential. 

” 

become a cornerwoman. 

She’d also like to be able to offer 

an officials pathway course to see 

more women becoming judges 

or referees. 

Another focus is to look at the 

impact that things like periods and 

menopause have on boxers. 

There’ll be workshops, 

mentoring programmes, and a 

supportive network where women 

can find motivation, support, and 

camaraderie. 

Lynsey has already got some 

heavy hitters involved in Women in 

Boxing such as Jane Crouch, the 

first licensed female boxer. Many 

other ambassadors have also 

been ‘firsts’ in the sport: champion 

fighter Natasha Jonas who is the 

first black female boxing manager; 

Safiyyah Syeed, the first female 

boxer to wear a hijab in the ring; and 

silver medallist Stacey Copeland, 

the first female boxer to win a 

Commonwealth title. 

As Lynsey said, there are 

also many men signed up as 

ambassadors, including her old pal 

Ricky Hatton, as well as Sheffield’s 

Johnny Nelson and boxing journalist 

Gareth A Davis. 

She’s also joined by a team of 

trustees with prominent people from 

outside the ring, including World 

Boxing Council stalwart Geraldine 

Davies, army GP Dr Sarah Conway, 

and Matchroom’s Matty Lawless. 

Having spent almost half her 

life in the sporting industry, her 

photo album is like a who’s 

who of world greats. 

But these contacts and the 

skillset she’s developed has also 

seen her become the perfect fit to 

join the team of trustees at Sheffield 

Home of Football. Earlier this year, 

Lynsey was asked by her former 

teacher, John Stocks, to get involved 

in the project. As a proud Sheffielder 

and a life-long Blade, she was 

more than happy to throw her hat in 

the ring. 

In what little spare time she 

has, Lynsey, now 44, spends her 

weekends following Sheffield United 

with her youngest daughter, 12-yearold 

Yasmine. 

Her two older daughters, Brooke 

and Dharby, are now both in 

their early 20s and have definitely 

inherited their mum’s work ethic. 

Dharby is working in wedding and 

events management, while Brooke 

owns an accounting firm. 

She’s a woman with a voice, a 

champion for others, and 2024 will 

be the year that the world starts to 

listen to Lynsey Lockey. 


AROUNDTOWN 

Harley’s Cynthia Shaw 

receives MBE 

from King Charles at Windsor Castle 

It was the crowning glory to a wonderful year 

for Harley’s Cynthia Shaw as she was formally 

presented with her MBE from King Charles III 

at an investiture in December. 

After being told she had been 

awarded an MBE for services to the 

community in Rotherham as part 

of last year’s New Year’s Honours, 

84-year-old Cynthia collected 

her insignia at Windsor Castle on 

Tuesday 12th December. 

Cynthia was one of around 80 

recipients being presented with 

their medals that day in the Castle’s 

Queen Drawing Room. But she 

commended King Charles on his 

ability to make her feel like the only 

person in the room. 

“The ceremony is commonplace 

to His Majesty, but to those people 

walking in it’s an honour. I didn’t 

feel worthy of being there. But I 

remembered what my dad used 

to say to me as a girl. ‘Get them 

shoulders back, tha’s as good as 

any of them.’ 

“The King bestowed upon me 

the confidence not to feel inferior. 

He was so warm, welcoming, kind 

and understanding. He listened with 

intent, was well informed of what I’d 

done, and reassured me that an old 

woman like me had earned the right 

to be there.” 

Following a 35-year career with 

the National Coal Board, Cynthia 

has dedicated the last five decades 

to the community in various 

voluntary roles. She has served 

as a magistrate, parish councillor, 

hospital governor, and trustee of 

Wentworth Charity. 

She was also instrumental in 

raising over £150,000 to save 

Harley Mission Rooms in her home 

village, as well as fighting for safety 

improvements on the A6135 behind 

her house. 

It’s any wonder she found time 

to squeeze the King in during her 

busiest month of the year, what 

with organising a brass band 

concert, Christmas fair, decorating 

indoor and outdoor trees, giving 

talks to groups, and running her 

famous Christmas raffle from which 

she raised over £1,000 for the 

Mission Room. 

“I’ve had a lot out of life, I had 

a good education, and it’s been 

right for me to put something back 

in. All I could think was what on 

earth would my mum and dad have 

thought about me meeting the King. 

It was very humbling. Mum had 

never even been to Sheffield from 

our home in Hoyland Common!” 

While waiting for the Lord in 

Waiting to call her through, Cynthia 

was seated next to Line of Duty’s 

Vicky McClure who was also 

receiving an MBE that day. 

With her son Kelvin away on 

a world tour to celebrate his 

retirement, she was joined at the 

investiture by her two grandsons, 

Thomas and Samuel. Proud of 

their grandma, they treated her to a 

slap-up meal at The Ivy Royal 

Windsor afterwards. 

“My grandsons both said 

it’s highly unlikely they’ll ever 

experience anything like it again in 

their lifetimes. I defy anyone not to 

gasp when they walk in; you cannot 

fail to be impressed by the majesty 

and spectacle of it all. 

“There’s a realisation that you’re 

part of history and tradition. It 

was like a military exercise, very 

organised and the utmost precision 

without being officious. It made me 

proud to be British.” 


HEALTH & BEAUTY 

You&your 

health 

Joint Pain 

With Good Measure Pharmacy 

The older we get, the more we 

notice that our bodies creak like 

old wooden floorboards. 

It’s common to have aches and pains in 

your joints from time to time. But if your pain or 

discomfort doesn’t go away in a few days, it could 

be more than just ageing. 

Ongoing joint pain can make life feel harder 

as movement becomes limited. Simple things like 

walking the dog, gardening or housework, doing 

the food shop, or even just getting out of bed in a 

morning can feel laboured. 

“ 

In most cases, the best 

prescription for joint pain 

is exercise. 

” 

Joint pain can happen throughout the body, 

affecting your knee, hip, shoulder, foot, hand, 

elbow, or neck. There are different reasons why 

you might be experiencing joint pain. 

Arthritic causes: 

Osteoarthritis 

If you’re over 45, pain gets worse when 

walking, or your body feels stiff after movement, 

you may have osteoarthritis. This degenerative 

joint disease is the most common form of arthritis. 

Cartilage around the joints breaks down and bony 

growths develop, which is what causes the pain. It 

usually affects the knees, hips or hands. 

Sometimes pain can vary from mild to severely 

debilitating. Risk increases with age, family history, 

and obesity. You’re also at an increased risk if 

you’ve had a previous joint injury. Women are 

more likely to develop osteoarthritis than men. 

Rheumatoid Arthritis 

This is an autoimmune disorder that attacks 

the cells that line the joints. Symptoms are usually 

pain or stiffness in both sides of the body that gets 

8 aroundtownmagazine.co.uk 

worse after not moving. It can affect any age, but 

is usually more common in women or people who 

have a family history of RA. 

There is no cure, and RA can cause flare 

ups where pain is worse. Medicines to slow 

down the disease are often offered, along with 

physiotherapy and occupational therapy. As the 

disease progresses, surgery may be needed such 

as carpel tunnel or joint replacement surgery. 

Gout 

A common, painful form of arthritis that comes 

on suddenly. A chemical called uric acid builds 

up in the blood then leaks into the joints and 

crystalises, causing pain, swelling and redness. 

Usually found in the big toe, but can also 

be in the hand, wrist or knee. It’s treated with a 

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen but 

may need steroids. People with gout should avoid 

alcohol, red meat and shellfish in their diets as 

these can make it worse. 

Other causes: 

Bursitis 

Joints are hot, swollen, and hurt when you 

press or move them. The bursa, fluid-filled sacs 

that cushion joints, become inflamed. Usually 

affects shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, 

and ankles. Can be caused by injury, overuse, 

or infection. Rest and ice are recommended to 

reduce swelling, but antibiotics may be needed if 

infection is present. 

Lupus 

Another autoimmune disorder that can attack 

joints. Along with swollen, painful joints, you may 

develop a butterfly-shaped rash across your 

cheeks, hair loss, trouble breathing, memory 

problems, mouth sores, and dry eyes and mouth. 

Sprains or strains 

Usually presents as pain, swelling or bruising 

around the joint, affecting ligaments and muscles. 

Can be caused by repetitive exercise or moving 

incorrectly; it feels like you’ve pulled or popped 

something. Pain usually comes on suddenly or the 

day after the injury. Use the RICE method to treat: 

Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate. 

How to treat joint pain 

In most cases, the best prescription for joint 

pain is exercise. Limiting or reducing movement 

can weaken muscles around the joints which can 

make it worse. 

Strength or resistance training is 

recommended, rather than anything high impact. 

Try yoga, swimming, walking or cycling. Exercise 

can also reduce stiffness, aid your mobility, and 

keep you at a healthy weight so you’re not adding 

extra stress to weak joints. 

For pain or stiffness, some people find heat 

helpful, such as a warm bath, hot water bottle or 

wheat bag. If there is swelling, always use a cold 

compress rather than heat. 

Painkillers such as paracetamol can relieve 

pain, as can topical NSAIDs like ibuprofen gel. 

For severe cases, you may be offered steroid 

injections to reduce inflammation. These can be 

given every three months with a maximum of four 

a year in the same area. 

Some people swear by supplements for joint 

pain, but there is no medical evidence of their 

benefit. Glucosamine and chondroitin are natural 

components of cartilage. Omega 3s and turmeric 

are said to be anti-inflammatory. And calcium 

and vitamin D are good for bone health. Always 

consult with your GP or pharmacist before taking 

any supplements as they may interfere with any 

medication you’re taking. 

Andrew Watson 

If you have any specific health concerns, 

please feel free to contact me at 

Good Measure or email me at 

andy@thewatsons.co.uk


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2024: 

the year for you! 

A new year, a blank page yet to 

be written, a chance to hit the 

reset button on life. 

While New Year resolutions often get a bad rap 

for encouraging unrealistic goals or adding extra 

pressure on us, they can also be a great starting 

point to prioritise your health and wellbeing on 

your own terms. 

In 2024, embrace those small, attainable goals 

that don’t drastically overhaul your current life but 

still make you feel better about life. 

That might be resetting your sleep schedule 

and improving your bedtime routine. Better 

quality sleep will make you feel more energised 

and ready to tackle whatever life throws at you. 

Eating better can also boost your mood. Try 

and cook something new each week to prevent 

getting stuck in a rut of falling back into unhealthy 

eating habits and monotonous mealtimes. 

You might be looking to build a better budget 

this year. The cost of everything seems to be 

continually on the rise, and you might wonder 

how it’s even possible to save money in the 

current climate. Outline a rough budget that 

works for you and make a plan for how you’ll 

stick to it. There are budgeting apps to help you 

do this. 

Maybe you want to start a new hobby in 

2024 to add some joy and fulfilment to life. That 

could be joining a book club, an art group, an 

exercise class, taking up gardening, or even just 

journalling. A new hobby could help you meet 

new people in the process. 

Or perhaps it’s pledging to make more time 

for loved ones. Life goes by and before you know 

it it’s been weeks or months since you last saw 

those close to you. But this year, try to make a 

conscious effort to check in regularly, whether 

in-person or via video call. 

Whatever 2024 has in store for you, we 

hope you find inspiration of new things to 

try and new places to visit by reading 

Aroundtown Magazine. 

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Are you prepared 

to save a life? 

Would you know how to help 

someone having a medical 

emergency? 

Someone has a heart attack every five minutes. 

One in five of us will witness someone needing 

CPR after collapsing. But most people don’t act 

on it. 

Only 30 percent of people receive bystander 

CPR. That hesitancy is often because of no first 

aid training, lack of confidence, or fear of making 

the situation worse. 

But every minute is vital in ensuring survival. 

Around 90 percent of people who have a heart 

attack out of hospital will die; immediate CPR can 

double or even quadruple survival rates. 

First aid is a skill that everyone should learn. 

In a bid to ensure there is a first aider on every 

street, the Community Save a Life Scheme 

(CSALS) offers free first aid courses to the public. 

You can complete the course online in around 

an hour. Around 12,000 people have already 

done the course, as far away as America, 

Australia, Indian and Vietnam. 

In the summer, taking the course paid off for 

one man in Dronfield who saved the life of his 

walking football teammate. When 75-year-old 

Mel Pullen collapsed on the pitch, Rob Church 

stepped in to perform CPR, having passed the 

CSALS course just weeks earlier. Despite being 

unconscious for 11 minutes, Mel survived thanks 

to Rob’s skills and effort in resuscitation. 

Hearing lives have been saved is the 

motivation to keep going for John Hutchinson 

Its easy-to-use format 

“ 

suits any style and standard 

of learning. Children as 

young as ten have completed 

the course 

” 

and Dr Cheryle Berry MBE who instigated the 

idea of the charity in 2010. Having met while 

volunteering at St John Ambulance Service, 

the duo initially worked under the British 

Heart Foundation name but are now a 

standalone charity. 

Lead trainer John, originally from Sheffield 

but now living in the Peak District, was a St John 

Ambulance cadet in his youth. He joined the army 

at 16 where he led the annual first aid course 

throughout his 26-year service. He then joined 

the army’s prison and probation service where 

he delivered first aid training to inmates and staff. 

After retirement, John dedicated his time to St 

John Ambulance as a volunteer and has trained 

all the community first responders in Derbyshire 

and East Midlands. 

Charity chair Cheryle had seen a long 

career in education, first as a head teacher 

before becoming director of education in 

Middlesborough and then Lincolnshire. She is 

also the chair of St John Ambulance Derbyshire. 

They are joined by a team of trustees that 

include a retired GP, a paramedic, a retired 

management accountant, and staff from the 

British Heart Foundation. 

CSALS set a Guinness World Record in 2016 

for the largest first aid lesson; 1,795 people took 

to the pitch at Chesterfield FC’s home ground as 

John led the training session. 

In 2018, CSALS launched their online course at 

Westminster that had kindly been developed for 

free by Ilkley-based Virtual College. Having this 

digital training programme means that the charity 

has been able to reach out to people across the 

country and indeed on a global basis. 

There are five sections to complete, with a mix 

of interactive quizzes and timed elements. There 

is also the option for commentary or self-led 

reading. You’ll learn how to perform the gold 

standard of CPR which is mouth-to-mouth and 

chest compressions. The course also looks at 

the correct way to put a person in the recovery 

position and use a defibrillator. Once finished, 

you can print off a certificate of your achievement. 

Its easy-to-use format suits any style and 

standard of learning. Children as young as ten 

have completed the course and John says the 

team are hoping to work with education providers 

to offer the course to students and their families. 

Another success story is that of a 14-year-old 

boy who saved his dad’s life after he collapsed 

playing squash. John says the charity still has a 

letter from the boy’s mum thanking them for the 

course, without which her husband wouldn’t be 

here today. 

John also delivers practical courses in-person 

to groups of six or more in return for a donation to 

their charity. In this two-hour, video-led course, he 

teaches various situations where first aid may be 

needed such as bleeding, choking and stroke. 

Even if you have already completed a formal 

first aid course, it’s important to keep refreshing 

your skills. Skill erosion is a major issue in CPR. 

This season, they are also a charity partner 

for Sheffield United FC, John’s lifelong club, 

and have delivered first aid training to the club’s 

community foundation. 

Companies can also show their support for the 

charity by joining their 999 Appeal. For a donation 

of £999, businesses are eligible for a practical 

course for 12 people which they can use for their 

staff or gift it to another organisation. 

For more information about CSALS, 

visit www.csals.co.uk 

To take the free online course, visit www. 

virtual-college.co.uk/prepared 

To find out more about the 999 Appeal, 

email community facilitator, Debra Johnson 

debra@csals.co.uk 



Don’t ignore 

your cervical cancer 

screening invite! 

Every day in the UK, two women 

lose their lives to cervical 

cancer and nine more receive 

a life-changing diagnosis. 

But cervical cancer can be prevented. Cervical 

screening, or smear tests, can save lives by 

stopping cervical cancer before it starts. 

However, figures from Jo’s Cervical Cancer 

Trust show that one in three women and people 

with a cervix do not take up their screening invite. 

South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Cancer Alliance 

are reminding people of the importance of 

attending screening when invited. 

What is a smear test? 

A smear test, or cervical screening, is not a test 

for cancer. It checks the health of your cervix and 

helps find any abnormal changes before they can 

turn into cancer. A sample taken from your cervix 

checks for the human papillomavirus (aka HPV). 

Cervical sceening is available to anyone with 

a cervix between the ages of 25 to 64 in the UK. 

Eligible people will be contacted and asked to 

make an appointment at their GP surgery. You 

may get your first invite up to six months before 

you turn 25. The screening is usually done by a 

female nurse or doctor. 

Your cervical screening result will help decide 

when you are next invited for cervical screening. 

This could be every year, every three years, or 

every five years. 

What is HPV? 

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common 

virus that lives on the skin and can affect the 

cervix. There are over 200 types of HPV – most 

are low-risk and cause no problems, but around 

13 are high-risk and are linked to cancer. 

HPV is usually passed on through sexual 

contact, which can make some people feel 

worried or embarrassed. But it is nothing to be 

ashamed of. Because HPV lives on our skin, it 

is easy to get and difficult to completely protect 

against. At some point during our lives, eight in 

ten people will get HPV. 


What if I get HPV? 

In most cases, your immune system will get 

rid of HPV without it causing any problems. If 

your cervical screening shows that you have 

HPV, you’ll be invited back more regularly (after 

a year) to keep a closer eye on you. If high risk 

HPV is detected, the sample is then checked for 

abnormal cells. 

There is no treatment for HPV itself, but there 

are treatments for conditions caused by HPV, 

including genital warts, cervical cell changes and 

cancer. Persistent HPV infection is what causes 

the cells in the cervix to change. Over time, these 

abnormal cells may develop into cervical cancer 

if not monitored or treated. 

Reducing your 

risk of HPV 

You can’t completely protect against HPV. 

But there are ways you can reduce your risk of 

getting HPV or developing a persistent infection 

that your immune system can’t get rid of. 

Stopping smoking, getting the HPV vaccine 

if you are eligible, and having safer sex (using 

condoms or dental dams) all help to reduce 

your risk. 

What are the symptoms 

of cervical cancer? 

While a smear test is the best protection 

against cervical cancer, it does not stop 

every case. Being aware of the symptoms 

may mean cervical cancer is detected and 

treated early. 

The most common symptoms of 

cervical cancer include: 

• Vaginal bleeding that is unusual for you, 

including after the menopause, after sex, 

or between regular periods 

• Changes to vaginal discharge 

• Pain or discomfort during sex 

• Unexplained pain in your lower back 

or between your hip bones (pelvis) 

Tips for your cervical 

screening test 

• If you feel uncomfortable in waiting rooms, 

you may want to ask to book the first 

appointment of the day. This can mean it is 

quieter and there is less time for you to wait. 

• Wear something comfy and easy to get 

on and off. Some people feel more covered 

wearing a skirt or dress as they only need 

to remove their underwear. Ask if you 

can bring a spare shawl or blanket to cover 

yourself if it makes you feel more at ease. 

You might experience spotting after your 

cervical screening, so you may want to wear 

a fuller brief with a liner or sanitary pad. 

• Speculums come in different sizes. If you 

find the standard size too uncomfortable, 

you can ask to try another size. Lying in a 

different position, such as on your side with 

your knees bent, may also make the test 

more comfortable. 

• If you have gone through or are going 

through the menopause, let your doctor or 

nurse know. After menopause, the opening 

of the vagina and vaginal walls become less 

able to stretch, which can make the test 

more uncomfortable. A vaginal oestrogen 

cream or pessary may help. 

• Don’t rush off. Take your time to recover 

and make sure you feel okay before you 

leave. Arrange for someone to pick you up 

in case you don’t feel great after. 

• Ask questions. Speak to your friends, 

nurses, or colleagues for reassurance, 

especially before your first cervical 

screening or if you have previously 

experienced anything that makes the test 

hard for you. 

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week: 

22nd - 28th January 2024 

Join the conversation 

#CervicalCancerPreventionWeek 

Find out more at 

www.jostrust.org.uk/CCPW 

Or for advice, call their free national 

helpline on 0808 802 8000


Improve your health 

and wellbeing 

with Rotherham United Community Trust 

Feeling the winter blues? 

Did you know just 30 minutes of activity a day, 

a good old chat and a smile from a stranger can 

all help to lift your mood and pop that spring 

back in your step. 

Rotherham United Community Trust have a 

wide range of activities for adults ranging from 

badminton, football, and fitness classes to 

dance-based classes for menopausal women, a 

walking group or even a spot of table tennis. 

Many sessions are free, while others cost just 

£3 or less. 

If you’re looking to improve your health and 

fitness in 2024, get a sweat on in their range of 

fitness classes for all abilities. There are low and 

high intensity classes, a men’s only session, plus 

their Fit Fans programme to help lose weight. 

Their popular football-based weight loss 

programme, MAN v FAT football, is now in its fifth 

year, with over 60 men joining the RUCT team 

every Friday at Parkgate Astro. 

For women, there are lots of ladies-only 

groups such as a women’s recreational football 

session or women’s badminton. RUCT have 

also developed a dance-based session aimed 

at helping women going through menopause. 

They have recently added more venues to roll the 

programme out to more women in Rotherham, 

with sessions throughout the week at places like 

Brinsworth and Upper Haugh. 

It’s not all about physical exercise. The RUCT 

team also support people with their mental 

wellbeing. They run a weekly coffee morning 

down at New York Stadium and have set up 

a walking group that meets each Thursday 

lunchtime. 

Rotherham United fans also can join the 

Mature Millers group who meet on Mondays to 

discuss the previous week’s games as well as 

the history of the club. 

Emma Schofield and Hollie Webb jointly 

manage the Health and Wellbeing department at 

the Trust. 

Emma said: “Whether you fancy joining us 

down at the New York Stadium or out in the 

community, there’s plenty of weekly options to 

come and meet new people, grab a cuppa and 

have a good old chat.” 

Hollie added: “No matter what you enjoy, we 

have something for everyone. Don’t be afraid 

to come along, our groups are welcoming and 

friendly and we’d love you to join us. You never 

know, you might even rub shoulders with a player 

or two!” 

