WHAT'S ON: Tickhill

REMEMBERING NORA: The life of Tickhill resident Nora Briggs was celebrated at a service led by Rev Chris Betson in St Mary’s Parish Church on October 7. Nora died on September 16 aged 87. St Mary’s choirmaster and organist John Marsden, a neighbour and friend of Nora and her late husband Maurice, wrote and spoke the eulogy in which he told the large congregation that Nora had lived all of her years on Sunderland Street and came from a Tickhill farming family that stretched back generations. She was the daughter of Thomas and Annie Ludlam who farmed from Porch Farm and when she married she moved just over the road where she and her husband had lived since 1957. For the past 20 years Nora has been part of the team of volunteers who work at the town’s Oxfam charity shop which was closed on Wednesday afternoon as a mark of respect to her. She was also a long time member of Tickhill Flower Club. After a cremation service at Doncaster’s Rosehill Crematorium, Nora’s ashes were placed with those of her parents in the new St Mary’s Churchyard. Donations in memory of Nora benefited St Mary’s Parish Church and Oxfam.

DOCTOR RETIRES: Long-serving GP Doctor Ian Saunders has retired from the Tickhill and Colliery Medical Practice. Tickhill resident Dr Saunders (58) qualified as a GP in Leeds in 1983. He came to work at the Tickhill and Harworth Colliery practice in 1989 after graduating at Leeds and after completing his vocational training in Doncaster. Dr Saunders’ particular medical fields included asthma, geriatrics, paediatric surveillance and immunisation and minor surgery. He is well-known through his popular Monday afternoon baby clinic. Staff at Tickhill and Colliery Medical Practice gave Dr Saunders a suitable send off at two retirement dos at Styrrup Golf Club and Mount Pleasant Hotel and Restaurant and presented him with a gift of garden vouchers.

RECENT HISTORY: Members of Tickhill and District Local History Society elected Peter Welch as their new chairman at the AGM in the Schoolroom at the Methodist chapel. Peter takes over from Sally Tyas who has been chair for the past three years. Officials are secretary and speaker finder Dorothy Bradley, treasurer Graham Rolph, committee member Mike Goddard, presentations and archivist John Millington, vice chair and archivist Lesley Nicholson, website maintenance Steve Payne, membership secretary Roger Ranson, publicity David Walters, equipment Peter Welch.

FOODBANK HARVEST: Foodstuffs donated to Doncaster Foodbank were boosted by the harvest celebrations held at St Mary’s Parish Church and St Mary’s Church of England Primary School. A bumper total of 161.1kg was given to the Trussell Trust UK centre to be distributed to those in need across the borough.

ROARING SUCCESS: Tickhill and District Lions Club has once again supported a local charity with a cash donation. The club raised £987 at its Summer Bash at the Scarbrough Arms and has increased this from funds already accumulated to a total of £5,000 which has been presented to the Doncaster Cancer Detection Trust.