WHAT'S ON: Bawtry

GENEROUS GESTURE HELPS SANCTUARY: Stewart Piper, boss of Tickhill-based Pipers Car Sales, has helped the animals at Bawtry Mayflower Sanctuary. Stewart’s wife Kathryn is a regular volunteer dog walker at the Narrow Lane centre and when she heard that Mayflower was in need of a new van she knew who could help. Stewart said: “Kathryn and I are big animal lovers and greatly admire and support the splendid all-year-round work of Mayflower Animal Sanctuary in caring for a rehoming cats and dogs. We were delighted to be able to present them with the former police dog handling van that will be used by Mayflower to transport animals.” Stewart, a former star player with Doncaster Dons Rugby League Club who is now club president, has had the van decorated with the distinctive Mayflower logo and motto. Jennie Foxall-Lord, manager at Mayflower Animal Sanctuary, said: “Mayflower simply cannot function without reliable transport. The van we currently have use of has let us down several times this year and we have been increasingly concerned that we would soon be without something so vital to the running of our sanctuary. We were desperate for a reliable vehicle and then, totally out of the blue, Stewart Piper, of Piper’s Car Sales, Tickhill, contacted us with his thoughts. Our wishes were coming true and we were absolutely over the moon. Small rescue groups like Mayflower are often overlooked, so this wonderful gesture by Stewart and Kathryn is all the more amazing and means so much to us. The new van will be used on a daily basis. Its workload will include transporting dogs and cats to and from the vets which is especially crucial in emergency situations, visiting homes of prospective new families and collecting dog and cat food donations from various locations such as Pets at Home Doncaster and Morrisons at Doncaster and Retford. We cannot thank Stewart and Kathryn Piper enough for their overwhelming generosity and invaluable support. The new van, complete with its fantastic livery, will make a tremendous difference to us.” Last year, Mayflower rehomed over 350 dogs and 120 cats. Volunteers able to help out at Mayflower Animal Sanctuary and assist with fundraising and street collections are sought. Contact 01302 711330.

HUNT IN TOWN: Townsfolk and visitors enjoyed the annual colourful spectacle of the Grove and Rufford Hunt meeting in Bawtry on Boxing Day morning. The Crown Hotel, Market Place was the centre of activities before the dogs, horses and riders set off to Scaftworth.

HELPING ANIMALS: By donating unwanted Christmas gifts to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), the public can help the charity’s work locally. The RSPCA’s South Yorkshire Animal Centre at Black Firs Farm between Bawtry and Rossington needs donations of clothes, shoes, bric-a-brac, DVDs and small items of furniture which can be sold in RSPCA charity shops in Rossington and Rotherham. Animals at the centre need of blankets and donations of food and toys. The centre and associated pet store is open six days a week 11am-4pm, closed Wednesdays. Contact 01302 714100.

DANCE FIT: Dance yourself to fitness at the zumba class run by Tickhill’s Debra Molwuka at Austerfield Study Centre on Tuesdays 7pm. www.moveandinspire.me.uk.

WOMEN’S GUILD: Bawtry Women’s Guild meets on Monday at Bawtry Methodist Church noon.

COUNCILLORS MEET: Bawtry Town Council holds its first meeting of the New Year on January 12 7pm in the New Hall, Station Road. Items on the agenda will be a report from DMBC Rossington and Bawtry ward councillors, Market Hill matters, the council budget for 2015/16, community policing, finance, internal audit 2015/16, recreation, planning and highways. The vacancy created by the resignation of clerk Mrs Jennifer Worthington will be discussed and will centre upon a shortlist of interested candidates to fill the role and setting a date for interviews. Members of the public can attend the meeting and ask questions during a 15 minute period at the start.

PRINCIPAL SPEAKER: Bawtry Community Library hosts a Readers Group event on January 14 when Doncaster writer Alan Principal is the guest speaker. Alan has written a series of four mystical and action-packed crossover adventure stories and will be talking about his work 6-8pm. Tickets available from library staff £1. Contact 01302 710858.