For more information about any of the 

sessions, contact the RUCT team on 

01709 827767 

Or email health@rotherhamunited.net 

Facebook Rotherham United 

Community Trust 

Instagram @Rotherhamunited_CT 

www.ruct.co.uk 

What’s on each week: 

Menopause dance sessions 

Mondays at Liberty Church 12pm-1pm £3 

Tuesdays at The Centre Brinsworth 

10am-11am £3 

Tuesdays at Unity Centre 1.30pm-3.30pm 

Free 

Wednesdays at New York Stadium 5.45pm- 

7.15pm £3 

Thursdays at Upper Haugh Drop In Centre 

1.30pm-3.30pm Free 

Sports-based sessions 

Walking Football - Mondays at Parkgate 

Astro 1pm-2pm Free 

Women’s Rec Football – Tuesdays at 

Parkgate Astro 8pm-9pm £3 

Inclusion Football – Wednesdays at 

Parkgate Astro 2pm-3pm Free 

Women’s Badminton – Wednesdays at 

Rotherham Leisure Complex 10am-11am £3 

Badminton – Thursdays at Rotherham 

Leisure Complex 10am-11am Free 

Table Tennis – Thursdays at New York 

Stadium 2pm-4pm £3 

Fitness sessions 

Low intensity – Mondays at New York 

Stadium 10am-11am £3 

High intensity – Mondays at New York 

Stadium 5.30pm-6.15pm £3 

Men Only class – Fridays at New York 

Stadium 1pm-2pm £1 

Weight management sessions 

Fit Fans at New York Stadium – Tuesdays at 

6.30pm or Wednesdays at 10am Free 

Man V Fat Football League – Fridays at 

Parkgate Astro 7pm-9pm £31/month 

Mental wellbeing sessions 

Mature Millers – Mondays at Brentwood 

Hotel 10am Free 

Coffee Morning – Tuesdays at New York 

Stadium 11am Free 

Walking Group – Thursdays 11.45am Free 



The best resolution: 

explore you 

Have you ever been determined 

to stick to a New Year’s 

resolution only to fail miserably 

by mid-January? 

If you think it’s because you have no will 

power, you might want to think again. 

Evidence shows that habits and behaviour are 

ultimately driven by subconscious programs and 

not our thoughts as we might have believed. 

This January why not take a deeper dive into 

your mind so you can break old bad habits and 

patterns once and for all. 

Hypnotherapy is known for its power to delve 

‘below the surface’ and its ability to successfully 

help with stopping smoking, weight management 

and anxiety patterns. 

But now South Yorkshire hypnotherapy clinic, 

Alexandra Hypnotherapy, is seeing an increase 

in clients wanting to make more fundamental 

changes to their lives – using it to build selfworth, 

stop 

limiting beliefs 

and make huge 

transformations 

in personal 

growth. 

Clinic owner 

Alexandra 

Vessey said 

people are now 

seeking highly personalised inner explorations, 

rather than quick ‘surface level’ fixes. 

She said: “Clients are asking to better 

understand their subconscious programming so 

their lives can generally change for good. We’re 

moving away from just wanting problems to go 

away like magic or swapping negative thoughts 

for positive ones because that just doesn’t work. 

“If you really want to change, going deep and 

examining old-rooted beliefs in the subconscious 

is a very effective method – and hypnosis is 

perfect for that.” 

Relationships 

Weight 

management 

Anxiety 

Just a few 

things 

hypnotherapy 

can help 

solve 

Habits and 

smoking 

Panic 

attacks 

Stress 

Lack of 

confidence 

Fears and 

phobias 

Alexandra Hypnotherapy is currently 

welcoming new clients for personal one-to-one 

transformations in all areas of life, both in person 

and online. 

To book a free strategy consultation, visit 

www.alexandrahypnotherapy.co.uk 

Helping you live a happier, healthier life with hypnosis 

THE BEST HYPNOTHERAPY IS MADE EXACTLY FOR YOU 

We do so much more than "ordinary" therapy 

Join over 2,000+ smart clients 

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We help solve: 

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work performance, smoking, weight problems and habits 

Discover how we can help YOU, book your 

free strategy session via our website 

Free Strategy Session 

Bespoke 1-2-1 sessions from £89 

Either at our private, professional clinic 

or via video call 

Book online at a time to suit you 

www.alexandrahypnotherapy.co.uk 

Consultation and two hour session £300 

Quote Aroundtown and pay only £270 

Quit smoking for good in just two hours with expert hypnosis 

An easy way to stop smoking permanently so you can 

live happier and healthier than ever before 

Save 

After just ONE hypnosis session you can: £££s 

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The expert professional hypnosis clinic Mexborough Business Centre, College Road, Mexborough S64 9JP 

07960 969080 www.alexandrahypnotherapy.co.uk 



See what you’ve 

been missing 

Whether you’re in need of some 

glasses or are well overdue an 

eye test, there’s more than meets 

the eye at Premier Eyecare. 

For over 18 years, Premier Eyecare has been 

providing a premier service to patients in four 

family-run, welcoming and relaxed branches 

across South Yorkshire 

Their Rotherham town centre team offer a 

personalised approach to eye health to meet their 

patients’ unique needs. Premier Eyecare conduct 

thorough examinations and take the time to talk 

through your lens options and any treatment you 

might need to preserve your vision. 

Regular eye tests every two years are not just 

about the need for new lenses, but can also save 

your sight. At the Rotherham branch, they offer 

REVO-OCT wellness scanning that can detect any 

symptomless abnormalities at the back of the eye 

or eye diseases such as glaucoma or diabetic 

retinopathy. If not caught or treated early enough, 

these can lead to blindness so regular screening is 

vital for occular health. 

Making eye health a priority from a young age 

is equally as important and Premier Eyecare make 

tests as fun and stress-free as possible for both 

children and their grown-ups. 

Kids rarely complain about their sight but 

more children and young people are developing 

myopia – or short-sightedness – which can get 

rapidly worse and lead to a squint or lazy eye if not 

treated. If myopia is detected, the Premier team 

can control it with special corrective lenses to slow 

down the worsening of the eye and avoid the need 

for thicker lenses that are frequently changed. 

If you’re on the lookout for a shiny new pair 

of specs this New Year, Premier Eyecare has a 

brilliant selection in store from classic styles to the 

latest in designer eyewear. For some added wow 

factor, they have a range of bright and bold frames 

designed by Bake Off’s Prue Leith. They also have 

one of the largest children’s ranges for toddlers to 

teens that are durable, comfortable and bursting 

with personality. 

Their friendly dispensing team is fully trained to 

help you find your perfect frames, ensuring they fit 

correctly and make you feel good. The team can 

also advise on whether your lifestyle would benefit 

from upgrading your lenses to help with night time 

driving or winter sun. 

Upgrade your 

eyewear in 2024 

See our extensive range of frames 

from designer brands including 

SEE BETTER, LIVE BETTER 

An exclusive range of 

bright, statement 

frames by Bake Off’s 

Prue Leith 

• Now registering new patients for private and NHS testing 

• Comprehensive eye examinations 

• Appointments within 7 days 

• Home testing available 

• Free NHS eye tests for under 16s 

• Myopia control for short-sightedness in children 

ROTHERHAM BRANCH: 17 EFFINGHAM STREET, ROTHERHAM S65 1AJ (opposite Santander) 

01709 379 471 OPEN Monday - Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 9am-2pm 

WE ALSO HAVE BRANCHES AT HOYLAND, HILLSBOROUGH and DONCASTER 

www.premiereyecare.co.uk 



New year, new 

hair style? 

With Chris Moody of Moodyhair 

It’s that time of year 

when we’re predicting 

what’s hot and what’s 

not in the world of hair 

and fashion. 

So as not to be left out, here’s my 

take on what new (and not so new) 

hair trends will be emerging in 2024. 

I believe (and really hope) that 

this year will see the return of the 

haircut. Not just the long, shoulder 

length ‘beach-wave’ trim of recent 

years, but a shorter, sharper, tailormade 

shape. 

We’ve been seeing all kinds of 

variations of the same long layered 

shape for a while now, namely 

the ‘Wolf cut’ and the ‘Butterfly 

cut’ - more or less the same thing 

of medium to long layers with the 

main difference being one is more 

textured, the other a little longer. 

The new kid on the block is called 

‘The Mixie’, a hybrid of the classic 

pixie cut and the edgy Mullet. The 

added security of a slightly longer 

back length makes it a great choice 

if you fancy going shorter to make 

a statement but still want some 

softness. The good thing is it can be 

adjusted to suit just about any facial 

shape and hair type. 

Bobs are always on the New 

Year’s honours list. But this year 

they’re going curly. If you have 

natural, textured hair, throw out the 

straighteners and embrace that 

curl. If your hair is straight, chat to 

your stylist about a soft perm that’s 

gentle on the roots, yet curlier on 

the ends. This is perfect for all short 

bob styles and a million miles from 

the dreaded big hair of the ‘80s. 

The one I really think will shine 

through is inspired, posthumously, 

by one of the greatest style icons of 

all time - Princess Diana. Elizabeth 

Debicki has done a stunning job 

portraying the late Princess in the 

last season of The Crown. The way 

she wore her hair, not identical but 

very close to Diana’s, has created 

a beautiful, classic short shape that 

looks stylish and timeless. Based 

on a classic wedge with shorter 

layers and a little texture, it makes 

this style versatile, easy to manage 

and modern. 

Still holding their own into the 

new year are old favourites like the 

graduated or inverted bob. But be 

aware, you need the right type of 

hair, face shape and time to style 

if you’re thinking about choosing 

this. Another is the classic ‘long top 

crop’, very short at the back and 

sides with a slightly longer, smooth, 

sweeping top length. 

If you’re thinking about a big 

change, always let your stylist know 

in advance. They will want to make 

extra time to chat with you and work 

a little more on your re-style. It’s very 

difficult for a busy stylist to create 

that extra time on the spur of the 

moment. 

So be bold, be beautiful and 

make a new start with a new style. 

High Quality Cutting, 

Finishing and 

Creative Colour 

moodynews 

Up to 

30% Off 

With our New 

Year Vouchers 

Call the salon 

for details 

24Hr online booking now available at www.moodyhair.com 

Moodyhair, Garden Street, Darfield, Barnsley 

Tel: 01226 752098 Email: info@moodyhair.com Web: www.moodyhair.com 

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/moodyhair 

Follow us on Instagram @moodyhairsalon 


Embrace the 

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Change is in the hair 

If you are looking to try a new colour then our creative 

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Giants of the Gridiron 

For kids who dream of being 

the next Tom Brady, their hopes 

no longer lie in a move to the 

States. 

They can step onto the gridiron right 

here in South Yorkshire with the Sheffield 

Giants Academy. 

Since starting in 2018, the Sheffield Giants 

Academy, based in Mosbrough, has grown from 

a dozen players to now almost 100 on their team 

sheets, fuelled by the rising popularity of the NFL 

with British sports fans. 

They are the only American football club in 

Yorkshire to have teams for all ages and have 

players ranging from seven-year-olds up to adults 

in their 40s. 

Talented young athletes in South Yorkshire 

have the opportunity to make it to the world stage 

in one of the fastest-growing sports. 

Last season, seven Sheffield Giants players 

were selected for team GB squads, with the teens 

playing for their country in Norway and Italy. 

And one former Sheffield Giants player is now 

a promising NFL star; Europe’s number one 

offensive linesman, Daniel Akinkunmi, signed for 

Oklahoma Sooners last autumn having received 

offers from eight US colleges. 

Flag football, the non-contact version of 

American football, will become an Olympic 

sport from 2028. The head of Sheffield Giants 

Academy, Paul Salmon, believes there 

will be a further explosion of interest in the 

forthcoming years. 

“Kids see the Superbowl on TV and love the 

glamour and razzamatazz of it. They’re desperate 

to kit up and put the helmet and pads on. But 

they can’t legally play American football until 

they’re 13. So, they start with flag football instead 

which really introduces them to the game,” 

Paul says. 

Paul got involved in the club when his son 

decided he wanted to play American football as 

a teenager. 

Originally, an adults’ team coach would train a 

handful of kids on the sidelines of the pitch. But 

Paul agreed to help start a proper academy to 

bring grassroots flag football to the club. 

“It was a bit of a novelty at the start. In the 

first year, the under 11s were just running 

round enthusiastically like headless chickens, 

like seven- or eight-year-olds do when playing 

any sport. But we quickly began to see a 

massive difference and they’re now playing to a 

great standard.” 

Flag football follows the same format as the 

contact version, with the main aim to reach the 

endzone and score a touchdown. But instead of 

tackling each other to the ground, you remove 

a flag that is attached to a belt around the 

players’ waists. 

There are five players on each team and 

squads tend to be between 12-15 players. Paul 

says the sport suits people of all ages, genders, 

sizes, fitness levels and abilities which is unusual 

for team sports. 

“With a sport like normal football, you need to 

be able to control and pass the ball to play it well. 

Whereas flag football is very accessible. If you 

can’t catch, it’s fine, there’s a position where you 

don’t need to. If you like tackling, great, there’s 

a position for that too. There are positions for 

catching, running, passing, tackling and blocking. 

Some kids will never see the ball as their job is 

just to block and protect those who do have it. 

“We don’t have trials or squad picking. Anyone 

who wants to play can. There are no subs. It’s 

more of a roll-off-roll-on game and you can bring 

players on throughout the 40-minute game.” 

American football doesn’t just appeal to burly 

men. About a quarter of Sheffield Giants’ flag 

football players are girls, and they’re hoping to 

sign their first female full contact player for this 

upcoming season. 

As a summer sport, the season begins in April 

but the academy teams will start pre-season 

training from mid-February. They train every 

Saturday at 9am in Mosborough. 

Their flag football teams include under 

11s, under 14s, under 17s, mixed adults, and 

women’s. As players reach 13, they can move 

into the American football teams with pathways 

for under 16s, under 19s and adults. 

People interested in trying flag or contact 

football can have three free taster sessions 

before they need to register as a player. 

For more information, contact the club at 

academy@sheffieldgiants.com or 

find them on Facebook www.facebook. 

com/sheffieldgiantsacademy 



Lottery funding a 

Pivotal step 

towards improving 

health and wellbeing 

Release your inner swan 

How many of you had 

childhood dreams of being a 

ballerina? 

Well, it’s never too late to chassé 

those dreams with the help of 

Dance with Lucie. 

Experienced ballet teacher, 

Lucie Weaver, runs Silver Swans® 

ballet classes for older adults in 

Rotherham. 

Developed by the Royal 

Academy of Dance specifically 

for over 55s, the relaxed and 

welcoming classes include barre 

work and ballet sequences all set to 

beautiful music. 

Having trained at the Royal 

Ballet School, Lucie has taught in 

London, Dublin and Hong Kong. 

She’s been dancing since the age 

of three and wants to inspire others 

to dance in later life. 

The Silver Swans dancers 

are of varying ages, abilities and 

experiences, the eldest being a 

lady in her 80s. Some danced as 

children more than 40 years ago, 

others have never danced a step in 

their lives before joining. 

But all agree that ballet training 

has great benefits for general health 

and well-being. It’s also an excellent 

brain workout, co-ordinating 

the movements. 

There’s no competitiveness, 

no strict teachers, and certainly 

no leotards! It’s a chance to have 

fun, stay active, and socialise 

with others. 

Rotherham’s Pivotal 

Health and Wellbeing 

CIC are offering free 

health and wellbeing 

sessions across the 

town after securing 

over £150,000 in 

lottery funding. 

The Eastwood-based 

organisation was awarded a grant 

of £153,788 from The National 

Lottery Reaching Communities 

Fund. This will fund a three-year 

project to deliver new sessions 

to people in Rotherham including 

walking football, seated exercise, 

and walking groups. 

The funding has also enabled 

the Pivotal team to reduce their 

monthly pay as you go gym 

membership from £35 to £20. 

Run by Rob Newton and 

Abbey Clayton, Pivotal Health and 

Wellbeing became a Community 

Interest Company in 2019. Since 

then, they have stepped up 

their services in the community, 

reaching out to people in 

Rotherham who wouldn’t usually 

attend a gym session. 

Thanks to other funding from 

Voluntary Action Rotherham, they 

have already provided free Pilates 

sessions, exercise sessions for 

community groups, and healthy 

eating workshops. 

The lottery funded project will 

include a free seated exercise 

class on Mondays at 2pm at their 

studio on Fitzwilliam Road, great 

for older people or those with 

limited mobility. They will also be 

running a walking football session 

every Monday evening at 5pm 

at the nearby Rotherham 

Football Centre. 

For those looking for a new 

gym in 2024, being a Pivotal 

member gives you access to 

the fitness studio as well as all 

their classes which include HIIT, 

Zumba, boxing, Pound Fit, and 

legs, bums and tums – all for just 

£20 a month. 

You’re never 

tutu oldfor ballet 

Monday at Wentworth 

11am-12pm 

The Mechanics Institute, 

Main Street, Wentworth 

S62 7TL 

Tuesday at Brecks 

10am-11am Janet Mitchell 

School of Dance, 

1A Brecks Crescent, 

Rotherham S65 3HZ 

Classes (term time only) 

Ballet classes for adults 

Improve your mobility, 

posture, co-ordination 

and energy levels 

while having fun! 

• No previous dance 

experience required 

• Aimed at over 55s but 

anyone over 18 is welcome 

Wednesday at Brinsworth 

11.30am-12.30pm The Centre, 

Brinsworth Lane S60 5BU 

Thursday at Wickersley 

10am-11am Silver Swans 

11.15am-12.15pm 

Adults Jazz class 

Wickersley Community Centre, 

286 Bawtry Road, 

Rotherham S66 1JJ 

£7 per class bookable in half term blocks 

For more information, email 

pivotalhealthandwellbeing@hotmail.com or 

visit their website www.pivotalhealthandwellbeing.co.uk/ 

Taught by Royal Ballet School graduate, Lucie Weaver 

07340 404 830 

info@dancewithlucie.co.uk dancewithlucie.co.uk 



Images courtesy of Chris Wharton Photography 

Join #TeamRec 

As a woman, sports you might 

have enjoyed as a child can 

sometimes take a back seat 

when you become an adult. But 

it’s never too late to get back 

into the game you loved. 

What if there were team sports out there that 

took the pressure off, with a focus on fun and 

friendship? 

If that sounds like your game, then women’s 

recreational football could be for you. 

Women’s recreational football is all about 

the camaraderie and having fun on the pitch. 

Whether it’s been years since you last played, or 

you’ve never kicked a ball in your life, it’s a great 

way to play casual football in a relaxed, friendly 

and social environment. 

Teams are either five- or seven-a-side, each 

half lasts just 20 minutes, all fixtures have an 

FA qualified match official present, and results 

recorded via the FA Full-Time platform. 

All it takes is for one person to get the ball 

rolling and you could be starting up another 

opportunity for women in your area. 

If you have a small child or teenager who is 

part of a local grassroots football club, you no 

doubt see other mums, nans, aunties, or sisters 

watching them train or sitting in the car while 

they’re training. Why not get a ball and have a 

kickabout on the other side of the white line? 

Sisters Caroline Austwick and Jane Crowcroft 

did just that in 2022 when they started Wathletico 

Women’s FC. 

Both in their 40s, Caroline and Jane were 

looking to join a women’s team after feeling 

envious of their children being able to play 

junior football. But with work and families to 

think about, they didn’t want the commitment or 

competitiveness of 11-a-side football. 

Caroline contacted Sheffield and Hallamshire 

County FA to see if they could point her in the 

direction of any small-sided women’s teams in 

the Dearne Valley area. But there weren’t any. 

Sara Harnett, Sheffield FA’s women’s 

recreational football officer, encouraged Caroline 

to consider setting up her own team instead. 

If they got enough interest, there was funding 

available for a facility and coach for nine weeks to 

get things off the ground. 

After putting a call-out on social media, 

Caroline was contacted by another ten women 

who were up for a weekly kickabout. Wathletico’s 

first training session was in April 2022 at Wath 

Academy and the club has quickly grown to now 

have 19 players with two teams entered in to a 

five-a-side league. 

“About a quarter of our players have played 

at club level in their 20s so they’re still decent 

footballers even now in their late 30s. The other 

75 percent have either never played or played 

30 years ago as primary school kids when girls’ 

teams weren’t a thing and they just played on the 

field with the lads.” 

“I’d thought I was too old for football, that I was 

well past it. But you can still get better if you do 

something enough. When people ask me what I’d 

want to be if I could start life again, I say a sevenyear-old 

girl. Girls have so many opportunities 

in sport now that I’d just be out playing football 

constantly,” Caroline says. 

So many women of a certain age were part 

of that missed generation that didn’t have the 

chance to play football. Having never been 

properly coached, some women might not feel 

confident in their playing ability, but they’re just 

the type of women who suit recreational football. 

There are no age barriers, no fitness barriers, 

and no experience barriers – it’s simply about 

having a kickabout and enjoying it. 

Wathletico players have already seen the 

benefits of pulling on their team’s jersey. 

Football has given them a newfound optimism, 

provided therapeutic benefits of exercise, helped 

them make friends for life, and even alleviated 

symptoms of menopause. 

And their footballing skills have improved, too. 

“We entered a tournament three weeks after 

we started and got battered, finishing last. 

But now, we’re coming in the top three at the 

seasonal competitions we take part in. And we 

were crowned league champions in our first ever 

season as a team,” Caroline says. 

One player, Laura, has even gone on to 

become a coach for her daughter’s team, 

Wombwell Town girls’ U10s, despite both of 

them having never previously been interested 

in football. Laura’s daughter was so inspired by 

seeing her mum play that she wanted to join a 

team, too. 

If you would like to get involved in women’s 

recreational football, Sheffield and Hallamshire 

County FA will be able to advise you about 

what clubs are near you or how to set up new 

sessions. Visit www.Sheffieldfa.com 



Eat well, spend less 

and reduce waste 

Every food shop seems to 

leave us flabbergasted by the 

continually rising prices. 

But we’re also not helping ourselves by 

throwing money away on food that gets chucked 

in the bin each week. 

In a bid to nourish the nation for less, and 

reduce the environmental impact of unnecessary 

food wastage, excess food distribution 

organisation, UKHarvest, has created some 

free online resources including cookery demos, 

educational materials and recipe cards. 

“ 

Each month, UKHarvest 

hosts a live two-hour 

cook-a-long on their 

YouTube channel. 

You only need a little 

experience in the kitchen 

and basic cooking 

equipment to take part 

” 

And Barnsley shoppers can be thanked for 

their contributions. They have helped UKHarvest 

secure funding through Tesco’s Community 

Grant Scheme by voting for them with their blue 

tokens received at the supermarket tills. 

The funding has been used to create new 

digital assets that will improve people’s cooking 

skills, help them make healthier choices, and fight 

food waste. 

UKHarvest has launched their new Eat 

Well, Spend Less guide which has a range of 

information in it about things like meal planning 

and smart shopping, food storage and safety, 

and building a balanced, nutritional meal. 

