WHAT'S ON: Tickhill

JOHN WINS AWARD: Well-known Tickhill resident John Marsden (67) is the winner of the town’s third annual Community Award. John was born and bred in Tickhill and has made a great contribution to the community over many years. The son of the late Bernard and Lily Marsden, he has been organist at St Mary’s Parish Church and choirmaster since 1983 having previously been organist at the Parish Church of St James, Balby for 13 years. Trained teacher John, who studied at St Lukes, Exeter retired from his post of head teacher at Finningley Church of England Primary School in 2005. John is a founder member and current chairman of the Tickhill Together group of volunteers. He continues to lead the team that is made up of members of the community along with local business owners that work to promote Tickhill. John is instrumental in organising the town’s annual scarecrow festival, annual late night shopping event and community Christmas lights switch-on. John is the leader of the St Mary’s Parish Church handbell ringing team that he established. He also recently organised the concert in St Mary’s Parish Church that celebrated the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. The soup lunches that he helps with in the Parish Room continue to pack the historic Northgate building and diners are always keen to be invited to the Sunday dinners that he cooks at his Sunderland Street home to raise money for various charities. John’s mum Lily was the founder of the town’s Mother Teresa Knitting Group and John continues the work of his mum by co-ordinating the group that makes warm clothes and blankets for needy people at home and abroad. On receiving the prestigious trophy at the annual Community Award ceremony in the Tithes Lane Pavilion, John said: “It is a great honour to receive this accolade. It recognises the work of many people who support me in the community.” Other awards presented at the ceremony went to Reid Wass as Young Person of the Year, Sarah Beevers received the Alison Award for Achievement and Small World Travel won the Best Dressed Christmas Window Competition.

UP AND RUNNING: Tickhill Institute is up and running after the completion of repairs to the roof above the games room. The big concert room with its stage, that was recently the venue for the annual town pantomime, is also fully operational. Contact Tickhill Institute for information.

FOOTPATHS REOPEN: Public footpath numbers 13 and 16 that link Tickhill Cricket Club’s Alderson Drive ground with Tithes Lane, which were officially closed by DMBC in May 2014, have now re-opened. The paths were closed whilst two houses were built in what was originally known as Scarbrough’s Field, off Scarbrough Close.

UNWANTED GIFTS WELCOME: Townsfolk who have received unwanted gifts in their Christmas stocking are invited to take them along to the Oxfam charity shop in Buttercross Court off Northgate at the rear of Stewart Car Sales. The sale of donated items helps fund the work of Oxfam.

THINK PARKING: The Tickhill Together Group of volunteers is hosting a meeting in Tickhill that will give residents and business folk the opportunity to talk about the parking problems in the town. Townsfolk have been asked to come up with constructive comments as to how the long-standing situation can be relieved. Vehicles belonging to the town’s shop and business workers were found in a recent survey to be taking up much of the free St Mary’s Road public car park thus leaving few parking spaces for shoppers. One suggestion that has been made is that with the approval of landlords some of the town’s car parks located at pubs could be utilised during the day.

FLOOD PREVENTION: A planning application has been submitted by DMBC to its own planning department that seeks permission to build a 136-metre long flood defence wall alongside Paper Mill Dyke in the Lindrick area of the town adjacent to the Mill Dam. Applicant Richard Ward has told Tickhill Town Council that funding is in place to complete the construction of the substantial wall that is designed to protect several properties from flooding and ensure the safety of people using the footpath that runs alongside the watercourse that borders the Mill Field. DMBC has worked with The Friends of the Mill Dam on the project. Tickhill Town Council has supported the application.

NEW YEAR FITNESS: Tickhill Yoga Group classes led by tutor Ann Key take place in the Tithes Lane Pavilion on Thursday mornings 9.45-11.15am and 11.30am-1pm. Included in the exercises are stretching, Yoga postures, breath awareness and relaxation. The cost of each session is £4.50 payable by the term, which is usually 12 weeks. Contact Jackie Clark 01302 751118 or Ann Key 0114 287 2610.