Autumn 2002

School gate accidents - Dramatic Society 1927 -2002 - Life behind bars - The Wildlife Garden - Abbey Chorale

School gate accidents

Zig-Zag lines. 38% of schools report that parents regularly ignore the Zig-Zag lines and pull up to allow their children to get out! In doing so they are creating blind spots for other motorists and endangering the lives of other children crossing the road. Please do not stop on the lines, even for a moment.

Manouvering at the school gates. 15% of schools report parents reversing into the school gates at busy periods, with many more attempting three-point turns as children made their way across the road behind them!

With children darting about on their way to and from school, even a simple manouever can prove fatal. Please don't drive into a situation that may require you to reverse anywhere near a school gate.

Speeding. 6% Of schools report parents regularly exceeding the speed limit outside school gates at peak times! Even speeds that may be safe at regular times become dangerous when hundreds of children are entering or leaving school. Please slow down when driving past schools.

School crossing patrol. 3% of schools report parents actually driving through the portable 'STOP Children' signs being held by the School Crossing Patrol. In one case the School Crossing Patroller was actually knocked over! The 'STOP sign' is no different to a red traffic light. Please slow down at school gates and be prepared to stop when a School Crossing Patroller holds their sign upright. It's the law. You MUST stop.

No alternative? If there is no alternative to the car, you might consider car-sharing and whatever you do drop your children somewhere safe and well away from the school entrance.

Better still, leave the car at home. Almost one in five cars travelling at 8.50am are taking children to school. With car usage reaching epidemic proportions it is safer to find an alternative to the school run.

Walking or Cycling. If your children walk to school you are helping to reduce the dangers of cars at the school gate, PLUS...

• Children have regular exercise
• They benefit from improved air quality
• They develop their confidence and
  independence
• They develop road sense
  ... and if you go with them you can enjoy
  their company and take time to talk.

Public Transport. With a Megatravel Card children up to the age of 16 can enjoy the independence of getting to and from school and making all their leisure journeys within South Yorkshire at a reduced cost on all buses, local trains and trams.

Megatravel cards are available from all Transport Executive Travel Information Centres for full details call traveline on: 01709 515151

Dramatic Society 1927 -2002

In 1895 the Literary & Debating Society of Dore & Totley Union Church (as it was then) was formed and in 1927, out of that Society, grew the Dramatic Society. In those days the footlights were gas powered and live music was provided by a trio.

In more recent years the Society has produced two plays a year. These cover Comedy, Farce, Murder Mysteries and Thrillers. The Society's repertoire has also included pantomimes and cabarets and it also has a programme of social events for its members.

The Society welcomes new members and also temporary members if people are in the district for a short time. Everyone is welcome whether you are a budding thespian or handy with a hammer (for putting up sets and knocking them down again), whether you enjoy decorating, like costumes or helping with electrics or sound effects. The list of jobs available to produce a play, whether in the cast or backstage, is endless.

Our next production is 'Off the Hook' by Derek Benfield, running from 30th October to 2nd November 2002.

If you are interested in joining in, please contact our Secretary, Mr Rob Studd, at 5 Devonshire Road, Sheffield 17, tel 236 1192.

Anne Dale

Life behind bars

They were a sight to see when their paws touched grass and pebbles and concrete and when they got rained on they were delighted. And they get a little braver and a little more adventurous with each foray. I've not been as worried since the boys took their first steps. Oh and it is true what they say about rearing children, you spend two years teaching them to walk and talk and sixteen years telling them to shut up and sit down!

The pub has taken on it's summer mantle with the additions of hanging baskets and potted plants although the less than summery weather of the last few days have done them very little good.

Changes in the staff front with a welcome back to Caroline (daughter of John) Wade. Welcome aboard to Tom Gregory who has the grand title of restaurant/bar person. Goodbye to Elaine (Mother of Steve) and a temporary hello to Jenny Whitham who became Steve's Mum (Not in the physical sense) but in the domestic cleaning sense.

The football season begins soon (You know that autumns on it's way with the announcement of fixture lists) and June I would like to take this opportunity to wish Bradway Castle every success for the coming season "Come on you Blues"

Got to say congratulations to Chris and Alison who have decided to make honest people of each other and tie the knot. They are going abroad to do it so it will save a fortune in wedding presents for anybody wot knows them but cant afford to fly out for the wedding, wherever it might be held.

Bar room joke (Clean One)

A landlord (who shall remain nameless) was surprised one day to welcome a DUCK into his bar, and was even more surprised when the duck actually spoke. "Could I have some bread please?" asked the duck.

"No sorry" stammered the bartender "We are a proper pub and we don't do food other than nuts crisps and poppadoms"

"Oh can't do that," said the duck "I'm a duck and I only eat bread, haven't you got any bread tucked under the bar or in the back?" The barman replied, "Sorry, no I haven't got any"

The duck became a little more insistent "Go and have a look" he said, "I'll watch the bar"

"Sorry" said the barman "we don't do bread, we only do nuts crisps and poppadoms"

"Oh right" said the duck "No bread eh? Well, I'll leave it then, goodnight"

"Goodnight" said the bartender.