There are also savvy recipes that have been 

developed to use foods that may otherwise 

be wasted. 

Each month, UKHarvest hosts a live two-hour 

cook-a-long on their YouTube channel. You only 

need a little experience in the kitchen and basic 

cooking equipment to take part and the full 

shopping list will be sent out before each session. 

On Friday 19th January it will be a homemade 

gnocchi tutorial between 1pm and 3pm. Then on 

Friday 9th February at 10am the UKHarvest chefs 

will be teaching viewers how to make crusted 

chicken followed by chocolate mousse. 

You can download the Eat Well, 

Spend Less guide and find links to the 

online cookery demos here 

www.ukharvest.org.uk/education/ 

nourished 

Food waste statistics: 

• UK households waste 9.5 tonnes 

of food each year 

• That equates to around eight meals 

per household each week 

• Almost three-quarters is food that 

could have been eaten 

• Food wastage costs £19bn a year, 

or about £60 per household each month 

Top 3 most wasted foods: 

• Milk 

490 million pints a year 

• Bread 

20 million slices each day 

• Potatoes 

4.4 million each day, 

or half of all potatoes bought 

Cost of using cooking 

appliances 

Appliance £/Minute £/Hour £/Avg Year £/Avg Use 

Microwave £0.009 £0.52 £31.83 £0.17 

Air Fryer £0.015 £0.91 £55.91 £0.30 

Slow Cooker £0.002 £0.09 £63.35 £0.34 

Gas Cooker £0.015 £0.91 £121.06 £0.65 

Dual Cooker £0.035 £2.10 £278.04 £1.50 

Electric Cooker £0.042 £2.53 £335.57 £1.81 

Websites and apps to 

help you save 

Trolley 

A comparison site to check the price of food 

items at various supermarkets and stores. 

Find out which store has the cheapest price of 

everything from chocolate and cheese to cereals 

and canned goods. 

www.trolley.co.uk 

Eat Seasonably 

A calendar that shows you when fruit and 

vegetables are ripe, ready and at their best 

throughout the year. Eating foods in season is 

better value, better for the planet, and better 

tasting. 

www.eatseasonably.co.uk 

Freeze It 

Search for an ingredient or dish to discover 

whether it’s freezable or not. 

www.freezeit.co.uk 

Too Good to Go 

An app that sells surplus, unsold food 

from supermarkets, cafes, restaurants, and 

independent food retailers to consumers at 

heavily discounted prices, usually a third of the 

price. 

www.toogoodtogo.com 


FASHION 

Stand out 

Pink 

from the 

crowd 

Boutique, Birdwell 

For stylish clothes 

as individual as you 

are, take a visit to an 

independent fashion 

boutique this new 

year. 

Whether you’re after everyday 

basics, wearable classics, or 

showstopping occasion wear, 

South Yorkshire has some 

brilliant boutiques to peruse. 

You’ll often find their lines and 

labels have been hand-picked 

by the owners who want to offer 

something different than what’s 

available on the high street. 

Plus, these family run stores 

provide a more personalised 

customer experience, from the 

minute you walk in and see a 

smile, to honest feedback about 

if an item suits you or not. 

The Clothes & 

Accessories Shop, 

Todwick 

Pink Boutique 

Birdwell 

Mother of the bride & 

groom, guest and special 

occasion outfits 

in sizes 10-34 

Every lady is special to us, 

so booking an appointment 

is essential to help us give 

you the service you deserve 

WHY WAIT? 

Many ladies are buying 

their dream dress and 

spreading the cost with 

payment plans available 

All budgets catered for 

Open Monday to Saturday 10am-4pm 

228 Sheffield Road, Birdwell, Barnsley S70 5TF 

(less than a mile from jct 36 M1) 

Tel: 01226 743063 

Pink Boutique Birdwell 

Sandra Wenham 

Read our 

fabulous 

reviews 

Stylish 

women’s 

fashions 

with something 

to suit everyone 

Sizes 8 to plus size 

Labels include 

Suzy D London 

and Goose Island 

Also home to 

The Accessories Shop 

• Bags and purses • Lunar footwear 

• Jewellery • Gloves • Hats 

• Scarves • Umbrellas 

Greenscene Garden Centre, e, Side Farm, 

Sheffield Road, Todwick, Sheffield S26 IDJ 

Open Monday-Sunday 10am-4pm 

07401 080 695 theclothesshoptodwick 


FASHION 

Carol Ann, Wickersley 

An Outfit For Every Occasion 

Elegant Mother of the bride, groom and special guests, 

possibly the largest selection in South Yorkshire 

New Image, Hillsborough 

Exciting New Collections in sizes 8-24 

Call to book your one-to-one appointment 

SALE 

NOW 

ON 

Let us help you find the perfect 

outfit for your special day 

Matching hats, fascinators, shoes and bags 

Bespoke headpieces by Milliner Darcie Mae 

Great reductions on our casual wear 

Carol Ann 

127a Bawtry Road, Wickersley, S66 2BW 

(Opposite The Tanyard) 

Tel. 01709 533033 www.carolannfashion.co.uk 

Open: Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5.00pm 

277 Middlewood Road, 

Hillsborough, Sheffield S6 1TG 

Car park at rear of store 

Open Mon – Sat 10am-5pm, Late Night Tues till 7pm 

Telephone 0114 2344880 

Email info@new-image.co.uk 

www.new-image.co.uk 


LOVE IS IN THE AIR 

Love is in the air 

Get crafty 

With Dawn Topliss 

Make your own 

Valentine’s 

Topiary 

Send someone an 

artfelt token of your 

love this Valentine’s 

Day with this DIY 

topiary craft project. 

You will need 

28cm long Terracotta tom pot 

Oasis or chicken wire 

Moss 

1m ribbon 

Garden sticks or BBQ skewers 

Green coated garden wire 

Green garden string 

Punched or artificial flowers 

& leaves 

Tiny crystal gems 

Glue gun & craft knife 

Method 

1. Using a craft knife, cut the 

oasis to fit inside the terracotta 

pot. Or if using chicken wire, 

scrunch until level with the top 

of the pot. 

2. Cut garden sticks into four 

12cm lengths. Use wire to bind 

together at the top and bottom. 

Glue into the centre of the pot. 

3. Use a pot or jam jar to 

bend a piece of wire into a 

12cm circle. Twist both ends of 

wire together leaving a length of 

3cm. Now carefully remove and 

press the top centre down to 

make a heart shape. 

4. Glue the twisted ends into 

the top of your stick bundle. 

5. Tie your garden twine onto 

the top of the wire heart. Now 

lay lengths of moss onto your 

wire and bind in place with the 

twine following the shape. 

6. Cut 1cm lengths of coated 

wire and bend into small 

hairpins. Use these to secure 

moss to the top of the pot 

covering any oasis or chicken 

wire. 

7. Decorate with punched or 

artificial flowers and gems and 

a ribbon. You may also want 

to add your own sentiment to 

the pot. 

Your Valentine’s Topiary is 

now complete. 

Happy Crafting! 

Bachelor’s Day is coming... 

No, it’s not a day all 

about single men. 

Well, not in the way 

you’d think. 

Bachelor’s Day is the tradition of 

women proposing to their partners 

on Leap Day – February 29th. 

According to Irish folklore, 

the tradition dates back to the 

fifth century when a nun named 

St. Brigid asked for St. Patrick’s 

permission to allow women to 

propose marriage should their 

significant others take too long to 

do so. 

The two saints made a deal 

that, every four years, on Leap 

Day, women could be the ones to 

break cultural norms and pop the 

question. 

It is believed that Brigid then got 

down onto one knee and asked 

St. Patrick to marry her, but he 

declined. He kissed her on the 

cheek and gifted her with a silk 

gown. From that day forward, any 

man who rejected a proposal had 

to pay a fine for silk dresses and 

gloves to cover the woman’s lack of 

an engagement ring. 

This legend was made true in 

Scotland, when Queen Margaret 

passed a law in Scottish Parliament 

in 1288 legally allowing women 

to propose to men on the 29th of 

February. 

Today, there are still women who 

choose to do a reverse proposal 

on Leap Day. However, we live 

in a completely different world to 

that of the fifth century and gender 

roles, relationships and views on 

marriage have changed significantly 

since then. 

But there is still some sentiment 

to choosing a date with a special 

pattern or novelty. Plus, your partner 

has literally no excuse to forget your 

anniversary – especially when you 

technically only need to celebrate 

every four years. 

But what about getting married 

on Leap Day? Many countries like 

Greece, Italy and Ukraine believe 

it will lead to bad luck or divorce. 

Whereas the Chinese believe that a 

leap year is an auspicious time to tie 

the knot. 

So, ladies. Will you be popping 

the question on Leap Day? And 

men – will you be accepting? 


An exquisite collection 

of wedding and engagement 

rings to symbolise your love 

Stunning bridal jewellery 

Earrings, necklaces 

and bracelets in diamond, 

pearl and gemstones 

to complete your look 

Levi Lowton 

Mexborough Branch Manager 

MEXBOROUGH BRANCH 

18 High Street, Mexborough S64 9AS 

Tel: 01709 242 011 

Kath Bedford 

Barnsley Branch Manager 

BARNSLEY BRANCH 

2 Peel Street, Barnsley S70 2QX 

Tel: 01226 284 458 

www.brownsfamilyjewellers.co.uk 

Barnsley • Mexborough • Sheffield • Crossgates • Harrogate • Halifax • Selby • Rochdale • Leeds

Precious commitment 

deserves precious metal 

Find us at AEON COURT, 108 MAIN STREET, BRAMLEY S66 2SE Telephone 01709 931293 

Open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9.30am – 4.30pm, Saturday 9.30am -3.00pm 

Private appointments available on Mondays,Tuesdays and other times 

See our testimonials on Facebook @Infinityjewellers

LOVE IS IN THE AIR 

Find ‘The One’ 

for you at 

Wedding Vows 

Wedding Vows 

Beyond Expectations 

Whether you have been dreaming about your 

wedding dress for years or haven’t thought 

much of it until now, find the one for you at 

Wedding Vows bridal boutique in Hellaby. 

Wedding Vows is one of 

Rotherham’s longest running bridal 

boutiques and their beautiful store 

is filled with stunning gowns in every 

style imaginable, featuring top bridal 

designers including Ronald Joyce 

and Victoria Jane, as well as the 

Pure by Romantica collection which 

has dresses starting from £525. 

In recent years, they have seen 

a rise in brides who are looking for 

individuality rather than following 

trends. Brides want to feel like 

themselves on their wedding day, 

and the Wedding Vows team go 

beyond expectations to make all 

their customers feel centre stage 

from the outset. 

For the ultimate bridal romance, 

a ballgown design will make you 

feel like a princess on your wedding 

day. For glittering glamour, sparkly 

gowns have a spectacular effect. Or 

add some drama with an oversized 

bow and train. And don’t forget the 

accessories, with veils, crystal belts, 

tiaras, and jewellery to complete 

your bridal look. 

Who says you have to wear 

white on your wedding day? More 

and more brides are opting for 

unconventional colours from baby 

blues to soft pink hues. For the 

bride who wants to stand out from 

the crowd, be inspired by your 

bouquet with gowns covered in 

colourful florals. 

You could also pick out a colour 

from a floral gown to have for your 

bridesmaid dresses; many like the 

idea of different style dresses in the 

same colour palette to add some 

individuality to the bridal party. At 

Wedding Vows, they have over 

50 colours to choose from in their 

bridesmaid collection. 

Grooms can also embrace 

their individual style with a visit to 

Wedding Vows. Whether you fancy 

a modern fitted lounge suit, top hat 

and tails, or Highland wear, there 

is a huge range of suits for hire in a 

range of fabrics and colours. 

Brides are already booking in for 

2025 and 2026 weddings to ensure 

they get their dream dress at current 

prices and take advantage of 

Wedding Vows’ payment plans. 

Ronald Joyce, Victoria Jane, 

Pure By Romantica, Emma Bridals, 

Peter Posh, Cameron Ross and Richard Designs 

Bridal, Bridesmaids, Flower Girls, 

Guests/Occasion Wear, Suit Hire, 

Veils, Hair Accessories and Jewellery 

Save 10% on menswear 

when you order your bridal gown from us 

Mon, Weds & Fri 10am - 5.30pm | Tues & Thurs Closed 

Sat 10am - 5pm | Late nights available 

Telephone: 01709 703040 / 07853 380488 

www.weddingvowsuk.co.uk 

390 Bawtry Road, Hellaby, Rotherham S66 8EX Just off Jct1 M18 

@WeddingVowsUK 


OUT & ABOUT 

Forge Island enters 

final phase 

Building work is on track at 

Forge Island in Rotherham as 

the development enters the final 

months of construction ahead 

of opening to the public towards 

the end of summer 2024. 

Forge Island is the flagship regeneration 

development that will bring a much-needed familyfriendly 

offer to Rotherham town centre. The new 

£47m leisure development will provide Rotherham 

people with an eight-screen cinema, a 69-roomed 

Travelodge hotel, several independent restaurants, 

as well as a new public greenspace. 

Work began on site in November 2022 and 

construction has continued at pace, with all 

topping out milestones due to be reached early 

this year on the cinema, Travelodge hotel and 

retail buildings. 

Raife Gale, Senior Development Manager at 

Muse, who are co-delivering the project, said: 

“Developing a transformational scheme of this 

scale always comes with its challenges – not least 

the difficulties of building on an ‘island’ surrounded 

by water. So the fact we’ve remained on track is 

a testament to the hard work of the whole project 

team. It’s fantastic to see the impact Forge Island 

has already made on the town centre skyline, and 

we can’t wait for the community to come and enjoy 

all that it has to offer when it opens later this year.” 

Once construction completes at the end of 

spring, the tenants will fit out their premises ready 

for the scheme opening. 

Five independent eateries are set to open at 

Forge Island: South Yorkshire restaurant chain, 

The Rustic Pizza Co; Portuguese and Southern 

African eatery, Casa Peri Peri; Estabulo Rodizio 

/ Sakku Samba – a dual-branded concept 

honouring the Gaucho style of cooking and a 

fusion of Japanese-Brazilian cuisine; luxury coffee 

shop Caffé Noor; and local burger, shake and 

dessert restaurant, Cow & Cream. 

Together with Rotherham Markets, the 

improvements at Forge Island are a key part of 

Rotherham Council’s large-scale regeneration 

plans aimed at breathing new life into the heart of 

the borough. 

Over at the markets, main work will begin this 

spring once a developer has been appointed. 

The plans, which were approved in the summer, 

will bring together the library, markets, a new food 

hall, gallery, and event spaces onto one site, off 

Drummond Street. 

The outdoor market has already been moved 

to Effingham Street in preparation and will remain 

there until the new premises are complete. 

FORGE ISLAND 

A family friendly leisure destination in the heart of Rotherham 

OPENING 

2024 

Caffé Noor 

Estabulo Rodizio 

Arc Cinema • Travelodge 

• Casa Peri Peri 

• Sakku Samba 

• Cow & Cream 

• The Rustic Pizza Co. 

newforgeisland.co.uk 

Brought to you by 


DEER PARK FARM 

Tea Room 

Fully licensed tea rooms each with 

their own individual style 

We don’t serve fast food,we serve fresh food 

as fast as we can with waitress service 

• Breakfast • Light Lunches 

• Winter mains and specials • Cakes and scones 

• Afternoon Tea Bookings (24hrs in advance) 

• Gingerbread latte and speciality hot chocolates 

On the ground 

floor of the deli 

Antiques, bric-a-brac, 

clothing, jewellery, 

artwork 

Cards and wrap 

The Emporium 

Deer Park Tap 

Farm Shop & Deli 

A relaxed shopping experience with 

only the freshest and finest produce 

• Award winning pies and pastries 

• Bacon, sausage and cooked meats 

• Artisan bread baked in-house • Cheese and eggs 

• Deli tasters everyday 

• Beers, wines, spirits and quality deli products 

Open 7 days 12pm - 9pm 

(last orders 8.15 pm, bar closes 8.30pm) 

A warm welcome with log burner and two floors of seating 

• Rotating guest ales from Chantry, Thornbridge, 

Little Critters and Wellbeck Abbey breweries 

• Guinness, Estrella, Carlsberg and cider on draught 

• Wines and spirits 

• Private parties catered for including birthdays, 

baby showers and wakes 

Dog friendly 

Grazing boards 

served Friday to Sunday 

Cheese board and Ploughman’s platter 

Valentine's 

Hampers 

made to order 

Other businesses on site 

Yorkshire Hummingbird, Floral Chic Creations and Deer Park Farm & Country Store 

SITE OPEN MONDAY-SATURDAY 10AM-5PM TAP MONDAY-SUNDAY 12NOON-9PM 

DONCASTER ROAD, THRYBERGH, ROTHERHAM, S65 4BH 

FARM SHOP / DELI 01709 854440 TEAROOMS 01709 850698 TAP 01709 850088 

www.deerparkfarmrotherham.co.uk 

Visit us on 

Facebook

OUT & ABOUT 

Stylish fashions 

smart savings 

at Rotherham Markets 

If you’re looking to 

refresh your wardrobe 

this New Year, 

then head down to 

Rotherham Markets to 

bag a bargain. 

The indoor market has various 

stalls dedicated to fashion for 

women, men and children. Browse 

through the rails and racks filled 

with clothing, footwear, accessories, 

and nightwear, with something for 

all ages. 

the upper floor you’ll find casual 

kidswear from age 12 months to 

teens with lots of discount branded 

clothing from high street labels. 

We’re in the midst of winter, so 

it’s time to get wrapped up. For 

women, you’ll find Italian imported 

knitwear, traditional style cable knit 

cardis and jumpers, padded longline 

gilets, and cosy lounge wear. 

Over on the men’s stalls, there are 

fleece lined knitted jumpers, ontrend 

shackets, and outdoor wear 

ideal for days out fishing. And don’t 

forget to try on a new coat to keep 

There’s a great mix of styles across all the 

“ 

clothing stalls. You’ll find more fashion-forward 

womenswear pieces and men’s sportswear 

” 

There’s a great mix of styles 

across all the clothing stalls. 

You’ll find more fashion-forward 

womenswear pieces and men’s 

sportswear from brands like Nike, 

North Face and Berghaus – all at 

prices cheaper than you’d pay on 

the high street. 

Kids are catered for too, with 

two stalls selling childrenswear 

in the market. On the ground 

floor is a new babywear stall with 

gorgeous traditional-style pieces 

from newborn to age five. Then on 

out the chill this winter. 

The secret to staying snug is 

investing in a set of thermals. The 

underwear and nightwear stall on 

the ground floor has a range of 

thermal vests for men and women. 

They also have cuddly pjs, fleece 

nighties, zip up dressing gowns, 

and snuggle toe socks to keep you 

toasty warm. 

If you’re in need of a new pair 

of shoes, treat your feet at one of 

the two footwear stalls. You’ll find 

fashionable boots, trainers, and 


OUT & ABOUT 

Add the finishing touches to your new 

“ 

wardrobe with a browse around the many 

accessories stalls. Whether you’re looking 

for a new bag, some statement jewellery, 

or a stylish scarf 

” 

smart shoes for men, women 

and children. There’s also a great 

selection of slippers to go with 

your new nightwear. 

Add the finishing touches to 

your new wardrobe with a browse 

around the many accessories 

stalls. Whether you’re looking 

for a new bag, some statement 

jewellery, or a stylish scarf, you’ll 

be spoilt for choice. The bag stall 

has a mix of real and faux leather 

designer-style bags and purses 

in all shapes and sizes. They 

also sell men’s belts, children’s 

backpacks, and a wide range of 

travel bags and shopping trolleys. 

This New Year, why not make 

a resolution to reduce your online 

shopping and buy locally instead. 

Adding items to your online 

cart might seem convenient, but 

visiting Rotherham Markets means 

you can see and feel the quality 

of what you’re buying. There’s no 

delivery cost, no waiting times, 

and much better customer service. 

Most stalls have a changing room 

so you can try before you buy – 

and reduce the need for stressful 

online returns. 

You’ll even find a clothing 

alterations and dry cleaning stall 

where the talented seamstresses 

work on-site in the market should 

you need an item taking in or up 

a bit. 

ROTHERHAM INDOOR 

MARKET HALL 

OPEN 6 DAYS 

Monday to Saturday 8.30am-5pm 

Find everything under one roof including: 

Fresh meat and fish | Fruit and veg | Deli produce | Bakery and sweets 

Clothing | Sportswear | Workwear | Nightwear | Shoes | Bags | Jewellery 

Makeup | Beauty treatments | Afro haircare 

Newsagent | Flowers | Cards | Books | Memorabilia | Pet Supplies 

Household and cleaning products | Electricals | Hardware | Carpets 

Clothing alterations | Phone repairs | Embroidery | Watches and clocks 

Cafe | Takeaway food | Art gallery 

NEW YEAR 

BUSINESS 

OPPORTUNITY 

Stalls in the indoor 

market discounted 

from only £204.50+vat 

per month 

Rates exempt 

in most cases 

Rotherham Markets markets@rotherham.gov.uk Tel: 01709 365021 


OUT & ABOUT 

Free art 

& design 

sessions 

for Rotherham teenagers 

Teenagers in Rotherham are 

invited to take part in free weekly 

art and design sessions at 

Rotherham College as part of the 

National Saturday Club. 

This is a great opportunity for young people 

aged between 13 and 16 to develop new skills, 

make new friends, achieve a Bronze Art Award 

and showcase their artwork in a national exhibition. 

The National Saturday Club sessions take 

place each Saturday morning between 9am 

and 12pm. Members are taught by experienced 

lecturers from Rotherham College’s art and design 

department, experimenting with a range of artbased 

activities such as printmaking, painting and 

drawing, collage and mood-boarding, stop-motion 

animation, and digital and traditional photography. 

There is also the opportunity to take part in 

national events throughout the year including 

visits to leading cultural institutions, industry 

masterclasses, and an exhibition in the summer of 

all Club members’ work at London’s prestigious 

Somerset House. 

The National Saturday Club programme is free, 

has no exams and allow learners to gain insight 

into what it could be like to study a creative course 

at Rotherham College once they leave school. 

To book a place for a young person who 

lives or studies in Rotherham, visit 

www.saturday-club.org/club/ 

rotherham-college-art-design 

ROTHERHAM MARKETS 

THE OUTDOOR COVERED 

MARKET HAS MOVED 

During the Rotherham Markets and Central Library development works, the 

outdoor covered market can be found on Effingham Street on the following days: 

Monday – General Market 

Tuesday – Street Market 

Wednesday – Antiques & Bric-A-Brac 

Thursday – Rotherham Bazaar 

Friday – General Market 

Saturday – General Market 

The indoor market will be open as usual Monday to Saturday, from 8.30am to 5pm. 

rotherhamtowncentre.co.uk Rotherham Markets RothTownCentre 


OUT & ABOUT 

Signals Festival 

returns for 2024 

Amp up your February half term 

by getting involved in Signals 

Festival. 

