WHAT'S ON: Anston

SOUTH ANSTON METHODIST CHURCH: Mondays – adult exercise class 10-10.45am, Beavers 6.15-7.30pm, Scouts 7.30-9pm. Tuesdays – Brownies 6-7.30pm, Guides 7.30-9pm. Wednesdays – coffee morning 9.30-11.15am. Thursdays – Anston Parish Friendship Club 2-4pm, Cubs 6.30-8pm. Fridays – sequence dance £2 7.30-9.30pm. Saturdays – Men’s Breakfast Club 8.30-10.30am. Contact 01909 560233.  

NORTH ANSTON METHODIST CHURCH: Girls’ Brigade (four years old and upwards) meet every Monday 6-8.30pm (term time only) at The Wells, North Anston. The Drop-In meets every Tuesday 10am-noon. Messy Place 2-4pm on second Saturday of month, contact 01909 564774.

ST JAMES’ PARISH CHURCH: Sunday services 10am – 1st Family Service for all ages with Communion, 2nd Morning Service with Thanksgiving and Baptisms, 3rd Traditional Communion Service with choir, 4th Liquid worship informal creative service with music group, 5th informal Communion with music. Last Sunday of every month 8am – service of BCP Holy Communion. Sunday services 6pm – 1st church open until 7pm for quiet space and interactive prayer, 2nd Communion Service with music group or piano, 3rd Taize, Celtic or Meditation Service, 4th Said Communion no music, 5th no service. Weekday services third Wednesday in month – Said Communion at noon followed by fellowship lunch cost £1; Morning Prayer Thursdays 9am in choir stalls. The Parish Surgery held on first Thursday of every month 6.45-8pm, contact Rev M Caunt 01909 563447, stjamesanston.co.uk. Bell-ringing practise 7.30pm every Thursday in church.

SK58 BIRDERS: January 11 – at Brown Bayley’s were two great crested grebe, 11 tufted duck and a drake goosander. Then on the birding walk around Langold Lake, six members recorded 32 species including five great crested grebe (one pair doing their courtship display), 12 mute swan, 12 pochard, 17 tufted duck, two buzzard, five moorhen, one common gull, two green woodpecker, two great spotted woodpecker, two song thrush, two mistle thrush, one redwing, two nuthatch, one treecreeper and about 35 siskin. Evening indoor meetings (on last Wednesday of month) resume on January 27 7.30pm with AGM and a talk by Malcolm Walpole called Botswana 2 in The Loyal Trooper, Sheffield Road, South Anston. www.sk58birders.com.

DINNINGTON AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: January 11 – the unanimous decision by the DDHS Committee to elect Derek Wilks as chairman from January 1 was confirmed by 61 members in favour. Only one vote was cast for the ex-chairman who retired on December 31 and who contested the committee’s decision. The evening talk by Chris Margrave was called Clumber Park Walled Garden. The next meeting on February 8 7.30pm in Anston Parish Hall will be the AGM and a talk on Tanzania by Jan Jarrold. Books and bird seed will be on sale. Contact your District News correspondent for further details, AGM agenda items need to be in writing or via email by February 2.

JIMMY’S BABY AND TODDLER GROUP: Every Monday during school term time 1.15-2.45pm at St James’ Church meeting room, free entry/donation. Newborn to pre-school. Contact Julie 01909 809288 or 07754 765129.

AGE UK ROTHERHAM COFFEE AFTERNOON: At Todwick Church Hall, Lindleys Croft S26 1HN on Fridays 2-4pm. £2.50 a session. Contact Kathryn Wild  01709 910699, [email protected], www.ageuk.org.uk/rotherham.  

ANSTON HISTORY GROUP: The next talk on February 1 7.30pm in Anston Parish Hall is by Mike Ogden on The Seed of Kings. £2.50 per session.

FRIENDS OF ANSTON BURIAL GROUND: Meet in Anston Parish Hall 11am on second Thursday of month. Contact 01909 567338 or 566133.      

ANSTON PARISH FRIENDSHIP CLUB: Thursdays 2-4pm in South Anston Methodist Church Hall. Contact 01909 560233. 

INDEPENDENT BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION SOCIETY (IBIS): Meet every Wednesday 12.30-3.30pm in Anston Parish Hall. Contact 01909 564891. 

ANSTON MALE VOICE CHOIR: Practise at Anston Parish Hall most Thursdays 7-9pm. No audition necessary. Contact Mike West 01909 566919, http://www.anstonmvc.co.uk/.  

ANSTON LADIES VOICE CHOIR: Practise at Anston Parish Hall most Tuesdays 7.30-9.30pm. No audition necessary. Choir is available to sing at functions or charitable events, contact secretary 01909 568216.

CLLR JO BURTON AND CLLR ROBERT TAYLOR SURGERIES: Woodland Drive Community Centre, first Thursday of month 9.30-10.30am. St James’ Church Hall, second Thursday of month 10-11am. South Anston Methodist Church (The Oak Room), third Wednesday of month 5.30-6.30pm. Woodsetts Pavilion, last Wednesday of month 6.30-7pm. No appointment necessary. Contact Cllr Burton 01909 562698, [email protected], Cllr Robert Taylor 01709 255718 [email protected].

CLLR CLIVE JEPSON’S SURGERIES: Anston Parish Hall, first or second Wednesday of month 6.30-7pm preceding parish council finance meeting. South Anston Methodist Church (Oak Room), first Wednesday of month 10-11am. Woodsetts Village Hall, third Saturday of month 9.30-10.30am. No appointment necessary. If unable to attend a surgery or for a home visit, contact 01909 564647.