This week’s District News from our news correspondents across the borough

KIMBERWORTH AND KIMBERWORTH PARK

Karen Wilkes - Tel 07930 438313 or email [email protected]

THE SALVATION ARMY: 158 High Street Kimberworth S61 2BE. Telephone 01709 558435. Email [email protected]. Sunday 10.30am relaxed and relevant church gathering. Tuesday 9.30-1030am coffee morning, 10.30-11.30am bible study group. Wednesday 9-11am play group for preschoolers. Friday 9-10am prayer space.

ST THOMAS’ CHURCH: Peter Street, Kimberworth. Holy Communion Services every second and fourth Sunday.  Family Service on first Sunday of month and the All-Age service with potential baptisms on third Sunday.  All services 10am. Coffee mornings in Community Hall on first Wednesday of month 10am-noon. Good Companions on first and third Thursday 1.30-3.30pm. For enquiries about baptisms or weddings, contact Rev Diane Etchell [email protected]. To hire the Community Centre, contact Rachel [email protected].  

KIMBERWORTH LIBRARY: Church Street, Kimberworth. Tel 01709 558581. Opening times - Monday and Tuesday 9.30am-1pm, Wednesday closed, Thursday 1.30-7pm, Friday 1.30-5.30pm, Saturday 9.30am-1pm, Sunday closed. Knit and Natter every Thursday 2.30-4.30pm, experienced and beginners welcome. Readers’ Group once a month on second Thursday 5.30-6.45pm. IT beginners’ course – learn basic IT and internet skills with Learnmyway.com 10-11am every Tuesday. Police Drop In – 1 st Tuesday of month 9.30-11am. Free stories, songs and rhymes for under 5s every Monday 11.15-11.45am.

ST JOHN’S CHURCH: Sunday services 10.30am.  For enquiries, telephone (01709) 551652. On Sunday morning there was the annual Remembrance Sunday service.  The after-school clubs met on Monday and Tuesday.  Today (Thursday), the Drop-In Café is open 11am-1pm.  On Sunday 10.30am there will be a service of Morning Worship. 

CLLRS’ SURGERIES AT ST JOHN’S CHURCH: Cllr Simon Currie - Third Monday of month 6-7pm. Cllr Gill Garnett – First Thursday of month 11.30am-12.30pm along with Council Housing and Local Policing Team.

ST JOHN’S GREEN STAKEHOLDER GROUP: Group consists of residents, business owners, councillors, RMBC housing and estates staff, police, church members, community groups, children and young peoples’ services etc. Meets regularly at St John’s Church to discuss ideas and problems. Next meeting 20th January 2027.

KIMBERWORTH PARK COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP: Membership open to residents of estate and others who work there. Meetings held regularly to update members on developments and plans for making a difference to the estate. Contact 01709 559805. Next meeting 23rd November 3.30pm.

ACTIVITIES AT THE CHISLETT CENTRE: Monday-Friday 9am-3pm Men in Sheds (woodwork/gardening/socialising). Mondays - Knit/Natter 9.30-11.30am, Quiet Group 11.30am-1.30pm, Sewing group 1.30-3.15pm. Tuesdays – 11.30am-1.30pm Social group for over 50s. Wednesday – 9.15-11am Craft Group. Last Wednesday of month noon-2pm Forget Me Not Memory Café (Social group for people with dementia). Mon/Tues/Wed 10am-noon and Thursday 1-3pm Community Gym. Thursday - 10-11am Gentle Exercise/Keep Fit, 11.30am Musicality. Friday - 10.30-11.30am Yoga (chair based or floor mat), noon-1pm Wellbeing/Mindfulness.

CHISLETT COMMUNITY GYM: Chislett Centre S61 3JT. Small friendly low-cost gym - £3 per session. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10am-noon. Instructor is GP referral and pre and post-natal trained. Individual support and free induction. For information/booking, phone Sam 07523889765 or [email protected].

KIMBERWORTH PARK WALKING FOR PLEASURE: Meets at St. John’s Church on Wednesday 9.45am. On 4th November, the group travelled by cars to Rother Valley Country Park for a 3.5 mile walk around the lake. Anyone wishing to join the group should contact Karen Wilkes [email protected]. Website https://www.kimberworthwalking.net.

GRANGE PARK GOLF CLUB: Explore range of full, flexi, and corporate golf membership packages. Call 01709 919991.

KIMBERWORTH PARK TARA: Monday to Wednesday 9-11am. Byrley Road.

