WHAT'S ON: Thurcroft

KIVETON PARK INDEPENDENT ADVICE CENTRE: A drop-in session, with no appointment necessary, will be held on Thursday 2-4pm at the Welfare Hall in Thurcroft. To contact (office hours) 01909 773966.

HOTSHOTS JUNIOR THEATRE GROUP: Presents its latest show, Panto Pandemonium, on March 24-26 in the Gordon Bennett Memorial Hall, Green Arbour Road. Tickets on sale, contact Pat 07969 772445 or call at Gordon Bennett Memorial Hall on Wednesdays 5.30-7.15pm.

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: January 28 – after the minutes of the meeting on November 19 had been read and minuted, Cllr Jed Nightingale welcomed James Dibaj, from RMBC, who spoke about the land for sale at Zamour Crescent. Laughton Common update was given regarding the equipment for the play area: the timescale would be 12 weeks, ten weeks to build and two weeks to erect in the play area. The clerk gave a full report on how the precept for 2016/17 works.

BIG LOCAL MEETING: January 11 – chaired by Tony Simmonds, he welcomed Vicky Hilton from Open Minds Theatre who spoke about carnivals and the gala. As Queen Elizabeth II will be having her 90th birthday on July 21, it was decided to celebrate with a gala over the weekend July 30-31 with floats driving through Thurcroft, a tea dance with a singer on the Saturday and on the Sunday a family fun day on the cricket field with five-a-side football, wellie wanging, plus more, finishing with a barbecue. There will also be events happening each day of the week. The Pavilion – to be discussed at the next meeting. Youth Work works – have had New Year projects, accounts bill, long-term projects, also on how to make life better for young people. There are to be three training sessions on Monday. A list of events were given including the Big Local Family Easter event on March 28 noon-3pm in the Bottom Club with a children’s disco. The next meeting is on March 7 6.30pm.

THURCROFT WELFARE COMMUNITY HALL BOWLING CLUB: The General Registration Meeting that was to be held on February 21 was rearranged to February 14. This was agreed at the AGM and is to accommodate the collection of fees so the club can pay club registration to the Maltby and District Association at their meeting on February 11. At this meeting the club will also be giving in its team preference and arranging a captain’s selection meeting prior to the start of the season. The club is looking for new members attend the above meeting. The club has qualified bowling coaches and provides all equipment along with free training sessions on Saturdays from May to the end of August 10.30am-noon. The club has 12 teams and also 12 club trophies that are played for over the season, usually on a Sunday. Once someone has registered with the British Crown Green Association and the South Yorkshire Grown Green Bowling Association (£32.10) for the first year, they only pay club fees which are currently £45 for adults and £5 for under 16s. Members can bowl from 10.30am until dark (competitive matches allowing). Budding members who cannot attend the meeting can contact club secretary Alan Bucknall 01709 542050.

CRAFT GROUP: 44 members attended the AGM when everyone was issued with the annual balance sheet of accounts.

LITTLE SAINTS TODDLER’S GROUP: Moira, Irene and Marie assisted the little ones as they played with the Happyland church, school and construction set, and also played with animal playdough. The group next Monday will return on Monday 1.15-2.45pm.

FRIDAY CLUB: Moira, Irene, Liam and mums assisted the children making palm trees from cardboard tubes, with green palm leaves and cut-out monkeys climbing the trees. They also coloured in pictures of insects to put on the jungle picture and made crocodile puppets from card with wooden sticks for legs. Another made a butterfly from hammered beads. They finished playing jungle animal bingo. The club returns on Tuesday 5-6pm.

ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA MEMORY CAFÉ: Meet Tuesdays at the Gordon Bennett Memorial Hall, Green Arbour Road 1.30-3.30pm.

ROTHER VALE COMMUNITY BAND: The band provides an opportunity for anyone who wishes to play or learn a brass instrument. New members sought. The band practisces every Saturday at Thurcroft Parish Church 9.30-11am. The band will provide a brass instrument and expert tuition for a weekly subscription of £2. Contact Pam 07759 496810.  To book the band, contact Pam 07759 496810, www.rothervalecommunityband.com, Facebook Rother Vale Community Band.

THURCROFT LIBRARY: Chatterbooks Monday 3.30-4.30pm, School Road.

THURCROFT COLLIERY AND VILLAGE WEBSITE: Photographs and newspaper cuttings are wanted. Contact Fred Gething 01709 542461, [email protected], thurcroftcolliery.weebly.com. All material submitted will be returned to the sender.

THURCROFT WALK AND TALK: Their next walk is on February 24, approximately four miles on the Mineral line from Brookhouse to Thurcroft, leader Jane Freeman.

ST SIMON AND ST JUDE’S PARISH CHURCH: The Lent Group starts on February 17 11am after the service and will run for six weeks. Coffee morning will start on February 26 in church 10am. The car boot/table top sales start again in March.

THURCROFT WELFARE BAND: The band will be attending the Yorkshire Brass Band Championships in Bradford on March 5-6. It practises each Tuesday and Thursday 7.15pm.