Following the success of last year’s debut event, 

Signals, Rotherham’s youth music festival, is back 

for 2024. And it’s set to be bigger and better than 

before as it expands throughout the town centre 

and the borough. 

Signals Festivals is a series of free events, 

workshops and performances that has been 

developed by a collaboration between Children’s 

Capital of Culture, Rotherham Music Hub and 

RMBC Events. 

Rotherham Music Hub’s community music 

manager, Liam O’Shea, says Signals is about coproducing 

a large-scale event with and for young 

people in Rotherham 

“There’s a two-fold approach to Signals 

Festival: to celebrate the creative talent we have 

in Rotherham, and signal what to expect from 

Children’s Capital of Culture in 2025 as we gear up 

for our 365-day festival. 

“We want our young people to feel proud and 

excited about their hometown, to have ambition, 

and to realise that Rotherham has some really cool 

stuff happening.” 

The festival starts on Saturday 10th February 

with Launchpad, a pathway to industry event 

hosted at University Centre Rotherham. For any 

young person serious about a creative career, 

this is not to be missed. Industry professionals 

have been invited to share advice and deliver 

workshops about how to build a sustainable 

career in the music industry. 

Throughout the festival, you can catch young 

musicians performing in unusual places all over 

the borough from supermarkets and hair salons to 

trams and football stadiums. You can also improve 

your own musicality at various music making 

workshops. 

Head over to Magna to see Particle Shrine. This 

incredible, immersive, walk-in installation turns 

solar particles passing through the space into 

sound and light patterns, surrounding you in music 

and changing visual patterns, projections and 

undulating mirrors. There will also be a live feed 

from the Super-Kamiokande neutrino observatory 

in Japan. 

The Saturday Shindig on Saturday 17th 

February is sure to be a festival highlight. This 

all-day event in the town centre includes the AMP 

Up! talent showcase in All Saints’ Square, sound 

and light installations at Rotherham Minster, and a 

trail of activities happening across multiple venues 

such as New York Stadium, Grimm & Co, Over 

The Rainbow, the Imperial Buildings, ROAR and 

Chapel on the Bridge. 

Saturday 10th – Sunday 18th February 

Free gigs, workshops and art installations across Rotherham 

What’s on: 

Pop Up and Play 

Busker style performances from young 

musicians aged 10-25 

Various locations including New York Stadium, 

Nova City, Rotherham Interchange, 

and Supertram Parkgate 

Pop In and Make 

Music making workshops designed to introduce 

new experiences to young people 

Particle Shrine at Magna 

Free to visit throughout Signals Festival 

Explore the connection between music and 

science as cosmic rays are turned into 

audio and light. 

Launchpad at University Centre Rotherham 

Saturday 10th Feb 

Talks, workshops and advice from music 

industry professionals 

AMP Up! in All Saints’ Square 


Rotherham talent showcase with young bands 

and artists in a big heated marquee 

Emergence Collective at Grimm & Co 

and Rotherham Minster 


Interactive music workshops at Grimm & Co 

and live instrumental performance at 

Rotherham Minster 

Signals Fringe 


The party continues with fringe events after the 

festival finishes with live music and bands at 

The Bridge Inn 14+ (with a guardian) Cutlers’ Arms 18+ 

Social channels: 

Insta @ccoc_rotherham2025 

Facebook /ccocrotherham2025 

Use the #Rotherham2025 hashtag 

to share your event photos 

To find out more about Signals Festival, visit www.childrenscapitalofculture.co.uk/whats 


OUT & ABOUT 

Penistone Arts 

Week returns for 2024 

Back for another year, 

the volunteers behind 

Penistone Arts Week 

have been hard at work 

organising yet another 

brilliant festival based 

around art, music, 

literature, drama and 

film. 

This year’s event will take 

place between Friday 15th and 

Sunday 25th March at various 

venues across Penistone and the 

surrounding villages. 

“ 

Grab your easel, 

paintbrushes and 

canvas, choose 

your favourite 

outdoor scene in 

Penistone, and 

get ready to paint 

all day in the 

open air. 

” 

Penistone Arts Week belongs 

to the people of Penistone and 

celebrates local and national 

talented artists and creatives. 

This year, visitors can watch 

showstopping live events at 

the town’s cinema, Penistone 

Paramount, take part in workshops 

at Penistone Library, and enjoy 

classical concerts at the area’s 

churches. 

After the success of last year’s 

competition, where 60 people took 

part, the volunteers are bringing 

back the Landscape Artist of the 

Year award to close the festival. 

Grab your easel, paintbrushes 

and canvas, choose your favourite 

outdoor scene in Penistone, and get 

ready to paint all day in the open air. 

Penistone Art Collective are also 

heavily involved in the festival. 

This year, to support the printing 

costs of the programme, they have 

produced a calendar that quickly 

sold out. They have also contributed 

artworks to the High Street Gallery 

art trail. 

The festival is run solely by 

volunteers and is supported by Arts 

Council and Towngate Plc. 

High Street Gallery 

An art trail displayed in over 30 

shop windows featuring original 

pieces by members of Penistone 

Art Collective. 

Penistone Paramount 

Book directly with Penistone 

Paramount 

www.penistoneparamount.co.uk 

or call 01226 767 532 

The Boys are back ‘n Tarn 

Friday 15th March 

Stand up poet Lee Pollard’s 

latest play tells the comedic tale of 

an ageing Barnsley rock band who 

reunite after a lengthy break. 

£14.00 

Made in Motor City 

Saturday 16th March 

Relive the classic music and 

sounds of Detroit during the 1960s 

and ‘70s with a tribute to Motown 

legends such as Martha Reeves, 

The Temptations, The Supremes, 

The Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye and 

many more. 

£20.00 

Steamboat Bill Jr. 

Sunday 17th March 

A showing of the 1928 silent 

comedy, Buster Keaton’s final film 

for United Artists. Accompanied by 

Donald Mackenzie on the Mighty 

Compton Paramount theatre organ. 

£15.00 

The Making of a Murderer 

Monday 18th March 

Investigating the UK’s most 

notorious serial killers hosted 

by Scottish detective, David 

Swindle, who brought psychopath 

Peter Tobin to justice. From 

Jack the Ripper, Harold Shipman, 

and Peter Sutcliffe to Fred and 

Rose West and The Moors 

Murderers Ian Brady and Myra 

Hindley, get the detective’s 

perspective on the warning 

signs of a serial killer. 

£28.00 

Opening weekend of 

Kung Fu Panda 4 and 

Dune: Part Two 

Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th March 

Millhouse Green Male Voice 

Choir 

Saturday 23rd March 

Celebrity concert alongside 

the West Yorkshire Fire and 

Rescue Band 

£10.00 


OUT & ABOUT 

Penistone Library 

Illustration workshops with 

Liz Million 


10.30-11.30am and 1-2pm 

An interactive and engaging 

drawing workshop for 5–16-yearolds 

to create their own characters. 

Free, booking essential 

Unleashing Memories poetry 

workshop 


5-6pm 

A poetry writing workshop for 

all levels of experience with poet 

Toria Garbutt. 

Followed by a poetry open mic 

session 6.30-7.30pm 

Free, booking advisable. 

The Children’s Book Trail 

Throughout the festival 

In aid of the LimbBo Foundation, a 

charity that supports children born 

without limbs. 

Meet the Author - Chrissie 

Yates 

Wednesday 20th March 

Penistone Arts Weeks’ founder 

member Chrissie talks about her 

journey into becoming a published 

writer and the inspiration behind her 

two novels. 

Free entry, all welcome 

Cannon Hall Museum 

Inside the World of 

Bridgerton 


2.30pm 

In her revealing guide to the 

Regency, bestselling novelist 

Catherine Curzon looks at this 

fascinating era, from the social 

whirl of high society to fashion, 

medicine and, of course, romance 

and marriage. 

Free, booking advisable 

the music of Elgar, his 

contemporaries and followers. 

Free entry 

Throughout the festival 

Bell ringing experience 

Thurgoland Primary School art 

exhibition 

St John The 

Evangelist Church, 

Hoylandswaine 

History book project launch 

Wednesday 20th March 

7pm 

Hoylandswaine Arts Group 

officially launch their project to 

create an illustrated book about the 

area’s historic buildings. 

Talks by Prof Peter Collinge of 

Keele University on the architect 

John Carr who designed Cannon 

and Wortley Halls; Sarah Hardy, 

national director of the de Morgan 

Collection, on the collection at 

Cannon Hall Museum; and Paul 

Lafferty reading part of Roddam’s 

niece’s diary and letters. 

Free entry 

St Andrew’s Church, 

Penistone 

Penistone Folk Ensemble 

Thursday 21st March 

Open rehearsal between 6-7pm. 

Any musicians playing any 

instruments are welcome to join. 

Followed by a concert from the 

ceilidh band at 7pm. 

Cubley Hall 

The Purpletones 

Saturday 23rd March 

A popular female duo with guitarist 

Trish and lead singer Krystal 

performing the whole works 

from Whitney Houston to the 

Foo Fighters. 

£15.00 

All Saints Church, 

Darton 

Come and Sing Stainer’s 

Crucifixion 

Saturday 23rd and 


Singing workshop Saturday 2-5pm, 

all welcome 

Performance Monday at 7pm 

with organ and soloists, audience 

welcome. 

Penistone Landscape 

Artist of 2024 

Sunday 24th March from 10am 

Register at Penistone Royal 

British Legion Club, 14 St Mary’s 

Street. 

£5 to enter. Open to everyone 

regardless of artistic ability/ 

experience. 

Paint ‘plein air’ all day in an 

open space or public venue within 

Penistone. 

Return to the RBL Club by 4pm 

for artwork judging. Winners 

announced at 5pm. 

There will be five prizes including 

people’s choice. 

St Leonard’s Church, 

Wortley 

Sunday@4 Concert - The 

Elgar Connection 


2pm Tour of churchyard led by 

Paul Lafferty to identify the graves 

associated with the pre-Raphaelites 

and Sir Edward Elgar 

3pm Talk in church followed by time 

to look at the art work 

4pm Concert by Gerrard Sinfonia, 

John Bashforth organ, Jonathan 

Bickley piano and Elizabeth 

Charlesworth soprano featuring 


Short Breaks 

A familiar name 

providing tours 

and excursions 

for over 

65 years 

JANUARY Destination Days Price 

Sat 20th -Sun 21st London 2 £99.00 

Mon 22nd-Fri 26th Torquay 5 £229.00 

Sat 27th-Sun 28th Southport 2 £89.00 

FEBRUARY 

Sat 10th-Sun 11th Bridlington 2 £99.00 

Mon 12th-Fri 16th Llandudno 5 £199.00 

Mon 19th – Fri 23rd Pontins Sand Bay 5 £209.00 

MARCH 

Fri 1st-Mon 4th Llandudno 4 £159.00 

Fri 1st-Mon 4th Scarborough 4 £169.00 

Fri 8th-Mon 11th Warwickshire 4 £199.00 

Sun 10th-Mon 11th St Annes Mother’s Day 2 £109.00 

Mon 11th-Fri 15th Skegness 5 £299.00 

Fri 15th-Mon 18th Cromer 4 £199.00 

Mon 18th-Fri 22nd Torquay 5 £289.00 

Sun 24th-Mon 25th The Coronation Steet Tour 2 £149.00 

Mon 25th-Fri 29th Bognor Regis 5 £249.00 

Mon 25th-Fri 29th Folkstone 5 £199.00 

APRIL 

Sat 5th-Sun 7th Bridlington 2 £109.00 

Sun 7th-Mon 8th Buxton 2 £109.00 


Mon 8th-Fri 12th Isle of Wight 5 £429.00 

Fri 19th-Mon 22nd Whitby 4 £289.00 

Mon 22nd-Fri 26th Torquay 5 £289.00 

Fri 26th-Mon 29th Llandudno 4 £259.00 

Sun 28th-2nd May Isle of Man 5 £549.00 

MAY 

Mon 6th-Fri 10th Torquay 5 £399.00 

Mon 6th-Fri 10th Aberfoyle 5 £379.00 

Mon 12th-Tues 13th Lake District/Yorkshire Dales 2 £139.00 

Sun 12th-Sat 18th Great Yarmouth 7 £499.00 

Mon 20th-Fri 24th North Wales Coast/Snowdonia5 £499.00 

Wed 22nd-Fri 24th Liverpool 3 £179.00 

Wed 22nd-Mon 27th Steaming in Scotland 6 £669.00 

Sat 25th-Sat 1st June Llandudno 8 £589.00 

Mon 27th-Fri 31st Eastbourne 5 £349.00 

JUNE 

Sat 1st-Sat 8th Skegness 8 £519.00 

Mon 3rd -Fri 7th Blackpool 5 £479.00 

Sun 2nd-Sat 8th Dunoon 7 £529.00 

Sun 9th-Sat 15th Criccieth 7 £589.00 

Sun 9th-Mon 10th Scarborough Crown Spa Break 2 £159.00 

Mon 10th-Fri 14th Boats + Trains of Highlands 5 £649.00 

Wed 12th-Fri 14th Warwickshire 3 £219.00 

Sat 15th-Sat 22nd Pontins Sand Bay 8 £449.00 

Mon 17th -Fri 21st Paignton 5 £469.00 

Wed 19th-Sun 23rd Bridlington 5 £439.00 

Fri 28th-Sun 30th Southport 3 £189.00 

Fri 28th-Mon 1st July Weymouth 4 £359.00 

Fri 28th-Mon 1st July Great Yarmouth 5 £399.00 

Sun 30th-Sat 6th July Fort William 7 £599.00 

JULY 

Mon 1st-Fri 5th St Annes 5 £379.00 

Mon 1st-Fri 5th Isle of Wight 5 £549.00 

Thurs 4th-Mon 8th Isle of Man 5 £689.00 

Fri 5th-Mon 8th Llandudno 3 £339.00 

Mon 8th-Fri 12th Pontins Pakefield 5 £269.00 

Mon 8th-Fri 12th Bournemouth 5 £459.00 

Sun 14th-Fri 19th Torquay 6 £589.00 

Sun 21st-Wed 24th Chester + RHS Flower Show 4 £359.00 

Mon 22nd-Fri 26th Folkestone 5 £329.00 

Mon 22nd-Fri 26th Southport 5 £359.00 

Fri 26th-Mon 29th Morecambe 4 £329.00 

Mon 29th-Fri 2nd Aug Scarborough 5 £379.00 

Wed 31st-Sun 4th Aug Ilfracombe 5 £399.00 

AUGUST 

Sun 4th-Mon 5th Black Country Museum 2 £169.00 

Mon 5th-Fri 9th Blackpool Summer Special 5 £449.00 

Mon 5th-Fri 9th North East Explorer 5 £499.00 

Mon 12th -Thurs 15th Edinburgh Tattoo 4 £389.00 


Mon 12th-Sat 17th Dorset & Hampshire Railways 6 £539.00 

Fri 16th-Sun 18th Liverpool 3 £169.00 

Sun 18th-Mon 19th Lakes/Yorkshire Dales 2 £139.00 

Mon 19th-Fri 23rd Whitby 5 £459.00 

Thurs 22nd-Mon 26th Bath Bubbles & Blenheim 5 £649.00 

Mon 26th-Fri 30th Weymouth 5 £479.00 

Mon 26th-Fri 30th Exmouth 5 £549.00 

Wed 28th-Sun 1st Sept Weston-Super-Mare 5 £399.00 

• All prices are for dinner, bed and breakfast unless otherwise stated 

• The majority of our breaks Include a door-to-door pickup / drop off to and from 

the interchange 

• Single Room Supplements may apply 

• Deposit of £25 is required to secure your booking with balance due 6 weeks 

prior to departure 

Lines open Mon-Fri 10am-3pm & Sat 10am-2pm 

4 Effingham Square, Rotherham S65 1AP Tel 01709 249900 

Barnsley Travel Centre, 60 Eldon Street, Barnsley S70 2JL Tel 01226 299900 

Book online at www.dayoutbycoach.co.uk | Email: sales@globeholidays.co.uk 

To request the 2024 brochure visit our website www.globeholidays.co.uk /globecoaches /globehols

Invest in a home on wheels 

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collection 

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your campervan or 

motorhome layout 

Everything you need to convert 

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• Awnings 

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• Electrical, Lighting Switches & Sockets 

• Heating Systems 

• Plumbing Supplies 

Love the idea of van life 

but don’t know where to start? 

We offer a 

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service 

Visit our Showroom: Unit 1D Shortwood Business Park, 

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Or buy online: gtleisureparts.co.uk 

01226 666600

OUT & ABOUT 

Waterside 

walks 

to try this winter 

The colder months of the year turn our local 

landscape into a walking wonderland with 

some fantastic beauty spots to discover right 

on our doorstep. 

Waterside locations in 

particular make for a picturesque 

saunter where you can see wildlife 

and feel relaxed by the calmness 

of the rippling water. 

Wrap up warm and blow off 

the cobwebs by visiting some of 

the more accessible places in our 

area to have a winter stroll. 

Treeton Dyke and Waverley 

Treeton Dyke is an artificial 

lake created by diverting the River 

Rother during construction of the 

railway. You can park on Washfield 

Lane, Treeton (near the sports 

ground) and take a walk around the 

attractive dyke with its wonderful 

autumn leaf colours and waterfowl 

on the lake. This varied walk is level 

and about 2 miles long. You could 

also divert into the Hail Mary Wood. 

There is also the option of 

going across the bridges over 

the railway/river and taking a level 

walk around the newly formed 

lakes on the Waverley housing 

development and which are now 

attracting many species of wildfowl 

such as swans, mallards, coots 

and geese. 

Thrybergh Country Park 

Thrybergh reservoir was 

constructed in the 1880s to provide 

safe drinking water to Doncaster. 

In September 1980 the site was 

acquired by RMBC for £1.00 and was 

opened as a country park in 1983. 

Today, it’s a pleasant place to 

visit for a short walk around the 

reservoir (the footpath is accessible 

for all), and to view all the wildlife that 

lives there, including large numbers 

of wintering wildfowl as well as 

mallards, coots, moorhens, swans, 

geese and many more. 

There is car parking (paid for), a 

cafe and a small play area. 

Ravenfield Ponds 

RSPB Old Moor 

This is a lovely quiet secluded 

park nestling in a steep sided valley 

close to Ravenfield village. It was 

bought in 1972 by Phoenix Sports 

and Social Club and Parkgate 

Recreational Services to be used 

for their angling club, but now the 

general public can also fish with 

these clubs. The area around the 

ponds is a haven for wildlife as 

well as there being many different 

plant species. 

There is a walk of approximately 

1.5 miles starting from St James 

church in Old Ravenfield (parking 

available near the church), going 

across the field, then turning left 

along Arbour Lane until you reach 

the entrance to Ravenfield Park on 

your left. You can enjoy the lovely 

walk through the woods and all 

the way round the ponds before 

returning along the lane and back 

across the fields to St James 

church. Note: There are some steep 

sections with steps. 

The Old Moor RSPB nature 

reserve was created as a result 

of coal mining subsidence when 

areas filled with water formed 

pools which became a magnet 

for wildlife. You can pay to go 

into the reserve (RSPB members 

free) and follow trails and visit the 

hides to watch all the birdlife. It 

is particularly interesting in the 

winter as there are large flocks 

of migrating birds visiting the 

lakes, as well as golden plovers 

and lapwings frequenting the 

grassland. 

There are several short level 

walks (about 2 or 3 miles) on 

the paths surrounding the RSPB 

reserve, along the River Dearne 

and also around a public lake at 

Manvers. Details may be obtained 

at the RSPB Visitor Centre. 

Facilities at Old Moor are a 

free car park, toilets, RSPB shop 

and cafe. 

Don’t forget to take binoculars. 


OUT & ABOUT 

Langsett Reservoir 

Less than five miles from 

Penistone sits Sheffield’s 

biggest water supply reservoir 

which boasts some of the most 

breath-taking views across the 

water vista. This walk is particularly 

popular with visitors during the 

winter months. 

From the free car park, you 

can go two ways to walk the full 

perimeter of the reservoir: either 

via the road or through woodlands, 

both of which take you up a steady 

climb to a moorland area and 

the North America ruins. But your 

rewards will be the resplendent 

panoramic views. Bird watchers 

may spot interesting species 

including treecreepers, owls 

and woodpeckers. 

The short woodland walk is 

accessible for wheelchair users 

and pushchairs, however the climb 

to the moors is craggy and can be 

difficult under foot so please take 

due care and attention. 

Cusworth Hall 

Cusworth Hall might not be 

the first place you think of for a 

waterside walk. But behind the 

former stately home, which is now 

a museum, are acres of stunning 

grounds with a lake. The walk 

down to the lake is steep, but 

fully accessible for wheelchairs 

and prams, with a path that goes 

around the lake. 

After a stroll, why not visit the 

free museum, stop off at the coffee 

shop on-site, or visit the children’s 

play area by the car park. 

Greasbrough Dams 

Greasbrough Dams are wellloved 

by walkers of all ages and 

abilities due to the accessible 

nature of the tarmac trail, making 

it a great route for wheelchairs and 

pushchairs. 

The gated entrance from 

Greasbrough village takes you 

down a road to the first dam at 

the bottom where you can walk 

around one edge of water - usually 

passing lots of people fishing 

as you go. From the main gate 

you can also walk up the hill to 

Wentworth Woodhouse where you 

often see deer in the parklands. 

Worsbrough Country Park 

Covering over 240 acres, 

Worsbrough Mill Country Park’s 

reservoir is a haven for wildlife 

and a favourite haunt for 

anglers and bird watchers as 

well as families looking for an 

accessible walk. 

There are three nature walks 

within the park boundaries and 

leaflets are available free of charge 

from the Millers Tea Room and mill 

shop on-site. 

The Owl Walk: A walk 

incorporating many past industries 

but can be muddy in wet weather. 

Approximately 5km. 

The Badger Walk: A fairly 

level walk following Worsbrough 

Reservoir with only very slight 

inclines in places. Suitable 

for wheelchair access. 

Approximately 3.5km. 

The Fox Walk: A reasonably 

level walk with a few inclines. 

Suitable for wheelchair access. 

Approximately 2km. 