KIMBERWORTH PARK CLUB 50+: Fridays noon-3pm at St Thomas’s Community Hall, High Street, Kimberworth. Christmas craft and gift market on 14th November noon-4pm. Free entry. Text 07947090607.

S61 LITTER ACTION GROUP: For details of future litterpicks, see Facebook page S61 Litterpickers. If you fancy getting involved, check Facebook page or contact Neil 07960 507582.

ROTHERHAM BMX CLUB: Little Common Lane, Kimberworth. To promote BMX / MTB Racing which is suitable for anyone aged 4 to 40+. The club has a number of bikes and safety equipment available, which can be hired. To book go to www.rotherhambmx.com/shop or contact [email protected].

BARKERS PARK BOWLING CLUB: Redscope Crescent S613LY. We are looking to encourage anyone interested in Crown green bowling to have a look at the club. There is usually someone there (weather permitting) every Friday 10.30am-1pm and Tuesdays if not playing away. On some Tuesdays and Thursdays, may be a league game. There will always be someone there to welcome you even on match days. Contact Dave Neale 07837460152.

WHISTON

Elaine Reynard - Tel 07825 558070 or email [email protected]

WHISTON REMEMBERS: Whiston residents came together on Remembrance Sunday to honour and remember our fallen from two World Wars. Poppy garlands were displayed at the Remembrance and special services were held at both Whiston Parish Church and Whiston Methodist Church. Following the service at the Parish Church, Patrick White led the outdoor Act of Remembrance at the Lychgate, when the names of local fallen heroes were read out, a bugler played the Last Post/Reveille, Veteran Alan Burgin gave a poetry reading, the Kohima Epitaph was spoken and poppy wreaths were laid. Whiston Parish Council’s Remembrance Lunch then took place in the Parish Hall, when 60 veterans enjoyed a pie and pea lunch, free raffle and musical entertainment from Brian and Pete who donated their fee to the collection, resulting in more than £500 for the Royal British Legion. Thanks are extended to the local Guides for their lovely floral drawings, and to The Golden Ball, The Chequers, Worrygoose Lane Coop, 7am SandwichBar and Whiston Cards, Gifts and Flowers for their generous donation of raffle prizes.

WHISTON PARISH COUNCIL: The next meeting of Whiston Parish Council will take place on Monday November 16 6.30pm in the Parish Hall. Items on the agenda for discussion include: 1) Youth Club report; 2) report of the Responsible Financial Officer; 3) update on Christmas Event; 4) Whiston Flood Alleviation Scheme concerns - update on additional representations made to RMBC; 5) Remembrance Sunday de-brief and consideration of parishioner representations re extending display of lamppost poppies in future years; 6) Cowrakes Field tree planting project; 7)consideration of parishioner’s representations at last meeting regarding a) the state of the closed footbridge over Whiston Brook, b) the state of the Brook and dumping of industrial waste, c) the speed of traffic on High Street; 8) local parishioner’s representations re poplar trees at the Parish Pound; 9) RMBC - Community Governance Review 2026 - second stage consultation; 9) Yorkshire Water request for a Teams meeting to provide a briefing on the Worrygoose Lane project design and programme. There will also be a Ward Councillor Report. Members’ items are: A) availability/use of AI tools to assist the work of the Parish Council, and B) Rotherham Creative - potential craft session in early December. Remember that the first 15 minutes of every meeting is given to public speaking, so if you have anything you wish to raise with us, do come along.

WHISTON’S MANORIAL BARN: Whiston Parish Council’s funding of the part re-thatching of the Grade II listed Manorial Barn is creating interest in the media. Tony Griffin, Chair of Whiston Parish Council and Whiston Heritage Society, has given interviews to Rotherham Advertiser, Radio Sheffield and the Yorkshire Post and on Thursday December 3, there is to be a visit from Look North. This building, dating back to the early 13th century, was once part of a working farm and used to store and process crops. It is one of the oldest surviving agricultural structures in the county, and its timber frame, constructed using the cruck method, showcases the skill and craftsmanship of medieval builders.

WORRYGOOSE COOP’S CHRISTMAS ‘GIVING TREE’?: This year the Coop on Worrygoose Lane will have a special Christmas ‘Giving Tree’ in store. This is the initiative of Store Manager, Donna, who will be adding labels to the tree, each giving the age/gender of a child, with the idea that customers are requested to take a label and purchase a suitable gift which they then return to store. This idea is part of the annual Rotherham Christmas Toy Appeal, in conjunction with Rotherham Families First, and the Coop store have agreed to be a ‘drop-off’ point for people wishing to donate. All donated gifts will go to children who may otherwise not be so lucky this Christmas.

