Crosspool's James Gray winning the South Yorkshire Championship
A Tapton student, James Gray of Crosspool, has been awarded a special award from the Sheffield Federation of School Sports for his outstanding contribution to schools cross country running over the last seven years.
Eighteen year old James, who represented Yorkshire and South Yorkshire, and has been Sheffield and South Yorkshire champion for most of those seven years, was presented with the award at a ceremony attended by Councillor Dr Sylvia Dunkley, Lord Mayor of Sheffield, at the Sheffield United FC Bramall Lane on 24 November 2011.
He is also due to receive another honour in January from the South Yorkshire Schools Federation.
Bollards have been installed on Stephen Hill Road verges
Crosspool residents recently requested measures to prevent vehicles from diving on the grass verge and pavement next to the Manchester Road doctors surgery.
On 23 November, the council installed a number of strategically placed bollards across the pavement and grass verge on Stephen Hill Road.
It is hoped that these measures will eliminate the potential danger of injury to pedestrians, and in so doing make this stretch of pavement a safer place for small children and the older members of the community.
After delivering milk to the residents Crosspool for the past 45 years, local dairyman, Ian Mosley, has decided to retire.
Ian and his two brothers, Peter and Keith, following in their father’s footsteps, have farmed in the Rivelin Valley all their lives. The family herd of dairy cows can be seen grazing on the hills visible from S10. Their milk was unique in this area in that it was produced, processed, bottled and delivered by one family, M.G. Mosley and Sons.
In 1966 (when England won the world cup), at the age of nineteen Ian started to deliver milk to the Crosspool area. He did this seven days a week until eight years ago when he had to take three months off work after undergo major heart surgery, retuning to deliver six days a week all year round including all bank holidays except Christmas Day and new year’s day.
Memories
Ian has many fond memories of Crosspool spanning the last 45 years. He remembers the first winter, when he was ‘young and daft’, running far too fast one Saturday morning and slipping on ice. He was outside Diane’s hairdressers (now Direct Travel) and fell, cuffing his hand on a broken bottle.
He went to Mrs Senior at the newsagent (now La Dolce Vita) to ask for a plaster. “You don’t need a plaster, you need a hospital” she said. By luck, Mr Jacob of Dransfield Road was also in the shop and offered Ian a lift to the Royal Hospital. Four stitches later, Ian caught a bus back to Crosspool and finished the milk round.
Winter weather
MG Mosley & Sons milk float in the snow last December
Rain, sleet, hail and snow have never stopped the daily delivery. One bad winter the tractor was needed to overcome the icy hills. The Fuller family of Barnfield Close ran a tote betting what time Ian would manage to reach them. Simon Fuller won the bet – it was 7:30pm that Saturday night before he made it!
Boxing day 1970 proved a great day for sales. After delivering every drop of milk over 30 customers were still awaiting their milk. Never known to give up, Ian returned to the farm, persuaded the cows to be milked again, persuaded his brothers to bottle the milk and then returned to deliver to the remaining customers. (That’s what you call fresh milk!)
As the round expanded Ian needed extra help. Customers and staff fondly remember his first full time assistant, Alix Hickerman, who sadly died in 1997. He has employed many milk lads over the years and in 1983 Ian was nagged by a “troublesome boy” who begged for a job as a milk lad. Ian finally relented: that boy was of course Alex Elwood.
Whilst Ian was at the frontman, bringing milk to the doorstep, his two older brothers were working hard, running the dairy and caring for the cows. The farm supplied milk to local restaurants and nursing homes and also to other milkmen in the area, thus ensuring that fresh farm milk was available to the entire district of S10.
Keeping milk local
In the 1990s supermarket sales hit the business hard as cheap milk was used as a loss leader. However, attitudes have changed in recent times as people realise that the re-use of glass bottles is the most environmentally friendly process available: better even than re-cycling. Customers have also become aware that supermarket milk can be as much as four days old before reaching the shelves; often having travelling in huge tankers for hundreds of miles across the country.
Ian set up his family home on a farm only ten minutes from Crosspool where he and his late wife Hazel found time to raise two daughters. Ian’s father, Milson, continued to deliver milk until the ripe old age of 86 when a stroke forced him to retire. Ian intends to spend his retirement working (full time) on the farm, so he only has another 21 years of working on the farm to equal Milson’s achievement.
Crosspool’s current milkmen
Crosspool residents are fortunate, in so much as, they still have a choice of two dairy men delivering milk in the area.