The following night the duck returned "Evening," said the duck "Got any bread"

"No" said the barman "we are a proper pub and we only do beer, lager, wines, spirits, cider, Guinness, nuts, crisps and poppadoms and NO BREAD".

"Right" said the duck "I'll leave it then".

"Good" said the barman a little irritated.

The following night a similar scene occurred and the barman got really agitated and ended the same conversation of the previous two nights with the threat to "NAIL YOUR RUDDY BEAK TO THE BAR"

The following night the duck entered the bar and greeted the bartender "Good evening" said the duck "Got any nails?" "No" replied the bartender.

"Good" said the duck. "Could I have some bread please?"

Speak to you soon!

Ken Cottrell

The Wildlife Garden

Emptying the compost bin is a job I always carry out in late spring. It is all very simple: the plastic sheet covering the compost is removed and the well-rotted material dug out, sieved and spread around the garden; the red worms and other residents are returned with fresh, new vegetation and the sheeting replaced. Simple in theory, only this year things didn't quite go according to plan. After removing the cover and surface layer of semi-rotted material, I noticed a bumble-bee pushing her way slowly out. Now she could have accidentally flown in, caught as I removed the sheeting, but when a second bee climbed to the surface and flew off in a somewhat confused manner, I realised a colony of young bees was living there. I carefully returned the material and replaced the cover, making sure the bees were able to leave easily. A few days later, I was rewarded with the sight of a steady procession of bumble-bees making their way into the garden.

Now some gardeners would see this as a minor inconvenience and dig the bees out, along with the compost, but no wildlife gardener would dream of doing this. Compost heaps can provide a home to all sorts of animals, from hibernating frogs and hedgehogs to nesting grass snakes and voles, and although sometimes the compost can be removed without harming the visitor, it is better to simply leave the heap well alone. Even now, as the days are beginning to shorten, the little black and yellow bees are still flying back and forth from the catmint and lavender to their home in my compost heap. It is a nuisance not being able to get to the compost, but at least by next spring, it should be well and truly rotted.

Then take my fat holders, dangling from the apple tree. At first it was a delight to see a squawking young starling, fresh from the nest, being fed on the gooey white stuff by a parent. But of course, starlings are quick to exploit any opportunity and whilst one parent and her brood came on the first day, by day two, five more had arrived and within days, every conceivable spot was occupied by boisterous youngsters and their squabbling parents, what a noise. Forty squawking fledglings can make a terrific din and each day I expected a visit from the environmental health officer, with instructions to stop me feeding the birds. The funny thing was that as the broods matured, they flocked together and disappeared to other feeding areas, and with only a few late nesting birds visiting the holder, it became quiet - no doubt to the relief of my neighbours. Suddenly the garden felt empty; it had lost that vibrant spark of life.

There are still frogs in the garden, spending the hottest part of the day flopped like discarded plastic toys on the stones around the edge of the pond. However, you don't just find them sunbathing there, they are almost everywhere: in amongst the leaves of pot plants; lurking in growbag trays (ideal private swimming pools) and sat in the trays of seedlings growing in my cold frames. When I went round checking my young plants in the evening, I would see sleepy golden eyes looking at me from amongst the leaves. Frogs would burrow into the soft, moist compost, using it as a daytime bed; warm and safe for them, but not so good for my poor seedlings struggling to grow under the weight of recumbent amphibians. A quick sprinkle of water from the watering can and they would be off, jumping this way and that, trying to avoid the cascade of cold droplets.

In the wildlife garden, we encourage our 'animal friends' to visit and should not begrudge them using parts of our garden in unexpected or inconvenient ways. But sometimes, you just can't help feeling they have over-stayed their welcome and wish they would visit someone else's garden, just for a few days.

Maggie Pie

Abbey Chorale

Calling themselves the Tuesday Group, they practised in the home of Sybil Wintle, then Mary Diskin. The group began to expand and needed to find another venue for rehearsals. The Woodseats Evangelical Church had just been built at this time. They were allowed to rehearse there and they have continued to do so ever since.

The choir became known as the Linden Ensemble. Each summer a concert was given at Sydnope Hall combined with a picnic in Chatsworth Park. Regular concerts were given at Residential Homes and at various charitable events. In 1998 the name of the choir was changed to Abbey Chorale.

Bert Lowe, a member of the choir, followed Colin Manterfield as musical director. Other musical directors include Roger Nichols and Roy Longden. The present day musical director is Olive Walker and the deputy is Brian Shipman.

Accompanists over the years have included Freda Burr, Philip Hanwell and Cyril Fisher. The present day accompanist is Thelma Copley who has been with the choir for a number of years.

The choir is available for weddings and other functions. They hold a charity concert each year and currently donate to Northern General Horizons Appeal. New members are always welcome. Enquiries to Mrs. Christine Wilson (Secretary), Telephone No. 274 8200

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