DISTRICT NEWS: TICKHILL

SOUND OF MUSIC KICK STARTS CHURCH PROJECT: The Sponsored Music Day that is being held at St Mary’s Parish Church on Saturday, July 16 from 10am to 4pm will raise money for the church newly launched Warm and Welcoming Church project. This is the first event that kick starts the initiative to upgrade the outdated heating system at the historic building. A wide range of music will be played including requests and sponsorship forms are now available from church organist John Marsden who will be leading the six hours of sponsored music. The churchwardens and the congregation at St Mary’s want the church to be an inviting place at the heart of the community where groups and individuals feel warm amd welcome from the moment that they enter. The Warm and Welcoming project is aimed at encouraging wider use of the building by the community groups and to promote events such as concerts and exhibitions. Over the next few years Phase One of the scheme will be the first step in the realisation of the ambitious project that will begin with improved new boilers that are hydrogen ready and new heat exchangers and by this autumn work will be completed to have flushed and refilled the existing cast iron pipe and radiator system. The work that is currently being undertaken will be adaptable to whatever wider reordering scheme is undertaken and it will safeguard the fabric of the building. It will enable better access to all parts of the building through making small, achievable alterations and adjustments, drawing on professional advice where needed. The Phase One scheme will entail significant costs, which can be seen as an investment in the future. Although some of these costs may be met by charitable grants and individual donations given exclusively for the work at St Mary’s it will be necessary to locally raise a substantial amount of money to help pay for this work through fundraising efforts and events and so that is why the St Mary’s Tickhill Warm and Welcoming Church Project fundraising programme has been launched. Administrators at the church have said that they cannot ignore the needs of so many in our communities during this national cost of living crisis so it is intended to combine this project of local fundraising for St Mary’s Tickhill Warm and Welcoming Church Project with raising funds for those in need in our own neighbourhood and in support of a Third World Mission partner. For every £10 that is raised to spend on the building it is aimed to raise at least £4 for local good causes addressing cost of living needs and £1 for our overseas partners. The church welcomes the support of local charity and statutory partners and community groups and individuals in this major fundraising effort. Church organist John Marsden hosts the first of a series of all ticket Warm and Welcoming Heating Fund Sunday Lunches at his Sunderland Street home on Sunday, July 17 that consist of a main course and dessert with tea and coffee to follow.   

WHEELER TOM REMEMBERED: The world of professional cycling was rocked to its core 55 years ago this week with the sudden death of former Rotherham Scala Wheeler Tom Simpson. Tom met his untimely death at the age of 29 on the 13th stage of the Tour de France on July 13, 1967. He is still fondly remembered by the riders and cycling followers of today as one of the men that put British professional cycling on the international map. Tom made a huge contribution to the sport that he loved during his short but remarkably successful career. His collapse and death on the searing slopes of Mont Ventoux (The Giant of Provence/The Bald Mountain) on the 13th stage of the Tour de France while trying to achieve his burning ambition to win the world’s toughest bike race sent shock waves through the sport and stunned his fellow Great Britain team mates. Tom Simpson was the first Briton to wear the maillot jaune (yellow jersey) in the Tour de France in 1962, the first Briton to win the World Road Race Championship in 1965 that was staged in San Sebastian, Spain and the first cyclist to be voted BBC Sports Personality in that same year. I am a long time cyclist and my Tickhill home is just a couple of miles from the Simpson family’s former Festival Avenue home in Harworth, North Nottinghamshire where Tom grew up. Harworth cemetery, which is Tom’s last resting place, is also just up the road from me and for the past three decades my wife Kate and I have cared for the flowers on Tom’s grave that we have also kept neat and tidy. The magnificent black marble headstone in Harworth cemetery depicts Tom in silhouette riding his bike along a winding road into the sunset. The words to remember him that are carved on the stone in gold lettering say - In loving memory of Tom Simpson, the dear husband of Helen and loving father of Jane and Joanne, who died on Mont Ventoux, France 13th July 1967 - aged 29 years while competing in the Tour De France Cycle Race. His body ached, his legs grew tired but still he would not give in. Fifty five years on from his death the name and the career of Tom Simpson has inspired and continues to inspire the male and female British racing cyclists medal winning performances across the world in Olympic Games, World Championships and in cycling’s classic races. Cyclists from across the country continue to visit Tom’s grave in Harworth including Tour de France winner and Olympic gold medallist Sir Bradley Wiggins. Instead of Tom’s reputation diminishing over the past half a century Tom’s name and his exploits over half a century ago live on forever in the sport and Tom will without doubt continue to be remembered by future generations of cyclist’s.