Robert Gray will be taking over Ian’s milk round, so the service shouldn’t be interrupted. Robert has worked for M.G. Mosley & Sons for the past ten years. They still have a herd of cows, but no longer have the plant to process the milk.
The other milkman serving Crosspool is Russell Lister. Russell and Ian had an understanding with regards to milk deliverers, and neither delivers milk on the same roads.
Ian sends thanks and best wishes to all in Crosspool for their friendship and acquaintance. Crosspool Forum wishes Ian a long and happy retirement.
Beaver scout leader, Glenda de Brouwer has a motto “The sun always shines on our Beavers” and sure enough it did shine on the morning of Saturday 22 October on the grassy bank area, adjacent to the pelican crossing, close to the Crosspool Tavern.
Here the 36th Sheffield (St. John’s Ranmoor) Beaver Colony, based at the scout hut on Benty Lane, could be found beavering away, planting their allocation of a thousand crocus and daffodils provided by Sheffield City Council.
The bulb planting had been organised by assistant beaver Scout Leaders Tony Cheetham, (aka Badger) and ably accomplished with three leaders, three dads, two Beavers, two young leaders, two little brothers and one little sister.
Undoubtedly their very much appreciated hard work in making this significant contribution to improving the attractiveness of Crosspool will have enriched their lives and that of the community.
Many thanks for a job well done.
Ian Hague (Crosspool Forum Chairman)
Last Monday night, on 17 October, a number of plots on Hagg Lane, including the members’ trading hut, were broken into and a large amount of property taken.
South Yorkshire Police has advised allotment holders who have suffered individual theft/damage to report their story to the police (telephone 101) so they can link all the reports together.
No one else can report on a plot holder’s behalf and it is important that everyone affected contacts them and gains a crime reference number to help build the full picture of the incident.
A big thank you to the volunteers who planted 4,000 bulbs last weekend
Over the past seven or eight years, Crosspool Forum has planted some thirty thousand spring bulbs in and around Crosspool.
A big thank you to the dozen or so volunteers of all ages and abilities who kindly gave up an hour of their time on a bright sunny Saturday morning last weekend to plant 4,000 crocus and daffodils bulbs on Stephen Hill, Manchester Road and on the Dransfield Road/Watt Lane triangle.
The community of Crosspool can be assured of an even better show of colour next spring.
Residents, staff and families joined together to take advantage of the many activities and festivities of a garden party organised by staff and volunteers of Darwin House.
Visitors who flocked to the grounds of the home on Darwin Lane last Saturday 18 June were determined not to let a day of typical British weather – hot sunshine, wind and a downpour of rain – dampen their enthusiasm and spirit to enjoy the event.
The Garden Party had everything: a tombola, guess the name of the fluffy dog, bric-a-brac, jewellery and craft stalls, an art exhibition, kiddies’ corner, cakes and refreshments.
In addition, a stunning marquee housed auctions, raffles, a flower show and afternoon of entertainment and fun, provided by Tapton School and the Carousel Theatre Group.
The group’s production of ‘Best of British’, a collection of jokes, sketches and old favourite songs to sing along to, gave a reminder of the glory days of post-war Britain.
The audience relived the pleasure of radio shows such as variety band box (Arthur Askey) and The Goons, the celebration of the festival of Britain, the coronation, the birth of muffin the mule and the joy of the hits from the 40s and 50s, all brought to life by a cast of two professional actors.
Everyone had a wonderful day raising funds for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Darwin House Garden PartyDarwin House Garden Party
There are currently plenty of opportunities to get involved with various community events and activities in Crosspool:
The Soup Wagon
The Soup Wagon runs by St Columba’s and Stephen Hill churches on Monday evenings between September and May at Eldon Street car park. It need more volunteers to distribute food to the homeless on a 4 to 6-week rota.
An enthusiastic helper/assistant leader wanted for Stephen Hill Junior Badminton club which meets from 6-7:30 pm on Thursdays at the church. The club is for 10-18 year olds. It would be lots of amusement for the right  person. If you are interested, contact Bob Townrow on 230 1098 and towniesrm@talktalk.net.
Luncheon club washing (with free lunch!)
Don’t say there’s no such thing as a free lunch! Volunteers are required to go on the washing up rota (6 weekly) at Crosspool Luncheon Club held at Stephen Hill church. A free lunch is provided! The club runs Wednesdays 12-2pm. If you can assist please contact Jean Smith on 2308250 or jean.W.smith@btinternet.com.
Crosspool News - crosspool.info 