WHAT'S ON: Tickhill

KEN REMEMBERED: The life of Kenneth Emberton was celebrated at a funeral service in St Mary’s Parish Church on March 31. Mr Emberton, who died in hospital on March 15 aged 89, was the assistant organist at St Mary’s Parish Church for over 25 years. He also served on the St Mary’s Parish Church monthly magazine committee for 20 years. Ken taught at Barnard Castle School, County Durham, from 1953 to 1986 and during that time he was head of classics, house tutor in Durham House and Northumberland House and went on to be the housemaster of Northumberland for 22 years. Amongst the mourners at the service was celebrity Old Barnardian and actor Kevin Whately. Retired clergyman Rev Donald Thorpe officiated at the funeral service that was followed by a service of committal at Rose Hill Crematorium. Charitable donations in lieu of flowers benefited the church. A reception was held at Tickhill Cricket Club.

RACING AHEAD: Plans continue to be formulated for the great reception that will await the Tour de Yorkshire riders when they reach Tickhill on April 30. Competitors in the elite ladies’ race that is expected at around 11am and the elite men’s race that will whizz past some hours later can expect to see crowds lining the roadside. The town’s display of scarecrows will have a cycling theme. There will be entertainment including live bands and buskers, a barbecue, a big TV screen and community singing. Tickhill Velo Cycling Club is organising rides on the morning of the event. There will be bicycles decorated with flowers at the entrances to the town and bunting and flags will be flying.

NEW MANAGER: Lesley Lockett is the new manager of the town’s Oxfam shop. Town resident Lesley, a prime mover with Tickhill Together, has been a volunteer member of the Oxfam team and is the first paid manager at the Buttercross Court shop.

IT’S HYMN AGAIN: John Marsden, organist and choirmaster at St Mary’s Parish Church, is the guest of Tickhill Methodist Ladies’ Fellowship on April 12. He will give an organ recital in the lounge at the Northgate chapel 2.30pm.

ANNUAL MEETING: The AGM of the Parish Room Committee is on April 13 7pm at the community building on Northgate. Items on the agenda include receiving reports and accounts and electing trustees.

RUSSIAN EXPERIENCE: Peter Richardson talks to Tickhill and Bawtry Probus Club about My Time in Russia on April 14 in the Millstone Hotel, Westgate 10am. This is the second part of Peter’s recounting of his Russian experiences.

PEEP SHOW: The town’s branch of the Yorkshire Countrywomen’s Association will have speaker Michael Davidson-Paine at the meeting on April 14. His talk is entitled What the Butler Saw 7.30pm in the Methodist Schoolroom.

BACK TO THE THIRTIES: Lucy Adlington talks at Tickhill Library about Tea Gowns and Tea Time on April 14 2pm. Lucy sets her talk in the 1930s. Tickets from the library £8.

BRAIN TEASERS: A quiz night is being held in the Parish Room, Northgate, on April 15 7.30pm. Cost £5 each which includes a pie and pea supper. Contact Lesley  01302 744600 to book a place.

GROWING FUND: Funds are growing to purchase a life-saving defibrillator for the town. The total stands at £450. The town’s Explorer Scout Unit, part of the 13th Doncaster Scout group, is raising money to buy the machine costing £2,500. Among the fundraising events planned at the St Mary’s Road Scout and Guide HQ is a film show by Yorkshire Film Archive that pictures Tickhill as it was in the past.

FILM CLUB: Volunteers are needed to help organise the potential forming of a cinema club in Tickhill. Contact Dorothy Colcutt 01302 741140.

CHURCH ELECTION: Forms for nomination for election as Parochial Church Council (PCC) members or churchwardens are available at the back of St Mary’s Parish Church. This is in preparation for the annual PCC meeting on April 17. A copy of the current electoral roll, placed there by electoral roll officer Judith Black, can be seen in church together with a list of names that have been removed since it was last revised.