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 6.15-8.30pm (term time only) at The Wells, North Anston. The Shoebox Drop-In meets every Tuesday 10am-noon. Messy Place 2-4pm tomorrow. 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 inter-active 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 £1; Morning Prayer Thursdays 9am in choir stalls. Parish surgery on first Thursday of month 6.45-8pm. Contact Rev M Caunt 01909 563447, stjamesanston.co.uk. Bell ringing practise 7.30pm every Thursday in church.

SK58 BIRDERS: The 2015 Christmas walk had 10 participants following First Lane at South Anston down to the Chesterfield Canal and the first bird of the day was a common buzzard over Smarstons Hill Wood. Two cormorants flew south and there were yellowhammers in the hedgerow and stock dove in the field. On arrival at the canal participants saw marsh tit in a mixed tit flock, goldcrest, nuthatch, a treecreeper calling and a flock of goldfinch and siskin. At Hawkes Wood there were teal, jay and great spotted woodpecker. Leaving the canal at Fanfield participants had four common buzzard soaring in a clear blue sky. By Lindrick Dale there were views of a marsh tit feeding only six metres away. Passing through Anston Grange Farm 20 yellowhammer flew past and up to 45 skylark were feeding in rape. Shortly after, a peregrine was hunting and the final birds of the day were 75 pink footed geese extremely high heading North East. A total of 43 species were seen. January 24 – Orgreave field trip led by Geoff Facer, meet at The Loyal Trooper car park 8am. Evening indoor meetings (on the last Wednesday of the month) resume on January 27 7.30pm with the AGM and a talk by Malcolm Walpole called Botswana 2 in The Loyal Trooper. www.sk58birders.com.

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.

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 available to sing at functions or charitable events, contact secretary 01909 568216.

CLLRS JO BURTON AND 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. If unable to get to a surgery, contact Cllr Burton 01909 562698 or [email protected] or Cllr Robert Taylor 01709 255718 or [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.