Other ideas: 

Elsecar Reservoir, Barnsley 

Langold Lake, Worksop, 

Manvers Lake, Wath upon Dearne 

Padley Gorge and the Longshaw Estate 

Rivelin Valley, Sheffield 

Rother Valley Country Park 

Sprotbrough, Doncaster 


FAMILY 

Legal 

talk 

With Elmhirst Parker Solicitors 

Leaving money to family in a will 

The realm of financial planning, 

wills and inheritance tax can be 

a confusing subject. 

People are often unsure of the best way to 

pass on their wealth. Should they wait until after 

they die to leave the monetary bequeaths in a 

will? Or is it better to gift their loved ones while 

still alive? 

There is no right or wrong answer. But if you 

are in the fortunate position that you are able 

to give younger relatives a head start towards 

financial freedom, here are some options that 

are available. 

Outright Gifts 

An outright gift is the most straightforward 

type of gift. It simply involves the outright transfer 

of assets from one person to another with no 

restrictions. 

This type of gift is most suitable for people 

who want to pass over modest amounts or give 

to responsible and capable adults whom they 

trust won’t squander the money. If the beneficiary 

is under 18, the money will be held in a trust until 

they turn 18. 

The downside to outright gifts is that they 

can be seen as a matrimonial asset so could 

be lost in divorce. They can also be used to pay 

creditors if a beneficiary becomes bankrupt. If 

a beneficiary is a young adult, it puts a lot of 

responsibility on them with very little protection 

from the monies whittling away. 

Remember also that you must explicitly state 

in your will that you would like any grandchildren 

to benefit from your estate; without saying so, 

there is no legal obligation from their parents to 

distribute your money to them. 

Age Contingent Gifts 

If you have young adult relatives you want 

to leave money to, you can opt for an age 

contingent gift. This is where you specify that 

they cannot receive any monies until a certain 

age, usually 21 or 25. 

The advantage of this option is that you 


prevent money from being spent unwisely by a 

young person who you feel is not mature enough 

to deal with it responsibly. The monies will be 

held in a trust until the beneficiary reaches the 

contingent age. 

However, there can be tax implications with 

this option, so you should seek legal advice 

before adding to your will. 

Discretionary Trust 

This option may work for you if you have 

multiple beneficiaries, such as more than 

one child or grandchild. Instead of a single 

beneficiary that’s entitled to an asset, there is a 

‘class’ who could all benefit. 

The trustees have control over the trust fund 

and can distribute to any of the beneficiaries 

whenever they deem it appropriate. You can 

leave a letter of wishes in your will for what you’d 

would like the primary focus to be, such as 

paying education fees or for house deposits. 

A discretionary trust can protect money from 

being spent unwisely, being lost in a divorce or 

bankruptcy, or being squandered through any 

other means. 

Gifting while still alive 

Many people would prefer to see their money 

being used and enjoyed by loved ones while 

they’re still here. 

So long as you don’t die within seven years, 

you can gift any amount of money to relatives 

and avoid paying Inheritance Tax on those gifts. 

If you would prefer not to risk that, there are 

other tax-free options. 

You can gift up to £3,000 a year with what are 

called lifetime gifts. But the disadvantage is that 

it is £3,000 in total, not per person, which may be 

an issue if you have multiple descendants. 

If your child or grandchild is getting married, 

you can gift them £5,000 or £2,500 towards 

the wedding. 

You can also send regular amounts to a junior 

ISA with a limit of £9,000 a year. Only parents 

can set up a junior ISA, and the regular payments 

must not be detrimental to your personal cost 

of living. 

Top 3 things to 

remember about 

Inheritance Tax: 

• Anything left to a spouse is exempt 

• You don’t pay IHT on the first 

£325,000 of an estate; anything 

above that is taxed at 40% 

• This total increases to £500,000 

if you pass your main property to a 

child or grandchild 

*This is not legal advice; it is intended to provide 

information of general interest about current legal issues. 

• Civil litigation 

• Residential conveyancing 

• Family and matrimonial 

• Probate and estates 

• Wills • Lifetime planning 

Speak to one of our experts on 

01226 282238 

17/19 Regent Street, Barnsley, S70 2HP 

(also in Royston, Selby and Sherburn-in-Elmet) 

www.elmhirstparker.com

Our family caring for your family for over 130 years

FAMILY 

Barnsley’s Alexandria wants to 

make dyslexia crystal clear 

A teenage beauty pageant contestant from 

Barnsley is using her platform to raise 

awareness of dyslexia – and hopes to bring 

the Miss World crown back to England for 

the first time in 40 years. 

Fifteen-year-old Alexandria 

Crystal is the youngest ever Miss 

England contestant after being 

picked as the judge’s wildcard for 

2024. She turns 16 just before the 

semi-final heat is held at Blackpool’s 

Viva! venue in April – a month 

before she sits her GCSE exams. 

If successful, she could make 

it through to the Miss England 

final in May, the overall winner 

of which will win a place in Miss 

World 2024. As well as making her 

the youngest ever winner of the 

coveted titles, being crowned Miss 

England or Miss World would also 

give Alexandria the platform to put 

Barnsley and the north of England 

firmly on the map. 

For Alexandria, she wants to give 

her natural beauty a purpose. In 

the lead up to the competition, she 

has been creating videos on her 

YouTube channel and Instagram 

account to raise awareness of 

dyslexia, a condition both she and 

her younger brother have recently 

been diagnosed with. 

“I have always felt that I learnt 

differently but because I was 

Alexandria wants 

“ 

to create awareness 

that, within the 

next decade, will 

filter through into 

workplaces, giving 

today’s cohort of 

school and college 

students more 

support in later life 

” 

learning well my dyslexia wasn’t 

diagnosed until I started to 

struggle with certain aspects of my 

education. I am still learning how the 

condition affects me and steadily 

grasping that I often only need 

things explaining to me differently or 

given a little more time to help me 

understand certain subjects.” 

Photographs courtesy of 

Stephanie Thornton Photography 

Dyslexia isn’t just bad spelling 

or getting Bs and Ds mixed up. It’s 

a specific learning difficulty that 

primarily affects literacy skills. But 

it can also impact how a person 

processes or retains information, 

THOMAS ROTHERHAM COLLEGE 

Thomas Rotherham 

OPEN 

College – Moorgate Road 

EVENING 

– Rotherham – South Yorkshire – S60 2BE 

TUESDAY 30TH JANUARY 2024 

4.00PM – 7.00PM 

TRC is a Sixth Form College offering an exciting and wide range 

of Post-16 courses. 

Choose from over 30 A Levels, vocational and technical courses, 

the college’s Level 2 programme and fantastic Sports 

Scholarships. 

www.trc.ac.uk 

Moorgate Road Rotherham S60 2BE 


FAMILY 

& EQUINE 

their concentration levels, time 

keeping and organisational skills, 

and motor skills. 

Around ten percent of the 

UK population have a dyslexia 

diagnosis. But because it affects 

people in different ways, it’s difficult 

to diagnose and the true figure 

could be up to a third of people. 

Alexandria wants to create 

awareness that, within the next 

decade, will filter through into 

workplaces, giving today’s cohort of 

school and college students more 

support in later life. 

“Some teachers have received 

less than an hour of training during 

their careers to understand dyslexia 

which makes them heavily reliant on 

specialist staff to detect dyslexia. 

There will be thousands of bright 

and capable schoolchildren who 

are missing the support they need 

because they are seen as either 

not engaged in their learning or 

not academically capable by their 

teachers simply because their 

teachers aren’t equipped to detect 

the subtle indicators.” 

Having already interviewed 

teachers and other SENCo 

professionals, including the 

founder of the Toe to Toe phonics 

programme, Alexandria has lined 

up some household names to take 

to the hotseat in a bid to reach a 

national audience. 

You can watch her 

videos on Instagram 

@alexandriacrystalofficial 

or YouTube 

@alexandriacrystal 

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We also offer a collection service from your home 

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It’s that time of the year again where we begin to reflect 

on the past twelve months and consider the ways in which 

we can embrace the new year. This often involves setting 

personal goals or making changes. 

This year, make fostering your New Year’s resolution. 

If you have the love in your heart and room in your home, you 

can be the one that makes a difference to a young person’s life. 

There are currently children and young people in care from all 

different backgrounds and we urgently need new foster carers. 

Fostering is a way to make a real positive difference to a child’s 

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and encouragement they need to flourish and make the best 

start in life. 

Fostering Rotherham offers full training, support, and the 

opportunity to learn new skills. 

If you have a spare bedroom, are over the age of 21, live within 

20 miles of the Rotherham Council boundary and have the love 

in your heart and room in your home, then visit our website to 

find out more about becoming a Rotherham foster carer: 

www.fosteringrotherham.com or call 01709 357370. 

www.fosteringrotherham.com 

@FosteringRotherham 

@FosterRotherham 


FAMILY 

One of the largest independent 

family funeral directors in South Yorkshire 

established for almost 150 years 

At your time of need we are here for you 

Funeral Plans Available 

Contact us for a copy of our brochure 

Armed 

with kindness 

Our In-House Memorial Service 

Creating a lasting memorial for your loved one 

Choose and design your own bespoke memorial 

with the support of our highly skilled craftsmen 

We also provide kerb memorials, repairs and renovations 

All our work is fully guaranteed 

www.memorialsofelegance.co.uk 

Our Swinton Memorial Garden 

We have created a serene setting, a place for 

you to reflect and remember your loved ones 

Thanks to the donations 

of people from South 

Yorkshire, a hundred 

of Rotherham’s elderly 

and military community 

were treated to a 

festive-themed gettogether 

in December. 

Debbie Pearson, who runs Vivid 

Jewellery in Rotherham Market, sells 

military and poppy-themed badges 

throughout the year, proceeds from 

which go towards organising the 

annual veterans’ party at Fitzwilliam 

Arms in Parkgate. 

Guests enjoyed a two-course 

carvery, free bar and entertainment. 

The mayor of Rotherham, Cllr 

Robert Taylor, was there on the day 

alongside members of the Royal 

British Legion. 

The event also celebrated local 

charities who were presented with 

awards for what they achieved 

in 2023. 

One recipient was Olympus Fight 

Club in Rotherham who support 

people struggling with their mental 

health. They also host a charity 

boxing event in aid of the Little 

Angels Foundation that Debbie 

also runs. 

Over the years, the Little Angels 

Foundation has supported various 

charities such as Women’s Aid, 

Sheffield Children’s Hospital and 

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice. 

In 2023, they raised money to buy a 

cuddle cot for Rotherham Hospital’s 

Purple Butterfly appeal. This will 

enable parents on the Snowdrop 

bereavement suite to spend more 

time with their stillborn babies. 

Wood Street, Swinton, Mexborough S64 8BA 

Tel 01709 571777 

Fellowsfield Way, Kimberworth, Rotherham S61 1NL 

Tel 01709 555 534 

www.ctbutterfield.com 

Email contactus@ctbutterfield.com 

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New Year & New Beginnings 

with Visiting Angels 

Exceptional home care visits from 

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Most people in need of care would prefer to stay in their own 

home. Our home care visiting service is carefully tailored to suit 

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safe in their own home where they want to be. 

Our caregivers are carefully selected. We find excellent people 

with the right mix of skills, experience and a true caring nature, 

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We can help with activities ranging from shopping and 

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We can visit from one hour each week to every day, for as long 

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Personal Care 

Dementia & Alzheimer’s Care 

Post-Hospital Stay Care 

Palliative Care 

End-of-Life Care 

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C A R E G I V E R 

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Find out more on 0114 433 3000 

Email: sheffield@visiting-angels.co.uk 

Visit: www.visiting-angels.co.uk/southyorks

LOCAL HISTORY 

The Linen 

of Barnsley & Rotherham 

By Joshua Daniels 

It’s well-known that the coal, 

iron, steel and glass industries 

dominated the economies of 

Rotherham and Barnsley. 

There was, however, another very prominent 

industry: linen. 

Whilst textiles are more associated with what 

is now West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire was 

also a leading contributor to the industry. 

Leeds produced a lot of the flax - a flower 

that linen is made from - which would then be 

transported via canal to Barnsley. 

Taylor’s Mill on Peel Street 

“ 

was the first power loom mill 

to be built in 1845. 

” 

There, the fibres of the flax plant were made 

into shorter and thinner strands, before being 

spun into fabric. 

It’s 280 years since the first instance of linen 

spinning in Barnsley. William Wilson moved 

from Cheshire in 1744 and founded the industry 

with his nephew Joseph Beckett. 

In the early days, it was very much a cottage 

industry where most weavers in Barnsley would 

work on looms they kept in their own homes. 

William and Joseph had built 40 weavers’ 

cottages built at Worsbrough Common, with 

looms in the sheds next to the warehouse. 

By the end of the 18th Century, weavers’ 

cottages were all around Barnsley. Weaving 

usually took place in the damp cellars which 

were good for the yarn but not so good for 

health, especially when a weaver spent up to 14 

hours a day at work. 

In the early 1800s, linen production had 

become one of Barnsley’s biggest industries, 

and so necessitated the creation of large-scale 

mills. Taylor’s Mill on Peel Street was the first 

power loom mill to be built in 1845. 

Barnsley’s linen entrepreneurs also heavily 

contributed to the wider town’s prosperity. The 

Harvey family were linen manufacturers who 

were responsible for building the Mechanics 

Institute, what is now Barnsley Civic. They 

started in a small place off Shambles Street 

before moving to Mark Street. Their premises 

there would later become Barnsley’s 

central school. 

Not far from where the town hall is, Samuel 

Cooper built a linen warehouse in the 1820s 

at St Mary’s Place. His son, Samuel Joseph, 

bought the old Holgate Grammar School and 

gifted that, and his collection of 200 paintings, 

to the town: it’s now the Cooper Gallery. 

However, the industry declined rapidly from 

the late 1800s, and especially in the 1900s. 

This was due to fierce competition from areas 

such as Bradford, where textiles had increased 

and cotton was starting to be wanted more 

than linen. 

Ultimately, Barnsley’s last linen mill 

announced its closure in 1956. Upon hearing 

the news, those who worked there broke down 

and cried, not just for the loss of their jobs, but 

for the loss of an industry that generations of 

their family had worked at. 

Rotherham also had a stake in the linen 

industry. On the banks of the River Don, right 

next to the Minster, where the former Riverside 

Precinct was, Rotherham had a water-powered 

flax mill. 

Like the ones in Leeds, it would have spun 

flax that would have become the threads that 

weavers would have woven into cloth. 

Flax was grown in Yorkshire for centuries 

leading up to the 1900s, so flax would have 

come down the Don to be spun at Rotherham, 

before being transported to Barnsley to 

be woven. 

This mill belonged to Percy Smith, who 

co-owned the mill with several different people 

over the years. The first recorded evidence of 

this mill was in 1851, and was actually fined for 

breaking laws on not containing smoke from 

this mill in 1866. There was also a record of a 

flax mill in Masbrough in 1848, although this 

was the record of its sale, and in 1844 there was 

record of a Mr. Charles Neale of Masbrough, 

who was a flax spinner. 


FAMILY 

Reconnect with the local community, we do something different every day 

Our fun and varied activity 

programme includes: 

• Galleries, museums and exhibitions 

• Shopping centres, markets and garden centres 

• Guided nature reserve, stately homes and 

local tourist attractions 

• Vintage afternoon tea, cafes and pub meals 

• Tutored crafts and hobby days 

• Community events 

• In-house live singing entertainments 

• Lakeside picnics & outdoor activities 

• Barge trips with lunch 

• RSD BrainActive printed activities 

For an information pack, call 01709 819185 or 07932 601 998 

or email rotherhamsocialdays@mail.com We operate Monday to Saturday 9am-5pm 

www.rotherhamsocialdays.com 

New Year New You 

- get out and about again! 

Supported social daycare services 

• Retired • Elderley • Disabled 18+ 

What we offer: 

•All inclusive supported 

days out, including lunch 

with daily activities 

•Full support from our 

diploma qualified health 

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and PSV drivers 

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service included 

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• Monthly activity newsletter 

• DBS checked with public liability insurance• Insured for minibus travel• ICO data protection registered • PSV Operative licensed 

Follow what weʻve been up to each week on our Facebook page 

The hands that guide you 

in your hour of need 

A third-generation independent funeral director Dip.FD MBFID 

Let us help you every step of the way 

• 24 hour personal and compassionate service 

• Floral tributes 

• Condolence stationery 

• Monumental masonry 

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Our private Chapel of Rest caters for 

multi-faith and non-religious services 

• Ritual washing and dressing facilities 

• Weekend funerals 

• In-house pre-funeral ceremonies 

• Repatriation to or from UK 

Pre-paid funeral plans available 

Our doors are 

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88-90 Worksop Road, Swallownest, Sheffield S26 4WH 0114 287 5852 

55 Bridge Street, Killamarsh, Sheffield S21 1AL 0114 228 0082 


FAMILY 

In the Community 

As we welcome in another 

year, here are some ways you 

can make a difference in your 

community for 2024. 

Barnsley Scout 

group fundraising 

for new home 

Could you help The 16th 

Barnsley (Royston) scout group 

fund a permanent place to call 

home? 

“ 

I really like going to 

Squirrels and Beavers 

because it’s fun. I get to 

try new things like 

building a den in the 

park, doing crazy science 

experiments like making 

slime and learning 

about robots. 

” 


The group has seen a massive boost to its 

membership over the last couple of years which 

means they’ve outgrown their current ‘on loan’ 

home. 

For the last ten years, they’ve held their weekly 

meetings at Royston’s Salvation Army Hall. But 

with an expanding group of 75 Squirrels, Beavers, 

Cubs and Scouts, they’re quickly reaching 

capacity of the space. 

Having their own permanent home means they 

could accommodate more children and make a 

difference to even more young lives, like Isaac 

who has recently move from the Squirrel Drey into 

the Beaver Colony. 

“I really like going to Squirrels and Beavers 

because it’s fun. I get to try new things like 

building a den in the park, doing crazy science 

experiments like making slime and learning about 

robots. Red Squirrel, Badger and Pink Beaver 

help me when I feel nervous or worried. We need 

a bigger building so that more children can come 

and play and we can do even more things,” 

Isaac says. 

The 16th Barnsley (Royston) group is run by 

volunteers who all give their own time willingly. 

They’re an inclusive group and all children are 

welcome irrespective of their needs, abilities and 

circumstances. 

Many young people go on to become young 

leaders and assistant leaders supporting the 

younger children in the group and giving them 

leadership skills for the future. 

With an ambitious target of more than 

£250,000, parents and carers will be holding 

various fundraising events such as bake sales, 

supermarket collections, race nights, and a 

sponsored skydive amongst other ideas. 

Donations and contributions are also being 

sought from local businesses and it’s hoped 

the fantastic community of Royston and its 

surrounding areas will support the group. 

As we went to print, their fundraising total 

stood at just shy of £7,000. But with such a huge 

target, fundraising champion and mum of two 

young group members, Nichola Hawden, tells us 

the group needs more help. 

“In the short time my children have attended 

Squirrels, Beavers and Cubs, they have both 

grown so much in so many ways. Scouting really 

has changed their lives for the better and that’s 

why I’m so pleased to give something back and 

support the group in getting the new home they 

deserve. 

“Not only that, we hope to open the facility for 

use by the wider community of Royston as well 

so it would be fantastic if the local community 

could get behind us.” 

You can find out more about the 16th 

Barnsley (Royston) Scout Group on their 

social media channels 

www.facebook.com/roystonscouts 

and you can donate directly to their 

fundraising appeal at 

www.justgiving.com/campaign 

/16throystonscouts

FAMILY 

Rotherham’s 

Crossroads Care 

calling for more 

volunteers 

If you find you’ve got more 

time on your hands in 2024, 

could you use it to support 

Rotherham’s unpaid carers? 

For the last 35 years, Rotherham based 

Crossroads Care have been providing a range of 

services to give unpaid carers a break from their 

caring responsibilities. One in five adults care for 

a parent, child, spouse or friend, with over 30,000 

unpaid carers in Rotherham. 

Crossroads Care can help in various ways, 

“ 

In 2024, they would like 

to welcome even more 

volunteers to the team 

which in turn will 

enable them to reach out 

to more of the unpaid 

carers’ community in 

Rotherham. 

” 

from giving information, training and signposting 

to other support services, to providing CQC 

outstanding rated domiciliary and respite care. 

They have carers groups throughout the 

borough in Kiveton Park, Kimberworth Park and 

at their head office at Bradmarsh Business Park. 

Last year, they opened a dementia-specific 

day centre at their HQ and launched a new 

bereavement group to expand their support 

services to those who cared for someone who 

has since died. 

And this January, their popular café and charity 

shop, The Corner, which opened in 2019, is 

moving just round the corner to larger premises 

on Bridgegate. 

To provide all these services to unpaid 

carers, Crossroads Care rely on the support oof 

volunteers. In 2024, they would like to welcome 

even more volunteers to the team which in turn 

will enable them to reach out to more of the 

unpaid carers’ community in Rotherham. 

You could help with things like their telephone 

befriending service or spend a few hours at the 

support groups or day centre. 

Being a Crossroads Care volunteer brings with 

it many positives including reducing isolation, 

learning new skills, making new friends, and 

enhancing your CV. 

For more information please call their 

Volunteer Coordinators on 01709 360272. 

Rotherham 

Christmas 

Toy Appeal gifts 

over 2,250 children 

A thank you from Ann Levick of 

Families First 

What a massive success the 

2023 Rotherham Christmas Toy 

Appeal was. 

“ 

I am truly amazed and 

thankful that so many 

local businesses, churches, 

libraries, schools and 

members of the public got 

involved 

” 

Thanks to the support of Rotherham people, 

over 2,250 children and young people received a 

gift to open on Christmas morning. 

This appeal is unique to Rotherham because 

it brings the town together. Rotherham 

people are generous and care a great deal 

about the children and young people living in 

their community. 

I am truly amazed and thankful that so many 

local businesses, churches, libraries, schools and 

members of the public got involved by buying 

gifts to donate. If you picked a tag off the giving 

trees at Parkgate Shopping, then thank you. 

I’m also grateful to our local media, including 

Rotherham Radio, the Rotherham Advertiser 

and especially Aroundtown Magazine, who all 

promoted the appeal. Without this support, we 

could not have achieved the number of gifts that 

were donated – so a massive thank you again. 

I hope you woke up on Christmas morning with 

a smile on your face. You helped a Rotherham 

child or young person feel that someone cared 

about them. 

Only seven months to go before it all 

starts again! 


FAMILY 

Celebrating RNN Group’s 

class of 2023 

After investing in their 

futures, graduates 

from the RNN Group 

recognised years 

of hard work at a 

prestigious graduation 

ceremony in November. 

