The Crosspool community website run by Crosspool Forum
Alex Gage family optometrist (optician), who presently have practices in Broomhill and Woodseats, are planning on opening a new practice in Crosspool.
It will be located in the shop unit previously occupied by Wine Rack/Threshers on Sandygate Road. The opening is scheduled for September.
The shop has been vacant since 2009 when Wine Rack closed.
If you’ve passed Crosspool shops on Sandygate Road recently then you will have seen that new hanging baskets and planters have been installed around the precinct.
The new additions will support our Sheffield in Bloom competition entry for 2011.
A new puffin and zebra crossing is to be installed on Rivelin Valley Road, near to the fire station.
Work will start on 20 June and temporary traffic signals will be in place so expect delays.
The crossing is one of a number of measures being installed over the coming weeks (up to the start of September) in Malin Bridge, on Stannington Road and along Rivelin Valley Road.
If you have any general queries regarding the design of the scheme you should contact Paul Johnson on 0114 273 6111. If you have urgent queries or problems regarding the construction work that cannot be dealt with by staff on site, please ring Andy Thirlwall on 0114 273 5261, or if he is not available, try the Street Force helpline on 0114 273 4567.
In the latest in this series of occasional interviews with local residents, we meet local magician Dan Ellis.
How long have you lived in Crosspool and what do you like about it?
I’ve lived in Crosspool for my whole life which is 18 years. It close to everything that I need. School was only a five minute walk, grab a bit of lunch from the shops and its only 15 minutes on the bus away from the city centre.
How did you get into being a magician? Are you in the Magic Circle?
I get asked this a lot and my honest answer is I have no idea how I got into it. My granddad was a magician but he died when I was young and I don’t really remember him. I think most boys get a magic set for Christmas when their little and most of them grow out of it. I guess I didn’t! I am a member of the Sheffield Magic Circle.
What does this involve doing day to day?
Being a magician isn’t as glamorous as it might sound. Day to day I just meet people, make phone calls, send emails and letters to get myself more gigs. When I do perform I do mainly close-up magic which is the sort of stuff you might see the likes of David Blaine doing on TV. I do magic right under people’s noses so there are no boxes or glamorous assistants to hide behind; it’s just me having fun with my audience.
Has being an magician given you the opportunity to tour and travel?
I’ve done shows up and down the country but a majority of my work is local. It is yet to take me abroad but hopefully it won’t be too long. Magic is the sort that thing that come across well in any language so I hope it can take me all over the world in the future.
What sort of performances to do do for events, parties or corporate dos? If people are interested in booking you, how can they get in touch?
Like I said I’m mainly a close-up magician meaning I do magic for small groups of people at parties, weddings and corporate events. I mix and mingle with guests and perform magic right under their noses.
Magic is a great ice breaker which is why I think corporate events and weddings are very good venues for it. Often there are groups of people who have never met before and my magic creates a talking point for people. It also helps create a great atmosphere which fits in with parties and weddings really well.
If people are interested in booking me they can check out my website which is www.citymagicians.com or give me a call on 07976 300898 and I’d be happy to chat even its just about what its like to be a magician.
If you could do one thing to make Crosspool better, what would it be?
I can’t really think if anything I would change in Crosspool apart from maybe having a magic shop here but that would probably put me out of a job if everyone could do it! I think that things like the Crosspool Festival and the summer fare are really great things for the community and I think that Crosspool should have more of these things.
Look out for Dan at this year’s Crosspool Festival.
The new edition of the Crosspool Clarion is going to press and will soon be falling on the doormats of all Crosspool households.
The latest issue includes:
Download Crosspool Clarion Summer 2011 (PDF, 1.5MB)
Some back issues of past editions of the Crosspool Clarion are also available to download.
The Crosspool Clarion is the official newsletter of Crospool Forum. It is a free, quarterly publication, with over 2,500 copies delivered to local households.
If you are a local business then you may wish to consider advertising in the Clarion. It is a great way to reach over local households. Contact Clarion editor Ian Hague for more information.
To read PDFs on your computer, you may need to first download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Darwin House residential home is to host a garden party on Saturday 18 June from 11am-4pm to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society.
