Grenoside Reading Room

In the last few days we received this lovely tribute from a recent visitor. Much credit must go to Jean, our neighbour, who provides and looks after the flowers and pots around the building:

Dear Sirs.
On Sunday 28th August 2016 I attended a workshop run by Alex Hyde. Quite apart from the fabulous time I had photographing lots of lovely and interesting insects, I was struck by the lovely building and facilities. I thought it was a simply beautiful. The building and gardens are so well kept and looked after. It was exceptionally pleasing for a visitor to arrive to be greeted by a profusion of colourful flowers in borders and pots. The lawn and building add to the whole experience. It does not stop there because when I entered the building it was clean, fresh and tidy. The kitchen was spotless and very well equipped. Both toilets were perfectly presented.

The Grenoside Reading Room is a fantastic asset to the community. It must be wonderful to have such a setting and facility for functions for people to enjoy. It looks like a much loved enterprise. Everyone involved in its upkeep should be very proud.
I just could not come home and not let you know how much I enjoyed my visit. I look forward to visiting again when Alex runs another work shop.
Best Regards
Mary (name supplied)

Heritage Open Days 8th to 11th September 2016.

Heritage Open Days is England's biggest festival of history and culture involving over 40,000 volunteers. Every year over four days in September, thousands of events across the country invite you in to explore local treasures of every age, style and function. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all FREE.

Events are organised country wide to celebrate history, architecture and culture and to provide an opportunity to see hidden places.
For more information go to  https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/about

There are 85 events in Sheffield, one of which is at the Reading Room in Grenoside.
We will be providing a cafe, heritage activities, an opportunity to look at our archive material and to talk to the trustees. There will also be organised visits to the cupola furnace hosted by Helen Jackson (see forthcoming events).

Reading Room trustees, Alan and Andy, at the official launch event for Heritage Open Days in Sheffield.

On Saturday 11^th June and Sunday 12^th the Reading Room hosted a successful and inspiring Pancreatic Cancer fundraising and awareness weekend with Joe Scarborough. Limited edition prints of Joe Scarborough's Grenoside painting at £20 each can be ordered at the Reading Room. A print is on display at the Reading Room. Well done to Robbo’s Angels!

The event was organised in memory of Chris Robinson of Grenoside by his family (see story here.) We received this message from Jenny Christie, Chris's daughter:

“This weekend has been an overwhelming success and we have raised just over £1600, all of which will be donated to Pancreatic Cancer UK.
Thank you for your help in getting this arranged. The venue was perfect for the occasion.
Kind Regards
Jenny Christie

PS I'm walking 210 miles over 11 consecutive days in November in support of Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Please sponsor me by going to my JustGiving page.

'Like' and SHARE my Facebook page, Robbos Angels to help me generate interest and engage as many people in my fundraising attempts as possible.

#stridingforchange

Rachel Stevenson of the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust has sent a new invitation:

Here are our events coming up at Greno Woods and some that are for Carr House Meadows -a wonderful wildflower meadow near Wharncliffe Side. Hope to see some of you soon.

We have got school holiday events on Thursday 2nd June 10.30am - 12.30 for 8 -13 year olds in Greno Woods:

• Make your own wooden mallet and hammer in a tent peg!
• then in the afternoon 1.30 - 3.30 Wonderful Woodland Exploring for the under 8's. Visit our website to book online www.wildsheffield.com/whats-on

We have also got a botanical walk at Carr House Meadows and a butterfly walk later in the season:

• Wonderful Wildflowers on Sat. 11th June 11am - 1. Wear outdoor clothing and stout footwear. Bring lunch if you would like to eat your picnic in the meadow.
• Butterflies and other invertebrates on Carr House Meadows Sat. 30th July 10am - 12. Wear outdoor clothing and stout footwear. Bring lunch if you would like to eat your picnic in the meadow.

For something a bit different we have a Wild Survivor day learning bushcraft skills for Adults. Following the success of our Women Only session we are running a Men Only day on Sunday 19th June 10.30 - 4.30 in Greno Woods. Join our expert to learn how to survive in the wild.

For all these events book on www.wildsheffield.com/whats-on

Hope to see you all soon,

Many thanks,
Rachel

Ecclesfield Civil Parish Past & Present Archiving Project
Project Events at Grenoside – Summer 2016

The Ecclesfield Civil Parish Past & Present Archiving Project has been gathering information about the history of civil parish area over the last eighteen months or so. During that time the project co-ordinator has been working with members of the Grenoside & District Local History Group and other volunteers to develop a website and promote the project. The project co-ordinator will be organising and attending events in Grenoside over the next few months; these are listed below.

Thursday 2nd June, 7.30pm at the Grenoside Reading Room. The Archiving Project – an illustrated talk. Christine Handley, the project co-ordinator, will give a talk about the Ecclesfield Parish Council’s Archiving Project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. This will be illustrated with some of the material that has been donated for the digital archive. See poster for this event.

There will be an exhibition about the project at the Grenoside Reading Room from the end of May until mid-July.

Saturday 18th June, Grenoside Gala. There will be a display about the Archiving project in the Community Hall (room 5) and an opportunity to bring in old photographs and talk to the project co-ordinator.

Saturday 9th July, – The Festival of Britain Celebration in the Local Community
In 1951, the summer long Festival of Britain celebrating the start of a new modern era had an impact on the local Ecclesfield Parish area as well as being a focal point for the whole of the UK. Planning started in 1949 with local councils and communities being given the opportunity to organise their own celebrations and festivals over the summer of 1951. As part of the Archiving Project, we are collecting material to create a display and are holding an event to celebrate the 65th anniversary. The event will include a walk from Grenoside to the Birley Stone and the Toposcope which was originally placed there in 1951. More information about the event will be available nearer the time.

For more details of events, if you have material for the archive and to get more involved, please contact, Christine, at the Council Offices, Mortomley Lane, High Green, Sheffield S35 3HS; telephone: 0114 2845095; email: Christine.handley@ecclesfield-pc.gov.uk or see the project blog at http://www.archiveproject.ecclesfield-pc.gov.uk/ for more information.

Today, 26th March 2016, marks the 4th anniversary of the passing of Dr David Rickards, our first chairman who worked tirelessly over many years to save a dilapidated and underused Grade II listed building from the hands of developers and deliver it back to the community of Grenoside.

It took nearly five years to secure funding for the restoration from The Heritage Lottery Fund and other sources, but in the meantime, David spent many hours dismantling internal structures, clearing the overgrown garden and planning a wealth of activities and uses for the Reading Room, many of which, such as the Monday Café, are now being enjoyed by visitors.

Alan Hooper, Gail Cooke and David Rickards outside the Reading Room before restoration. Photograph courtesy of Mosaic Magazine.

Funding for the restoration was finally agreed early in 2012, but sadly, David did not live to see the building work start. Since then, the remaining trustees have worked together to realise David’s vision of a Heritage community space for the use and enjoyment of all. However, without his boundless energy and dedication, we would not be in the position that we are today. David would have been delighted with the Reading Room today and has left a fine legacy for the village of Grenoside.

Ecclesfield Civil Parish Archiving Project have asked us to include information about their forthcoming events. (Read here: Ecclesfield Civil Parish Archiving Project Feb 16 )