Two events were held at the 

AESSEAL New York Stadium, the 

home of Rotherham United Football 

Club. It was the third year running 

that the RNN graduation has been 

held at New York Stadium – if they 

can make it there, they’re going to 

make it anywhere! 

With a red-carpet entrance, 

hundreds of graduands from RNN 

Group’s four campuses, University 

Centre Rotherham, Rotherham 

College, Dearne Valley College, 

and North Notts College, donned 

their caps and gowns to collect their 

formal qualifications. 

These included degrees, 

higher level apprenticeships, and 

professional qualifications in sectors 

such as accounting and business, 

animal management, art and 

graphics, computing, education, 

engineering, health and beauty, 

media, and performance. 

Some have done so while 

working in their chosen industries, 

aided by the partnerships that RNN 

has formed with employers. Others 

have fit their studies around family 

commitments, having returned to 

education as a mature student. And 

some have overcome barriers and 

personal circumstances. 

As the graduands entered 

the ceremony room, the sound 

of Adele’s ‘Skyfall’ was playing 

out by the talented Old Silkstone 

Brass Band. “This is the end...” a 

fitting way to mark this significant 

milestone in student life. 

But for many it wasn’t the end. 

These ambition graduates are 

already seizing other academic 

opportunities afforded to them at 

RNN Group. 

For others, they are entering the 

workforce to put their hard-earned 

skills into practice. 

RNN principal, Jason Austin, 

opened the ceremonies with a 

quote from the late Sir Bobby 

Charlton. “Success is not just 

about winning trophies but about 

making a positive impact on and off 

the field.” 

The crowd heard other inspiring 

speeches from four graduates 

who had been selected to speak 

about their time at University Centre 

Rotherham. 

teaching apprenticeship. 

“I never enjoyed the school 

environment. I wasn’t blessed 

academically so found learning 

hard and missed a lot of school. 

After I left secondary, I sat around 

playing video games, waiting for 

something to happen.” 

Andrew eventually began 

working in private nurseries where 

he found he enjoyed working with 

children, watching them grow and 

learn. He then moved into a schoolbased 

early years setting where 

he was asked to cover a reception 

class. 

“ 

It doesn’t matter 

what age you are; 

you never stop 

learning. I’m now 

looking at doing 

my master’s 

” 

Andrew Roth-Savage 

BA (hons) in Early Childhood 

Studies 

Despite a difficult experience of 

schooling as a child, Andrew went 

back into education as an adult and 

is now working towards qualified 

teacher status via a postgraduate 

“The teachers said how good I 

was with the kids and asked if I’d 

ever thought of becoming a teacher. 

I knew it would be a long process 

as I would have to study part-time; 

I had a partner, a stepdaughter and 

house to run so needed to work. 

But I decided to bite the bullet and 

do it. 

“I was 33 when I enrolled on my 

foundation degree at UCR in 2018 

and I won’t qualify as a teacher 

until I’m 39. But it doesn’t matter 

what age you are; you never stop 

learning. I’m now looking at doing 

my master’s and potentially a 

doctorate.” 


FAMILY 

Jessica Bloor 

BA (hons) in Theatrical Hair 

and Media Makeup 

Jessica has been a student at 

RNN group for nine years, having 

started on a level two course. 

She is now enrolled on the PGCE 

course at UCR to become a tutor in 

specialist makeup. 

In her speech, she thanked 

her parents, partner and course 

mentors at college who have 

helped her achieve her degree while 

juggling life as a first-time mum. 

“I came back to do my BA 

while pregnant and buying my first 

house; I knew it wasn’t going to be 

easy doing such a practical course 

and working with real clients while 

feeling ill. Throw in a newborn midcourse 

and a cloud of post-natal 

depression and those 500-word 

essays weren’t easy to write. But 

I got there. And hopefully I’ll be 

back in two years’ time to graduate 

again.” 

Guest speaker, 

Rebecca Jones 

CEO of Iprosurve 

Rotherham-born Rebecca made 

the bold decision to go down the 

unfamiliar path of drone technology 

after a successful career in finance. 

The company she founded 

has become globally recognised 

and she is a STEM ambassador 

for women in the industry. In her 

speech to the graduates, she told 

them how they are the architects 

of their own destiny and should 

embrace every opportunity to learn 

and evolve. 

“Never create your own glass 

ceiling. The greatest opportunities 

lie beyond your comfort zone. 

Nurture your passions and what 

fills your heart with purpose. For 

me, I knew that drones brought 

value and a better way of doing 

things. Passion will act as your 

compass guiding you through the 

rollercoaster of life. 

“Let perseverance be the 

constant companion through times 

of darkness; I’ve had moments 

of self-doubt that have tested me 

more than sleep deprivation with a 

three-week-old baby, but life is not 

without its challenges. Never stop 

learning from others or considering 

different perspectives. And let your 

intellectual curiosity be the catalyst 

for your personal and professional 

growth.” 

RNN Group is committed 

to providing students with the 

skills and expertise needed to 

move forward in the world of 

work. They opened the stateof-the-art 

University Centre 

Rotherham in 2018 which 

has provided better access 

to degrees and higher-level 

professional courses. 

This year, the RNN 

Group has been awarded 

the Teaching Excellence 

Framework (TEF) silver rating 

for our higher education 

provision. This means that 

both student experiences and 

outcomes are very high quality. 

Discover your future 

at our upcoming OPEN EVENTS 

Meet staff, ask questions, and have a tour around campus 

Saturday 27th January 

10am-12pm 

Doncaster Gate, Rotherham S65 1DA 

01709 722806 ucr@rotherham.ac.uk 


10am-12pm 

Eastwood Lane, Rotherham S65 1EG 

01709 362111 info@rotherham.ac.uk 

Saturday 3rd February 

10am-12pm 

Manvers Park, Wath upon Dearne, Swinton S63 7EW 

01709 513355 learn@dearne-coll.ac.uk 

Can’t make those dates? Why not book a personal tour. Call us on 01709 722806 to arrange 


FAMILY 

Eye opening 

business support 

for Brinsworth’s Bright Optics 

All good businesses 

start with a vision. 

But when Simon and Karen Athey 

had their sights set on opening 

Brinsworth’s first independent 

opticians, they called upon the 

advice and support of Rotherham 

Launchpad to help them see their 

way through the process. 

Launchpad is a free programme 

aimed at empowering entrepreneurs 

to achieve their goal of creating their 

own business. Through a range 

of workshops, expert advice, and 

one-to-one support, they can help 

businesses at any point in their 

journey to reach their full potential. 

After 20 years working as an 

optician, Simon and his wife Karen 

decided to start their own business, 

Bright Optics Limited, at the 

beginning of last year. 

Freedom and flexibility are what 

the couple values the most about 

working for themselves, as they can 

stock a wide scope of items unique 

to their cliental. They also wanted to 

provide a more personal service and 

connect with their clients. 

The pair made their first step in 

their journey when they reached out 

to Rotherham Launchpad. 

They were given a dedicated 

business adviser who worked closely 

with them providing one-to-one 

support, online workshops and 

pointing them in the right direction so 

they could forge their own path. They 

had support with everything from fine 

tuning their business plan, to being 

made aware of business grants that 

they could access. 

Through Launchpad, they also 

worked with credible specialists in 

areas like social media, marketing 

and search engine optimisation to 

help develop and enhance their 

bright and bold business. 

Simon and Karen’s dream was to 

open their own store in the village 

they’d lived in for 25 years. But they’d 

struggled to find anything suitable 

the right location. Launchpad helped 

with regular property searches until 

the couple found the perfect unit on 

Brinsworth Lane. 

They opened to clients in October, 

but know that their business adviser 

and the rest of the Launchpad 

team will continue to support them 

throughout their journey. 

Karen said: “Rotherham 

Launchpad has been invaluable to 

our business journey and helped to 

build our confidence immensely. The 

people that run it are friendly, helpful, 

and extremely knowledgeable. It 

feels like you’re talking to someone 

who really invests in you and your 

idea and wants to see it succeed as 

much as you do.” 

Simon said: “We know first-hand 

how nerve-wracking it can be to 

go through this process and quite 

literally hand over your hopes and 

dreams for your future. But after the 

amazing experience we’ve had, I say 

just do it. The team will be able to 

guide you in the right direction and 

help turn your business idea into 

your reality.” 

If you want to see your business 

plan come to life, contact 

Rotherham Launchpad to see 

how they can help. 

ROTHERHAM LAUNCHPAD 

We’re offering free expert advice, 

support and workshops to help turn 

your idea into a business or get 

your new business off the ground! 

Turning ideas 

into businesses 

www.ridobusinesshubs.co.uk 


FAMILY 

Serving our great 

community 

Since it opened in 

2016, Mexborough 

Business Centre has 

become a thriving 

community in the 

Dearne Valley. 

Two of their latest tenants 

are pivotal players in the wider 

Rotherham community who have 

relocated to Mexborough Business 

Centre to benefit from the excellent 

offer there. 

Rotherham Radio 

Rotherham Radio and its 

sister station Doncaster 

Radio launched in 2020 by 

Doncaster’s Chris Holden and 

Paul Chadbourne after the 

towns’ former radio stations 

were bought out by a national 

network. 

The team have turned a bare old 

classroom into a working studio 

so they can broadcast live from 

Mexborough Business Centre. 

They’ve built two soundproofed 

studios with all-new wiring, studio 

desks, and equipment racks. 

These will be used by their team 

of around 20 presenters across 

both Rotherham and Doncaster 

Radio which includes the likes of 

Stewart Nicholson, Bruce Edwards 

and James Bolton. 

There are also working desks for 

their non-presenting staff who deal 

with the admin and sales aspects of 

running local radio stations. 

“Mexborough Business Centre 

is a fantastic asset for the area and 

the perfect platforms to take our 

stations forwards. It’s welcoming, 

well-maintained and suits us so 

well. Clients can now come to visit 

us which they couldn’t before. 

There’s also a great business 

community here and if we can help 

other tenants we will. In the future, 

we hope to work with local schools 

to offer DJ and radio production 

workshops for pupils,” Chris says. 

Now, when they say they’re our 

local radio stations, they mean 

it! You can listen live via their 

app, DAB, smart speakers, or 

internet radio. 

Rotherham Eats 

Rotherham’s answer to food 

delivery services like Just Eat 

and Deliveroo, Rotherham Eats 

was started in 2022 by Mike who 

spotted a gap in the market to 

order takeaway the local way. 

Whether you want a full English 

breakfast, a chippy tea, Sunday 

lunch, or dessert for afters, the 

Rotherham Eats app and website 

has over 80 food outlets where you 

can order from. 

In just over a year, Rotherham 

Eats has built up a large customer 

base thanks to no sign-up fee and 

their low commission rate that is 

considerably less than the larger 

national companies. They only use 

Rotherham-based drivers, which 

has helped speed up delivery times 

and reduce the hassle for business 

owners who have already got 

enough on their plate. 

They relocated to Mexborough 

Business Centre in the autumn and 

soon signed up a new customer 

in their in-house café, Old College 

Coffee Shop. 

“Our biggest area is the Dearne 

Valley so we needed a base that 

was more suitable, travel wise, for 

our drivers to be readily available 

to the food outlets we work with. 

The facilities here are much 

better, there’s a better working 

environment, and the overall office 

space is better than what we had 

before,” Mike says. 

More than just a business centre 

We have a range of facilities open to the public 

Old College Coffee Shop Open Mon-Sat 9m-2pm Serving breakfast, daily specials and homemade meals 

Fox Gallery open Tues-Fri 10am-2pm with selected weekend events 

Cosy Cinema Last Sunday of the month 5-7pm 

Also home to: • Beauty and aesthetics clinic • Hairdresser • Hypnotherapist • Slimming World 

• Handmade lingerie designer • Dance school • Dog groomer 

At our second site, Mexborough Resource Centre: • Photographer • Music academy 

Do you need 

a CSCS Card? 

You can attend a regulated 1-day Health and Safety 

Awareness training course and take your CSCS test, all on 

the same day to support gaining your CSCS Labourer’s card 

Mexborough Business Centre www.mexborough.biz 

College Road, Mexborough, Doncaster S64 9JP T. 01709 590005 


AROUNDTOWN 

Who we met in 2023 

You’ll never find a 

boring Q&A style 

article in Aroundtown 

Magazine. 

Neither will you find an interview 

with a celebrity. We write articles the 

real way, telling the real stories you 

want to read about real people from 

South Yorkshire. 

Each year we set out to find those 

unsung heroes from our region who 

have gone above and beyond, often 

without much recognition. We make 

them our ‘Aroundtown Meets’ literacy 

victim and give them the chance to 

share their story in a ‘This is Your 

Life’ kind of way. 

Whatever their journey, we take 

the time to meet up in person, listen 

to their tales, and write pages of 

notes. It is always an honour to be 

trusted with these stories, to retell 

them in the Aroundtown way, and 

we hope our readers enjoy reading 

them. 

So, here’s a lookback at who we 

interviewed in 2023. 

January/February 

Kelly Clark 

Talk about a woman who pushes 

boundaries. Kelly is a powerlifter 

from Rotherham who made her 

international debut at 54, just 18 

months after she started competing. 

She’s got medals of all colours to 

her name, proving that women of a 

certain age shouldn’t be held back. 

We spoke about why she started 

powerlifting and how it helped her 

lose weight and improve her painful 

arthritis. 

March/April 

Wilson Design 

Collective 

Identical twin sisters Louise and 

Caroline, from Doncaster, have 

had near mirror lives. After each 

forging successful careers as textile 

designers, the pair decided to pool 

their talents and start their own art 

business. We met them as they were 

preparing for their debut exhibition at 

Fox Gallery in Mexborough Business 

Centre to hear about going from 

womb mates to business partners. 

May/June 

Cynthia Shaw MBE 

There are always people you meet 

who leave a lasting impression on 

you. People you know will become 

friends. Cynthia Shaw is one of them 

for us. She welcomed us into her 

home like we’d known her for years 

and, to be honest, we didn’t want 

to leave. We spent hours listening 

to her life story, from growing up in 

Hoyland Common, working her way 

up through the NCB over 35 years, 

and spending the last three decades 

advocating for others. We were there 

to talk about her receiving an MBE in 

last year’s New Year’s Honours list 

and were delighted to see her finally 

receive her insignia from the King at 

the end of the year. 

July/August 

Dr Bijoy Mondal 

In the summer, it was the 75th 

anniversary of the NHS. So to 

coincide, we set out to find someone 

who had dedicated their life to 

healthcare. We found that person in 

Dr Mondal. He’s been a geriatrician 

in Rotherham for over 50 years 

and is still working at the age of 

82. He told us about coming to the 

UK in 1965 to be a doctor, moving 

to Rotherham ten years later, and 

single handedly managing hundreds 

of beds at six hospitals across the 

borough. 

September/October 

Tom Masters 

Our youngest interviewee last year 

was Barnsley musician Tom Masters. 

But even at 25, he already had more 

stories to tell than most. Tom’s 

singing career started ten years ago 

with Barnsley Youth Choir and he’s 

since gone on to be one of the area’s 

most in-demand musicians. Over a 

matcha latte (and a Yorkshire Tea for 

us) we spoke about overcoming his 

childhood nerves to finally join the 

choir, juggling the logistics of 280 

gigs in a year, winning £10,000 in 

the first Bank’s Got Talent, and how 

he planned to release new music 

in 2024 – something he’s since 

achieved ahead of time! 

November/December 

Billingley Christmas 

Tree Farm 

It couldn’t be Christmas without 

a festive themed interview. We’d 

already met Santa a few years ago, 

so this time we turned our attention 

to Farmer Christmas. Andrew 

Stenton and his family have run 

Billingley Christmas Tree Farm for 

the last 20-odd years, becoming a 

leading grower and retailer of these 

festive firs. While visiting the Dearne 

Valley site and seeing the farm’s 

reindeer and hundreds of trees, 

Andrew told us how the foot and 

mouth disease outbreak saw him 

turn his family’s Charolais cattle farm 

into a Christmas tree farm. 

Know someone whose 

story needs to be told? 

With six editions a year, we’re 

always looking for our next 

Aroundtown Meets interviewee. 

You can send your suggestions 

to our editor, Amber for 

consideration, email amber@ 

aroundtownpublications. 

co.uk 


Est. 2004 

We Meet > 

Sport > 

Out and about > 

FREE 

Copy 

HISTORY | HEALTH & BEAUTY | HOMES &GARDENS | IN THE COMMUNITY | FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT&MUCHMORE... 

Est. 2004 

We Meet > Sport > 

Special Feature > 

HISTORY | HEALTH & BEAUTY | HOMES & GARDENS | IN THE COMMUNITY | FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT &MUCHMORE... 

Est. 2004 

What’s On > We Meet > 

Out and About > 

HISTORY | HEALTH & BEAUTY | HOMES &GARDENS | IN THE COMMUNITY | FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT &MUCHMORE... 

Spread the word about 

your business in 2024 

20,000 

copies in over 

200 pick-up points BARNSLEY | ROTHERHAM 

“ 

Dear Amber, 

Thank you for the case 

studies you have produced 

on our customers which we 

always get such positive 

feedback from. 

Your features always capture 

the personal and bespoke 

service we offer and have 

attracted customers from right 

across our region. 

Kind Regards 

Jonathan Davis 

Infinity Jewellers 

“ 

Support us, support the 

local businesses 

Don’t forget to tell them you spotted 

them in the Aroundtown magazine 

Independently owned we are 

proud to be celebrating our 

20th Anniversary this year 

• We are the only A4 free magazine 

covering Barnsley and Rotherham and not 

affiliated with any other publication 

• We distribute the Aroundtown to well over 

200 selected pick up points which are constantly 

replenished to cope with demand. 

• The Aroundtown is an expensive magazine to 

produce and we need to ensure they land in the 

hands of people who love what we do, so we don’t 

rely on door to door distribution as it is unreliable 

We offer an excellent 

discount structure 

and all the help and support to 

grow your business 

Call 01709 331020 or 07940 842408 

First-class 

design work 

and editorial content 

“ 

Hi Cheryl, 

Thank you for your support 

with the annual Ladies Lunch 

in aid of Barnsley Youth Choir 

and LimbBo Foundation 

which you kindly featured. 

This year, due in part to your 

article, it was almost a sell out 

and attended by 176 ladies. 

When we added donations 

from a previous event of 

nearly £2,000 to the money 

raised on the afternoon, we 

have approximately £5,000 

for the three charities. 

Best Wishes, 

Barbara Lee 

“ 

MARCH/APRIL 2023 




JULY/AUGUST 2023 




NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 




Spring 

Gardening 

Modern 

Country 

Home Decor 

Delicious 

Spring 

Desserts 

A blooming 

good read 

Gardening: 

Height of 

Summer 

Homes: 

The Summer 

Tonic 

Summer 

off to a tea 

Food: 

Vegetarian 

Recipes 

Pick Up 

Your 

FREE 

Copy 

Winter in 

the Garden 

Pick Up 

Your 

FREE 

Copy 

Seasonal 

Dining 

It’s Panto 

Time 

A festive 

treat 

Pick Up 

Your 

Wilson Design Collective 

100Years of the Totty Cup 

Camellia House Restoration 

Dr BijoyMondal 

Home of Football 

75 Years of theNHS 

Christmas Events 

Billingley Christmas Tree Farm 

Festive Family Fun 

Check out our website where you can find out a little more about us and read our stories online 


Phone Cheryl on 01709 331020 / 07940 842408 or email cheryl@aroundtownpublications.co.uk

HOME & GARDEN 

Peach 

fuzz 

As Pantone’s annual Colour 

of the Year for 2024 has been 

announced as Peach Fuzz, here’s 

how to use this fresh and inviting 

colour in your home décor. 

Start with Accents 

Ease into the ‘Peach Fuzz’ trend by introducing smaller 

elements such as cushions, throws, bedding or decorative 

vases for a pop of colour without overwhelming the entire room. 

Mix and Match 

Explore different colour combinations to find what suits your 

taste. ‘Peach Fuzz’ pairs well with muted greens, soft blues, and 

earthy tones. 

Natural Elements 

The peachy tones evoke a sense of a tropical retreat in the 

comfort of your home. Complement the colour with wooden 

furniture, rattan accents, or greenery to create a harmonious 

and calming atmosphere. 


HOME & GARDEN 

Feature Walls 

Make a bold statement by painting or wallpapering one 

wall in ‘Peach Fuzz.’ Pair it with complementary neutral 

shades for balance. 

Statement Furniture 

For those daring enough to make a significant change, 

invest in a statement furniture piece in ‘Peach Fuzz’ such 

as a sofa or armchair. Surround it with neutral tones to 

showcase its vibrancy. 

Experiment in Different Rooms 

‘Peach Fuzz’ is a versatile colour that works well in 

various rooms from the living room to the bedroom or 

a home office. This warm and playful pastel will add a 

colourful touch to even the most minimalist of schemes. 


Established 

family run 

company 

trading for 

30 years 

J.S.S INSTALLATIONS LTD 

CONSERVATORY & PVCu SPECIALISTS 

Manufacturers &Installers of High Quality 

PVCu Doors, Windows&Conservatories 

Approved Installer 

• Energy efficient windows and doors to A+ rating 

• BSI registered company 

• 10 year insurance backed guarantee 

• Complete installation from start 

to finish, including plastering and electrics 

• Fully qualified workmen 

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM 

Open 7 days a week | No appointment required 

Virtual showroom tour available on the website 

Unit 13, Aldham Industrial Estate, Mitchell Road, 

Wombwell, Barnsley S73 8HA | Tel: 01226 341 234 

www.jssinstallations.co.uk

Furniture and accessories to 

turn your home into 

something special 

Furniture, Accessories, Lighting, Mirrors and much more... 

Quality divans and solid handmade beds with matching furniture 

Extensive displays in our showroom 

13 Rotherham Road, Maltby, Rotherham S66 8ES 

Tel: 01709 814422 

Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm

SALE SALE SALE 

ROMA 

Established 

Since 1972 

Homeflair 

...It’s how you live 

 

 

 

 

__

HOME & GARDEN 

Established 2006 

We manufacture, 

supply and install 

a wide selection of 

blinds made in 

Yorkshire 

3 VERTICALS 

FOR 

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89 

*Terms and conditions apply 

Available in white and cream fabric only 

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Our services include: 

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• Annual gas servicing 

Call 01709 645910 or visit our website to 

book online homeglowgasservices.com 

3 ROLLERS 

FOR 

£ 

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*Terms and conditions apply 

•Roman•Wood•Aluminium Venetian Blinds 

•Perfect Fit Blinds•Velux Blinds 

FREE Quotation FREE fitting 12 Month Guarantee 

Call for a FREE home quotation on 

01142 044844 or 0800 046 1502 

www.amorablinds.co.uk Find us on 

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Park Road, Worsbrough Bridge, 

Barnsley, S70 5LJ 

SHOWROOM OPENING TIMES: 

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Tel: 01226 297949 

www.kitchencompanyltd.com 

like us on 

Facebook 

thekitchencompanyltd 


HOME & GARDEN 

ECO SOFAS 

Don’t Buy New! 