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL PYJAMA APPEAL: The Beauty Box in Whiston are a collection point for Children’s Hospital Pyjamas and are asking the local community to help them spread a little comfort by donating a brand-new pair of children’s pyjamas, suitable for newborns up to the age of 18. You can bring along your donations and the Beauty Box will ensure they are passed on to the charity to help children in hospitals, hospices and women’s refuges. The only requests are that the pyjamas must be new and “no fleece or Christmas pyjamas” please. Donations can be made until November 30.

CONGRATULATIONS TO WHISTON’S ‘PUB OF THE YEAR’: Congratulations to The Hind pub on East Bawtry Road who have won Ember Inns ‘Pub of the Year’ Award, beating approximately 350 other pubs. Manager, Mikey, says the award was given in recognition of rising to the challenge of turning around the pub’s performance and, in addition, they also won the ‘Guest Obsessed Award based on customer feedback. The next ‘Sip and Paint’ evening is fully booked, but on the evening of December 5 there will be musical entertainment to raise money for Rotherham Hospice.

GROUP’S HALLOWEEN FUNDRAISING EFFORTS: A big shout out to the young ladies of Expression U16 Lyrical who recently set up their Halloween ‘Bake Off’ stall outside the shops on Worrygoose Lane to raise funds to help them take part in The Dance Summit 2027. The group have earned a prestigious invitation to compete in this competition in Orlando, Florida to represent their club, South Yorkshire and England on the international stage. They have set up a Gofundme page and all monies raised will go towards entry fees, kit and other essentials.

WHISTON PARISH CHURCH: Last Sunday was Remembrance Sunday. At 9.45am Rev Karen Skidmore led the all-age parade service and gave the Address. The church was beautifully decorated with poppy displays arranged by members of the craft group and there were also displays left by pupils of Whiston J and I who had had a Remembrance service the previous Friday. The Act of Remembrance at the Lychgate was led by Patrick White, Reader. The names of Whiston’s Fallen in both World Wars were read out. At 6pm Rev Karen presided and preached at the Requiem Eucharist. On Monday morning Little Fishes met in the Parish Hall. The ladies from the Nourish group had their monthly meeting on Monday night in church and Lynn Dent organised “a mindfulness evening”. Rev Caroline Wyman presided at the Holy Communion service on Wednesday 10.30am. The PCC met in the evening. Today (Thursday) there is no rehearsal for “Our Choir at Christmas”; next one November 19 7.30pm. On Friday evening there will be Choir Practice. On Saturday 9.30am-1pm Malcolm Turner ‘s Bellringers will be at St Mary Magdalene, Whiston. Next Sunday Parish Eucharist and Starfish gang 9.45am and YouthZone will have an outing to Centertainment. November 29 - Advent Carol Service 6pm. The Christmas Tree Festival in church is on December 5. This year’s theme is “Pantomime”-  Refreshments from 10.30am, roast pork sandwiches from noon. Our new informal adult “Choir at Christmas” will sing at this event. Christingle Service 4pm on December 6. To make arrangements for weddings or baptisms, ring 07799684543 or [email protected]; whiston [email protected]. Lucy Luckock (children and families’ activities) 07707863901. Rev Karen Skidmore, Priest in charge 07356232600. Alan Teale, Churchwarden 07803021201. Email [email protected].

WHISTON METHODIST CHURCH: The Remembrance Sunday service on November 8 was led by Mavis Morgan and Anne Miller. Julie Hardwick read the Roll of Honour for the fallen in both World Wars. The Craft and Board Games Group met Tuesday noon-2pm. Community Coffee morning every Thursday 10-11.30am. Rev Andrew Fox will be the preacher at next Sunday morning’s service 10.30am. The Christmas Market is on Saturday November 28 3-6pm during the Whiston Village Christmas Lights event.

BROOM METHODIST CHURCH: Service of Remembrance on Sunday was led by Rona Hudson. She invited members of the congregation to share their memories of relatives who had served in the armed forces. She brought in a framed gallery of family medals. Broom Baby and Toddler Group meets Thursday during term time 9-11am. Next Tuesday@Broom on Tuesday November 24 10am-noon. Broom will be celebrating its 74th anniversary on Saturday  November 21 2pm with an afternoon tea - see the stewards for details. Broom carol service on Wednesday December 16 7pm. 

LITTLE FISHES: Baby and Toddler Group meet every Monday during term time at Whiston Parish Hall 9.30-11am.

SUNBEAMS: Baby and Toddler Group meet Tuesday during term time at Cuthbert’s Church Hall, Herringthorpe 9.30-11am.