It will feature marquee performances, Carousel Productions ‘Best of British’, a grand prize draw, an auction and more.
Darwin House is located on Darwin Lane in Crosspool. Entrance is £1. For more information, email admin@darwinhouse.co.uk or call 0114 230 1414.
Crosspool was once again the focus for the historic Hallam Chase running event this week.
The Hallam Chase is organised by Hallamshire Harriers and hosted by the Hallam Cricket Club. It has been running since 1862.
This year, 48 runners set off to cover the gruelling 3¼ mile route with 800′ of climb on a bright and dry Tuesday night. Dropping from Sandygate, down the infamous Den Bank, it crosses the Rivelin Valley then climbs to Stannington church before returning by the same route.
First to the church was Dark Peak’s Brian Greaves, but he was eventually overhauled by Handsworth Road Hog’s Dean Drabble who won the handicapped event.
A close battle then ensued between two of the city’s best distance runners, Hallamshire Harriers’ pair Rob Baker and Andy Thake. In the end Andy just held on to take the fastest man title in an impressive 22 minutes 7 seconds. Dark Peak Fell Runner Nicky Spinks won both the ladies handicap and fastest female title in a time of 28 minutes 49 seconds.
Next year’s event will be Tuesday 5 June at 8pm, which is also the weekend of the queen’s diamond jubilee. Spectators are welcome.
On Saturday 30 July, three local tradesmen will embark upon the arduous task of completing a 100 mile non-stop walk around some of the region’s landmark beauty spots. The walk will encompass much of the Mayfield Valley, parts of the Peak District and Pennine Trail.
The purpose of the exercise is to raise funds for Weston Park Cancer Unit, with a target of £10,000.
Scott Graham, a local electrician and former British Tae Kwon Do champion will be joined by Andrew Fisher, a tree surgeon and Tom Faulkener, a builder to circumnavigate the route. It is expected to take the three men 30 hours.
The mammoth trek will begin at the Crosspool Tavern at midday. The route covers Ladybower, Strines, Midhope Reservoir, Dunford Bridge, Broomhead Reservoir, Dungworth, Rivelin Dam, Foxhouse and finishing back at the Crosspool Tavern.
Check points will be manned en route and members of the public are invited to join the walk from any one of the seven checkpoints. Scott suggests “the easiest stage will be on our return to the Tavern that is from the car park to the bar.”
The event is the brainchild of Scott, Andrew and Tom, as family members have, or are being treated at the Weston Park facility and they wish to pay tribute to the staffs’ professionalism.
It is envisaged the event will become an annual part of the Crosspool calendar, to raise funds for this worthwhile cause.
Donations should be made payable to Weston Park Cancer Charity with “100 mile walk” written on the reverse. Cheques may be sent directly to Weston Park or handed in at the Crosspool Tavern.
For further information and photographs of the team contact Scott Graham on 07970 597800 or joannegrahani@talktalk.net.
Two local residents, both producers and directors of the Crosspool Theatre Group, have formed an experimental, weekly Glee Club event to offer youngsters the opportunity to act, sing and dance to their favourite music with professional tuition and supervision.
Helen Marshall-Serrano, now a drama teacher at Firth Park school, is an experienced actress and dancer. Helen has appeared in the past, on numerous off-Broadway musicals in the United States. Paul Heatley, her partner is a professional singer and also a supply teacher at the same school.
The objective of the Glee Club, the format of which is loosely based on the popular TV show, is to provide the perfect opportunity for 7-13 year olds to make new, like minded friends and have fun , whilst improving potential performance skills and self-esteem. Helen comments: “Developing these skills will help the young people in later life, whichever occupational path they eventually choose to take.”
Glee Club workshops are held weekly at King Edwards’s lower school every Saturday between 11am and 12.30pm. A fee of £5 per session is charged.
Helen and Paul are both experienced professionals and are both fully CRB checked and accredited.
For further information email hms65@live.co.uk or call Paul on 07786 026721.
A’Villa Caruso Italian restaurant in Crosspool has closed. A sign in the window of the Sandygate Road pizzaria states it will reopen under new management soon.
In the meantime, paper has been put up to cover the windows.
Crosspool News - crosspool.info 