RE-UPHOLSTERY 

is the answer! 

SOFAS • CHAIRS • DINING CHAIRS 

No job 

too 

small 

We 

visit you 

with our 

fabric 

samples 

Professional Kitchen Painter 

SPRING REPAIRS • CUSHIONS • PLUS MUCH MORE 

Or why not have your suite made like 

new with a complete re-upholstery? 

For more information and to arrange your 

free estimate daytime or evening call 

KEITH SIMPSON 

0114 275 6390 

0114 2468477 

161 Rutland Road, Sheffield S3 9PP 

www.keithsimpsonsofas.co.uk 

Update existing wood, 

laminated or veneer units 

and cupboards with paint 

and lacquer applications 

Whatever your style modern, 

period or country, let me 

transform the look 

All work is hand painted only 

Over 30 years painting and 

decorating experience 

7 year 

guarantee 

on cabinets 

and doors 

Free home visits Call Chris at Paintwood 

on 07984 070617 or 0114 230 6828 

www.cmbakerltd.com 

BEDROOMS • OFFICE SPACE • MEDIA WALLS 

NEW YEAR WINTER SALE NOW ON 

SALE 

A family run business with 30 years experience 

Designing, producing and fitting 

made to measure furniture 

Free design and CAD visuals 

Helping you create your dream space 

at an affordable price 

Supafit will beat any like for like quote 

Visit our state-of-the-art factory and showroom 

Open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm or call to arrange a home visit 

Beech Works, Wreakes Lane, Dronfield, S18 1PN • Tel 01246 412100 • www.supafituk.com 


Take your home 

to another level 

Bespoke new and 

renovated staircases 

Full BespokeJoinery Service 

•Doors and panelling 

•Understairs solutions 

• Skirting and window boards 

•Wine cellars etc 

Call John on 

07793 389111 Mon-Fri 8am-7pm 

See more of our recent projects at 

www.staircasesbyjohnlawson.co.uk

South Yorkshire’s Finest Furniture 

Feldkirch Table 

Now Only £1,295 

SAVE £600 

Pula 3 Seater Sofa 

Now Only £695 

SAVE £300 

This Is Our Only Sale Of The Year 

.. But hurry down to see us as some of these bargains are single items 

and will sell out quickly 

436-440 Doncaster Road, s70 3ey 01226 731234 www.snellandrobins.co.uk 

LIVING | DINING | BEDROOM 

Aarhus Sideboard 

Now Only £799 

SAVE £400 

Up To 50% 

Off 

Christmas

HOME & GARDEN 

Visit our showroom 

for inspiration 

• Free bathroom design service 

• Five Star Which Trusted Trader 

• Exclusive products in to our showroom 

• In house installation teams 

HAIGHS CARPETS 

A family business Est.1945 built on reputation 

PROVIDING QUALITY FLOOR COVERINGS 

FOR ALL BUDGETS 

Carpets & Vinyls 

Specialists in 

4mtr & 5mtr 

Luxury British 

wool carpets by 

No More Grout 

New range of PVC and solid board walling 

See our 82 reviews all 5 

DESIGN | SUPPLY | INSTALLATION 

• FREE FITTING when purchasing underlay (from £6.50sq.mtr) 

• Large range of ROLL END STOCK 

• FREE ESTIMATING SERVICE • Uplift & disposal service 

Unit 13, Carwood Road, Grange Lane Industrial Estate, 

Stairfoot, Barnsley S71 5AS • Free Parking 

Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat 9am - 4pm & Sun 10.30am - 4pm 

Tel 01226 296498 Email haighscarpets@outlook.com 

www.haighscarpets.com 

See our excellent customer reviews on Google 

A family-run, 

independent business 

Unit 8 Parkgate Complex, 

Rawmarsh Road, 

Rotherham S60 1RZ 

Tel. 01709 363700 

www.soakbathroomsrotherham.co.uk 


HOME & GARDEN 

Don’t let your heating bills 

go through the roof 

Around a quarter of all the 

heat in your home gets lost 

through your roof, so why 

not consider getting you roof 

insulated in 2024. 

Think of loft insulation like wrapping your home 

in a woolly blanket: warm air is retained within, 

meaning you require less energy to heat the 

home. This creates a more comfortable property, 

saves money on your heating bills and also helps 

to reduce your carbon footprint. 

In most lofts, rolls of mineral fibre or foilbacked 

felt are used to retain warmer air within 

your home. At times, mineral wool or foam 

can be sprayed into areas that are tougher to 

access. Out of all available insulation types, spray 

foam loft insulation is gaining a lot of traction 

among UK homeowners as it provides many 

benefits compared to others. 

Generally, insulation is set up between loft 

joists and can prevent the rise of heat in your 

home to the loft. It can be easy and fast for you to 

set it up on your own as a DIY project. Such kind 

of insulation is referred to as ‘cold loft’ insulation 

but does not provide 100 percent proper 

insulation to your loft. 

If you opt for a loft conversion or would like 

to keep the loft in your home heated, you may 

install the insulation to the inside of your roof. It 

is referred to as ‘warm loft’ insulation. However, 

this is slightly trickier to perform, and it is 

recommended that you contact a professional. 

You may even opt for loose-fill insulation if it is 

tough to access your loft from inside your home, 

or if there are some corners that are difficult 

to reach. You can find loose-fill insulation at 

most DIY stores, some of which may be made 

of recycled newspapers or cork granules. Or 

you could get a professional to use specialised 

equipment for the setup of spray foam insulation. 

If you already have insulation in your home, 

it may be a good idea to look at how much you 

have. This is because building regulations used 

to require 100mm of loft insulation which has 

now been increased to 200mm, or 270mm for 

new builds. 

 

over 40 displays 

Create a stunning focal point for your home 

We manufacture and install an extensive range of 

surrounds from timber to marble 

A wide range of stoves and contemporary electric 

wall mounted fireplaces to suit all tastes 

We also stock electric and gas fires 

Coal and logs in stock 

Let us create 

a media wall 

console for you 

with a choice of 

modern fires 

LOWER YOUR 

ENERGY BILLS 

WITH A STOVE 

They are cheaper to run 

than traditional gas and 

electric heating systems 

Open 

Unit 14, Hillside Court, Rotherham S61 4RP 

 

01709 37843107828 178754 

www.smfireplaces.co.uk 

See our reviews and work on 

 


at Homeflair 

Unique riverside setting with outdoor 

terrace overlooking the swans on the water 

Fine Italian coffees 

& teas 

• Breakfast Served All Day 

• Light Lunches 

• Healthy Light Bites 

• Cakes and Patisserie 

Fully Licensed 

Come and enjoy a drink on the terrace 

Afternoon Tea 

Three tier 2 for £19.95 

Includes sandwiches, 

cream scone and 

tea/coffee or soft drink 

plus a selection of cakes 

(Must be pre-booked) 

Available for private parties, 

birthdays, baby showers etc 

A Charity Evening 

of Mediumship 

with Gary Peters 

Spiritual Medium 

Thursday 1st February 7-9pm 

Includes a pie and pea supper 

Tickets £20 

All sales to Bowel Cancer UK 

Must be paid in full and non-refundable 

Over 18’s only 

Homeflair Complex, Rawmarsh Road, Parkgate S60 1RZ Tel: 01709 252 420 

Open Monday to Saturday 9am-3pm | Sunday 10am-3pm | Ample free parking 

Manufacturers of 

fine quality bedroom, 

dining and 

occasional furniture 

Bespoke handmade 

kitchens 

• Made in Yorkshire 

• No flat pack 

• Made to measure on all items 

Alexandra Centre, Rail Mill Way, Parkgate, Rotherham S62 6JE (Behind DFS) Telephone: 01709 780 443

HOME & GARDEN 

O’CONNIFERS 

TREE SERVICES 

All aspects 

of tree work 

undertaken 

• TREE FELLING 

• REMOVAL 

• STUMP GRINDING 

• TREE REDUCTION 

• STORM DAMAGE 

• HEDGE CUTTING 

• CONNIFERS TOPPED 

AND TRIMMED 

Free 

quotes 

Re-roof and flat roof specialist 

• Firestone rubber roofing suitable for all flat roofs 

life expectancy up to 50 years 

• Facias • Soffits • Guttering 

• 32 Years Experience 

• All work guaranteed for 10 years 

For a free quotation call Craig on 

01226 725632 or mobile 07775 956385 

www.craigbridgesroofing.co.uk 

Trained in City & Guilds NPTC Level 3 

in Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue 

and also Aerial Cutting of Trees 

with a Chainsaw 

• Fully insured 

• Everything we produce is 100% Recycled 

Call Mick on 01709 559100 

or 07957 196054 

Find us on Facebook 

Reputable and Reliable 

Family Run Business Est 1986 

WE WILL BEAT ANY LIKE FOR LIKE QUALITY GARAGE DOOR QUOTE 

WINTER 

PROMOTION 

UP TO 30% OFF 

RRP ON ANY 

GARAGE DOOR 

Fully Fitted 

Garage Doors 

From £870 INC VAT 

CALL TODAY FOR A FREE HOME SURVEY 

Tel Rotherham 01709 212 801 Barnsley 01226 444 218 

Find us on 

www.jbdoors.co.uk 


HOME & GARDEN 

Winter 

in the garden 

With Sally Cunis 

After the excitement of the festive season, the 

New Year can seem a little bleak but a walk 

around the garden or across the fields and 

through the woods is uplifting and life affirming. 

The weather may be cold, frosty, 

snowy and wet but under the leaf 

litter life is stirring, animals are 

hibernating, bugs are sheltering in 

crevices, bulbs are gradually striving 

for the light through frozen ground 

whilst patches of rainbow-coloured 

Cornus (dogwood), peeling tree 

bark and variegated evergreens light 

up the gloom. 

Drifts of sweet, heady scent 

from the flowers of Hamamelis, 

Viburnum, Sarcococca, Daphne and 

the evergreen Clematis Armandii 

fill the garden and attract the few 

beneficial insects which are not still 

in hibernation. 

The exquisite flowers of 

Hellebores spring up on upright 

stems from the centre of last year’s 

Galanthus nivalis (snowdrop) 

Viburnum tinus Eve Price 

Galanthus plena 

(double snowdrop) 

Anenome blanda 

Helleborus Niger 

leaves; cut last year’s leaves back 

now to show off the flowers to their 

best advantage, to help minimise 

mouldy spots and to remove 

cover for mice who might eat 

emerging buds. 

Snowdrops suddenly flood 

the garden with a white blanket 

and spread like a ribbon along 

my snowdrop walk, little nodding 

heads on improbably delicate green 

stems. Galanthophiles (snowdrop 

collectors) love the different varieties 

but the simple Galanthus nivalis and 

the pretty double form, Galanthus 

plena are beautiful, easy to grow, 

reliable and can be split and moved 

“in the green”; they are my favourites 

and those of my late mother. 

Inspiration either to plant a 

new or improve an existing winter 

garden is best found by visiting any 

number of beautiful gardens open 

to the public. Many advertise winter 

walks in the local press or monthly 

gardening magazines. 

A classic planting combination is 

masses of red Cornus alba “Sibirica” 

or glowing Cornus “Midwinter Fire” 

backed by the pure white stems of 

Betula Jacmontii “Snow Queen” 

underplanted with banks of the 

fleshy leaved Bergenia cordifolia 

“Winterglut” which tinge reddishbronze 

in frosty weather. Hellebores 

and spring bulbs add extra 

interest and pops of colour to the 

winter scene. 

Of the small bulbs, Scilla, Iris 

reticulata, Narcissi tête à tête and 

Anenome blanda are amongst my 

favourites. Squirrels also love bulbs 

so deeply mulch areas of bulb 

planting or, if possible, cover the soil 

with a protective layer of chicken 

wire. For bulbs in pots follow my 

late mother’s example and use 

an upturned hanging basket for 

protection. Our resident squirrels 

have already run off with some 

lovely fat bulbs from the pots by the 

back door! 

Berries in abundance continue 

to add colour to the garden and 

provide food for hungry birds and 

other wildlife. Try to leave seed 

heads such as teasels for as long 

as possible for the finches. Clean 

bird feeders regularly and top up 

with fat balls, peanuts and bird seed. 

Remember to de-ice ponds and bird 

Sarcococca confusa 

Viburnum bodnantense 

baths on a regular basis; floating 

a large ball on the pond may stop 

ice forming, aerating the pond and 

allowing life to continue to flourish in 

the water beneath. 

Now is a good time to prune out 

dead, damaged or diseased wood 

from fruit trees. Do the same with 

any bush roses that are over one 

metre in height to avoid wind rock 

and, if any newly planted roses have 

lifted, heel in firmly. Check and tie in 

any loose climbers which might be 

damaged by strong winds. 

Indoors, move house plants and 

tender plants brought in from the 

garden last autumn near to natural 

light sources and reduce watering. 

If they need to stand on a windowsill, 

beware of drawing curtains across 

plants at night and effectively putting 

them in a cold spot. Sweet peas 

can be sown in long trainer pots or 

cardboard tubes, a taste of summer 

to come. 

With best wishes for a great 

gardening New Year. 


Valeside 

Tree Care 

• Tree removal 

• Crown reductions-lifting-thinning 

• Deadwood removal 

• Stump grinding 

• Hedge cutting 

• Garden maintenance 

• Log sales 

HOME & GARDEN 

Free 

Quotes 

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PROFFESSIONAL 

GARDENING SERVICES 

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clean and green 

in 2024 

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Discover our range of architectural garden antiques, 

stone troughs, mill stones, statues and garden furniture 

FIND US AT THE REAR OF CANNON HALL GARDEN CENTRE 

BARK HOUSE LANE, CAWTHORNE, BARNSLEY, S75 4AT 

OPEN Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10am-2pm (closed Tues & Wed) 

Also on site museum, farm shop and cafés 

Contact Lee. 07984 774448 yorkshiregardenantiques@hotmail.com • www.yorkshiregardenantiques.co.uk 


HOME & GARDEN 

Help protect the UK’s 

feathered friends 

with the Big Garden Birdwatch 

House Sparrow 

Blue Tit 

This January, join the world’s 

largest garden wildlife survey 

as the RSPB’s Big Garden 

Birdwatch weekend returns for 

another year. 

The event takes place on Friday 26th to Sunday 

28th January and everyone is invited to spend 

an hour watching and recording the birds in their 

gardens, balconies or local green spaces, before 

sending results to the RSPB. 

Even if you don’t see any birds, the RSPB 

wants to know. It all helps the UK’s largest nature 

conservation charity to understand what is or isn’t 

around where you live. 

Last year, over half a million people took part in 

Big Garden Birdwatch 2023, counting a whopping 

9.1 million birds. 

The most sighted bird in the UK was the house 

sparrow, but counts of these chirpy birds are down 

by 57% compared to the first Birdwatch in 1979. 

In fact, we’ve lost 38 million birds from UK skies in 

the last 60 years. 

It’s a shocking figure and exactly what is 

causing these declines is not clear. But together 

with other scientists and partner organisations, 

the RSPB continually strives to reverse this trend 

and protect threatened birds and wildlife so our 

towns, coast and countryside will teem with life 

once again. 

Garden birds provide an important connection 

to nature and bring joy and comfort as well as 

being vital for our mental health and wellbeing. 

Every bird you do – or don’t – count will give the 

RSPB a valuable insight into how garden birds 

are faring. 

Most spotted birds in 2023 

1. House Sparrow 1,401,338 

Males and females are easily distinguished; 

males have a grey head and black bib whilst 

females are pale brown with a pale stripe behind 

the eye. These noisy and gregarious birds often 

stick together in small flocks. They like to hide in 

big hedges, take dust or water baths together, 

and are often heard ‘social singing’. 

2. Blue Tit 904,637 

Streaked with a colourful mix of blue, yellow, 

white and green, blue tits are one of our most 

attractive garden visitors and will happily take all 

kinds of bird food. 

3. Starling 904,079 

Smaller than blackbirds, with a short tail, 

pointed head and triangular wings, starlings look 

black at a distance but up-close they shimmer 

purple and green. Their flight is fast and direct, 

they walk and run confidently on the ground, and 

spend much of the year in flocks. While one of 

the most common garden birds, their decline 

elsewhere makes them critically endangered. 

4. Woodpigeon 750,251 

The largest and most common pigeon in the 

UK, the woodpigeon is largely grey with a white 

neck patch and white wing patches. Although 

shy in the countryside, it can be tame and 

approachable in towns and cities. 

5. Blackbird 716,734 

The males live up to their name, but 

confusingly females are brown and often 

have spots or streaks on their breasts. The 

bright orange-yellow beak and eye-ring make 

adult male blackbirds one of the most striking 

garden birds. 

Starling 


HOME & GARDEN 

Robin 

Ahead of the 2024 event, 

here are some simple ways to 

attract birds to your garden. 

Put up feeders 

Not only will that make them stay for longer, 

but feed them regularly means birds learn that 

your garden is a great place to keep coming to. 

Different feeders and food will attract a variety 

of birds so feel free to experiment and see who 

comes to visit. 

Where to put bird feeders and 

tables 

You can put your bird feeder in all sorts of 

places, but aim for somewhere quiet, safe and 

sheltered from winds – not too close to bushes 

where predators could hide in wait. Birds like to 

have a view all around them while feeding, and 

make sure you can see it when you’re indoors. 

Great Tit 

What to feed birds 

Winter is a time when natural food shortages 

could occur and so put out foods that can help the 

birds during this time. 

• Blackbirds mostly feed on the ground and 

will eat a broad range of foods, from fatty nibbles 

to mealworms. 

• Blue Tits and Great Tits use both a feeder 

and a bird table, eating seeds as well as suet 

and peanuts. 

• Finches, including Chaffinches and 

Greenfinches, also use both a feeder and a bird 

table, and they love sunflower hearts. 

• Look for good quality bird food – those that 

don’t include ‘fillers’ such as dried peas and beans 

that birds rarely eat. 

• You can put out leftovers such as dried fruit, or 

fruit such as apples and pears. Don’t use anything 

mouldy or salty though, and if you have a dog 

don’t put out dried fruit such as raisins as these 

can be toxic to them. 

Greenfinch 

Chaffinch 

Remember the water 

Birds need a drink too. But you don’t need a 

traditional bird bath; any shallow plate or bowl will 

do, as will a large plant pot tray. Put fresh water 

out every day and pour warm water onto any ice 

that forms in the winter. 

Keep it clean 

It’s very important to keep bird feeders, tables 

and baths clean to stop a build-up of bacteria and 

viruses that can spread diseases and infections 

among garden birds. Clean them weekly using a 

dedicated strong, long bristled brush and some 

warm soapy water or mild, non-toxic disinfectant. 

Make sure the feeder is thoroughly dry before 

refilling it with food. 

Blackbird 

For your free Big Garden Birdwatch 

guide, which includes a bird identification 

chart, top tips for your birdwatch, RSPB 

shop voucher, plus advice on how to help 

you attract wildlife to your garden, text 

BIRD to 70030 or visit 

www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch 


FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT 

Easy 

traybake 

recipes 

If you’re feeling a bit 

‘blah’ at this time of 

year and have lost 

your cooking mojo, 

turn to the traybakes. 

All you need is one tray and 

a few ingredients to make one 

fantastic dinner. These easy, 

minimal prep dishes are great 

for those busy days where you 

can’t be bothered to spend hours 

cooking. Just bang everything in 

the oven and they’re ready in half 

an hour or so. 

Teriyaki 

salmon 

and veg 

Serves 2 

Ingredients 

2 boneless salmon fillets (plain or 

chilli infused) 

Half an aubergine, chopped into 

chunks 

2 medium sweet potatoes, chopped 

into chunks 

2 pak choi, sliced horizontally 

Broccoli head, cut into florets 

150g chestnut mushrooms, halved 

Baby corn, cut into chunks 

2 Spring onions, sliced 

1 lime 

Teriyaki sauce 

Dark soy sauce 

Olive or sesame oil 

Sesame seeds (optional) 

To serve: Noodles or coconut rice 

Method 

1. Preheat oven to 180 

degrees Celsius 

2. Add the sweet potato and 

aubergine to a roasting tray, drizzle 

with oil and bake for 10 minutes to 

crisp up slightly. 

3. Add the broccoli and 

mushrooms, drizzle with more oil and 

bake for another 15 minutes. 

4. Then add the pak choi and 

spring onion. 

5. In a jug, combine 2 tbsp teriyaki 

sauce, 1 tbsp soy sauce, and juice of 

half a lime. Pour over the vegetables. 

6. Add the salmon fillets on top of 

the veg and brush the fish with some 

teriyaki sauce. 

7. Bake for another 15 minutes, 

then brush the fish with more sauce 

and bake for an extra 5 minutes for a 

sticky finish. 

8. Serve on a bed of noodles or 

rice and garnish with a sprinkle of 

sesame seeds. 

Loaded sweet 

potato ‘nachos’ 

Serves 4 

Ingredients 

3 sweet potatoes, thinly sliced 

(peel first if you prefer) 

2 tbsp smoked paprika 

1 tbsp Cajun seasoning (or to 

spice tastes) 

1/3 of yellow, red and orange 

peppers, sliced 

1 400g tin black beans 

1 325g tin sweetcorn 

Half an onion, sliced into wedges 

50g grated cheese (cheddar, 

mozzarella or mixed) 

Salt and pepper 

Olive oil 

Optional toppings: soured cream, 

guacamole, salsa, jalapenos 

Method 

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees 

Celsius. 

2. Arrange slices of sweet potato 

on a large baking tray. Season with 

paprika, Cajun, salt and pepper 

then drizzle with oil. 

3. Bake for 15-20 minutes until 

starting to crisp then scatter your 

other veg over the top. 

4. Top with grated cheese and 

bake for another 10-15 minutes 

until bubbling and golden. 

5. To serve, top with spoons of 

guacamole, soured cream and 

salsa then dig in. 