KIDS CUT SUPERMARKET RIBBON: Children from St Mary’s Church of England Primary School were invited by Liam Turner, the manager at the town’s new Cooperative supermarket run by Central England Co-op, to cut the ribbon that officially opened the town’s latest retail outlet located in the former Millstone public house on the corner of Castlegate and Westgate. To mark the big occasion Liam made a donation of food and essentials to the food bank collection point that is based at the new store that supports Bassetlaw Food Bank. Liam said: “Me and my team look forward to being part of the local community here in Tickhill and to building relationships with local groups and organisations. We are proud to be part of such a great community so we were delighted to welcome children from Tickhill St Mary’s to join us on our opening day and to cut the ribbon at our new store.”

FUNDRAISING SPIKE: Town resident and dedicated hedgehog carer Lynn Bennett has thanked everyone that supported the Retford based 7th Heaven Hedgehog Rescue centre, that is run by Sue Smith who was with us at the gala, by calling in at the stall that volunteers manned at the Tickhill Scout and Guide Gala that was held at the Tithes Lane recreation ground. Lynn said: “Your support is much appreciated to keep this rescue centre going. We are doing well for our hedgehog population here in Tickhill and in the surrounding areas and long may it continue. The name the bear competition was won by a local gentleman and the bear that he named Ashley was delivered to him after the gala. The raffle raised £180. I must mention my Tickhill friend Suzanne Green who is a fellow volunteer at 7th Heaven Hedgehog centre. Without Sue’s constant care and support the rescue would not be where it is today. She is always on hand rescuing, promoting awareness and appealing to members of the public on behalf of 7th Heaven for puppy pads, food etc when our stock is low and people respond so willingly. We all pull together to help to create a great hedgehog rescue centre.”  

CHURCH SURVEY: The Reverend Canon Paul Richardson Priest in Charge and the administrators at St Mary’s Parish Church, Tickhill and St Winifrid’s Parish Church, Stainton are conducting a Congregational Survey on Future Services. Those members of the congregation completing the survey have been told the plan is to restore the worship pattern following the disruptions of the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic and of the latest clergy vacancy. It will also help as the churches share the new Mission Area together with Rossington, Finningley and Auckley. The Mission Area Ministry Team consists of two full time stipendiary clergy, two part time self-supporting clergy and six volunteer Lay Readers. The churches are trying to provide a sustainable pattern of church services across the five parishes of the Mission Area. The aim of the survey is to ensure that the right balance of Eucharistic and Non Eucharist services to match that resource of ministry and to provide a good variety of options of worship styles for parishioners. Parishioners are being asked in the survey their opinion on amendments to the times of Sunday Services, Sung Eucharist, Sunday Evening Services, Baptism Services and Mid Week Services. Comments will be considered by the Parochial Church Council and feed into the preparation of services for a trial period between October and March. Completed survey forms should be handed in by the end of the month and can be placed in the envelope that is fixed to the notice board at the back of St Mary’s Parish Church.

BURNING ISSUE PREVENTION: Tickhill Surgery, St Mary’s Road has reminded town residents over the age of 70 that they are entitled to a free shingles vaccination on the National Health Service. It is estimated that around 1 in 4 people will have at least one episode of shingles during their life. Most people recover from shingles after a few weeks but for some shingles can be very painful and may last a long time. The shingles vaccination within the current immunisation programme contraindicated (may cause harm) in people with certain medical conditions. Residents aged over 70 plus are urged to protect themselves from the pain of shingles and to speak to their General Practioner surgery about having the vaccine.

WILD ABOUT DIVERSITY: Doncaster Council has located signs beside the areas around the Tickhill community that have been wilded. The notices tell residents that Wild Doncaster is improving diversity and is working towards a green future by creating these areas that are being cut less often to help to support our birds, bees and other important pollinator friends.

PATIENTS ON CAMERA: Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) has now been installed at the Tickhill and Colliery Surgery, St Mary’s Road. The system that is now operational in the surgery waiting area has been introduced to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

SPECIAL TALK: The retired business and professional gentlemen of Tickhill and Bawtry Probus Club welcome guest speaker Graeme Cooper to their meeting on Thursday, July 14. Graeme will talk about the Special Air Service (SAS) of the British Army when he steps to the lectern in the lounge at Tickhill Cricket Club, Alderson Drive at 10.30am where the doors open at 10am. Probus secretary Adam Skinner and his colleagues welcome new members. Adam can be contacted 01302 745900 for more information.

COUNTRYWOMEN JUST CRUISING: The ladies of the Tickhill branch of the Yorkshire Countrywomen’s Association (YCA) travel to North Yorkshire on the morning of Thursday, July 14. After meeting at the town’s Methodist Church, Northgate they depart by coach to Skipton where they will then board a canal cruiser for a two hour trip and lunch.

SUE LEADS: Town resident and experienced walker Sue Clipsham leads members of Tickhill and District Footpath group on their weekly walk on Monday, July 18. After meeting at the Buttercross monument at 7pm Sue heads the party around the paths and tracks in the Stump Cross area of the community.