Silver Surfers

Silver Surfers is a term used to describe people over 55 who regularly access the Internet. Almost one million do this now, and the number is growing fast. The communications technology allows contact with friends and family all over the world in matters of a few seconds, for the price of a local phone call. It also brings a world of information to your finger tips.

A new site aimed at older surfers has been set up at www.retirement?matters.co.uk This is a one?stop directory for all retirement related products, services and information. It covers travel, housing, leisure, legal/financial services, entertainment and lifestyle subjects to name but a few. If you are a silver surfer, why not pay a visit.

Dot Com for Pensioners

Pensioners on the lookout for work and the opportunity to increase their household's income have been given a much-needed helping hand from a revolutionary website aimed specifically at people looking for part-time or temporary work.

Launched in September 2000, www.parttimeexchange.com allows pensioners to search and apply for a wide range of suitable jobs in their region for free - without leaving the house. Pensioners looking for part-time work can search the website for specific jobs or log on and leave their details with an explanation of the type of work they are looking for. If they don't have access to the internet, their details can be added to the site for free by calling 0800 0851980.

Letters

Dear Sir,
Some of my fondest childhood memories are of the times my friends and I spent playing around what was the ornamental pond in the grounds of Abbeydale Hall. To us, it was a fascinating and idyllic place, overgrown and full of wildlife. I can also remember skating across the pond on a few occasions.

A few years ago, I called in to have a look with my two young sons and was delighted to see that some restoration work had been done and that other people had obviously been enjoying it as I once had.

Now Sheffield College has sold the gardens to building contractors who are in the process of 'developing' the land. I find it shameful that the college decided to sell an asset that provided so much pleasure for people; and also that the council who, I believe, were involved in the restoration, have allowed it to happen.

Peter Wood, Dronfield

Dear Sir,
Coates family history

I was very interested to read about Dore eccentric Albert Coates in Jean Dean's article in the Winter 2000 issue of Dore to Door. I have been trying to trace the history of my family for some time now, and wondered if any readers had other anecdotes or information on the Coates/Coats family in Dore and Totley.

Jean mentioned that Albert lived at Causewayhead Farm, which his family had tenanted for many years. I believe that my great, great, great grandfather, John Coates, lived there during the first half of the nineteenth century.

Any further information or suggested sources of information would be gratefully received.

David Coates, Salisbury
Ed. You can contact David via our editorial number or by E-mail at: David.Coates@tesco.net)

Dear Sir,
Thank you for printing my request for information on the Green's of Dore. I have had a good response. One lady in Dore - two in Coal Aston - one in Whitby - one in North Devon, who lived in Dore many years ago. They have provided me with more contacts. I intend to go back in time, through parish records etc. At last I am making progress through 'Dore to Door'.
Stanley Payton-Greene

Dear Sir,
My son who resides in Dore, recently passed on to me some back copies of 'Dore to Door', thinking rightly that I would find them of interest.
When I came to issue no.52 (Winter 1998) I recognised the photo of "King Ecgbert and his men", which is amongst a collection of old photographs passed on to me from my Mother in Law. My Brother in Law (Billie Crookes) is the spear man at the back of the photo, (nearest to the pony) and on the King's right hand side. At the time he lived at Hillfoot, Totley. I think the date would be around 1911-1912.
When Billie married he went to live in Wilson Cottages near the Hare and Hounds.

I was also interested in the article on Brook Hall, as amongst my old photos there is one taken in front of the entrance showing a group of ladies in Geisha Girl type of dress. Until I saw your photo I was not sure of the venue. I think my Mother in Law may be one of the ladies. I would guess the date of the photo to be around 1898-1902. I wonder if anyone else has one of these photos and what was the occasion? I cannot copy the photograph as it is in a very delicate state!

Hilda Crookes

Open mornings

The new Dore Village Society room at the Old School is open to visitors on the first Saturday of each month from 10am to 12noon. Please come along to see the facilities or talk to members of the committee about local issues and the history of the village.

News in Brief

A 144 page history of Totley All Saints School from 1827 - 2000 has been written by Joan Stratford and is available from local shops or by phoning 230 8428.
The playground in Dore recreation ground is still awaiting its surrounding fence. The wet weather since the autumn has been blamed for the delay.
Neighbourhood Watch coordinators will be meeting next at 7pm on 28th March at the Totley Methodist Church Hall.
An explosion in December, probably caused by a heavy duty firework, extensively damaged the telephone kiosk opposite Dore Moor Inn.
Abbeydale Hamlet's dam has been drained, and its fish removed to safety, to allow extensive repairs which have become necessary following years of neglect by the Council.
King Ecgbert School English teacher Eugene Mullan has finally got his first book 'Breedah's Whale' published, after it had earlier won a literary prize for being the best work by a new author under the age of 35.
Ashdell School, founded as Miss Naylor's, is holding its first ever old girls' and boys' reunion on March 10th at Baldwin's Omega, details from Sue Hostombe on 230 2148.

Did you know

I cannot recall a wetter autumn and winter, although we have been lucky compared with some people in East Yorkshire and 'the south'. Everywhere the footpaths, woods and the recreation ground are a quagmire, churned up by walkers and the areas increasing number of horses. Slip, slide and watch where you put your feet. If it is not dog dirt then there are piles of steaming horse .... We have a dog warden, why not a horse warden. Roll on some drier weather.

Dore has a reputation for surface water, but sadly this does not seem to discourage the developers and plans to build more and more houses continue to arrive. Lets squeeze in 4 large houses on a plot at the end of Gilleyfield which was once part of Busheywood. Don't just build on the redundant half of the King Ecgbert School site, lets squeeze in more next to King Ecgbert Road.

It is not just the sheer number of houses, but the lack of sensitivity to the environment. Rebuilding Nab farm opposite the green could have created a gem, instead failure to attend to detail leaves us with ugly wall mounted service boxes facing the green, and a central heating boiler vent to steam at us as we pass by on the narrow footpath. What about the new house squeezed into a pocket handkerchief space at the bottom of Ashfurlong Road. Just how do these developments get passed. Which leads us to the proposed new three story flats overlooking the recreation ground on land at the back of Newfield Lane.

It beggars belief that these have been passed. They are completely out of keeping with the rest of the area and given their height and proximity to the boundary, will impinge on the visual outlook from the recreation ground. Why don't we just build on the rec and be done with it!
It is not just the decision, but the way it was reached that illustrates the fundamental failings at the heart of our planning system. All development effects the community it is in. Each should have a say and direct input to local planning issues. Yes we need an overall planning blueprint and administration for Sheffield, but this needs to be built bottom up, with a recognition of the individual needs of each community within the city. How much better off we might have been if we had a parish council or had remained part of Derbyshire in the 1930s!

Doremouse

Radon tests in Dore

Two or three years ago we included a report on naturally occurring Radon Gas, the danger it represents to health and how to arrange for your building to be monitored. A recent check with the National Radiological Protection Board confirmed that there has been no more data published for post code sector S17 since the 1997 review. We know however that following requests by house owners, tests have and are being undertaken on individual houses in Dore.
The Board still recommends the individual testing of properties within the designated Radon Affected Areas which include Dore, and anyone interested in receiving an information pack about radon can call a 24 hour free answering service on 0800 614 529. Their web site is at www.nrpb.org.uk

Wanted

Old pictures of Dore; memories; articles on the village or it's history; news; ideas for competitions etc. Contact the editor on 236 9025.

Go to Dore to Door Past Issues