THE WORTLEY ARMS 

FINE DINING AND GASTRO-PUB MEALS 

Extensive choice of gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian dishes 

FOOD SERVED 

Wed-Fri 12-2.30pm and 5-9pm, Sat 12-9.30pm and Sun 12-5pm 

SEASONAL MAIN COURSES 

Harissa chicken, 

roasted veg and feta 

Serves 4 

Ingredients 

600g chicken thigh fillets (or 1kg 

with bone in) 

4 tbsp plain yoghurt (natural or 

Greek style) 

3 tbsp Harissa seasoning 

1 tbsp dried oregano 

4 cloves garlic, halved 

200g cherry or plum tomatoes 

1 onion, sliced into wedges 

1 tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed 

1 sweet potato, cut into chunks 

1 lemon 

100g feta cheese 

Handful of green olives (optional) 

Salt and pepper 

Olive oil 

To serve: Mint yoghurt, 

Rice, cous cous or flat breads 

Method 

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees 

Celsius. 

2. Marinate chicken in yoghurt, 

2tbsp harissa seasoning, lemon 

juice, oregano and salt and pepper. 

Leave for 10 minutes. 

3. To a large roasting or baking 

tray, add the onions chickpeas, 

tomatoes, and sweet potato. Place 

the garlic in any gaps. 

4. Place marinated chicken on 

top of the veg and sprinkle 1 tbsp 

harissa seasoning over everything. 

Drizzle with oil and a squeeze 

of lemon. 

5. Slice the lemon and add 

to the tray. 

6. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Then 

crumble over the feta and olives and 

bake for another 5-10 minutes. 

7. Once cooked, drizzle over the 

mint yoghurt and serve with rice, 

cous cous and/or flatbreads. 

Braised beef shin, 

brown butter mash, 

roast carrot & 

stuffed cabbage 

An evolving selection of 

locally-brewed cask ales 

Slow braised 

lamb shank, 

root vegetables, 

mash, braised 

cabbage & lentil gravy 

AA Rosette Award 

2021 – 2022 

BOOKINGS advised at busy times, please contact Jamie 

EMAIL: enquiries@wortley-arms.co.uk 

TELEPHONE: 0114 288 8749 

HALIFAX ROAD, WORTLEY, SHEFFIELD S35 7DB 

www.wortley-arms.co.uk 

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM 

Pan-fried seabass 

crab choux fritters, 

marinated beetroot, 

spinach & pinenut 

dressing 

Wednesday 14th February 

Valentine’s Day 

Relax by our roaring log fire and enjoy quality cuisine 

Bookings essential from 5pm 

MONTHLY SUNDAY QUIZ NIGHTS 

Check our facebook for dates 



Fun ways 

wine 

to learn 

about 

with The Grape Kitchen 

It’s January, which 

means it’s Dry January 

for a lot of people. 

You may be surprised to hear that 

I, a wine lover and a wine merchant, 

actually encourage people to take 

time off and attempt going dry for a 

few weeks. 

As much as I love wine, I 

acknowledge that December leads 

us to overindulgence and most of us 

go into the new year a little heavier 

and a tad more sluggish. 

Here at The Grape Kitchen, 

we have introduced a couple of 

non-alcoholic sparkling wines to 

our collection. But to be honest, 

aside from the sparklings, I don’t 

rate the current crop of non-alcoholic 

wine options. 

So, I’m taking a break from 

advertising our latest bottles and 

instead I’m going to explore some of 

the best films and books that give an 

insight into wine. 

1. Sideways (2004) 

This is a beautiful film adaptation 

of a book by the same name. It 

focuses on two blokes (Miles & Jack) 

on a bachelor party, visiting wineries 

in California. Miles is a self-loathing 

wine-lover and Jack is a selfobsessed 

wine-novice. 

Amongst the jokes and story 

narrative, Miles does attempt to 

teach Jack a few things, notably how 

to taste wine and what we should be 

doing. Most famously, this film led 

to something called ‘The Sideways 

Effect’ in California. Miles has a 

passion for Pinot Noir and hates 

Merlot. After the film was released, 

demand for Merlot plummeted in 

California and, you guessed it, the 

demand for Pinot Noir went up. This 

resulted in many wine producers 

having to graft Pinot Noir vines to 

Merlot roots in order to keep up with 

the demand. 

2. The 24-Hour Wine 

Expert (2016) 

This book is a must for anybody 

wanting to learn the basics about 

wine. Written by Jancis Robinson, 

arguably the most famous wine writer 

of all time, it explores everything 

you need to know about wine but 

in bitesize chunks. She myth busts, 

tells you how to not get caught out 

by unnecessarily overpriced bottles, 

and gives you all the information 

about wine famous grapes 

and wine regions. 

ROBIN HOOD 

CRAFTED IN AUGHTON, SHEFFIELD 

A MODERN TWIST ON TRADITIONAL INN-KEEPING 

SUND 

NDAY 

foo 

ood serv 

rved 

12- 

2-8p 

8pm 

• Slo 

w roas 

oasted 

be 

ef 

• Hon 

ey roa 

st gam 

mon 

with 

sausage meat 

stuffi 

uffing 

• Roa 

st leg of lamb 

• Turkey 

breast with 

chipolata a sausage 

age 

me 

at stuffin 

ffing 

• Veg 

gie nut and 

cranbe 

rry roast 

All served with 

homemade 

pu 

ds, mash 

potato 

, 

drippi 

pping 

roasties 

and vegetables 

Full 

men 

enu also 

available 

• FISH 

FRI 

RIDA 

DAY spe 

pecia 

lit 

y fish 

dis 

hes 

• Star 

arte 

ters 

and 

tap 

a as 

• Pub clas 

sics 

and 

hea 

rt 

y main 

ins 

• Vege 

tari 

an and 

veg 

an men 

u 

• Burg 

ers and gril 

ls 

• Spec 

ecia 

ials 

boa 

oard 

• Lunc 

nch me 

nu with ligh 

ghte 

ter bite 

tes 

• Craf 

aft and cask 

ale 

les, 

pre 

remi 

mium 

lager 

ers and wine 

s 

QUIZ 

NIGHT 

Ever 

y Th 

ursd 

sday 

Iri 

sh Bin 

go, 

play 

your card 

right, 

open 

the box with 

jac 

kpots 

to be won 


Book now for Valentine’s Day 

Full menu and specials 

OPEN Mon-Sun 12pm-11pm • FOOD SERVED Mon to Thurs 12pm-8pm, Fri & Sat 12pm -9pm, Sun 12pm-7pm 

Main Street, Aughton, Sheffield S26 3XJ 0114 287 7468 5* Food Hygiene rating 

E: info@robinhoodaughton.co.uk | www.robinhoodaughton.co.uk robinhoodinaughton 



3. Sour Grapes (2016) 

Our final piece is a documentary 

that focuses on the dark side of wine. 

Believe it or not, fraud in the wine 

industry can be quite common. With 

some wines being worth thousands 

of pounds, it’s not farfetched to think 

someone might want to create a 

fake. Sour Grapes focusses on the 

case of Rudy Kurniawan, one of the 

most notorious wine fraudsters in 

recent years. I won’t spoil everything 

but it’s quite jaw dropping. 

So, there you have it! Three things 

to educate yourself with before you’re 

ready to get back on the sauce. 

When you are ready for a 

bottle, feel free to head to 

www.grapekitchen.co.uk and 

use your newly acquired knowledge 

to pick out your next favourite bottle! 

WHAT’S ON AT 

HOTEL & SPA 

PETER KAY TRIBUITE 


A rip-roaring evening of comedy with the 

hilarious Lee Lard. 3 course dinner and disco. 

£38.00 per person 

Earl of Strafford 

Food served every day from 11am-9pm 

New Year 

treat 

Set menu 

2 courses £14.50 

or 3 courses £17.50 

From the vineyard 

to your doorstep 

Independent online wine merchant bringing fine and unusual 

wines from around the world straight to your door 

Shop by country, style or food pairing 

Necessity Box £39.75 

A mixed case of 6 bottles of red and/or white wines 

Order online at www.grapekitchen.co.uk 

Or call James on 075081 15181 

Free same working day delivery to any South Yorkshire postcode 

*On orders over £20 when placed before 2pm 

Lunchtime menu 

from £8.50 

Monday-Saturday until 4pm 

Sunday Roast 

Includes unlimited Yorkshire 

puddings and roast potatoes 

VALENTINE’S DINNER 


Delicious 3 course romantic candlelit dinner, 

carefully prepared by our talented chefs. 

£35.00 per person Overnight package for 2 

guests includes stay with full use of leisure 

facilities, dinner and breakfast for two £175.00 

MUSIC OF THE MOVIES 

Saturday 24th February 

Bethanie Houghton brings the iconic soundtracks 

of your favourite films to the dance floor. 

Music from Dirty Dancing, Grease, 

Mamma Mia and everything in between! 

£40.00 per person 

WEDDING FAYRE 

Sunday 3rd March 11am-3pm 

Browse over 50 local wedding suppliers 

for your big day. Free goody bag on arrival. 

Free entry 

MOTHER’S DAY CELEBRATION 

Friday 8th - Monday 11th March 

Celebrate Mum this Mothers Day with a 

delicious themed Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea 

Booking essential Adults £20.00 Child £13.50 


Mother’s Day Sunday Lunch from 12pm 

Don’t let Mum cook this Mothers Day! Treat her to a delicious 

3 course Sunday Lunch. Free gift for all Mums. 

Adults £28.00 Child £15.00 

Monday – Friday all day 

Upstairs function room 

with private bar 

EASTER AFTERNOON TEA 

Friday 29th March & Monday 1st April 

Themed Easter Afternoon Tea. 


ST PATRICK’S DAY 

AFTERNOON TEA 


Themed St Patrick’s Day Afternoon Tea. 


Doncaster Road, 

Hooton Roberts, S65 4PF 

Tel 01709 913821 

om 01709 91382 

https://www.pubanddining.co.uk/ 

earl-of-strafford-hooton-roberts-rotherham 

Deposits required for all paid-for events 

Tel. 01709 702 701 

Email. sales@hellabyhallhotel.co.uk 

www.hellabyhallhotel.co.uk 

old hellaby lane, rotherham s66 8ex 



Sheffield legends to headline 

Rock N Roll Circus 

Step right up and grab your 

tickets for the greatest show in 

town as the spectacular Rock N 

Roll Circus returns to Sheffield 

this summer. 

The big top will be back at Don Valley Bowl 

with not three, but four days of music, magic and 

memories at this unique circus themed festival. 

Dare to be amazed by astounding aerialists, 

fearless firebreathers, and spellbinding singers 

that will take to the stage between Thursday 29th 

August and Sunday 1st September. 

After the success of last year’s event, two 

of Sheffield’s biggest homegrown talents have 

signed up as headliners for the 2024 festival. 

Now then! Kicking things off on the Thursday 

will be Steel City legend, Richard Hawley with 

his biggest hometown show ever. The singersongwriter, 

who performed with Pulp in the early 

‘00s, will play some of the very best songs from 

his almost 30-year career. 

Warming up the stage for Hawley will be 

Merseyside band The Coral, and Irish orchestral 

pop icon and master of irony, The Divine 

Comedy, aka Neil Hannon, the man behind the 

cult song National Express. 

Get ready to party on Friday as the line-up 

sees some of the UK’s hottest dance artists take 

to the big top stage. BRIT Award winning pop 

powerhouse Becky Hill is headlining, and it’s 

hoped she’ll perform some of her biggest hits 

including Side Effects, Crazy What Love Can Do, 

and I Could Get Used to This. 

Joining Becky on Friday night is Joel Corry, 

one of the most in-demand DJs and remixers 

who has over four-billion streams from his club 

bangers like Head & Heart, BED, and 0800 

Heaven. Talia Mar will also be there to Stay the 

Night, while Issey Cross makes a Bittersweet 

Goodbye. 

Then on Saturday, it’s time to Send in the Boys 

as Sheffield indie band Milburn reunite for a oneoff 

show. Three years since they last performed 

together, and six years since they had a gig at 

Don Valley Bowl, Milburn are known for their 

gritty, poetic descriptions of life up north. 

They have also handpicked the other acts set 

to share Saturday’s stage. Lightning Bolt Jake 

Bugg will get the crowd singing, The Rifles will 

get the crowd rocking, and Tik Tok sensation 

Seb Lowe will get the crowd thinking with his 

politically charged lyrics. Sheffielder Gia Ford will 

be showcasing her magnificently haunting voice. 

And ‘80s two-tone ska band The Selecter will 

be showing us that Pauline Black can still jump 

about to On My Radio even in her 70s. 

Sunday’s line-up is set to be announced early 

January. But tickets for all four days are now 

on sale including VIP access which includes a 

covered seating area with fire pits, food and drink 

outlets, and dedicated entry into the big top. 

Book your tickets online at 

www.rocknrollcircus.co.uk 



CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

GEORGE & 

DRAGON 

wentworth’s traditional family pub 

tel. 01226 899026 

32 Seater Fully Licensed 

Family Owned Restaurant 

LIGHT LUNCH MENU 

2 courses plus a hot drink only £12 

SPECIALITY SANDWICHES 

AFTERNOON TEAS 

MAIN MENU Seafood stew, beef stew and dumpling, 

fish and chips to name a few 

GRILL NIGHT Thursday 5-8pm Rump steak, chicken, 

salmon or burger plus a bottle of wine only £27 

SUNDAY LUNCH Choice of 3 roasts, seasonal veg 

and homemade Yorkshire puddings 

Delicious homemade DESSERTS all £5 

Private parties including baby showers • Bespoke menus 

Open Thurs & Fri 12-3pm & 5-8pm, Sat 5-8pm and Sun 12-3pm • Tel 07721 134509 

The Alder Tree 29 Broadway, Swinton, Rotherham S64 8HD 

It’s cold outside, why not call in for a 

luxury hot chocolate in front of the fire 

Heartwarming food 

served Mon-Sat 12-8pm and Sunday 12-6pm 

Try our famous homemade steak and ale pie 

with hand cut chips, mushy peas and rich gravy 

Wednesday 14th February Valentine’s Day 

Full menu and daily specials Bookings essential 

7 cask ales from local breweries 

85 main street, wentworth, rotherham s62 7tn 

Dog Friendly 

www.georgeanddragonwentworth.com 

BURNS’ NIGHT 

Saturday 27th January from 7pm 

5 course meal, traditional piper, toast the haggis 

with a glass of whisky or wine 

£44.95 per person or £160 for 2 people 

with overnight stay and breakfast 

VALENTINE’S DINNER 

Saturday 10th & Wednesday 14th February 

5 course dinner created by our Head Chef 

£39.95 per person or £160 for 2 people 


ITALIAN DINNER 

& WINE EXPERIENCE 

Friday 23rd February from 7pm 

Enjoy a 4 course with each course accompanied 

by a perfectly matched wine. 

£58 per person or £180 for 2 people 


INTERNATIONAL 

WOMEN’S DAY 

Friday 8th March 

Hard hitting musical comedy 

‘We’re Not Going Back’ 75 Mines, 3 Sisters, I Cause 

Follow the fortunes of three sisters, tackles 

the resilience of working communities the 

make-and-mend fabric of the family with 

humour and song. Hot buffet served from 5.30pm, 

performance starts 7pm 

£25 per person 

BACK TO THE ‘80s 

Friday 15th March from 7.30pm 

2 course meal followed by classic 1980’s disco 

Fancy dress is a must, so grab your leg warmers 

and neon beads 

£28 per person or £140 for 2 with overnight 

stay and breakfast 

MOTHER’S DAY 


Reservations from 12-4pm 

3 course meal with a free gift for all mums 

£32 Adult £16 Child (12 and under) 

Tel: 0114 2882100 Email: info@wortleyhall.org.uk 

Wortley, Sheffield, 

South Yorkshire S35 7DB 

www.wortleyhall.org.uk 



Baa’sil goes to 

Lights, camera, action! 

Rotherham Real Ale and 

Music Festival is back for 2024 

with a film-themed festival to 

celebrate the return of cinema in 

Rotherham. 

This year’s blockbuster festival will pay 

homage to the film industry across three nights 

from Thursday 7th to Saturday 9th March 

at Magna. 

Your favourite hero Baa’sil the sheep will 

be making a cameo appearance at what the 

organisers are calling ‘Director’s Cut’. 

But plot twist: it could be the last one! 

After 31 years, 12 of those held at Magna, it’s 

becoming increasingly unviable to run due to 

the rising costs of beer, bands, and venue hire. 

The call sheet of volunteers is also dwindling 

every year. 

But lead organiser, Steve Burns, is counting 

on the people of South Yorkshire to get a ticket 

and make it a fun farewell before the closing 

credits roll. 

“We always start off with the premise of how 

we can make sure people have a good time. 

Then we decided how the festival is going to 

“ 

Along with beers from 

some of South Yorkshire’s 

finest breweries such as 

Abbeydale, Bradfield, 

Gorilla, and Nailmaker, 

there will also be a guest 

bar featuring some West 

Country breweries. 

” 

make money. This year we’ve cut expenses as 

much as we can, and the ticket price is the same 

as last year - £12. 

“The pub up the road from you might be doing 

a beer festival with a few guest ales and free 

entry. But we spend as much on the music as we 

do on beer. Our entry price gets you access to 

some great live music for around half the price of 

what you’d pay to see one act. And, as always, 

if you keep your official glass then you can get 

back in for free on the Saturday.” 

The soundtrack to the start of this year’s 

festival is a bit different than in recent years. 

Thursday night will be an open mic event in the 

main hall where solo acts and bands can book 

their place to perform with the house band and 

professional sound system. 

On Friday night, the popular Funky Business 

will headline the main stage with a mix of soul, 

funk and dance classics, supported by Kiziah 

and the Kings and beer festival stalwarts, 

The G Men. 

On Saturday, there will be a buskers’ corner 

in the Boardwalk room. Any buskers who take 

part can reclaim their expenses and also collect 

donations on the night. 

Over on the main stage, the line-up includes 

South Yorkshire soloists and bands such as The 

Leptons, Lightning Threads, Bone Broke Kings, 

Sam Scherdel and Daniel Horsham. 

Then get ready to send the beer festival out 

with a bang as The Leathernecks take to the 

stage with their energetic renditions of Indie-rock 

hits from bands like Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, and 

The Libertines. 

Later this year, the eight-screen Arc Cinema 



“ 

Whether you’re in it 

for the beer, bands or 

both, remember that 

Rotherham Real Ale and 

Music Festival is a charity 

festival organised solely by 

volunteers. 

” 

opens at Forge Island, over 30 years on from 

when the last town centre cinema closed its 

doors. To celebrate this, the Boardwalk room will 

be showing films each night including classics 

Laurel and Hardy comedies, and cult horror 

movies thanks to the team at HorrorConUK. 

As ever, there will be over 150 real ales 

and ciders from breweries in all four parts of 

Yorkshire. Prices will be £2.00 for half and £4.00 

a pint. 

Yorkshire’s world-famous Timothy Taylor will 

have their own bar again in the main hall. While 

the team at Chantry Brewery will have theirs set 

up in the Boardwalk room featuring the core 

range of award-winning cask ales such as New 

York Pale, Iron and Steel Bitter, Black Diamond 

Stout, and Steelos. 

Along with beers from some of South 

Yorkshire’s finest breweries such as Abbeydale, 

Bradfield, Gorilla, and Nailmaker, there will 

also be a guest bar featuring some West 

Country breweries. 

For those who don’t like beer, there is a gin 

and cocktail bar, lots of cider and perry choices, 

and even beer that tastes like lager. There will 

also be free soft drinks for designated drivers and 

tee-totallers. 

This year, in keeping with the Hollywood 

theme, you can also have your name included 

in their Hall of Fame that will see gold stars will 

be placed down the hallway. They cost £50 and 

include ticket entry for two people for any night, 

plus a star to take home afterwards. A great idea 

for birthdays, anniversaries, or just to give a shout 

out to your own shining star. 

Whether you’re in it for the beer, bands or both, 

remember that Rotherham Real Ale and Music 

Festival is a charity festival organised solely by 

volunteers. All proceeds from the festival will go 

towards their chosen charity, Rotherham Cancer 

Care Centre at Clifton which provides counselling 

and therapies to cancer patients and their 

families. 

The team are always on the lookout for 

volunteers for before, during and after the event. 

So, if you have a few hours to spare to clean 

the pumps, put posters up, man the bars, or set 

up the stages then your help will be invaluable. 

All volunteers work shifts over the weekend and 

will get free food and drinks, as well as a festival 

t-shirt and the chance to see these amazing live 

acts perform. 

To buy tickets, visit 

www.magnabeerfestival.uk. 

THE 

DIRECTORS 

CUT 

Thursday 7th, Friday 8th 

and Saturday 9th March 

Entry £12 

Beer tokens can be bought with cash or card 

A look-back at Rotherham Real Ale 

and Music Festival 

1993 Started by Jim and Jan Charters 

at Oakwood School with 22 beers 

and one band 

2000 Start of the annual themes, 

beginning with Yorkshire Greater Ales 

2004 Baa’sil the sheep, the official 

mascot, first appeared, designed by 

cartoonist Dave Howarth 

2011 Moved to Magna due to growing 

visitor numbers and popularity of the event. 

Attended by 10,000 people who bought 

85,000 glasses of beer. 

2015 Held in June instead of the 

usual early spring slot 

2021 First virtual event owing to 

the coronavirus pandemic 

Recent themes 

2023 Baa t’at (Yorkshire themed festival) 

2022 Festival for heroes 

2020 Lambusters 

2019 Baas, Bands and Beers 

2018 Best Party in Town 

2017 Mines a Pint! 

2015 Baa-Watch 

2014 Ale to the Festival (Roman themed) 

2013 Baa’sil Goes West 

2012 Baa’s of Steel 

• Over 150 beers and ciders 

from Yorkshire breweries 

• Wines, prosecco and gin 

• Free soft drinks/alcohol-free 

beer for designated drivers 

• Food stalls, merchandise, and 

Saturday afternoon marketplace 

Live music in the main hall 

Thursday Open Mic Night 

Friday Funky Business 

Saturday THE LEATHERNECKS 

Thurs & Fri 6pm-11pm 

Sat 12pm-11pm* 

*Free re-entry with 2024 RRAMF glass 

Book your tickets online 

www.magnabeerfestival.uk 

Magna Science Adventure Centre, 

Templeborough, Rotherham S60 


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AROUNDTOWN 

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We are here to help your business grow with low cost 

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To advertise in our Classifieds, 

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man with a 

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Installation and repair of CCTV cameras 

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T: 01709 543997 


KITCHENS 

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www.idealhi.co.uk

Aroundtown Magazine January/February 2024 edition

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